Need Help with Medical Expenses for Injured Service Dog in Training

Cash is a ten-month-old service dog in training.  Last night some relatives of his handler took him outside, without the handler's knowledge or consent, not on a leash, and he was hit by a car and injured.  Frightened and hurt, he ran into the woods.  After searching for him all night, he was finally found today.  He has multiple cuts and infected insect bites, is dehydrated, and has a broken jaw.  He needs surgery by a specialist to treat the broken jaw.

I think the relatives that let him out should be footing the bill, but apparently people that aren't responsible about not letting someone else's dog outside are also not very responsible about paying for that dog's medical bills when the dog gets injured after they let it outside.  Go figure.

Anyway, the dog's handler needs help to cover the medical bills.  If you're able to help at all, here's where to do it: http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/injured-service-dog-needs-your-help-/71268

I gave something, and if I can afford it, you can, too.

Apparently Isaac's "Please Don't Pet Me, I'm Working" Patch Isn't Sufficient

Isaac has a patch on his vest that says "Please Don't Pet Me, I'm Working."  But that is apparently not sufficient.  I need a patch that says "Do Not Pet Me, Talk to Me, Make Kissy Noises at Me, Bark at Me, Meow at Me, or Otherwise Bother Me."  I don't think all that would fit on Isaac's vest, though.

Yesterday, Isaac and I were in line at Kroger when an employee started talking to him, making kissy noises at him, etc.  "Oh, pretty, pretty doggie.  I can't pet you.  I'm sorry.  I would pet you but I'm not allowed.  It says so right there on your thing.  I'm sorry, baby.  Pretty doggie."

Isaac was so good.  He looked at her and that was it.  In the past, he would have tried to go to her and asked to be petted.

Staying Safe at Dog Parks

Since my new home is within a reasonable driving distance of a couple of dog parks, Isaac and I have been going to dog parks more often.  Isaac's trainer warned me to be very careful about visiting dog parks, and I've heard concerns from others about the safety of dog parks, as well.  I am cautious, and so far our experiences have been good, so I wanted to share some safety tips.

If you go to dog parks with your dog:

• Consider going to parks that are not very crowded, or at times when they aren't very crowded.  The more dogs present, the greater the chance of a dog fight breaking out.
• Don't take your dog to dog parks if he is aggressive at all or doesn't get along well with other dogs.  If your dog behaves aggressively at all while at a dog park, leave immediately.
• If another dog behaves aggressively toward your dog while at a dog park, leave immediately.  Yes, ideally the owner of the other dog would take her dog and leave, but if she doesn't, you need to remove your dog in order to keep your dog safe.
• Don't take any food or treats to dog parks.  Dogs are likely to fight over it.
• Do take water for your dog.  Some dog parks have water available, some don't, and even parks that normally do have water available may not have any for whatever reason on the day you visit.  You can give your dog water at your car, you don't need to take it into the park with you, but have fresh water available for your dog.
• Don't take toys to the dog park if it's against park rules (check before you go).  Don't take toys if your dog doesn't share well with others, because there is a good chance other dogs will want to play with his toys.  Only take toys that should be safe for any dog at the park; that means, if you have small dog but there might be big dogs at the park, don't take small toys that bigger dogs could choke on.
• Don't throw sticks for your dog at the park.  Dogs can get splinters in their mouths and get very sick or even require surgery.  If you need to throw something for your dog to catch, take a safe dog toy.
• Keep your dog on a leash until you get inside the fenced area.  Take your dog off the leash as soon as you get inside the fenced area.  Don't use flexi-leads or retractable leashes at the dog park, because dogs can wrap them around other dogs' legs or people's legs and injure other dogs or people.
• Pick up after your dog.  Not only is it gross to leave dog poop lying around, it's unsanitary and dogs and people can end up getting sick.  Avoid dog parks where you see lots of dog waste on the ground.
• And most importantly, always - always, always, always - make sure your dog is wearing a collar with an identification tag that includes a current telephone number.  If you have a cell phone, have that number on your dog's tag and take your cell phone with you to the park.  If your dog somehow gets loose, someone could find him and call you while you are still at the park.

Spoiled Doggie Got a Basketball at the Thrift Store

He was thrilled, of course. 

Can you tell from this picture how big his mouth is?

Went to the Doggie Beach Yesterday

It was quite overcast, and I guess due to that and being the holiday, it was practically deserted.  There were only two other doggies there, which I liked.  The more crowded it is, the more likely it is that someone's dog is aggressive or doesn't get along well with others, and disagreements break out.

I got a picture of the beach, so you can see it.  See how the fence goes out into the water?  And then there are buoys that keep the dogs from swimming out too far.  But I haven't seen any dogs even go as far out as the buoys.  They mostly stick pretty close to shore.

It was starting to rain a little as we were leaving and by the time we got home, it was pouring.  Isaac was still wet from the lake, mind you.  But he did not want to get out of the car because it was raining.  I was standing there, holding the car door open, telling him, "Unload.  Unload.  Isaac, unload!"  And he was looking at me like I was a complete idiot, wanting him to get out in the rain.