In Memory of Bingo-Dogs with Disabilities

Yesterday, marked the anniversary of the day we had to say goodbye to Bingo.   Even though all deaths of loved ones are sad and we all miss Bingo, as I have written on here before his story is a very happy one.  Bingo came to us at the age of 11-13 years after a lifetime of neglect and with serious health problems: probable cancer of the spleen (a spleenectomy was impossible due to the size of the tumor, but it was a slow growing cancer), partial paralysis, thyroid disorder, and incontinence.   Even with all of these problems he lived two happy years with us, until he went into liver failure and we had to let him go.

Bingo had partial hind leg paralysis.  Our vet was unable to determine the exact cause of the problem.   Unfortunately, his condition worsened in the time we had him so that he want from being able to walk short distances to losing all control of his back legs.   We were lucky that Bingo, being a pug, was small and he was able to move around inside by scooting along using his front legs, with the back legs dragging behind.  We cleaned his back legs and made him little overalls to wear so that he didn't scrape his legs when he dragged them.  We were also lucky we had no rugs, so no rug burn.  Of course Bingo, needed away to get around outside so we got him a wheelchair.  Due to the seriousness of Bingo's condition we went for a simple model wheelchair that could be made quickly, rather then one of the more expensive and fancier models, as we were afraid that if it took to long to make the chair Bingo might not be around to enjoy it.    Here is a video of Bingo using his chair in our back yard on the day it came.  (Another lucky break being city dwellers our backyard is concrete since it is also our car port, so Bingo was able to roll around easily). 

My experience with Bingo has taught me that dogs with paralysis and other disabilities can do very well with wheel chairs. While I realize it is a very personal decision and every situation is different, I am always saddened when I hear of people automatically putting loved companions to sleep because of compromised mobility or loss of bowel/bladder control.  These days there are many options from wheel chairs to doggie diapers to mobility harnesses, that can help dogs with disabilities maintain a great quality of life.  Below are some resources:

Eddie's Wheels
Dogs With Disabilities
Help 'Em Up Harness

Wordless Wednesday (Almost) In Memory of Bingo

This is my favorite of Bingo our late pug. We started fostering him for a pug rescue group and due to his medical problems (cancer, incontinence, paralysis) we kept him.  He enjoyed two years of loving retirement in the kind of home he deserved to spend his whole life in.  He was a lucky dog and we were lucky to know him.




?-November 28, 2010 (guestimated age 14 years)

Time with us (June 2008-November 28, 2010)

In Memory of Bingo-Old DogsAre The Best Dog

 

 Right around this time three years ago Bingo game into our lives.   We fostered him for a local pug rescue group and then adopted him when it became clear he was not a candidate for permanent adoption.  Bingo had cancer (a slow growing kind), partial paralysis of his back legs, and he was incontinent.  Even so he lived 2 and a half good years with us, passing away (with our vets help) in November of 2010 when he went into liver failure.  The most defining characteristic of Bingo was his sweetness, he was an all around sweet boy, but with a side of grumpy old man ( he barked loudly for his breakfast and dinner  whenever he felt it was taking too long, it always reminded me of an old man yelling at a waitress in a restaurant).  Loyal and loving to the end, even when he could barely walk he would scoot his way to the door to greet us when we got home from work.   Bingo really embodied the message of the above book, Old Dogs Are Best Dogs  (which is an absolutely wonderful book that every dog lover should read.)  I got it for Christmas two years ago, here is a picture of Bingo, Tubby, and Ping enjoying story time:

 

Personally I believe all dogs are the best dogs (young and old) but there is no reason an older dog cant make a fabulous companion.   There is also no excuse for tossing aside a friend of 12 years, as Bingo's previously family did, when his health worsened and his care became more difficult to manage.  I am not someone who believes that everyone needs to rescue their dog, there is nothing wrong with reputable breeders, and I have decided my next dog will be a puppy from a good breeder BUT I do think every dog lover should think about welcoming a senior into their home (at least once or twice), you save a dog and you enrich your own life in return.  

Bingo's story  is a very happy one.  I miss him, but I am not sad that he passed away because he got two quality years in a loving home.  Years he most definitely would not have had if the rescue group had not taken him in (he was in a high kill city shelter).   The below pictures show what a wonderful time Bingo had in his retirement home (and what a wonderful time we had with him).

