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Auction Information Page - August/Sept. 2000 Shannon's Story! On June 15, Chuck Bruno wrote: I have to write you all about my newest foster, Shannon. She is an older girl (around 8 yrs old) and has had an allergic reaction to flea infestation so has very scarce fur on her backside and tail. She had surgery to extract 10 teeth and has cataracts on both eyes so her sight is limited/impaired. She is essentially blind. I feel so bad for this girl and just hope that we can find her the right home. She really is a sweet girl. The first time I met her (within the first encounter) she gave me kisses. She does get along well with cats and most other dogs but I have not tested her with children yet. I feel so bad since she is blind. She trips over everything and walks into everything. When on my steps, she essentially jumps down 7 steps then limps away. I am so worried about her. I am trying to teach her about the steps and the entry ways in/out of the house and everything else she encounters but I hope she does not get hurt first. I just had to share this with the rest of you guys because this is another one of those rescues that can make you cry to look at what she has been through and still see all the unconditional love she has to offer...... thanks for listening and letting me share this with you! -- Chuck (MA Chapter Heart Bandits - Director) -Since then, Shannon was adopted into a new home! YEEAAHHHH!!!! Her new mother recently wrote to us(see below)....Let's help give her a new OUTLOOK on life again.  Buying a print will NOT only be a great present to yourself, or somebody else, but you will be helping SHANNON!

Her new Mother Erin wrote:
Hi. Just wanted to send a little update on Shannon. She is doing fine. She is navigating the stairs very well, and I am glad to see she is not yappy. She and Boogerbear are doing better than expected, but Boogerbear is showing some jealousy. She ate the entire spinach nylabone after I gave it to Shannon, even though she hasn't chewed on anything for 8 years! They are spending their first day alone together today, so I hope everything is going well. Shannon showed no interest in the cat, and vice versa, so that is good. I am making an appointment with my vet today to get a referral to the eye specialist. After meeting her and seeing how active she is, I am even more convinced that she could really benefit from the eye surgery. I hope you have luck raising the funds. Erin

AND....more recently....from Miss Shannon herself:
Hi. My name is Shannon, but my new people like to call me Shanty. My life has been a little confusing lately. I used to live with a nice old lady, but she got sick and couldn't take care of me very well. I got a lot of fleas, and all the fur on my rear and tail fell out. I look like I have a pig's tail now. Lots of my teeth started to hurt, too. She couldn't take care of herself so well either, and she had to go live in a nursing home. I got dumped off in a scary place where I heard rumors of "going to sleep". Luckily, Heart Bandits rescued me, and they got rid of my fleas and I had ten teeth pulled. Now I live with a new family, where I have an older sister, an 11-year old miniature Eskie, Boogerbear. Unfortunately, even though I am only 8, I look like the old one and she looks like a young pup when we go out walking together. I can't see very well at all, and I trip over the uneven places on the sidewalk, and sometimes I try to fall down the stairs. I gave my new Mom a leash burn on her hand when I took two steps down the stairs, and then decided just to jump down the next seven. My mom has to keep me on a very short leash so I don't hurt myself. That is too bad because I have SO much energy, and my favorite thing to do is go for walks and runs in the park. I also keep forgetting where the coffee table is, and knocking my head on its corners. Sometimes I really upset my other sister (a CAT!) because I can't see her asleep on the floor, and I step right on her head. I hope that someday I will be able to see things like I used to. Right now I have to be left at home when my sister gets to go out biking or in the canoe. I am helping my new parents become much neater, because if they leave anything on the floor, I trip over it immediately. I like to sleep with my nose under the treat shelf because I have a great sniffer, and that is where all the good smells are. My parents have almost decided I can go on the backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail this fall because I love the outdoors so much. They are a little worried about how rocky the trail is, but I try so hard to be a good hiker at the park they can't bear to leave me at home.

Mom took me to the vet. I might possibly have an endocrine disorder. My vet said most likely the eye specialist would not operate unless we had the blood work done anyway, and at least it may help us figure out what exactly is wrong. The results came back, and unfortunately they are pointing towards Cushings disease, and endocrine disorder. I apologize for the lack of correct medical terminology also...I'm not a doctor, but am a darling eskie! A normal level of something in my blood (cortisone?) should be around 140, and mine are at 454. My lipids (I think) are also high, and they both point to Cushings, as well as my pattern of hair loss. Good news is my vet said he has seen dogs with a level of 1000, so I am not in immediate danger. There is an 8 hour test they perform to confirm the Cushings. We are having this done, since it is treatable, and it would be unsafe to do the eye operation until this condition is treated, IF I have it. This test will be another $140.  (Mom already spend $140 for the vet visit and the blood work). Then comes the treatment of this disease, IF I have it.  

UPDATE from August 10th: My new dad, Robert, dropped me off at the vet at 8 am on Aug 8th for my 8 hr(yuk) Cushings test. GREAT news!! I do NOT have Cushings. Mom and Dad have made a consultation appointment with the eye specialist. Now....I can be on my way to my new outlook on life!

UPDATE from August 25th: We just got back from the appointment so I wanted to let you know how it went. I have to get anti-inflammatory eye drops for 2 weeks because I have Lens-Induced Uveitis. This occurs when proteins leak from the lens capsule during cataract formation. After the inflamation goes down, they will do a pre-surgical Electroretinogram (ERG). This is because the entire eye, besides the cataractous lens, must be healthy for the surgery to work. (I'm pretty good at understanding all this stuff, aren't I !?!?!) This test will check my retinas to see how responsive they are and make sure I have no other eye problems besides the cataracts. Then they will know for sure if I am a good candidate for the surgery. The total for today was $94.00; we have a credit of $106.00 left(from the $200 Dotti sent us already from the raffle funds!). I have an appointment for Sept.15, and if the drops are successful, they will do the ERG at that time.

And....back to the good news....my new family is definitely committed to me(as you can tell).  I have lots of energy and am already very attached to my new family. I even  jump in the air when I get excited. I'm starting to get a little jealous so I push Boogerbear out of the way to make sure I get my share (or more) of the loving(ummm...but you eskie folks understand that, right?!?!).
 

My Mom is on a partial scholarship at a grad school at Carnegie Mellon. She has offered her love, her home to me. Now, it would be really wonderful if you could help me get the immediate care I need. Mom never expected me to come with soooo much baggage!  But I hear you all have hearts as big as eskie smiles, so I know you will help me.

(look at how happy I am with my sister in the above pic!)

EVERY penny helps out, and remember.....that as your dogs are to you, I'm just as priceless! Look in your dog's eyes and remember that I can't see well out of mine.....how wonderful it would be to see the people who are being so loving to me. The more you show your love, the more we ALL can see......the more love we ALL share, the more ALL our hearts grow......it's a neverending process....love just keeps growing........just like those endless eskie smiles....how can you refuse?!?! Please....for my family, the ones that are giving me SOOOO much love, please help us out.....

Eskie Hugs and Kisses, Luv and Licks,
Beautiful furgirl Shannon

Information pages for Shannon and Charley:

Shannon	Charley

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