graham

Our house as been empty and lonely since the 14th of April when Graham left for his forever home. We miss him romping and running through the yard, flipping that head and prancing just like a horse. His deep rich bark and his snuggles on the couch. It is always hard to let them go, but we have to other wise we wouldn't be able to save another one. It never ceases to amaze me how he and Griffin came through their terrible beginning without an emotional scar. Friendly and loving, not a mean bone in their bodies. Oh well enough of that or I will start crying again.

Below are some pictures of Graham and his new family. Dudley and Susan are wonderful people and Graham is truly loved. He is in an obedience class and the star pupil. He romps and plays with his sister Sabra, curls up on the couch or Dudley's lap to watch the evening news and best of all two people who really love him. He will never be treated mean again.

Hi Everyone. Spring is here and I sure do like it. I am running and playing like never before. I do zooms around the yard, play with Knight and Sissy, run through the sprinkler, and help my foster mom with the yard work. I can redistribute the stuff she rakes up faster than she can rake it, but she just laughs and throws a stick or a toy for me to go catch and I always bring her back the exact one she throw too.

My weight is normal, my ribs are healed and I have muscles in my hips, my chest is filling out and my furnishings are growing out. My house manners have come a long way. I have learned to lay down quietly while the humans eat instead of trying to eat off of their plates and I really don't counter surf much at all anymore. Sissy always tells. I still won't go upstairs, but I have managed the first 3 steps. Sure would like to know what is going on up there, but when I feel brave enough I will try it, in the mean time I am content with the living room, dining room, kitchen and my big crate where I sleep and take naps.

I got a new foster sister today, she is a mini and pretty nice. Juliana said she thinks she has cushings, whatever that is, but told the lady who brought her that depending on her health problems, she may spend a long time in foster care before finding a forever home. Well below is some new pictures of m, I don't hold still for long, so much to do and see.

Hello everyone, I am Graham. My foster mom is finally well enough (she had the human version of kennel cough) to take dictation. I came to Louisville about a month ago and in a lot of pain. Can't tell you exactly what happened to me, but I had cracked ribs and still do have two chipped vertebrae, but I am no longer wincing in pain when I run and play.

I really like being in a house, so nice and warm and dry. Fresh food and water, clean blankets for me to lie on, treats and most of all love and attention. My foster mom said she doesn't think I have spent much time indoors as I am into everything I see. Everything is so wonderful and exciting. They had this big tree in the house until a couple of weeks ago, it was pretty neat. All of these shiny things on it and lights, but I was good. I only had to be told No two times, then I left it alone. We also got this package delivered by the Federal Express Man, (Knight, Sissy and Griffin told me I would learn to like packages) and it had lots of toys in it for us. My foster Mom said it was from Bobette, John, Master Volker and Miss Mariah Marie. It had all kinds of things in it, squeak toys, a blanket, pillow and a NYLA Bone. That is my favorite.

I went back to the vet yesterday and I weigh 79 pounds. That is really good. I have gained about 10 pounds and growing taller. They don't think I am much over a year old, said I had a lot of puppy in me.

There was a foster brother here named Griffin that was about my age, but he left shortly after I came. Juliana said he went to his forever home. I remember him leaving, she cried. She said I would go to a forever home too in a month or so, but I am quite content here. I have foster brothers and sisters to play with, two Giants, two Minis, a Standard and a tiny little dustmop thing that they call The General. I learned early that when The General barks, everyone listens. Griffin taught me that before he left. Told me what ever I did not to harass The General or The General would let me have it. Also can't aggravate Cassi and Sissy too much. Boy do they know how to put you in your place. Knight and I play a lot now that I am not in pain anymore. We run and run. It is so much fun.

Well it Juliana said it is time to go now, she said we have to get this day started. More later.

He is finally eating and eating and eating. Whatever you put in front of him he is eating. I am so thankful he is eating. Was really starting to think that something had been missed and he was hurt internally somewhere which is why he wasn't eating.

