When I was a kid and you had a critter with "the miseries", Old Doc Gray, three days older than dirt, would come over, tend to the critter, sit with it for days if need be, then take a dozen dressed hens or some fresh garden produce as payment.
Our 15-year-old side ditch rescue mutt, Bentley, is beginning to show his age. He gets along pretty well yet. He gets an arthritis shot once a month, but has developed what appears to be a snotty nose all the time. He seems to be worse at night. We have had him to five vets, two specialists, have run almost $5000 worth of tests. Tests were all inconclusive. Nobody seems to know whether he has a virus, an infection, bacteria, or a fungus. Or cancer. Nobody seems to care. The wife doctors him up with a combination of OTC products from Walmart and he seems to be doing better. One vet said that was just his nature, he'd live to be 25, the next vet called four times on a Sunday, wondering if he was going to live thru the day. When we passed on another $5000 worth of tests and some surgery, that vet said we should put him down. He seems to be doing fine. How can ALL those tests and X-rays be inconclusive? We are beginning to believe we are on the "old people merry-go-round" reserved for those whose heartstrings control their wallet?
Every one of these thieves should be ashamed of themselves. While I think more of this dog than I do some of the people I know, and would probably give my life for his, this has gotten to the place it's getting ridiculous. People get attached to critters and some people know how to exploit that. They get the wife all upset, then the result is never good. I think it's time to just let Bentley live the rest of his life at home, where he is not afraid, where we are with him, and let the chips fall where they may. This is the worst part about having pets. They get old then they die.
When we found Bentley, he was nearly frozen to death and was dumb as a rock. He had probably been a Christmas present, then peed in the house, so he was dumped in a ditch to freeze to death. He has never had any formal training. What training he has had our Golden Retriever, Ginger, gave him. She house broke him. She would grab him by the neck with her teeth and shove him thru the doggie door if she thought it was time for him to "go". He just seems to know what is expected of him. His "come" has never worked, he won't chase balls (WAAAAYYY beneath him....) and he hates water on his belly. If you toss him into a lake, he will swim to the shore, shake off, then he'll hate you for a week. He'll let you bathe him, but doesn't want water on his belly. We have a cat who will swim like a fish, but not Bentley. He is a picky eater, prefers cat food or baloney, and will eat his weight in Colby-Jack cheese, and prefers Great Value cheese. He will ride on his "buggy" until he takes his last breath. We can take him anywhere and he minds his manners. I take a doggie bag with me for emergencies, but he will hold his water until it runs out his ears when he is in a building. He is not yappy around other dogs. He does not like little kids. Everybody talks about their pets being the best there is. It is true when it comes to Bentley. This dog who got a rough start in life has lived an exceptional life. I have been blessed to have him as a part of mine.
I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.....Thomas Alva Edison
