Yappy Birthday to Me!

Today I'm 5 years old... WOW! Can you believe it? So much has changed since I was a pup. I moved from Georgia to New Jersey and found a home. I've been to all sorts of classes, on lots of long walks and hikes, taken a vacation or two, learned some agility, and got a baby brother.

I also found Dogster, and have made so very many wonderful pals. Thanks to all of you for your friendship, love, support, and for sharing your knowledge, experience, joys, and stories with me and my mom.

Here's hoping the next 5 years are as wonderful as my first. I look forward to spending them with you all!

Wags,
- Sydney

PS - if you're wondering, mom and I had fun at the race on Saturday. We finished in the middle of the pack (mom's slow) and the weather was perfect: cool, with no sun, so I didn't overheat and didn't have to wear any stupid sunscreen. There's a photo of us from the race... you can barely see me b/c I'm behind the other lady's leg, but that was me and mom "making our move". As they took that photo we were passing the other lady - we zoomied past them and sprinted the rest of the way to the finish line. WHEEE!!!!!

RACE DAY!

Well, we haven't been training as much as in years past, but tomorrow is... RACE DAY! Mom and I will be running in the annual Hounds and Harriers 5K race, raising funds for St. Hubert's Animal Shelter.

Each year this race raises over $10,000 to help homeless animals, promote animal welfare, and perform animal-related community outreach. Plus it is lots of fun! They have a Paws From The Past race, for senior pups who can't run the whole race any more, and special awards for different categories including small dog, large dog, rescue/shelter dog, etc. And hoomans can't run in the race unless they have a doggy running partner. How cool is that?!?!

And this year (for the first time!) Daddy is going to come watch us race, along with baby Colin! The only downer is that there's a good chance it will be raining tomorrow. Mom and I don't care, but that won't be much fun for daddy and Colin.

Here's hoping for no rain tomorrow, and another successful fundraising event.

Gotta run (BOL!!!!!)

Wags,
- Syd

Better than Lassie

This morning mom was up, rushing around as usual, trying to do three things at once. She got up, emptied the dishwasher while making coffee, got dressed while coffee was brewing. Took me outside while the toast was cooking. Held and comforted the baby while setting out her vitamins... all the usual chaos. Then she sat down to feed the baby and eat her breakfast.

Mom's breakfast was coffee and toast with soybutter, plus her vitamins. (Soy butter is like peanut butter, but safe for my daddy who is allergic to peanuts.) The baby was nursing, and mom had taken about 2 bites of her breakfast when... *gaak* *gaak-gakk* *GAAAK* ... mommy was choking. Not just a little sputtering and coughing, but really truly choking. She could cough out a teeny bit, but a blob of soy-butter-toast was stuck in her throat and she couldn't get any air in. None at all.

I ran upstairs as fast as I could and did my best to wake daddy up. I made sure that I let him know how urgent it was... not my usual "I kinda have to pee" way of waking him up, but frantic. I couldn't get daddy to wake up, but thankfully mom made it to the kitchen and was able to get some water and clear her throat. But she was scared. Really, truly terrified.

It wasn't until mom went upstairs and explained what happened to daddy that he realized what I had been trying to do. I was trying to get daddy to come and help save mommy! Mom was so impressed she said I was like Lassie, but daddy said "No, Syd is better than Lassie!"

So just in case you were wondering... I"m better than Lassie. WOW! That is the best compliments daddy has ever given me. I'm so proud!!

Wags, from the pup who is "better than Lassie"
- Sydney

Dairy of the Day!!!

What a great week... my furless brother Colin is doing great after his surgery, I got to go down to Philadelphia on Sunday, and now... dear readers... I'm a DAILY DIARY PICK!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!

A little more detailed info: Baby Colin has pretty much been his usual self since the surgery. If it weren't for me not being allowed to lick his face I'd never remember about it!!!

Although we did have a little scare on Sunday. We were down in Philiadelphia, and Grammy Lulu was watching the boy while mom and dad went for a run. (They kindly left me home in the air conditioning, as it was 87 degrees out. Too hot for me!!!!) It all started out so perfect, especially since they have.... *SIGH* wall to wall carpet. I just LOOOOOVE carpeting. I was running back-and-forth and back-and-forth, and stretching, and luxuriating in the lovely springy bounciness of it all.

