Dear Aunt Foley: Rueful Romey

Dear Aunt Foley:  I love my Mom, and when she met my Dad I was very excited.  He’s a great guy and makes her happy.  Then Mom told me that I was her most trusted confidant, and there was no else she trusted planning her wedding.  The plans were coming together and we have worked together perfectly.  But then came the wedding dress.  I picked out one I thought was magnificent.  Mom agreed, but now she’s not sure.   Planning the wedding is my responsibility and I want her to wear the dress I picked out.  But, on the other paw, I think maybe I let Mom down by picking the wrong dress.  Please tell me what I should do. - Rueful Romey

Dear Rueful Romey:  I have been studying humans for a dozen years and nothing gets them more worked up than a wedding.  When humans are planning a wedding they take their brains out and put them on a shelf for a little time each day, and, as the wedding date grows closer they spend less time visiting their brains.  You can make lots of suggestions, and I am sure they’re all wonderful, but it is her wedding, and outside of the day you joined her pack it will be the best day of her life, so give her a lot of leeway and understand when she changes her mind.  It has nothing to do with your mind, her love for you, or what I am sure is a great job you are doing as a wedding planner.  It just has to do with her not visiting her mind too often.  So just stick by her, be the loyal friend you have been, ride out her changes of mind, and pray for the wedding day to come soon.

Dear Aunt Foley:  Hi Aunt Foley.  I have never asked for advice before.  But I am a new dog and I’m really not sure what I should be doing.  I have learned to do my business outside and not inside but I am stumped about the couch in the sun room.  It seems to come with odd rules.  I can get up on it (I am very proud of this) but I am not allowed to get on the back of it.  I lay down on the couch to nap and it is very comfy but if I stand on the back of it, or lie down on the back of it, Mommy makes me get down.  When I moved into the house I did not get a pamphlet on the couch rules, can you enlighten me? - Sophie on the Sofa

Dear Sophie:  The only rule to remember is that you Mommy loves you very much and wants to keep you safe.  Mommies are funny.   If we are sleeping on the couch, have a dream, and roll off, that’s funny, but if we jump on the back of the couch, then fall off, that’s a tragedy.  Speaking as another small in the leg pup I can tell you that Mommies get very worried when we get up high, so try not to get too high, and try not to make your Mommy worry, but, I can assure you, when it comes to Mommies, that is nearly impossible.

Dear Aunt Foley:  I had one of the strangest experiences of my life.  My Mommy sent me across the border to Mexico to get groomed.  She was very worried about this but my Dad said it would be fine.  And when I came home nicely groomed it seemed that Dad was, in fact, correct.  But that night I went out to do my business and when I laid my Vick on the grass a small plastic bag came out with it.  Then a man stepped out of the bushes and said “yo, dog, thanks for the package,” picked the bag out of my poo and left.  What’s up with that?  - Stuffed Pepper

Dear Pepper:  Oh Pepper I have seen this happen a thousand times.  We have wonderful friends in Mexico, and there are hard working, honest people there, but there are also bad people who will do anything to smuggle barkotics into our country.  It is obvious to me that sometime during your grooming you were fed a bag of these barkotics and when you were brought home, and Vicked, the package of drugs came out.  Don’t worry, you will be fine, but just keep in mind that, for part of this month, you were more mule than dog.

Charlie and Lady are our October 28, 2012 Pups of the Week

Last night when I was taking Pocket and Daddy Lackey outside for their final walk of the night, I looked up to the sky, to see two of the newest stars, Charlie and Lady.  I gave them a tip of the tail and they twinkled at me.  Then I led Daddy and Pocket home.  When we were inside I began to think that this is one of the many things us pups do, we lead our parents home.

We lead them home, and we are home.  When humans come to our house, unless we are out with one of our parents, we are home.  We are the constant.  Spouses may leave for a time, children grow up and leave, but not us, we are there, at the door, tails wagging, mouth smiling, the constant force of love that leads them home.

It is true of our cyber homes too.  We expect to see smiling faces and tails wagging on our pages.  Instead of a few dogs greeting us there are hundreds, but when we lose one smiling face, it hurts like we lost a member of the family.

