Leaping into her Sugarface! Meet Nikki
This month we are celebrating senior dogs and their sweet sugarfaces!
Today’s special guest is 10 3/4 yr old Nikki, showing off her sporty sugarface all the way from Dallas, Texas!
Subtle Sugarface
Snuggly Sugarface
Fetzer and her sugary snout!
This month we are celebrating senior dogs and their sweet sugarfaces!
Sugarface dog models
Today’s special guest is 10 yr old Fetzer, showing us her sweet superstar sugarface all the way from West Grove, PA
10 year old Fetzer lives with her humans at their dog friendly winery in Pennsylvania. Check it out here.
Do you suppose she's been into the cabernet?
Dogs and Loss – Enter the kittens!
Over the past few weeks we’ve brought you stories about dogs and loss. We’ve shared stories about dogs who’ve shown their grief, dogs who comforted other dogs through sickness and loss, dogs who brought comfort to humans and dogs that were lost.
Relaxed Benjamin
This week we’re sharing another story of loss but this time the healing came in the form of cats, kittens to be specific, two little bundles of energy, determination and distraction.
Cue the cute kittens
And because no one can resist one kitten, let alone two kittens, we decided to start this story at the end rather than at the beginning.
Now tell us, what is your life like today with your two new additions?
Well, life is never boring – Oliver and Elliot are approximately 11 weeks old now and developing very quickly.
Happy Cats
Do they get up to mischief?
Oh yes, especially with having two I never know what the other is doing. I have discovered that they can find the smallest hole and they are very good at wallpaper removal. They love to play so every single thing is a new adventure for them.
Inquisitive Elliot
Do you think they influence each other?
I have noticed that Elliot will watch Oliver and see what he does. Then he will try it himself. When it comes to new food it is the other way round. Oliver always watches Elliot before he will try something new.
Now, some of us know that you didn’t always share your home with two little felines. In fact, before you were amusing kittens with cardboard boxes you were living a more tranquil existence with a peaceful soul named Benjamin. Please tell us about him.
Benjamin was a Field Spaniel who was a rescue. I went to the RSPCA in Preston in 1999 and he was there along with his two brothers who had been abandoned in a box. They were only 6 weeks old. His brothers had been adopted and he was the last one. I didn’t see him at first but he saw me and came to the cage door to be asked to be picked up. He went to sleep on my shoulder. That was it, he was mine, firmly settled into my heart and my life in that instant.
Benjamin as a young man, age 3
We were a team, Ben and I, for 12 ½ wonderful years.
Benjamin passed away on December 15th, 2011 from cancer. He was a wonderful little man, a true part of our family. Although it was just Ben and I at home, everyday that I was at work, Ben spent the day with his Nana.
Easy going Ben
A calm and patient dog, Ben just loved to be with me, his mama. He was very easy going and wasn’t too bothered if we didn’t go far so long as when the day ended he was asleep by my side. He was a true companion to me for all those years.
Did you always know you’d get another pet(s)?
I live on my own so I always knew I would have another pet. I am a huge animal lover and knew that a home without pets would be way too lonely for me.
What made you decide on kittens? Did you specifically not want to have another dog (either for practical reasons or for emotional reasons)?
I had to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision. I really would have loved to have adopted another dog but my parents are elderly and wouldn’t be able to take care of another dog for me when I am at work. Benjamin was old and slow and very complacent so they could cope easily with him in their home.
I checked out doggy day care facilities and found that it would be just too expensive for my income and totally impossible logistically.
Happy relaxed Benjamin at home
Thus, I decided to get a cat. They are independent and can take care of themselves when I am out at work. After doing some research I decided on two housecats so that they would have each other for company. I was offered Oliver and Elliot from a rescue I know, to foster them on a short term basis. But as you can imagine I fell in love with them and they are now fully ensconced in their forever home.
Hopefully in the future if my circumstances allow it I will get another dog to make my family complete again.
