9 is a Prime Number

18-months ago when I adopted Griffin, I came up with a catchy title for my blog post. I called it: Eight is Enough. Unfortunately my little sweetheart Bessie became a victim of an a state requirement that all dogs, no matter how young, must be spayed before adoption. Bessie was only 7-weeks old when I got her and way too young. She was 5-years old when she died. 

I've learned a few things adopting Rottie puppies and don't want to repeat my mistakes. The two Rottie girls I adopted, Sassy in 2003 and Bessie in 2014 were both spayed when they were 7-weeks old because there is a state regulation to prevent breeding that doesn't allow exceptions. The consequence of spaying/neutering a puppy is early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence. Bessie had it all, she developed bone cancer and also had hip dysplasia and torn ACLs.

 

I could not allow my almost 3-year old Griffin to mourn or feel lonely so I immediately began a search for a male Rottweiler to keep him company. Watching Griff attempt to play with Bessie convinced me he needed a male who could give and take the roughhouse kind of play that he likes. 

 

Today I have a new blog post. I called it: 9 is a Prime Number

 

Our family has just added a new member and he already has a new name, I'm calling him Gabby.

Gabby is 2-years 3-months old and he weighs 105 pounds. And we are already best friends. And Griffin likes him, too.

 

Here are his first pictures.

 

The adoption could not have happened in a better place. I got him through the good graces of the North Main Animal Clinic in Dayton, Ohio.

 

 

 

 

Gabby slept thru most of the 90-mile trip back home but once in awhile when the traffic slowed down he raised his head up to see where he was going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the first thing Gabby was introduced to was the traditional cleaning out of the empty peanut butter jar.

 

Stay tuned. More stories and pictures to come.

 

My beautiful girl Bessie has crossed the bridge

It is with great sadness that I write that my baby girl Bess has crossed the bridge. Two months ago Bess was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, bone cancer, in her front leg. This form of cancer spreads rapidly and even a prognosis involving amputation doesn't extend life expectancy more than a few months. While we were dealing with her situation with daily doses of pain meds Bessie had a massive stroke and was unable to stand and walk on her own. Here eyesight was also affected.

I decided she was tormented enough and had her put to sleep.

The crowd of faces waiting for me to join them has gotten bigger.

Yesterday I started looking for another Rottweiler to adopt to be Griffin's new playmate. In the last few days Griffin has begun to show signs of mourning and has had a very sad look on his face.