Thursday - 01/16/03 - 8:00 PM
On Monday, we took back one of our Bully pups. This is a very sad story about a wonderful puppy. He's 5 months old and crippled. I have tried for 7 weeks to get the people to let me have him back but they refused, swearing undying love and spent mega dollars, against my advice, on invasive tests.
**The former owners thought two high priced Veterinary Specialist knew more about my babies, than I did, so they ignored my advice which was counter to these vets. BUT in the end when they thought he was dying, they drove 30 hours to bring him back to my open arms!! I don't believe there could be stronger evidence of how much they loved him. I know in my heart that The Champ's injury was just a freak accident, it happens with humans all the time. I never blamed the former owners for what happened to him, but I did blame them for not listening to me and I blamed myself for my inability to persuade them to let me have him back initially.
Our Vet says it has probably been too long since the onset of the problem to help him, but...the little guy is finally home. The latest diagnosis that they were given is "a rare non-genetic spine disease" which one of four possible could not be determined without $700 more in tests. By this time they were planning on giving him back therefore I refused to allow any more invasive tests until he was here and MS State Vet School verified the need. How he could have gotten a disease of this nature, has not been explained.
I have never thought his problem was genetic or a disease!!! I've always thought it was an injury due to its "sudden onset" - he went out to potty and when he came back in he couldn't control his hindquarter.
This has been the worst ordeal regarding one of our Bullies that we have ever experienced, but we could not turn our backs to him. We had no control over what was happening to him but we were receiving 4-5 highly emotionally charged e-mails daily, exclaiming such things as "he's dying and here is nothing that can be done for him".
Friday - 01/17/03 - 11:23 PM
From: Judy Cooksey-Cowling
To: Former Owners
Cc: Bob
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 7:28 PM
Subject:
We brought him home this afternoon (after a 24 hour observation by our Vet). He is pitiful, but OH SO endearing. Dr Frank and Dr Jerry are stumped as to how to proceed. They say it may be too late for treatment since it has been so long since it happened. They have in calls to the University of Auburn. I asked to be referred to the university they thought was best, as Dr Frank put it "they are use to out of the ordinary situations". Meanwhile we have the Bulldog puppy on the steroids, calcium tablets, and vitamin E. Dr Frank wants him in the sun, if possible for as long as possible, so we are going to fix him a day time playpen/dog run in the greenhouse with carpet, the greenhouse has a concrete floor and that would be horrible on his private area.
Please, please get a letter from the neurologist, which will name the 4 rare diseases as soon as possible so I can start doing more research in medical books and online for Dr Frank.
We thought about getting him a very small skate board so he could get around better, but for now Dr Frank wants him to use his muscles as much as possible. On the way home I decided the greatest and oldest male incentive known to mankind is a female. I think we have one coming into heat from the way PepperJack is acting.
We have the pregnant and nursing females in very large crates in the house...it is so crazy here with hormones in third gear. He is not in a crate, so with all the females in the house, he's really booty scooting around smelling of them. Only Sleepy has barked at him. She was nervous about him being around her pups, but Kate doesn't seem to mind as long as Bob was sitting between them. When we take them out to exercise and potty he goes in their crate and drools. He said he loves these Southern Ladies!!! The yard dogs greeted him with affection but we didn't want them to interact with him much because we don't know where they have been or what germs they might be tracking in.
As you know when he crawls around he "wets" I think that is due to the strain of pulling his body around. That is not a problem for us because I have to sweep and mop almost daily anyway, when I don't have a cracked rib. I'm just concerned about another UTI.
Just as you predicted, he's licking the faces of all the ladies and the 4-week-old puppies. I put him in the pool with the babies for a while but I don't think he liked the smell of Bulldog puppy poop that close, one of them is always pooping. He just wanted to be on the outside where he could give them kisses. If will has anything to do with it he'll make progress.
If the definition of a Hero is an ordinary person doing extraordinary things...I'm married to my hero!!! Isn't that a wonderful thing to be able to say!!!
Friday - 01/17/03 - NOON
We've decided to give the crippled Bulldog puppy a new name - "The Champ", because he's in training!! I've posted the e-mail we sent to the former owner on Tuesday when we got back from seeing Dr Frank. It contains information, which will help you to better understand this situation. If I weren't as stubborn as a Bulldog, the events of the past week would have been enough to make me quit raising Bullies!!!
