My Life As Duchess Sammy

Now its just my weight

2012-02-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

I think I have my pain management under control now. Yes I still have some very SORE days. I haven't quite figured out what makes those days. It might be a change in weather, as some people say. My new meds are working!
It might be the day after a bout of good days where I felt less pain and so engaged in fun filled days of frolicking and playing with my toys.
Or perhaps it's after a night when I've slept in a particularly complex position. Who knows?
At any rate, I seem to be having more, less painful days now. It's a good thing for a couple of reasons. One I'm sure I needn't mention. The obvious meds taking affect. I now get them in the morning instead of bedtime. Two, I can use the 'good' days to get my much needed exercise accomplished.
Doc says if I cant get my weight to a more manageable number Im going to continue to have health issues for the rest of my life. I know that's true. It's just that I feel like I'm caught in a vicious circle. I can't seem to get my wieght down if I can't get the exercise I need.
So Im committed to using as much of the "GOOD" days as exercise days. My mom and dad are committed to keeping me on a STRICT healthy foods, non cookie diet. Oh my! Tha's the hard part.
My new cookie treats are cut up bits of broccoli, caulifloer and carrots. Mmmm they really are good and mom says I can have as many of them during the day as I want! In the words of a very famous lady.... "How cool is that!"
Mom keeps a big plastic bin in the fridge full of them and I can ask for them at any time. I do too! I loe to moan and whine and wallow by the fridge untill I get some. HEY! Whatever works! Mom says she'll put some pics up on my site soon so you can see how Im looking.

Oh btw King got a brand new snow suit this year and we have some pictures on his youtube of us playing. so you can go have a look at that if you want to. www.youtube.com/user/kingsurvives2008 and mine will be added soon at www.youtube.com/user/duchessbelongs

A change in meds

2012-01-18T06:35:00.000-08:00

It's been over a week since I had my last Cartrophen injection. There is no noticible change. If anything my limp has become more pronounced. Mom and dad suspect there is little chance of future injections doing anything to ease my pain. I'ld say they're right. A phone call to the vet yesterday revealed their suspicions were true. The damage to my elbow is beyond what can be halted at this point. Dr. Shawna is sending us some new meds which I will start as soon as they arrive. In the meantime I've been told I need to do a little more moving around. Mom has been controling the amount of movement I get in hopes of easing my pain. Doc says I need to keep it mobile. So when the meds arrive there will be a routine movement regiment included. Oh dear oh dear. I wish I could just stay laying on my soft, warm bed all day. Mom doesnt want to - but - the doc thinks our only avenue at this point is to go with pain management on NSAID
Pics and updates to follow. Duchess Sammy's PhotoBucket

The End of 2011

2012-01-14T11:43:00.000-08:00

Thank doGness 2011 has ended. I definitly had my ups and downs this year.

I've just spent my first Christmas with my forever family. King & P. MollyDawg sure know what to do on Christmas morning. I wasn't feeling top of the world that morning so I preferred to lay on my mat and take it all in. Mommy tried to coax me with the smell of presents from Nan in England wrapped in delicious smelling paper. I even wasn't really interested in smelling food.

Yes, Im feeling a bit of pain in my legs these days. Our weather this year has been incredibly damp. I'm told that Lillooet normally has a dry climate. Wouldn't you know it, this year it decides to be wet. Mom and dad ordered me a really nice warm coat to wear but because my legs are sore its dificult to move in it. Now they've bought me a special harness that allows them to hold me as I walk on my difficult days. I'll send pics when mom gets them developed. (I think that's what she does?)

