HOLLY JOLLY November 1, 1999 - June 24, 2006

I thought it was time for me to say hello to all my friends at Dogster. Its been awhile since I wrote to you all, but its been a very eventful Spring and Summer for me and my Dad.
I took that journey over the Rainbow Bridge on June 24 of this year. Dad was reluctant to let me go but he finally realized when it was my time. I know he was sad to say good bye but I had to go, he and I both knew it by then.
The last month of life on earth started out pretty good, even though I was real sick and taking medication three times a day. Dad did all he could to make me feel better cooking special meals and stopping home whenever he could. He even yelled at Baron who would sometimes play rough, I guess Baron didn't really know what was going on.
The medicine Doctor Batts gave Dad to give to me did help a lot, although I was awfully thirsty most of the time. I'm glad it was Springtime when I got sick, since I was still able to run around the yard, listen to the birds and drink out of the fishpond whenever I wanted to.
To tell the truth, I forgot how sick I was, most of the time, those steroids are pretty powerful stuff. I ran around just like I did before and Dad kept telling his friends how good I was doing.
It was Gigi's birthday on May 23 and a couple of weeks later we had a big party on Dad's deck. I had such a good time playing with Gigi's little niece Victoria. She and I really got along great. I miss not being able to see her right now.
I even stole some cookies off the table when no one was looking. Ha ha, it reminded me of the Christmas when Big Baron and I ate the Christmas cookies that Dad's cousin made for him. Gigi thought he had eaten them without saving any for her. Boy did I think I was in trouble then. But this time Dad just laughed, especially when Gigi reminded him about the Christmas cookies. It was a real fun time that day.
A few days later I was not feeling so well. I had slept outside on Tuesday night and when Dad came to see me that morning, by the look on his face I knew something was wrong. Dad's eyes got real red and watery and he just kept saying "Poor Holly" over and over again. I learned that I was retaining fluids, I guess my liver was not working at all and my other organs were starting to be affected.
Doctor Batts had gone on vacation and Dad took me to another Vet for a checkup. I heard the Vet say that he could probably drain the fluids but didn't have time that day. I heard Dad make an appointment for the following Monday.
After we left the vet's I just laid around. I was not feeling well at all. I didn't have much energy and I really didn't feel muck like eating. Try as he did, I just could not eat anything Dad made for me.
Things didn't get much better over the next couple of days. I wandered around the deck and backyard, somewhat, but I was moving real slow and I couldn't hear or see very well.
By Saturday, I knew the gig was up. I just could not move at all. Dad and Gigi took a big blanket and rolled me onto it. They both carried me into the truck to ride over to the vet's. I knew this was my last ride in the truck, and tried real hard to look out the window, but I just didn;'t have much strength.
Dad and Gigi said their goodbyes while I was lying on the doctor's table. Dad told me how much he loved me and started to cry. I felt sad to see him so upset but I knew I was going to a better place. Gigi said goodbye and I could see she was crying, too.
Well, I'm here now on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge - and its just like all the people said it would be. I'm feeling like my old self again, running and playing with all the other dogs and pets who have passed over. Oh, by the way, Big Baron was here to meet me when I crossed over. He introduced me to so many of his friends - some of whom were also Dad's kids on the other side. There was Baron I , Brutus, Caesar and even Wizard, too. They were all so glad to see me and we're having a great time telling each other stories of our life with Dad. We all can't wait to see him, someday - just not too soon!

