Scout - A Year Later - We Miss You!!

Today has been a year since we lost our dear Scout in such a tragic way. I still think about him everyday and although it is easier to think about him without crying, I will never get over how he was taken from us so soon. He was still the best dog ever and I love my Remi & Mady. I just wish the three of them could be together. I know Scout would love Mady and would probably be teaching her some interesting tricks right now. I miss how he used to pick up his bowl and carry it around when it was empty. I wish I had video of it. I miss how sweet he was and how much he loved to be with us. I even miss how he used to grab the dishtowel off the counter and then want me to chase him to get it back. I miss spelling words like PB (peanut butter) to try to trick him, but he still figured it out. I miss how he just loved to be petted and loved.

He was our gentle giant baby and is sorely missed. We love you Scout!!

Dog of the Day!

This has brought me to tears to see my beloved Scout honored as dog of the day. He definitely deserved it. If ever a sweeter dog existed, I can't imagine it. We miss him terribly. On Monday, June 16th he would have been two years old.

Daddy bought you a gardenia bush as a memorial (since we already have tons of trees in the yard). We plan to plant it tomorrow and scatter some of your ashes there. I can't bear to part with all of the ashes. They are sitting in the urn on the mantle, and I can't move them. I know some people might just put them in the closet, but my Scout deserves better.

Thanks to the all the Dogsters who gave stars and rosettes! We appreciate it! He was a special dog! But they are all special dogs, and I know that my Dogsters understand that. Bless all of you!

Tears and Love,
Scout's Mom

Scout's ashes

I just got a call that Scout's ashes are ready. I don't know if I'm ready to pick them up yet. I still can't believe that he's not here. When I look at the new puppy Mady, all I think is that Scout would love to play with her. He would probably let her snuggle and fall asleep next to him on the floor.

Oh Scout! I miss you so much!!

Love,
Mommy

A Poem for Scout

Lend Me a Pup

I will lend to you for awhile,
a pup, God said,
For you to love him while he lives
and mourn for him when he's dead.

Maybe for twelve or fourteen years,
or maybe two or three
But will you, 'till I call him back,
take care of him for me.

He'll bring his charms to gladden you
and (should his stay be brief)
you'll always have his memories
as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay,
since all from earth return
But there are lessons taught below
I want this pup to learn.

I've looked the whole world over
in search of teachers true
And from the folk that crowd's life's land
I have chosen you.

Now will you give him all your love
Nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come
to take my Pup back again.

I fancied that I heard them say
"Dear Lord Thy Will be Done,"
For all the joys this Pup will bring,
the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness
we'll love him while we may
And for the happiness we've known
forever grateful stay

But should you call him back
much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
and try to understand.

If, by our love, we've managed,
your wishes to achieve
In memory of him we loved,
to help us while we grieve,

When our faithful bundle
departs this world of strife,
We'll have yet another Pup
and love him all his life.

-author unknown

Thank you!

We want to thank all the Dogsters for your condolences. We are amazed at the outpouring of support we have received from so many Dogsters that we don't even know. I think all of us dog people know how awful it is to lose a dog no matter what the circumstances. They are truly family members to us.

Scout will always be in my heart. He was a gentle giant and loved to be hugged, petted, kissed, and cuddled. In the end he was much the same. On the way to the vet, we tried to get him to lay in the backseat with daddy, but he stood up and put his head on my shoulder as I was driving. I put my hand on his face and held his face against my cheek. He was just like that. He wanted to be comforted while he was feeling ill.

I hate that he had to die in such a senseless way. I wish I could go back in time and keep him home with me instead of letting him go on the trip. But of course, that isn't possible.

Scout, you were the best dog I've ever had. You are irreplaceable.

Love always,
Mommy

Hard to say....

It's been a tough couple of days. We had to put Scout down yesterday afternoon. Our bright and happy dog was brought down by a stupid mistake that we never saw coming. Scout went fly fishing with his daddy on Saturday to a cabin in the mountains that belonged to one of our friends. After a long day of standing in the Tuckasegee river watching daddy cast line after line, they went to the cabin. It was the first time anyone had been there since last Fall and the owners winterized it for the season. I have never heard of anyone doing this before and it seems silly to me...it doesn't get that cold in the NC mountains...but to winterize the pipes, they put antifreeze in the toilet.

