Agape' - End of Watch: 14 April 2008, 1120 hrs. - Rest in Peace

On Saturday, a tragedy occurred. My husband and I are volunteer chaplains, as was Agape'. I dispatched Max to a call at the Childrens' Receiving Home, where Agape' would have been very effective, so he took her with him. Usually the three of us go out together, so this was an exception. When he got home, he came in the house, forgetting that Agape' was still in the car. It happened to be the first hot day of the year in Sacramento, and it was two hours later, after I asked him where she was, that he remembered.

When we got to her, she was struggling for every breath. We hosed her down in the car, and mom drove Code 3 to the vet. She was a very sick doggy, and had to stay there. Yesterday (Sunday), we went to see her and she recognized us and was up and walking, so we brought her home. We were encouraged during the afternoon, giving her Gatorade and water to try to hydrate her again. We sat up with her all night, and as the night progressed, she regressed. Soon she was vomiting and defecating blood. This morning she laid down on the patio and wouldn't move. We had to carry her to the car to take her back to the vet. He wanted another try to bring her back, so told us to return about 4 p.m. At 10:15 he called and told us to come over, that we needed to talk. We knew then we had lost her.

She recognized us, as her heart rate spiked when we walked in. We spent some time with her and were with her when she was euthanized. Our very special dog -- service dog, therapy dog, chaplaincy dog -- is gone. Our hearts are heavy -- no broken. There is no blame. I know Max feels guilty, but if I had gotten up earlier it wouldn't have happened. But "if's" and blame don't change reality. The reality is that a precious piece of God's creation is gone. She touched so many lives as a therapy and chaplaincy dog that we can't even imagine how many people smiled because they met her.

We covet the thoughts and prayers of other pet owners who know the grief of losing a beloved pet. Please tell every pet owner you know to be sure to check the car when they get out. Agape' never barked or "spoke" to us, so we had no way of knowing she was still there. Not all dogs are barkers. We so regret what she had to go through, but we know that she's now rolling in the thick, green grass of heaven because of the ministry she had on this earth.

I passed!

As many of you know, I already serve a purpose. I'm mom's service dog, since she has four artificial knees and her balance (physical, that is) isn't real good. I also work as a therapy dog with Lend-A-Heart Therapy. And I'm a chaplaincy dog , cause mom and dad are volunteer chaplains with local law enforcement agencies in the greater Sacramento area.

But last weekend, mom and dad took me to Napa, CA to test to become a Delta Pet Partner therapy dog -- the ultimate in therapy dogs! It was a long ride and the motel was not that great, according to mom and dad, although I slept pretty well. Anyway, Saturday they took me to the place where the test was being held. Mom was a basket case waiting for our turn to come up. As mom and dad do a lot, they even prayed that we would pass! That's either a lot of faith or pretty desperate, I'm not sure which. They finally called my name, and mom and I entered this huge place. Mom said it was like a "gym", whatever that is. It was so hot and stuffy in there; I just wanted to lie down. But mom kept making me get up to do the exercises. When all was said and done, I had passed. I tried this test once before, but took too much of an interest in a "foo foo" black poodle, so mom got our trainer, Alan, to help me not be distracted by such foolishness. And it worked.

It's kinda embarassing when I'm with mom and she's bragging on me all the time, cause I already knew I was special. But now I know I have a new purpose. I can't wait for the chance to go see people who are in some kind of pain, let them pet me, smile at them, give them a kiss, and make their day a little better. And doing that will just help me to know that I AM EVEN MORE SPECIAL THAN BEFORE!

They're married!

Well, it's been a few weeks since I wrote, but for good reason. On May 12, 2007, my mom married my new dad. He's so cool! I really like him. At night, he takes off his shoes and socks and plays this game where he kicks his toes out and I chase them. Every so often, I get one good -- real good!

Anyway, there was SO much preparation for the wedding, especially for me. Mom called my trainer and had him work with me and mom's grandson, Michael. I was to wear the ring bearer pillow, and Michael was to walk me down the aisle. Everything went perfectly. Michael walked me down and I sat for a while, especially when mom walked down the aisle to dad. I was so touched I had eye boogers!!!! Then my hips started bothering me, so I laid down for the rest of the wedding. People were taking pictures of me left and right, and I was downright proud. Proud that mom included me in the wedding because she told me right off that I was part of the family. Proud of my mom and how nice she looked, and proud of my new dad and how handsome he looked. It was just an awesome evening.

