Max's emergency

It's taken me a few days to wrap my mind around what's happened and to be able to formulate cohesive thoughts about it all. I appreciate all the prayers that have been offered up on Max's behalf and ask for them to continue.

Tuesday, December 27 started out as a perfectly normal day. It's amazing how your world can be turned upside down in a split second. As many of you know we have three other dogs besides Max William. They are golden retriever/border collie mix that we rescued when they were 7 weeks old and are now 3 1/2 years old. They have all been great dogs and have never ever shown any aggressive behavior towards other animals or people. Brody was introduced to Max the day Max joined our family and did really well with him. All three seemed curious about Max over the past few weeks but still no signs of aggression from any of them. We've always had the rule of "if Max is out back, the other three are in the garage". The three have a habit of chewing thru the fence if they want to see what's happening on the other side and we didn't want to keep replacing fence boards.

On Tuesday, Max went out to potty but nobody realized the others weren't in the garage. Within 20 minutes they had chewed thru the fence and Max was attacked. Brody and Felicity weren't anywhere near; they were off investigating the yard. Cooper however, has apparently felt that Max was invading his territory and took the opportunity to show him who was boss. This gentle, timid dog attacked Max:(. Nobody heard a sound. When Tess went to let Max back in the house she was horrified. Poor Max was hurt and the others were just roaming around the yard.

I had just left the house twenty minutes earlier; everyone including Max was safe and sound, playing in the house. I got the phone call nobody ever wants. Tess is terrified and needs me home immediately. Max is hurt. That 2 minute drive home seemed like 20. I pull into the drive to find little Max in his kennel, ears bleeding. We load him up and rush to the vet. He is calm the entire time. Two vets examine him. He's lucky that it's only his ears, no other injuries. But...the lower 1/3 of his right ear can't be saved:(. I'm hesitant to leave my precious boy. I tell him how good he is. Tell him how loved he is. Then entrust him to the caring hands of the two vets standing over him.

When we get home, I realize just how amazing my Tess Elizabeth is. At nearly 16 she handled a situation that most adults couldn't handle and she did it with decisiveness, grace, compassion and determination. She managed to get Max into his kennel safely without 6 young children seeing him. She put the children into Sarah's bedroom and told Gracie to not let anyone out under any circumstance yet kept them all calm and kept them from seeing anything that would scare them. She called me while getting the other dogs into their kennels. She called her dad. And she got Max out into the driveway so he could get to the vet immediately. And, while we were at the vet, this amazing daughter of mine cleaned the trail of blood thru the house so that the children wouldn't get scared. I'm still amazed when I think of how she handled all of this.

Max went thru three hours of surgery. And spent the night and next morning under observation. Throughout the night he walked on a leash to go potty, he ate dinner, and he remained calm and alert. His strong will has been his biggest asset in all this. He is determined to get better. When we brought him home, I didn't know what to expect but leave it to Max William to leave me speechless. He's alerted several times to Gracie's blood sugar since he's been home (I honestly didn't expect him to alert till he's recovered). He has shown no apprehension about going out into the backyard (I was concerned he wouldn't want to go out there anymore). And, when seeing other large dogs at the vet, he's shown no signs of fear (wow!).

Max has his head wrapped tightly to keep compression on his ears so they can heal properly. Needless to say my spunky little guy doesn't like this. Being the smart pup that he is, he figured out within a few minutes of getting home how to use the sofa cushion and the sofa back to his advantage and was successfully working his bandages slowly off. One more trip to the vet to get rewrapped. And now, he's earned the privilege of wearing a not so fashionable cone to keep from getting it off again.

Max is recovering and healing well. He will start puppy classes next week as scheduled. Even more important now so he continues to not fear other dogs. Cooper is his normal, laid back, loyal self. Brody and Felicity can't figure out what all the fuss is about. The two legged members of our family are doing better as well. However, we have made the heartbreaking decision of finding a new home for Cooper and possibly Brody and Felicity. Max requires a lot of time and attention to train for his life's mission as Gracie's service dog. That leaves little time for the others and they deserve more than the leftover attention and energy at the end of the day. Please pray that God sends the perfect family for Cooper and that He is clear on a decision about Brody and Felicity. They are all wonderful dogs and deserve love, affection and attention. I'll keep you posted on their journey to a new home (or if we feel it best to at least keep Brody and felicity) and on max's recovery.