The Feverish Dog
I'm still in the Adobe Hospital ICU recovering from pneumonia. I'm eating great and alert and happy, but Dr. O'Day says my fever still spikes too high (103.9 today). She wants me to stay in the ICU one more day. Dr. Shandro will be taking over my care until Monday when Dr. O'Day returns. I like both doctors very much. Dr. Shandro was my vet when I had pneumonia in July.
Mom came to visit me tonight and told me she was taking a trip for a few days. I'm not happy about being stuck here with no visitors, but worse, Mom forgot my BANANA! She promised to bring me a whole bunch when she returns. I sulked a bit but what can I do? I'm stuck here...I can't run away since I can't walk. Besides, the food is great.
Mom said she is temporarily dogless. Elsa is in the kennel at Pet's Friend, Buffy is with Kodi, Pumpkin is with Bandit, and of course I'm here at Adobe Hospital. Mom still has the luscious felines, but tomorrow they go to Hemingway Cat Hospital for boarding. Only the birds will stay home in their outdoor aviary, cared for by Critter Care, while Mom is traveling.
I'll be moving from the ICU to the medium care unit tomorrow and it will be hard to blog from there. Stay tuned for when I come home next Tuesday!
The Improving Patient
It's me Sammy! I'm still in the ICU at Adobe Hospital. Mom came to visit me today at 6pm and I overheard her talking with my vet, Dr. O'Day. The vet says I still have a high fever (103.9) so I have to stay in the ICU till tomorrow. Then I'm going to move over to the high maintenance boarding section so that Mom can take a short trip to Missouri. I'm not happy Mom is leaving me here for extra days but she says she has to find us a new place to live. Well, we gotta have a home!
Mom brought me a banana and I got to eat the whole thing all by myself, -- no forced sharing with Elsa and Pumpkin (Buffy doesn't like bananas). I begged for the peel but Mom just dangled it in front of me and laughed at me and then threw it in the trash. Dang.
Dr. O'Day put me on two new medications (along with all of my antibiotics to cure my pneumonia). These new medications -- DES and Proin, are to help me control my bladder. I've got a catheter in right now and will keep it in till I go home. Mom says she is really eager to see if these medications work.
There are some luscious felines here -- all of the doggies are on one side of the ICU and the cats are on the other side. This means I have a great view of some of the kitties. I particularly like to watch the kittens -- they look like they would be especially yummy. I stare at them longingly but so far none of the help has bothered to toss me one. (No offense intended to my felines fans -- I'd love to chomp on your soft furry lithe bodies too!).
The Very Ill Dog
This post is from Cynthia, Sam's pet guardian.Update at 7pm Tuesday Sept. 20
Sammy Wammy is better! I visited him at 6pm and he was alert, catching treats, drinking water, eating his food, etc. I had a long talk with his vet which Sammy overheard. Sammy is planning to sneak out of his cage later tonight and blog his status by using one of the clinic computers when they are busy saving another pet.Update at 10:30am Tuesday Sept. 20
Dr. O'Day called and reports that Sam is doing better! His fever went back up to 104 but he is eating and is alert. I wasn't able to visit him this morning...will be going this afternoon. He will be in the ICU for at least another day, probably longer. It's lonely here at home since Buffy is with his cousin Kodi and Pumpkin is with his cousin Bandit. Just me and the personality challenged Elsa (my 15 yr old GSD).Update at 3:30am Tuesday Sept. 20
Sam is slightly better. He is on oxygen thru a tube and was given an anti-anxiety medication so he could stop worrying about breathing and relax and sleep. His fever is down to 103 (101.5 is doggy normal). I will be visiting him at 10am when his vet comes back to work.Original post at 9pm Monday Sept. 19
Sammy Wammy is very ill with aspiration pneumonia again. It came on suddenly this morning; he has been at Adobe Hospital in the ICU since 12:30pm. Dr. O'Day has been taking care of him. Sammy was eating when he went into the hospital, but at 5pm when I visited him he was no longer interested in food. His fever has gone as high as 105.5 is now at 104.7. He is on oxygen, an IV, and 3 types of antibiotics. X-rays showed the pneumonia is in both lungs, although not very severe. He is also anemic again, which no vet has ever been able to explain. I just spoke with Dr. O'Day at 8:30pm to get this latest news. Dr. Rogers, who is the nighttime vet and cared for Sammy before when he had aspiration pneumonia, will be taking over from Dr. O'Day until 10am tomorrow. Dr. Rogers will call me if Sammy takes a turn for the worse.I am very worried as Sammy Wammy looked miserable when I saw him earlier. He did recover beautifully from his last bout of pneumonia though so I am also hopeful.Cynthia
The ASPCA Donation Banners
The ASPCA now has donation banners to put on blogs. I've added their two banners, one has a dog and one has a cat. Why the cat? Because if cats didn't exist who would I bark at?!!!
