Lucy's final days

My husband and I put Lucy down yesterday afternoon. Lucy had been going through chemo for Lymphoma since September 2008. She had gone into remission after the first treatment. In January, the 16 week protocal was completed and we stopped treatment. About three weeks ago the cancer came back and we started a rescue treatment of CCNU.

Over the weekend she began refusing food, throwing up and doing diarehha. We even tried penut butter, sardines, gizzards, rice... and she wouldn't eat. She became very lethargic. Yesterday morning I took her in first thing and Dr Chris said she was in liver failure. Her tummy was becoming bloated because of fluid retention, her eyes and gums were yellowing. Dr Chris said that we could do treatment for her but there's no gaurentee it would work. And, her lymphnods never went back down so there really wasn't that much hope for quality of life. He also said if we did the treatment to repair the liver, we probably wouldn't be able to do the CCNU treatment for the Lymphoma anymore because it would wipe her out again so there'd be nothing left to do. Dave and I had made the agreement, with Lucy and the vet, that if she were to start suffereing, it would be time.

The last few days were hard. Lucy spent most of the time in her crate or just lying around. Dave did get her out in the garage Sunday night on the tie out and she chased her favorit toy. But by this morning, she had no desire to do even that. Though she did sleep in bed with us that one final night. Neither of us thought the news would be so bad on Monday. She didn't even say goodbye to the boys. I knew she was bad but didn't realize how bad it had got.

My heart just aches. We'll miss her a lot.

I cant say enough at how wonderful the Lake Geneva Vet Staff was. They even offered to do it outside since Lucy and I were waiting for Dave for 3 hours while he finished a job. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful June morning. We ended up opting for inside. Dr Chris always put up with all our phone calls and our countless questions. I'm glad we did what we did for Lucy. She was our wonderful little girl and we'll miss her always.

Love Tags

Ok so I haven't been giving dogster enough attention these days because ahhh we have no time. But these love tags are so fun.

I tagged

Takoda~ Takoda's mom and dad rescued me from Wichita, KS and brought me all the way to their home so a transport from Free Spirit Siberian Rescue could pick me up. When I was at the rescue, I fell in love with Iggy and my mom and dad adopted me. If it weren't for Takoda's mom and dad I'd have made an all to soon exit from this life! We are forever in her debt.

Riley~ Riley and company are just a great group of people who love us four legged babies. And to couple w/what Riley's mom said, mom feels like she didn't do enough for Gypsy and wished she could've done more. She wishes she could just quit her full time job and work on rescue forever because there's just so much help that's needed.

Kennitt~ Kennitt's mom has always offered wonderful advice on Siberian Husky's and it's such a treat when she used to jump into the forums. It's great to have her on Dogster and to always know she's just an email away!

No Vacation and Iggy's knee

Ok. So..we're not going on vacation. Bummer, I know. But daddy is very practical and just said that we have to wait and pay some bills off before going anywhere...even if it is for just a few days. And they probably did the right thing anyway because, in case you didn't read on Iggy's page, on Thursday night when Mommy and Daddy got home from work, he was limping on his right leg...that WAS his good leg. Well, it was time for his rabies shot and stuff anyway so Mommy took him to the vet Saturday morning. I was so irrated that I didn't get to go too and whinned and whinned and whinned. But dady kept me company and gave me lots of treats..YUM! I sat by the door waiting for them to come back and I was so happy when they came home.

Iggy was excited to see me too but he and mommy were sad because the vet said that he did tear his other cruciate ligamet so they have to do surgery..again. So it's schedualed for not this Tuesday but next. Mom and dad are also talking about getting him an ortho-bed to sleep on and possibly getting some kind of xpen because Iggy just hates the crate so much. So, it's probably a very good thing that they decided not to go on vacation because these surgeries aren't cheep.

In other news, a new big black thing ended up on the deck today. Mommy and Daddy got it off this truck and I don't know what it is, really, but Iggy was really scared of it at first and thought it would attack him. He's so weird. I thought it smelled yummy and a little greasy too. They put some meat on it for dinner and it got really hot. I don't think it's new though because it doesn't have that new smell.