This week we lost two treasured friends:  The first is Charlie from the ‘Burgh, a sweet, handsome English Spaniel, at the age of eight.  He loved his tennis balls and could play with them all day.  He also enjoyed playing in the yard, bothering birds and bunnies, and eating steak.  Charlie was a dog who, like me, loved to be in the lead during walks, but unlike some Moms, who want their pups to walk beside or behind them. Charlie’s Mom loved being taken on adventures by him, being dragged into mud after critters.  Like all wonderful dogs Charlie had his quirks, including enjoying taking a drink out of what he called his Magic Well but other might call a toilet bowl.

Charlie was taken from us at way too young an age and very quickly.  He went from having a bad stomach, to not eating, to bad blood numbers, to his kidneys shutting down, and then to the Bridge in the space of six days.  It happened so quickly it shocked everyone who knew him.  His Mom often referred to him her handsome Prince and that he was.  His Mom, who gave him his voice, is a wonderful woman, who made us understand the love she received from Charlie and how incredible he truly was.  Hearts were broken through the Burgh, and through the Cyber World, when our sweet friend left us.

Also this week Lady left us for the Bridge leaving us all especially heartbroken because it wasn’t too long ago that her brother Fritzchen preceded her.  Lady was a beautiful American Collie who lived in Germany near Cologne.  Lady lost an eight month battle with lymph cancer.  She fought as long as possible to stay with her beloved Mom but her body finally gave out.

When Lady first came to her home she found a house full of cats.  Her mother was a cat breeder and Lady took over as the mother pack leader.  Fritzchen joined her a few months later to keep her company.  The pack then grew to four when Nora and Rocky joined them.  Lady took care of them all.  She also helped her Mom through some serious health issues.  Her loss, to her family and friends, is earth shattering and we want her Mom to know that in America and across the world Lady has thousands of friends and we all love her.

And let’s try not to think of them being gone.  They are here as long as we can visit them through cyberspace.  They are in the stars at night, and snuggling in their Mom’s bed while they sleep, and they are alive in our hearts forever.

And they are still leading their parents, and leading us, to another home, a better home, a quieter home, where we will all live forever.

Foley Monster Finds There is Such a Thing As Too Much Dog Human Personal Displays of Affection

I, Foley Monster, am a well known believer in the rights of dogs and their owners to share a close relationship, including kissing, snuggling together in bed at night, and being inseparable.  I recently became aware of a 44 year old California woman, Teri Graham, who shares my beliefs.  I am now going to let you read my live text chat with her and her bulldog Spider.

Foley Monster:  Hello Mrs. Graham and welcome to you and Spider.  I would like to say, as an advocate of public displays of affection between dogs and humans I fully support your interactions with Spider.

Mrs Graham:  Thank you Foley I wish more people shared your perspective.  There have been a lot of people judging us and I don’t think that’s fair.

Foley Monster:  Neither do I.  Now why don’t you explain to everyone how you publicly display your affection for Spider.

Mrs Graham:  First let me give you a little background.  Spider was the runt of her litter.  She couldn’t get to her Mother’s teats.  Then I noticed that she was licking the nipple of my son’s bottle.

Foley Monster:  Oh, that is so sweet, so you bottle fed Spider and she got the proper nutrients.

Mrs Graham:  No I decided to breastfeed her.

Foley Monster:  Well that is terrific, wait, what?

Mrs Graham:  I breastfeed her.

Foley Monster:  Your daughter, you mean, Spider inspired you to breastfeed your daughter.

Mrs Graham:  No I breast feed my dog Spider.  Here is a picture.

Foley Monster.  Um, well, um, that’s just terrific.  Um, Spider, how do you feel about this?

Spider:  I like boobies.

Foley Monster:  I hope so, you certainly have enough of one there.  Mrs. Graham, did you feel that you should breastfeed Spider because you breast feed your kids and she is just as much apart of the family as your kids?

Mrs Graham:  No, I never breastfed my kids.

Foley Monster:  Oh for God sakes woman throw me a bone here.

Spider:  I like boobies.

Foley Monster:  Yeah, you’ve made that pretty clear Spider.

Mrs Graham:  My children do watch me breastfeed Spider.  They are amazed.

Foley Monster:  That’s one of the words I would have used.  Now, Spider must be a pup, once Zhe is older are you going to wean her off.

