Prince and Rosy are our October 8, 2017 Pups of the Week

When Cappy arrived at Rainbow Bridge, I explained how every part a dog loses, like hearing or vision, reaches the Bridge, and we keep it safe until the day comes when the rest of the dog arrives, and everything becomes whole again.  We got a short black leg this week with no name attached.  I got on the computer and searched my friends, and I learned that leg belonged to my friend Prince.

Poor Prince had contracted cancer and had to lose his leg to keep cancer from spreading and taking his life.  Prince was more than happy make this sacrifice.  Truthfully, we dogs would exist as just a head on top of a beating heart if that meant more time with mom.

Sadly, this sacrifice came with post-surgical pain.  Little Prince lost his front leg and shoulder during surgery.  He did a lot of crying the first few days.  Prince’s mom got his medication increased, but every time she lifted him to help him go potty she hit a sore spot.  Her heart broke for her poor little gentleman.

Three days later Prince had fought through the pain and was standing on his three legs.  The pain had lessened a great deal, and Prince was more relaxed.  A few days later he was walking around the house without pain.  He is going to need prayers as he learns to be a tri-paw, but we are sure this Prince of a Dog will be triumphant.

The second pup we recognize this week came to her new home with the help of a lot of angels.  Rosy, an adorable Lhasa Apso, is now a member of Blogville’s Da Db Boyz joining Arty and Jakey.  

Their parents decided on a Lhasa pup but were disappointed to see how few breeders there were in their area.  Having searched the entire Pacific Northwest the parents were about to give up their search until summer when they extended their search into Utah, Nevada, and Idaho.  The Idaho Pug Ranch’s parents joined in their search, and the Boyz’s angel siblings Dory and Bilbo joined the Pug Ranch’s Angels Bailey and Greta to find the right pup.  

Bailey and Greta found a Lhasa litter in Idaho.   They told Dory and Bilbo, who went to interview the pups to find the right one, and the Pug’s Mom, who emailed Dory’s mom to inform her about the litter.   The Boyz parents traveled to Utah to meet Rosy, her pup, and human parents, and Rosy, after a night at a hotel, arrived home.

Now Rosy has a new forever home, Arty and Jakey have a little sister, their parents will have their hearts rebuilt with the help of this adorable little girl, all thanks to online friends and determined angels.

May Rosy and Prince have lots of days, love, and memories with their pack and parents.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Chloe the Miracle Mountain Dog

This is the story of a 14-year-old-lab-pittie mix named Chloe who, on a hot August day decided to hike up a 14 er Mount Bross, ran into a speck of trouble, and came down six weeks later

Chloe was a mountain dog, and she was experienced in finding her way home.  But she also had gotten older, and her body did not respond the way it used to.  

On this beautiful summer day, Chloe kept going up and up.  She felt young again.  She knew she should turn around but the sun was warm, the scents were heavenly, and time slipped away.  She saw a large rock and knew if she could get on it she could see everywhere.  It took a mighty leap, but Chloe made it.

Here is something about dogs that humans have trouble understanding.  We have tremendous confidence going up, but not so much going done.  Chloe was stranded on a rock in the middle of Nowhere Colorado.

Chloe nervously padded to the side of the rock but her instinct told her if she jumped she would land on the steep slope, her paws would not gain traction, and she would fall into the trees and rocks.  An impulsive dog may get hurt by running in the street or at a wild animal but a pensive dog studies the situation and understands that sometimes it is better to wait even if it is over night.  Or night after night after night.

Her Dad, Larry Osborne expected Chloe to come back from her hike, but one night turned to two, and then a week.  Chloe was an older dog,  there were many wild animals on the mountain, and her dad slowly began to lose hope.

Chloe, through hot days, cold nights, and the rain stayed alive on top of that rock.  She won’t tell me how.  She just believed someone would find her, and day after day she never lost hope as she survived on rainwater and miracles.

Larry owned a Saloon, and he made sure that every one of the town’s 300 people was on the lookout for Chloe but no one saw her.  In late September Larry told his son that Chloe would not be coming home, and the family had a memorial service for her.

Meanwhile, Chloe stayed on the rocks using all she had left.  Her bark.  

Mountain hikers had reported while they were on Mount Bross they heard a dog barking but no one could find the source of the barking.  Trinity Smith and her boyfriend Sean Nichols, who were visiting the area after moving two years earlier, decided to conduct a search.

They searched the mountain all day with no findings but before nightfall, Trinity heard a slight whimpering.  She posted her discovery on Facebook and a Breckenridge resident Mark Whiteside joined her on the mountain.  Unfortunately they did not hear anything the rest of the evening.

A desperate Chloe knew there were humans near, but she was so tired, and thirsty.  Working up a single whimper used all of her energy.  She decided to keep quiet and hope the came nearer.  

Smith and Nichols returned the next day searched for four hours with no success.   The weather turned cold, and clouds covered the sun.  They kept going, calling out for a response.  It started to snow.   They knew if the sound were from a dog he would not survive the storm.  Nichols, exhausted and losing faith, sat down and cried.  

Chloe knew she would not survive the night.  She worked up all the energy she had, and she let out one loud bark.  Nichols heard it and shimmied up the scree field towards the noise.  Chloe found the residual spark to produce more barks.  Nichols kept heading towards the sounds.  Chloe poked her head up, and Nichols saw her stuck on the rock.