Nothing really else exciting except that last weekend we went for a really long walk in a forest preserve. That was fun. And the Husky Howeler is coming up soon in October so I hope Iggy's feeling better for that and we can all go together. I know that we were supposed to go to an engine show today but we didn't because Iggy had to rest. I'm going to have to keep a keen eye on him while he's healing again. I get so bored when I can't play w/him either but hopefully this will be the last of the surgeries.

Whooooo-woooooo

Long time no write

Ok..so summer's almost over and I haven't written a bit, but it's so hard to find time to sit to do this, along w/forum posting, and whooing around the house and you know..the life of a dog is so tough!

So, wanted to share that Steph from 12 Muddy Paws saved 3 more Siberians from the Wichita, KS kill shelter! Whooo wooo for Steph! Karen from Free Spirit, called daddy who hooked her up w/Steph who originally went down there for just one Sibe. But, ended up w/3! As far as we know, they've been adobted out already. I'm not surprised becasue dogs from KS ROCK! Woof!

In other news, we have a new roof on our house so the budgets tighter than ever but at least we'll be high and dry this winter. Iggy's knee is healing nicely. He just gets tiered real quick and the weather seems to really affect him.

Mom tried us on the raw food movement. We did ok and we're on it for about 3 weeks. I don't know what it was but I started to smell. And man, did I stink. Mom really freaked out and got us back on kibble. She's still not sure it's the best thing for us but we honestly couldn't afford all the raw food either. It was just killing us.

And even though money is autrosiously tight...mom said we still deserve a vacation so she found a little cabin in Door County that will let her and daddy bring us along and they're going to go in October. Mommy's real excited and can't wait till they actually have the cabin reserved. Daddy's hesitant, because we really don't have the money...but it'll only be for a few days. I can't wait because they're going to get me a really long lead and practice on my recalls. I love working w/daddy. He's so funny and gets me all worked up.

A little nearer to Completion

http://www.12muddypaws.com/15.html

I haven't written in a long long time, but we've been very busy. It's been a pretty ruff year so far. Daddy's dad passed away in February. Momma said it was from lung cancer so right now they are trying their hardest to quit, which I'm very proud of them for. But, when Grandpa passed away, it was a cold, late night when they got the phone call and Momma and Dad had to take us with because there was no one to watch us. We spent a good portion of the night outside but were also in. Grandpa was in the living room and at first I wanted to jump up on his bed and give him kisses because he didn't smell very good. But momma wouldn't let me. Everyone was sitting around his bed and I knew something was wrong. Something bad was happening. Iggy just passed out in the other room but I kept circling the bed and licking everyone's hands. Then I crawled under the bed and just whinned and whinned. I was very unhappy. Then I got up and did it again. I was trying to tell everyone that I knew something was wrong and I wanted them to feel better so I kept licking their hands. Grandpa passed at about 3:30 am.

Little did I know that when Iggy and I had been playing outside, he had hurt his leg and later he couldn't even get up. He's such a mut. Mom and dad took him to the vet a few days later and he just gave him some pills and a shot. Iggy got sick from it and seemed to get a little better...but mom's gone back for a 2nd opinion and long story short, he's torn his Cruciate Ligament in his back left knee and he'll be getting surgery the 2nd week of May.

But, this isn't what I wanted to write about today! I wanted to share happy news! Mommy and I got an email today through our pawmail that was from the couple who actually rescued me from that Whitiah, KS kill shelter. They found me on dogster and contacted us! When mommy read the email she had huge big tears in my eyes because so many nights she's cuddled up w/me and tried to get me to talk about what happened before she and daddy adobted me and I just wouldn't tell her. But, I'm happy she knows now. Today, a little bit of my past just filled into the slot and mommy was almost so heartbroken seeing my little thin face still smilling away even while there is the bandage on my leg from the car accident. Mommy is so happy the couple contacted her and even had pictures. They saved me so I could come save Iggy and for momma and daddy to love me too. So, that's my good news for the day. I'll try to stay more up to date w/my enteries. I'm going to have to get Iggy to post so he can tell you all about his poor knee.

