Unconditional Love

“We take to our hearts those beings who are even shorter lived than we, knowing that we will suffer from their impermanence but learn from it how to savor what they give us---a brief, perfect glimpse into a heart that loves unconditionally.”

Thank you Hannah for your unconditional love.

Farewell my Sweet Friend

Beloved Hannah died on Tuesday September 11th twelve years and three days after she was adopted. Or perhaps it is better to say twelve years and three days after she adopted me. She almost got named Tigger because she was so "full of bounce". She could go with me on a 10 mile bike ride...well she ran, I rode...and still be ready to go afterwards. She loved to go to the beach and would acctually come up to me and stare at me and bounce at me asking to go when I was too tired to go. It always worked and I always felt better for having listened to her. She was an inveterate tennis ball chaser and would leap into the air to nab them before her sister could get them and unlike her sister, she always brought them back.

We would go camping in the high desert every year. The first year we went I discovered that Hannah was a natural at pointing. I was out walking with her and she was coursing through the grass, went into a point and when I got close, flushed a beautiful cock pheasant! That same trip, much to my distress, she started chasing/herding a herd of free range cattle! Well that is a pointer/heeler cross for you.

She was devoted to me and was always ready with the stealth kiss when you least expected it. Most mornings we had our Dog cuddle before getting up.
When driving she would rest her chin on my shoulder. When at the computer or at my desk she would be in her "dog cave" under the table or desk...often with her head on my foot.

Hannah was a healty and active dog until the last month and a half of her life. In fact when strangers would ask her age they were always surprised to hear that she was 12+. While we were camping this year signs of her illness appeared. She was anemic and had a hard time moving (the high altitude 9000 ' is hard when you have anemia and your heart isn't working properly). In the middle of our vacation I took her to the vet and was told that she had an enlarged heart and anemia and a bad liver enzyme. when I got home we did more tests and discovered that her thyroid was also very very low and that her anemia was worse. The reality was that the major illness was cancer. By the end she lost most of her muscle that she was famous for (my sisters called her "the Muscle") and her lungs were filling with fluid. The Vet came to our home on his lunch hour and my darling girl crossed to the bridge serenly and in my arms.

I want to thank everyone for your kind words, support, prayers, rosettes and stars. Her dogster friends are the best! (Especially her pointer pals,fundawg friends and proud mutts.) I'm sorry not to have written sooner but I just couldn't...even now my tears are flowing.

TAGGED! 3 times!

I have have been tagged by some great Pointers: Mollie, Spike and Zak!
Here are the rules:

Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Dogs who are tagged, need to post in their Diary The rules & their 7 pawsome facts. Then choose 7 dogs to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to bark them a pmail that they have been tagged and to read your Diary, or, send them a fun Rosette announcing they've been Tagged!

1) I am a tennis ball fiend.
2) I am a pointer/heeler X: I point naturally and heel under duress.
3)I love to swim (after tennis balls) in the creek, in the ocean, in the lake.
4)I love to eat.
5) I live with my sister Thalia Rose, Mr. Nigel the cat, Pablito the Conure Parrot and 2 gold fish.
6) My Mom adores me.
7) I get to sleep under the covers when it is cold!.

I am going to tag:
Mocha, Cosmo, Scout, Blackie, Holly,Ellie and Helga

Pointer Prayer

Mom found this great prayer (origionally titled Puppy Prayer). She thought that it fit me ! Imagine that !

A POINTER'S PRAYER

Now I lay me down to sleep
The king-size bed is soft and deep

I sleep right in the center groove
My human being can hardly move!

I' ve trapped their legs, they're tucked in tight
And here is where I pass the night

No one disturbs me or dares intrude
Till morning comes and "I want food!"

I sneak up slowly to begin
My nibbles on my mommy's chin.

For the morning's here and it's time to play
I always seem to get my way.
- Anonymous

A Good Prayer

O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, our brothers (and sisters ) the animals to whom you gave the earth as their home in common with us.

We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the
earth, which should have gone up to you in song, has been a groan of travail. May we realize that they live not for us alone but for themselves and for you, and that they love the sweetness of life.

(this is not a contemporary prayer, it was written by St. Basil in the 4th century)

Early Christmas?

Guess what I found? This red box covered with curly red hair. It smelled really good so I ripped it open and guess what was inside. DOG TREATS! Mom said that they were my Christmas present from my cousin Trevor but she let me have it anyway. YUMMMMMMY! Darn I had to share with my sister Thalia Rose.

My new sister the nurse

We went to the beach this morning and had a grand time running around. I even went up the sandstone cliffs! I have to show my new sister the ropes after all. The only down side was that the arthritis in my back paw was acting up again. I lick it when it hurts. Imagine my surprise when Thalia Rose started licking it for me. What a sweet sister she is.

A new Sister!

Tomorrow we go for a 3 1/2 hour drive to go pick up my new sister! Mom has entered the world of computer match making...she found my new sister on Petfinders.com. It is a wonderful site that shows available pets from all over the country not just dogs but also cats, furry mammals, horses pigs BIRDS (no, mom won't let me have one even though I am a bird dog) you name it it is probably there. My new sister has been in the shelter for 4 months and 4 days. Poor girl. I know what that is like...a shelter is where Mom found me...well actually where I found her.

I am excited to see my new friend. All she has to do is acknowledge that I am the queen of this castle! Well maybe princess.

Look for her to appear soon on Dogster.

On the Farm

Well, Mom is gone but it is not as bad as I thought it would be. I get to play with my friend Homer (a 140 lb Golden Retriever/Rottweiler cross). We have been chasing field mice, tennis balls and eachother. Not so bad after all.

OH, NO ....THE SUITCASE!

Oh No Mom is packing her suitcase. She said that I don't get to go...sob. I hve to go visit my friend Homer. Well it won't be too bad because there are lots and lots of mousies in the field at his house and maybe his Mom and Dad will take me to the beach.