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Alcohol support

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Original poster

Horrible situation with alcoholic client.

28 replies

ncforthisthread2021 · 30/10/2021 22:53

I've name changed for this as I don't want it linked to my previous posts.

I'm a dog walker and I've been walking the dog of an alcoholic 5-7 days a week for the last eighteen months. The lady in question had been sober for several months when she first contacted me but over the last year she's gotten worse and worse.

I've walked in on suicide attempts.
I've walked in on her having messed the bed and vomited over herself and the floor.
I've walked in (after being on holiday) to a house with bottles hidden everywhere and dog mess all over as the little dog hadn't been walked the entire time I was off.
I've called ambulances multiple times.

The most recent binge led to yet another hospital admission and this time they've discovered permanent damage to her pancreas and won't be releasing her back home - she's moving into a care facility and her dog is being re-homed. Her family are organising all this. I'd love to take the dog myself but I have my own dog, cats and a business to run and I just don't have the time or energy to cope with settling her with us.

I don't really know what I want from this thread except to say I feel a real sense of relief that I don't have to deal with this anymore. I hope that doesn't make me sound awful but I hated not knowing what I was going to walk into each day and whether she'd even be alive when I opened the door.

Anyway thank you for reading if you got this far Smile

OP posts:
Purplewithred · 30/10/2021 22:58

That must have been so tough for you. I hope she gets the care she needs for the future, and that her dog finds a stable and peaceful home.

Sarahlou63 · 30/10/2021 22:59

It's horrible for you, a relief that her dog will hopefully having a caring home but most of all sad that a human life has come to this.

You went over and above what most people would have done in your situation so be kind to yourself.

DeireadhFomhair · 30/10/2021 23:01

Oh that sounds so tough. The poor lady, and poor you dealing with all that Sad
Hope you're doing OK! It sounds like she's in the best place to help her.

CatonMat · 30/10/2021 23:02

It sounds as if intervention has come at just the right time before things got too bad for you to continue.

You've done well to have stuck with the situation this far, though.

It's sad, though, really, what a mess some people's lives are.

You've gone over and above, so thank god for people like you
Flowers

Original poster
ncforthisthread2021 · 30/10/2021 23:05

Thanks so much everyone for your lovely comments Thanks

The whole situation is incredibly sad - she's been offered so, so much help and support but the addiction is just too strong Sad

OP posts:
user1000000000009 · 30/10/2021 23:47

I had the same situation although I had a different job.

It was awful. The relief I felt when they were moved into a home.

I contacted the family, social services and local pet rescue because the animals were being neglected and the client was neglecting themselves. After 8 months of me harassing everyone a plan was finally formed and the animals were removed and the person was moved into more suitable and monitored accommodation.

It's awful op, take some time to just breathe. Well done for doing what you did.

pointythings · 31/10/2021 09:22

I think you've done wonderfully to cope with all that, and you've done everything you could to care for her dog. Hopefully the dog will find a new loving home. Sadly many alcoholics end up like this - it's a powerful addiction.

AdelindSchade · 31/10/2021 09:34

That must have been really traumatic for you. Thank goodness she is going to be cared for and the dog will hopefully find a new home.

Original poster
ncforthisthread2021 · 31/10/2021 17:35

Thank you to everyone again for your lovely messages.

Sadly it's looking unlikely that she will recover from this latest episode. She is currently in Intensive Care with multiple organ failure. Very sad all round, but the silver lining is that her little dog has found a lovely new home Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
ncforthisthread2021 · 06/11/2021 21:28

I just wanted to update this again.

Sadly my client passed away in hospital in the early hours of this morning. Her little dog will stay with her family permanently and I'll still be able to see her.

Thank you to everyone who posted on here and gave me such wonderful words of support Thanks

OP posts:
imamearcat · 06/11/2021 21:41

Oh god what an awful situation. Sounds like you did what you could to help OP.Thanks

I've just had a situation with my friend, she came to stay with me for a while and I know exactly what you mean. It's so tough.

