- Joined
- Sep 9, 2011
- Messages
- 78
This is a pretty sad story, so I warn you about reading further.
So I moved back in with my parents, they have 3 dogs. I brought Blastoise (8mo Sulcata) home and they were apathetic towards him. They would look and sorta smell him, but go on their merry ways. Well I was still cautious, so for the first week I watched him when he was in his outdoor kiddie pool all day (I had him on a table, and with bungees holding down the chicken wire atop the pool). The dogs didn't even notice, except for when I brought him out, and put him away. I watched them play, disregarding my Sulcata. The next week went fine without constant supervision until a couple days ago, I got a call while I was out shopping. My dad said the dogs had gotten my tort but he was alive(they tore the chicken wire open). I was petrified, I had no idea what to do. I was so scared, they were on the way to a pet emergency room. I was semi-optimistic, knowing that they bit part of his shell. Once I arrived though, I saw his condition and it was grave. The dogs bit off his front left foot, and tore into his plastron. It was a gruesome site. At this point I was still optimistic, thinking that he could still make it if his foot heals (recently visiting a sea turtle rehab). The doctor called a herp vet and asked what to do. This is what I was told, "the outlook isn't the best, the chance of infection is very high. If he makes it through tonight, there will have to be a surgery to remove his leg to try to prevent any further infection, and his plastron will have to be rebuilt." This was devastating to me, I was horrified. But there was nothing I could do. I asked how much it would cost, and they estimated around $950 (cost of surgery/staying in the hospital) they still couldn't guarantee his health after that. Its then that it occurred to me the possibility of him not making it. I cried, I hysterically cried. The doctor came back out and asked what I wanted to do. The thoughts were running through my head, but the one that prevailed was, he loves to dig, he loves to walk around, he loves to play. If he survives, he won't have a front left leg to do this with, and it will be a long slow process for his recovery. and it still wasn't any guarantee that he would definitely make it. It was then I started crying again, the doctor asked what I wanted to do, I said "Just......(i couldn't speak at this point)... I think......... Put... asleep." That was such a hard decision to make, but it is for the better, he is in a place where he can eternally dig, and run around. Seeing him the way he was, was a terrible site, I knew he was in excruciating pain, and I know the decision I made was the best for him.
I am getting another Sulcata to help with the grieving process, and will keep him under 100% supervision, ALWAYS.
I hate the dogs, but can only hate them to an extent. I don't know what had gotten into them, they didn't bother for 2 weeks, then one day just snapped. It is a terrible thing and I hope no one has to ever deal with such an incident.
RIP Blastoise
So I moved back in with my parents, they have 3 dogs. I brought Blastoise (8mo Sulcata) home and they were apathetic towards him. They would look and sorta smell him, but go on their merry ways. Well I was still cautious, so for the first week I watched him when he was in his outdoor kiddie pool all day (I had him on a table, and with bungees holding down the chicken wire atop the pool). The dogs didn't even notice, except for when I brought him out, and put him away. I watched them play, disregarding my Sulcata. The next week went fine without constant supervision until a couple days ago, I got a call while I was out shopping. My dad said the dogs had gotten my tort but he was alive(they tore the chicken wire open). I was petrified, I had no idea what to do. I was so scared, they were on the way to a pet emergency room. I was semi-optimistic, knowing that they bit part of his shell. Once I arrived though, I saw his condition and it was grave. The dogs bit off his front left foot, and tore into his plastron. It was a gruesome site. At this point I was still optimistic, thinking that he could still make it if his foot heals (recently visiting a sea turtle rehab). The doctor called a herp vet and asked what to do. This is what I was told, "the outlook isn't the best, the chance of infection is very high. If he makes it through tonight, there will have to be a surgery to remove his leg to try to prevent any further infection, and his plastron will have to be rebuilt." This was devastating to me, I was horrified. But there was nothing I could do. I asked how much it would cost, and they estimated around $950 (cost of surgery/staying in the hospital) they still couldn't guarantee his health after that. Its then that it occurred to me the possibility of him not making it. I cried, I hysterically cried. The doctor came back out and asked what I wanted to do. The thoughts were running through my head, but the one that prevailed was, he loves to dig, he loves to walk around, he loves to play. If he survives, he won't have a front left leg to do this with, and it will be a long slow process for his recovery. and it still wasn't any guarantee that he would definitely make it. It was then I started crying again, the doctor asked what I wanted to do, I said "Just......(i couldn't speak at this point)... I think......... Put... asleep." That was such a hard decision to make, but it is for the better, he is in a place where he can eternally dig, and run around. Seeing him the way he was, was a terrible site, I knew he was in excruciating pain, and I know the decision I made was the best for him.
I am getting another Sulcata to help with the grieving process, and will keep him under 100% supervision, ALWAYS.
I hate the dogs, but can only hate them to an extent. I don't know what had gotten into them, they didn't bother for 2 weeks, then one day just snapped. It is a terrible thing and I hope no one has to ever deal with such an incident.
RIP Blastoise
please do not hate on the dogs it's not there fault dog's and torts do not mix at all.the dog did not stap he just knew you were not around to stop him . thats what dogs do build a dog proof pen for your tort so they will be safe
