Greetings all! I am so behind on posts. Everything is a mad house around here and it's left me no time to even read through things.
I was able to ready through the past several pages and my heart just broke for some of you over the past week's events. I am so sorry about the storms, dogs' health issues, car accidents.... my goodness.

I will be praying for everyone!
. . .
On our side of things - also on Friday evening, while walking Moose, our Shepherd-Lab mix, I noticed a dark bloody spot on his testicles.
. . .
Saturday late afternoon, he was walking past me and it was sooooo much worse. Not sure what caused it, but it was awful. I flipped out and asked Bud to call Derrik. Derrik is one of our closest friends and thankfully, one of the best veterinarians in our county. I was so worried he would need stitches in this delicate area. Derrik asked us to send pictures.
So.... let me ask you - have you ever tried to hold down a huge, young, strong male dog against his will on a very tall, four poster, king size bed, while your spouse tries to take pictures and video of the dog's private region?
Yeah, that was my first go round with that even too. It looked like something that should have been a slap-stick performance in an old National Lampoon movie. Especially because this dog - he has been hand raised in this house. Born in this house, bottle fed by us, because his mother couldn't produce milk, travels with us, is adored, and lives where the concept of having to fight for anything is entirely foreign to him. He has no comprehension that people can be cruel, food can be scarce or that some dogs never get to sleep on soft cushy things or one would not have a tug, chew or ball at their disposal. He's never been ill and other than occasionally having to remove a tick or get his vaccinations, he's never had anyone try to manhandle him for anything against his will. This dog thought the entire thing was a game.
He has this huge, long, thick swishy tail. If I could figure out a way to spray Pledge on the end and train him, he could dust all the shelves in no time flat. The dog is upside down, on my bed, with his front paws hooked over my bicep and forearm and bathing my face in excited playful licks with his massive tongue, while continually thrashing side to side at the waist trying to see what Bud was doing and his tail is just wagging happily, completely blocking any hope of a camera shot. Bud would catch his tail and hold it down, but Moose would snake it out, and Bud didn't want to hold him too hard as we were concerned it cause the tear to worsen. An hour and a half. It was the weirdest MMA battle ever.
. . .
So it's now Thursday and the wound looks substantially better. He does not seem the least bit bothered by it at all. Sunday was the only day he paid any attention to it. I personally think that perhaps some infection has started to settle in as whimpered several times while just laying there and was more attentive to it. Thankfully though - everything looks great now. Hope he continues to heal up easily.
I will continue to pray for everyone and hope that your week is greatly improved!