The addition to the house is almost finished. Yesterday mom and dad moved their chairs (mom got a new automatic lift chair because of her knees) into the den, then she put my doggie pillow in there. Once again, I know I'm part of the family. Gosh, that feels good.

And they're making me feel so important. This Saturday I'm going for my Delta Pet Partners test. I took it once before, but I took an interest in another male dog there, so didn't pass. This time, mom is determined to keep my mind on what I'm supposed to do, so I can get this certification.

I'll try to upload a picture of me at the wedding so you all can see how special I am to mom and dad and how pretty they made me look. (Mom even painted my nails lavender!)

03/31/2007

I know it's been a while since I've written, but mom and Max have really been busy. We're adding on to the house since mom and Max will be getting married on May 12. And I'm going to be the ring bearer (along with mom's grandson, Michael). He's going to walk me down the aisle with the ring bearer pillow on my back. I am SO proud! So between making wedding plans and the construction, it's been pretty crazy around here.

But I wanted to tell you about my chaplaincy. I've been out to about a half dozen calls. Last week I went to a local school with mom and Max to help comfort the kids there after one of their classmates was killed at only 16 years old. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it was a drive-by. I'm not sure what that is, but I know it's not good, cause there are way too many of them around here these days. Mom just walks me around and kids come up to me and love on me, when the reality is that I'm loving on them. I've also gone to "Every 15 Minutes" programs, which are anti-drunk driving programs put on at schools. It's too much to describe, but I go to the assembly on the second day when they show a video of a mock drunk driving scene from the first day involving students from the school. To think that your classmate has been killed is pretty devastating, and a lot of kids are affected. I shed a few tears at the last one myself.

Anyway, this chaplaincy thing is really neat. I have my own blue vest that I wear, and when mom gets it out, I know I'm going to work. I go to "school" with the new chaplaincy recruits every Monday night. Even though I get tired and fall asleep and snore, they still let me come back the next week. They're cool people, and I'm lovin' it. Talk about self worth! I'm SOMEBODY and I'm doing something really important. Don't think I'm proud and haughty, because it's really a humbling position to be in. But the fact that I've been accepted to do what I'm doing makes me proud that I've come this far.

01/09/2007

Boy, am I excited! Mom is a volunteer chaplain with Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento. She goes out and gives comfort to people after homicides, suicides, traffic accidents, SIDS deaths, drownings, and stuff like that. And now Max is going to go through the same training starting in February, so he'll be a chaplain too by this summer. I was thinking that would leave me at home alone a lot. But mom got an e-mail from the head hancho of the chaplaincy asking if I wanted to be a chaplain dog! Is that cool, or what? Mom wrote back and told her all about my therapy training, so I get to go to their monthly meeting next Tuesday and meet all the chaplains. Man, from the pound to a place like this -- what more could a dog ask for. My personality is pretty laid back and I love people, so I think I'll be good at it. The way I heard mom talking, it sounds like they'd use me mostly in situations where there are a lot of kids involved, at schools, etc. Mom has to meet with her and put all the pieces together. I am SO excited; I can't wait to go out with mom the first time. I'll make her look really good so I can go time after time. I just had to share that with you. Being a chaplain is something really important and special to mom, and now I get to do something to help other people too. I haven't even done it yet and I feel good! So watch for updates once I get oriented cause I'm gonna bring joy to peoples' lives like they've never known!

Happy New Year!

Mom's been way too busy to write in my diary. You see, since she last wrote, I've passed both basic and advanced obedience training, and mom and I both passed all the tests for me to become a therapy dog with Lend-A-Heart Therapy. We've been on two visits so far. I get way too excited, but it's so much fun. The first visit was to a local mental health facility -- figured I couldn't do anything wrong there because they were all nuts anyway!!!! Second was to UCP where I had to be careful, because there were lots of walkers and wheelchairs. I found one lady in a wheelchair who really liked me, so I just plopped down beside her for a rest. Now mom is studying her part so we can join Delta Pet Partners. Then she can take me places by myself, because I'm kinda nervous when there are a half dozen other dogs at the same place I'm at. But I'm doing great and mom is so proud. Only problem is that she's bought all these silly things for me to wear to make the people we visit laugh, but it's embarrassing to me! I'll tolerate it for all the attention I get!

