Sashi is one of my special needs Stargazers. Due to the appearance and growth of a soft tissue sarcoma on her left wrist, she had her left leg amputated in February of this year. The mass first appeared three years ago at a time when Sashi was still running in harness at the age of 9 years. Her doctor debrided the mass twice and this year it became time for Sashi to become a tripawed. Post surgery, her athleticism paid off, as she slowly healed and developed a new hop to her step. Quite amazing really, how she adapted almost immediately, hopping into the car and up five steps upon her arrival home after the surgery. Sashi has always been a firecracker, born close to the 4th of July. Her debut at Stargazer came following an illicit feast on a couple dozen chickens, a trip to the county shelter, and a short visit at another foster home where she terrorized the owner's dogs. She was an escape artist, and had to be tethered while acclimatizing at Stargazer. That and the fact that I had about a dozen hens myself. In her running years, Sashi was not a lead dog, as her downfall was the sniff and pee syndrome. She was a great team dog, running with many partners over the years. Full of personality and playfulness, losing a leg has not diminished her spirit. She is one of the last of what I call the originals and along with Bella she goes back to the early days of my Siberian Husky joy. Siberians are not generally snugglers, and Sash is no different in that way. Earlier days, she would holler at me if I inadvertently touched her or loved on her. These days, she follows me around and lays near me. She still roughhouses with the boys and lets them know who is boss. Sashi is a true Siberian and is always a Champion of My Heart.
Monday, May 27, 2024
Foxfire Bellatrix of Stargazer Bella Champion of the Heart 2024
Foxfire Bellatrix of Stargazer, Bella, Belle, or Belle Belle as she is known by her friends, which are many. Bella is one of the "Sweeties." the group of dogs that came out of a terrible puppy mill situation 17 years ago outside of Leavenworth, WA. There were fifty plus puppies that were saved, some were not. There have been a couple reunions over the years, and this will be the last. Bittersweet for the Sweeties. Best dogs ever. I first saw Bella at my friend Gail Robert's home in early January of 2008. Winter in Plain meant several feet of snow on the ground and buildings. Gail has been a rescue angel for decades and there were a couple dozen of these puppy mill pups racing around in her yard in early dark. A carousel of movement and play. Whizzing by, every so often was this bundle of red wooly energy. I fell in love immediately and said that is the one for me. Gail had named her Dora after Dora the Explorer, as one time she had spotted Belle up on her garage roof , accessed by all the snow on the ground. When Dora came home, I changed her name to Bella as in Adorabella and then her fancy name became Foxfire Bellatrix of Stargazer. I had rescued another pup just a couple weeks before and thought the two girls might be friends. LOL The first thing this spicy redhead did upon meeting sweet little Aurora, was sneer at her and growl.They did become friends over a lifetime. Belle had a bad underbite and when she first visited my vet, many teeth had to be pulled and I have always teased my vet about pulling all of Belle's teeth. Bella was never a sled dog. She would get excited when seeing the harness and had about a half mile of full out running, but then would slow to a trot and then a walk. Just not physically put together right for running. She did love to carry a pack and was my hiking pal for years, always out in front of any other dogs, straight on down the trails. Bella has always kept her independence and adventurous personality, generally preferring to be outside. She has always enjoyed vitality and is still a good eater, an indicator of her health. At almost 17 years, she sleeps most of the day, but is interested in what is going on around her, gets up at the sound of the microwave as it heats up a pill pocket, checks out things in the house and wanders about the yard, when I carry her outside. Normally, she would be sporting her wooly coat, now bleached out from years of laying in the direct sunlight, but we shaved her in April, after a scary event, in which she became overheated and stressed. As you can see, these pups had good genetics despite their awful beginning which has helped them be resilient and live long lives. Bella is one of the most special dogs I have ever called mine and I love that at 17 years she is finally receiving her Champion of the Heart Rosette.