I also now have a YouTube account to post video's of my progress. Wish me well. www.youtube.com/user/DuchessBelongs

My leg pain started in about the middle of Dec. I was playing in the yard. I wasn't doing alot of romping around, just enjoying my new squeaky toy while King & P. MollyDawg went mad roaring around the property.
After dinner I didn't feel much like staying outdoors for any length of time so I sauntered over to relax before bed. I was a bit sore and mom noticed I was favouring one of my legs. I know she thought it was my right hind leg but she was wrong. By morning my limping was more pronounced and it was easy for mom to see it was my right arm that was so painful.
After much fussing and testing my legs by gently pulling and twisting them around mom finally figured out just exactly what area was the most painful. All she had to do was ask me. I could have told her precisely where the pain was. My elbow was way to painful for her to bend it so I stiffened it up and refused to let her move it. I heard her say, "Aahhh daddy it's here in her elbow." Lets call the doctor and get it x-rayed"

So off we went. To shorten an other wise incredibly lengthy story. I am now recieving weekly Cartrophen Vet injections. I've had 4 so far. I do not notice a difference. Mommy and daddy say at the end of this week they will cal Dr. Richards back and see if we have any other options available. I do not feel well. I am not able to play with my squeaky or my ball now. It hurst to badly. I'm going to lay down on my comfy quilt now. I'll write again soon.

Leaf Play

2011-11-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

Sharing Peace, Companionship and a Special Place

2011-10-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

Awhile ago I was reading my daily blogs. Often there is somebody who has written a blog that inspires me. The one that inspired me was Jean's My life With The Critters. Charley's Day At The Beach

Being so inspired I had pleaded with mom to take me for our own "Special Walk". And so mom and I finally found the time to go for a walk all by ourselves.

It was the very first time I've ever done that. We always walk together in a pack. King, Princess Mollydawg, mom and I. On rare occassions she will leave one of us with daddy and just take two of us. Sometimes she'll take Princess Mollydawg, but as long as I've been here, King & I never go alone. So guess what. She did it. She took me by myself. Here's how it went.

The phone rings. Usually when it rings at this time of day, it's dad calling mom to say he's about to leave the shop and she should begin now, if she's taking all three of us for a walk. So it's on with the harnesses, collars, doggie bags, treats (just in case) leads and sometimes Princess MollyDawg gets her saddle bags on. Sounds just fine right?

We all head out the door and off down the gently slopping road towards daddy's shop. It only takes 15 mins. It slopes all the way down and there's plenty of little areas where we can get our fill of doggy smells or meet people and their dogs as they walk the paths. Sometimes we cut through the nearby park area and add a few more minutes onto our walk. Still sounds perfectly fine right?

Sure that's what I thought as well. So off we go directly to daddy's shop. No stopping in between. No taking time for a good sniff. Just walk, walk, walk straight to daddy's shop. Hmmm, I thought this is a bit different. What's the change in plans? So we make it to the shop. Now normally this is where one of two things happen. We all pile in dad's truck and head home. Or P. Mollydawg and mom stay out and daddy takes King & I back home. It seems because The Princess is younger and has more energy she gets to go for a longer walk with mom afterwrds. We go back home to wait in the yard for mom and The Princess to come back home.

Well lo and behold, this day it was King and Princess Mollydawg who were loaded up in the truck. At first I felt very special. Today I was about to leave the pack and head out on my very own special journey with mom. I held my head high and pranced as I walked down Main St. with mom on our way to the trail leading back home. We had walked about 5 minutes when I stopped and looked back. There was no feeling of the closeness of another furry body walking beside me. My normal walking position is at Kings side. His presense was not there. Wait a minute. We seem to be walking uphill. Where did dad and the truck go? Where's Molly who usually leads the pack. I sat down and waited. Mom didn't seem worried at all. She held a tiny soft chewy in front of me and coaxed me back to my feet to follow her. Okay fine, it's different but I can do this. I'm the lone pack leader now. I picked up the pace and began to prance along again.

Another 5 minutes and my feet didn't want to prance anymore. I slowed to about a snails pace and let mom walk the length of my lead ahead of me. The entire time mom was chatting away to me. She stroked me from time to time and I could hear her words. "Oh you're so beautiful Duchess. What a good girl. You're so special. Look at the beautiful sky Duchess. The orange leaves are ever so sofly glistening in the sun..." On and on and on she rambled. I did like the walk, but, when would it end?

