Sandy is our June 22, 2014 Pup of the week

One of the most valued traits most appreciated in pups is patience.  When I lived on the mortal side of the River I was known for my patience.  I never barked for food,or  to go out, or when I wanted to play.  I would just sit quietly and wait for my parents to finish what they were doing then be grateful when they gave me attention.  If my Mom remembers differently just remember that studies done by the mice scientific institute at the Bridge show that humans lose 15% of their memory each year so she is wrong.

I mention patience because for the last three weeks I have wanted to use my Sunday blog to recognize my friend Sandy but with the crossing over of Brooklyn and Susie and Nathan’s urgent need of a home Sandy had to wait.  Now that Nathan is settling into his new home it is time to tip my tail to Sandy.

Our friend Sandy has always been a very active chap.  His favorite activity is chasing squirrels, although any vermin, or even his siblings if its a low vermin day, will do.  A few years ago Sandy threw us quite a scare when he injured his knee requiring surgery.  But ever the champ Sandy recovered quickly, and soon was his old self, zooming across the world.

A few weeks ago Sandy tore the ACL in his other leg, and friends, this was not good.  Sandy is 12, and the doctors had their concerns, firstly being that any time a “senior” dog needs to undergo anesthesia there is a risk, and secondly, since Sandy already had suffered an injury to the other leg, it was unknown if that leg would be able to support his post weight surgery.  After much discussion the surgery was performed successfully (the surgeon’s hand guided by hundreds of pup and parents’ prayers) and Sandy once again came through like a trooper.

He was in the hospital for a full seven days and all of us angels went down and spent a night with him so he would not be lonely.  He got home, and even though he was working on less than one properly performing back leg he still wanted to rush out the door to go vermin hunting.

Sandy has a long slow recovery ahead of him this time.  He is going to need puppy prayers to help him recover so if you have them to offer please do.  There are plenty of vermin out there that need to be hunting.

We know you are patient Sandy, so keep being patient about being a patient and soon you will be back hunting down those vermin.

There’s just too many of the without you.  

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.

Bear is our May 13, 2012 Pup of the Week

On March 4, 2012 we recognized a dirty, wet, black dog who was abandoned by his family during a storm and left to die then had to depend on the kindness of strangers to survive. Well now that black dog has a name, Bear, and a new home with those kind neighbors, Sandy, Maggie, Nikki and their wonderful parents.

After his parents returned, over more than two months this beautiful black baby was further mistreated, left alone, left outside, covered in ticks and fleas. Whenever he saw Sandy’s parents he would give them that pleading look, but instead of begging for a treat this poor baby was begging for a home.

Sandy’s Daddy kept knocking on the neighboring door telling the bad parents that they obviously didn’t care for the dog and to just surrender him to a family that would love him and each time they were met with a curt no. Sandy’s Daddy would then sit and pull ticks off the black dog who looked up at him begging for love.

Finally, after watching Bear have one too many close calls while chasing cars Sandy’s Dad gathered all his kibbles together and went next door, threw them at the black dog’s owners and was declared the new owner of the black dog. There was an exchange of paper work too which is a very smart thing to do for humans.

As soon as he was in his proper home he got his name, Bear, after one of our most popular dogs, now at the bridge. He got to play the zoom game running around the yard with Nikki. He got a flea and tick bath to get rid of all those parasites. And he even got to sit on a human’s bed.

Despite some initial diva dog attitude from Nikki Bear settled into his new home, no more fleas, no more ticks, just good loving and a good home. Oh, except for that vet trip.

First came the leash. The newly named Bear had never worn a leash before and when he got attached to it he rolled over on his back and refused to move. His new Mom coaxed him into the car and he finally found out what was in them and that they really weren’t worth all that trouble chasing them.

There were lots of things done that never been done before. Poking, prodding, listening, sticking something where? There? He did have worms, but not serious worms, and got medicine for that, and he did have a skin infection from years of ticks and fleas but outside of that he was one healthy dog.

There will be yucky medicine, and some nipping and fighting, but Bear is no longer the nameless, cold, wet dog. He is Bear. A member of the pack. And he has been saved by a great family. And on this Mother’s Day we should recognize a Mom who has taken in Nikki, and Bear, while providing a great home for Sandy and Maggie. So happy new home Bear and happy Mother’s Day to one of the best Mom dogs in the world.

A scared, wet black dog is our March 4, 2012 Pup of the Week

We are here to honor a wet, scared dog who lives next door to our friends Sandy, Maggie and Nikki and their wonderful parents.

