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TIP He was annoying them. Frankly, that sums it up. It wasn't anything major - just this thing about leaping over their fence. Diane stood with her fist on her and scratched her head with her other hand. She looked into Tip's quiet face and slowly shook her head. Leaping over fences? How was that possible? "Tip, you're going to have to show me that you can do such a thing because I seriously have my doubts. I haven't seen you jump anything over a foot tall!"

In fact, as she watched Tip saunter about the house, she noticed that he was having problems negotiation her basement steps; he would trip going up or going down them. A tripping Border Collie. And he did this strange little spiral dance when he wanted to poop and only lifted the right leg to pee. Hmm... could there be something wrong with his hips?

Tip was taken to Miller Animal Clinic who diagnosed severe hip dysplasia in both hips. Hip Dysplasia develops into a form of arthritis and can be very painful as well as limiting a dog's ability to move. It is an expensive condition to remedy and therefore, is often a death knell to a dog that has it. Every breed rescue organization that discovers that one of their rescued dogs has hip dysplasia is faced with two choices. Either put the dog to sleep or repair the hip. Often, it is a hard decision to make because economics becomes a major consideration. The economics of money - and the economics of time.

A dog with hip dysplasia will stay in rescue for months - and foster space is precious. There is always a waiting list of dogs waiting to come into rescue, and the dog with hip dysplasia becomes a struggle for the rescuers. This is when the rescuer has to really look at the dog and make a hard decision. Do we save this dog or do we put him to sleep?There was no doubt that Tip was worth every penny and that he was worth every second of time spent with him.

Diane thought back to the day that she had taken Tip home with her for foster care. He looked very apprehensive about coming with her. He was quite attached to Patty. But when he saw her children in the back of her vehicle already armed with treat, he decided this was going to be OK and he climbed in.He was shy and confused and they spent the first week just getting to know each other.

"I wanted to know how to comfort him when he had his surgery. He would follow me around the house and just sit at my feet, worried about where I was. If ever there was a dog with abandonment issues, it was Tip...He had this beautiful face with very spiritual eyes and he tilts his head to one side when you talk to him. He has a jet black and white coat that is so soft. Tip is loyal, faithful and will make a great companion, he just wants to be loved. He has the most gentle soul."

In the second week, Tip had an evaluation for surgery. The left hip to be done first as it is the worst. It was free floating; not being held in place at all. A week later, Tip went back to the hosptial and Diane left him there. He was not a happy BC at all. Diane felt a deep cocnern rise up in throat as she thought about him. She it was going to be weeks of therapy and recovery time - and how would Tip endure the trauma of the surgery and the confinment immediately after surgery? She knew he was not her dog - but he had captured her heart.

Diane went back to collect him later and oh, he was pleased to see her. Even though he was dazed from the anesthetic his tail wagged so hard, it made him fall over. He rested that evening and then rehab started. He patiently tolerated having his leg extended 10 times, four times a day and going for short walks every two hours. Tip would just patiently look up at her and let Diane get on with the therapy. Never once was there a growl or attempt to remove himself from her. By the fourth week, Tip had slowly begun to put weight on that leg. She had to keep telling him to walk and slow down otherwise he would lift that leg and just run like crazy. The slow careful walks forced him to stand on his altered hip, painful as it was. But he needed to be fit and healthy

for the next surgery and that leg had to be in good condition to take the stress of the next surgery.

Tip loves to play with other dogs. He enjoys being with children and follows them around the yard. He is now allowed to play outside without a long leash dragging behind. The fur is beginning to grow hiding the tell tale surgical scar. Tip has another hip to be repaired before he can leave Diane's care. With the pain removed from one hip, Tip's has now shown his true nature- and he is so funny! He just loves to be outside and has a favorite spot under the tree by the deck, nicely in the shade but close by for checking out the action! Call him in and he just tilts his head to one side as if to say 'scuse me, you don't mean me do you? He is able to run and chase the other dogs until he has his second hip surgery.

"Tip just loves to be around children. He is going to make a family a wonderful companion."

June 24

Tip is wonderful boy who is quite playful...he just loves to be outside. We have discovered that he absolutely goes banana's over the quad bike. He jumps up and down (literally springs in the air) and gets really excited and wants to get near it! I found this strange because he is not a car or bike chaser...