We met up with a lady who at first I thought I recognised. I barked and wiggled and waited till she came closer to smell her. Oh never mind, I don't know you. Off we plodded again. Mom tried several strategies to encourage me to walk a bit quicker. She talked in an excited voice. She stopped and hugged my neck. She used sentences that had words like, "home, daddy, King & Molly, house, drink and mat." I heard her but I just wanted to stop walking. I'm sure we walked for hours and hours all up the incredibly STEEP hill. Along the way I can smell all the usual familar smells and Iknow it's really not much further till we're HOME. For some reason it seems like an eternity. I try to remind myself of how inspired I had been. I pleaded with mom to take me for our own "Special Walk". Finally I can actually smell the fresh scent of King & P. Mollydawg and my very own yard! I only have to cross the road and we'll be home. I can do this. I pick up my pace and begin to prance once more towards my gate.
Horrahh! Now I can say I've done it. I went on my very own special walk.

Mom told dad,"Wow it took 30 minutes to come back. It's the nearby park for special, alone time walks from now on."

If I ever have to do it again, I'm demanding we take along a wagon in case I get tired.
In the end, this is my idea of "Sharing Peace, Companionship and a Special Place"

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-10-10T09:57:00.001-07:00

I Love Autumn

2011-09-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

The days are turning cooler now. There is still a few hot sunny days left but it's so lovey and cool during the night. I sometimes wake my mummy up at 2 or 3 am and ask to be let outdoors. She doesn't seem happy about that. I dont know why. Its a perfect time to go wandering. The air is fresh and cool and cats are out and about!
P. Molly, King and I all run like crazy when she opens the door so we can catch the tail of the cat as it scampers over the brick wall at the back of the yard. DRAT! We've never caught it yet though, and mummy is fast to CLAP her hands three times which is a night time recall for us. ("CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, = Knock, It, Off! )

The days of playing in the yard all day have passed and we now have to spend a few hours each day sleeping indoors while mom and dad are at work.
I don't mind it too much and sometimes mommy will leave the TV on for us. We don't really care about it but I think it makes mummy feel less guilty about leaving us alone. Dad comes home every day at luchtime and takes us out for a short playtime and a piddle. After his lunch he sometimes gives us a small treat to tie us over. It's a good thing really, because my poor tummy really rumbles these days.

I sometimes feel like Im being starved! On the weekends when everyone is home we've been going out and picking all the fruit off the trees. We have a plum tree, a peach tree and a pear tree and I LOVE THEM ALL! I head straight for the pear tree, cuz it's my favourite. If I'm quick enough I can sneak the pears that have dropped off before mom comes around the corner. MMmmmmm. They are so good. King & Molly like them too but they wait till mommy gives them one.

On days when moms not looking for me I wait under the shade of the pear tree for one to drop. The other day she snuck around and found me. DRAT! now she knows my hiding place. Oh well. She will usually pick one and divide it into quarters for all of us. Daddy doesn't like them so its just mom and us that get a piece. I hope after mom puts them into jars she'll still let us have some. If I have to wait until next summer to have more I'll just die!
MMmmm peeeeaaaarrrs.

I'll put a couple of pics here so you can see how delicious they are.

9 Weeks & I'm Feeling Healthier

2011-08-15T02:15:00.000-07:00

Most of my days are spent relaxing in the sun. I watch my stepbrother and sister, King & Princess Mollydawag, romp and play. Sometimes I try to romp with them, but they play very rough. When I play, I am not as sure footed as they are. Sometimes I almost trip over my own feet. I know Im losing some weight because I can run and frolick much easier these days. Mommy tries really hard to get me to run and play with her. I do ... sometimes... Mostly I enjoy playing by myself with my toys.

On days when its hot and everyone goes out to lay in the shade, I like to stay indoors. Mommy turns the air conditioner on for me and sometimes she tricks King into staying indoors with me. I like him. He lets me give him licks. Sometimes we even lie together touching paws. My mom thinks he's younger than my 10 years. She says maybe 9. Some days I think he's older. His coat is turning very white. I see it in his eyes. I treat him with respect, because, I believe he deserves it.

This is my home and I am happy. Its a wonderful life!

My Bathday! Oh my

2011-08-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

Mommy says I was such a good girl I'll prolly get another one in a month. EEK! Perhaps I ought to wiggle and squirm more next time.
It really wasnt so bad though. The water was warm and mommy gives a GREAT massage!