Love,

Holly

A CLOSE CALL

This has been a fairly traumatic spring for Dad and me. Dad and my step mom came back from their Florida vacation this past March. Boy was I happy to see him. Dad was so glad to see Baron and me, too. While we were playing Dad said to me Holly you feel so bony and while looking into my eyes said to my step mom that I looked kind of "yellow".
The next day Dad took me to see Dr. Batts the veterinarian who took some blood from me. Ouch! Boy did that hurt. Soon after that Dad took me to a doggie hospital in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. I never saw so many sickly dogs in my life. During my visit there I had something called an "ultrasound" done. I heard the doctor tell my Dad that I had something called Chirrosis of the liver. It sure didn't sound good to me.
I stayed at the hospital overnight, with all these tubes and machines hooked up to me. That sure wasn't much fun. The next day Dad took me home.
I learned that I had lost about thirty-five pounds, which didn't surprise me since I had not been eating much dog food for quite a while. I figured a gal could never be too thin or rich. I soon found out that at least the former is not quite true. Dad started cooking me chicken and rice, which sure is preferable to the dry dog food I had been getting. I wasn't too thrilled with the pills that Dad kept shoving down my throat twice a day. He also was shooting this nasty stuff called Kay O Pec Tate, or something like that down my gullet.
After about two weeks of this, I started to feel pretty bad. One Thursday night I started walking in circles and Dad says I was staring off into space. He stayed up with me all night and was crying and telling me how much he loved me. He told me "Holly I'm afraid you might have to go to sleep". I know I was feeling really tired but wondered why he was so sad about me sleeping. I heard him talking to my step mom and telling her he had to take me to see Dr. Batts. and that he thought that I would not be coming home.
Later that morning Mom and Dad took me for a ride in her truck to Dr. Batt's office. When I got there I started to feel a little better and started climbing onto Dad's lap. I wanted to get out of there, fast. I didn't think being there was such a good idea.
We went into Dr. Batts examining room and I heard Dad say he thought that he was going to have to have me get a needle, but that he wasn't so sure, now. He explained to the doc how badly I had felt the night before and the really big accident I had in the house. The doctor told Dad that he didn't think it was my time yet and that we shoud try something called "steroids".
The good doctor did give me a needle and gave my Dad a green bottle filled with some pills. He told Dad to give me four pills a day for three days and then two a day thereafter. When we got home Dad gave me the pills and some chicken and rice.
After a day or two I started feeling a lot better and my appetite returned. I now want to eat everything in sight. I'm back to chasing birds and squirrels and Dad even yells at me sometimes, but not like he used to before I got sick. He even tried to get me to eat the yucky dry dog food, which I did for a day or two, but I found that if I pass it up he'll cook me chicken and rice which I much prefer. For now things are looking pretty good, although the steriods, "Oh boy, sometimes they make me a little nuts". But all in all, life ain't bad consideringt that I almost took that journey to the other side. I gues good ol' Doc Batts is right, "Its, just not my time. Yet!"

More Adventures of Holly

So as I was saying, I had a great time hunting prey in Dad's backyard this summer.
One night, while Dad was still at the office, I was alone in the yard with my brother, Baron. He, of course was sleeping by the side of the porch. That's all he ever does, except when the mailman comes by and then he makes a racket and acts like he's so tough. He's really a wimp, though.
Soon, Gigi, Dad's girlfriend came home and went into the house. I think she was watching the soap operas she spends so much time doing.
As I was stalking about the yard, I noticed there was something going on in the hedges. I kept a close watch and then--I sprang like a bat out of , well you know what I mean. Before you can say rumplestiltskin, I had a young starling in my mouth. What a racket he made. Chirp chirp, squawk squak, it was almost too annoying to put up with. I must have hit him pretty hard, because when I opened my mouth he just fell onto the deck and spun around squawking. Gigi came running when she heard all the noise and then she started screaming, too. Oh, the noise it was too much to handle, so I ran under the deck, where I hide out when the humans start to get on my nerves.
I heard Gigi on her cell phone talking to Dad, telling him what happened. Then she ran back into the house and I didn't see her again.
Soon Dad came home. When I heard his car pull up I ran to the gate, to show him my prize of the day. He didn't seem as happy as I thought he would be, you know, me giving him a present and everything. He just said, " Holly what did you do. You're such a killer." Then he got out the shovel and rake and my prize went over the fence.
Oh, well it was fun seeing Gigi freak out, anyway.
Now I have to go, its really late and I need my beauty sleep. You know how late nights can affect us gals. But come back again sometime, I still have lots to tell you.

