Help Booker Walk Again!

Kia ora everyone, I hope you all had a great time over the Easter break! Many thanks to you all for continuing to donate to my recovery fund. I walked all the way to the top of Mt Victoria over the weekend: Mum was worried that I would get frightened when I passed the place where we were attacked by the Great Dane and knocked down the mountain, but I wasn't bothered at all. I feel better every day, and although Mum doesn't believe in that old saying 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger' I reckon that although it doesn't apply to all humans, it DOES to bull terriers! I went to see my vet Simon yesterday at Milford Pet and Vet, to have my vaccinations, and Simon says he is amazed and thrilled that I am doing so well. Mum is so happy. Love and bully kisses, from Booker xoxox

Thanks a million times for all your generosity and your lovely messages. Booker's fund continues to grow, due to your kindness. Today I took Booker to the Veterinary Specialist Group hospital for a check up and x-ray: the surgery was performed 7 weeks ago. In today's x-rays I could clearly see that the bone is regenerating, and of course it is still screwed into place with the titanium plate and screws. This is a quote from the vet's clinical report today: "Booker returned to our hospital on 25/03/13 for reevaluation seven weeks following stabilization of a fracture of the C2 vertebra. The dog has made outstanding clinical progress and was able to ambulate without assistance with mild ataxia as the only major neurological deficit remaining. The owner also indicated that the dog is continuing to improve with progress noted on a daily basis. On physical examination, the dog was showing no evidence of neck pain and was extremely happy to revisit our hospital. The dog was sedated and radiographs confirmed no movement of surgical implants and satisfactory bony healing of the fracture. The dog has been discharged with instructions for a gradual return to normal activity particularly avoiding stairs and jumping for the next few months. I would expect the neurologic progress to continue." Dr Richard Jerram, the surgeon, says that Booker is the most extraordinary case that he has ever worked on: what seemed like certain death has been transformed into regeneration. Brilliant surgical skills and nursing care; multitudinous seas of love from us and from all of you as well; and of course Booker's own indomitable spirit have all brought him back to life. Thank you so much.

Kia ora, all my friends. Thanks so much for all your donations, our family feels so blessed by all your kindness. Booker's mobility is continuing to improve, and sometimes it is difficult to persuade him that he can't go running around the park playing with his dog friends! He can manage a little bit of gentle trotting after a tennis ball, but competitive sprinting would lead to total collapse - as Booker isn't aware of his limitations we have to keep reining him in! This stubborn desire to keep going is, though, what has enabled his recovery: bull terriers never give up. Yesterday evening we had a wander around Mt Cambria and then, as Booker was determined to keep going, we walked around the streets until we came to his best dog friend Toby's house (he is a lovely border collie). Toby stuck nearly his entire head under his front gate, and great excitement resulted. When Toby's mum opened the gate for a quick romp around the front garden both dogs had great fun, but very quickly Booker became very tired and I had to go get the car and chauffeur Booker home. Booker is trying so hard to get back to his former strength and agility, and we are all sure that he will eventually make a full recovery. Thank you all so much for helping our family look after our best furry friend. Vivienne xxxxx

Kia ora everyone! What is all this wet stuff falling from the sky? Lucky I have my rubber booties on so my feet keep dry. Mum and I went to see the Devonport firemen who rescued me from Mt Victoria - Mum has uploaded a photo of Fireman Glen. We took them cheese scones as a thank you gift; gosh Mum is such a slow baker, I kept barking instructions to her but did she listen to me? I can't bake right now as my rubber mittens get in the way. At least she didn't put cayenne pepper in this batch, and when she (finally) gave me a scone to eat it was YUM. Bully kisses, Booker xoxoxox

Kia ora, my friends. When mum and I check the Givealittle page every morning we are always so humbled to see your messages and donations: thank you all so much. It is beautiful to see how many kind people are out there in the world. I'm feeling a bit tired this morning, and a bit achey, but mum says I'm bound to get days like this when I just need to rest more. Bull terriers are tough dogs, so I'm sure I'll pull though. I only came home from the vet hospital 2 weeks ago, and I couldn't walk at all then, and as mum reminds me I am now on my feet and walking quite well, really. I didn't feel like walking very far this morning, but when mum and I got home a courier had delivered a gift box of deer tendon chews for me from the lovely people at Happypet in Dunedin. Mum has got me these chews ever since I was a pup and they are my favourite. Mum has added a photo of me licking my lips as the box of delights is opened before me! This has cheered me up no end, but I'm going to sleep a while now. Love and bully kisses, Booker xoxox

Kia ora bully friends, Mum made me wear purple rubber socks today, to protect my feet from scrapes as the socks I was wearing yesterday kept coming off as I walked. I was going to eat them as soon as she wasn't looking, but you know what they work really well, although they make a weird squeaky noise as I walk. Mum is right (not for the first time) and my feet aren't so sore today, so I'll just have to put up with the embarrassment. At least they're purple, my favourite colour - mum has posted some new photos although someone on my Facebook page says that I look like a horse. I know I have a long face, but surely it's the harness that suggests equine rather than canine? OMG mum, where's a mirror? Bully kisses to you all, and a million thanks for all your donations xox

Good morning all you awesome people! Thanks a million bully kisses for getting my fund over $5,000 - this is just amazing. The lovely people from Paw Justice are also donating something to me, the proceeds from selling Luke Durville's coffin from Shortland St on TradeMe!!! http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=569270783 I have posted a few more photos of me - my new socks are a bit silly, eh, and make me feel a bit of an egg, but mum says they stop me scraping my feet on the footpath. Bully kisses, love from Booker xox

Good morning lovely people! Booker again walked all the way to Narrow Neck this morning - it took him around 30 minutes. Nan again met us at the carpark and drove us home. So glad the weather is so sunny and dry as it would be miserable learning to walk in the rain, wouldn't it? Booker's now sleeping on his comfy bed, I hope he's dreaming of running around with his dog-friends. Have you all seen Booker's own Facebook page? You can keep up with updates there, as well: https://www.facebook.com/Booker.givealittle

I am such a clever strong boy! Or so Mum says anyway. This morning, before it got so hot, I walked all the way from home (we live near Mt Victoria, the scene of the crime four and a half weeks ago) to the park at Narrow Neck Beach! This is the furthest I have walked since February 5, that day of darkness. I loved sniffing all the special trees and grassy areas on the way, and it was so exciting to pick up all the pee-mails that I had missed for the last month. My legs went all wobbly once I got to Narrow Neck, and Mum had to phone Nan to come and get us in her car. I could get used to being picked up by a chauffeur instead of walking all the way home after a lovely walk ...

You guys are so awesome! You have now raised $4,410.00 towards my vet bill of $10,474.24!!! I feel so humble in the face of such kindness and generosity. Thank you all so much xxxxxxxxx

Huge gratitude to all you generous folks out there! I feel so enormously humble that Booker is the focus of so much loving kindness. Booker is getting better every day: his back legs still seem to be doing something different to his front legs, but co-ordination is improving all the time. He has so much heart, he just wants to be able to run around and play chase the tennis ball with his dog friends (especially Toby the border collie) but he keeps wobbling over! My family and I are so happy to still have our lovely Booker with us, and we can see he is so happy to be alive it is all worth it. Time to go hand-feed him some rotisserie chicken now ... Booker's favourite food. Once again, a thousand million thanks to all you wonderful generous souls and your lovely dogs xxx