2011-07-13T12:40:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful world

Ahh Relaxing Summertime

2011-07-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

Here it is. Arrived in all its glory. Hot, Hot Summer days. Good food, good family and lots of play everyday. Does it get any better than this?
I'm sure my family will tell me, there are still a few hills to climb. I know that. I have to lose some weight for starters.
Yes the good Dr. told me I'm over weight and if I want to live to a ripe old age I have to trim my wasteline. I tipped the scale this month at 95 lbs. The doc wants to see me down to a swelt 85 lb. He says I'm starting to get older now, (10 yrs is not old Im still a puppy at heart) and my wieght will be a contributing factor in my health in the coming years. My brother King has to lose some weight as well, but he's only 87 lbs. We're both s'posed to hit the 85 lb mark.
The one I giggled at was Miss. Princess Mollydawg, she's well over weight. (hee hee hee) Doc says she's sitting at 58 lbs and has to lose at least 5 lbs. She will not be a happy puppy. Doc says mom & dad have to be able to see her waistline. ( what's that? ) lol
At any rate apparently we're all healthy exept for weight. My mom was worried about my legs, hips, and over all joints condition. All are limber enough and my coat is fast on to becoming glossy and soft. I haven't had my bath yet because mom says she wants me to feel comfortable with the water before she plunges into that.
I've been in the kiddie swimming pool already. Well, my feet have. I really had to be 'encouraged' to go in even that far. I'm way better than King though. He wouldn't go in at all. He just lays around pretending he's the King or something. Oh, okay, so he is but still, he could at least get his stinky feet wet. At least P. Mollydawg runs through and pretends to have been swimming. Sometimes she's not so bad.

I guess I'm starting to get a little more used to my family now. The little one, called Squire Seven, he's kinda cool. At least he actually tries to get me to play with him. He brings me tug toys and balls and throws them around for me. I try to play with him a bit but he's WAY TOO FAST! King and Mollydawg play everyday ALOT! They run like the wind and ram into each other. Wow they really play far too rough for myold bones. I try to run along side of them sometimes. Usually I end up just standing wagging my tail and barking at them to slow down a bit. I've actually bumped into them some times. I thought maybe that would remind them that Im here and get them to play WITH me. Well so far it hasnt worked. I won't give up though. Im sure in time they will include me in all their games.
for the time being, I'm content and comfortable being a part of this family.

I smile alot and moan and groan and rumble on and on when mom and dad walk in the room. They think they really understand what Im saying. I love it here and I love my new family.

Oh yea and mom said she's adding videos to King's Youtube thing so you can watch how she tricked me to walk in the kiddie pool. She said soon she'll put up a video of her giving me a BATH!! I THINK NOT!!

Princess Mollydawg thinks she's wet.

Okay I got wet that's themost you're going to get from me.

Together

2011-06-21T00:29:00.000-07:00

This video is one of my favourites. It's very short but it speaks volumes to me. Acceptance? Definitely.
From left to right.
Duchess Sammy, Squire Seven, King & Princess Mollydawg
There are various other areas in the yard for us to lay in the shade.
After a short walk about in the yard this is where we all ended up.

I'm HOME!

2011-06-18T07:27:00.001-07:00

My mom and dad came out to meet Brian in Cache Creek at 3:30 in the morning on Sunday June 5th 2011. I know how much they really love me. They brought King, Princess Mollydawg and Squire Seven with them. I wiggled and whined and I licked everyone. I pulled very hard on the lead when mommy was bringing me to the car. I know I'm not supposed to, but I wanted her to know I am happy about getting back in a vehicle because I knew it meant, Im going HOME!

Thank you so much to Brian, for driving me this very long way! Thank you Dave & Yvette for helping me through this difficult time even at a time when things were so hectic for you and all the dogs of Turtle Gardens K9 Rescue. Thank you to Nicola from Houston for arranging to have me brought back from Terrace to my mom and dad. A big special thanks to all those people who tried to make a quicker arrangement to bring me to my home. Lisa, Foster Coordinator for Turtle Gardens,Foster For TG who was instrumental, Paula, Silky's mom and Barb, Caili's mom who offered to drive me in case no one else could do it. That's a long distance! So many people asked about me and how they could help me. It still brings me to tears to think of how so many people who don't even know me wanted to help me. But then, that's what mom says the Turtle Gardens supporters are all about. She says just ask King! Giving of themselves in order to help those who can't. A big special sloppy lick to you all!

