Well...
I WAS prepared to go up there w/2 cheeseburgers and a box of kleenex, but... my vet and I had a long conversation, I saw the x-rays, and there ARE options.
My vet assured me that the dog is not in any pain right now, after observing him all day... he runs-hops, he plays, he has a great appetite, he potties like a normal dog, and he is very interested in his surroundings.
No dog aggression what-so-ever, curious about all the cats without wanting to chase or bother them, very submissive and very tolerant of all the procedures he went through today. He didn't even have to be sedated for the x-rays, and that says a lot.
The x-rays show that his pelvis was severed from his spine, and somehow got twisted... I will post all the medical stuff on Tuesday when I can get a copy... and all you vet techs will have plenty to read.
Anyway - in her opinion this boy can have anywhere from 6 months to two years of a *good and painfree* life before he will experience debilitating pain... she said his knees will "give out"at that point and he will not be able to move much at all... and when that time comes I will have to do the kindest thing possible, and let him go.
We are not treating him for the heartworms, but he will be on a preventative so at least he won't get worse.
Neutering is too risky, and any surgeries to correct his many problems would probably be very traumatic for him, and change very little if anything at all.
So, yeah... he's a wreck at barely two years old, and he probably won't make it past his 4th birthday.
Somehow I feel that this boy deserves a little bit of happiness to make up for all the horrible things that have been done to him, and as long as he *maintains* and isn't in pain - who am I to take that away???
We can spare a sunny spot in the yard and a few bullysticks, and he can have his very own crate and bed... probably for the first time ever.
My vet said she has never seen a dog who enjoyed human attention as much as this dog did today... despite being in a strange place, surrounded by strange people, and having to put up w/endless procedures - some of them unpleasant for sure.
His tail never stopped wagging.
He got a bath, they clipped his nails and treated him for the flea infestation, he got vaccinated... and right now he's a happy camper in his crate, w/a bullystick longer than his tail...
Beezus was the only one who had a melt-down when he walked-hopped through the door, but for safety reasons I will do crate/rotate anyway and it won't be an issue.
I know some eyebrows will be raised, and some of you probably won't agree w/me, but all I can say to that is - I'm paying it forward for Jessica and Mick.
It wasn't a hard decision.