Adoration

The Webster's Dictionary definition of the word "adore". a·dore- [uh-dawr, uh-dohr] verb,a·dored, a·dor·ing. 1. to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor. 2. to pay divine honor to; worship: to adore God. 3. to like or admire very much: I simply adore the way your hair is done! 4. to worship. In our house, the true definition of the word can be seen and felt every time Tommy looks at me. I always say, "every person should be adored in the same way Tommy adores me." I'm telling you, you can feel it. This kid looks up at me with his big copper brown eyes and just simply melts me. Tommy is a Chow mix so his true loyalty and adoration is for one person in the house and I'm lucky enough to have been his pick. Now, don't get me wrong, he loves his Daddy and minds him well but Mommy ROCKS! I don't take this lightly either. I have a lot to live up to. I wish I could be as good of a person as he thinks I am. However, I don't think anyone could really live up to his standards but I will strive to do it every day. Tommy deserves that. All three of our dogs deserve that. Honestly, they really don't ask for much in return. A couple of square meals a day, a roof over their heads and some scratches here or there is all they really ask for. We are the ones who shower them with all of the great things life has to offer. The groomer that comes to them. High quality, premium dog food, toys galore, sleeping in our bed at night and taking up the premium space, I might add. A big fenced backyard to run and play in. Vet visits, specialists and surgeries when needed. Physical therapy sessions and all that goes with them. Massages, acupuncture and energy work. The list could go on for days. These dogs don't ask for those kinds of things. They get what we feel they need to make their quality of life better. Not for us, I wouldn't be/ couldn't be that selfish, but rather for them. So tell me, who really adores whom? Or is the feeling really mutual. I believe the feeling is very mutual.

Yes, we love our dogs...

and we have the bills to prove it! If I went back through all of our receipts for the three furry creatures, we call "kids", people would surely tell us we are crazy. But, as a girlfriend just told me today, "they are worth it!" Of course, she said Jack was worth the recent hemmorage of money because he is so "handsome". She is right, he is handsome. But he needs to get a job or at least a social security number! God, help a girl out! What brings all of this up today is potential for a "RIF" at work (Reduction In Force) a lay off. How arrogant would you have to be to think there was no way you would be on the list. So, given that, I start thinking of all of the things we would have to cut back on. Jack's physical therapy and his meds. would be amongst the first to go. I stopped at the vet school on my way home to pick up Jack's monthly supply of drugs at over $100 and thought, "what the hell will we do if I get layed off?" Not just from the dog's perspective but from every way you look. However, Jack would be the biggest loser if anything happened. We think we are making progress on his leg/back and to have to stop now would be devastating. A bit of Jack history, he is a rescue kid. Found stuck in a drain pipe under a driveway. We got him when he was between 4-6 months old from Second Chance Pet Adoptions (the best rescue group around, by the way, not that you're asking but I always tell, when given the chance). He was diagnosed a little later with bilateral hip displaysia and had surgery on both hips before he was a year old. All is fine and well until he was about 6 1/2 years old and just comes up lame for no conceivable reason. Very intermittently but got progressively worse. Orthopedic surgeon, here we come! X-rays after x-rays after x-rays and medication and months go by with no answers or even a clue. In October the Orthopedic surgeon firmly believes it's the femoral head on his left leg so we do an FHO on that leg. Things are great for 6 weeks then nothing...back to lameness for no reason. On our way to the vet school. Physical therapy, lots of drugs and nothing. In February it's determined another surgery is needed. Dr. Lascelles, the best pain management guy around and also an amazing Orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Lascelles did this surgery and cleaned up some scar tissue in the leg and put in anti rotational sutures to move the femur a 1/2 cm forward to give the sciatic nerve more room. This really has helped but we still have good days and bad. PT is helping as we can see muscle structure coming back in that leg, however, it's a REALLY slow and VERY expensive gig. We just press on and pray to the powers that be to help this kid get better. Our journey is mid way through, I hope, for all of our sakes. Leash walks in the back yard, no overdoing it and medication. Drugs, drugs and more drugs. He is on more medications than an 80 year old man! Meanwhile, we move forward with deterimination and love for our kid! Everything will work out as it should.

Sunny days and dog dreams

Have you ever seen your dog having a dream? You know, when they are asleep and their paws go back and forth like they are running. Ever wonder what they are dreaming about? Maybe they are chasing a bunny or a squirrel through the yard. Or running with their ball in their mouth, back to you so you can throw it again. Or even, the scary part, running from their past, the abusers who chased them trying to catch them to hurt them or someone chaisng them out of their garbage as they try to find anything they can to eat to survive. Well, we all hope our rescue kids have forgotten those days and are chasing bunnies from the yard.

