Baby it's cold outside

Too cold unless you're a husky, of course. TJ may struggle in the heat, but yesterday's sunny, breezy sky and 22 degree temperature was perfect for him. We went 5.7 miles and he never slowed.

It was -1 when I woke up this morning. I was very glad to have everyone snuggled up indoors, comfy and warm. The shepherds wanted out, I told them no.

There's a lot of versions of this song on YouTube.  It's a jaunty little ditty

about seduction and date rape. The gay version seems less rapey.

Turn on your speakers and listen while you scroll through the pics.

When that sun hits his white fur he almost
looks like a ghost.

Small streams were frozen solid, no drinking.

Husky instinct must include the ability to
walk on ice because he was sure-footed.

Our house is ankle deep in husky fur most of the time now.
I gave him a good brushing when we got home.

Maya wanted to roll on the ice. I'm not sure
what that was about.

It was cold enough that I needed to keep moving
so we didn't have many photo op stops.

Thank You

One of my goals for the weekend is to contact everyone who donated towards Jackie's care to say "thank you." I want to start by thanking everyone for their support and concern for Jackie and to share some good news. Although we will have some further expenses, I'm confident that we raised enough money for her surgery.

Although Jackie feels much better, she was still nervous
at the vet's office and tried to hide under my chair.
Fortunately, removing her stitches was quick and simple
so we were not there very long.

We went to the vet on Friday so her stitches could be removed. I also took in a new urine sample because she still seems to have a problem with frequent urination although it's 95% better than it was. The urinalysis still showed bacteria so we are continuing on antibiotics for at least another week. It's not a surprise that her infection will take a while to clear up given how severe it was so I remain confident that she can beat this.

I also had the chance to speak to the vet about the results of the lab work. The growth on the spleen was entirely benign, the best possible result. I can't say that I entirely understood the news about the bladder stones, but the bottom line is that it too was good news, something that the special diet should prevent from recurring.

The bottom line for Jackie is that she feels good again. She's still shy with people, but she enjoys all the dogs around here and is learning to trust me. She has a good quality of life again and for that I am thankful. I'm also grateful to Karin Straley of Animal Connections for trusting me enough to take in Jackie.

This picture was taken fairly early after we first got Gigi.
Her silver highlights are just beginning.

I'm also thankful for all the expressions of love and support shared by so many people upon Gigi's death. Between Jackie, Griffin, and Sparky, December was a tough month medically and emotionally. Losing Gigi so suddenly was a real kick in the gut.

Gigi in repose, in her daytime position, resting on pillows
at the top of the bed.

She was almost 10 years old, which for a Great Dane is pretty good. Although losing her suddenly was a real blow, I am thankful that she didn't suffer a long decline in her quality of life towards the end.

These last two pictures were taken sometime over New Year's weekend.

Some better news

Griffin, the deaf white boxer, has been living strictly indoors since Rex got adopted. That's been challenging because he has had diarrhea and seems to be losing weight rather than gaining it. And then he started vomiting. I wormed him and then got him back onto the food that supposedly worked for him. He's also been getting metronidazole, albon, pepsid, and the occasional anti-diarrheal drug. I've feeding him smaller amounts of food, four times a day. Yesterday he finally had some firmed up poop, and it's better today, and there's been no more vomiting now for the past three days. He's pretty good indoors although he spends most of his time in his crate because he annoys all the older dogs. There is also an interested applicant for Griff who already has one deaf, white boxer with dietary issues. When I'm convinced that he's on the road to recovery, I hope we can make an adoption happen.

Jackie is still doing very well, although I think she's still urinating frequently, and often indoors, although I'm not always sure if it's been her or another dog. She's still been on antibiotics and will continue for another course of treatment. I hope to get her stitches removed on Friday and get another urine sample tested. The best news is that the lab results were good, very good in fact, but I don't know any details and hope to learn more about that on Friday too.

Rex seems to be doing well in his new home, which was very welcome news. The two dogs have shared a sofa. Rex is obsessed with tennis balls and has one with him at all times. It sounds like things are going very well there. 

