Scooter:  Hospice

In April of 2005, Scooter's family gave her up because they did not have the money to pay for back surgery and requested the Emergency Clinic euthanize her. She was only 4 years old. The clinic felt that little Scooter would have a good chance at recovery if she had surgery right away, so they asked Scooter's owners to sign her over to them. One of the vet techs at the clinic follows our website and called to see if we could help with Scooter. As soon as I saw her precious face I just knew that she deserved another chance. She still had deep pain sensation in her back legs so she was a good candidate for surgery. Unfortunately, by Monday morning when the back surgery was scheduled, most of the sensation in her legs was gone, but Dr. Caplan felt that she might have success because the injury was so new. Even though she was only given a 25% chance of walking, we went forward with the surgery.

She couldn't walk after surgery and didn't have bladder or bowel control, but she had acupuncture each week and we started water therapy, which, in true doxie form, she HATED! How could we possibly put her in water??? After 3 months of hard work she was standing, and shortly after that she was walking. Then she was running, then she was chasing after the ball, and chasing after the ball, and chasing after the ball! She is a BALL HOUND! She never did recover her bladder or bowel control - she "goes", just can't control it, but doesn't mind wearing diapers, especially when they are designer!

An extremely difficult bout with Ecoli left her immune system completely decimated, so it was at this point that we decided to make her a Hospice Care dog. We must be very careful what she is exposed to, because she doesn't have the ability to fight anything.

She is full of energy and desperately wants to play ball! She truly has no idea that she is any different than any other dog, and is happy happy. She can run around the yard with the fastest of them, even if it isn't the best looking run. And she is definitely one heck of a vocal gal - just ask her foster mom - she is called Her Royal Highness, Queen of All Things Demanding, The Screaming Screeching Scooter Pooter!