How is life different now than it was when you had Benjamin?
Life is completely 100% different.
Benjamin was always by my side. Oliver and Elliot aren’t. They are quite independent despite being tiny little cats. They do love cuddles and attention but they prefer sleeping on their own and don’t want the constant tickling, petting and one to one attention that you typically give to a dog. I find that as a result, I have more time on my hands as they are not as demanding as a dog.
- Blatant display of cuteness by Elliot
Thank you Geri, for sharing your story we love a happy ending, and a happy beginning.
.
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Louie and his beachy Sugarface!
This month we are celebrating senior dogs and their sweet sugarfaces!
Today’s special guest is 14 1/2 yr old Louie, showing off his sunshiny sugarface all the way from Elk Grove, California!
Sugarface or Beach Bum? You decide.
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Dogs and Loss – The Healing Power of Pets
In our earlier posts, we’ve talked about dealing with the loss of a dog and how an existing dog senses the loss and how they react. But what about when a family member passes away, does the dog sense this loss as well? If so, how do they handle it? Moreover, is our dog able to sense our grief? Can a dog help their human owner through the process of grief and bereavement? Is there really such a thing as the healing power of pets?
Today in our ongoing series on Dogs and Loss, we will talk with someone who lost their spouse, and how their dog has played a role in their grieving and recovery process.
Sunset walk by the river in New Orleans
Our guest today is Venus and her dog Belle.
Venus and Belle
Thank you so much for talking with us today Venus, and thank-you for your willingness to speak so freely. In my own experience I find that talking is the biggest part of healing and yet while people freely discuss the loss of a pet, there is some hesitancy to discuss the loss of a human family member once the funeral has concluded and day to day life has resumed.
Now, please tell us about your husband:
Well, here goes…My husband Robert “Pup” and I were married for 36 wonderful years. We always had pets, either a dog or two dogs. Every single day we took a beautiful sunset walk with our four-legged companion(s). We had a happy, full incredible life!
On Saturday Jan. 8, 2011, we took our dog Belle to the river and dog park for a great sunset walk. The air was very very cold, wind blowing, the kind of sunset you dream about. We got home, Pup watched the football playoffs with Belle and I worked in my office until 10:30 pm. At 12:20 a. m on Jan. 9, 2011 Pup tucked Belle and I in to bed, we all said our I love you’s hugged, and Pup went back in the living room to eat his Blue Bell ice cream, cookies and watch TV.
I got up to close the bedroom door and saw my happy happy Pup howling with laughter, the huge carton of ice cream on his tv tray. At 4:30am I got up to use the bathroom and I noticed Pup was halfway off the sofa. I tried frantically to wake him up, but couldn’t. I called 911, put Belle in the bedroom, unlocked the gate and the entire street was filled with EMS, firefighters. They came in 5 minutes. They worked on Pup hooked up the machine, but couldn’t restart his heart. They rushed him to the ER to try more complicated procedures. I sped over there, and within a few minutes of my arrival two doctors came out, and held my hands. In that instant I knew he was with God. At that moment, one heart stopped and another one, mine broke into a million pieces. I sat with him, told him how much I loved him, and walked home in the driving freezing rain.
When I got home I leashed up Belle and we walked at dawn for hours in the freezing rain. No coat, no umbrella we just walked.
I can imagine that the first days/weeks were a bit of a blur. Do you recall how Belle was during this time? Was she eating/sleeping/acting differently? Were you concerned for her?
Tired Belle
Yes, you’re right, the next few days were a blur of activity, funeral arrangements etc. During this time, Belle sat in her Daddy Pup’s chair and wouldn’t walk. She kept looking for him to come through the kitchen door. And then on Thursday that week I got home late and realized to my shock Belle couldn’t walk. I rushed her to ER, where they diagnosed a severely lacerated paw, and she had to have immediate surgery. The vet said she had probably been trying to dig out from underneath the chain link fence in our backyard. I think she saw the ambulance take her daddy away and she was going to look for him. She recovered after a few weeks and her paw was fine.
