Dang it!

[MudDucker]

Well, my son, Drew's lab, Cracker decided to leave the farm for a stroll sometime yesterday. When Drew came home he saw Cracker on the dirt road in front of the farm acting funny, so he stopped. Cracker's lower jaw was hung down slack and he was bleeding badly.

Yep, he had been hit by a car. Evidently the person who hit him didn't bother to stop either.

Took him to the vet last night and this morning they tell us no local vet can fix his jaw, but they recommend a specialist in Jacksonville. Estimate of fix is between $2500 and $3500. That sucks.

The other bad thing is Drew feels terrible because until Drew got a motorcycle last week, Cracker had never left the farm and didn't chase him in his truck. However, when Drew leaves on the motorcycle, Cracker has followed him, so Drew feels really responsible for this happening.

Man, this is a beotch.

[RiverRunner]

Dang, that really sucks. I've always heard of people spending that kind of money on there dogs(pets) and have always said that I never could see me myself doing it. However, in the back of my mind I know I would. Tell Drew to keep his head up.

[Joe]

Feel for ya. My choc lab got hit and paid the specialist to pin his hind leg. He was 1 yr old. He is 3 now and you could not tell. Still retrieves like a madman below 32F in the swamp. Money well spent on a good lab who is part of the family.

[Cranfield]

Thats a terrible thing to happen.

I have always insured my dogs for "full life health" and that covers accidents.
If I never have to claim I will be a happy man.

[Flint River Pirate]

Thats a terrible thing to happen.

I have always insured my dogs for "full life health" and that covers accidents.
If I never have to claim I will be a happy man.

How much is that?

[Cranfield]

The annual premium equates to $360 per annum.

"Full life cover" means that if in year 1 they have a heart problem, the claim is met.
If in year 2 they have a heart problem, the claim is met.
Most pet insurance cover will claim the heart condition in year 2 to be "pre existing condition" and not pay out.

The insurance covers everything exept standard innoculations or speying/neutering.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

HEY CRANFIELD, GLAD TO SEE YOU AND M/S CHERAL MADE IT BACK HOME O.,K. HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU SINCE YOU CAME BY THE (BACK FORTY)
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

[MudDucker]

Well, Cracker made it though the surgery. The vet said he is missing 3 inches of his jaw, teeth and all. The boy now has steel plates on both sides of his jaw. Don't know yet if he will have enough jaw strength to do any retrieving for probably a year.

[Cranfield]

MudDucker, its good news that he has survived and I would expect he will return to normal retrieving as soon as he can.
I have seen dogs working efficiently in the field that have overcome all sorts of disabilities include partial blindness and loss of a limb.

PA, I sent you an email on 23 rd September, possibly to an old address.....you have a PM.

[Dubble Trubble]

I would not be too hard on the person that hit him. They may have stopped and the dog ran off, or it could have been at night and a lady by herself. I have been there, and it is not a good feeling to hit an animal, then watch them run off and you can do nothing....

Dubble

[MudDucker]

I would not be too hard on the person that hit him. They may have stopped and the dog ran off, or it could have been at night and a lady by herself. I have been there, and it is not a good feeling to hit an animal, then watch them run off and you can do nothing....

Dubble

It happened during daylight hours, but if I am a reasonable person and would love to have someone come forward and tell me what you've said was what had happened. I checked with the county animal boys to see if anyone called them to come look for an injured dog. No call was received. I have hit a dog a couple of years ago and I called the animal folks. They came right out and got the dog.

[MudDucker]

My son, Drew picked up Cracker yesterday. The bill was $6800, but they capped it at the $4k. Drew was not impressed with their presentation of how that was a great favor.

He says Cracker is happy to be free, he eats soft food, just not as fast as before. The only issue is now he has loose rear hips. Walks like he is drunk. The vet said he thought this might go away, because they could not find any spinal injury. Drew is going to convert him into an inside dog for now.

He mentioned letting him out and being sure the farm gates were closed. I told him if he made that decision and the dog got hit again, I wasn't going to help the next time ... of course, I seem to be a soft touch these days.