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Hello everyone!

2K views 52 replies 31 participants last post by  Rob's GRs 
#1 · (Edited)
First, sorry for the following novel of a post. It has been a very exciting couple of days!

For the last few weeks I have been lurking here, as I've been looking for a golden to adopt within our area. A puppy from a breeder would have been great, but instead I wanted to adopt a puppy from a shelter or rescue. This past Tuesday, I saw a dog on Pet Finder (a Golden/Lab mix) and fell in love with her immediately. I emailed the rescue, and this past Saturday I drove just outside of Orlando, Florida (roughly 3 hours from where we are in Southern GA) to get her.

The rescue she was at does not have their own facility, so she spent the week at a Foster home. They also do not hold any of the dogs for people and only adopt out on weekends. The rescue had an adoption event outside a Petsmart, and a sign up sheet was posted. They suggested I get there early in order to get my name on the list, as the dogs were being adopted on a first come first serve basis. On Saturday, a friend and I got up at 4:30am and were out the door by 5:30. We arrived at the Petsmart at 8:30, and secured the #1 spot on their sign up list when they opened at 9am.

The actual event didn't begin until 1pm, so we had four hours to wait before I could meet her. We spent some time shopping, and afterward went to Chilis for lunch. While talking to our waitress, we found out that the couple directly across from us was #4 on the list.

At 12:30, we made our way back over to the Petsmart. By that time, there were about 15 people on the list. By the time the event started, the Rescue had to write in more numbers as the page was full (30+ signed up). Earlier that day when I had signed up, I had put my choice of puppy in parentheses next to my name. Many others had followed suit, and there were at least ten others who wrote interest in her. However, I was first on the list, and when the event started I had first choice of about fifteen puppies (6 of them were the Golden/Lab litter).

I immediately asked for "Jelly," and they asked me if I knew which one she was (it was pretty chaotic and they had a lot of volunteers working). I pointed her out immediately, they handed her to me, and asked me to take her to the grass to see if I still wanted her after playing/bonding with her. I knew instantly I wanted her, but I spent about 15-20 minutes with her in the grass to see if she wanted me. She was a bit shy at first, but after a few minutes she gave me puppy kisses and curled up against me.

While I was waiting to get the adoption paperwork, many different people/couples came up to see her. Throughout the event, I quickly realized that she was the most wanted puppy of the bunch. One couple in particular asked if I planned on adopting her. I said yes, and instead of giving the other puppies a glance, they left without a word. I felt badly for everyone, especially one little girl who couldn't have been more than 10. By the time she arrived, she was number 25 on the list and all the puppies she had in mind were already claimed. She spent the first 30 minutes of the event crying while she watched her puppies of choice be chosen. However, while I was filling out my adoption paperwork, I saw her walk by with a puppy and a big smile on her face. I broke a lot of hearts when I picked mine, but I truly believe everyone walked away with the puppy they were meant to have.

Two full days have passed since we came home. Lily is doing wonderfully, and a lot of that is thanks to this forum. I've never had my own dog, and this forum has been invaluable. Between Tuesday-Saturday I have researched everything from puppy food to clicker training to crate training and so much more. Reading your past experiences with training your dogs has been such a great help, and I have visited every day since I knew I would be getting a golden.

Now to give some more details and progress on Lily -- She is 11 weeks old, and these past few days have been exhausting, but it has all been worth it. I don't work, so I am home all day and night with her, and have been sleeping in the living room with her (Lily in her crate, me curled up on my chaise). Unfortunately, we don't have room in our bedroom for a crate or else she'd sleep there with us, but I've slept in the room with her the first few nights in order to make her more comfortable. But, if you can believe it, she really hasn't cried. She will whine for about 20-30 seconds when first going into the crate, but she immediately calms down and goes to sleep.

I know a lot of her demeanor has to do with the fact that she is currently sick. They spayed her on Friday. I had no idea, and was expecting to be able to take her to the vet later to get it done around 6 months, but unfortunately they wouldn't adopt any of them out before they were fixed. Not only this, but on the drive home on Saturday I realized (after doing some searching here) that she came home with Kennel Cough. I took her to the vet first thing this morning, and she said that her current antibiotic for the spay should help knock out her cold. She has another appointment on the 15th to get her next round of vaccinations (at 12 weeks) (and then two others at 14 and 16 weeks).