Sunday - 01/19/03 - 9:00 AM
We have had several e-mails wishing "The Champ" well. An extraordinary lady, who is owned by one of our Bullies, has extensive experience in physical therapy. Nan is wonderful!!! The time she has spent corresponding with us, explaining procedures and why they are needed is priceless.
Dr Frank has gotten us a referral to MS State Vet School. We are waiting on the summation of Champ's visit with the neurologist on 1/6 before making the appointment. The former owners advised they had made several requests for this information but have not received it as of yesterday.
Tuesday - 01/21/03 - 4:00 AM
Yesterday, we finally got grouchy!!! Very little sleep, stress and highly emotional situations will do that!!! Bob had been sharp with me, which he never is, I was hurting really bad because I had done too much - we yelled...we hugged. We have a strong love and forgiving hearts.
We received The Champ's medical record yesterday, but the possible "rare spinal diseases" were not named. We will be taking him back to Dr Frank for further evaluation before making the appointment with Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. The records could be interpreted to support my theory of an injury.
Wednesday - 01/22/03 - 3:00 AM
Yesterday it rained most of the day so all of "our gang" were less spirited than usual, plus their sleep has been interrupted by our activity with the puppies.
It was a low day for The Champ, I believe due to lack of sleep, plus he missed his playtime with Fluffy, the Spitz. He spent several hours lazily looking at the cats through the glass in the back door, or dozing beside first one, then another of the female Bullies.
Please notice the time on this posting, we are very tired, but are unable to sleep more than couple of hours at a time, due to the demands upon us. Don't despair, I have 53 e- mails that I have not answered but will soon.
Friday - 01/24/03 - 2:30 PM
Bully Butt Wiggle, Bully Butt Wiggle! ! !
The Champ has marked improvement, we are holding our breath and praying it will last!!! I've sent our specialist in physical therapy an e-mail asking for immediate guidance!!!
He has started to bunny hop with his back legs when he gets excited, i.e. Fluffy caught a mole, she showed it to him then ran away, he wanted it bad, so he bunny hopped several times, probably 6 before Bob diverted his attention, not knowing if we should allow this or not.
Bob called to me to come out into the yard to see the Champ in action using a liver treat as a tease. Tears of joy came immediately!!!
Monday - 01/27/03 - 10:00 AM
We're moving slow this morning, although we've been up since 6 AM, I couldn't sleep last night for the "grease" and pain from falling, I don't know which was worse (an attempt at humor, it was the fall!!). Bob is taking a nap before we go to Dr Frank's. Don't tell him I said this, but he has lost so much sleep that he's really getting grouchy!!
People are asking why I fall so often...I have a bad leg and foot. I am unable to recover my footing when I get off balance, which is easy to do. This time I was watching what I was washing instead of where I was stepping, on the water hose. BUT originally the doctors told me I would never be able to walk without a severe limp, etc. I asked if they were trying to tell me I would no longer be the "Bebop Queen" to which they replied, maybe you'll be able to slow dance. I CAN DANCE, maybe not all the great steps and whirls formerly, but I can dance!!!
The Champ and I have the same determination, plus both of us have Bob to help us along, so I know The Champ will walk again on his own. He seems to make a tiny bit of improvement on a daily basis. He no longer "wets" while struggling to "walk". I'm convinced the "wetting" was the result of having to strain so hard pulling himself around with his front legs when he couldn't rise up off the floor. We have been warned that it will take a very long time to teach him to walk again, just like a baby.
I won't be able to play a major role in updating the website until after 2/23/03, the deadline I set for collecting information which will enable me to make an impartial decision in regard to the former owners request for a refund of The Champ's purchase price or a replacement puppy. I refused to consider returning him to them in response to a message of "We miss him greatly and struggle with the decision to bring him back daily." When they made the decision to return him they told me that they did not want him back, I am holding them to that decision.
Got to run, puppies calling.
Friday - 01/24/03 - 9:00 PM
Bob took this earlier in the day for the Specialist In Physical Therapy. We thought you might like to see it, but watch out for falling tears!!