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Daisy
Thursday, November 19, 2015
The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter Unfolds
~Doctor Who
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Running with Our Own Kind
Running With Our Own Kind
Monday, August 25, 2014
The Empty Bowl
Lined up in military perfection, aligned in order with how they will be stacked and delivered to the hungry occupant of crate or kennel. Seventeen of those bowls will be delivered to the house dogs in their crates, twelve will go to the yard dogs in their kennels. Prior to the laying out of bowls, preparations began with the kenneling and crating of the dogs. This activity is accompanied by a great cacophony of howling, wooing, whining, barking, and anxious hunger sounds. Often, the dogs are given a cookie to crate or kennel up, so most of them eagerly move to their appointed places. Stargazers are not required to be silent at feeding time, so guests who happen to be present at this ritual, are warned, "that it will get noisy." Prior to the kibble hitting the bowl, pills must be doled out. Some time ago, I dispensed with the idea of wrapping the pills in some tasty treat, as the ever so smart Siberian soon figures out how to unwrap the pill and eat the tasty. Throw the pills in the bowl for some, and hand give the others. Daisy, my IBD dog, takes 5 potassium, 1/2 magnesium, 1 Pepcid twice a day plus prednisone every 48 hours. She springs off the couch, on to the crate top, where I stuff the pills in one by one, followed by a cookie. Daisy and I know the routine. Sparky, my 14 year old patriarch, fondly known as Snarly Growl Face, receives one half of a Carprofen, for his old joints. My favorite is never friendly about taking his pills, but does like the after treat. Throughout we are being serenaded by the sounds of the Siberian choir at full decibel. Especially, once they hear me open the pill jars. Very fine tuned ears, these Siberians. Next, the door opens to the dog food room, and the pitch jumps dramatically. Several types of food, filling the needs of all the special needs dogs. As the food clatters into the metal bowls, anticipation grows. I turn on the kitchen faucet, fill up the pitcher with hot water and add to the bowls of food. Adding fluids is good for the dog, and slows down the inhaling of the chow. At least I like to think it does. Who knows what the dogs think? Probably, more food, less water, Sue.
This is a routine practiced religiously, day after day, month after month, year following year. I like doing this, feeding my friends, placing their bowls down for them, filling their needs. I love their individual voices, and I especially love the dead quiet that follows meal time. At least for an instant, until some anxious soul starts to sing the "dinner's over, I want out," song.
I have a pattern in my head and on the ground of how those bowls are laid out, and on it continues, until the awful day, when one of the dogs, in the case of this story, my girl Cloudee, has suddenly and violently left this Earth. What happens at feeding time? The pattern is wrong, the names in my head no longer match the battered silver bowls. What has happened to regular? Everything is wrong, out of place, the pattern has broken. Where is Cloudee's bowl? It is now the Empty Bowl in the dish drainer, never to be filled again as Cloudee barks in her double beat sing song bark, waiting to eat in the front of her kennel she has shared with her brother Wyatt, since they came to Stargazer in 2008. Cloudee died suddenly, or rather I had to have her put down, a very profound phrase, which means being the instrument of your friend's death. Most likely Cloudee had Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia and Immune Mediated Thrombo Cytopenia. Her gums became pale, she was bleeding somewhere, she became paryalyzed, was rushed to the vet, and then she was gone, in a matter of a few hours. My dear friend, whom I had spent weeks in settling and earning her trust when she first arrived at Stargazer with Wyatt. Cloudee was a lead dog, loved to run in harness, and with time and love, had become comfortable and trusting, no longer running and hiding when approached by a human.
That night of Cloudee's death, my heart broke, as I saw the Empty Bowl waiting to be filled. Never again. The pattern had shifted, my friend was gone, and now there were only twenty eight bowls on the sunset tiled kitchen island.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Flowing, like water.
Brigit is my model for today. Already, she is beginning to flow in a new direction, as routine, food, kindness become part of her new paradigm. This is not the world of clicker, or command, or authority. This is the world of flow, and of zen, and of dog. The dog world, of taking the moment, and being in it 100 per cent.