Fritz

Update

October 10, 2009 Fritz marked his one month since cataract surgery on October 3rd with flying colors - the surgeon said his eye looked great and he should have no further problems.  While he was staying with me, he was so very good!  He played well with my girls, Abby and Annie and with Regis, our special needs foster.  Fritz discovered his love of all things soft, loveseat, couch, bed as well as continuing his love of stuffed toys.  He also became protector of the house - now that he could see - he noticed everyone, human and dog that walked by the house.  He really enjoyed living in a home environment.

We think he may have a little issue with depth perception - however unless you were watching him closely for it - you would never notice. 

The best news is that on Thursday October 10th - Fritz went to live at his new forever home with Leslie in Charlotte, along with her 6-yr old standard Belle!  I received a call this afternoon that he has made himself right at home, loves his new bed and playing in his beautiful backyard with Belle.  I have to confess it was really hard to let him go - we were getting awfully attached - but I could clearly see that he will be well loved and doted on by Leslie.  Even Belle, who we were worred might be a little jealous, seems very happy to have a little brother around to play with. I attached their first family photo. 

Fritz wants to thank everyone who helped him see again and find his forever home.  He has a long and happy life ahead of him thanks to all of you!

September 17, 2009 Today is 2 weeks since Fritz underwent cataract surgery and he is becoming a whole new dog! He has discovered the world of stuffed toys and especially any that have a squeaker. I'm making sure they are nice durable toys - because he seems determined to rid them of that nasty noise inside..LOL!

He has no trouble navigating inside or out and loves running and playing in the yard. He even plays with both Annie and Abby at the same time, something none of my other fosters have accomplished. Loves the nicer comforts in life too. He has decided my couch and loveseat are very cozy and meant for his naps.

Fritz is very well mannered, has met lots of new people in the last week and just been as sweet as can be. Men, women, kids, new dogs etc - there's a whole big world out there he's missed and he's loving every minute of it.

He passed his one week checkup with the surgeon with flying colors - he said this dog clearly won the lottery! His lampshade is history and he said "thank goodness"!

Our next step is to find Fritz his forever home - one with a warm lap and maybe a companion or two would suit him just fine...oh, and stuffed toys!!

September 4, 2009 Fritz had a good night and went back for his first recheck with the surgeon this morning. Said everything was perfect and he'll see him again next Friday. Still not liking the lampshade but doing his best to adjust. I think we'll see a big difference in him when he's not distracted by it. There has been no stumbling or walking into things - even in a new environment - all great signs that he really can see much better.

September 3 2009 Wanted to give you all a quick update on Fritz - he had his cataract surgery today! Sadly they could only remove the cataract from one eye - the other cannot be repaired. The good news is they say he will see so much better - it will make alot of difference and he will be one very happy boy and less timid.

He went into surgery early this morning and my daughter was with him before, during and after the surgery so he had CPR eyes watching over him the whole time! Everything went smoothly - and I picked him up and brought him here for a week of TLC before his next check up in a week. The only thing he's not so happy with is the "lamp shade" he has to wear for 10 days - but such a small price to pay for sight!

He's still pretty groggy - but seems to be checking out his surroundlings more thoroughly then he did last night - and he won't let me out of his sight - so I think he can see the changes already. They tell me the most dramatic changes are around Day 3-4.

I'll keep you all posted and I'm taking pictures along the way.
Fritz sends a big "THANK YOU" to all of you that supported and cheered him on!

Scheduled for surgery on Sept 3 2009

We have raised the funds! Thank you all! When we have his surgery date we will post it here.

The Elara Challenge For Fritz

We now have the Elara Challenge to raise funds for Fritz. One of our previous adopters, in memory of their poodle Elara, has issued a $1000 challenge for funds for Fritz to see! They will MATCH up to $1000 for his surgery. Our goal is to raise $3000 total for his eye surgery. We have already raised $725.00 to date!

Another challenger has issued a match for $500!. If we can raise $710 we are to our goal!

Fritz is a wonderful, very clever, two year old Standard Poodle with a genuinely loving personality, but he is a little timid.  Why?  Because he can’t see his world.  Not as you and I see it, anyway.

Everything Fritz sees is as if he’s looking through a clouded shower door.  Fritz has juvenile cataracts, but the Veterinary Ophthalmologist that Fritz just saw says that he has an 85% probability of complete recovery with the surgery that will remove them.

Amazingly, though, Fritz already Walks at Heel, Sits on command, and is learning to Come, even though he can’t really “see” the person calling him. 

Fritz loves people, and he loves to be around other dogs, but, despite his lovingly gentle curiosity, one experiences sadness when the other dogs begin to romp and play.  Fritz will get up and move toward the excitement, himself wanting to “play bow” and move into the chase, when – bam – his big heart recognizes that he cannot see.  He goes from the excitement of the moment with the other dogs, to the stark realization of his condition.  That makes him just lie back down and listen to the fun that is going on around him.  He turns toward the play, and occasionally looks back to ensure that his lifeline, the people who are caring for him, are still there.

Only the hardest of hearts would be able ignore this young dog’s sad plight.

With sight, this clever boy will be running, jumping, chasing sticks, and romping with the other dogs that also seem to have a ready affinity for him.  He will be able to climb the stairs, and descend them without his caregivers coaxing him past his fear, or without carrying him when he shuts down because he can’t see the next step that is dropping away into the unknown.  With sight, Fritz will not confine himself to the brightest part of the house where he can sense, not really see, the objects that would hurt him if he bumps into them.

With sight, Fritz, will be a wonderful pet and companion full of the love for life that he has, but that is clouded by the timidity that is the result of his inability to see the world in which he lives.