I don't think I ever reported this one because I didn't get any pictures, but Carly got a new home back in December. It's a home that I've adopted 3-4 rotties to in the past, so I felt good about this placement.

Because I can use all the good news I can get right now, I had a message from the adopter of Otis recently, saying that he's doing great, the whole family adores him, and he doesn't know a stranger or a dog that he doesn't like.  

I got a photo and a message the day after Christmas from Champ's new home, saying that he's working out great. The dogs all play together, rough and loud, rottweiler style, but everyone gets along and he's as happy as can be.

 

Nora was the only family member on her family's Christmas card.

Here's a picture of Rocco (the shepherd) playing in a dog park with friends in Crozet. Everytime I get a new picture of him I'm struck again with what a handsome dog he is. 

And finally, here's Athena. Like Gigi, she's a true goddess and the guardian of several (3 or 4?) children in her new home. 

Gigi: Grace iconic, Goddess incarnate

We lost Gigi quite suddenly and unexpectedly. Something happened to her spine that left her back legs paralyzed. The paralysis was partial at first, but it progressed rapidly in less than 24 hours. By the time we saw the vet, she was completely unable to walk or even support herself. Xrays were not informative and the next steps would have been an MRI and surgery with a specialist, if there was even a surgical option. In any event, Gigi would have been immobile and completely dependent upon us for even basic bodily functions for an unknown length of time. Having gone through that in the past, we felt the toll on the dog's quality of life was too great and the benefits too uncertain. 

When we got Gigi she was just called GG and we were told it stood for "good girl." She was a good girl indeed, but she was so much more. We gave her the more elegant name of Gigi, thinking it was a more appropriate title for a beauty queen.

We shared our bed but you made it your throne. Surveying your domain with benevolent authority and power. 

We gave you love and kept you in our hearts, always mindful that it was you who had chosen us to share your home. 

You had canine companions, but no peers. You filled the interstitial realm between dog and man. 

You didn't walk, your delicate feet caressed the ground, leaving it blessed by your passing. You didn't run, you flew close to the ground with a faerie's grace. 

We brought you jewels, but they had no intrinsic beauty. They did not shine except when hung around your long, graceful neck. Even then they paled in comparison to the glistening silver on your brows, your lashes, and your face. Silver that you acquired with the years, earned value and beauty that required no adornment. 

Here are a few snippets from prior blog posts that I've written about Gigi. They have stood the test of time.

Gigi had learned all she really needed to know in this life long before class.  I hate to say it, but she learned that I'm a soft touch, easily manipulated to get anything she wants.  She doesn't have to obey or be sociable or do stuff.  She doesn't have a job and she doesn't have to babysit the foster dogs.  The female dog is an exalted position in our house, Gypsy made it so and every female dog who has followed her has benefitted from that.  Gigi stepped into a sweet spot when she landed here and all she has to do is act like she deserves it.  She learned to do that pretty well.

Gigi is the girliest girl we've ever had around here.  Molly was the consummate tomboy.  Gypsy was the Iron Lady.  Emmylou was sweet, but she was a country girl, happiest when hunting through a field or forest.  Gigi is just dainty and elegant.  She likes dogs well enough, but she's not one of them, she's a princess.

I've never been one for dressing up my dogs, but she's tall, slender, and basic black--everything looks good on her.  The dog was born to accessorize.    Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  I'm thinking she might like diamonds.

Wishing you fields of buttercups by day, and a comfortable bed at night.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

There wasn't much difference between December 31, 2017, and January 1, 2018. Both days were cold, but New Year's Day featured more sun, which was welcome. I didn't really have anything to do, but I hiked 4.25 miles on New Year's Eve with Maya, Trooper, and TJ. Maya and I did five miles on New Year's Day with Theo.

This must have either smelled very good or
been very, very important. 

After the excess calories and sloth associated with christmas, hiking was what I needed most, and it's what the dogs enjoy most (except for Theo, he would rather play ball than breathe).

Trooper, Maya, and TJ

Maya and Theo

I love when they do this. I call it
Synchronous Shepherds, or
Shepherd Synchronicity

Maya going over the same log.

Theo going over a log.