I'll be doing updates periodically here, so please feel free to stop back and read about my progress. At the moment mom is putting up a few photos of my first few days back home. You can go look at them and watch the short video clips on her Photobucket page. Here's the link to it. Katog's Photobucket Mom says you just go to my album. Duchess Sammy. There's a new one called Adopted! (deeeep siiiigh) Nice word eh? :-)
My mom has also posted a few videos on Kings Youtube of my first days back home.
Here's a preview and you can click this link to
King's Youtube Channel. I hope you enjoy them :-)

I'm on My Way Back to Lillooet

2011-06-18T07:26:00.001-07:00

I can't believe this has happened! My real mom didn't want me back. Okay, they tell me she "couldn't" take me back. I made it all the way back to Terrace to be with her. I don't understand. I was sent to live in a kennel. The lady that originally took me to Turtle Gardens is coming to pick me up and take me back to Yvette. From there I will wait until Dave can drive me back to "MY REAL FAMILY" The family who loves me. The family who cried when I was taken away from them. The family who pleaded with that other person, who claimed to be my 'mom', to let me stay with them.

I'm going back to them now. I will NEVER, EVER, EVER have to leave them again. I'm going HOME!

Will I See My Real Mom This Weekend?

2011-06-18T07:25:00.001-07:00

There's only 4 more days to go. I really have mixed feelings. On one hand I truely want to go live with my real mom again. I miss doing all the things we did together. I miss her voice and her actions. I know she had to go away to get better. I know she still loves me. I can't wait to see her again. I want her to be healthy and take good care of me.

The other side is I am nervous I won't be allowed to live with my mom. I think she is still in the hospital. That will mean I have to go live in a kennel. I DO NOT want to live in a kennel. The people who are fostering me, have given me an extremely confortable life. I have the pick of 5 mats in thier living room. I have the pick of 4 mats in their bedroom. There are many other cushy mats through out the house. There is also a large crate I can go into if I feel I need to have a secure space all of my own. I went in there one day. Just to test it out you understand. I know I can fit confortably, but I prefer to roam the house freely.

I have good food and the company of other dogs. There is usually anywhere between 6 - 2 other dogs from other families that visit here. I know that the big reddish/blonde male named "King" and another one , a black/tan female named "Princess MollyDawg" live here permanently. We go for a few very short walks a week. I don't like to go very far, I get very tired these days. Mostly I would prefer to lay about the house on my mats and soak in the sunshine.

The mom lady here told me she received an email from the people who are taking care of my mom in the hospital up in Terrace. They told her they want me to go back up there to live in a kennel so I can be closer to my mom. That's when this feeling started. Now, Im having second thoughts about seeing my mom. I really love being here playing with King & P. MollyDawg and Seven, (the little brown border terrier) He's the sorta cousin to King & P. MollyDawg. Even Mia the 2 yr old shepard is okay. We have alot of toys. The squeaky ones are my favourites. I like to control those ones. Sometimes I stand for minutes on end and just guard it. I don't want anyone to take them away from me. Usually little Mia will sneak right in and grab it anyway. She is such a clever sneak. My foster mom said she's going to try to find a picture of that.

My Foster Family, King &Princess MollyDawg

2011-06-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

Will I finally go home to my real Mom?

The nice people at Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue let me stay with them for about a month. That was until they found a suitable Foster Family for me. Well this is it. I'm living here in Lillooet for the time being. My foster mom is going to try to post weekly updates about my life. That will allow my REAL mom to watch and read about me while she recovers up north.

I miss my real mom and I can't wait to get back home to her comfort again. I'm very happy these people have let me stay with them. It's REALLY cozy here! I'll try to talk more about it each week. I hope you enjoy this blog and I look forwrd to reading your comments.
Thank you so much for my Foster Family Mamma Yvette :-)
Please visit these links to see my photos and videos as the get uploaded regularly

http://s422.photobucket.com/albums/pp302/Katog/Duchess%20Sammy - Photos

http://www.youtube.com/user/katogster - Videos