Post by morton235 on Mar 6, 2019 22:12:39 GMT
Hey guys, sorry for the long absence, things have been pretty hard here for the past several months, so I've not really been able to keep y'all updated. I wasn't really sure which section to post this on as it involves a few different angles, so sorry if it's better placed elsewhere.
Basically, I've reached the point where I'm seriously considering rehoming Bounce. It's not an easy decision and is one that's causing a lot of inner termoil, but the more I think about it the more I think it's the right choice.
The plan was for her to be in isolation from Goo and Riley (who are still madly in love) just to cool off so that she would stop attacking Riley and would at least consider accepting Goo, and then re-start the introduction process to make her a part of the group. Unfortunately, both Riley and Goo have deteriorating health conditions. In the past month Goo has undergone three penile prolapse surgeries, and is taking a pretty hard hit from them. I discussed it with the vet, and due to how quickly the prolapses are happening if it occurs again we agreed that a further surgery wouldn't be fair to him, he's taking longer and longer to recover only for a week or two of looking good only to prolapse again. His spondylosis is also gradually getting worse, although Andrew (vet) has said it's a slow decline and not something he would call excessive considering the condition.
Meanwhile, Riley has rotting incisors. Andrew has drilled the rot away and has cut the teeth below the rotten point, however the tooth could be rotten to the root. If it is, he mentioned possibly extracting the incisors but in all honesty I don't think that would be ethical considering the molar issues Riley also has.
I'm afraid that neither Goo or Riley are in fit states to deal with an introduction, and both of them have conditions that are slowly getting worse. Goo won't recover from the spondylosis, and if during a scuffle or if he gets carried away with mounting during the dominance struggle he prolapses again, it's quite likely to be game over for him. I can only assume his spondylosis will be causing him some level of discomfort that will continue to slowly increase, and will eventually effect his mobility. Riley is feisty as always, but she is also not in the best condition.
Bounce is clearly sad being on her own. She isn't nearly as active as she used to be, and desperately wants company. Although we are working on her people skills she is slow to trust, but even if she were the most friendliest goo I wouldn't want to condone her to solitude. Technically she could live in the upper half of the aventura, but getting the girls was the whole point of sparing Mr Goo that lonely life of being a single goo, and it isn't fair to expect Bounce to live it. She's difficult for sure, but she's not solitary by any means.
My other option of getting a new goo to bond Bounce with just isn't possible right now, and likely wouldn't be for a long time. I'm currently going through my own issues and have had to take time off work due to my own health deteriorating, and couldn't face a fourth goo and all that would come with him/her.
I feel like rehoming Bounce is me being a failure to her. I've never had to rehome an animal before, and I take it very personally - especially considering the crap start the girls had in life. It feels as though I'm saying that Bounce isn't good enough and she isn't worth my time or effort, which isn't how I feel at all. At the same time I feel that rehoming her to live with other goos would be what would be best for her - she deserves to be happy and live a complete and fulfilled life, and I genuinely believe solitary animals of social species can't do that. I don't want to 'give up' on her, but feel like my hands are tied with an introduction to Goo/Riley being off the table.
This is such an awful choice to have to make. The thought of her being in a big cage with other goos makes me so happy, and I know that for the foreseeable future I can't give her that. I want to do what is best by her, but knowing what that is is hard
Basically, I've reached the point where I'm seriously considering rehoming Bounce. It's not an easy decision and is one that's causing a lot of inner termoil, but the more I think about it the more I think it's the right choice.
The plan was for her to be in isolation from Goo and Riley (who are still madly in love) just to cool off so that she would stop attacking Riley and would at least consider accepting Goo, and then re-start the introduction process to make her a part of the group. Unfortunately, both Riley and Goo have deteriorating health conditions. In the past month Goo has undergone three penile prolapse surgeries, and is taking a pretty hard hit from them. I discussed it with the vet, and due to how quickly the prolapses are happening if it occurs again we agreed that a further surgery wouldn't be fair to him, he's taking longer and longer to recover only for a week or two of looking good only to prolapse again. His spondylosis is also gradually getting worse, although Andrew (vet) has said it's a slow decline and not something he would call excessive considering the condition.
Meanwhile, Riley has rotting incisors. Andrew has drilled the rot away and has cut the teeth below the rotten point, however the tooth could be rotten to the root. If it is, he mentioned possibly extracting the incisors but in all honesty I don't think that would be ethical considering the molar issues Riley also has.
I'm afraid that neither Goo or Riley are in fit states to deal with an introduction, and both of them have conditions that are slowly getting worse. Goo won't recover from the spondylosis, and if during a scuffle or if he gets carried away with mounting during the dominance struggle he prolapses again, it's quite likely to be game over for him. I can only assume his spondylosis will be causing him some level of discomfort that will continue to slowly increase, and will eventually effect his mobility. Riley is feisty as always, but she is also not in the best condition.
Bounce is clearly sad being on her own. She isn't nearly as active as she used to be, and desperately wants company. Although we are working on her people skills she is slow to trust, but even if she were the most friendliest goo I wouldn't want to condone her to solitude. Technically she could live in the upper half of the aventura, but getting the girls was the whole point of sparing Mr Goo that lonely life of being a single goo, and it isn't fair to expect Bounce to live it. She's difficult for sure, but she's not solitary by any means.
My other option of getting a new goo to bond Bounce with just isn't possible right now, and likely wouldn't be for a long time. I'm currently going through my own issues and have had to take time off work due to my own health deteriorating, and couldn't face a fourth goo and all that would come with him/her.
I feel like rehoming Bounce is me being a failure to her. I've never had to rehome an animal before, and I take it very personally - especially considering the crap start the girls had in life. It feels as though I'm saying that Bounce isn't good enough and she isn't worth my time or effort, which isn't how I feel at all. At the same time I feel that rehoming her to live with other goos would be what would be best for her - she deserves to be happy and live a complete and fulfilled life, and I genuinely believe solitary animals of social species can't do that. I don't want to 'give up' on her, but feel like my hands are tied with an introduction to Goo/Riley being off the table.
This is such an awful choice to have to make. The thought of her being in a big cage with other goos makes me so happy, and I know that for the foreseeable future I can't give her that. I want to do what is best by her, but knowing what that is is hard