He had visitors yesterday, young children and was very gentle. I am not sure if he took the queue from Knight, Sissy and Griffin or has been around them before. One was just a baby about two years old.

Graham is not really a big fan of the outdoors, but can you blame him? He has probably not spent a lot of time indoors where it is warm and dry. He hasn't had any accidents in the house and has not even attempted to mark. We are still keeping him confined quite a bit while his ribs heal as we don't want him to injure himself more.

Graham is settling in nicely. We switched his pain medicine to Remidyl (sp) and it seems to have helped considerably. He is wincing less when getting up and down and a whole lot less when he is walking/trotting around. He does more trotting than walking now.

He is a very picky eater. We got him a bag of S/D J/D and he will not touch it or any other kind of dry kibble. I even tried mixing it with canned, chopped venison, chicken, lamb and he just picked at it. Didn't even eat the meat in it. I tried giving him just the meat and it too was a turn up his nose and leave it sit. If he wasn't so emaciated I wouldn't be so concerned. I gave him straight canned J/D and he is eating it for now with gusto. Hope it lasts. He walked over and took a treat right out of Griffin's mouth yesterday, Griffin just looked at me and I was so dumbfounded I didn't have time to say anything. He then thought he would do the same with Sissy's treat, but that didn't work. He was corrected immediately and he didn't even think about taking Knight's. He is learning. He is not food aggressive when it comes to his bowl of food though. Could care less, just wants all of the treats. Junk food junkie I guess.

He seems to love everyone and toys. Squeak toys. He has the most perplexed expression on his face when he bites one and it squeaks. He is very happy go lucky and like Griffin, not sure how he ended up in the shape he is in or why, but I guess I should give up ever knowing those things about dogs that come into Rescue. But, like everyone involved in Rescue you want to know why and how and spend a lot of waking hours with it always being in the back of your mind.

Graham came home from the vet today and is resting quietly in his kennel. He was welcomed with open paws by his new foster brothers and sisters, Cassi, Sissy, Knight, Griffin, Ube, Jackson and The General. He showed no signs of being aggressive and seemed really happy to be here. He did try and play a little but it hurts him too much to play, so he just walked along smelling his new yard. When we finally came into the house, he was very excited and picked up The General's bed and started flipping it in the air. He was extremely excited to be inside, and is very much an inquisitive puppy. So many things to see and do if he just didn't hurt so much. After he smelled everything we put him in his kennel and proceeded to fix dinner. He is eating Science Diet J/D with Arthroflex added to help his joints. He is also pain medicine for his ribs and back. Dr. Joyce said it would take a good 8 weeks for the ribs to heal and that we would have to limit his activities for a while and keep him confined. He did have a slight cough, but it has subsided.

Graham is a Giant rescue from Harlan County KY and was transported to Louisville on December 8th, 2006 where he was taken straight to our vet for much needed care. Graham has 3 fractured ribs on his left side and one of his vertebrae is chipped. We are not sure what happened to him. He is about 20 pounds underweight. Graham also has a birth defect. His last two vertebrae are of unequal size and his right hip is a little out of place, but might go back in place once he builds some muscle. He is between 9 and 14 months of age, heartworm negative and has been neutered.

HT-Z the official Giant Schnauzer Rescue Organization for the Giant Schnauzer Club of America and is paying for all of Graham's medical care, but can use donations of any amount. In the last 6 months they have had 21 Giant's come in from a WV Puppy Mill that needed to be spayed/neutered, some need orthopedic surgery and various other medical care, plus numerous other Giants that have come in requiring extensive medical care, such as Griffin, who also is a rescue from Harlan County, KY. This does not include all of the ones from various shelters across the country that need medical attention. The vet costs are now close to $20,000.00 dollars for all of these Giants and continue to rise. Any help at all is greatly appreciated.

To donate click here. Your donation is tax deductible. Thank you in advance for your well wishes, prayers and support.