All Dogs go to Heaven

On Monday, the day after going to the beach, David took a very sudden turn for the worse. The cancer had spread to his rear left leg and he no longer could compensate for the bad front leg. His pain was obvious, although he never let out a cry or whine. Pain medication ceased to control his pain. Although he continued to be strong and loving, his life no longer had the quality he deserved. With heavy hearts we went with our David to the Vet's last night (April 27th). He died with his head in my lap and my arms holding him. As my tears sprinkled over his head he took his last breath. Quickly, quietly, and peacefully our dear sweet David went Home.

Beach Day for ME!

Today my parents took me to the beach! Just ME!!! They left those other two puppy-dog-things at home. It was so awesome. The weather was warm and the sun so bright. I played in the surf, found some stick to carry around, licked the sand, drank a little saltwater, and generally had a good time. Sure did tire me out...I slept in the truck on the way home and didn't even want to sniff out the window. Later, I got to play in the plastic wading pool and bite the water from the hose. Then, in the evening, dad made a fire in the pit outside and brought out my bed so I could lay nearby. I had a very good day, inspite of the fact that mom has found more tumors and now my left eye has suddenly clouded over. Mom thinks the cancer has spread there now too. She gives me my pain pills several times a day in cheese...which I do so love, also...I LOVE the beach!

Poem: A Loan from God

A LOAN FROM GOD

God promised at the birth of time,
A special friend to give,
His time on earth is short, he said,
So love him while he lives.

It may be for eight or ten years,
Or only two or three,
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for me?

A wagging tail and cold wet nose,
And silken velvet ears,
A heart as big as all outdoors,
To love you through the years.

His puppy ways will gladden you,
And antics bring a smile,
As guardian or friend he will,
Be loyal all the while.

He'll bring his charms to grace your life,
And though his stay be brief,
When he's gone the memories,
Are solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return,
But lessons only a dog can teach,
I want you each to learn.

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

Whatever love you give to him,
Returns in triple measure,
Follow his lead and gain a life,
Brim full of simple pleasures.

Enjoy each day as it comes,
Allow your heart to guide,
Be loyal and steadfast in love,
As the dog there by your side.

Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call,
To take him back again?

I fancy each of us would say,
Dear Lord, thy will be done,
For all the joys this dog shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter his with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've know,
Forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for him,
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,
God's wishes to achieve,
In memory of him that we have loved,
And to help us while we grieve;

When our faithful bundle departs,
This earthly world of strife,
We'll get yet another pup,
And love him all his life.

Author Unknown

A Very Bad Day at our House

Last Friday was a very bad day at our house. You see, I started limping again several months ago. Mom took me to the Vet after a few weeks and the Vet gave me some medicines for inflammation and infection. Two weeks after that, I still wasn't better so we went back and they gave me sleeping medicine and took some x-rays. These were normal, just like the ones in December of 2004...actually I have a little arthritis. Anyway, Mom just kept giving my medicine for inflammation and some medicines to make my joints better. And yet I continued to limp even more until I quit using my front left leg except to get up and down the stairs. Mom decided to talk to the Vet again who said we should have one of the others in the clinic check me over. I have known this other Vet for my whole life. So last Friday I went to see him and he found a bump on my left shoulder joint and said it is a tumor. I had to have that sleeping medicine again and he took some pictures...again. Except this time when my mom called, it was not good. In fact, very bad. I have a bad bone cancer called osteosarcoma. It is very mean and aggressive and spreads very quickly. I must have had it for some months but it is only now showing up on the x-rays. My mom and dad are very upset. Mom cries a lot. I still like to play ball and with sticks and eat and follow mom and dad around. I do have a very hard time with the stairs so now they put a gate there so I can't. I really don't understand them sometimes, but what's a guy to do? Dad has to put in the bath tub now but I don't mind because I like taking those long warm baths. Mom gives me a pill several times a day in cheese- I love that! She said the pill is for my pain. I just don't see what all the fuss is ... so I will just keep doing what I am doing!