This file takes about 20 minutes to download.
Click here to download a 17 second movie clip of The Champ "walking" photographed January 24, 2003!
Friday - 01/24/03 - 5:00 PM
Response from our specialist in physical therapy to whom we sent an e-mail asking for immediate guidance:
Don't encourage him, he runs the risk of re-injury, just take it real slow and continue his present treatment.
My concern is that the pup is all heart...I think he'd do anything to please, including pushing himself beyond safety. However, this is wonderful. There is hope that he's coming back Judy! How blessed you are to have a dog with that kind of guts and acceptance.
Saturday - 01/25/03 - 10:00 AM
Major Bully Butt Wiggle!!!!! While out to potty, The Champ took three totally normal steps!!!
Saturday - 01/25/03 - 9:30 AM
Bob got The champ out of his crate to take him out to potty, but before they went out he put down a bowl of water for him, on a throw rug.
The Champ rose up on his right leg/hip all the way (like a normal dog) to drink the water. There is no positive change in his left leg. The right leg has been the stronger one since his return.
We're trying not to get too excited, he could regress.
Sunday - 01/26/03 - 8:00 AM
Today is PICTURE Day, if it moves we're going to take its picture!! We will start working on uploading them to the website tonight, after the nightly walking and feedings.
Morning chores started with me being jolted out of a deep sleep, instantly I was jumping up and running, a puppy was screaming like it had been plugged into an electrical outlet. It was Astro who I'm sure had been asleep in his favorite position, spread eagle. Evidently Lassie woken up before the others and was having fun, pulling legs, biting tails, ears and "other things" to wake them up.
There is never time for a leisurely cup of coffee, we take sips between taking The Champ out to potty and grown Bullies out for their morning walk and potty time. Fortunately, in this cold weather they take care of their "business" quickly and almost drag us back inside. You could almost hear them grumble, "Dang Puppies, I was sleepin' good". Of course Bob and I are thinking the same, it's only 5:15 AM.
The Champ is maintaining his improvement adding a bunny hop and step this morning. I went out with Bob when he took him to potty and observed The Champ as he started out in a grassy area on one side of the drive then decided to cross over to the other side, where all the ladies stopped to "tinkle". I told Bob no wonder he's getting around better, what an incentive, that gravel drive would ready hurt his "private area" if he had drug his body across it like he was doing when he first got back home. Then I asked Bob if he had put The Champ over there on purpose...we both got a laugh out at that thought. Having a sense of humor gets us through some tough times.
PS We are taking The Champ in for additional x-rays on Monday. Please pray we find what we are looking for in these x-rays.
Tuesday - 01/28/03 - 9:00 AM
Bob & I, in a laugh or cry mood after the events of yesterday, decided the Events Page is beginning to sound like a Soap Opera - should we rename it As The Bullies Snore or All Our Bullies?
We took The Champ to Dr Frank for x-rays of his pelvis area. After combing the medical records, our wonderful friend and Physical Therapy advisor asked about them and finding none I decided to go ahead just to be positive on their condition. To be honest, I was hopeful that we might find a slight shift or something of that nature which might be corrected by a physical adjustment from an Osteopath or Chiropractor. His pelvic area checked out to be fine, so that rules out a "quick fix". Dr Frank said when he read the medical records and examined Champ, after he was returned to us, he was doubtful. Now he certainly is impressed at how much progress Champ has made. He remarked, "What a happy little fella!!!!
Tuesday - 01/28/03 - 3:30 PM
....yesterday, I told Dr Frank I didn't feel it was necessary to take him to MS State University unless he started to regress, Dr Frank agreed.
Wednesday - 01/29/03 - 1:30 PM
Judy is laid up in bed -- she has lifted, twisted, danced, cooked, cleaned, swept, washed, dried, ... too much! Her ribs are really hurting but she won't stay still long enough to mend! If everyone reading this would send a short email with a subject "Judy - stay in bed!" maybe, just maybe, she will mind.
And now, for news of The Champ! (who loves his mama!) This morning (6:30) when we went out to potty, he surprised me by nearly walking! He did even better at 10 so I took a clip of him when we went out at noon. It shows him taking 3 or 4 real steps, bunny hopping for 3 more, walking some more and then sitting just for a second and then picking up the lead (rope) and bringing it to me! What a Champ!
