havastories

$1700 Dollars Later.....and Chico is doing fine

By Bill Buggee, DVHC member and Father to Alison, Grandfather to Ariana and is owned by Ahavapicaro's Manana

We had had such good luck with Manana that when our daughter, Alison and her husband Carlos decided to get their own havanese, we were quite excited for them and to be a part of that process. We went back to Ahavapicaro for Chico and were really enjoying him as he and Ariana stayed with us when the parents went out for a bit.

One day, unknown to us Chico ate 20 pennies. One was enough to kill a dog that size if it was minted after 1982 and thus contained zinc.1982 was a transition year and some 1982 pennies still had zinc as part of their compostion. No other coins are toxic, just those pennies. Of course, zinc is not the only problems coins can cause. They can cause blockages and kill another way. He passed 16 in his stool and vomit. I didn't realize there was any danger (he was staying with us at the time) and figured I'd keep an eye on him since there might be more. Seven days after he ate them (on July 5, the holiday), he collapsed and couldn't move. I rushed him to his vet who said it was probably too late, that he probably had irreversible anemia and permanent liver and kidney damage after a week. But he gave me an emergency referral to Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls. Five hours on the operating table for an endoscopy to remove the last four pennies (three of which were the bad ones) and for a blood transfusion (the normal red blood count of 40 was down to 14) and $1,700 later and he's fine. They told me passing the sixteen and eating a lot of other junk (the stomach acids were busy digesting grass as well as pennies

so all the zinc didn't leach out) saved his life.

Havanese are clever! Chico found the pennies in the basement while workers were installing a new furnace and air conditioner. There was an uncovered tub of pennies under the pool table that had gone forgotten and I guess Chico thought it was a food dish. He is doing well and is much enjoyed.

Bill Buggee

When a Gal Knows What She Wants, She Has to Make Her Voice Heard

By Joan Ambrose

Am Ch Los Perritos Laredo has been on the show circuit for some time being specialed and loved by Harry Bennett. She is one of those dogs who 'loves' her work and eagerly looks forward to her 'shows'.For me the best thing about these dogs is their funny, intelligent and individual personalities, so I have to share a story.

Sunday, in the Group, Laredo (who watches the judge) saw Judge Mrs Myron Gauger, walk by her to the end of the line to pick the Pekinese, (David Fitzpatrick's #1 dog) as Group First.

As she walked by Laredo gave a surprised yelp, which Harry kind of shushed, then the judge walked all the way back to the other end of the long line (she made no cuts) to motion to the Affenpinscer (Beth Sweigart's Joey) for #2.

Well...being passed twice was too much for Laredo and she began that little staccato bark they all do (you know the one... when they are sitting under the cookie jar!), and refused to be shushed by a now slightly embarrassed Harry. Mrs Gauger returned and said directly to Laredo, laughing "OK; now you can take #3 and be quiet!" .

As the owner of dogs who have "opinions" and two puppies who yesterday when the wind blew thought they could fly, I really appreciate a judge of Havanese with a sense of humor! Lynn Nieto

likes them to be under control but what can you do? Can't we just

call it "typey behavior"!

Joan Ambrose

When a Havi-Gal Wants a Havi-Guy, Nothing Can Stop Her

By Patt McRae

Because animals are conventionally understood to reproduce as a result of their hormones, the notion of two dogs becoming life partners seems just too far fetched. I don't believe it. I believe that, in some instances, dogs bond in ways we cannot understand and do become life partners. Am Ch Los Perritos Mirela Shanei aka Baby and Am Ch Ahavapicaro's Arage aka Dude is one example. As youngsters they entered the house about the same time and grew up together with Baby earning her championship before Dude and beginning her 'mommy' career. When Dude was old enough we successfuly bred Baby to him producing absolutely lovely litters. We tried two other times to breed Baby to another male and while it eventually happened, she appeared to remain miserable about it the whole time and the litters were a bit problematic.

We knew we would be spaying and retiring Baby after one last breeding and when she came into heat she began stalking Dude like a heat seeking missile.

When she was ready we put them in the back yard and, as had been his way for the previous week, he totally ignored him.

We watched as Baby backed up, lowered her head and CHARGED Dude in the shoulder. Dude looked up surprised, shrugged it off: Silly Dames! A moment later Baby is patting his face and he ignores her again. This time she raises her paw and 'frog punches' him like two 13 year olds on a school yard. Finally Dude acquiesced and the deed was done. A lovely litter, Baby was spayed and retired.

Last week we were enjoying our lovely back yard and garden having just brought new chews for all of the dogs. Now Baby is clearly no shy violet but one of the younger females decided she wanted Baby's chew and jumped on Baby holding Baby's ear in her teeth. Out of no where a flash of fast and angry sable dog jumped on the offending female slapping her, growling and warning her off.

Baby just hunkered down till the brou ha-ha had subsided [she is spoiled...she knows we'd give her another chew!] Dude went and fetched the chew, came over, dropped it in front of Baby, licked her face and then stretched out beside her like a lion guarding his lioness. When he got up he made sure he kept walking and marking the circle around her so no one would 'cross the line' to Baby.

I sat there with tears in my eyes remembering all the affection these two have shown one another. This was all the more poignant because the week before Dude had been diagnosed as having transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. After reviewing studies we had found that survival rates did not improve appreciably with chemo therapy and/or radiation. We made the decision that we'd let nature take its course and keep Dude as comfortable and happy as we can for whatever time he has left. He comes over each day with Lisa to hang out with Baby and the other dogs. Baby is still clearly his queeen.

Patt McRae