In a brief FIRST response - before the rest - this post can BEFORE the settlement on the other site. And had not been added to after that, other than in terms of resolvement. Those posts were added while I was writing the following:
Posting timeline:
First post on IW Forum: Post subject: Is Puppy OK? Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 8:22 pm
First post that concerned me: Post subject: Re: Is Puppy OK? Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 5:53 am
My response on the IW Forum: Post subject: Re: Is Puppy OK? Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 10:42 am
My post on Chaz: 05-16-2012, 11:51 AM
My more detailed post on Chaz: 05-16-2012, 02:04 PM
My settlement post on IW Forum: Post subject: Re: Is Puppy OK? Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 2:28 pm (also my last post on that thread)
My last post on Chaz (after having read and responded on IW Forum – and when I made the mistake of not having the thread deleted…): 05-16-2012, 03:32 PM
The last post on the subject on Chaz before JuliaMae found it: 05-16-2012, 05:57 PM
The date JuliaMae responded on Chaz: Yesterday, 07:00 PM (which would have been May 20th)
*hidinghead* (you guys need a smilie for that one... lol)
I posted this thread when I was frustrated and upset with the post on the Irish wolfhound forum. It was before you posted your later response, JuliaMae, so I was very upset and wanted input from others. I considered removing the entire thread after your response - guess I should have... But perhaps now that you are here and posting you might have the chance to get to learn from some of the interesting and highly varied individuals on here.
To me, this forum is my place to relax. It doesn't have a whack of Irish Wolfhound breeders who will judge me as a member of those who breed their breed (like the IW Forum). I came here on invite from a Real Life friend who happens to be a long-standing member here, and thought I would enjoy it.
99% of the time the posts on here came after (or at the same time as) the blog posts. The material in the updates was sometimes different, yes, but not by much. A different photo here, a voiced concern there. Often I would type a post here while typing a blog post (and waiting for stuff to load from my computer). Yes, the button was clicked here first sometimes. Sometimes when I have very little time, I would post here between blog postings, since I couldn't fit in the time to do both.
I have been raising this litter of puppies to the best of my ability. I do have help from my mother, and sometimes my father, but both are in the 70s and get worn out pretty easily. Any medical treatments always fall onto me. All weigh-ins are my job. I am the one who cleans up the bedding. I am the one who manages the emails and who does all the blog posts. I am the one who has to photograph and/or video. Yes, I have help, but the brunt of it fall onto me. And, at the end of the day the only thing I get for it is the satisfaction of having done my best. The entire financial brunt (both good and bad) is my parents'.
In addition to the puppies I have to care for my 2 kids (12 and 4). While the 12-yr-old can mostly care for himself and is away at school much of the time, the 4-yr-old only goes to school every other day (if that). She requires a lot more general care as she's much too young to care for herself. My husband works out of town and is only home on weekends. Since the puppies were born he's been called into work all but two weekends. So even on weekends I generally have the kids to myself.
Of course I have other animals too. Two dogs, a cat, various small critters. They have all been badly neglected, but they will live. At least my son can do the majority of their care since I don't often have the time or the energy.
Since the puppies arrived my son has managed to get sick twice... missing 5 days of school. My daughter has been sick once. My mother has gotten a rare infection and needs to be on IV antibiotics and have repeated visits to the ER. Amazingly I've only gotten sick once, and relatively minor (considering everything).
Since the puppies I have had to cancel numerous appointments, including essential medical-type ones. I've avoided making the all-too necessary appointment with the chiropractor for my thrown-out neck/back because I just don't have the time for it. I've not been able to go out and enjoy myself, including for my 13th wedding anniversary. Actually, this weekend was my first chance post-puppy to go out and have fun (we went to the drive-ins with the kids and some friends).
I'm not one to complain. I don't go telling everyone about everything I have to do, all the things that go wrong, how exhausted I've been. The only reason I'm saying anything is that honestly, I don't think you have any real idea of what I've been going through.
JuliaMae, you will be a fabulous owner for whatever puppy you get. I have no doubt of this. I don't mind giving you updates (nearly always daily through the blog, and often through email). I don't mind answering your questions. But I have my limits. No, my son can't give you the updates you would like. He can't spell worth beans... and while he's pretty good for 12, his ability to know what to say is pretty limited. My mother checks the emails ever 2-3 days, but isn't the best email communicator either. She's past the "the computer is scary" stage, but still panics at least 2-3 times while she's online because she thinks she wrecked something. Basically she requires babysitting while trying to do stuff online... I love her dearly, but she's just not caught up to the technological age very well. My dad - well the computer is liable to eat him... He prefers his old Apple IIe. So, in reality it's up to me to keep up to things on here.
I don't know what else to say. Everything about this litter has been insanely stressful. I don't know if I will ever be brave enough to try breeding again. I know that there's always some risk of losing a bitch to whelping. But going through it twice in a week... And I know that some puppies will die in the average large litter, but losing three puppies despite all our efforts and interventions, especially when we've had the extra commitment of bottle and tube feeding has been heart-wrenching.
With Green puppy's congestion, I made the decision to share with you my concerns because you had expressed such a strong interest in him. I know that the way things have worked out you get first puppy pick, and that you had grown attached to him. I don't really mind that, and as I get to know the puppies I suspect that he or Orange will be the puppies that best suit your needs.
I have not told any of the other puppy buyers about Green. Honestly, I didn't even talk to the stud owner about it as I didn't feel that it was relevant to her. She knows I am doing everything I can to care for the puppies. I've not shared every tiny little up and down about every puppy to every potential buyer. I had fears that things might go badly with Green, and wanted you to know, in case the worst were to happen (which it hasn't thank goodness). I thought that was better than just announcing that Green had passed away because of the congestion becoming pneumonia. At least this way if things went south you'd have a chance to be prepared.
I have at times regretted following my conscience and telling you.
It has been stressful enough as it was... But I can only be who I am.
Anyway, I didn't want to bring up specific names, or specific puppies. I didn't really want it on public forums. When you first posted on the IW forum I was actually a bit relived, as I knew what the responses of the other breeders would be. And I was right - they all told you of the pressures of raising puppies and that daily updates were above and beyond the call of duty. I was hoping that they would settle your nerves and concerns and that you would feel that I wasn't doing such a bad job. But the thread grew from there as you added more specifics. Which is why this thread came up in the first place...
This isn't stuff that really belongs in public forums. But since it is here, I will respond here.
To everyone else, thanks SO much for your support throughout this very trying breeding experience. Posting here and having your support has made a big difference to me. I have felt very welcome, and supported by the dog-loving population of Chazhound. Thank-you.