FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2002, 12:00 a.m. Long John in Serious Condition, But Spirits High Web Site Created to Update Fans World Wide BARNES PLACE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA) - Long John is resting, but in serious condition after being attacked by a neighbor's dog last evening. Despite his obvious pain and being ordered to two weeks of bed rest, his spirits remain high. A web site has been created to update fans across the globe as to his current condition and progress. Long John was supervising Co-Director Timothy State as he mowed the lawn last night. He was standing, leashed in the alley driveway along Barnes Place when he was attacked unprovoked by the neighbor's dog, who was not on a leash. When State turned to see the commotion, Long John was dangling in the attacking dog's mouth like chicken dipped in honey mustard. The confrontation was broken up quickly, however damage was done. The immediate injury appeared to be a punctured scrotum, from which Long John was bleeding. State rushed him to Pets Are People Too, a 24-hour emergency clinic near Barnes Place. There, doctors gave Long John a polyflec antibiotic injection, and prescribed an oral antibiotic to prevent infection. State and Long John were sent home quickly with instructions to wipe the wound with a moist cotton ball three times a day for three days to help the wound drain. Long John rested comfortably through the balance of the evening. MORNING DRAMA By morning, however, the conditions had changed. State woke up to find Long John on the floor, where he sat lethargic as if he'd been watching infomercials through the night. When State picked up Long John, he yelped with pain, his entire body was tender, and his back, swollen. State returned to the vet for a follow-up examination with Dr. Hirsh, his primary care physician, as soon as the office was open. The preliminary exam isolated the pain to the center of Long John's back, and Dr. Hirsch hoped it was just muscle pain. But sometimes Hope is just a town of 10,000 in the middle of Arkansas; the news was not good. As dachshunds age, the disks in their back calcify and become less spongy. Long John now has a few calcified disks. Last night's attack caused one of the calcified disks to rupture, creating a mini calcium explosion, damaging the spinal cord. Based on the x-ray and Dr. Hirsh's observations, he believes there is not major damage. Long John is still able to move his legs, and he does respond to fondling. Long John needs to be kept immobile for the next two weeks to give his back as much opportunity to heal as possible. It's bed rest for Long John. Dr. Hirsh gave Long John an anti-inflammatory to keep the swelling around his spinal cord down while his back heals. At this point, there is no need for surgery, however, if his condition gets worse, as in his hind legs stop responding, he will need to be rushed to surgery. For now, however we wait and see. Co-Directory Anthony Dornacher was on a business trip at the time of the attack. Upon receiving an emergency page notifying him of the return trip to the vet, he altered his plans to return to Barnes Place as soon as possible. LEGAL ACTION The City of Atlanta has an ordinance that requires all dogs be contained within a fenced-in area or on a leash and under the owner's control at all times. State and Dornacher are still exploring what legal actions, if any, should be exercised. WEB SITE CREATED To keep Long John's fans around the world up-to-speed with his recovery, a special website has been created, To find out more details, or up-to-date information, direct your browser to the Long John page of the Animals section of Barnes Place.com, or go directly to http://www.barnesplace.com/animals/lj/blogger.html. A Yahoo Group has been established, and you can sign up to receive updates via e-mail. You can also post comments, which will be passed on to Long John. --END--