Spider:  I am two years old.

Foley Monster:  In dog years?

Mrs Graham:  No I have been breast feeding him for two years.

Foley Monster:  Two years?  That’s like 14 years old in dog time.  You got a teenager swinging off your nipples there lady.  Put the nipples away and give her a Frosty Paw.

Mrs Graham:  Foley, I thought you would support me in my public display of affection for my dog.

Foley Monster:  I do, but I got to agree with Mayor Bloomberg on this one, we have to eliminate the Big Gulp.  You’ve got to get Spider off the sweets.

Spider:  Sweet, sweet boobies.

Foley Monster:  Yes, Spider, get off the boobies.

Spider:  Hey mind your business there.  This is between my Mom and me and her wonderfully sweet milk.

Mrs Graham:  This is not just for Spider.  Breastfeeding Spider makes me feel like a complete woman and a better mother.

Pocket Dog:  Mrs Graham.  Pocket Dog here.  I am Foley’s sister.  She is outside gagging.  I was just wondering, do Spider’s teeth bother you?

Mrs Graham:  No, she is very considerate.  Her tongue tickles and I do feel her teeth but she latches on in a way that they don't hurt me.

Spider:  You don’t bite the tit that feeds you.

Pocket:  Let me check with my Mom to see if we can do it.  I’ll be right back.

Foley Monster:  I am back.  Mommy is washing Pocket’s mouth with soup.  She just did it for me to get the taste of this interview out of my mouth and she’s doing it to Pocket for suggesting she breastfeed too.  As for you, Mrs. Graham and Spider, I am going to let you go.

Spider:  Good, I am hungry.

Mrs Graham:  I don’t judge you for kissing your Daddy Foley don’t judge me.

Foley Monster:  I won’t Mrs Graham but remember I kiss my Daddy, I don’t bite his tongue and feed off of him like a vampire dog.  Good night.  And for those of you who think that this was another twisted story from my sick imagination check this out.

http://gawker.com/5952923/meet-the-woman-who-breastfeeds-her-dog-because-she-can

Jasper and Gypsy Dawn are our October 21, 2012 Pups of the Week (With a Special Mention for a Little Bird)

Today we bark about two dogs who went from homeless to forever homes, two sets of packs very lucky to have special additions, and one special friend whose house has become a little less lively without the sweet tweets of a beloved friend.

The first is a white pup named Jasper.  Jasper was a pup of the streets.  Someone had placed him in the night drop box at the Salinas Animal Shelter.  Oh how frightening that must have been for this poor baby.  It is possible that whoever found him had seen him struck by a car.  He was not using his front right leg.  But the dogtors checked him out and luckily found no broken bones.  They did find that he had stickers in his paws, infections in his ears, and poor Jasper was womiting.  The dogtors fixed him up real nice and he was sent to the Animal Friends Rescue Program.

Jasper had a hard time finding a foster family and was placed in a pet boarding facility near the adoption center.  After six months Jasper still had not decided on a forever home.  He was very particular and wanted the right family.

Meanwhile the right family were sitting at their computer looking at available dogs. When the Mom saw Jasper she knew she had to make him part of her pack.  She showed it to the Dad and he agreed.  They called the woman, Sue, who had helped them adopt Whiskey and Blue.  That is right.  By waiting Jasper had hit the jackpot as the Gustavon pack, with Whiskey, Blue, Chappy and Angel 12 and Angel Fuzzy Bacon, had picked up his scent.  

Whiskey went with his Mom and Dad as a representative of the dog wing of the pack to meet with Jasper.  When Jasper saw them he was so happy the right family had found him that he bounded over to them.  Mom and Dad could see in Jasper’s eyes that he had chosen them, and, after some paperwork, Jasper’s dream had come true, he is the newest member of one of our favorite packs.  

Knowing he was where he watned to be Jasper began to act appropriately.  He went with Mom on a bike ride attached to the Walky Dog.  He knew not to have an accident on the floor and slept in his crate without making a peep.  He didn’t jump for attention.  He has great teachers in his parents and great dogs to learn from in Chappy, Whiskey and Blue, even if Blue is a little jealous of the new guy.
 
