A very sweet thing.....

Late last night.........actually early this morning around 1am my Kimberly who is almost 18 years old, had a very bad seizure. To my knowledge this was the first seizure that she has had, and hopefully the last....All was quiet in the family room while I was watching TV last night.........all of the dogs were either cuddled up with me on the sofa or laying in their dog beds on the floor.......everyone except for myself was sleeping........Kimberly was sleeping on the smaller sofa by herself as she normally does at night.........when all of a sudden she jumped off of the sofa and started bumping into things very forcefully.......I quickly went to her to see what was going on when she then fell onto her side.........I have seen dogs having seizures many times in the past and this episode was classic. I carefully repositioned her and continued to stroke her head and body, telling her that everything was alright.......I remember even bringing my mouth to her ear and whispering to her that I was there and that she was going to be ok........I honestly thought at one point that she was going to be leaving me........I did not want this to be the way my girl crossed over that Rainbow Bridge but if it was, I was going to make sure she knew that I was there with her before she left.....
Now for the really amazing part...........During this episode all of my dogs had woken up and immediately went to Kimberly's side.........Each one of them licked her legs and face and kissed her and they were genuinely concerned about her.......There was not a sound out of any of them........no barking, no whining........nothing! This was probably one of the most beautiful yet frightening moments I have spent with my dogs.......Although none of my dogs have ever had a seizure up until this point........they all instinctively knew that Kimberly was in trouble and that she need their love....

This morning before I went to work I had to make the decision if I was going to bring Kimberly into the Vet's office or not..........Since bringing her to the Vet would really stress her out and she did seem to be much more herself later this morning, I decided not to bring her there......Had I done this the Vet would have suggested medication to prevent further seizures.......which would have turned my beautiful girl into a zombie! No, my Kimberly deserves much more that that........She has had an incredible long life filled with many wonderful adventures.......She deserved to be at home and at peace with her family this morning .........If she had given me any sign that she was in pain or discomfort, I would have brought her into the Vet's office in a flash..........but this was not the case.

Maroo.......was very quiet this morning when I was getting ready to leave for work........I let him outside with Kimberly right before I had to leave..........I watched them both from the window to make sure that she was ok........and I saw a very sweet thing, Maroo went over to Kimberly and started to lick her face........and for the first time since they have met, she allowed him to do this.

Rules For Non-pet Owners Who Visit, And Like To Complain About Our Pets

1. The dog lives here. You don't.

2. If you don't want dog hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.

3. I like my dog a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, he's a dog. To me, he's an adopted Son who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

5. Dogs are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell the pups.

The same applies to cats, except they ignore you until you are asleep.

Some like it hot, some like it not...

This past weekend, today, and tomorrow has been our first "heat wave" of the year....and in April too! All of my dogs usually handle the intense heat of summer without any problems......but when the heat comes on so fast as it did this past weekend you have to pay attention to each dog while they are outside playing so that they do not develope heat stroke.......A dog with heat stroke is a very serious condition and needs to be addressed immediately! It is key to get the dog into a cool environment asap!....and then to carefully monitor the dog until the distress is over........Well.......try telling this to a Tibetan Terrier! My guys will lay out in the full mid-day sun in the middle of a heat wave and think nothing of it! Watching them sun bath, makes me wonder if there really is something to that "long coat keeping them cool in the summer and warm in the winter" theory........it must be true because they adore the sun! I have to pay even more attention to my dogs who have been "clipped down" for the summer as to protect them from sun burn.........Yes dogs can become sun burned very easily if not wearing a sun screen just like their human counterparts........This weekend Maroo got his first taste of a good ol' North Eastern heat wave.......and I have to say he adored it just as much as my other TTs have in the past! He has become increasingly more outgoing in the play yard and even ventures out on his own exploring the various areas of interest in the yard........He has also learned how to play with a group as they chase each other around the yard in what I call the "TT Train" 4 or 5 dogs all running in a line chasing the tail in front of them until someone is caught! Just too much for any dog to have on a wonderful warm spring afternoon........Maroo has really come far in his play behavior......During his first few days here, he would only run back and forth from the deck to the yard until I would let him back inside....This was frustrating because he just did not know how to handle the open space of a play yard.....The story is, that the Missouri rescue dogs had free run at the puppy mill during certain times of the year.....For a dog who had free run of any open space, he would be comfortable with it, right? He certainly did not behave as if this had ever happened to him.....he just could not tolerate any outside space by himself unless I was there physically with him.........and even then, he was still very cautious......It is a good thing now to see him relax more and have fun without me being there right by his side, I watch him play outside while I am standing near a window or the back door......He trust the other dogs and they love to play with him.........Life was good during a very warm weekend for Maroo.........I have a feeling he will be laying out there sunbathing with the rest of them this summer..........I bet he would look cute in a "Speedo" :)

"When I think of home, I think of a place"......

"Whisper" before and after..........

Today I heard some wonderful news from Camille via email..........Our little old lady Whisper who brought tears to my eyes the first time I met her at the kennel is finally going to her new "forever" home! This sweet little gal was in such bad shape when she was rescued from the hell hole in Missouri that it was beyond sadness.........it broke your heart to see her. I know that Camille and the others who work at the kennel spent many an hour getting this poor soul back into shape and ready for adoption. I remember the warm spring day when Camille and I were visiting the Missouri dogs at the kennel and decided to bring Whisper outside with the other dogs for some fresh air..........She had been very sick the weeks before this day and since the weather was so nice we let her have some fresh air in the play yard. She was so happy to be able to spend time with the others and was actually smiling! At this time most of the dogs still had kennel cough so it was important that she was on a good schedule of rest since she was one of the older dogs.......Not only did she pull through the kennel cough with flying colors she became so much more healthier on a diet of good food and plenty of love and attention.

