About three months ago, I moved to Dallas with my husband. We didn't have a place to stay that would allow dogs. So our two dogs, an old Akita and a young Rottweiler had to stay behind. So I made arrangements with my sister-in-law to take care of the dogs and we would pay for any expenses (vet, dog food, etc). This was a temporary arrangement, since we consider our dogs to be part of the family.
As time went by, my sister-in-law began having some difficulties with her marriage. She was overwhelmed with her child, a complicated pregnancy, and a demanding husband. As a result she was severely restricted in what she could do. Her own life was neglected, as well as the dogs we left in her care.
My sister-in-law is a very caring woman with great intentions, so she tried to avoid discussing the dogs as much as possible for fear of making us worry or blaming her. If it weren't for her marriage difficulties, she would have given better care to the dogs.
When we returned for the dogs, we were in for a shock. Both dogs were infested with fleas and ticks.
Amy was no longer allowed in the house, so she was chained outside and slept under the house. There wasn't any time to take the dogs for a walk, yet she fed Amy nearly 5 cups of food a day. This she ate throughout the day. Amy's frame supports 50lbs very well. A vet visit showed that she weighed nearly 85lbs.
Tank was 5 months old when I left him in my sister-in-law's care. He's 8 months old now (nearly 9 months). He too was chained outside when her husband decided that no animals were allowed inside. In frustration, Tank would dig. Some of the holes were 3 feet deep. Tank was allotted 5 cups a day, just like Amy. However, my sister-in-law's husband had two young pitbulls that were allowed to roam freely (he did not have these dogs until recently). One day during the weekend we were down there I watched Tank while he was fed. One puppy would distract Tank while the other stole from his food bowl, and then vice versa. This left Tank with very little food. On top of that, her husband would keep her so busy with chores, that the dogs would go without food for a day or two at a time. Tank was suppose to weight close to 75-80lbs, and the vet visit showed that he weighed 53lbs. I could count every rib and a few vertebrae.
I sympathize with my sister-in-law, really I do, but at the same time, I am very angry. I wished she would've contacted me sooner, so I could've made arrangements to have the dogs placed in some other kind of care for the time being.
We now have a place that allows dogs. Amy was infested with fleas so badly that we had to shave her. She's being treated for extreme skin irritation. Her shots are up to date, and she is heartworm negative. We placed her on a weight control diet and daily exercise. And yes, she's back inside again and loves her crate.
Tank's flea problem was easier to get under control. Initially he couldn't eat much, though he was ravenous. So at first I would put him in his crate offer him food, then take it away after 15 minutes. I gave him food every 2 hours the first weekend. In the first week he started filling out a bit and then started refusing quite so much food. At this time I changed over to feeding him twice a day, little over 2 cups in the morning, and 2 cups in the evening. This timed out his bathroom breaks very well. Though in that department, it was 3 days before Tank could pass anything. Then it was a week before it was a solid mass.
When both dogs were brought home, we just went through a normal routine. They worked for their food, doors opening, and some affection. However, we didn't pet them much, except as a reward for following a command. This helped quite a bit. Tank proved to be too unruly for my small size, so I fitted him with a prong collar. He's calmed down tremendously and still remembers quite a few of the commands I taught him as a pup.
As he gained weight and strength, I increased play time with him. He would nip and play too rough, which I wasn't used too. So whenever he'd accidentally "mouth" me, I would let a sharp "ouch!" turn away from him until he settled down. I noticed that he would sit while he waited for me to resume the game, so I encouraged him to sit, so I could reward him with the initiation of the game. This proved to be successful, since he became more mindful of my hands. Now it's rare for him to "mouth" me.
We set up an invisible fence for the dogs and within a week's time, both dogs learned about the boundaries. We walked them on the leash to teach them to move when they heard beeping and guided then to the center of the yard so they knew where to go. We made a big "celebration" when they returned to the center of the yard. The week after that, we practiced without the leash and thought there were some mistakes (and yelps) the dogs learned where the boundaries were.
This week the dogs will play in the backyard or just sunbathe, all the while staying about 3 feet from the boundaries. So I think they are doing well. We place leashes on them to bring them in (and turn off the system). I'm hoping the dogs will learn they can cross the boundaries on the leash only.
Both dogs have adjusted well and seem to be happier. Especially Amy, she loves the A/C. I just wish I could've gotten the dogs sooner. I'm not sure if Tank's growth has been stunted because of this.
Well, my husband and I are very happy to have the dogs back. I'm not too sure how to help my sister-in-law, but having two less dogs to care about should help.
Finally Got the Dogs Back
#153119 - 08/25/2007 01:03 AM 
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