Scout, as thirsty as always, went straight into the cabin and drank from the toilet. No one knew there had been antifreeze there. One of the guys kicked Scout out of the bathroom and didn't think another thing about it.

He started showing signs of being ill Sunday evening after returning home. He was very lethargic, but that didn't seem unusual to us after fishing all weekend. Then he became very ill and vomited a few times. He couldn't walk straight and seemed wobbly. We agreed with the emergency vet when we discussed what he had done over the weekend, that he must have eaten an onion when he got into the trash at the cabin while the guys were packing up and leaving. He threw up what looked like trash. They did blood work and said his kidneys were elevated but they thought he would be okay after fluids and antibiotics.

The next morning when we were picking him at the emergency vet to transfer him to our regular vet for more fluids, the doctor approached us to ask what else Scout may have gotten into -was it possible that he had antifreeze. We deduced after a call to our buddy whose in-laws own the cabin that they did indeed put antifreeze in the toilet to winterize it.

We put Scout through one round of treatment for antifreeze after he tested positive for it. It didn't help. His kidneys shut down yesterday afternoon and he had a major seizure. We decided to help him cross the bridge.

Scout, we will miss you. We love you big bear. You were the best dog we've ever known. Love always, Mommy.

Hate the vet - OK, not really

I'm supposed to go back to the dogtor tomorrow for a follow-up about my ears. They are all squeaky clean and I don't rub them anymore, so mom says I don't have to go. I need a break from vet appointments for a while. I seem to get into something that requires medical attention every two or three months. It's annoying.

My pal Yuki knows just what I'm talking about. Yuki, I hope you feel better after your eye and dental surgery. Poor puppy. It's not fun at all!!

I know how you feel. Last year I had eye surgery on my watery eye. I was rubbing it all the time. Now they fixed the eyelid and it doesn't bother me anymore. I looked rough for a while though. They shaved around my eyeball and I had these Frankenstein stitches. The e-collar scared Remi to death at first too. Mommy stayed home with me for a few days so that helped alot.

I wish all my Dogster pals good health! May we all only have to go to the vet for shots and checkups! Or maybe to flirt with the pretty vet techs ; 0 ) They love me there.

Ear infection

Last week Remi and I went to the vet for some shots and basic exams. As usual, I cannot have a 100 percent normal checkup when I'm there. I think they like me alot, as I always leave there with a followup exam scheduled.

This time I have an ear infection. Now I'm running from the pawrents when they come to me with bottles and wipes for my ears. I'm taking eardrops, mostly against my will, and they are cleaning my ears twice a day. Last night Daddy rubbed my ear softly, and I squealed. I'm not sure these drops are working very well. I have another week of this ear touching torture to endure. Maybe it will be all better by then.

The Grab and Go Game

I'm cold! Didn't I just write about Spring. What happened? It was a cold and rainy weekend so I had no fun at all. Remi and I spent all day in the house sleeping.

This forced me to create my own fun by grabbing everything I could reach off the kitchen counter or the end table in the living room. I especially like the towels that mom keeps in the kitchen. When I strut proudly into the living room with a nice clean dishtowel hanging from my mouth, mom or dad get really angry. Come! Heel!! They say, but I just run the other direction. As you might guess, they do not like this particular game. But it is my favorite! Eventually, I will acquiesce and bring the towel to one of them.

They said something about my being in the 'terrible twos'. What that means, I have no idea. I'm not a terrible anything. I'm just trying to have fun. BOL!

Spring is Here!

At least I hope so! It will be 70 degrees today and 80 by Friday. I love the warm weather. Mommy comes home and spends more time outside with us. We like that alot - walking, chasing tennis balls, etc.

Thanks to all our pup pals who recently sent us zealies. Thanks Eli! And, our Minnesota pals are the best! Thanks to Mia, Chester, Yuki and Teddy!! We luv you guys!

Eli, my Canadian Chessie pal, just found out something we have in common! We were both the last Chessie puppy at the breeder and they were about to keep us if our pawrents hadn't arrived. Who would blame these breeders for trying to hold onto two handsome young Chessie pups? : 0 ) I think we were both the picks of the litter!

More updates....
- My pawdaddy's back surgery went well and he's feeling really great! He went back to work this week already and it has only been two weeks since surgery. I'm still not allowed to jump on him, and I think he will not be trying to pick me up anytime soon! BOL!