Anyway, after their run mom took a shower and was about to come back downstairs when she heard crying. Baby Colin had bumped his lip and it was bleeding. Just a teeny bit, but everyone was panicking. Grammy Lulu was nearly in tears b/c she was holding him when it happened, Grandpa was reassuring everyone that "blood has clotting factors" (he's a scientist... and brilliant, but silly sometimes), mommy just held the baby trying to calm him down, and daddy finally told everyone to STOP panicking. Which was really good b/c I was freaked out about how everyone was behaving. It was so upsetting that I hid under the buffet in the dining room, then moved under the desk. There was just too much chaos and anxiety for my taste! They called the doctor, b/c the hospital said to call if they saw any fresh blood, but when the doctor heard what happened he reassured everyone that there was no reason to worry. PHEW!!!!

So then we got to relax, and I was able to come out from under the desk and denjoy the carpeting for a few more hours which was really the highlight of my week. Until today. When I found out I was diary of the day. WOO HOO!!!! Thanks Dogster HQ for picking me!!!!

Gotta go celebrate - happy diary day to y'all!!!

Wags,
- Sydney

My Baby (furless) Brother

Just a short note... my baby furless brother Colin had surgery today to fix his lip. Mom says the surgery went well, but... can you believe it... I can't give him lickies for a while!!!!!!!!!!!!! The poor little guy - no wonder he keeps crying!

I don't know how long mom is going to enforce the "no lickies" policy, but I guess if baby Colin has to heal for a while I can try to be patient.

Thanks to everypup who said pawrayers for us!!!

Wags,
- Syd

CLUNK!!!

So, in case I haven't mentioned it, I LOVE being a big sister, and I adore my new little furless brother. I keep a close eye on him, and if he cries I run to check on him. If mom doesn't respond quickly enough I run back and forth from mom to baby Colin until she gets the hint. And when he is in his little chair and cries I run over to him and lick-lick-lick him until he's fixed!

Well... this morning mom got up and went into the bathroom and I followed as usual. I'm not getting as much sleep as I used to, so I laid down on the tiles. Seriously - I wasn't being lazy, just catching a quick nap. We weren't in there 2 minutes when the baby started crying... and... I jumped up so fast I hit my head on the bathroom cabinet - CLUNK! But I was so focused I didn't stop for a moment, just ran to the door and waited to be let out so I could go check on the little baby to make sure he wasn't broken.

Mom gave me extra pets, which made me feel a little better, and then we both went to check on the baby and helped him to stop crying.

You just have to love a story with a happy ending!!!

Wags,
Sydney, the tired but happy big sister.

I rescued a human today

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more need to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

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Thanks to my pal Daisy (http://www.dogster.com/dogs/933782) who shared this lovely thought today.

I HAVE A LITTLE BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom will provide more details later, but for now I just wanted to tell everypup that my baby brother arrived on Sunday afternoon! His name is Colin. More details to come.....

I overheard mommy saying...

If I Didn't Have a Dog... or Cat...

I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair. It wouldn't sound like a kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies needs to be comfortable.

I would have money and no guilt to go on a real vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians as I put their grand kids through college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no and stay.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

I would not talk 'baby talk' 'eat your din din' 'yummy yummy for the tummy'..

My house would not look like a day care center with toys everywhere.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, R-I-D-E?

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having one pet ties them down too much.

I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading 'mud' season.

I would not have to answer the question 'Why do you have so many animals' from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.

How empty my life would be.

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Isn't she a good mommy???

Wags, from an appreciated pup
- Sydney

Sooooo tired...

What a fun day today was!!! Mom took me for a 4-mile walk, and on the walk I saw three other doggies. The first one was a 4-month old GSD, who was exactly my size and just wanted to play-play-play! Then we walked some more and I was kinda stressed out (just my usual freak-out because there were people around that I didn't know). Then I got to see a miniature Yorkie, who probably weighed about a pound and barked and barked at me, but was kinda cute and fun. Then after that I got to meet a doggy who was rescued from St. Maarten and brought here to have a wonderful life in her fur-ever home. She was really timid at first, but eventually wanted to play.

Then when we got home I thought I would just snooze the rest of the day, but mom and dad went to go look at houses and I got to go along for the ride. Which was fun 'cause I love the car, but still tiring.

Now I'm so exhausted that when mommy went upstairs I didn't even follow her. Daddy was worried that there might be something wrong, but there isn't... I'm just sooooo tired.

In fact, I'm so tired I have to go to bed... right... now...

sleepy wags,
- Syd