Should everything go well these next few weeks, Lily will be starting puppy class on the 25th (in 3 weeks). I am hoping the KC will clear in a week in order to give her 2 weeks KC free before going to classes. The vet said 10 days free would be enough, but the sooner this clears up the better. If it is cutting it too close, I'll have to cancel her class and reschedule for one of the March classes. I am really hoping I won't have to do that, as I am hoping to get her socializing and training as soon as possible. I've been working with her at home when she feels up to it, but I am really looking forward to the class.

*scrolls up and sees the novel* I should probably wrap things up -- Tonight I am going to attempt sleeping in my own bed and setting alarms in order to let her out halfway through the night and again in the morning. I haven't been sleeping well in the living room and am pretty exhausted, so I really hope she does okay :)

Anyway, I'll leave you guys with some pictures I've taken these past 48 hours, and I'll update you guys soon on how she's doing. Thanks again for all the information, it has been a GREAT help!

While she is a GR/Lab mix, the vet believes she has a bit of collie in her line due to her markings (what do you think?)

While shopping at Petsmart after the adoption:


In the backseat of the car on the way home:


Napping at Home:


 
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#31 ·
Well, we are beginning day 5 of being home all day, and Lily is making great progress.

Our biggest struggle right now is potty training. I have been taking her out after she eats, plays, or when she wakes up from a nap but sometimes I miss the signs and she has an accident. I have a bell hanging on the door, and she is ringing it 2-3 times a day, and every time we have gone out after ringing it she has peed. Even with a few accidents a day, though, I think she is making great progress.

I also started her with clicker training from day 1. I don't think she quite connects the clicker to kibble/treats yet, but she is making progress there as well. I have hand fed her from the beginning (except for when she has a stuffed Kong in her crate), and she has learned that she won't get anything from me unless she sits quietly. She'll sit, I'll click and give her something, and then I'll throw a piece to get her to stand, and she comes back, sits, and repeat. She sits on her own without needing a motion or command. However, she still doesn't get what 'sit' means yet. Every time her butt is on it's way down to the floor, I say 'sit', but she doesn't know yet what it means. Also, clicking the clicker to see if it is charged, does absolutely nothing. No reaction if she is off playing or distracted in some other way. Hoping that she just needs more time!

As for her KC, she still is doing well. We're on day two without a cough :)
 
#32 ·
So, last night Lily threw up, and she stopped eating. I am now sitting at the vet, and she was positively tested for Parvo. I am absolutely crushed. She's currently in the back hooked up to an IV, and I have to bring her back up here for the next 3-5 days until she is better. She's still somewhat active, and sitting up so they say I fought it quick enough, but I can't help but feel a little angry.

First Kennel Cough, now Parvo. Shouldn't the animal rescue have known about the latter? Is it something she picked up while with me? I'm beyond scared and confused. I've only had her for a week, but she's my girl. I burst into tears when they told me.
 
#35 ·
She had a rough night, but she seems to be a lot more alert this morning. Been giving her a little bit of pedialyte every few hours, and this last time she actually jumped up when she saw me reach for the bottle, which is a good sign. She's also been getting up to potty in the area I have set up for her in the house.

We'll be leaving for the vet in a little over an hour, and she's going to be spending the day there getting more fluids via IV. The vet says she should make a full recovery since we caught it early, and she's still able to move around. She's sleeping a lot, but that is to be expected. He said she'll likely be on fluids for 3-5 days, depending on how she does.

I will keep you guys updated for sure. Thank you for praying for her and keeping her in your thoughts.
 
#36 ·
Lily passed away this morning.

After four days of being on IV fluids at the vet (she spent the days at the vet and the evenings home with me), we thought she was starting to improve. She was doing great, and yesterday we even thought she was making a turn for the better. But this morning when I woke up, she could barely move.

I rushed her to the vet, but I was only half way there when her heart gave out.