Click here to download a 16 second movie clip of The Champ "walking" photographed January 29, 2003!
Thursday - 01/30/03 - 1:30 PM
I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! I just witness The Champ going out to potty on his own without having to be picked up, carried out and placed in the grass! AND it was his idea!!!
He following Smart Cookie out the door, across the porch and out into the yard, immediately stopping to "do his business". He went down the 3-inch step down but Bob was cautious and helped him on his return to step up. Just think, 2 1/2 weeks ago he was pulling himself around by his front arms with the rest of his body flat on the floor. He has come so far that it is truly a miracle!!
We are cautiously optimistic that he will fully regain his ability to walk, maybe like me he won't be able to do the fancy steps BUT lots of people/dogs never felt the joy of being able to do them in the first place.
Friday - 01/31/03 - 10:30 AM
Have you ever heard a young child say, "I can do it myself"? If so, you know The Champ's attitude this morning. He went out to potty by himself and back in.
He didn't want Bob to even act like he needed help or supervision!!! Plus, he's decided he's through with Physical Therapy. What an arrogant scamp!!! Don't you just love it!!!
I had to laugh, poor Bob, I can remember acting the exact same way when I was learning to walk again and he loved me anyway!
It's going to be a GREAT day!!!
Friday - 01/31/03 - 2:00 PM
Our advisor in Physical Therapy wanted me to make sure everyone understands that The Champ's attitude is certainly a very positive and necessary ingredient, but his full recovery will not be overnight, hopefully we will just continue to see daily steady improvement.
It has only been 2 1/2 weeks and his progress has been remarkable but it may be like it is with a diet, weight is dropped quickly at first then you have to struggle to achieve your goal.
We are to go without Physical Therapy for a few days then gradually work it back into his schedule.
Friday - 01/31/03 - 12:00 AM
A couple of people have expressed interest in seeing a new video of The Champ. He "walks" a little better each day so there wouldn't be too much of a noticeable different on a video clip. Today's great improvement, however, is his independent attitude - he now realizes total recovery is coming and he doesn't have to be dependent any more. We'll be sure to post a new video in a few days. Poor Bob has too much to do right now with taking care of all "our gang", plus me.
Thursday - 02/06/03 - 1:30 PM
The Champ is doing great!!! Especially when you consider he was pulling himself around by his front legs with the remainder of his body flat on the floor when we got him back. The prognosis of one of the former owner's vets was that he was going to die, therefore they advised "putting him to sleep".
He was returned at the worse possible time for we were already laboring under a heavy load. This has been a huge undertaking and added an almost unbearable amount of stress to our already stressed out lives, but he is worth every moment!!
We wanted to share with you his remarkable progress. View the 01/24/03 clip first then the one taken yesterday, it will show you how far he progressed in just 1 1/2 weeks. I would call it a miracle brought about by Bob's unselfish love and dedication. Plus our wonderful friends who give physical therapy advice, moral support and offers of physical assistance if everything became too much for Bob. But above everything was - The Champ's will to walk again !!!
Warning when you view the movie clips, watch out for falling tears!
01/24/03 Click here to view movie clip of The Champ "barely walking".
Download time 20 minutes.
02/05/03 Click here to view movie clip of The Champ "walking 12 or 13 steps!".
Download time 10 minutes.
Saturday - 02/08/03 - 6:00 AM
The Champ is still making remarkable progress. Yesterday, no humans were in the kitchen, a full sack of dog food fell over. Not knowing what was causing the Bullies to bark, I hurried downstairs. The first thing I saw was The Champ in his crate, standing on all four feet, straight as could be barking in the direction of the disturbance. Way to go Champ!!!
Monday - 02/10/03 - 8:00 PM
Go Champ, do the Bully Butt Wiggle!!! He has already started with his tail, he knows the rhythm and is apt to get it going this week, strut his stuff sure 'nuff.
You absolutely have to view this movie clip if you are interested in "The Champ". Remember: one vet advised putting him down, another said without $700+ for additional tests he was sure to die...but now he's determined to do the Bully Butt Wiggle just to prove them wrong!!!