Compounding your situation is the fact that you are a small family, just you, Pup and Belle, correct?
Yes, our situation is more complicated since the family was just me, Pup and Belle. We lived in a world that revolved around our family unit of three, and death had never been considered or discussed. Pup was only 63 years old and had just passed a physical. He had a sudden heart attack and died in less than one minute, so no suffering for which I am grateful. However, in this life there is no greater shock than “life interrupted”. Every single aspect, of your life changes in an instant. My darling canine daughter Belle is the constant in my life. My one and only constant.
Do you think Belle ‘knows’ what has happened?
Yes, I can say with confidence that Belle to this day knows something is different. When Belle was injured that first week and I didn’t even notice it, I was so much in shock, it jarred me back into reality, she is my rock and she is my responsibility.
Every night when we go to bed, I pet Belle and tell her, “Your daddy is still here, you can’t see him, but he is here and he loves you very much and is taking very good care of you.”
Do you feel that the basic responsibilities of dog ownership compelled you to keep up with certain routines, i.e. getting up, taking her out, buying her food etc? What I’m trying to say is that if you didn’t have to do these things, if you didn’t have a dog, would you have reacted differently.
Candidly, if I didn’t have Belle, I don’t think I could have gotten through the last year. I would just be a person who lay in bed day and night staring at the ceiling. Belle gives me love and she gives me hope. I look into her ever smiling face and in it I see a reflection of that last sunset walk with my husband Pup.
Having lost your husband, do you worry more about the fragility of your now smaller family unit?
I find that I have real hyper vigilance since I lost Pup. I worry that something might happen to Belle. I have to constantly remind myself that she is okay. She has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy, but she has the best care possible, and she is a healthy happy little girl.
Have you thought about getting another dog?
I had every intention of getting another dog, so the family would be three again. A shoulder and back injury last fall that are slow healing have put that plan on hold for awhile.
Any other thoughts or things you’d like to share that may help others?
Never ever underestimate the healing power of pets. No matter how much else in your life is falling apart and believe me after the sudden death of a spouse, you go into a nearly year-long freefall, your pet will always be there. Their unconditional love will get you through anything. That is why god gives us pets. That is why he gave us Belle. I sincerely believe that God knew he would need Pup in heaven to help him, so he made sure I had Belle to take care of me here on earth.
Thank you for sharing your story with us Venus, as you know our focus has been on Dogs and Loss and your story will certainly strike a chord with many of our readers. I’m wondering though if you could offer us any general advice/thoughts on how we as ‘outsiders’ in this story could be of help to someone in your situation. My experience has been that people are uneasy talking about someone who has passed away and mostly want to change the subject.
For any of us brave enough to face the topic, please take this moment and this space to give us some advice. Do you want us to ask about Pup? Do you want us to offer to walk Belle?
Venus and Pup
The best thing a well intentioned friend can do is call the person who has suffered the loss. Call, e-mail, stay in touch and let them talk about the departed loved one. Just knowing you are not alone, when your world has been shattered is what counts. It is invaluable in time of need. I was lucky, I had that. In fact, I had so many people stopping by at all hours with food I could have opened a restaurant.
A week or so later when you can finally face eating again, it so appreciated. I personally started sharing my memories of Pup on Facebook and I was fortunate enough to have people in my daily life who listened and, in fact, still listen to all my memories about him.
Just letting the person know you are there for them, is the most important thing. Letting them know you care. The sudden death of a spouse or loved one is the hardest thing any human will ever have to face and when you know that you won’t have to face it alone, means everything to the one left behind.
Thank you for that, I know it will be a help to many people in years to come.
If you would like to read more about Belle, check out an earlier post that she was featured in “A Day in the Life of – Belle an ‘every’ dog in New Orleans”
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