kennynsue

Information for those who are interested:

I took our village character, Tapas (Dog) to Fulya on Friday night with bad swelling around his face. It would appear he had been in a fight and was really in a bad way. Fulya has had to keep him at her clinic and whilst he is there she will operate on him tomorrow to neuter him (thereby hopefully stopping him from getting involved in scraps) and will keep him for a further 4-5 days in order for him to get fully fit before being released back into the village. He's a super little fella and Steve & Gill very kindly paid for most of his treatment. If anybody would like to leave a donation at Animana (near Garanti Bank), Yalikavak, I'm sure Fulya would appreciate it.

The report from the vet today is that the swelling is going down slightly so he is responding to the antibiotics and it could well be she will not have to insert drainage into his neck. I'll update you all tomorrow.

Harem

And yet another doggie story.

Our (Turkish) neighbours have an elderly dog which has spent almost his entire life attached to a rope. His rickety kennel was balanced precariously on some rocks and afforded little shelter. However, last year he suddenly became free, whether by means or accident we don't know. All went well with the dog ambling around trailing his rope until he killed one of another neighbour's turkeys. He was recaptured and back to the rope and the rickety kennel, which by this time had been moved to a piece of flat ground. As well as spending most of his life attached to the rope, he didn't enjoy very tasty meals - well, to be honest, a bit of dry bread occasionally, although he did have water. About two weeks ago he was free again. I would see him wandering slowly around and could tell that his sight wasn't too good. For the past two days there hasn't been a sign of him, very unusual.

This morning I was on my way to a local farm for provisions when I saw his head peeping up on the opposite side of the road. I went over to offer him some biscuits and saw what I thought was a lump of raw, bleeding meat beside him. On closer inspection it was revealed to be one of his hind feet. It looked as though his foot had been run over, dragging the skin from it.

Top cut a long story short, with the help of other neighbours we managed to contact one of the local vets and we were able to get the poor animal to the surgery. His operation lasted one and a half hours, resulting in the loss of the foot. It appeared that the injury was at least a couple of days' old. He is in a very sorry state, covered in dried blood, but is resting in our garden. At the moment I am not sure that we have done the right thing for him and wonder whether it would have been better to have peacefully ended his sad life.

Kitcat

Oh dear how sad...I think you did the right thing it's nice to think he has found a kind loving person to take care of him before it's too late...well done

Nickees

Oh My Gosh, poor little bugger. Are you gonna keep him ? I hope he isn't going back to the neighbour ? Of course you have done the right thing, this little guy needs at least a little bit of affection in his life. Please keep us updated.

Ang

What a very sad story and what wonderful people you are. It is so upsetting here to see the ways animals are treated.

parrot

Yes how sad.

Harem

Well he seems OK today, except that I can't get him to take his antibiotics!! My husbnd crushed one tablet and put in some yoghurt - but he doesn't like yoghurt!! I tried with another one in some chicken - but he won't eat chicken!! Cheese? No. He won't even touch the dried dog food that our dogs eat. He has taken a few dog biscuits, but they aren't going to do him much good. Also, my husband isn't too pleased that we have taken on yet another dog (this one makes four now!!) Still, we can but hope that it will all come right in the end.

Nickees

Oh Dear, sorry you are having problems Harem. Maybe just try holding his mouth open popping the pill in holding his mouth shut and rubbing his throat to initiate swollowing. Sounds a bit harsh but it does work. Maybe he is not eating because he is not feeling too good, if the antiboatics start to work he might get his apetite back. Keep up the good work, I am sure as you say it will all work out in the end.

Susan

Harem,

Try putting the tablet in a little bit of butter or jam then let him lick it of your hand, this used to work with my friends dog.

Susan