The next pup we would like to honor was, ten days ago, dumped, along with two siblings, on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere.  They were found by a mail carrier who took them with her and began to find homes for them.  Our friend Ginger Dash’s Mom saw one of them and fell in love.  She gave her the beautiful name Gypsy Dawn.  She has already taken to being dressed up.  What a lucky dog Gypsy Dawn is, from a box on the side of the road to a fashionista pup in just ten days.  A big tip of the tail to Ginger and her family for giving Gypsy Dawn a home.  And a big tip of the tail to Gypsy for fitting in her forever home so well.

I hate to end on a sad note but I must mention our friend Leo, who lost a member of his pack, their beloved bird Tiki who kept his Dad company in his office.   Leo’s house is much quieter now and we pray for Leo’s pack and Tiki’s safe flight to the Bridge.

So here is to two pups who found their forever home, and a bird who is in her final home forever.

Foley Monster Asks What's Up With All The Links?

Have you noticed, on both pup sites that I blog, Tanner Brigade and DoggySpace, that recently in our posts or comments there are words underlined, and, when you click on these words, they take you to advertisements?

I understand that humans live in a capitalistic society, and that they need to generate cash, but I want it understood that I Foley Monster, do not endorse any of these products, unless they are willing to slip a few extra kibbles into my bowl at night.

I don’t know which words ignite the links and which don’t so I would like to test it by using as many words that I think will activate these links in one blog.  The subject of the blog will be my speaking to Pocket about one day taking over my law practice.  Let us begin.

I am getting older and even though I have a very lucrative law practice I have been thinking about taking more time off, maybe a vacation.  Things are hard in the job market, and Mommy needs a lot of money to support her online dating service, so I brought Pocket into my office, had her sit on my Lazy Boy Recliner, and talked to her about taking over my practice.

“Pocket,” I said, “I think we can agree that you are one handsome pup but you can’t get by on being pretty and anti aging cream your entire life.  You are young and single but it is time to start thinking of your future.  I would like you to join me in my law practice.”

“Why Foley?  Are you becoming a Senior Citizen?  Are you suffering from erectile dysfunction, or painful rectal itch?  Why would you ask someone like me, who could use a few more hours of learning at a college or the learning annex, to be your apprentice? I don’t need student loans.”

“You won’t have to dig into your bank account or savings account or IRA or investments,” I assured her.  “You just watch how I do my job, you learn, and when I want some time off you become Pocket Dog Attorney at Log.”

Pocket was very concerned about this.  “Foley, I am not as educated as you are.  I don’t know the capital of Viagra. I don’t know anything about the characters in Greek mythology like the Cialis.  Anyway I just won two Spanish lotteries, the El Gordo and La Primitiva.  And you know my first love is medicine.  I have almost solved the mystery of penis enhancement.”

I didn’t want to cause Pocket major depression.  But I had my eye on a nice piece of real estate.  It was on the beach and had a no kill animal shelter where I could help pets.  I wouldn’t take any home as I don’t want to start a pet boarding business.  I also planned to make some changes to the interior of the car so I could drive.  Once I raise enough funds I can move the pedals so I can drive.  And maybe someday I could hook up with a cute emergency vet.

So Pocket has given up her dreams of getting a medical degree through an online university and is going to travel with me and learn the law game.  Then I can start planning my retirement, but that won’t be for a long time because Pocket has to get quite an education.  But I am looking forward to having a partner.

And when I do the first thing I am going to do is file a suit to stop these web sites from putting links all over our blogs.

Does Kissing Daddy Make Him Sick? And Do I Care?

I have my dog phone set to alert me if there is any new dog news.  The alert on the phone sometimes sounds like FFFFFYTTTTTTTTTT, or TOOOOOOOT, or POOOOOOOOP.   And sometimes it is Hammertime.  “ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew can’t touch this, ew ew ew ew ew ew can’t touch this.”   There are two truths about my phone alerts.  One is that often, as is the nature of dogs, if there is an alert, a pup has gone to the Bridge to be an angel.  The second is that my Mom insists that each alert, even the ones that sounds like Hammertime, are farts.  She swears that every time I fart an angel gets it’s wings.

