[Pitchic27]

We haven't always been here, so I thought I'd give you an overview of our lives together. My family picked Darla up from a shelter in May 2005, and only because Yosemite was flooded and we were trapped in the valley (last time it flooded was in the 90's) well when the water receaded we decided to go home as we had just arrived the night before the flood, we wanted to salvage my hubby's only vacation (we go to Yosemite every year). For some reason we decided to talk adopting a new dog due to our new home the entire four hour long trip home and he wanted ...yup a chihuahua or possibly a JRT. :shock: But momma wanted a pitbull, my years of working at the Humane Society that wouldn't adopt them out, I got to know these dogs and it's a wonderful breed. We visited local shelters and that's where he fell in love with a APBT pup (who was already taken). We researched that week and decided we were ready for the challenge of ownership. We agreed on parenting skills, trainers, and CRATING!


Well we had to drive a bit far because we saw a litter of 7 at an LA shelter, who had been together their 12 weeks of life and were still together (great news) So we drove to Los Angeles the day they were available.
Darla's Adoption Notice:

We fell in love - even though she was choice number 3~she had the best personality, and conformation!
the day she came home:

some more puppy photos (3 months old):

four months old:

5 months old:

6-7 months old

8-9 months old

10 months old:

That's our story. Hope you liked it, and yes, you're very lucky I have WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY more photos!

 

[Tanner]

What adorable pictures! Thanks for sharing! She sure grew up fast!

 

[purely_pitbull]

Aw, that's sweet...I love reading adoption stories. Darla looked a lot like my Bella did as a puppy - how do you say no to that face? :wink:

 

[Chico.Heidi]

Great pics! She looks like such a sweetheart. Is she doing better?

 

[Pitchic27]

Great pics! She looks like such a sweetheart. Is she doing better?

I recieved her final diagnosis which is a bit in limbo (ps where you been?) She was diagnosed with trauma (there's a huge fancy word for it but I forgot :lol She still has fluid build up, you can see here on her elbow

, so she is taking Glucosamine 500 MG, and buffered aspirin, twice a day, for pain management, and joint care. We are watching it for 2 months. If it's still the same we need to go to an orthopedic surgeon to possibly do exploratory surgery.

It's all because she took off in a sprint with another dog, running and twisted. The elbow is a long healing process. At least I know know what's going on. We've invested in health insurance now and things are looking brighter. Now if I could just get my hubby to stop talking about another puppy.... :roll: I'm not ready for two! But we foster...so hopefully that will hold him off. :lol:

 

[Chico.Heidi]

I remember you saying it was trauma but I wasn't sure if it was improving or not. Things got pretty crazy for the holidays so I've been running around alot. Chico has an appointment to get some x-rays on thursday and they wouldn't give me an estimate of how much it would cost. The girl up front just said it varies. How much did you have to pay again? Also what insurance did you go with? I'm thinking about getting some for Chico because he always has something going on. All of his problems have been hereditary though. ie: allergies, mange.
Also, send me some new pics of Darla, I'l make you a new banner! Did you get our card?

 

[bella_blue]

I love happy endings. Darla is a beautiful girl, and she's so lucky to have found such a wonderful forever home!

 

[Pitchic27]

I remember you saying it was trauma but I wasn't sure if it was improving or not. Things got pretty crazy for the holidays so I've been running around alot. Chico has an appointment to get some x-rays on thursday and they wouldn't give me an estimate of how much it would cost. The girl up front just said it varies. How much did you have to pay again? Also what insurance did you go with? I'm thinking about getting some for Chico because he always has something going on. All of his problems have been hereditary though. ie: allergies, mange.
Also, send me some new pics of Darla, I'l make you a new banner! Did you get our card?

ummmmm..we paid close to $160 the have to sedate and that was for two films.

I would hold off, and get insurance first. If you wait anything that has to do with what's going on will not be covered. However if the vet already has a file going on with whatever is happening, it wouldn't matter anyway because they wouldn't cover it. I went with Shelter care www.sheltercare.com I think I got the one that covers 70%. and it is $20 a month. It covers quite a bit so hopefully it will work out for me. for $200 something a year...it's worth it.

I thought I told you I got your card...what a dork. :roll: My hubby loves your dogs. I said she lives local we should get together and he was all for it...pretty shocking since he isn't very social :lol: I'll PM you some photos...don't know if I have any good ones. I'll probably just send the same ones

 

[brandi]

that is a great story. She is so cute.

 

[Chico.Heidi]

Thanks for the referal to sheltercare, I ended up getting Chico the same coverage. I was given info for VPI but it didn't seem as though they coverred very much. I believe that sheltercare covers hip dysplasia, they used it as an example. Did you have to pay extra for having an APBT? They didn't have AB's listed so I had to go with bulldog. I had to pay extra for that breed. I guess I'm gonna have to wait about a month to get Chico checked out, that makes me nervous.

 

[Pitchic27]

I had to pay a bit extra I believe, but she's listed as an American Staffordshire Terrier. I haven't heard word from them yet and they have deducted anything from my account, co right now I'm being underwrited (??I dunno I'm no insurance person) it's like a process of approval. My vet sent them her file and the verify everything etc etc..I'm glad you went with it though, it's a little piece of mind even if they pay here and there you know?