Physically he is doing extremely well. I am beginning to see muscle definition in his left rear leg where he had the surgery. He has a very, very slight limp but that is to be expected since they chopped a bit a bone off and made his a little shorter! I think he will be ready for his next surgery by the end of August/September. Do you think we will be ready financially? One good thing has come out of this -- he is extremely good on a leash, since much of his rehabilitation was walking him on a short leash.

Tip loves to be around families, gets on well with children, cats and other dogs. He is much more independent now and doesn't seek to be around me all the time as he did when he first arrived.

Aug. 28

He has recovered extremely well from his previous surgery on his left hip. He had his evaluation today by Dr Schwartz, Downtown Birmingham Veterinary Clinic and is deemed ready for his last surgery on his right hip. Dr Schwartz kindly did the first surgery. This will happen on September 11th 2002. Then our little boy will have to work very hard again to rehabilitate his right hip, but he is accepting and tolerant of my intervention to help him heal.

I am really excited for him to have this surgery. This will allow him to be a 'normal BC'. He won't be a disc dog or a flyball dog, but he will be the most devoted and loving family dog. He loves to run and play and he can do everything that other dogs can do. It's very important that he has an active home to use up his energy and one that understands his sassy sense of humor. As I sit here and type this he has been playing with one of my other BC's, paused for a moment to belch (OK, so not sophisticated) and then continued to play. Funny boy!

After this surgery - he can go home...

Sept. 12

His surgery was started at 8.45 AM this morning and lasted about 1 1/2 hours. This hip is just as bad as the left, (and before anyone asks, yes the bone is in the fridge - just don't tell Ash). It was however, held in place by an extremely tough ligament, so a long time was spent freeing the bone.

The Veterinary Clinic called at noon to say he was ready to be collected. I arrived at 1.15 PM and I could hear him crying as I walked in. He was very dazed and confused, but still managed a tail wag. He snapped at Pam when she pulled him out of his second story crate -- he was in so much pain, poor boy. I think he could have done with staying there a little longer. He wobbled all over the place and just flopped to the floor.

We very slowly made our way to the car, stopping and starting because it was too painful for him to be carried. I got him to the car and he slept all the way home. He didn't want to get into his crate, but that is the only place he can definitely get some sleep and rest, so in he had to go. He is very sad, confused, but resting. Tomorrow, a new day and the start of recovery.

Sept. 17

Well, it's been a week since tip underwent his hip surgery. The wound is healing nicely and stitches are due to be removed very soon. They will be removed in two stages, half Wednesday and half Thursday - alternate stitches. This will avoid any tearing of the wound. The puffiness has all but gone, showing his little round butt! He completed his course of prophylactic antibiotics today. DR Schwartz and his team at Downtown Birmingham Veterinary Clinic did a wonderful job and are truly Tip's angels.

Tip is slowly regaining his natural alert demeanor. It's hard to watch him when he cowers and tries to make himself really small in an effort to say 'please don't hurt me' as the other dogs charge past him. He has been a little fearful of strangers since his surgery, so we have now set up a treat bowl by the door so that he can regain his confidence. The other dogs have been great. In fact Dennis has been sleeping next to his crate of a night, which is a huge issue for Den, since Tip is crated in another room, only my home dogs are allowed to sleep in mybedroom.

He is beginning to place weight on the altered hip and leg and walking very slowly. He is now managing about 50 yards walking and placing weight on the altered hip for most of the time. Tip does need to rest every now and then, so he sits and watches and then we begin again. He does tire easily, so it's frequent short walks. We have begun to practice steps. We have 2 up the deck to our back door so he needs to negotiate those and is doing well hopping up those. He managed 7 steps up to my daughter's bedroom without difficulty today. Twice to eat the cat food!!! So, we didn't need to practice...

More time is spent out of his crate, which he loves. He does get a little confused at times as to which leg he should stand on so that he can pee or side he should lie down on. Tip has spent so much time using the right leg, it's taking some time to get used to the idea of change. He is a creature of habit...to watch him have to work it out and see the puzzled look in his face as he tries to make the right decision...bless him.