Puppies are the pits

I am so sorry I haven't had a chance to write in my diary in so very long but the parents have gone out of their way to make my life miserable and this is the first chance I have had. You are not going to believe this: not only is that Sadie still here, they went and got ANOTHER dang puppy-thing! I am not making this up. They call IT Max. So, right after they bring that thing into my house it crawls on me and so I bit it and I am the one who gets in trouble. Talk about not fair. Who has been their faithful and loving best dog ever for all these years? At least Sadie isn't so obnoxious anymore and I do have some fun playing with her. But that puppy-thing Max is another story. They keep him in the kitchen, something for which I am very thankful. However, lately they have been letting him come around me more often. The other day Mom and Dad took him and Sadie in the truck and I was ever so hopeful that they had finally come to their senses and took them away. No dice...back they both come all hyper and irritating and smelling wierd. I don't care how many rawhide bones, frogs, bisquits, and pork chewies they give, nothing is going to make up for those nasty puppy-things. They are just the pits! At least they get locked up at night and leave me to sleep undisturbed next to Mom and Dad's bed. Well, November 16th is my 8th birthday and my only wish is for a puppy-free house.

Rainy days and puppies always get me down

As you probably already know, that puppy-thing, Sadie they call her, is still here. Sometimes my parents leave with her and I hope and wish so hard that when they come back they won't have her. It never works, though. She is still here, annoying me every chance she gets (that is every chance when she isn't chasing her tail, the idiot). The parents brought her home another irritating squeeky-toy, what is wrong with those people? Are they deaf? Can't they hear that awful high-pitched noise those things make? As much as I love them, I don't think they are the brightest animals sometimes. Or at least their judgement sucks. They think that the puppy-thing is cute when she is running around with that big squeeky snake toy in her mouth. Cute isn't the word that comes to MY mind when I see her. Dufus, maybe. I will give her this,-she is a pro-tailcather. You should see her,she makes herself so dizzy, she falls down! I hope no one thinks we are related. Sheeesh!

Sunny Sunday

What a nice sunny day here! I am doing so good today-not even a little limp-that my Mom took me outside and threw the ball with the chuk-it for me. I love to run and run after that ball, it is my favorite outside fun except for the beach. Mom left the little pest inside so I had her and the ball all to myself. Afterwards I rested on my fluffy bed for awhile. What a super day! current mood: very happy

Good News

My folks took me to the Vet yesterday for my xrays. They had to give me a sedative for the procedure and boy was I out of it! The Vet told my folks that I do NOT have any bone cancer and it was probably arthritis that is causing me the pain and limping. My Mom and Dad are so happy (and so am I of course!). Mom was crying again (she does that). I had an accident at the Vets ( I just get so nervous there) so Mom gave me a bath when I came home. She gave me my new pain med in a piece of cheese, yum yum. Then I spent most of the evening snuggled in my new fluffy bed in front of the fire (with my Frog, naturally). My Mom is putting a picture of me on my new bed on my page so you can see. Those cats like my bed too, especially that red-headed brat Kenny. It's okay, I don't mind sharing with him as long as he isn't a pig about it. No cancer, what a great Christmas present!

Bad Day

I started limping last week and my Mom checked that foot and leg and finally figured out that it was my shoulder that was hurting me. She gave me aspirin which helped my pain a little and then yesterday I had to go to the VET. The Vet told my Mom that I might have a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. Now my Mom won't quit crying. I have to go on Friday to that Vet again and get an xray to see for sure. I haven't been able to play ball all week. At least I get to go in the car! Mom let me sleep on the bed last night, she never does that. She says I am a bed-hog!

Rainy Days

It has been really raining here lately and even though I love to swim, I don't like the rain-especially when it comes sideways and gets in my eyes! Just means more time in front of the fire :-) ! I still don't care too much for that Sadie, but I do let her lick my face sometimes. If she just wasn't so hyper all the time. current mood: bored