******AND THE WINNER IS********

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS FOR MAC, IT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED! STOP BY SOON TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT RAFFLE WILL BE...
AND
NOW
THE WINNER IS..

Clarisse Andrus
YOU ARE THE WINNER OF THE FIRST RAFFLE FOR MAC. EMAIL ME YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS, AND THE LIGHTHOUSE PAINTED ROCK WILL BE ON ITS WAY....CONGRATS.

RAFFLE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR MAC'S SURGERY BILL

THIS RAFFLE IS NOW CLOSED.

Mac and Comet

Mac and Comet....out for an evening stroll.

Follow up trip to MSU

Had an apt. today to have Mac's staples removed....He walked in, and the Dr. seen us when we came in the door. She was so happy to see him, and the progress he had made, they all were quite pleased. Staple removal was a simple procedure. He had a once over and we were on our way....Mac was so happy to know that he was leaving with us, he ran to the car, I could hardly keep up with him. We stopped by subway and had a *picnic* in the parking lot....He is content and resting now in the house....
Now I think I can begin the business of making *dog bones*....

Sunday, May 1st

Mac is doing fantastic....On Thursday, I was getting the dogs food ready and I heard a comotion in the living room, next thing I knew, Mac was in the hallway peeking at me in the kitchen. Food, the great motivator....he had gotten himself up on his own and walked, on his own...7 days after surgery...I would have never thought it would have been so soon....now today, three days later then his first time getting up, is doing it more, and walking around unassisted, goes outside...but before he gets to the stairs we put his harness on and help him down the stairs. Once down he is free to roam the yard...tonite he did a lot of investigating....loving life....and then when he is ready to go back in, he heads for the stairs. It is amazing the progress he has made...he is back to his old self....it is going to be so nice to WALK into the MSU Vet Hospital.....they will be so proud of him....

Baby steps....

I think Mac is doing well...Its been 7 days since his surgery. His incision is healing nicely, and his staples come out on Monday. His biggest challenge is getting up from a lying down position. He has come so close to getting up on his own. We are working on having him just sit, but most times he gets in that position, and he wants to get up. Mornings are a little wobbly still. He wears the harness and is guided gently, he is learning to keep his back legs spread apart, and not crossing them. Some days he goes right up or down the stairs, without hesitation, sometimes...he pauses at each step. He could be taking it easy, or enjoying the outdoors, or just doesn't need to *go outside*....we are practicing patients, sometimes the whole process on warming up his hips, putting his tee shirt and harness on, feeding, and walking outside takes the better part of an hour. He sometimes hurries so fast into the house I can barely keep up with him, straddling him like a horse, with one light hand on the harness. We find that food is a great motivator. If Don walks in front of him with a piece of apple, or dog bone..he practically runs into the livingroom..his run is a hop, hop, hop...ears a flopping... : )
He is smiling...and is a happy dog...

MAC IS HOME....

We went up to Michigan State this morning around 10:30 to get him.....he looked great....he walked assisted out to the car. Two of the Vet students put him in the car...and on the way home we said, "how are we going to get him out"....just as he has to learn, we have to learn. We did it...and we guided him on his walks outside....we were all a little wobbly at first, maybe *tried* too hard...we need to learn to let him rely on himself more, we need to hold back just a little so he can build his confidence...The last trip outside was around 10:30, and it went much better, I barely guided his back legs, Don had the harness...he even walks up the stairs....assisted of course. He will have to be assisted for probably a month or more...it is our new reality right now....and our priority....We are just so happy that he is home....