Today I passed gas, I meant got an alert, and it read:  “Why a smooch with your pooch could make your teeth fall out! Pet owners warned that dogs can pass on gum disease.”  I quickly deleted this from my phone.  I could not have my Daddy Lackey reading this.  Because my Daddy Lackey’s mouth is my safety zone.

Whenever I am feeling upset, or blue, or he’s brushed his teeth with amazing minty toothpaste, I am on him like a hungry man on a Christmas ham.  After five or ten or 35 minutes of this I am calm and ready to relax.  If I lose this outlet I am going to be a nervous wreck.

Frankly the article is quite insulting.  It states that our parents can get gum disease from us.  Please!  Have you ever seen the way human’s kiss?  If they can't transmit diseases to one another from such activity then how could we transmit diseases to them?  What’s that Pocket?  There is a link you think I should read about how humans transmit diseases to one another?  I don’t have time to read it.  I’m on a roll here.

The article also states we pass on dangerous bacteria to our humans.  Ridiculous!  Has any human noticed how  we drink?  We immerse our entire face in a bowl of water.  What is a better way to wash away bacteria than with water?  If anything we should be concerned about what they put in their mouths.  Really, I may have looked like I was sleeping while they were watching  their late night movies  but I was doing it with one I open and there are some mornings after a night of movie watching that I tell Pocket “DON’T KISS MOMMY!”

Then there are a list of things that could happen after we give our humans a “disease.”  Like all things you read on the web they end with your teeth falling out and then death.  Even worse the humans could give us diseases.  I certainly will be paying attention to my parents’ oral hygiene habits.  I have no problem giving them kisses but I don’t want to get sick from them.

As I reached the bottom of the article it became the same rhetoric we have been reading for years from Big Toothbrush.  We should have our teeth brushed, cleaned, polished, be-dezzled, yada, yada, yada.  I am not going to become a slave to the corporate politics of the dog tooth brush industry.  Whenever I get my teeth brushed by even a finger I snort, bark, sneeze, shake, and dry heave.  Pocket enters a deep depression and spends the rest of the night reading Kafka.  Mommy and Daddy tried dental foam too with similar results. We don’t do chew bones either because Mommy and Daddy are afraid we will choke on them.  We have been chewing Hartz Dental Hearts because they are small.  They might not do a great job at cleaning our teeth but hopefully they will keep me from passing any terrible diseases on to Daddy.  Maybe I should have him chew some.

So, in this household, I am going to continue to lick my Daddy Lackey, and make sure he keeps his mouth clean for both of us.  The article did say the elderly are the most susceptible to catching an oral disease from a dog so when Daddy becomes elderly, in another 20 years or so, I might give him a break and back off.  But until then it’s licks away.

Brody is our October 14, 2012 Pup of the Week

Every week I come to you and ask you to join me in either praying for, helping, or recognizing a friend.  This week I come in praise of our old pal Brody.

I know what you are saying my little monsters.  Foley, we cannot praise a dog for eating a couch, or for running down and devouring a doe in one bite, but I do not come here today to praise our friend's ravenous appetite but to reward him for recognizing his endless eating habits are a poor lifestyle choice and to begin to exercise, and by exercising, to help other dogs in need.

Brody went for a walk with his Mom Candice, who has no extra calories because her day is spent trying to corral an infant, a toddler, and a  Brody, for a good cause.  It was to benefit the Arizona Animal League and SPCA, the largest no kill shelter in Arizona.

Brody and the fam live in Maricopa County which is the second worst county in the nation for euthanization of dogs.  Of the five million pups who are put to death in this country as many as 60,000 a year are in Maricopa County.

Brody was lucky enough to come from the Arizona Animal League and SPCA and did not have to go to that horrible kill shelter.  But the shelter has limited funds and can’t take all the dogs who need rescuing, and that is why Brody and his Mom were walking.

Brody and his Mom set a goal of raising $1,000 for this great organization.  And they were able to do it and accomplish this goal without Brody eating a Volvo on the route.  So, because of them, their two feet and four paws, and the very generous friends who donated money to their cause, they were able to save many dogs in their area.  And, while there are plenty of good things that dogs can do in this world, one the of the greatest goods they can do is to save other dogs.  So way to go Brody and Candice (and a very big happy first birthday today to Brody’s human sister Carly.)