Nichols reached the rock and grabbed Chloe.  He held her to his chest, and he slid down the steep chute.  While they were siding Chloe’s collar was ripped off.  

They got Chloe off the mountain and drove to the Al-Mart where Nichols worked.  They were planning to rush Chloe to the vet when one of Nichols’ coworkers said she knew who Chloe belonged to.

The woman found Larry Osborne who was stunned to see Chloe standing next to Nichols.  He broke down when he saw his wonderful friend he was sure had perished six weeks before.   

Chloe was thrilled to see her Dad.  He took her to the vet.  Chloe was very dehydrated and malnourished, her nose had turned white, her coat pale and she suffered a minor injury down the mountain, but otherwise she was fine.  She had lost two-thirds of her body weight but had gained ten pounds back the first weekend living every dog’s dream of being able to eat however much she wanted.

The entire town turned out to celebrate Chloe’s return.  Her Dad said he did not know how she managed to survive.

The truth is that Chloe refused to go to the Bridge and never gave up the belief that she would be found.

That is an essential lesson for dogs and humans.  A lot can be accomplished if you never give up hope.

The Scarett Y by River Song

My Mommy does an incredible job taking care of us.  She inspects every inch of our bodies.  So it was not surprising that she was mad at herself when the groomer told her that I had another ear infection.  Since I got my last infection 12 months ago, Mommy checks my ears after every bath, which happen too frequently.  Two weeks before the grooming she checked and sniffed, and my ears were fine.

When Mommy went to the groomers, she expected to get glowing reports about her own grooming skills.  Instead, the woman handed me over the counter to Mommy, wrinkled her nose in distaste and said “yeast.”

My mother could not believe it was true.  “You must be mistaken; I take such care of her ears.”  The groomer grabbed my ear, pulled it back, and with her other hand she took Mommy’s head, shoved it down to my ear and told her to sniff.  

The woman let go of Mommy’s head.  She looked at the groomer, softly admitted “yeast” and slunk out the door.

The next morning Mommy asked my Dad to call the vet. She did not want to be shamed by having a wear on her clothing a giant Y  for yeast on her dress and be shunned in public.  The last time I had an infection our old vet gave me a thorough examination and charged $150.00.  Who knew what this vet would charge for a second offense?

The vet tech told Daddy that she would check my records.  She called back and told him that he could come in and pick up medicine for me.  Since I had a full examination two months earlier another one was not needed.  Mommy and I both sighed in relief.

When Daddy picked up the medicine, the vet tech told him that she thought it was a seasonal allergy and was not anyone’s fault.  That made Mommy feel better.  As hard as Mom’s try they cannot stop an allergy.

So for the next two weeks, I get drops which I don’t like, and ear rubs, which I like a lot.  I have not been in pain, so this entire incident has been more something I have witnessed then taken a part of.   

I just want the yeast out of my ears to make my Mom happy and to make sure she never has to wear a big Y.

Wordless Wednesday

Beat This Caption

Where is that damn woman and the food?

Mondy Question

I don't want to embarrass anyone but are there any poop eaters here?

Pocket:  Oh yes, I have been a poop eater my entire life  I am a poop-a-holic.  My parents have to be fast on the pickup.

River Song:  No, I am a lady, and I can't beat Pocket to the poop.  

Cappy is our October 1, 2017 Pup of the Week

This week our friend Mama Jackie Ross had her heart light go out when her senior rescue dog Cappy gave up her long fight to stay with her mom.   Despite Cappy's slowly fading body she struggled to stay on the mortal side for as long as she could.  Cappy arrived here at Rainbow Bridge accompanied by huge clouds filled with her mom’s, and our parents’ tears, and many angel hugs from her friends who came here before her.

Some dogs arrive at Rainbow Bridge, and other pups like Cappy arrive a little at a time.  First, her vision appeared, and we put it in the house where she would be living.  After that, her hearing came, and we put it in the same place.  A short time later we got the muscles that made her back legs move.  Little by little more parts arrived until Cappy passed over, was reunited with the body parts she had lost and was whole and young again.

Before that day came Cappy, her mom, and Dr. Steve tried very hard to keep Cappy on the mortal side.  Cappy got a special diet, which she gratefully ate.  She had control over her bodily functions.  But time was against her. Her back legs were failing her sight and hearing were gone, and each day the burden of life became a little harder to carry.

The most difficult thing for her mom was knowing that there was nothing she could do.  But she still found it in her heart to do the most important things.  She kept Cappy comfortable, pampered her, left work early to spend more time with her, and let her know every second of her mortal life that she was loved.

The biggest change in the dog world since I was born is the ability of angels to prepare dogs for what will happen when they become immortal.  Cappy arrived knowing all the steps she needed to become an angel and quickly get to her duties watching over her mom, visiting her in her dreams, even if her mom won't remember it, borrowing the body of a flying creature to visit her mom in another form, and being a ghost, that vaguely seen thing in the corner of her mom’s eyes, or that unexplained noise in the middle of the night.

Mama Jackie may not be able to hear Cappy’s heart still softly beating in their home, but the connections between their heart will never be severed.  

All of us turn to dust someday, but the love lasts forever.