Click here for a 17 second movie clip of Champ walking.
Monday - 02/10/03 - 5:00 PM
Lord Have Mercy!!! On the souls of some people in this world. The Champs former owner spent Mega $ having tests run by a neurologist in NY. I sent this doctor a letter on 1/23 advising I would have additional information by 2/23 regarding The Champ's condition. I got a response to that letter in the mail today saying his evaluation fee was $120, to be paid in advance. Now don't you think a doctor would just want to take a look to assure himself that his prognosis was correct, which in this case, I firmly believe, it was NOT.
As Grandmother use to say, "Don't worry, when folks start acting too big for their britches... those britches are bound to rip!!! If anyone sees a neurologist in NY with his "be-hind" showing you'll know it's him.
Monday - 02/10/03 - 9:00 AM
Last week when we took the movie of the Champ, Bob and I discussed how wonderful it was that he had progressed this far and was now able to function independent of us. Well that little Scamp is just determined to go all the way!! He is making progress every single day, we are hopeful that it won't be long before he can kick up his heels with the best of them!!! We'll try to post a movie later today.
Wednesday - 02/12/03 - 1:00 PM
Historically, Meter Readers and dogs have had unusual relationships, mostly negative. "Our Gang" doesn't seem to be much interested one way or the other....except for The Champ. Today, he following the Meter Reader 40 feet up the driveway, which is an incline, without falling or slipping!!! Finally, he got tired of trying to catch up to the fast walking man so he just sat down. Way to go Champ!!!
What excellent therapy, I wonder how we could get him to read the meter, 3 times a day. We believe because the Meter Reader ignored him, The Champ was determined to get his attention, he's not use to being ignored.
Friday - 02/14/03 -11:15 AM
The below picture is of The Champ with Sleepy's Perdy, his half-sister
The champ isn't "standing on all fours" all of the time but those pictures are the ones we're most proud to show you.
Saturday - 02/15/03 - 5:30 PM
It's 62 degrees so we have the back door open and animals are running in and out. The Champ is about to get his behind whipped, one way or the other!!!!! First he peed in the kitchen floor, so I took a swat at him with a dish towel and scolded him. He "ran" to Bob, sat down and looked at me like I had lost my mind. Then he goes out on the back porch and attempts to "mount" Fluffy, our Miniature American Eskimo Spitz - white fluffy, prissy thing with her tail flipped over her back, who has been spayed. I heard her growling and told her she better not hurt "the baby", so she takes it out on Boomer and Dumpy by chasing them all around the porches, growling and snapping in really rough play. Later, Boomer and Dumpy, both neutered males, start growling when The Champ gets fresh with them. The source of his trouble is a female Bully in heat, but he better wise up in a hurry or one of the other dogs is going to whip his behind. They have put up with him getting special treatment and treats because he's cripple but they are drawing the line at him being "fresh".
Monday - 02/17/03 - 6:45 PM
I've been cleaning house and showing our Bullies to Tanya and David, who came to pick up Marmaduke. If you ask them, they are sure to tell you it is a little overwhelming to have these guys all wanting attention at the same time. All our Bullies, except Champ, are in crates when we have puppies down in the pool otherwise there is too great a risk of the puppies accidently getting hurt. The Champ "goes up" when Kate is actually with the pups, because he loves to hang his head over the side of the pool and nuzzle with the pups, which doesn't set right with Kate.
Thursday - 02/20/03 - 1:00 PM
This movie clip of The Champ is remarkable, especially if you view the earlier clip first. I'm guessing he has recovered 90% of the movement he formerly had. When we got him back, 5 weeks ago, from the former owners, he was pulling himself around by his front legs, the other part of his body was flat on the floor and his bladder leaked all the time. We are truly amazed at the positive results of his Physical Therapy and Vitamin/Mineral Regiment. These clips are proof positive of what determination can achieve. I would love to show them to every kid in America!!!
02/22/03 Click here to view movie clip "The Adventures of The Champ".
Download time is 30 minutes.
We had to run the camera longer so you could get the full impact of his progress.
01/24/03 Click here to view movie clip of The Champ "barely walking".
Download time 20 minutes.