Also, something else really cool happened a few months ago. Since mom retired, she's spent a lot of time on the computer, and she found this Christian dating web site. She joined it cause she thought she saw some hopefuls, but they were losers! Then, a few weeks later, a guy contacted her. At 60 years old and never married, mom wasn't sure he was looking at the right profile. But he came to visit several times, and he and mom are engaged! Can you believe it? I'm going to have a dad! He spends a lot of time here now, and when he takes off his socks, he lets me play with his toes! Never knew what toes were, but they're fun when they're moving! He lets me nibble on them and chase them. Anyway, his name is Max, and he and mom are getting married in May, so I'll have a permanent dad. I've really grown attached to him and, well, he's grown kinda attached to mom. The downside is that they go out a lot, and that means the kitchen for me. But I've decided the kitchen isn't all that bad, especially since mom remodeled the house and the floor is nice tile, I have LOTS of toys, and I always get treats when they leave. Oh yea, guess what? I'm even going to be in the wedding!!! Mom said they're going to put the ring bearer pillow on my back, and she just bought a string of pearls at some "exclu" doggie store to put around my neck, and mom's grandson -- I guess that would be my cousin once removed -- is going to walk me down the aisle, then I'll sit until mom comes down the aisle, then I'll probably collapse beside whoever else is up there. And the preacher is letting it happen that way; that's how special I am! Match that, will ya!

Mom will probably download a few more pictures -- there's a really cool one of me with my "wreath" Christmas toy and maybe she can put the one of her, Max and me on the site, if people are allowed. But that's my latest news, and I'm as excited as a 94 lb. bullterrier can get. Stand by for more reports!

07/13/06

Boy, it's been a long time since mom has had time to write anything about me. And I've changed a lot since last time. Mom has retired, which means she's around a lot more, and I like that. We play and love, and it's just cool having her home so much more. She took me to basic obedience school. I dragged her into the first class with my 80 pounds of muscle, and at the end, graduated with honors, because I learned that when I listen to mom, it makes her happy, and that's my goal. I've learned to sit, shake, lie down, stay -- you know, the basic stuff. But what's cool is that I've learned it all in German, so people are impressed. I've had some problems -- was bitten by a black widow a few months ago and had to have major surgery with a drainage tube in my leg. That was a major oooowwwwwiiiiieeeee. Then a few weeks ago, something kept bugging me (pardon the pun) and I chewed my tail until it bled. The vet gave mom some stuff called Scarlet Oil to put on it, and boy, did that burn. It also stains -- ask mom! It hurt so bad once that I reared up and go it all over mom and her new kitchen floor. She knew it wasn't my fault, and thankfully, we were able to get it off the floor. I weigh 95 pounds now, and when I'm lying on the front porch, nobody messes with my mom's crib! Mom has taught me how to play the right way, although I'm still really strong and sometimes get in trouble for that, cause I forget my own strength. Being a short-snouted pooch, I wear out pretty quick, but after some heavy panting and a brief nap, I'm ready to go again. I'm growning out of my chewing thing (except for when I "read" the morning paper when it's on the front porch before mom gets up!), and love playing with all the toys mom has bought me -- and there's lots. I'm into toy surgery -- I remove the squeaky things inside, but I guess lots of dogs do that. I'll try to get mom to upload a more recent picture of me, because if I do say so myself, I'm more beautiful now that I was before. Mom feeds me well, bathes and brushes me and makes me feel like a queen. Don't much like this hot Sacramento weather (like 105 last week), but mom's good to me in turning on the A/C before she needs it, just to keep me comfortable. God knew what He was doing when He gave me this home. I love my mom and I know she loves me, cause she even gives me kisses on the snout!