I am uncertain of the relationship between Whisper and my Maroo.......and for all I know she could very well be his biological mother.......Based on the horrific condition she was in when rescued from the puppy mill it is clear that she had been bred many times in the past......I know that a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday when I visited the kennel to spend time with the dogs I brought Maroo over to the fence on the side of the play yard so that he could see his family that were still there.......All of the dogs including Whisper became very excited to see Maroo and they were speaking to each other in their own Tibetan Terrier language! I am sure that Maroo was telling them all about his new life and the others were telling him about how well they were finally feeling now that they had people who loved them taking great care of all of their needs.........I remember how happy Whisper was to see Maroo.......her little tail was wagging so fast and she was doing the famous TT dance that I have come to know all too well over the years.......The others were equally as happy and the day turned out to be more special than I could have hoped for.........

I do not know the two women who have decided to adopt Whisper and bring her into their lives but I can only imagine that they are two very special women to be doing this......And Jerry, who I believe is transporting Whisper to her new home since it is a distance away, somewhere upstate New York I have been told.......very kind of him to be doing this for her!

I love hearing the success stories regarding the Missouri rescue dogs......I have also heard that little "Fred" is in his new home too! .......without any details concerning this great news I really cannot say more than this right now but will as soon as I learn more....

I hope that Whisper's new family will be keeping us posted on her progress and new life in New York.........and will also be sending lots of pictures!

God bless you Whisper.......You have come so far and deserve the loving home that you now have!

a great sadness today......

A Tribute to Norma Jean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvux60fqNU8

It is with great sadness that I write this entry........During the early morning hours Norma Jean passed away and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I fell in love with this lovely Afghan the first time I saw her months ago at my handling class......I feel privileged to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her beautiful spirit. Her owners Larry and Loretta are devastated and need all the love and support friends can offer right now........Losing a dog in this untimely manner is a sadness that cuts right to the soul.....Only time can begin to heal these wounds. Norma Jean is now free to run with the countless others who have crossed before her.........her spirit will live and love til the end of time.


"Into The West"

Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say:
We have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
And all will turn To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass Into the West

That's what friends are for...........

This morning I heard some bad news via an email from my friend Nancy.........Apparently Loretta had called Nancy sometime during the very early morning hours to inform her that "Norma Jean" the gorgeous blond Afghan had come down with what the Vet is calling "Canine Flu" There is also a strong chance that NJ may have contracted this flu at the Harrisburg Kennel Club show a little over a week ago when we were showing dogs there.........She became violently ill sometime during the night and was rushed to the Vet's office...........later this morning when all of the treatment at this Vet's office had be exhausted, she was transferred to C.A.R.E. (Center for Animal Referral) in Langhorne Pa....C.A.R.E is an awesome facility with a very state of the art Emergency Department. After I finished grooming my first client's dog this morning I took a long break and went over to Langhorne to be with Loretta, Larry (L's husband) and Nancy who had also left work early to be there.........I brought Maroo with me for the ride and for moral support since Loretta loves him so! I was able to bring him into the ER and held him in my arms the entire time since I did not feel good about letting his paws touch the floor........You never can be too careful at a Vet's office......too many germs on the floor from other dogs walking about......Before I headed up to see NJ, I stopped at a shop called the "Ave Maria" which sells numerous medals of saints and religious articles.........I found a very beautiful St Francis medal for pets which fastens to a crate or collar.........in addition I also picked up a holy card which had the St Francis prayer for pets on it.......I gave both of them to Loretta when I arrived...........St Francis is an amazing saint........He watches over all animals and especially those who are ill and in need of special care.....I asked the Vet Tech if it would be alright if we attached the medal to NJ's crate and she told me "absolutely"!!! NJ is listed in "critical condition" at the moment but the Vets are doing everything they can possibly do for her right now...........Loretta and Larry are on overdrive, with no sleep since the day before..........I am going to head back up there to spend some time with them in a short while and do what I can to lend a shoulder if needed......During my first visit Maroo sensed where he was and I knew without a doubt that he was feeling the turmoil of other animals which were there in need of help...........He is very much an Empath when it comes to other animals....he can sense when another dog is feeling fear and pain...........I have noticed this many times when I have had him with me at the grooming salon.........It is almost like he wants to comfort them..........considering where he came from and how much he had to depend on his dog family at the puppy mill I am not surprised that he can read the emotions of others. Many folks know about NJ and her illness and are praying for her.....If you are reading this I ask that you say a prayer for her too.....There are never too many prayers as far as I am concerned..........My little man Maroo would pray if he knew how..........I am sure of that :)

Just My Dog.......

JUST MY DOG

He is my other eyes that can see above

the clouds;

my other ears that hear above

the winds.

He is the part of me that can

reach out into the sea.

He has told me a thousand times over that

I am his reason for being:

by the way he rests against my leg;

by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile;

by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.

(I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, he ignores it.

When I succeed, he brags.

Without him, I am only another man.

With him,I am all-powerful.

He is loyalty itself.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion.

With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace.

He has brought me understandingwhere before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.

His presence by my side is protection against

my fears of dark and unknown things.

He has promised to wait for me...when ever...wherever--in case I need him.

And I expect I will--as I always have.

He is just my dog.

Copyright Gene Hill. All rights reserved.

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