Friday - 02/21/03 - 10:30 AM
Good News! The Champ has started to run! Just 2-3 steps yesterday and this morning, but we're sure he'll continue until he can keep up with "the love of his life", Fluffy our spayed Miniature American Spitz.
He loves to bury his face in her long white hair, but she just views him as an ugly, mashed faced, juvenile pest, with buck teeth and a tongue that quivers when he gets near her. When he comes close she teases him by allowing him to rub his face on her once, then she looks at him in disgust and scampers off...nose high in the air.
There Bob and I stood, with pride swelling our hearts!!! It's moments like this that make it all worth while.
Champ now has a "teenage attitude" - I'm a big boy and I'll do what I want. We just laugh at him!!! It's great to see him like he is now instead of how he first arrived!! He wants to stay outside with the "strays that came to stay" as shown in the movie clip, but we're afraid he will get off into the woods and we won't be able to find him.
Looking to the future when Champ will be able to run too far, Bob put a British Training Lead around his neck to get him use to being lead. Well, he just turn his little "attitude" on and gave Bob a look of defiance! I could see this spoiled brat was going to be a challenge so I just got down in his face and gave his look right back to him!!! What a stinker!!!
Saturday - 03/01/03 -8:00 AM
The Champ has the Bully Butt Wiggle almost mastered!!! This morning he started doing it!! Only if you have a Bully can you truly know what this is all about. Basically, the Bully's posture is stiffer than normal with a very firm stance, the tail starts to wiggle - only the tail, the hips engage and start moving in joy, then total happiness takes over, spreading that wiggle down to their back feet!!
Monday - 03/03/03 - 9:00 AM
The Champ's Great Chase - we let him outside to do "his business" occasionally checking on him. This morning his free spirit took over and he led Bob on a chase, down the drive almost to the mailbox, 1/4 mile away from the house. At first he was following Boomer, then Fluffy sped past so he got his motor running and was good for the chase. He can't run but a few steps, but he had his whole heart into the race so he would bunny hop a few times, switch to his newly acquired run, then do a fast walk. Finally, he was just doing a fast hustle. He heard Bob calling, looked over his shoulder, decided Bob had joined the game and since Fluffy was long gone, his goal was to stay ahead of Bob. At least that had better be what he was thinking, instead of just being a stubborn teenager!!
Finally, Bob overtook him. Look at the picture below. The Champ was in about the same position as the Dingo, when he joined the game. Then notice way down on the left side of the drive, before the last curve there is a black stump. That is how far he went!!!
All this from a Bully the vets wanted to "put down" because he was cripple!!!
Tuesday - 3/10/03 - 6:00 AM
After a bully goes potty, they naturally kick off with one back leg and then the other. Nothing remarkable about that... EXCEPT when it's the Champ. It's a major feat, a milestone, a sign post! He's still shaky, reminding me of a little boy learning how to roller skate but he DID IT!! He made it around the ring once, now there's no stopping him, he'll do it again.
Eight weeks ago, we got him back from his former owners, an injury had caused him to lose control of his hindquarters and his bladder. The Champ was flat on his tummy pulling himself around with his front legs and NOW he's just about there! One more goal for this 7 month old Bulldog, raising his leg to mark his territory and his therapy will be complete.
God Bless Bob, who has spend countless hours teaching The Champ how to walk again. I'm so proud of them both!!!
Click here to view "Adventures of The Champ"
Download time is 30 minutes.
In this one, he's chasing a spray of water. Please be assured that this is not one of his normal activities because he could re-injure himself. We allowed this, one time only, because we wanted you to see how well he is doing!!!
Photographs of 'The Champ'
Pictures taken Friday, September 27, 2002 - 8 1/2 weeks old
Pictures taken Sunday, October 20, 2002!
Click HERE for more!
Pictures taken Sunday, January 1, 2003!
The Champ's Parents and Grandparents
Miss Bea -
Daisy Mae and Elvis' Female English Bulldog Puppy
DOB 4/21/01, AKC
Miss 'B' ( Princess Beth of Dogwood Pond), AKC
Gentle, loving, curious, beautiful daughter of Elvis...
PepperJack
Grandparents - Elvis & Daisy Mae
** These are insertions made after the fact.
