Fassy the chow's bills

Fassy is now eating out of our hands, sleeping soundly, and giving kisses. He's quite the man, and I'm in amazement that someone unceremoniously dumped him at a shelter. But then, it's not unusual. There is a sad black chow at the Baldwin Park shelter. Also deaf and blind, dumped by his owners because "he's too old." Would you do that to your grandmother? Sigh. I just hope someone can step in for him and give him a chance.

Thank you to EVERYONE who is helping Fassy. He is doing better since his surgery. His face just looks more relaxed. It's hard to read expression in a dog when his eyes are nothing but seared-over blank spots, but his facial muscles are no longer tense. And while he is still less than crazy about having his head mucked with -- who can blame him? -- he is much calmer. He has his own room in the kennel manager's house where he has enough room that he isn't bumping into walls, lots of soft beds and blankets to lie on ... even a real bed that he spends time on. He gets to listen to the little dogs in daycare outside his window and has a big yard to get out into and do his business... being a typically fastidious chow, he's totally house-trained. I decided to just let him have the yard rather than walking him, since I'd like him to get used to the environment, and walks are always in strange places. He probably has the best environment he's had in years, if not in his entire life.

Today he's being neutered.

It's a little hard to see this photo, but it's Fassy wearing my gone-to-the-Bridge Dobie mix Taylor's coat. Fassy was examined by my vet, who claims him healthy enough to undergo surgery to neuter and fix the entropian on his eyelids, which has caused his blindness and is causing discomfort and pain. Fassy was shaved at my vet's so he could examine his skin - in good shape! - thus the coat. He seems a bit more comfortable now. He is such a good boy. Everyone who meets him loves him. Thanks again to everyone who has chipped in to help him on the road to a much better life. To think this poor guy could have died in a shelter... sigh.

Fassy is doing fine, but he's got a vet visit -- routine checkup with bloodwork, and see if there's anything we can get for his eyes to make him more comfortable. We can't change the fact that he's blind, but his eyes tend toward dryness. I'm using a cream right now, but maybe there is more we can do. My vet will let me know. I also need to buy food and supplements to take to his new home so he can have good stuff to take care of his body. I'm so excited for him. Thanks to everyone who has contributed; I know there are a lot of dogs and other critters out there in tremendous need, and each of us can only do to so much. But Fassy is tremendously grateful for this chance to live out his remaining years in comfort.

Fassy is getting to know people ... smelling them so he can figure them out. He's quite bright for a guy who can't see and barely hears ... I'm just so glad he's being given a chance for a second opportunity. Thanks, everyone!!

Because, thanks to the outpouring of support for this poor guy, he has a future. Thanks to everyone!

Fassy was listed as an 18-year-old blind chow by the shelter where his "family" dumped him on April 8. The vet who examined him April 12, when I took him from the shelter, put him closer to 10. He is safe now, and has a home in Northern California, where he will be transported on April 29. His adoption was $100, and costs to board him at a wonderful board-and-train facility until I can get him to his new home will cost $255. He will get blood work and be checked out by my vet, which will be an additional cost. I can absorb all these costs myself, but any help would be appreciated. Some of the money raised for Fassy's future will go to Angie, the wonderful woman who is taking him in to make his remaining days good ones.