Mackey came to B.O.N.E.S. from a bad situation in central Massachusetts. He was underweight and limped painfully. X-rays revealed a displaced femur fracture in his right hind leg – it was amazing that Mackey could use the leg at all. The options didn't look hopeful, but with help from the B.O.N.E.S. Medical Director, a carefully-structured exercise program, and a lot of TLC, he can now lead a normal life.
As Mackey recovered from his injuries, long-time B.O.N.E.S. adopter John was mourning the loss of his long-time beagle companion, Hudson, whose "Chronicles" were documented here for many years. John was settling into a new job with lots of driving, and Mackey loved to ride... a great match. John and Mackey will both share their viewpoints with us on this page.
Happy New Year!
As usual, Mackey and I have been wintering here in Baltimore, trying to stay out of the cold that is Maine. The weather has been mild down here. I just heard that Maine got about a foot of new snow yesterday. We are being called back home tomorrow, so winter, here we come!
Mackey had an action-filled December starting off with some surgery, back home. Last year he had some sort of intestinal problem which resulted in a sonogram to help with the diagnosis. The only thing the sonogram found was that Mackey had NOT been neutered as previously thought! "Undescended," I think, is the term the vet used.
Anyway, the first week in December, Mackey went under the knife. After the surgery, he got the collar, and clearance to hop in the truck and get back to work. Unfortunately, I misunderstood the doctor and I didn't keep Mackey from jumping on the furniture at home or into the bunk in the truck. As a result, he opened up the stitches... the following Friday, he had to go back for staples! Two more weeks of the collar.
As if this wasn't enough, the following week, we were visiting my sister in Virginia when a friendly get-together between a few dogs turned into a turf war which left poor 'ole Mackey yelping in the end. I didn't see any visible injury, but he had pain near his shoulder.
The next day I, found a vet hospital and in we went. The doctor couldn't see any visible injury. He gave Mackey a couple of pain medications and told us to come back if the pain didn't subside. Mackey seemed to be feeling better a couple days later and Wednesday he was back to his old self, getting into the garbage when I was out of the truck.
After I got in, saw the mess and gave him the evil eye, I noticed the mutilated prescription jar in the middle of the mess. He had eaten all the pills from that jar! About three days' worth! Fortunately, he didn't suffer any from that stunt.
As a result, his Christmas gift was the sweatshirt that he so proudly wears.
I got a sweatshirt for Christmas! That means I was a good dog!
After all I've been through, I think I deserve more than a sweatshirt. I had to go to the vet to get something removed, don't ask me what, but now when I bark and growl, I feel more like a poodle or something. My growl just feels different.
Then I had to go back and have staples put in because John didn't listen to the vet! I wasn't supposed to get up in the recliner or bed at home, or up in the bunk in the truck. When he doesn't listen, I pay!
Then, while visiting in Virginia, a few local dogs were introducing themselves and all of a sudden one was all over me. Here I am in this stupid collar trying to defend myself! That dog, I think, was some sort of lion-hunting dog, thinking I was a lion with that stupid collar. Why else would he want to attack such a handsome beagle?
Anyway, I was pretty sore near my shoulder, so the next day, off to another vet to get checked out. The doctor couldn't find anything obvious, so he gave John some tasty treats to give me twice a day. I started to feel better and by mid-week was feeling myself again.
I decided it had been a while since I checked out the garbage can. Not much, as usual, but wait a minute, there are those treats! I think I can reach them, too! Since I have learned to chew off bottle caps on empty water bottles, how hard can pill bottles be? Not very!
I wish I could have reached his smart phone to film his reaction when he saw the mess, gave me his pathetic evil eye (I only pretend to look ashamed), and then saw the pill bottle... then confusion and panic.
I'm glad he didn't rush right over to the hospital, because it wasn't necessary. I was feeling GREAT!
I'm pretty sure that because of all I went through, I got this cool sweatshirt for Christmas.
