| Back in October I was feeling the need for | | | | After that scare, Lucky began getting better. I |
| companionship, yet not willing to commit, so I | | | | was now stricter than ever with him. He now |
| decided to foster. I already have one dog that I | | | | slept in a cage, by my bed upstairs, no more late |
| love dearly and rescued three years ago, yet I | | | | night binges. He also continued short walks to the |
| am always looking to help out other less | | | | bus stop to pick up the kids, small portions of |
| fortunate animals. | | | | food morning and night, and snacks of mini |
| I had recently been getting involved with the local | | | | carrots in between to curb his appetite. I began |
| Humane Society and had just received an e-mail | | | | to feel like he was a contestant on the show the |
| that day pleading for people to help out in | | | | Biggest Loser as I took him occasionally to the |
| fostering a dog since they were overrun with | | | | shelter for weigh ins. His diet was working and he |
| dogs and not enough cages. There were no | | | | was looking better than ever. |
| pictures, only descriptions of the dogs. I knew | | | | It was at this time that I received a call from the |
| what I could handle, already having three small | | | | shelter informing me that they wanted Lucky to |
| kids, two cats, a dog, and a guinea pig, but it was | | | | be seen by a specialist for his torn ACL. This was |
| more about what could my husband handle? | | | | a surprise, because I was under the assumption |
| When I read the description about Lucky, a 7 | | | | that he was to old, to heavy, and not a potential |
| year old beagle who found himself in the shelter | | | | candidate for the surgery. I was elated knowing |
| because his owner had died, needing a little TLC | | | | that there is a lot of life left in Lucky and he |
| and help in dieting, I knew I had to foster him. | | | | would make someone a terrific dog. |
| Upon our first meeting, Lucky waddled, and I | | | | Once we had seen the specialist, who agreed that |
| mean waddled over to me. A dog who should | | | | Lucky would be a great candidate for the surgery |
| have weighed 25-30 pounds came slowly waddling | | | | and commented on what a wonderful disposition |
| at an almost staggering weight of 50 some | | | | Lucky had, we waited to see what the shelter |
| pounds. He was happy, friendly, and very mellow, | | | | would say. At this point, Lucky was now the pet |
| and I was smitten and determined to help him. | | | | of the month with pet finder, known throughout |
| Upon his entrance the people at the shelter | | | | the shelter and our neighborhood, and had his |
| noticed a limp that was more prominent then | | | | picture taken with the kids for our Christmas |
| they had noticed earlier, so he was to have a visit | | | | card. The shelter agreed to his surgery and off |
| with the vet then home with me. | | | | he went. |
| The diagnosis was a torn Anterior Cruciate | | | | I was not prepared for what the aftermath of |
| Ligament. I had no idea what that was, what it | | | | the surgery would entail. Poor Lucky came home |
| meant, and what it would entail for Lucky as we | | | | with a splint covering his entire right hind leg. This |
| both left the shelter. His instructions were to be: | | | | splint was not to get wet so every time he went |
| no stairs, limited activity, short walks to do his | | | | out, on a leash only, he was to wear a protective |
| business, take his medicine, and a strict diet. | | | | boot over the cast to be put on prior to going |
| Well, Lucky had his own agenda once I got him | | | | out and taken off again in the house, not to |
| home. He quickly fell in love with the kids, as they | | | | mention the Elizabethan collar around his neck |
| did with him. The other animals already in the | | | | preventing him from chewing at his splint. He was |
| house didn't seem to mind him. It was just my | | | | restricted from steps, and this time even Lucky |
| husband wanting to know why he was at our | | | | agreed, so we put his cage in the living room only |
| house. Just fostering, helping him out I assured | | | | with the splint he could not turn around in the |
| him. Lucky didn't believe in limited activity. The | | | | cage so we made him a bed on the floor. The |
| stairs that the people at the shelter highly | | | | medication was plenty and helped him to sleep a |
| doubted that he would attempt, he attempted | | | | bit, but he would wake at night and howl so that I |
| every time we were either upstairs or | | | | would have to take my sleeping bag and sleep |
| downstairs. In the evenings he managed to get in | | | | with him on the living room floor. This went on for |
| the garbage, or the cat food, basically thumbing | | | | two weeks until the cast came off. |
| his nose at his diet. When I went for walks with | | | | With the cast off and awaiting his final visit with |
| the other dog, he pushed his way out and insisted | | | | the specialist, Lucky is still living under restrictions. |
| on walking, with limp, and meeting everyone in the | | | | He is not suppose to do steps, although you can't |
| neighborhood. | | | | stop Lucky, unless you want to hear him howl all |
| His cough pursued, another reason he needed | | | | night so he is now back in his cage by my bed. |
| foster care, and I just assumed it was a cough | | | | Lucky is still dieting, and in fact looks at carrots as |
| until I found him throwing up blood. I quickly took | | | | a dog treat. Laugh if you will, but Lucky is now an |
| him back to the shelter where they took a look | | | | almost svelte 40 pounds. A lady expressed |
| at him, weighed him, actually gained weight, and | | | | interest in adopting Lucky from pet finder, so he |
| came to the conclusion that he had a reaction to | | | | could have a home. |
| the pain medications that he was taking for the | | | | Let's just say, we got Lucky for Christmas in |
| torn ACL. | | | | more ways than one. |