Today, I watched one of my boys dreaming. He was moving only his front paws, swimming perhaps as that's all he moves when in the water. He was mving his mouth without opening it. He made me smile. I was wondering what he was dreaming about. Maybe an Alice in Wonderland kind of thing where he followed the bunny down in the hole and found a brand new world. New adventures with wonderful creatures and maybe even a human kid or two. What were they doing? Having tea? Playing ball? He sure looked happy, in his dream, whatever it was.

He awakes, sees me and wags his sleepy tail. He gets up and gives a really big dog stretch with his front paws crossed over each other. (maybe he gets a better stretch this way?) He approaches me for face rubs and ear scratches... nothing better. He stretches his neck up to give me a kiss then goes and scratches on the door to go out. The sweetest face, a kind heart and a good soul.

All dogs are good dogs when they are asleep!

One of "those" days...

Do you ever have one of "those" days where you just can't seem to get in the groove of things? Anything you touch turns to poo and you just want to go back to bed? Those are the days when I wish I were one of my dogs. I mean really... think about it. Laying in a sunbeam on your bed for the morning and then a good wrestle with your sister isn't such a bad way to spend a day. Especially, one of those days.... No worries of school, finding a job, keeping a job or what you need to do next. I worked from home on Friday and this what my dogs did all day. Clearly not a bad life. Jack- He was feeling really good on Friday. His leg wasn't bothering him and he was walking on all four (instead of three... long story for another time) and he just wanted to wander the yard. It was a beautiful sunny day, mid 60's and he was loving life. He apparently doesn't care that Mom draws a paycheck even when she is at home and needs to earn it. So, I worked late to accommodate the many walks around the yard. Due to Jack's leg issue he has to be leash walked, even in the backyard so I have to be with him every single time he went out. You would think I could just say, "lay down" and he would leave me alone but no... he talks to you with this chortle noise from the back of his throat, until you get him what he wants. This time it was multiple walks outside. He would sleep on his Tempurpedic mattress for the periods of this indoor "abuse" but would force the hand to go outside. Tommy- He was a bit easier. He just wants to be where I am, regardless of where. The bathroom, the basement, the shower (he is a peeper... yes, we have a "peeping Tom"). He slept in the sunbeam all morning and was right there with his brother bothering me after lunch to go outside to play. He stalks his sister on a regular basis thinking she doesn't see him in a hunched position 4 feet in front of her. What a dork! He flies at her with a big pounce like a lion does. It's funny to watch as Jilli runs like the wind from him and just as he is ready to grab her tail she jumps up on the outdoor end table and turns to flip him off...if she could make the gesture, she would, I swear. This look of neener-neener-boo-boo on her face is priceless. Then the groomer came and it was over for Tommy. Two hours of piece for Mom! Got my work done. He gets a bath, nails clipped and a puppy cut. He comes in looking so handsome and so young. I wish my haircuts did as much for me as his do for him! Jilli- She was in and out just like her brothers... no fair to gang up on Mom, three to one. She is certainly the quietest kid but can be just as big of a pest when they all want something. So, Sunday roles around and again another stunning day. We spent a LOT Of time laying on a blanket in the backyard. Not an easy feat as it's Spring time and nobody has mowed the lawn since early November so there is poop everywhere! I did manage to find a nice clean spot for the blanket though and there we perched, like a raft in a sea of poo sharks! An hour later, I wake up and Jack is on the other side of the yard, sniffing around, with his leash dangling behind him. I'll get mother of the year for sure now. I navigate my way to him and reel him back in. He just looked at me as if to say, "what'd I do? You were the one sleeping." Kids....

Guardianship

Many dog lovers prefer to be called "Guardians" rather than "Owners" because, after all, who really owns whom? When you think about it, our dogs have us trained just as well, if not better, than we have them trained. Try as some might to "own" a dog it's really impossible to do. Many states view dogs as property but most people who truly live with them, view them as friends and family and treat them as such. I can not imagine my life without a dog in it. My husband may try some times but he would be as empty as I without at least one furry kid in our home. He always says, "one good dog is enough." where my philosophy is, "any in need have a place in our home". Now, that's not to say I'm a hoarder, by no means. The most we have ever had in our home at one time were 5 and one of them was a foster pup who wasn't supposed to be there for long. Of course, he very soon became a permanent fixture thanks to my husband. (but that's for another post). I go to bed every night with the same thought...keep all of us safe and guard over those who aren't in a loving home. Help them find their way to someone who will cherish them and be their guardian. Every dog deserves a good person to guide them and allow them to be the best they can. Every good person deserves a dog to love and to be guardian for and advocate for.

New Blog

Hi everyone, We have created a new blog so everyone can be a part of this. The last blog was all about Tommy and his surgeries, etc. www.captaintuney.blogspot.com This time it's about all of our furry four legged children, past and present. We will post the good, the bad and the ugly here. Hoping to keep family and friends informed of what's happening will all of the kids and with us as a pack. The thing, for me, is where to start. So many stories, so many photos and so much is happening. We hope you enjoy the blog and if you have any comments, please post them as we love the feedback. Thanks for reading! Tam