We have a purple martin birdhouse on a tall 30-foot telescoping pole in the backyard. We also have a variety of vermin who live in and around our backyard: i.e. bunnies underneath our shed and squirrels in our trees. Sam and Maxie so enjoy chasing these creatures in hopes of catching them for our dinner...to no avail. The rodents know juuuuust when they need to run away under our fence and not get caught.One brazen squirrel has taken it upon him/her/itself to completely destroy our neighbor's patio furniture cushions. We've seen the thing scurry across our yard with a mouthful of foam and stuffing. But where did he/she/it go with it?
Sections of our purple martin house innards (room sections and walls) have been seen thrown about the backyard lately. Perplexing. It seems that the squirrel has taken it upon him/her/itself to move in to the purple martin house. Pretty bold to scurry up a metal pole 30 feet into the air to make one's new home.
So one Friday, Maxie and Sam tear off from the back door to net them some squirrel meat for our evening dinner. Kimberly calls them in, and Maxie is limping. No weight on her rear right leg. Crap. NOW what did she do? By Saturday morning, she continues to refuse to put any weight on her leg, so Kimberly took her to the vet. Guess what? Torn ACL.
You've got to be kidding us.
In 2004, she tore her left rear ACL during the athletic process of falling ass first off the ottoman and twisting funny. So at least in 2008 she tore her other one in the act of hunting lower mammals on the food chain.
Monday morning Chris drops Maxie off at the vet for her procedure. They call Kimberly during the day to keep us updated: anesthesia is fine; surgery went fine; she woke up just fine. Kimberly was able to visit with her tonight and Maxie is doing AOK, albeit a bit drowsy. She'll stay the night and (hopefully) come home Tuesday night.
Maxie bounces back quite well after all her procedures and surgeries, so her recovery will go just fine. In fact, in 2004 Maxie was our vet's first patient during a "new" ligament repair procedure that he just learned at a conference: no immobilization of the leg with a different type of surgery. She performed splendidly then, so this time we're expecting the same.
Sam on the other hand, is a basketcase without her and will be a whining white puffball all night long for us. For as much as they "fight" and argue as "brother and sister", when they are separated they are miserable without their respective partner in crime.
So to recap, in the first 2+ months of 2008, we've had Sam's expensive bladder surgery and now Maxie's expensive ACL surgery. Ahhhh...to own older dogs where "pet insurance" was not an available option when they were still puppies.
1 comment:
It is remarkable how much Max and I have in common. Among these is the fact that we are often in the doghouse. However, this lastest unfortunate event for Maxie reminds me of my own plight with a torn ACL. You may or may not know that I tore my ACL in high school while, as the pulling left guard on the storied Hicksville Aces, I was in the process of throwing a devistating block on the strong safety of the "B" team during practice. Surgery followed.
I know, you're saying: "Maxie never participated in any team sports." Now, fast forward to summer 1992. Our beloved family dog, Mugsy, was doing her "business" in the yard when she was ruthlessly attacked by a local stray dog, who would have easily torn Mugsy limb from limb. Witnessing the unprovoked attack, I ran from the house to save the day. In the process of trying to kick the offending mutt, I completely destroyed what was left of my partially torn ACL in my right knee. A second, full reconstructive surgery followed.
Maxie and I share the common bond of the warrior sent out to battle for the protection of our sacred turf against the outlaw varments that seek to destroy it.
I salute you, Maxie
Love,
Duke
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