On Friday their home got attacked by the weather demons.  Rain fell in vicious, skin cutting sheets.  Lightning lit up the sky so constantly a minor league baseball game could have been played without a single light bulb..  The wind howled with such intensity that earth bound squirrels took flight.  Hail slammed to the ground like Angry Birds gone mad.  The moon held water and the clouds swirled towards the ground looking to create a destructive path unconcerned with life, limb or property.  The only thing pups and parents could do was to get to the low ground and pray.  Sandy, Maggie, Nikki and their parents were doing exactly that when they noticed their neighbors, who live in a camper, hightailing it out of their wheeled abode.  Then they noticed the fleeing family’s pup abandoned, chasing them down the road.

The poor pup almost gets clipped by other drivers searching for higher ground.  Our terrific trio of pups’ Dad tried to cal the scared dog,, who had retreated to his yard, separated from their yard by a fence.  The scared dog would come to the edge of the fence, peer around, then retreat when brave Daddy took a step towards him.   Then ferocious Mom went out, into the storm.  She sat in the driveway, sweetly calling the scared dog, trying to get him to shelter.   Finally, he recognized what a sweet Mommy was like, and he came around the fence to her.  The scared, wet dog came to the brave, wet woman, and sat between her legs.  Her gave her sweet kisses than laid on his back on the wet driveway to be rubbed.  Once she gained the scared dog’s confidence she put food and water under the porch where she knew he would be safe and the dog climbed underneath happily.

Nikki, Sandy, and Maggie were very proud of their Mom, even though, before this incident, they had sent mutual snaps and growls across the fence.  And everyone knew Angel Bo had been next to the scared dog, softly whispering in its ear, saying it was safe, go to her.  Thankfully everyone was safe from the terrible storm.

When his humans returned the dog went back to his family.   The next day the Mom of Nikki, Sandy and Maggie, now known as Lea, Warrior Princess, went over to confront the owners who left their dog behind.  The dog’s human said that he was more interested in saving his family not his dog.  Lea, Warrior Princess told them that was a terrible attitude.  It then devolved into an argument about if the frightened pup comes into their yard too often starting problems with Nikki, Sandy and Maggie.  The scared pup’s Daddy said “so what if he does?”

We are surrounded by so many great pup owners we forget how many terrible ones there are.  There have been several humans who feel they should rescue this dog from his terrible owners, but these are his humans, and we are dogs, and while we may be mistreated, we still love our humans, because that’s why we’re here.

I do know a little bit about what this dog went through.  Sometimes my Mommy rolls over and takes most of the blankets.  Pocket tells me it’s not the same thing. *Shrugs*  But no matter her blanket hogging tendencies I still love my Mom.  

So this is to Nikki, Maggie, Sandy, Angel Bo and one wet lonely dog.  And to Aunt Lea, Warrior Princes.  You did all Moms proud.

Summer Grace and Sandy are our December 19, 2010 pups of the week

During my many hours of surfing the Internet searching for all things pertinent to pups I read several postings that professed the loss of a limb for a dog was not as traumatic as the loss of a limb for a human.  To this I say Chihuahua chitlins.  Can some hooman produce a list of three legged dogs they have interviewed on this subject?  Did one of these pup experts appear on Larry King?  Has Larry every said:  "Let's go to Hattie Mae in Fredericksburg?"

This month two of our very good friends, Summer Grace and Sandy both needed operations that turned them temporarily into three legged pups.

Beautiful Summer had been suffering from knee problems for some time now.  Then on Thanksgiving her other knee went (hold on, I need to look up the proper medical term) kaflooey.  Plus, to add insult to injury, she also had to go on a diet so she wouldn't gain weight while she was immobile.  Gosh, if you can't run and play, at least they can do is let you eat.

While on the Tanner Brigade injured reserve list (she is listed as doubtful for Sunday) and awaiting surgery her house was invaded by three other pups, and while she made fast friends with them, as she does with everyone, the young pups high energy level caused her Mom a great deal of worry.  Then came the big day and Mommy did everything to make her ordeal as bearable as possible even packing her favorite bwanky.  (Some Mommies may not know this but us dogs really appreciate things like this.)

Summer had to spend a night at the vets.  When she got home she was told no puppy activity for four to six weeks and she had to poop on a leash.  Let me tell you, with four good legs, getting enough slack to get the leash on the ground, positioning it behind you, squatting over it, and hitting it with your poop is hard enoughs.  On two legs it is down right impossible. 

Luckily Summer was given some nice drugs, not from the kind of dealer that mishandle your Christmas cards but from nice ones.  They made her sleepy, they made her want to spend all her time of her blue bwanky, but she still manged to poop on her leash.  Bazinga!

Plus they gave her a Brazilian.  I am all for providing health care relief the first responders to the 9/11 tragedy but who will speak for the three legged, forced dieting, pooping on leashes, bared whowho dogs out there in the world?