Cherry Pie

Last night, daddy got home earlier than mommy and Iggy and I got to spend a lot of time running and playing in the yard. When Mommy got home she gave me an Iggy a big hug and kiss then started working in the kitchen. Before you knew it, there were these yummy yummy smells coming from the kitchen. Mommy said she was making pies. I don't know what that is but I was sure curious. She said she made a pumpkin pie and a cherry pie. She made the cherry pie last and put it on the counter right before we went to bed because it was steaming. Silly mommy. She should know better than that.

I feel really bad but I just had to have a taste. After they had fallen asleep, I went out into the kitchen. Iggy woke up and followed me. I put my two front paws onto the counter and there was this yummy smell. Iggy just sat there and watched. I told him he'd better not rat on me! I was real slick and I just licked the top of it to see if it tasted as good as it smelled. Emmmmhh. It was! Very Sweet! So I nibbled a little of the the outside shell. Wow! This is awesome. Iggy started whining that he wanted some but I knew better. The last time I tried to share the garbage with him by tipping it over, it woke mommy up and Ohhh Was she mad so I told him if he wanted some he'd have to jump up here and get it himself. He didn't like that to much and wandered off back to sleep.

Yummmm that shell tasted so good. I tried one of the dark mushy balls inside the shell and it wasn't as good so I left them alone and ate the entire top part of the shell. They'll never notice, I though. And they'll never know because I was so quiet.

In the morning, Daddy woke up first and when he went into the kitchen for some coffee he instantly noticed. I don't know how. I left all those dark blobs for them. Mommy came running out and just stood there with her paw over her mouth. Daddy told mommy just to laugh it off.

Later, mommy threw the thing out but before she did she gave me a little more nibble of crust. Yummmy!!! She then started working in the kitchen again. She told us that she was making another cherry pie and thankfully she had boughten extra frozen cherries otherwise Uncle Danny would be very unhappy with us dogs....he doesn't like dogs.

We have to stay home today but mommy said we're going to grandma and grandpa's house tomorrow so I'm really excited. They have a huge fenced in yard and it bound to be fun.

Happy Thanksgiving All!
Whooooo wooooooo!

Not much today

Not much happened today. Mom and Dad went to work and I slept for a while. They got home right in the middle of this great dream...I was just about to get this squire when... well, oh well.

Mom said we're going to grandpa and grandma's on Friday and I'm so excited. They have this huge yard that's all fenced in and I can't wait to play tag with Iggy there! We always have such a good time. And I love grandpa. He just sits around a lot but he always pets me so much. I love to jump up on the couch with him and snuggle close and he complaines to mommy about it but he never tells me no so I keep doing it. Grandma's really fun too and love to feed us these really yummy treats. One time, she got us these meety bones that she said were fresh from the butcher. Ohhh, they were so good I still have a bit of mine. ; ) Good stuff.

Mommy said that advanced doggie school was starting again yesterday but we didn't go. We've already gone through begginers, intermediate and advanced. But, Uncle Vince, the instructor, is so cool that he says the advanced class is always running and he changes things around so if you just want to keep coming and bonding he has no problem with that. Mommy and daddy really wanted to take us, but money is really tight so they said maybe in the spring. I've learned so much in doggie school as it is and the other dogs always freek me out, anyway. I get mad and think they're going to attach mommy so I bark and whine a lot. Fooy on those other dogs. I may be only 45 pounds but I can take down a german shepard! Just ask mommy what happend durning our long distance recall session! Ha! I showed that shepard who was boss. But, it was fun going and I'm kinda sad that we're not going anymore...Hopefully, money will be better in the spring and we can go back.

But, I'm really excited to go to grandma and grandpa's on Friday.

