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Oh, For Heaven’s Sake

Spinner in basket

Okay, apparently there is something the bigger dogs find very appealing about that wire basket! This is blind and deaf Spinner snoozing in it yesterday evening.  Maybe blind Madison tipped her off to its unique comforts. Who knows?

While we were taking these photos, I told Alayne that I bet Spinner would react when the flash went off — and sure enough, she did. Here she is, popping up after detecting the burst of light:

Spinner in basket 2

This brought a flood of memories, because it was how she responded to the beam of a flashlight that made us think she might be able to see when she first came to us way back in 2005.

We learned subsequently during exploratory surgery that she had blue eyes and that the white we were seeing when we looked at her was the back of her eyes. It turned out she had an extremely rare condition known as restrictive strabismus, that experimental surgery had been done with some success, and we found a surgeon in San Diego who offered to give it a try with Spinner.

So I flew her to San Diego for consultations with the surgeon, who determined she was a candidate for surgery … and then came the heartbreaking aftermath. (As a post-script to that last blog post, the one eye that might have been a candidate for follow-up cataract surgery eventually rotated back down, so nothing more was possible.)

Although our hopes of giving her vision again were dashed, Spinner continued to live a wonderful, happy life — and as you can see, she finds new ways of making herself comfortable!

—

Shelter Challenge 2012 Logo

Final Contest of The Year — Please Vote for the Farm!

The latest Shelter Challenge started Monday, October 8 and ends at midnight on December 16. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories … please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.

*** You will find us listed as Rolling Dog Farm.  The state is NH for New Hampshire. ***

Please remember, you can vote every day … consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.

We just won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the current contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!

You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.  

Thank you for your votes!  

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14 responses to “Oh, For Heaven’s Sake”

  1. Lynn (in Louisiana) Avatar
    Lynn (in Louisiana)

    Are you trying to push me over the edge Steve???? These last few posts have been so emotional for me!! Oh how we all love Spinner. Thank you for linking all the past posts.
    But what is up with this basket??

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  2. Moon Rani Avatar
    Moon Rani

    The sleeping dog in the basket keeps getting bigger! I suppose next we’ll see Blanca crammed in there. Must be some kind of club initiation dare.

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  3. Shirley * James/Portland, OR Avatar
    Shirley * James/Portland, OR

    Love to Spinner! Such a sweet dog.

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  4. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    One mans basket is another dogs bed! Whatever it is that draws them to it may remain a mystery, but as long as they are comfortable (and by the pictures they certainly are), I say “let sleeping dogs lie” 🙂

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  5. Barb Ribinski Avatar
    Barb Ribinski

    I just don’t see what could possibly be comfortable about that wire basket, but I guess it’s because I’m not a large dog. Something tells me she won’t be the last we see in that basket!

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  6. Anne in FL Avatar
    Anne in FL

    Oh Spinner, sweetie, it is SO good to see you!! Enjoy your turn in the basket. (silly dogs, but who am I to say what is comfortable) Like Ann said, Let sleeping dogs lie.

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  7. Diane Borden, Chehalis, WA Avatar
    Diane Borden, Chehalis, WA

    Well, I think there is some sort of secret society building here, and they are out to catch you off your guard and shake your practical expectations to the bone.
    In other words, “We know something you don’t know.” The old school-yard taunt might be at work here!
    And the secret society is off in the dog yard plotting…….”who shall we surprise him with next?”

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  8. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    Spinner – without sight – basks in all the comforts a dog could ever want – at RDF.

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  9. Tonya Allen Avatar
    Tonya Allen

    It seems Madison has set a trend. Probably Spinner could tell by smell that she had slept there, and thought, “Hey, must be comfortable, let me try it.” She seems to think it is very cozy.

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  10. Mary H./Washington state Avatar
    Mary H./Washington state

    Oh my, the kids at RDF are such trend setters! I can see the marketing people now working on this new, incredibly cool bed for dogs….

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  11. Phyllis Snow Avatar
    Phyllis Snow

    Thanks for trying. Who knows, it might have worked.
    Phyllis Snow

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  12. Jane T Avatar
    Jane T

    I have re-read the past posts about Spinner and your journey to restore her sight. Once again, I am so impressed and in awe of the amazing care for your pack. She seems to be one happy (if eccentric) pooch. I love this dog from afar. Lucky is she to have the past 7 yrs on the ranch/farm and hopefully many more to go. A humble thanks for all that you do.
    Jane T
    Vashon, WA.

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  13. Kathy Greene Avatar
    Kathy Greene

    PLEASE, PLEASE BE SURE TO GET ON AND VOTE IN THE SHELTER CHALLENGE. I JUST VOTED AND SAW THAT ROLLING DOG IS SLIPPING A LITTLE. IT’S SO EASY TO DO AND JUST TAKES A MOMENT. PLEASE HELP!

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  14. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    I remember that original post of the trip to San Diego and how you blew in her face at the end of the flight to let her know it was you. Spinner has always been one of my most favorite residents of RDR/RDF and I’m so grateful for the update. Merry Christmas Spinner!!!

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