AHHHHH...HOME SWEET HOME!

Friday, August 26th, 2011

WOW … has it already been two weeks since I left the vet?  I have been so busy settling in, getting familiar with my new place called "Foster Farms" Retreat and getting to know the other dogs that live here.  Several of the dogs have been rescued just like me, so we have a lot in common.  It’s all good! 

I spent the first night getting a well deserved good night sleep on all of the snugly soft beds.  (It sure beats the hard ground in the ditch and the concrete at the shelter.)  The next morning, I was determined to check out my new surroundings and all the new smells.
I could hear the little engine and her helper singing, "I-think-I can! I-think-I can! I-think-I can."
Well, I just knew I could and got up on all four’s ready to go check it all out on my own … (You know the saying, you can't keep a good "dog" down).  It worked for a second or two
and ... oops, down I went. 

The girls have worked out a schedule to get me “up and out,” since it takes two of them, even with the help of the nifty harness.  After a few days though, the girls barely had to hold me up with the harness. That is HUGE progress in only 2 weeks!

That is, as long as we are going in the direction that I want to go.  However if it’s not, I “put my weight into it” and become a 127 pound stubborn donkey.  They quickly figured out that they could coax me with a TINY piece of CHICKEN.  (Well, that only worked the first couple of times, I figured that one out!)

I get to spend time every day in the fenced area where I watch the other foster dogs running and barking in the field below and enjoy the beautiful scenery.  My new two legged friends come to visit, hang out with me and give me lots of love and attention.  (It's all about me, don't you know.) 

It’s awesome ‘cuz when they hold out a “tiny” treat, I get what they call “my CHICKEN face.”

(Yup ...love that chicken!)

Speaking of food … the girls have been frantically researching my new strict diet.  Oh… the many, many phone calls, discussions, emails and online research … all around what type of food I should eat, the amount, the ingredients, the nutritional values (protein, fat, fiber) and so on.  I’m guessing that hamburgers and french fries aren’t going to be on the menu – DARN! 

My weight is my biggest concern and preventing me from getting around on my own.  Dr. B said I need to lose 50 to 60 pounds.  YIKES, that means I am considered 79% overweight … the same as a 5’9” man weighing over 300 pounds (with 130 pounds of that being "extra" weight). To really put it into perspective, try carrying THREE 40 pound bags of dog food areound all of the time.  No wonder I can’t stand up or walk!

With all the talk about diet, exercise and overall health risks, I think I’ll do some research on my own – on the growing problem of animals (like me) and “packing on those extra pounds” and people too!  I hope everyone can benefit and work on this together!

Heading off to the book store …

Got Chicken?
~ Summer

P.S. Again, I would like to thank everyone for your help and dedication, and especially for following my journey! Thank you!

**Side note before I totally sign off ... some of my fans are telling me that if they are following by email, some of you may not be getting the pictures, just the text.  And as they say, "pictures are worth a thousand words."  If this is happening to you - try:  1. check your computer settings, 2. Join the site! or "forward the message" and they should pop up.**

Copyright - Summer's Journey 2011 - All rights reserved

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Today is another big day! After spending a wonderful week at the vets, I’ve been cleared to leave and start the next chapter of my new life.  (Wait, a wonderful week at the vet’s?  That sounds just wrong!)

OK…the X-rays, blood work and other tests weren’t exactly an enjoyable experience, but Dr. B said it gave him lots of answers.  I was treated for a nasty bladder infection (if you’ve ever had one, you know what I’m talking about - not fun!). The X-rays showed arthritis and possible torn ACL’s in both knees. The good news is there doesn't appear to be any nerve damage or thyroid problems.

The vet staff treated me like royalty. I was so happy with all the love and attention, I gave myself “happy tail.” (You know … that thing you get when you wag your tail too much!)   So YES, it was a wonderful week at the vet’s.

Before I left, with the pretty pink bandage on my tail <g>, I had my second weigh in and weighed 3 pounds more – 127.  Total Bummer!  But Dr. B said it wasn't surprising since I was very dehydrated before. Everyone is hopeful that with weight loss and therapy, I will regain the mobility in my hind legs and be able to walk. There is a possibility of surgery, but I have to weigh under 100 pounds first.  

Once again, the singing angels appeared and swooped me up and loaded me back into the SUV (OK OK, swoop is a slight exaggeration).  Off we went again … over more mountains, valleys and rivers. 

When we arrived, we were greeted by another angel who was holding a special harness … (just for me!) and once again, I started to tumble out of the car to greet her.  The poor girls really struggled … grunting and dripping with sweat, while they maneuvered me this way and that, to get the harness on.

And then it happened … with the harness and their support, I was able to stand and walk my first “baby” steps. You could hear their cheers of joy for miles and I couldn’t stop wagging my tail, even if I do look like a bear!

I am so excited to settle in to my new place (all set up with soft beds everywhere)!  I know I'm going to love it here!  

Since I am still young (only 2 to 5 years old) and have my whole life ahead of me …my transformation to safely lose half of my body weight so I walk and run - starts now!

Determined and so very thankful,
~ Summer

Copyright - Summer's Journey 2011 - All rights reserved

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HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Monday, August 8^th, 2011

My name is Summer and today is the first day of the rest of my life.  Over 2 weeks ago, I was alone in a ditch on the side of the road after someone left me there. (Who would do something like that?)  After 2 days, a caring person called for help and I was taken to the local animal shelter.The people at the shelter were so nice and kind.  They knew I needed more help than they could provide and called a very special person who could do just that - help me.

You see… I am grossly obese, I weigh 124.2 pounds (about twice what I should weigh), and I look like a bear.  I probably weighed more ... but the truth is "it's way too much."  To further complicate things, I can’t stand up or walk, so I pull and drag myself around. I want to so badly and I keep trying, but I just can’t get up.

I knew there was not much hope or time left for me ...unless a "village of caring souls" came to my rescue.

This morning, when I woke up, I sniffed the air and I could feel that things were about to change. And then I heard it, coming from miles away … two Angels singing at the top of their lungs to Marvin Gaye’s song:
“Listen, Summer. Ain't no mountain high. Ain't no valley low. Ain't no river wide enough.  If you need me, call me. No matter where you are. No matter how far. Just call our names. We'll be there in a hurry, You don't have to worry…”

Please don’t tell the girls, but they were a little off tune <g>. The next thing I knew, I was being loaded into the back of a SUV on soft dog beds and off we went … back over the “mountains, valleys, and rivers.”

Our next stop was with a wonderful vet who was standing by to check me out from head to tail and start the medical treatment I so desperately needed.  I was so excited to let him know that “I am here!” and I poured out of the car, only to be caught by four people.

First, there was the humbling experience of the initial big “weigh in.”  I felt like I was a contestant on either the reality show "The Biggest Loser" or "Extreme Makeover – Weight Loss Edition.”

But that is ok, because I knew I couldn’t have gotten this far by myself without the help of so many heroes who came to my rescue, surrounding me with care, compassion and the will to survive!  I can still hear the Angels singing:

“Cuz Summer ...There ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough, Summer … To keep us from getting to you.”

I hope you will follow me on my journey and celebrate my successes, challenges and tough times, and my determination to never give up ….(Deep sigh) … For tonight, I will sleep tight!

Until next time,
~ Summer 

Copyright - Summer's Journey 2011 - All rights reserved

NEW BEGINNINGS ...

... and second chances for ME!