I will try and sum up this story in a short version, please bare with me. My friend and myself were at a local rescue looking for a dog for her mom. We came accross a large breed bitch, she was very shy, was in a real mess, kennel was in a real state. Her eyes appeared to really be watering. I approached the man who ran the rescue centre and I was told she just had an eye infection, but was very aggressive (her kennel stated she was ready for rehoming now). I was able to get a closer look and found her to have Entropian. I mentioned this to him, and the response I got was "oh my dog had that" hmm has she not seen a vet? no, not until he can get a lead on her as she has never been on a lead. Tale has it she had been there for approx 13 weeks (he said 6 weeks, but someone I know had seen her there 13 weeks ago) She haunted me sitting in this kennel and not having left it for the entire time she arrived. I went back to visit her a week later, still not on a lead, still hadn't left her kennel. Still her eyes were running and still nothing had been done. I said I would fetch her in a week once I had enough room for her etc. could he please try and get her on a lead (as he would not let me try due to insurance regs) I called today... to see how she was, hoping she was on a lead by now. Still nothing! This rescue centre is linked with the local dog warden so may be council run? not sure how it works? Anyone want to shed some light? I said I was coming to fetch her today and would put her on a catch pole if I had to. We came armed with 2 freshly cooked lamb shanks..... he would not let us in her kennel... he had her on a lead in about 15 seconds and out!! He seemed ever so pleased when he was walking her to my car that he had got her on a lead (how clever) agressive, not a touch! Scared most definatley, ready for rehoming not for a while!
Got her home... brushed he manky coat out, her skin is in a horrible condition, but all she wanted was a cuddle. She smelt terrible, but I could not sit there long enough and cuddle her enough. She was so happy and so pleased! She is ADORABLE!!! I can now have a good nights rest knowing she has an experienced owner who can give her the time love and affection she deserves.. and hopefully I can find her a kind caring home in the future that can give her everything she deserves, that is after her surgery, much needed training, and a whole world of new experiences! We will get there, far quicker than where she was!
NOW.... someone tell me what the rules and regs with regards to rescue centres? Do all animals admitted have to be vet checked, bathed, flea treated? Anything? I would like to complain as I am utterly disgusted about her treatment at this centre and as I do not wish to return to find yet more living in the same conditions! My heart is far too soft and my kennels are just not big enough to house so many :-(
Any help would be greatly appreciated
ps his excuse for not having her out of her kennel for so long was he wanted her to come to him naturally!!

Thanks all for your help!
Sue

I have no advise :(

I did want to say good for you for taking her in and offering her a home and love :) By the way what are you calling her?

Poor excuse on his part I would say just lazy

Sounds as if he was as scared as she was, wonder how long he had been out of work before he took that job on. Pleased to know she will now get treatment but can offer no help as to what you can do about it, may be the first step would be to find out if it is a private kennel and if the council use it. Can you enlist the help of your vet so you have proof of the state she was in when you picked her up although I expect she is much better by now. Good Luck with her.

Take some photos,get a written report from your Vet.
Then contact  licensing authority in the area where kennels are. But many places like stray kennels will not pay for treatment if the dog is to their mind unhomeable :(
Entropian is very painful no wonder she was frightened and a bit grumpy.
Hope all goes well for her and you.

Surely if the dog has a painful condition and is considered unhomeable, a reputable kennel should make the difficult but responsible decision to have the dog PTS though?

Marina

Marina,
Entropian is not a life threatening problem that a simple surgery can cure. This surgery would cost only slightly more than having the dog put to sleep... only one of her eyes are affected so once her surgery she would no longer be in pain and would live a healthy happy life.
This rescue organization had this animal advertised in the local paper and was telling everyone she had an eye infection in hopes of moving her on without spending any money. I am ever so grateful that she will be having her surgery tomorrow and within a few weeks she will be fit enough to attend obedience training and enjoy a pain free life and not be PTS.
This dog was not unhomeable, the rescue organization did not give her ANY time or love to allow her to show everyone what a loving dog she can be. We have had no trouble with her in the past few days.. in fact she has become a very loving dog who just wanted a bit of love. If this would have been given to her in the first 13 weeks she was in rescue and she had not been locked up in a small kennel run for the entire time she would have been a completely different dog.
Yes Megan's condition is painful, but not life threatening. I am happy to say she will be fine and no longer in pain once her surgery is complete!