The Nicknames
I've got a lot of nicknames. Sam is my real name. But Mom calls me all kinds of other names.
SammySammy WammySammy Wammy Tammy Shammy PhammySamboSambo TamboSammy Pieand so on.
Doggie Bloggers -- do you have nicknames too?
Some of mine seem kind up pupish, but hey, Mom smiles and talks sweetly when she says them and sometimes she throws me a treat!
Sammy Wammy
The Bee Man
Found this photo on
SFGate. This man has lots of pet bees. We only have the one -- BOB -- the Big Orange Bee (male Valley Carpenter Bee).
Buzz in the hood: Thousands of killer bees form a swarming balaclava on Marin Tellez in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The beekeeper was trying to cover himself with roughly half a million Africanized bees to break the 1998 Guinness world record of 350,000. --
SFGate
BOB - our pet bee. Mom took this photo that was later published in the SF Chronicle along with a
story about our California native plant garden.
The Humane Society Needs Your Help!
Urgent message from the Humane Society!
Please help get the word to the federal and state governments that the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina need their help.
Volunteers in the region are doing all they can to rescue starving and stranded pets and other animals, but they need federal assistance now. Here is a link to the web page with the phone numbers you should call. 
The Saratoga CA Shack is for Sale
Our house is on the market! I'm clueless about what this means but I can tell you that 8 strange groups of people came stomping thru the house today. I was out in the dog run keeping quiet and spying on them.
There's a bunch of photos and 360 degree views of the house here:
http://www.seeitbuyit.com/tour.php?ID=14380Below is the REAL photo of the dining room. Uncle Brian fixed this photo up so it is more realistic.
Buffy in the dining room
The Google Blog Search Tool - Is it any good?
Judge for yourself by searching for
German Shepherd dog.
Hey, what's way up there at the TOP in the "related blogs" section?
Woof, woof, WOOOOF!
The Photographic Celebration of the Dog: in St. Louis, starts February 26, 2006
I'm stuffing envelopes with my photos! Hope to see some of my cyberdog buddies there too.
You Ought to be In Pictures!A Photographic Celebration of the Dog A first-ever of its kind canine photo exhibit will be on display at The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog in St. Louis beginning February 25, 2006.more info
The Real Discrimination Story of Hurricane Katrine
Canine, Feline, Avian, Equine, Bovian, etc. discrimation exposed!!!
Hey, I read it in the New York Times!
I know my mom would never, ever abandon any of us doggies even if the earthquake from hell swallowed up all of San Jose. She'd even protect those luscious felines and the screechy birds too.
Dogs Are People, Too
By JOHN LELAND
Published: September 11, 2005New York TimesFROM the terrificpets.com discussion board came the 12-exclamation-point alarm: "OMG !! ... I just heard on the NEWS there may be 50,000 animals LEFT BEHIND!!!!!!!!!!"As reactions to the Katrina rescue efforts have been divided along lines of class, race and political party, they have also highlighted another schism: between dog haves and dog have-nots. Animal owners around the country have responded with outpourings of sympathy, hurt and outrage: How could rescue workers have barred pets from helicopters and shelters?
