~ Pet Purchase Mistake? ~

Up until a year ago, I had a puppy mill Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I had to put her down last year .... she was 11. Well, that took forever to get passed, but this weekend I bought a border collie (3 months), the cutest little face. I thought I was getting her from a family who had special quarters for their breeding program ..... was I ever wrong. When I turned in the driveway I should have backed right out ..... behind the house it was a hoarder's paradise ....giant mess doesn't even cover it......everything from old tires, big metal rims all over, refrigerators, washing machines ..... you get the picture. I won't go into the whole thing, but I did wind up getting a little black and white female ..... BIG mistake. I told him I was taking her to my Vet. in the AM and did he have papers to show that I bought her from him .... no he didn't. Stupid me. I got her home, fed her and took her out, and sat in my rocking chair holding her, scratching her belly, and just loving on her.....so cute. Well, as I was doing this I noticed a "necklace" of ticks all the way around her neck, attached. And fleas galore! The ticks were all over her body also. I called my Vet. in the AM and they got me right in. The Vet. tech. said they must have taken 100 ticks off of her, and the fleas were just hopping all over the place. Both the Vets there examined her, she'd had no shots yet, and they said that while she seemed to be OK then, there very likely would be things crop up within the year. They called him for some questioning, which he answered vaguely .... they were very angry with him and I was angry with myself for being so stupid. They gave her the shots she needed, a pill for the fleas and ticks, and dipped her quickly in some watery solution for the jumping fleas. I didn't know what to do .... I was so upset. I didn't want to take her back to that guy because I'd be putting her right back in the same situation, I thought of the SPCA because down here they really check potential buyers out thoroughly. Then the Vet said, "wait, I have an idea." And off she scurried, dog in her arms, all the while I was sniveling ..... it's just been too much this week. She said that one of their Techs. had been looking for another border collie (they have 2) as their family has a farm and the dogs just love to run, chase vermon, etc ..... they need lots of exercise. She came out holding the dog, and here it was a early 20 year old Mennonite girl whose family raise beef and corn. I knew her well from going there for so long. OMG, I couldn't believe it. I signed off and gave her the dog. I knew she'd have a good home and have lots of room to run.

What is it with this place? Everything I try to do down here falls flat on its face, ever since I left MD and moved to VA. Oh how I want to go home, but I can't ... my condo has been sold, I can't afford to rent anything up there, and my 2 girls would be devastated if I moved .... they love having me here. I wish I had never left MD ...... I'd been there 30 years and it's still "home" to me.
abby