We're shocked, and have no idea how this could have happened when she was doing so well these past few days. We're thinking with the Kennel Cough, and then Parvo... her immune system just couldn't handle it. I am devastated, but I'm glad she is no longer suffering.

Thanks again for all your information and support these past few weeks. I may be back someday -- at the moment I can't even think about getting another puppy. We're moving this summer, so I may revisit the idea sometime after we move, but at the moment I just need time.
 
#37 ·
Lily passed away this morning.

After four days of being on IV fluids at the vet (she spent the days at the vet and the evenings home with me), we thought she was starting to improve. She was doing great, and yesterday we even thought she was making a turn for the better. But this morning when I woke up, she could barely move.

I rushed her to the vet, but I was only half way there when her heart gave out.

We're shocked, and have no idea how this could have happened when she was doing so well these past few days. We're thinking with the Kennel Cough, and then Parvo... her immune system just couldn't handle it. I am devastated, but I'm glad she is no longer suffering.

Thanks again for all your information and support these past few weeks. I may be back someday -- at the moment I can't even think about getting another puppy. We're moving this summer, so I may revisit the idea sometime after we move, but at the moment I just need time.
I am so sorry for your loss :(. Lily was such a cute little thing. I just started reading your post today and when I got to this part I was completly shocked.
 
#42 ·
Thank you everyone for your thoughts. It has been a hard couple of days. I still can't think about anything else but her.

Something I did in Photoshop for her. I hope she's happy wherever she is. Only had her in our lives for a little over a week, but I miss her so much!

 
#47 · (Edited)
Please don't worry about it, it was an honest mistake. It is a long thread, and like I said if I could edit the first post, I would. I am not upset with you at all :)

Edit: I tried to reply to your PM, but I don't have enough posts yet to PM anyone. Please don't worry about it, it is okay.

Your photo shopped picture is beautiful. I am so sorry for your loss. It doesn't matter how long she was with you that love is so strong. I am so glad that Lily got to spend her short time with someone so loving and caring as you were. Did you inform the rescue? Did you ask if any of the other puppies came down with parvo. Parvo's incubation period is listed as 3 to 10 days. It is very possible that she was exposed to it prior to you adopting her.
Again I am so sorry. Prayers for you and Lily.
I made a lot of phone calls the day that Lily was diagnosed, one of them was to the rescue. They hadn't mentioned of any of the other dogs came down with it, but I asked them to please call everyone and make sure they were tested just in case. As you said, the incubation period is 3-10 days, so it was quite possible she had it when I adopted her.

The vet told me it was most likely she had it before we got her, but I can't help thinking in the back of my mind what if I introduced her to it? What if it was in our yard? What if one of the dogs in the petsmart had it? What if it was in the grass at one of the rest stops on the way home? Would things have gone differently had I trained her to use puppy pads in the house until 16 weeks? I keep thinking about this past week and different scenarios keep running through my head. What if I could have done something more? If I was more informed about parvo before the adoption, I would have done a lot differently.

I took her to our vet the Monday after the adoption and they didn't test for Parvo. What if we had caught it then? Why didn't they test her? I wish I had known to ask for it. So many regrets.

It still hurts as much as it did the day we lost her. It hurts even more thinking that I could have introduced her to it, or maybe there was more I could have done to help her fight it.
 
#46 ·
Your photo shopped picture is beautiful. I am so sorry for your loss. It doesn't matter how long she was with you that love is so strong. I am so glad that Lily got to spend her short time with someone so loving and caring as you were. Did you inform the rescue? Did you ask if any of the other puppies came down with parvo. Parvo's incubation period is listed as 3 to 10 days. It is very possible that she was exposed to it prior to you adopting her.
Again I am so sorry. Prayers for you and Lily.
 
#48 · (Edited)
I am so very sorry for your loss of little Lily, my heart goes out to you. I know this is a very sad and difficult time for you.

Try not to be so hard on yourself and question the what ifs, but I know it's only natural. Sometimes it's just not meant to be.

The photo you did of Lily is so beautiful.

Godspeed sweet babygirl.
 
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