And while saving other pups is a big reason why we recognize Brody we also appreciate his ability to always put a big smile on our faces with links like this one (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/dog_paradox) and this picture.

So thank you Brody for being one of our favorite pups, for doing so much for other dogs, and for having a great pack, including your Mom, her husband Jeff, and adorable babies Carly and Blake.  Now please free Blake.

Foley, Pocket and the Hattie Mae LIne

Last week I got a message from Hattie Mae saying that she had a few dresses that she and Jackie had outgrown, and would Pocket like them.  I didn’t check with Pocket.  I said yes.  Now, I must admit, I did not intend to give them to Pocket.  I was going to turn around and put those suckers on EBay then watch the kibble fall into my bowl.

The box arrived.  I waited anxiously as Mommy and Daddy used scissors, then a knife, then an industrial saw, on the box.  If you ever plan to mail plutonium across the country ask Hattie’s Mom to seal the box.  She is a marvel with tape.  Finally the box was opened.

Pocket stuck her nose in the box looking for what new designs she would receive but I Yorkie butted her out of the way.  “None of these are for you,” I snapped at her.  “These are original designs from Hattie Mae’s closet, we are going to sell them and get rich.”  Pocket tried to tell me this wasn’t why Hattie sent them to us but I had visions of golden kibbles in my eyes.

Pocket pulled out a little red and blue number with her teeth and ran off with it.  “Pocket, bad Pocket, get back here!”  I yelled as she scurried into the bedroom and shut the door.   Well, I could write that dress off.  Dogs would pay big money for a dress worn last by Hattie Mae but no one was wearing anything that was last worn by Pocket.

There were so many outfits that I lined them up from the front door, across the kitchen, and into the spare bedroom.  I began to think how much I could charge for each one.  I called over my lackey Daddy and told him to photograph the outfits and write down the prices.  He told me this was wrong but I gave him my sweet determined Yorkie look and he folded like a poleless tent.  He was snapping the photos when Pocket sauntered out of the bedroom like a brand new dog looking nothing but fine in her Hattie Mae wear.

“Take a picture of her!” I barked to my lackey.  Pocket made a wonderful model for these designs.  A good model could add thousands of kibbles to the price of a design.  I had never known what Pocket’s purpose in life was but now I knew.  She was born to model.

“Try on one of these,” Pocket said to me.  “They make you feel pretty and strut so confidentially.”

I dismissed the idea, then the lackey said to me:  “You should try one on.  If dogs are willing to spend more kibble on a design worn by Pocket how much more would they be willing to spend if it was worn by you?”

The lackey was talking sense.  I picked a halter top with a peace sign and a pretty skirt with a green print.  I went into my kitty condo and tried it on.  Suddenly I felt six years younger.  I came out and both Pocket and Daddy to me how beautiful I looked.  And you know what?  They were right.  I was beautiful.

I decided to keep this one outfit and brought lackey back to take more pictures for E Bay.   Then I saw a beautiful black outfit with little dalmatians sewed on.  It was precious.  I decided to model this one, and when I did I decided to keep it.

Pocket said if I got to keep clothes then she should get to keep clothes too.  I wanted to ignore her, but her clothes were very nice looking too.  Like all sisters I could sneak into Pocket’s kitty condo and steal her outfits.  They look better on me anyway.

I went back to look at the designs.  I couldn’t decide what to keep and what to sell so I decided to keep all of them.  I am not saying I am never going to sell them, but probably only if my Buddha belly keeps getting bigger and I can’t fit into them or they become torn and frayed.  

So let me give a big tip of the tail to Hattie, her little sister Jackie Lynn, who outgrew some of these clothes, and their wonderful Mom who is the world’s best dog clothes designer and seamstress.  You are cherished friends and we love you so much.

We have five pictures below.  We will be posting more.  Maybe we will have a fashion show blog a few times.  Hope you enjoy them.  

Clementine, Holly, and Lots of Other Dogs and Humans in Need of Prayers are Our October 7, 2012 Pups of the Week

I have been very pleased that, in the last few weeks, I have been able to write my Sunday blog about happy stories with healthy dogs.  But, as we all know, we are a delicate species with short life spans compared to our human friends, and it is only a matter of time before one, or more of us, is in need of prayers.

