KC was such a sweet little puppy, and we fell in love with him from first sight. Maybe because he was such a small helpless, shy baby we sensed he needed extra love, and kindness.

 

The morning after he arrived back in May 2007, I took him in for a check up with my Vet. Our Vet thought when he first saw KC that he was a 6 week old puppy, not 5 months old. He really didn’t believe me until he examined his mouth, and his teeth told his age.

 

I brought all the paper work given by the breeder that I had purchased our little black boxer from. The doctor didn’t trust a lot of the paper work. I don’t know why, and I did ask. He thought it was best to re-vaccinate KC .They also did all the tests that went along with a stool sample I brought in.

Now all along KC is pretty shy, and quiet, which is unusual for most puppies, but especially boxers. They usually are a little on the frisky, and very playful side. The next day KC had become lethargic, and was not eating, or drinking. Getting worse, he begins to vomit, and have bloody diarrhea. After vomiting 5 times I’m pretty shook up. The phone rings as I’m ready to pick it up to yell for help- It’s the Vet with the stool sample results: positive for ‘giardia’. Then I have to go in to pick up the flagyl  to treat this, and have KC examined. The Vet became suspicious of KC having ‘parvo’ because of the bloody diarrhea, drainage from his eyes, vomiting, being non responsive, along with feeling very warm to the touch.  Parvo- Now this becomes a life threatening emergency. They call ahead to the Animal emergency Hospital to tell them I will be rushing over with a baby boxer, etc. etc.

Of course I’m a wreck to think I could lose this little guy, and so scared for whatever he is going through. I call my husband, and fill him in, but I realize he is 2 hours away at work. I call Ming to let her know where I will be, and you know what happens next,  she comes,  driving us to the Emergency Hospital.  Upon arriving at the hospital another Vet is there to examine KC. She determines that he is severely dehydrated from the vomiting, and the diarrhea. She also hears a heart murmur in my little guy. They want to admit KC immediately, so they can start the IV’s, but before they could do that they need to run credit card. Unbelievable… Of course they run the card,  get it cleared, and admit our sweet KC.

  Once they admitted him, he was put in isolation. KC was started on 2 different antibiotics for the giardia, and some IV solution to hydrate the sick little puppy. There is good news in all of this, the parvo test comes back negative.

 On my way out they want to explain the billing system to me. Oh this going to be good….  They will be putting $2,000.00 on my card to start, and will call me to let me know when they will be adding more. Now I go home to my life, and try to wait, I pray a lot too.

 

Later the next day I get a call on KC’s progress, which is none. Still sick, and they will be re-testing him for the parvo, and keeping the fenbendazole, and ampicillin (antibiotics), along with hydrating I.V.’s going. They have moved him into ICU isolation, which I’m sure means my credit card has spent that $2,000.00 and the cost is rising. I now feel I should contact the breeder. Shame on me! After some searching, and some help from friends in the animal world I come to find out this place in Georgia is Not a boxer breeder, but a “Puppy Mill.” This was long before I had watched Oprah’s show on the horrors of these places. Was I ever stupid!! I felt so lied to, and taken advantage of, but nothing compared to my concern over KC’s well being. I just had to let it go, and get on with saving our puppy. I don’t think anyone really understood why I didn’t want to fight with this person over the bills. I did send her all the information, and then ask if she would pay for his treatment. You all know the answer to that. At this point my husband Gordon, and I decided to put our energy into helping KC survive, and not waste any on her, and her puppy mill. We were also embarrassed, and ashamed that we took part, even though it was unknowing in a puppy mill operation. Maybe our redemption comes from saving KC?

 

Don’t worry- we certainly got punished for our participation in the buying from the puppy mill. By the time KC is released from the animal hospital, the bill was almost $8,000.00, and believe me he didn’t look that great after almost a week in ICU. And did he ever need a bath. He was covered in his own poop. Thank goodness for Marina Pet Spa. (Marnia Pet Spa 576 Washington Blvd MDRey CA 310 827 5949) Auggy the owner was still there at 4:30 when I call, and told him of my predicament. He said bring the little guy over. 30-45 min. later KC was all clean, and smelled so much better.

 At  home we have a big celebration planned for KC. A puppy shower to “Welcome” him into our home. You know he’s already in our hearts.