Sue

Sorry Sue, you're taking me 'out of context'.  I wasn't referring specifically to Megan with my comment, I'm aware that Entropion/Ectropion ops are straightforward with good success rates.

What I was referring to was Mattie's comments that rescue kennels wouldn't treat such dogs, and just thinking that it surely has to be a decision to either treat or end suffering in such cases.

Megan sounds as if she's fallen on her feet, and I hope you and she will have many enjoyable years together, I'm sure in 6 months she'll be unrecognisable both mentally and physically.

Marina

Thank you Marina for your comments,
emails and discussions can be misread. I now hear what you are saying lol
Megan is a breed of which I breed myself... after seeing her in rescue I could not let her stay there... she will when she is ready, be rehomed to a permanent home, what I have done is take on the responsibility, with myself and my friends knowledge to have here eye operated on, and give her the training that she needs, in hopes she will be in a better position to be rehomed. In saying that, I am more than prepared to have her stay here permanently.
I could not sleep after seeing her in the state she was living, so had to take her on, knowing that she would be better off. I hope in time she will be the dog I know she will be.
I will keep you updated on how she is doing.... positive results so far and I am sure more are to follow!

Thanks and everyone for your support.

Sue

Hello All,
Meagan what we ahev called her, is doing FABULOUS today!!! She came out of her kennel today, happy to see us, jumped up t he gate to have a  fuss and cuddle! She is booked in to have her eye surgery on Monday so hopefully she is on the road to having a pain free life in a few weeks! She looks a mess, but I can say she looks very happy today, hopefully we can give her a bath sooner than we first anticipated!! We are taking her out for a short walk on the lead a few times today and of course loads of cuddles and fuss... just what the doctor ordered! I am so very pleased, her progress is faster than I had ever imagined, but I think having love for the first time, in who knows how long has made her come out of her shell! I had a very restful sleep last night!

Thanks all I will let you know how she is getting on!

Sue

So pleased to hear Megan is doing well. Shes really landed on her feet. Good luck on Monday :) BTW did your friend find a suitable dog for her Mum?

Hello Lorelei,
Megan WAGGED HER TAIL TODAY!!! she jumped up to us and gave kisses, and went down on her front paws as if to say "play with me" my mate tapped her feet and Megan was down to play again!! She goes in bright and early tomorrow for her eye surgery (hope all goes well for her, I know it is for the best, but she has been through so much) She is coming along leaps and bounds. We are very pleased with her progress! I will keep you updated as to how everything goes tomorrow.
My friends mom did not find a dog, we are looking for a female small breed... so fingers crossed she will find one soon! :-)
Sue

I hope evrything goes well for Megan today - poor girl. This is the start of a whole new life for her - good for you Sue :)

Best wishes for you and your dog Hope the surgery goes really well today! :-) :-) :-)

Hello all,
Well Megan is back home and doing fabulous, a bit sleepy, but she has had her eyes operated on as well we decided to have her spayed so as to be sure she will not be bred from in the future. It has been a very long day as we took her to a specialist vet hospital which is an hour away. so 4 hours driving today I will be happy to see my bed (will have to wait as I will be sleeping with Megan tonight to keep an eye on her) I can honestly say it is the best expense I have ever spent, seeing what a life she will now lead from here on in! I will keep you all updated and let you know how she is doing!! :-)

Sue

Great news Sue! :-) Give Megan my kisses :-)

HI Sue and Megan, just read your post about her waggy tail and got a right old lump in the throat. :) What a girl!  So ready to trust again after all the grief she had. Glad the surgery went well.

Another Update on Megan, she is still a bit wobbly this morning, but by this afternoon, you would never know she had just been through a major op! She was happily prancing round the garden, her tail was wagging even more today (happy to see out of her eye again I am sure!) She is so happy to get fuss and cuddles off everyone. She has had so many visitors round to see how she is doing!! She comes up to everyone to have a cuddle and a love! What a girl I tell ya! She is so lovely! Cannot wait til she is all healed up and free of all pain that has ever happened! We today noticed she had a "chain sore" round her neck, seems she was tied up and chained, she has a lump all round her neck.... no wonder she didn't like the lead!! BA***rds!!  I would like to chain them up in the back garden!! She has coem around really quick seeing what she has been through, but again she just loves the attention she is getting and the love she gives in return is 10 fold!
I am sure more updates will come soon...

Take Care Sue