Leash law/rules are for everyone

[Rollin Ollen]

There are appropriate places for well behaved dogs to be off leash. I see far too many misbehaving dogs off leash though.

I agree. I guess I should have included a disclaimer in my post. It is healthy for dogs to be able to "run like the wind". Our Miniature Poodle is no exception. She wakes up in the morning ready to chase her ball.

Darrell

 

[Wemustrv]

As of today, I have adopted a -0- tolerance policy toward dogs that are not leashed at the parks we visit. Ryker has been attacked 4 times over the last 2 years, all at campgrounds that we’re staying at, and all from dogs belonging to people who feel the “Dogs must be on a leash” rule doesn’t apply to them.

Three of these times the attacker has been a small dog, and had I not controlled Ryker, he could have seriously hurt the animal. The attacker generally ends up hanging off the fur around Ryker’s neck, which doesn’t hurt Ryker but as can be expected, makes him quite anxious.

There is always a lot of growling, barking and chaos involved as the attacker’s owners run around in circles, trying to catch their dog amid total pandemonium.

Yesterday, I was on walk 2 of our vet prescribed 6-daily low impact rehab walks. I had just left our coach and was walking around the back of my neighbors 5th wheel when their pug made a run straight at Ryker. I grabbed Ryker up and the Pug bit him full-on in his damaged leg. Pug released and then made another run which ended up with him hanging off Ryker’s neck. Once the drama was over, the Pug owner and I discussed the situation, but at the end of the day, what can I do? It was an accident that could have been prevented, but still, it’s just an accident. And even if he was in a financial position to reimburse me for any damage, it would be a stretch to think that he would have done it.

The next day, Ryker showed signs of limping, and today he’s holding his rehabbed leg in the air and hobbling around. Almost 3 months of rehabbing, 3 40-minute commutes each week to do aquatred and shockwave therapy, two stem cell injections at $5K apiece and a gazillion hours of travel time, just to have some ill behaved animal set us back who knows how far.

And somewhere down the line, the Pug owners will be sitting around their campfire swapping stories and laughing about how their little Pug showed incredible bravery when he attacked a big ol’ German Shepherd. All in blissful ignorance of the damage that they may have caused.

So, from today on, I will take a walking stick while Ryker and I are out rehabbing. And if we are attacked again, I will send the offender into a world that he will certainly not enjoy. Leash rules are for everyone. If you’re one of those who doesn’t understand that, perhaps I will be the person to educate you.

MY biggest complaint about the leash laws is not about having the law but not being specific as to the leash type. A leash should be restricted to 6-7' max length. Flexi leads that can be as long as 30' are a training aid for sit stay come training. These were not intended to be for allowing pets to run. A long length lead can actually be more of a safety hazard than no leash at all.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Those long leads end up winding around objects and legs, and those extendable leashes are even worse, getting rope burn as it slides across the skin.

 

[Jim]

Professional diagnosis revealed Ryker developed more scar tissue than acceptable for quality of life and leg function, leading us to proceed with carpal arthrodesis surgery. I’ll skip the details, Google has those! Rehab involves, among other things, 12 weeks of strict confinement, with leash-only bathroom breaks.

We're set up in a downstairs guest bedroom with easy outdoor access for Ryker. Ryker’s cast will need to be changed weekly, and if all goes well, he’ll transition to a half cast after 8 weeks.

We’re back from Asheville after surgery and I'd like to give a Big Thanks to Jim (@lostinfla), Bonnie, Imra and Renee (@ARD) for minding the park while we were gone!

 

[odoylerls]

As of today, I have adopted a -0- tolerance policy toward dogs that are not leashed at the parks we visit. Ryker has been attacked 4 times over the last 2 years, all at campgrounds that we’re staying at, and all from dogs belonging to people who feel the “Dogs must be on a leash” rule doesn’t apply to them.

Three of these times the attacker has been a small dog, and had I not controlled Ryker, he could have seriously hurt the animal. The attacker generally ends up hanging off the fur around Ryker’s neck, which doesn’t hurt Ryker but as can be expected, makes him quite anxious.