RonSwansonsChair · 06/11/2021 22:37

I'm so sorry to hear that @ncforthisthread2021
It sounds like you did your best in very trying circumstances. I hope she's now at peace Flowers and her little dog is being well looked after.

TeeTotaller1 · 06/11/2021 22:43

@ncforthisthread2021 you sound a bloody amazing person, there should be more 'yous' in this world
You did all you could, and you went above and beyond to help someone that was hurting and ill.
FlowersFlowersFlowers

CatonMat · 07/11/2021 00:06

Oh, that's sad news, although it sounds as if life was hard to bear for this person.

I'm sure having known you eased things somewhat, though.

I shall light a candle to mark her death and spread some light in her memory.

Original poster
ncforthisthread2021 · 07/11/2021 13:54

Thank you so much everyone again for your lovely comments Flowers I did what I could with the time and knowledge I had. I sat with her numerous times just to chat and often popped in on her just to check under the pretence of passing anyway. I worried about her but I am relieved that I no longer have that concern weighing on my mind each day before work.

The entire situation is just very sad, really, and she was so young, though you wouldn't know it to speak to her or see her.

I feel as though she's (hopefully) at peace now and her little dog will now have the life she deserves with owners who can care for her properly. Not that my client was deliberately neglectful, but all her health issues combined with her addiction just meant she wasn't capable of giving her dog what she needed.

I've seen her little dog with her new forever family a couple of times this week, and she looks so happy (and zoomed over to me to mug me for treats!).

OP posts:
AnonAnnie2977 · 07/11/2021 13:57

You are a better person with me as I would not have continued with this client after the first incident.

Original poster
ncforthisthread2021 · 07/11/2021 14:00

@AnonAnnie2977

You are a better person with me as I would not have continued with this client after the first incident.
My priority was her dog.

Her dog deserved to be walked, to get outside of those four walls and to get a chance to play, run and explore like any other dog should.

It was also something that crept up on us, I think. She originally went months being sober, then had one incident, then months again before the next.

It's only in the last three months or so that things got so bad.

OP posts:
LemonPeonies · 07/11/2021 14:42

Addiction is a horrible disease. You sound really kind. Glad that she was at least in the best place and hopefully went in peace and glad her dog will be cared for ❤

Suzi888 · 07/11/2021 15:05

Flowers What a sad story. Hope she passed peacefully poor woman. Glad the dog is happy and cared for now.

Original poster
ncforthisthread2021 · 07/11/2021 15:22

@LemonPeonies

Addiction is a horrible disease. You sound really kind. Glad that she was at least in the best place and hopefully went in peace and glad her dog will be cared for ❤
It really is - it just takes over to the point where nothing else matters.

It was such a fine balance between allowing her to remain independent and enabling her to continue to drink. Ultimately as she lived alone, nobody could stop her from buying the drink and sadly she wasn't deemed unwell enough to need 24/7 are.

The plan was to move her to an assisted care facility but unfortunately she never made it.

OP posts:
TinaYouFatLard · 07/11/2021 15:26

You sound like a very kind and caring person.

LimitIsUp · 08/11/2021 13:30

Just found this thread and wanted to say what a kind and wonderful person you are OP. That was an awful lot to deal with and you didn't walk away

PromisesMeanNothingSue · 12/11/2021 13:49

That’s so sad. What a waste of a life. Sad Thank you for not giving up on that little dog, @ncforthisthread2021, and I’m so glad she’s found a good home.

ElftonWednesday · 12/11/2021 13:53

It's lovely that you kept walking her dog, you have given it some enjoyable times and taken some worry off the shoulders of the owner. Very sad situation, hope the dog gets a nice home though.

Atozofpoodles · 12/11/2021 14:00

You are a wonderful human. I’m relieved for you too. You can only do what you can do, the dog will get rehomed. Flowers