Our first prayer request is for our good friend Clementine.  ,.  She is the leader of such a wonderful pack.  They, like Hattie Mae and her pack, and Sydney and her pack, are our fashion plates.  Clementine’s Mom is a groomer and she is always barking at us with grooming tips.

Clementine,has lost the sight in her right eye.  The poor girl is suffering from inflammation in her eye, a retinal detachment, and has secondary glaucoma in both eyes.  The loss of her eyesight, and what has caused the inflammation, is a mystery.  She will have to go through several tests to determine what has caused her loss of sight.  She now is receiving medication in both eye drop and lubricant form.  It is more likely her Mom will concentrate on keeping her sight in her left eye, as it is likely the retina will detach there too because it is a birth defect common in Cockers.  Her Mom believes it is wiser to try to keep her one eye in working order.  With everything she has to face she certainly is in need of prayers.

The second pup is our friend Lily’s sister Holly.
 Holly has been with her pack a long time. She is 16 years old and, even though she has had some close calls, was still going strong.  Recently Holly began to bleed from her nose.  At first her pack thought she had been nipped by one one her members.  The next time they thought was that she, who has failing eyes, had walked into something.  But the third time, when it was just gushing out of her nose, her Mom knew it was a serious situation.  The vet told her that it was a tumor that was eating away at her nose and the blood vessels contained within.  And then sadly, the biopsy came back positive.  Her Mom is trying to keep her comfortable and has made an appointment with an oncologist to see if there is anything that can be done.  We are asking for prayers for Holly as well.

Sadly, we can only pray for our third dog’s safe passage to the bridge:  Stacey Mae, a dog some of you might know from DS, others from Facebook.  She is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog who had spent her life devoted to humans.  She recently received the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards for Top Therapy dog of the year for her work in nursing homes.  She was a very well known dog on Internet Sites and in her town.  Her life ended tragically when she choked to death on a biscuit.  I can’t imagine the pain her family is going through.  Please pray for them and all those humans she helped her were left behind.
(Picture from Tommy Tunes)

Unfortunately there are more.  Our friend Maya may have had a seizure last night.  She came down stairs to visit family when she began to wobble.  When she got picked up she was trembling.  She was taken outside where she splayed out on the ground.  When she got up she was hunched and very wobbly.  The family rightfully feared a seizure.  As of now, according to vet’s orders, they are monitoring her.  The family needs prayers that there is nothing seriously wrong and that they seizure was an isolated case.

Also our friend Reyah needs prayers.  She has been licking her nether regions and peeing more than usual.  When she was asked to be taken out at 4:30 AM her Mom checked the discharge and it was blood.  She was given a quick Mom physical and cried out when her kidneys were touched so it seems like a kidney infection.  Prayers are needed that this is cleared up easily and painlessly.  

For those of you who know Fitzchen you know he recently went to the bridge.  Now, sadly, his sister Lucy may follow, as she has lymph node cancer.  Please pray that she can have more time with her Mom who just lost her precious Fitz.

Buddy Boy Smith ate a mole the other night.  He is probably going to be fine but I know his Mom is worried about him getting sick from the mole, so add him to our list.

Many of you may not have known of Angel but you might know her Mom Lilly Lawson-Klunder.  She recently had to put down her sweet pup Angel, who had Cushing’s Disease, and she and the pups in the pack are having a hard time since her passing.  Prayers needed all around.

And we cannot forget Jazzy.  Jazzy is being adopted by Angel Star’s family, but after the adoption it was found that she has cancer.  Her new Mom has paid for the surgery.  One doctor says she needs chemo and a second doctor says she needs chemo.  The adoption group will not pay for any of the care but Angel Star’s Mom has not let that stop her.  Jazzy needs big prayers to get to her forever home.

Our close friend Toby, who is in his forever home with Maggie and Pokey, needs prayers because it was recently discovered he has heart worm.  He is going through treatments right now and let’s pray they work.

Willie Nillie is doing well after his last surgery but his leg and life are still in danger as the cancer wraps around his bones and tendons so please don’t forget him.