Forum: Hurricane Katrina"There's been a lot of talk about this at the dog run," said Carol Vinzant, who brings her shepherd mix Jolly to the dog run in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan. "They're forcing these dog owners to abandon their dogs, which in ordinary times is a crime itself. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people died because they did the right thing and stayed with their dogs."
Jo Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the agency had already received more than $5.25 million for rescue efforts, along with shipments of food, blankets and other animal supplies. Such animal generosity is nothing new. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, the A.S.P.C.A.'s New York branch received so many supplies that it had to stop taking donations. Last week, as teams of rescuers combed through New Orleans on separate missions - one group taking people without animals, the other taking animals without people - many residents were still refusing to leave without their pets. "When we all re-evaluate this event, it may make us rethink the way we do human rescue," Ms. Sullivan said. For Elizabeth Finch, the owner of two dogs named Zorra and Hans Blix, the sight of citizens forced to choose between their pets and their safety was, like the disaster itself, indicative of broader social rifts. "Not to equate people with animals," she said, "but this fits into a bigger model of discrimination."
John Amis/Associated PressValerie Bennett, of Slidell, La., reunited with Lady in Atlanta.
The Big Move
I've mentioned this briefly before -- we are moving! Mom says first we are going to Missouri and then maybe somewhere else. Mom says the most important thing is to sell this overvalued shack in earthquake country before the real estate market crashes, or the big one hits, or both! We've been really busy fixing up the house and packing (that's the royal we, the truth is I haven't had to do zip) and tomorrow, finally, the house goes on the market. Mom and Elsa and Pumpkin and I have to skip out from 9am-1pm for the realtor tour. Mom's going to take me swimming with Elsa and Pumpkin as my peanut gallery (Buffy is still on vacation).
AlthoughI haven't done any work I've been supervising Mom and Michele do the packing. Incredibly in
today's "Cathy" comic strip there is a demonstration of exactly how Mom packed.
click on comic for larger view
I just hope she can find all of my toys at the other end!
The "Operation Pet Lift"
Thanks goodness billionaires such as T. Boone Pickens and his wife have a soft spot for doggies!
Rescued Dogs Airlifted From Gulf Coast
By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer
Sunday, September 11, 2005 San Francisco Chronicle
(09-11) 19:32 PDT San Francisco (AP) -- The first major airlift of dogs from the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast left Louisiana on Sunday, carrying about 80 pets to new temporary homes in California.The Continental Airlines flight from Baton Rouge, La., was chartered for about $50,000 by Texas oil tycoon Boone Pickens and his wife, Madeleine, in a movement dubbed "Operation Pet Lift."Complete article.
The Lemon Beagle Puppy Conehead
Here's a photo of my cyberdog buddy
Ditto III the lemon beagle puppy with his e-collar. Isn't he cute!? Stay tuned for photos of me with my e-collar.
Ditto III
The Foods a Dog Should NOT Eat
Here's a 10-
question quiz about foods that are poisonous to dogs.
Mom took the quiz and only got 4 questions right! I'm going to make Buffy taste my food from now on. Naaahhh. Just kidding. I can't wait for tasting and anyway, I don't like to share!
The Alternative to Blogging
ID: 121304, Published in The New Yorker September 12, 2005
The Vacation for Buffy
Buffy is on vacation playing with cousin Kodi at Aunt Cindy and Uncle Dick's house. The rest of us are working like crazy on the house and Buffy is lounging around. Oh well, he's pretty useless when it comes to work. He's awfully cute though I guess that's why he gets away with it.
Geez, look at him on that purple velvet pillow. Like he's a king or prince or emperor's pup. He'll probably demand to be called "Prince Buffity-Buff" when he comes home.