Catch Up--The Great Escape

Wow, I'm so happy that mom and dad found dogster. This is the coolest site ever all for us dogs. I've wanted to do a diary entry since mommy got us on here but I haven't had the chance and also, nothing very exciting has happened lately. So I figured I should put down in print the great escape episode from last March. If I had known about this site then, it definitly would have been posted already.

In mommy and daddy's eyes, this was the most remarkable amazing terrifing experience Iggy and I had put them through.

At the time, I was still new to the house. I'd arrived in January and still didn't trust my new parents very much. I did, however, get along fabulous with Iggy. In fact, he's the only reason I decided to come to this home! But, since then, my parents have really grown on me and I'm so glad I'm here. They completely spoil me and I get to sleep on the bed with them every night. But, I'm wandering. So, Iggy and I are great pals and we like to get up in the middle of the night and go outside to do our duty, run around, play a little, and then bark to get back in. Well, this one morning around 2am in March, I woke daddy up to let me out. He, in turn, woke mommy up, who wandered over to the side door and out we went into the fenced back yard.

Iggy and I were playing around for what seemed like a long time and we didn't really want to go back inside. That's when I saw the ball, through the chain link fence, in the front yard. Ohhh...I wanted that ball so bad. Iggy told me not to do it, but I had to have that ball so I popped up the chain link fence metal gate and pushed it open. In seconds, I had the ball and was running around Iggy teasing him with it. I chased him he chased me and we ran up and down the street. It was then we realized we weren't in the yard anymore. Iggy asked me to go back and I told him we should run for a little while and then we can go back. So we took off. I made sure to keep Iggy out of the road. I know all to well what it's like to get hit by a car. We ran through the farmers fields and through the brush. We came upon a pond and played there for a long time. It was starting to get light out and I asked Iggy if he knew how to get home. Well...neither of us did. So, we kind of just decided to wonder a little more because I didn't know how to get back.

We both wandered into this field where there were these really big animals that were making this moo-ing sound at us. Iggy got irrated and started barking and scaring them all into a big frenzy. I told him to calm down but he just doesn't listen. I was trying to get him to leave this big animals alone when I swung around and saw a very tall man walking towards us.

"Maybe it's daddy, Maybe it'd daddy!" I yelped to Iggy who suddenly didn't care aboutt he stampeding brown mellon. I ran over and before I got to close, I could tell by the smell it wasn't daddy. But I figured I should go say hi anyway because maybe he could take us back.

The man knelt down and petted me. He was very nice and had to coax Iggy over. He checked out our tags and was muttering under his breath. We both followed him to his house where he told us to wait, outside. He was muttering inside and I could tell he wasn't very happy. Finally he came out and told us he had called my rescue from the number on the tag because he coudln't get through to anyone else. So he said that our parents would be there soon and we should go lay down by the bench in his front yard and wait. To tell you the truth, I was pooped and Iggy, now completely okay with this new guy, was about ready to pass out himself. So I went and sat down in the cool dew grass and dozed off.

Before I knew it I heard a car coming up the long gravel driveway. It slowly pulled up and then Mommy and Daddy popped out. Mommy called, "Come Dogs!" and Iggy and I took of running to her. Daddy came over to and as I licked her face it was all salty and she hugged us a lot! Daddy was very happy and was thanking the man for calling her rescue. I was to excited to hear what else they were saying but mommy kept rubbing her noise and eyes. It was then I really began to understand how much I liked my new family. When I'd gotten away before, I was all along and no one came to get me until I ended up in the shelter. This was so different.

Once we got home, mommy told us how sorry she was that she had fallen alseep while we were outside and that she won't let us out in the middle of the night anymore. She also said we were about 3 miles down the road at a farm playing with cows. Hmmm? So that must have been those moo-ing things. She said that God had really blessed us that we were all together and safe again.

She's never let us out in the middle of the night since then and always keeps a keen eye on us. Daddy reinforced the fence that evening when he got home from work but I haven't tried to escape since then. What I need is right in that little house and not outside anymore. And it took me to experiance the great escape before I really understood that.