Greetings from the Bridge!

Well, holiday (Christmas, Hannukah, etc.) preparations are in full swing up here! It's looking to be quite the jolly celebration. I am fully enjoying myself and indulging on cookies, nog, and gingerbread!

I do hope Santa brings you everything on your wish lists. I'll try to put a good word in for you. BOL! I'll be sure to sprinkle some angel dust on all of my furiends to help you be good until Santa comes!

So Much Love

Chauncey's hu-sis/typist here...

All went as well as it could on Tuesday. I made sure to get to my parents' house before they left so I could say my good-byes. Myles gave her a pet or two, too. Dad broke up a hot dog for her as her final meal (had to be something easy to chew) and she gobbled it up. I was able to get one last picture of her. My parents both went to the vet office and she passed in less than five minutes. She is buried out at the shack on a point with a beautiful view of the lake.

We miss her so much, and probably always will. While I haven't lived at my parents' house for many years, Chauncey was my childhood dog. I remember the day we picked her out of her litter - I was ten years old and so excited to be getting a puppy. The owners of the dogs were calling her Creampuff and she was adorable. The thing that I remember most vividly was her going into my room whenever no one was paying attention and eating the plastic noses off of my stuffed animals.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your kindness, love, and support. I have decided to admit defeat on the individual thank yous at this point - I'm not even sure who I thanked already! Please know how much my family appreciates your gifts and kind words. My mom checks Chauncey's page and I send on your pmails to her.

I know Chauncey was met by so many of her angel friends: Lexi, Leo, Cody, Maggie, Dino, and many, many, many more. Your furiendship means the world and I trust you are showing her a good time. (Lexi, don't fly her so fast you google her eyes like Al's!) All I can say is that I am still so grateful to the friends we have made on Dogster/Catster. I started Al and Chauncey's pages on here as something fun to do, but this community has bred so many friendships and made such a positive difference to me. Thank you all!

Update

YOU ARE ALL SO WONDERFUL!!!

Our family has been getting so much love and support from Dogster/Catster. We love you all so much and appreciate the pmails, gifts, posts, candles, and prayers you are sending. Hu-sis is trying to keep up with replies and thank yous, but if you don't get one right away, please know how thankful we are.

As most of you know, hu-sis is my typist, and she has been sending all of your messages to my mom. She is having a hard time with the decision, but knows it's my time. She called the dogtor yesterday, and I will probably make my journey Tuesday afternoon. Dad has my final resting place ready out at the shack with other dogs from our family. It has a beautiful view of the lake.

Again, please know of our love and gratitude for all of our furiends, new and old, we have made here.

My Health Update

As you probably have noticed hu-sis/typist hasn't had much time for our family to be on Dogster/Catster and to write diary entries. The baby is keeping her extremely busy, but she wanted to update all of my furiends about what is happening with me.

In the past month, my health has really deteriorated. I have developed congestive heart failure and my sight and hearing have gotten much worse. My back end barely holds me up and I am having a very hard time getting up, laying down, and walking. I wet my bed every night and have no control of my bowels anymore. My hair is falling out and I can't even lift my tail up.

Because of all this, Mom and Dad have decided it is my time to go to the Bridge. Mom is going to call the dogtor to see what the options are. Hu-sis will keep you all updated. My family is very sad, but they don't want to see me suffer at all, and for that I am grateful.

Even with all of these issues, I will still hobble up to my family members for a chin scratch and a cuddle or two. About four years ago, the vet didn't think I would live another six months. A Shih Tzu life span is an average of 12-15 years; I will be 16 in November. I have lived a long and extremely happy life, and have known a very loving family. I am so grateful for the friendships I have made here and will always have.

Halloween in August!

What a party last night! To celebrate Friday the 13th, P*I*F threw the most wonderful party! Thank you to all who did such hard work on the food, decorations, music, and costumes! Such a great time was had by all.

Paw*It*Forward is a wonderful group full of positive, friendly furs. Please come join us if you wish!

Thank You to All Who Sent BBQ Goodies!

Our family just wanted to give a BIG THANK YOU to all our furiends who left us goodies. It got a little out of control (in a good way!) so it's too hard to send individual thank yous! We are fat and happy!

Resting up!

As you can see from my new picture, I enjoyed napping a lot yesterday! Hu-sis and Myles came over for the afternoon...which is fine, as long as the baby stays away from me! He is just to noisy for me.

I did spend some time sitting in the yard yesterday, which was nice. It was very warm out! I didn't move around too much, but I did enjoy doing some sniffing. That was enough excitement for me, so to the couch I went for a nap!

Feeling Better!

Mom talked to the vet, and he said to go ahead and give me the Prednisone every other day to see how I do. I'm still feeling pretty good and like a pup again! I'm pretty hungry and thirsty, but other than that, the medicine is working!!

Hu-sis and Myles came to visit tonight - I guess he's alright for a baby. Mom held him so I could sniff him, but I didn't really want to get too close. I did get dog food with gravy, so it was a good night!

Health Update...

Well, I have good news and bad news. I started acting very odd this weekend, then I started having a hard time walking. Mom called the vet and they gave me some anti-inflammatories for my back, but they didn't help. Sunday I wouldn't eat or go to the bathroom, and yesterday I fell down in my food bowl. Mom took me to the vet again after work yesterday and they had me walk around. They think I had a stroke in my back and put me on Prednisone.

I am feeling a little more like myself now and ate my food today and was moving around a little better. I will keep everyone updated!

What an end to the year!

Thank you HQ for picking me for Diary of the Day! WOW! That was such a surprise.

Thank you to all my furiends for making the day so special.

Also, I would like to ask everyfur to check out a dog's page who befriended me today. Her name is Roxxie and we look alike - she is a very nice dog!

http://www.dogster.com/dogs/883141

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!