Here's Kodi all zonked out after minor surgery on her nose. I hope Buffy is being supportive!
The Conehead
Yikes, I'm wearing a cone around my neck! I remember when my cyberdog buddy
Ditto had to wear a cone. I sympathized with him externally but chuckled internally. Now I'm a conehead too!
Mom got me the x-large e-collar yesterday but my big nose stuck out of it so she had to exchange it today for the xx-large e-collar. At least this one is clear and not purple like the other one.
I have to wear the cone because I am gnawing on a sore on my leg and making it worse. I just do what I gotta do and now I can't do it! At least I can still eat treats and ice and drink water.
Luckily Mom lent her camera to a friend so she can't take a picture of me. We are going to a GSD Rescue party tomorrow I sure hope I don't have to wear this stupid headgear at the party. Well, maybe it's a good thing. It will make me the center of attention which usually leads to treats!
Pet Botanics E-Collar
The Feds to the Rescue
U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard Respond to Pleas to Help AnimalsHSUS09/08/2005
WASHINGTON – The United States Coast Guard and National Guard troops have begun to allow pets to accompany people who are being evacuated from New Orleans. Their efforts will help The Humane Society of the United States disaster animal response teams and other animal responders who are in Louisiana and Mississippi working desperately to save as many pets as possible as time runs out for animals.more...Well, finally!
Woofs and treats.
Sammy
The Banning of Pet Rescue?
Mayor Nagin is ordering pet rescue workers to leave New Orleans!
An
online petition is protesting this action.
We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:A Petition to Protect the Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Target: C. Ray Nagin, Mayor, City of New OrleansSponsor: Margaret BarryTo insure that all animals are included in the evacuations occuring as a result of the Emergency Order issued on Tuesday, September 6, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and that those animals are provided adequate supplies and shelter until they are reunited with their owners or adopted.You can find my signature on
this page.
Thank you, Sam GSD ! You signed this petition at:9:35 AM PDT, Sep 10, 2005Please note that I have not checked this out. I find it hard to believe the ASPCA and the Humane Society would allow this to happen. If you have any further information please add a comment.
The Search for Lost Pets
Photos from NOLA
The Pet Rescuers
Pet rescuers race against time
By Peggy MihelichCNN
Friday, September 9, 2005Posted: 1:48 p.m. EDT (17:48 GMT)(CNN) -- On the flooded streets of New Orleans you can hear the dogs barking for miles. They are trapped -- in houses, on roofs, tied to porches. They are frightened and hungry.
For the pets left behind after Hurricane Katrina, relief is on the way, but it's a race against time.
"It's a dire situation," said Melissa Seide Rubin of the Humane Society of the United States.Read the rest of the article.
Veterinarian Debbie Rykoff holds a dog rescued from the streets of New Orleans.
Best Friends Animal Society has been working with the troops to rescue animals.
Birds from the Jefferson Parish West Bank shelter are loaded onto a truck for transfer.
The Humane Society CauseCollar!
This looks cool. Mom says she is going to buy all of us one!
COLLAR FOR A CAUSEWant to help? Buy a Humane Society dog "CauseCollar." The blue and brown collar is fashioned after popular "message" bracelets for people. The slogan on the collar reads "Be Kind" and costs $3. Source: Humane Society of the United States
HELP DISASTER VICTIMS!Proceeds from the sale of the "Be Kind" CauseCollars will support The Humane Society of the United States’ Companion Animal programs. But in the wake of devastating Hurricane Katrina, proceeds of sales through September 30, 2005 will be directed to our Disaster Services program, to assist the animal victims of Katrina and other disasters.To read about The HSUS’ Disaster Relief Teams’ efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, please go to www.hsus.org.Click Here to Donate Now
Time is Running Out for Stranded Pets
KATRINA'S AFTERMATH
Time Is Running Out for Stranded Pets Thousands of dogs, cats and other animals left behind by hurricane evacuees are slowly dying as rescuers struggle to save them.
