CHAMPLAIN VALLEY K-9 UNIT

Hey everyone, Oakland here.  I know it has been a looooong time since I sat at this computer and typed something but I have been sooooo busy! 

I have been doing some physical therapy, getting my leg back in shape.  I have had my brace on a little bit I still have a little bit of a raw spot on the back of my leg, so until that is cleared up I am trying to take it easy (but it is soooo hard to do)!

My brace is going back to the guy who made it to have a hinge put in.  That should make it look even more cool than it already does.

I have been getting a lot of e-mails and facebook messages about my ordeal and I do want to say something...  my mommy is helping me word this correctly.

I am and forever will be grateful for everything Dr. Howard did for me.  he took a chance to do something that had not been done in a dog before.  he took a chance on his reputation and since it seems to be working so far I want to again say Thank-you.  I wish Dr. Howard and the staff of Vermont Veterinary Surgical center nothing but the best for all their future endeavors.

Well, I hear my dad pulling in the driveway and I must meet him at the door and get in line to get petted, plus I want to hear all about his day at North warren school, he did the hug a tree program all day long!  I bet the kids loved it!

Till later gators!

Oakie

So, if anyone has read ou facebook page you'll know that I still have my leg!  I like Dr. Mcnamara, even though it was a looooooong drive.  He took a look at my leg while I slept and told my mom that it was time for me to get up and moving.  Since then I have been walking around a bit more, staying on the first floor of the house.  I do miss sleeping with my Isabel but I'll be back in bed soon.  Everyday my mom or dad move my leg and they make sure I am not overdoing it.  I've been good and I put a little pressure on it.  My mom is letting me take a break to watch the Superbowl...  now since my namesake team made it no where near this game I'll have to make a choice... since there were haters that thought I would never make it and I've come this far I'm rooting for the under-dogs... SAINTS!

Keep you updated on my progress.

Thanks to everyone for their support!

Love everyone!

Oakland

Hi everyone, Oakland here.  Today was not a good day for me.  I went to the vet's today for another surgery to repair a ruptured blister/ulcer that is on my leg so I could get back in my brace.  When the doctor arrived he and my mom and dad had a long talk about the long term treatment that may still be needed and that my mom and the non-profit are officially out of money and how to proceed.  I didn't quite understand everything, all I know is that my mom started crying really bad when the doctor said he couldn't put us on a payment plan for the upcoming costs of everything he forsaw being needed.  However, if they were to choose (what's the word.. it means to cut off my leg) he would then work with thm on a payment plan.  I don't want my leg off, my brothers and sisters would call me stumpy!  If it does get cut off , the doctor asked to keep it to see if my original surgery to grow a tendon worked.  Now, I am only a dog but wouldn't you want to do everything in your power to have me keep my leg and see the surgery be a success that way?  If not, then human grown-ups are very funny people. 

I don't want to see my mommy cry anymore, and she tells me I am in for another road trip tomorrow when we go see Dr. Paul McNamara down in Hopewell Junction.  I hope he can help me.

Hold on everyone, my mommy wants to say something:

Hi everyone, Shannon here, finally caught Oakie on the computer!  I want everyone to understand that I am going to do everything in my power to have Oakland keep his leg.  I have not given up hope.  While I understand his doctor not being able to absorb cost of impending surgeries while I take time to pay it off, it's just a hard pill to swallow as the surgery Oakie had was the first of it's kind in a canine.  I never once asked for anything free, just extra time to pay it off, as like Oakland said the non-profit and my personal bank account is now empty.  That's all, now back to Oakland.

I'll keep everyone posted on what happens.  And hey.. did eveyone see my new link on my page?  I linked up with my good friend Kevin Bacon (yes, the actor) with his sixdegrees.org.  You can donate to the CVK9 unit or any other worthy charity thru his website.  AWESOME!

HI everyone!  Oakland here.  It's almost time for mom to make an appointment for me with Dr. Howard to get my brace back!  I just got a new bandage put on my leg and my wounds are almost healed...  I can't wait to get my tie-dyed brace back!  In the meantime while mom, dad and all the other pooches are out in the woods camping I am spending the weekend with gramma and granpa Reardon and my best girl Isabel!  I love her!  Grandma even let me sleep in the bed last night and she doesn't allow any animals on furniture! 

I just wanted to say to everyone who has helped me thus far.. Thank-you again!  And, I have sent thank-you letters out but if I missed anyone I am very sorry.. I also sent letters to the newspaper making the public aware of your help...  hopefully they will get them all published soon!

Well, Izzy is waiing for me to come to bed so I am outta here!

Love ya!

Till Later!

Oakland

Hi everyone, Oakland here.  I'm so sorry for not updating my blog but mom had me wrapping all sorts of holidays gifts and baking christmas cookies.  I tried to explain to her that I'm a dog, I have no thumbs so some things I just can't do, so for those of you whose cookies tasted a little salty- sorry but I can't tell the difference between sugar and salt!

So I want to give a big THANK-YOU to Stafford Middle School, especially Mrs. Walpole and all the kids there who helped raise money for me.  It was unexepected but greatly appreciated. 

Easton and I went there to present the Hug-A-Tree program, I was a surprise guest so of course I got lots of lovin! 

My dad does a great job in presenting the program and I hope the kids remember everything they learned cause I do not want to have to go and find them in the woods but I will if they need me.  Hopefully I'll be back up and running by the summer!