Her ingenious Mom began asking her friends about how to aid Summer in walking and soon she was able to hop around on her front legs while having her back legs held up.  She also got to eat green beans and pumpkin.  This may sound gross but it has allowed her to increase the power of the only weapon a three legged, Brazilian shaved, dog can wield:  Farts.  Her farts were so deadly it drove the three visitors from her house.  

Then her Mommy bought her the best gift a dog could ever have:  A fart fan.  Now she could have the wonderful smell of farts without having to produce them herself.  It was a Fesitvus miracle.  Soon Summer was getting around the house, and even in the computer room where she could communicate with us.

As Summer was going through her ordeal Sandy faced the same ordeal but by different circumstances:  He was attacked by Bambi's butt.  Bambi must somehow have access to the secret Tanner Brigade blogs.  The doe learned how to fire projectiles out her butt MacDougal style.  Sandy dove out of the way and heard something go pop in his knee.

Now poor Sandy was facing the same surgery that Summer had.  But just like Summer he came through it bravely.  And like Summer he got a Brazilian but I don't think male dogs can get a Brazilian.  Maybe he got a Colombian.  Whatever it was damn cold.  He did have an advantage poor Summer did not have.  While Summer only had her Mom as a nurse maid Sandy had Maggie and Bo.  The biggest threat he faced was his Mom drowning him with kisses.

Sandy got his staples out first and his mother was trained in physical therapy.  Or was she?  While she carefully worked his leg it hurt Sandy and he snapped at her.  Who to blame?  Mom?  Sandy?  No the bad trainers and Pocket and I are scratching at the bit waiting to be able to sue the butt thermometers off of them.

Sandy is already back to running around the fastest three legged dog in America.  Summer has some more rivers to cross.  She is going to have another surgery.  Hopefully, after that, she will be as good as new.  But of these pups have shown bravery above and beyond the dog call of duty.

Ans that is why Summer Grace and Sandy are our pups of the week.

Foley creates scene at Video Doggy Awards

As you may imagine, my sister Foley has spent most of the day upstairs on her blanket, barely sticking her head out the bedroom door as the press waits anxiously for a statement with their satellite trucks blocking my view of the kitties lying on the gazebo in the sun.

I don’t know where things went so horribly wrong. We were all having such a good time, sailing on the Kennedy yacht, peeing on the poop deck, pooping on the pee deck. And then came Sunday.

We had been waiting for Sunday for so long. It was the VDA’s: The Video Doggy Awards. We all got dressed up in our finest. Hattie Mae wore the most brilliant dress, Chelsea and Ashton had on their Red Raiders jerseys, everyone agreed Taabatha was stunning and Zoe was her usual graceful self.

The show opened with moving tributes to the Bubs, Tanner and Sophie, then another tribute to our wonderful friend Teddie Bond, and when Morgan came out to deliver an award we gave our little miracle man and sit up and stay ovation.

Hobo Hudson hosted the show in his usual erudite manner bringing down the house when he asked. “How many DS executives does it take to change a light bulb? Trick question: None of the bulbs can be changed because all the threads have been closed.”

Then it was my time to take the stage. I had been chosen to present best performance by a Lollipop in a video. The favorite was Ladybug at sunset but in an upset Sandy's Maggie and the water hose won

Sandy was so stunned and happy to win. She put her paws around the microphone and began to bark when suddenly, from across the stage came Foley, and this time she had her full Monster on.

She grabbed the mike out of Sandy’s hands and began to bark. “I’m sorry to interrupt you Sandy but I just wanted to say that Ladybug had one of the greatest videos of all time, it had the lake, and the sunset, it was beautiful.” I nipped her in the ear and nosed her off the stage as our doggy friends began to howl in anger.

Sandy seemed shaken through the rest of her speech, and later that night, when Lady Bug won best video, she graciously brought Sandy up on the stage with her. Foley, of course, saw none of this, was she was sleeping under the podium.

Sadly, I knew the truth. While out on the ocean pretending to be Kennedys Foley became a little too much like one, and got her full drunk on. While she does love both Sandy and Ladybug, she had been upset about Ladybug being sick and wanted to speak up for her friend.

A little while ago my sister gave me this statement:

“I would like to apologize to my friends, to Sandy, to Ladybug, to everyone for my actions Sunday night. I had never tasted a Cape Codder before and never should have had twelve bowls. I was in an impaired state when I took the microphone from Sandy and I am currently under my Mommy’s observation for exhaustion.”

I know my sister is, according to all the veterinary records, a bitch, but she is a bitch to everyone, so please find it in your heart to forgive her. A five-pound dog should never have twelve bowls of Cape Codders and then be given a live microphone.

I have to go, I have Jay’s people on line two about tomorrow night’s show.