Los Angeles Times
By Reed Johnson and Steven Barrie-Anthony, Times Staff Writers
The New York Times: Pet shelters fill up with furry friends
The humans put us in harm's way. Shouldn't they try harder to save us?
This situation is so terrible I am thinking to run for President of American Pets on the platform of "disasters strike animals too".
Sammy
Shelters for Pets Fill With Furry Survivors
By DEBORAH BLUMENTHAL
Published: September 8, 2005
New York TimesSome excerpts from the story:
Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States, said, "In New Orleans alone, we think there are 50,000 pets." He estimates that they have picked up 200 dogs and 250 cats since Monday. "But we need help," he said. To join the effort, volunteers have to register with the Humane Society at 1-800-HUMANE (1-800-486-2631).Mr. Pacelle said: "The clock is ticking. We've had 2,000 calls from people who have left their pets behind. We're too late for some, but we may be just in time for others." Mr. Pacelle said the Humane Society was "not getting the help we need from local, state and the federal government.""There are policemen and firemen out there who want to help," he said, "but the order on high is to help people, not pets. Three days from now, there will be massive die offs."
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Dogs that came to the Houston S.P.C.A. together were kept together.
The Stranded and Abandoned Doggies in New Orleans
Aahhh, my doggy heart is breaking.
The home page of the Los Angeles Times has a photo of two sad doggies stranded on top of a car in New Orleans. One is a gorgeous GSD and the other a brown and white spaniel.
Don't doggies deserve to be rescued too?
Two dogs sit stranded on an SUV in New Orleans, eight days after Hurricane Katrina struck the region. (Reuters)I gave more of my allowance to the Humane Society today. I've given away all of my treat money for the next 100 years actually. I've spent my great-great-grandchildren's inheritance to try to save some of these poor doggies from death by starvation, thirst, drowning, disease, and so on. Since I can't actually have any progeny (not sure why but Mom says it doesn't matter that I'm "neutered") I thought giving my fortune away was the right thing to do. Luckily since I'm only a dog I cannot dwell on this enormous tragedy. I can only eat my food, beg for treats, and bark at the cats.
The ASPCA Katrina Rescue Diary
Good information at the
ASPCA Katrina Rescue Diary.
Donate to the ASPCA Rescue Fund.
The Search for Snowball
Volunteers try to reunite boy with his dogCNN
Displaced pets left to fend for themselves, but some beat the odds
Tuesday, September 6, 2005;
Posted: 4:52 a.m. EDT (08:52 GMT)
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Among the thousands of crushing moments from last week's deadly hurricane, one image brought the anguish home to many: a tearful little boy torn from his dog while being shuttled to safety
Complete story on CNN
The Reason Some People are not Leaving New Orleans
This picture from the CNN website says it all.
"Many are leaving but police say thousands of people insist on staying."
Some reports have said that DOGS are not allowed in the evacuation.
The Thibodaux Church is Sheltering Pets
Thibodaux church sheltering petsBy Millie Ball
Staff writer for the Times-Picayune newspaper
"Morris looked happy and content as he looked over his temporary flock of humans and pets. 'Animals calm people down. And pet lovers usually have gentle hearts. If you go in the other shelter, people tend to sit still and idle. Here, there's a lot going on. And what's wonderful is the way our students are volunteering and helping wherever they can. For us this is a mission that helps the evacuees and their pets as well as our students who are here taking care of them.' "
Read the entire wonderful article.
The New Orleans Zoo - Animals Doing Well!
Ahh, good news.
"At the Audubon Zoo, only three of 1,400 animals died. It has the good fortune of being located on some of the city's highest ground, but it also had a disaster plan for the animals that seemed to work better than the city's plan for humans. The only fatalities so far were two otters and a raccoon, zoo curator Dan Maloney said Sunday."
I nominate Mr. Maloney to be the head of FEMA.