Introducing Urban Hounds

I'm a thirty something (early thirties!) dog loving urbanite (though I'd rather be in the country) with an overwhelming passion for anything canine related.  I share my city  home with it's small fenced yard with my five dogs, 3 cats, and one wonderful husband.  When people here about this menagerie there most common reaction is-Yikes farm!  I find it quite peaceful, the best family you could have.   Of course dogs aren't  my whole life, Im a teacher, a bibliophile, oenophile (got to get those big words in so I sound smart!), a foodie, a sci-fi fantasy nut, and  DVD addict, but as the photographer Roger Caras said: "dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole."  That's certainly the case with me, and since I've always liked writing and since everyone has a blog, including a few of my friends  I decided to jump on the band wagon and start a blog dedicated to my wonderful companions.   I don't expect many followers, spending all my time with my dogs has made me a bit short on companions of the human variety, but I'd like to be a voice for some of those urban hounds out there-after all the life of a city dog can be just as rich and rewarding as the life of a country dog.  Plus I'm one of those vacation loving teachers (just kidding!, I work very hard and I love  my students) and have a fair amount of free time on my hands.

So without further ado-The cast of characters

Tubby-Age almost 10-Birthday 3/29/01  male pug

Turn Ons: Food in all its varieties (i.e. the banquet that is life), leashes, walkies, the car, licking his siblings ears, the couch, kicking up dirt and rocks after he pees

Turn Offs: dogs he passes on walks (even though he likes other dogs), empty food bowl. the rain

Norbert (and also my husband John) lab mix (dog not husband though husband works in a lab) age  guestimated birtday July 7 2002.

Turn Ons: Red Bad Cuz toy, sleeping in on weekends, the car, walks, bagels

Turn Offs: Dog walking past his yard, tall men in hats, dogs larger then him

Ping-female pug-age 7-guestimated birthday May 15 2003

Turn Ons: Food in all its varieties (i.e. the many splendid banquet that is life), snuggling with her humans, her brother Tubby's arm pit (she loves to lick it-don't ask why!), running on grass

Turn Offs-Rain and snow!

Bob-bulldog  age 3 Birthday April 16, 2007

Turn Ons: Anything in his food bowl, walks, snow, all manner of balls(particularly soccer balls), butt scratchies, his best friend Norbert, the clicker because the clicker means trick training and that means treats!

Turn Offs-Dog parks (he is not a fan), my husband's bicycle, buses passing him on the street,cold hot dogs (only grilled  for him thank you very much!)

Dr. Zira-brussels griffon age 12-birthday 12/5/1998 Gotcha Day(adoption) July 12, 2008

Turn Ons: Soft dog beds, the heating vent, kibble and treats, rolling in dirt and leaves, fluffy white dogs, her late brother Bingo

Turn Offs-the groomer, waiting for her breakfast (she is an early riser), rain and snow

Bingo-In Memory-pug circa 1996-November 30, 2010 Gotcha Date: May 19, 2008

Bingo was fostered by us and then adopted by us from Adopt a Buddy pug rescue, his owners abandoned him at a high kill shelter at the age of 12 or 13 he had cancer, was incontinent, and was partially paralyzed but he was a wonderful LOVE PUG

Turn Ons: Food in all its form (he was a classic food hound pug), beds, his stroller, people (he loved everyone),his sister Zira

Turn Offs-The animal shelter, cancer of the spleen and liver

Supporting Characters-The Urban Felines

Baby-Age 11-Birthday 11/01/00

Turn Ons: Wet cat food, blankets, warm surfaces

Turn Offs: Dr. Zira, the vet, the carrier

Scooter Age 9 Birthday- October 2001

Turn Ons: Pounce Treats, feather toys, Norbert, Tubby

Turn Offs-Dr. Zira (he is a pretty mellow cat overall)

Ernie age 6 05/2004 

Turn Ons-Food, hiding in boxes, catnip

Turn Offs-the vet, animal shelters, medicine, ring worm, waiting for breakfast



So thats all of us!  One big happy family-oh and here is a picture of mom too!