A plea? A venting? Just chat?

My oldest female GSD has sever hip displaysia. I know her days are numbered. How long? Who knows? She has good days still. But at whose expense!? Thank goodness I start a new job this week (hopefully). So she will be going to the vet ASAP. Not that she hasn't been, just the Mrs and I lost work right before Christmas. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. We will prevail.
The dog (Nitrous) is what I wanted to talk about. Her battle with this really has me torn on some things. Nitrous came from a backyard breeder. Not a reputable one like Wildhaus? you see here. Reputable breeders in short will provide hip certifications. And, they are careful and knowing of what they breed with what. They don't just let two full blooded breeds join together. The sad part of all this is the abundance of mixed breeds (obviously not from a reputable breeder) and even full breeds that are homeless. They need homes as well. Does that mean a dog in the shelter will have hip displaysia? Hardly. But to have those certifications from the start and breed the dogs responsibly really helps to save problems from ocurring in the long run. The going rate for a GSD puppy is darn close to, of not over $1500. Sure, you can find a GSD for $300 all day long in the local paper. But, have you priced hip surgey and 2 years of Rimadyl? I'm sorry this post is really going nowhere. Just needing to "yell" a little and let out this steam. It is not fair to these animals to have to suffer like this. I do want to give props to Wild Haus for being a spot on breeder. Can't recall who he is, just have visited the link in the sig line and admired. I would like to visit his property and see his pups one day. My lady knows we will always have at least one GSD in the house. We have 2 now. And, we have both decided that we will definately get our next family member from such a reputable breeder. That is just the decision for us. Thank you to all that rescue dogs and give them needed loving homes. I've personally rescued several in my life. Infact, have a walker hound at current that was a rescue. Alright, enough of me rambling and not making much sense. I do appreciate such a forum built with such fine gentleman and ladies to where one feels comfortable enough to come and share a feeling and shed a tear. On the positive side of things my lady may have a postion at a vet clinic coming her way. She's worked in the people hospitals for years, here's hoping animals will suit her well. I'm certain it will though. We have 5 dogs and a bird together.

i too rescue dogs as often as i can. i am an over the road driver and it makes it tough to do so very often. i have 2 dogs now(wire haired terrier and mini daschound) i have also 2 cats, both were strays. one found at another friends house and the other was really found in my garbage can in the garage. he was just about starved to death. now he is about 17lbs and owns the house.. i applaud you for your rescues also. good luck with your animals in the future..

@ rickboone,

Sorry to read about your and your dog's misfortune.

Your story proves again that every time you are tempted to go cheap you have to ask yourself: "Am I rich enough to go cheap?"

Rick, don't worry, it's not rambling. This is the place to let it go! I salute you for doing the right thing.

I saved my cat Bummer from the shelter in October of 1997. He turns 13 in April. I see that as 12 years of enriching my life. Just don't tell him he's that old, he still thinks he's a kitten! :tu

Congratulations on the new job and good luck! :beer1:

Well Rickboone,
I know how you feel, I had to fly back from work on after my first nightshift this week, to catch my old roping horse Patches, and have him put down. He had been blind in one eye for some time and when I shod him up a few weeks ago and rode out, had a feeling his good eye was not so good. His companion a pet cow had to be put down a few days ago due to a sudden illness, and I noticed some odd behaviour from Patches, guess the cow was the seeing eye cow and he was lost without her. Dam he was a really good old horse, looked after my wife when she rode him, and good to head and heel off. He got a good groom, a couple of apples which he allways loved, thanked and an easy trip care of my vet mate, a few tears shed, a few beers with a couple of cowboy mates and all over. Been a tough start to the new year losing two pets. My other roping horse is feeling it to. Will be a little while before we get another horse. My late father allways said it was a terrible pity that dogs and horses did not live as long as a man. :beer2:

Cheers