Regis

Regis has been adopted! 2/14/10

Update 2/14/10

I wanted to give everyone an update on how Regis is doing and share these pictures of him and Annie playing in the snow.  Even though he still has seizures periodically, he is almost off the meds that were making him a "zombie" and his new meds have helped him become a very happy boy who seems to discover something new and fun every day.

I also wanted to thank those of you who contributed to the fund for Regis - it was very kind and generous of you.  What we did not incude in our original story was that Regis and I had a bit of a collision in the park in November which ended up with a broken leg for me and surgery to insert screws to "hold me together". Luckily for Regis - he just had a bit of a headache.  The break kept me from working for several months and thus covering the cost of his meds more challenging.  You came to the rescue and we both want you to know how much we appreciated your help.

The good news is that I'm back to work - on my own two feet and last Sunday (Valentine's Day) the adoption paperwork was completed and Regis is now an official member of the family!! He is not a special needs boy - just a very special boy who gives so much love every single day.  We've been through so much together, I just couldn't imagine him being anywhere else but here - his home with sisters Abby and Annie.

I've been able to replenish the Regis Fund and hope it will help other special needs kids as it did my big guy.

Thank you again!
Marianne

Update 12/09

Regis is still not completely seizure free.  His drugs are expensive, around $100 per month at the most cost effective places we can purchase.  If all goes well as he is weaned off the Bromide, the med costs will come down but even better, Regis will have a better quality of life….and we hope he’ll be ready for his forever home. 
Marianne needs help with this cost and is asking for a special Regis fund to be developed.  Would you be able to sponsor a part of Regis medical needs for a month?  We’d like to have at least a 3 months supply at all times.  In exchange, Regis will send you a personally signed letter explaining how grateful he is.   
If Regis finds his home before his fund is depleted, any remaining funds will be used for our other special needs dogs. 

UPDATE ON REGIS 8-8-09

Regis has met a wonderful new vet in Charlotte who has taken a special interest in him - her efforts have gone above and beyond - include consulting with the local neurologist. Regis has had all the bloodwork etc to determine if there is an underlying cause for his seizures and none has been found. The only tests remaining are a CAT Scan and Spinal Tap, which are cost prohibitive right now, to completely rule out anything metabolic causing his seizures.

We do know that he has not reacted well to Phenobarbitol - it has caused side effects that greatly affect his quality of life - lack of coordination, sleeping all the time and ravenous hunger. In addition this dose did not adequately control his seizures. Over the past month his vet has been reducing his dose of the phenobarb and adding in a new seizure drug, Zonisamide. As of 8-6 he is now completely off the Phenobarb! He is slowly "coming back to life" and the nasty side effects he experienced are beginning to subside. We are all in agreement (his fosters, his vet and CPR) that he needs to remain in foster care and with his current vet for at least another 30-60 days to get him to a consistent, stable state. He will be on a "medical hold" until we can get him there and increase his chances to remain in a forever home.

At that time Regis would do best in a home where his adopters would have experience, time and the patience required to live with a special needs dog. They would also need to accept the cost of his meds at approx $40/month along with regular bloodwork (every few months) to monitor his med level. We do not recommend that Regis go to a home with many other dogs/cats that might overwhelm him. We have not seen Regis truly seizure-free and side effect free so each new day for him is a learning experience for us on what his future will be. Stay tuned!! Regis is a beautiful pure black two- year old Standard Poodle with a very sweet disposition and a wonderfully thick coat – and he can be a little goofy and off-balance. Why? Regis has a problem with seizures and is on medication. Since we do not have the funds to have the testing done to discover exactly why – he is being treated as though he has epilepsy.

When he was brought to the rescue, Regis was not on any medication and we placed him in a foster home to get them under control. He could not remain in the kennel since there are so many other dogs and they would pick on him if he had a seizure. Yes, bullies are everywhere! Now we seem to have his meds right (they cost about $20/month) and he had not experienced any seizures since March.

More recently, he went on vacation to the beach and had a seizure the first night and he stayed at another fosters home and again the first night – he had a seizure. We have to believe the stress of a new environment throws him a bit – the very next day he was fine and has been seizure-free since.

Regis gets along well with other gentle dogs, is curious, loves attention, loves to run and play, and also likes to snooze in a cool spot at one's feet - or curl up in a comfy chair! He is not a crazy barker – he is a big mush once he gets to know you and feels safe. He is crate-trained, housebroken and happy to take leisurely walks.

Thanks to his meds, he's quite a “counter surfer” and will eat as much as you are willing to give him (or will take what you leave within his reach!). We watch how much he eats carefully – because with his appetite - he could get pretty chubby quickly. On a trip to Petsmart at Christmastime – his foster mom had to go back in and pay for a rawhide she discovered Regis covertly picked up at the checkout counter!

Regis would be very happy in a home as an "only dog" or with others that are not too “bossy” – if you have an aggressive dog – Regis is not for you as they will sense he is weaker and “bully” him. His new Mom and/or Dad will need to keep up his med schedule and maybe look further into the “why” behind his seizures.

This is a wonderful young dog and if he doesn’t need to spend his life on meds – oh how happy he would be!! Regis is one very sweet boy who will reward your kindness with many years of love and loyalty. Will you consider giving him a forever home or donating to help us help him get to the cause of his seizures? If you make a donation for testing for Regis - please note somewhere that your donation is intended for him. Thank you!