There is always a lot of growling, barking and chaos involved as the attacker’s owners run around in circles, trying to catch their dog amid total pandemonium.

Yesterday, I was on walk 2 of our vet prescribed 6-daily low impact rehab walks. I had just left our coach and was walking around the back of my neighbors 5th wheel when their pug made a run straight at Ryker. I grabbed Ryker up and the Pug bit him full-on in his damaged leg. Pug released and then made another run which ended up with him hanging off Ryker’s neck. Once the drama was over, the Pug owner and I discussed the situation, but at the end of the day, what can I do? It was an accident that could have been prevented, but still, it’s just an accident. And even if he was in a financial position to reimburse me for any damage, it would be a stretch to think that he would have done it.

The next day, Ryker showed signs of limping, and today he’s holding his rehabbed leg in the air and hobbling around. Almost 3 months of rehabbing, 3 40-minute commutes each week to do aquatred and shockwave therapy, two stem cell injections at $5K apiece and a gazillion hours of travel time, just to have some ill behaved animal set us back who knows how far.

And somewhere down the line, the Pug owners will be sitting around their campfire swapping stories and laughing about how their little Pug showed incredible bravery when he attacked a big ol’ German Shepherd. All in blissful ignorance of the damage that they may have caused.

So, from today on, I will take a walking stick while Ryker and I are out rehabbing. And if we are attacked again, I will send the offender into a world that he will certainly not enjoy. Leash rules are for everyone. If you’re one of those who doesn’t understand that, perhaps I will be the person to educate you.

Small Taser

 

[Jim]

My soon to be "Bionic Dog"!

First of the weekly cast removal/wound inspections/recast and then recovery. Only 11 more to go!

 

[J&JD]

My soon to be "Bionic Dog"!

First of the weekly cast removal/wound inspections/recast and then recovery. Only 11 more to go!

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Gotta be so hard on the little guy. (And the owners)

 

[Jim]

Gotta be so hard on the little guy. (And the owners)

Yeah, it's dedication. But if you're not willing to take on the difficulties of ownership, then don't take the dog at all. He's family, and nobody said it was going to be easy.

I just wish it wasn't so hard on "him".

 

[Rich W.]

Yeah, it's dedication. But if you're not willing to take on the difficulties of ownership, then don't take the dog at all. He's family, and nobody said it was going to be easy.

I just wish it wasn't so hard on "him".

My Dad always said of dogs “they trust us” and we have to live up to that. It’s a serious responsibility but also an honor. Did all that damage happen from that one loose dog attack?

 

[RKins]

Is all that anesthesia going to hurt him? Hope not.

 

[Jim]

Is all that anesthesia going to hurt him? Hope not.

We share that concern as well. After seeing the procedure last Friday, I fully understand why the sedation is necessary each time. However, we're hopeful that as Ryker progresses further along in his recovery, the surgeon will be able to find a less invasive or potentially harmful option for him.

That said, this whole procedure is far from a simple fix like setting a broken leg or getting him neutered. It’s really our last-ditch effort to give Ryker some semblance of normalcy in his day-to-day life. Earlier on, there were even discussions of amputation and other difficult options. So in this case, the risk of potential damage to other organs becomes not only an acceptable trade-off, but as much a lack of other options thing.

Yeah, it sucks, but it’s really that serious of an injury.

 

[Jim]

So, we had an issue with Ryker's dressing and cast replacement last week. We made a run back to Asheville to get the surgeon’s professional opinion. Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as we feared! They redid everything the local vet had done, charged us a small fortune, and sent us home.

It’s been a long day. We were up at 4:00 AM to get ready for the trip, driving in the dark through a nasty storm, rain, wind, the whole mess. Seriously, what else could they throw at us?

But we’re back now, and it looks like pancakes and beer for dinner!

By the way @RKins , the sedatives they use for Ryker (spelling may be off) are Methadone HCL, Dexdomitor, and Antisedan. After chatting with the surgeon, they reassured us that this combo is extremely safe and could even be given multiple times a day if required.

I’m not sure about all that, but pancakes, bacon, and beer sound good to me.