Finally, Angel Bo’s, Sandy’s, Nikki’s and Bear’s  Mom posted that her only human daughter is very sick in the hospital and is struggling to survive so please pray for her full recovery.

I hope I did not forget a pup, human, or Mom who needs prayers.  If I have please add them.

I know these are a lot of prayers to ask for but they are all needed and they are all members of our family.  so let’s pray hard and send out positive thoughts so they all will survive.

Suzie's Wild Ride

I have grown quite accustomed to being the most famous dog in my city of Taunton Massachusetts.  Pocket is number two.  Orkie the Yorkie three and Neely four and that’s about it.  And let’s face it, I made the other three.  They are bupkus without me.  

But then along came Suzie.  Many of you have heard her story.  She ran out onto a busy street, Route 44 headed towards Providence, called Winthrop Street by the yokels here.  She had to cross a golf course (big deal) and then a busy road (OK, bigger deal.)  This is the type of street where people drive about 60 mph and don’t look anywhere but ahead.

99 times of out 100 Suzie isn’t making it across the street.  And she didn’t.  But she didn’t get squished either.  What happened to her?  Well I have the exclusive interview with her right here:

Foley Monster:  So Suzie, it was a normal day, you were in your yard,  take it from there.

Suzie:  I WAS UNDER THE CAR!  UNDER THE CAR!  IT WAS MOVING!  I WAS UNDER THE CAR!

Foley Monster:  I know that Suzie, I know, you can relax now, you are safe and back with your family, just tell me, slowly, what happened.

Suzie:  WHAT HAPPENED WAS I WAS UNDER THE CAR,!  THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED.  I WAS IN MY YARD, HAVING FUN, FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET UNDER THE FENCE, WENT FOR A RUN, FOUND MYSELF IN THE STREET AND THEN I WAS UNDER THE CAR!

Foley Monster:  Yes, we all know you were under the car, what was it like under a moving vehicle.?

Suzie:  WHAT WAS IS LIKE?  IT WAS LIKE VROOOOOOOOOOMMMM.  IT WAS LIKE FOUR BIG WHEELS OF DEATH.  I WAS UNDER THE CAR!

Foley Monster:  We know, but how did you end up in the grill of the car/

Suzie:  I WAS IN THE STREET AND THE CAR WENT OVER ME AND THEN I WAS UNDER THE CAR!  I ROLLED, AND PART OF THE ENGINE HIT ME AND PUSHED INTO THE AIR AND I LANDED IN  THE GRILL AND THEN I WAS TRAPPED.   UNDER THE CAR!

Foley Monster:  Then what did you do?

Suzie:  WHAT DID IT DO?  I HELD ON TO THE FRACKING GRILL THAT’S WHAT I DID.  I HELD ON AND HOPED SOMEONE WOULD NOTICE ME BUT THEY DIDN’T UNTIL I WAS IN ANOTHER STATE!  NO ONE NOTICES A DOG JAMMED INTO THE FRONT GRILL OF THE CAR?  I WAS UNDER THE CAR!

Foley Monster:  Well Mitt Romney was Governor of our state for six years.

Barak Obama:  I am Barak Obama and I approve this message.

Foley Monster:  I heard you ruptured your bladder during the accident.

Suzie:  I DID NOT RUPTURE MY BLADDER.  IT’S LIKE WHAT BILL COSBY SAID ABOUT HUMANS WEARING CLEAN UNDERWEAR IN CASE THEY ARE IN A CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE IN A CAR ACCIDENT IS SAY I THINK I AM GOING TO.......AND THEN YOU DO IT AND THERE IS NO MORE CLEAN UNDERWEAR AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF YOU ARE UNDER THE CAR!

Foley Monster:  When they discovered you in the grill of the car, it took them a half hour to get you out.  What were you thinking during that time?


Suzie:  I WAS THINKING GET ME OUT FROM UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR!

Foley Monster: Do you feel lucky to be alive?

Suzie:  I FEEL LUCKY TO BE OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR!  I WAS UNDER THE CAR!

Foley Monster:  Have you learned your lesson?  Are you ever going to leave the house again?

Suzie:  LEAVE THE HOUSE?  I’M NOT LEAVING UNDER THE BED.  I’M UNDER THE BED.  UNDER THE BED!