The Hunter

Well, it was a very productive summer for me. While my brother Baron spent most of his time in the house sleeping on the leather Sofa, I was out in Dad's yard exploring and looking for prey. I just love the excitement of a good hunt and surprising my next victim.
Although we live in a suburban area outside of the city, there is no shortage of prey. I eye the squirrels as they tease me running up trees and jumping from one branch to another. I know my opportunity will come and I wait patiently.
Early this summer I heard the sound of hatchlings as they moved about in their nests. Their parents tried to outsmart me by placing the nests in the prickly bush alongside Dad's house. There was a second nest placed high up in the rose bushes. But, I knew my time would come if I watied long enough.
In the meantime, I discovered a rats' nest beneath Dad's deck. Try as I might I was unable to scratch my way through the wooden boards of the deck. Dad kept yelling at me to stop, but after a few minutes he would leave and I would continue clawing at the boards. But, alas, despite my best efforts I couldn't get through.
As luck would have it, one stupid rat stuck his head out of his hole, when I was within striking distance. Like lightning I struck and grabbed him by his grimey neck and shook him like a rag doll. He gave up without even a fight and I happily trotted to the back door were I displayed my prize.
Dad wasn't very appareciative, however, he said "Holly what did you do" in a very mean voice. He then grabbed a shovel and rake and took my prize away and dumped it over the fence. Oh well, who can figure these humans out, anyway.
As the summer days got longer, I heard the baby birds chirpping louder each day. Soon they would be leaving their nest, I thought and I would have a chance to nail one or two. I kept an eye on their nests waiting for an opportunity to strike. Lo and behold, opportunity knocked when I least expected it.
One early morning Dad came down to let Baron and me out, oh yeah he does go out in the morning to do his business, but as soon as he can he whines until Dad lets him back into the house so he can take a nap. Anyway, getting back to my story, as soon as Dad opened the back door I eyed a group of sparrows walking on the deck near the hedges. In a blink of the eye I pounced upon an unsuspecting fledgling who had the misfortune of being slow afoot. I closed my mouth around her and she shreiked like a banshee. It was over in seconds and I pranced around with my morning prey. Dad saw what happen and like usual the old grump yelled at me. So I place my prize on the deck and, yep you guessed it. Dad got out the shovel and rake and over the fence it went.
Well, its almost breakfast time now and all this story telling is making me hungry. I have lots more to tell you about my summer but I'll have to do that some other time, since Dad's calling me now. Oh by the way, Baron's still asleep on the sofa, the lazy bum.

Another cold one, please.

Boy was it hot yesterday, June 25th, 2005. Dad and his lady friend were sunning themselves on the deck while my brother Baron and I were trying to keep cool under the boards. Every now and then Baron would head off to the fish pond for a quick dip and come back shaking off right in my face.
After growing bored of Baron's antics I decided to go up above to see what the humans were doing. It was then I noticed Dad walking out of the back door with a bottle of MGD and a cool frosty mug. I watched while Dad poured his beer into the mug and take a few swallows. After a short time, Dad settled into his lounge chair. I kept my eye on him as he took a few more sips and then much to my surprise, he placed his half full mug underneath his chair. I quietly crept up to the mug and took a few sniffs, boy did that smell good. And the mug made my nose feel real cool, too. I thought that I should try this new drink and took a few laps from Dad's mug. "Not Bad" I thought to myself as I continued to lap up the golden brew. Boy that hit the spot on a hot summer afternoon, and was Dad surprised when he reached for his mug. The last thing I heard as I headed back underneath the deck was Dad's booming voice, shouting "Holly!" Oh, well what can I say except, "Bottoms Up".