Complete article.
The Men who Refuse to Leave their Dogs Behind
These men are my heroes!
Ronna Gradus / Miami Herald
Jack Swerdloff, left, with the Miami Dade Florida Task Force 1, talks to Samson Thomas and Wayne Williams, both residents of the Broadmoor District in New Orleans on Sunday. Thomas and Williams refuse to evacuate because they don't want to leave their dogs behind.
Complete article.
Of course you have to ask WHY are they required to leave their doggies behind to a certain death? Do humans only care about themselves? We pets are victims too and completely at the mercy of the humans.
The State that Cares about Doggies
"In Denver, Qwest Communications set up a bank of at least 50 phones at a processing center so refugees could call their loved ones. Colorado state Rep. Debbie Stafford said she was trying to arrange long-term shelter for the storm's victims, and also reunite people with their cats and dogs."
from the article:
States Struggling With Katrina RefugeesBy Todd Lewan, Associated Press Writer
Sunday, September 4, 2005
info about the politician who cares:
DEBBIE STAFFORD
Colorado State Representative
District 40 Office Location:
200 E. Colfax Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303)866-2944
E-Mail:
debbie.stafford.house@state.co.us
The Hope for Pet Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Some pets may be savedHSUS NewsPhotos from the HSUS website
Photo from SPCA Texas
The "Foster-a-Pet" Program for Katrina Victims
Hi everyone,
I just learned about being a foster parent for a pet(s) orphaned by Hurricane Katrina. I begged Mom to take in some felines but she said no, there are too many pets living here as it is. I think the real reason is that she is suspicious of my desire to "care" for luscious lithe kitty cats.
Here's a note I found online about fostering.
--------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
In the past few days, we have received so many emails from people who would like to provide a temporary foster home to a pet left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.
We have offered to put together a database of foster homes for the ASPCA disaster teams and other organizations working on the front lines, and they have accepted our offer.If you live outside of the region affected by the hurricane, you are still welcome and encouraged to sign up. Please know, though, that you will be expected to provide a way to transport the pet(s) to you. If you are asked to travel to the region to pick up your foster pet(s), you will be responsible for all travel costs, arrangements, and accommodations during your trip.
Thank you so very much for your generosity in the face of this horrible tragedy!
Sign-up page to foster a pet orphaned by Hurricane Katrina
Abbie Moore
Executive Director
1-800-Save-A-Pet.com
Notification:
1-800-Save-A-Pet.com is a non-profit, tax-deductible 501(c)(3) adoption advertising charity.Our mission (and passion) is to help get homeless pets out of the shelters and into loving homes.
©2005 1-800-Save-A-Pet.comP.O. Box 7, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
The "No Pets Allowed" Rule in New Orleans
From the Associate Press via the New York Times.
Tense Crowds Fill Buses From Superdome to Texas
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 1, 2005
Filed at 8:31 p.m. ET
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- At the front of the line, the weary refugees waded through ankle-deep water, grabbed a bottle of water from state troopers and happily hopped on buses that would deliver them from the horrendous conditions of the Superdome.
At the back end of the line, people jammed against police barricades in the rain. Refugees passed out and had to be lifted hand-over-hand overhead to medics.
Pets were not allowed on the bus, and when a police officer confiscated a little boy's dog, the child cried until he vomited. ''Snowball, Snowball,'' he cried.-------------------------------------------------
I cannot even comment on this news.
Sammy the very sad pet dog
The List of Places to Donate for the Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Be sure your money is really being put to work. Not all charities are created equal. Check them out at
Charity Navigator and read the blog ("
Trent Stamp's Take") by their executive director.
Recent blog entries by Stamp:
Helping Katrina's Victims Today's Straight to Hell WinnerCharity Navigator
recommends the following animal-related charities:
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsThe Humane Society of the United StatesPETsMART CharitiesThanks to Harrison for providing another
list. And still another
list is at Network for Good.