11/23/2005

Boy, what a week my mom has had. And it's all my fault, except I don't know I'm being bad when I'm doing things. Mom works all day, so Monday she put the gate across the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. I didn't think she really meant for me to stay in the kitchen all day, so I just trampled my way right across that gate to access the rest of the house. I pulled a lot of things down to my level (the floor), but didn't really destroy them. I did make a major boo-boo by doing my "duty" on the kitchen floor. Mom saw me using the doggy door last Saturday and expected me to use it to go outside to go potty, but I thought it was just for fun and did the wrong stuff inside. Tuesday morning, mom reinforced the gate with chairs and an end table. But there was a box of books that was just within reach for me to climb over the stuff and use the books as a step. This time I got a little too excited when I found a thing you put on your lap to use to write that had styrofoam beads in the bottom. Mom came home at lunch to check on me, and there was styrofoam everywhere. I had made my way back to the kitchen, so I acted innocent but, as they say, "you can kid a kidder", and mom knew I had done it. She vacuumed the styrofoam, which stuck to the outside of the vacuum, so she had to vacuum the vacuum! It was funny, but I didn't dare laugh. She blocked me in again, this time with TV trays on top of everything else, but she left the box of books there, so I went back into the living room in the afternoon but didn't dare get into any more trouble. I heard mom talking to a friend about a taller, stronger gate for the doorway, so she'll probably do that this weekend. She said I'd also better learn what the doggy door is for, or my new name will be "Mud". She's already calling me "Houdini", so I'm not even sure what my name is right now. She still calls me Agape' when she wants me to come.

I don't know why I'm so discontent in the kitchen. Mom gives me all my toys, plus special treats (love those knuckle bones!) when she leaves. Yesterday she put some gooey liver-flavored stuff inside the Kong, and I had fun with that, but my tongue is too big to get it all out. Well, here's hoping we have a good weekend together. Mom reassured me last night that she wouldn't take me back to the shelter and we'd work things out, but I know she's getting frustrated. I just need to know what she wants me to do, then I'll do it right, cause I know she loves me, and she's kinda growing on me too!

11/21/2005

Talk about being in the dog house!!! Last night when mom went to church, she trusted me to have access to the whole house. I guess she thought I'd just flake out or something, but with so many temptations, how could I NOT get into trouble! When mom got home, I got that nasty look again and her voice got very deep and she ignored me for a while. I knew right away that I blew it. I chewed up the cushion from her chair and had about a half dozen of her shoes in the living room, although I didn't really destroy them. I did pretty much ruin one thing that had sentimental value to mom. How was I supposed to know? It was wood and tasted good. She's trying to find a way to get it fixed, but it's a one-of-a-kind thing, so I don't know if she can or not. Ya know what's really neat, though? I knew I did wrong and paid the price of no attention for a while. But then a little later, mom gave me some cheese and lots of love. Boy, it's neat to know that she forgives me when I mess up. Lots of critters aren't that lucky. She even admitted it was her fault because I had no way of knowing. I really appreciated her honesty. I still feel bad, but I know mom has forgiven me, and that's what my name, Agape', is all about -- unconditional love.

11/19 - Later

Mom's cable box wasn't working right today, and while she was trying to fix it, I surprised her real good by going out the doggy door and coming back in through it. Mom was so surprised! She gave me lots of strokes for doing the right thing. I used it yesterday too, but mom wasn't sure that I had, 'cause she was at work. She just showed me a few times when she brought me home on Thursday how to do it, so I think I scored some pretty good points after this morning's plant incident.

I saw my new vet this afternoon and found out I weigh 72 lbs.! Everybody though I was so beautiful, and I know I made mom proud. They liked my name too. It seems that everybody knows it has something to do with love, but not everyone knows it means "God's unconditional love". It's going to be tough living up to that one, but I'm gonna give it a good shot! After the vet, we went to the pet store and got me a nice black collar to match my leash. Mom put my tags on the collar tonight, so I'm thinking this home is permanent. I feel pretty lucky and I get lots of love. I think I would make mom really happy if I could get in the car by myself. But the car is something new, and I'm still a bit cautious about it. The vet said I was very intelligent, so I'm sure I'll catch onto that, just like I did the doggie door.