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Jo's Japper

Joey has passed away.

Joey passed away New Years Eve, 2010, somewhere between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 pm.

She probably died of a heart attack, caused by stress to her heart, due to a dog attack.

On Monday, Dec. 19th, I was walking my 3 dogs (Joey being one of them) to the timid-dog park.
My dogs were on-leash and we were walking past the big-dog park, which is a pretty large park.
Someone leaving the big-dog park accidently allowed another dog out of the park. That dog started running towards us. It did not appear threatening in any way.
However, Joey was a very timid dog, and when the large dog approached her, she became very fearful.
I tried my best to get the attention of the large dog onto me and off Joey, but the large dog focused in on Joey only.
Joey rolled over in submission and the large dog bit into Joey's chest. It let go and bit into it again, this time picking Joey up and shaking her.
About that time the large dog's owner had gotten to it. He pushed his dog over on it's side and laid spread-eagle on it.
Joey was able to walk (She was a fat little thing and too heavy for me with arthritis and a bad back to pick up)
I got her to my vet and she was found to have punctured lungs, a broken sternum, and some broken ribs.
Joey stayed 2 days at the vets and then I got to bring her home.
The Dr. did warn me that often a shaken dog will seem to be getting well but then will die of a heart attack because of the heart muscles being damaged.
Joey did seem to be getting very well at home. Didn't act like she was in much pain, walked around the house, and was eating well.
On News Years Eve, I left my house at 7:30pm to go to a Tara Retreat at my Temple. Joey was fine and laying in her bed.
When I got home from the retreat, about 9:30pm I found Joey on the living room floor, dead.

It's lonely without her. I hope I was able to give her some enjoyment in life during the time she lived with me.

We will be holding a Powa in a couple of weeks at my Temple for Joey and others that have passed away recently. It eases my heart to know that Joey will be offered the opportunity to go to the Pure Buddhaland, if that is where she so desires to go.
I would much rather give her this opportunity to continue on as SHE wishes, than to make her sit and wait at a Bridge for me.
I have no desires to go where dogs are not welcome without their *masters*.

I am no *master* to my *pets*, only a guardian. And I feel the best gift I could ever give Joey is the ability to be free from suffering, forever.

The Buddhas will welcome you with open, compassionate hearts, little Joey. And I will meet you there someday.

OM MANI PADME HUM

Dog Park

Yesterday mom loaded all 3 of us into the car and took us to
this dog park in Scottsdale.

I was very happy to get to "go" since I am not a social butterfly at
all and tend to either scream like a little girl or nip at other dogs
that get close to me, so mom usually leaves me at home.
But this was the first time for mom taking us to a dog park so mom
thought she would give it a try and take me along too and see how
I behaved.

Well, I behaved a lot better than mom expected! (Mom always love
it when we doggies suprise mom in GOOD ways!)

I didn't play with any of the doggies there, but I didn't scream or
nip at any of them either!!! I allowed dogs to come up to me and
sniff me and I would occasionally walk a foot or two and go check
out a dog.

But, as mom's friends pointed out, the 3 of us formed a little circle
around mom; non of us venturing very far from her side.

After mom's friends left, mom walked the perimeter of the park with us
doggies twice (she said we were going to get SOME exercise instead
of just sitting on our butts! BOL).

I only left my mom's side when she said it was time to go! Mom had
stopped to put our leashes on us and didn't see me trot off
to the gate while she was putting attending to the Popo and Kima.
She laughted when she saw me sitting at the gate and she wondered
how in the world I knew where it was since this was our first time
there! (Hey, mom gives me less credit than I have coming! I'm
a pretty smart doggie - I just tend to keep it to myself! Unless
it serves my purpose to do otherwise!)

I whined and paced the back seat on the ride home (did the same
on the ride to the park, too. )

I was happy to get home. I joined Popo and Kima in a nice long nap!

Loosing a little weight!

Mom is happy because I am loosing a little weight! It's gotten cooler here in AZ now so we have been going for walks in the evenings. Mom says I have lost a couple of pounds and is very proud of me! (She says she wishes that when she looses just a couple of pounds it would be as noticeable on her as it is on me! BOL!)

I went to my second obedience class on Sunday. Mom was surprised about how nice I walked on the leash. I use to tug and pull and choke myself pulling on the leash so hard. And I didn't do that in class. But she is having a hard time getting me to "sit". She has to push down on my rear (and that is NOT how it's trained at Petsmart - so mom hopes I start to get it soon!)

I am still very afraid in the class but at least I didn't pee on mom's leg in this last class like I did in the first class! (Mom thinks I did it because I was scared - I really did it because I was "marking" her as belonging to me!
Shhhhhh!!!! Don't tell her that! )