 

[Jim]

It’s been a little over two weeks since my last update, and things took a turn for the worse when Ryker developed an infection on his paw, just below the incision site. This meant trips back and forth to Asheville every other day for cast removal, rebandaging, and inspections. That was exhausting enough, but then the hurricane hit, making Asheville unreachable. Both I-40 and the animal hospital were badly damaged by flooding, forcing us to start driving to the University of Georgia emergency veterinary center.

The typical trip to Asheville, cast removal/replacement and then back home takes 7-8 hours. The trip to the University of GA. was even longer, and we did this every other day. Meanwhile, the infection just kept getting worse.

Finally, I was able to talk with our local vet, who honestly, would have been my first choice from the beginning had he been available. When I finally got hold of him, he said it was time to make some immediate changes or Ryker might end up needing an amputation.

Here’s the problem: the cast is crucial to support the bones that were fused, but the infected area needs air to heal, something the cast prevents. A real catch 22. The vet came up with a great solution, a clamshell-style cast with the top portion over the paw removed so that most of Ryker’s foot could get the air it needs. Ryker gets the support his bones need, and the infection get the air necessary for cell repair. We also started doing Epsom salt soaks between cast changes to help the healing process.

We’re now several days into this new cast, and we’re scheduled for another removal/replacement tomorrow. The infection finally seems to be under control, and tomorrow, the vet will show me how to handle the process myself. Honestly, after watching the procedure so many times, I’m confident I can manage it. The real challenge will be keeping Ryker calm during the process. The vet sedates him for the procedure, but at home, it’ll be up to us to keep him calm, and that’s going to be easier said than done.

The first two pictures are the paw when the infection started. The last picture is of the paw today. NOTE: The pictures are very nasty, so those who are faint of heart should not open them.

And lastly, thank you to Jim, Bonnie @lostinfla and Buddy and Jeanette @GlampDaddy, who took care of the park for us during many of these very long drives to the vet and emergency visits.

 

[team bradfield]

Poor Ryker, hope he heals fast

 

[Neemer]

Jim, you guys are pulling all the stops for Ryker. Bless him and bless you and Trish for looking after him as you do. I’m sending positive vibes your way.

Looking forward to seeing more “hiding with Ryker” pics soon.

Hang in there.

 

[lostinfla]

For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Jim & Trish, their dedication to Ryker testifies to the kind of people they are. If you get the chance to visit their campground, you will discover two of the nicest human beings you've ever met. Jim, I pray for a positive outcome with the pup.

 

[GlampDaddy]

For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Jim & Trish, their dedication to Ryker testifies to the kind of people they are. If you get the chance to visit their campground, you will discover two of the nicest human beings you've ever met. Jim, I pray for a positive outcome with the pup.

Yeah, what he said! Me too.

 

[RKins]

Looks like Ryker is healing up nicely. Prayers sent.

 

[Jim]

For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Jim & Trish, their dedication to Ryker testifies to the kind of people they are. If you get the chance to visit their campground, you will discover two of the nicest human beings you've ever met. Jim, I pray for a positive outcome with the pup.

Well, there goes my tough guy image… but I’ll take it! Thanks.

 

[Jim]

Cast change #12.

We are gaining on the infection, and in an effort to get it completely under control, our vet (who has been awesome with his creativity) has decided to leave the "stirrups" off this time. Stirrups are pieces of tape that are attached to the dogs leg, and the wrap back over the actual cast. The purpose being to keep the cast from sliding down the leg. But the downside of stirrups is that the skin under the tape can become infected, and that's the problem we are dealing with.

So we are going to give this a try, and if in a couple of days it looks like a failure, we will be back for another cast change and the reinstalment of the stirrups. But I think we are gaining on this mess, and in another 5 weeks, the surgeon will take radiographs again, and determine if Ryker is fit to be released or whether we have more work ahead of us.

Picture 1 is a medicated bath that is used to help treat the infected areas and to remove any stirrup tape residual that is adhered to the leg. We've all done this so many times now, and thanks to the fact that we no longer have to drive to Asheville or Atlanta, it only takes about 2 hours each time. But still, it's a dedicated effort.

We are just about at the halfway mark in this process, so we're optimistically hopefully.