Did anyone see themselves on TV that night!  That was pretty cool that WPTZ came outto see me again!  I can't wait to see Gabrielle again, she is sooo pretty!

Dr. Howard's office says my brace is back from getting fixed, I'm waiting for them to call my mom back to find out all the details or as she says the logistics, that's a 50 cent word for me!

My leg feels better, I'm just itchin to get out and play in the snow!  I mean how embarrasing is it that I have to go outside with a plastic shopping bag tied around my cast, it's humiliating!

Well, Brett Favre is playing the Bears and I want to see what the old man can do tonight so take care and I'll be chatting with everyone later!

-later gators!

Oakie

Hi everyone!  Just wanted to give a shout out to the staff and students at Keeseville Elementary.  I went and met all the kids and they were great.  Today they presented me with a check  to help me pay for all my surgeries, I'm not sure what to do with it but my mommy says she'll take care of it for me.

I liked getting all the attention and even took a couple of my friends along to meet everyone.  So Easton got to meet some kids and my new friend Lucy tagged along also, she's from Puerto Rico! 

Thank-you to Allysa & Rachel from Keeseville Elementary for all your hardwork!  Rachel, I heard you got ducked taped to a chair for me!  That's the sweetest thing!

Till later!

Oakland.

Hey everyone, Oakland here.. since I don't ahve too much new to report I thought I would talk to you about one of my favorite things in the world.. FOOTBALL!  First things first though.  Dr. Howard is sending my brace back to the people who made it for some major changes, hopefully it will come back better than before!  I still have my soft cast on my leg and Dr. Church and Plattsburgh Animal Hospital was nice enough to change the bandages last time, however I think my mom and dad plan on doing it themselves now.. I mean they are almost experts at it!  I'm gonna get out and stretch my legs for a bit next week when I go see the kids at Keeseville Elementary, I can't wait for that!

Ok, enough about me, lets talk about my favorite thing to do on a sunday with mom and dad while I look longingly at the beer in their hand....

My team (the Raiders) are not doing so hot this year, but neither are my moms team (The Redskins.. god bless her)! I must say that I am happy to see that other disgruntled Raiders fans are making a high-profile plea for owner Al Davis to step down as the team's general manager.  I say, it's about time dude!  What are you like 125 years old!

Another surprise for me are the Saints!  Holy Cow!  Go Drew Brees!  I think Isabel likes Reggie Bush.  Can Sean Peyton keep it up?  They got past the Patriots (which I'm sorry but lately Brady has not been anywhere in comparison with Peyton, Brees or Favre)!  I am all in favor of an underdog and I think its about time the Saints had their day!  Maybe they'll read this, invite me down to New Orleans and I'll party it up during Mardi Gras!  Fat Tuesday here I come!

Till later!

Oakie

Hi everyone, Oakland here.  Just thought I would let everyone know what's going on.  As you know I had a brace custom made for my leg and it seemed to be working, I was able to move about a little more.  It didn't last.  I am backl in my cast because something is wrong with my brace.  It rubbed on my leg too much and now I have large patches of skin missing and my leg is sore.  Dr Howard thought it best to not let me wear it and he is going to call the place that made it and find out what the deal is.  So I am back on bed rest, which sucks.  I don't know what is going to happen from here, but wanted to say Thank-you for all the well-wishes I have gotten.  I hope to be better soon.

Love,

Oakland

Hi everyone.  I finally got some computer time as my mom and dad use it all the time!  I want to give a big shout out to the Saranac Middle School's Builder's Club.  They raised over $200 for me.  It was great to get out and stretch my other 3 legs for a bit, and I was so happy to meet all of you. 

Overall I am doing well, I have my brace on today so my mom is watching me closely, that is when Isabel gives her a chance to come to my room..

I miss my Isabel, she stands at my kennel now and we talk to eachother, me in dog language and her in goofy babytalk but somehow we manage.  I can't wait to get better where I can snuggle with her again!

Well, I am getting sleepy and gonna go night night.

Till later gators!

Oakland

So my sister Inca just came home from a fun filled day at Canine Adventures in Plattsburgh.  She couldn't wait to come home and rub my nose in the fact that her and Easton had such a great time meeting everyone who brought their dogs in the get baths.  They also told me that what they really wanted to do was sneak into to playroom and romp and play with all the other dogs that were there having a great time at doggy day camp!  I wish I could have been there but the doctor still says no way jose!  I have to lay low for a bit and take it easy. 

Easton said he even liked taking a bath there, he liked the smell of the shampoo and that he got dried off with a big blower machine.  That sounds cool, and I don't even like bath time but I think I'll go there when I am better.  I have to check out the football room too!  I hear that there is a big couch in there for dogs to watch Sunday Football with the co-owner Greg, now that's a home away from home for me!

Thank-you to those who came in and saw my mommy and everyone else from the unit, and thank-you for all your support.  I really want to thank The Bermans,  the owners of Canine Adventure for holding a fundraiser for me and I can't wait to be able to go and meet them.  A big shout out to Jeremiah from Denton Publications and Casey from the Press Republican for coming out as well.  Easton was very excited to call me and tell me he was going to be in the paper..  ya ya buddy!

Till Later!

Oakland

P.S. here a some pictures of new friends made today!

This is Baby. 

This is Ruben.  My mommy helped him find a new home recently.  From what I hear he is doing well at his new home!

This is Bella.  She loved bath time!