A Dog's Last Will and Testament

I've sat down to write and complete this post a hundred times. Each time I try to finish it I end up having to walk away. I couldn't make it through all the things I wanted to say. I couldn't decide on a title. How do I thank everyone who loved and supported Duchess Sammy through her illness. All those kind people who sent us their support and comfort during her last days. The medical staff, the friends, the family and co-workers. I think I knew this would probably be the last post I write on this blog.

Today I realized I was trying to say things that didn't need to be said.
Sometimes words are just NEVER ENOUGH!

So today just as I decided a picture is worth a thousand words. I also decided to add some words that I think Duchess Sammy would be pleased to hear.
A wonderful poem that was shared on our friend Jean Ballard's blog "My Life With The Critters"
It was sent to Jean by her friend Gail, shortly after Jean's Beloved Charley passed away in 2011. Thank you for sharing this Jean!

A Dog's Will
Author ~ Luis Delgado Before humans die, they write their Last Will and Testament, give their home and all they have to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I'd ask....
To a poor and lonely Stray, I'd give my happy home.
My bowl and cozy bed, soft pillows and all my toys.
The lap, which I loved so much, the tender loving touch.
The hand that stroked my fur, and sweet voice which called my name.

I'd will to the sad, scared shelter dog, the place I had in my human's loving heart,
of which there seemed no bounds.
So when I die, please do not say, "I will never have a pet again,
for the loss and pain is more than I can stand."
Instead, go find an unloved dog.
One whose life has held no joy or hope, and give MY place to HIM or HER.
This is the only thing that I can give .....The love I left behind.
This is my inheritance! My Last Will and Testament.

Duchess Sammy

15/04/02 - 07/01/13

Forever Royal

Prayers On The Wind

A while ago we received a package from a very dear friend.
A friend who we have never actually met in person. A friend who like so many of our other friends, understands what our family has been going through. Jean is the author of the blog, "My Life With The Critters".

You can see the beautiful gift she sent us on this website.
Pet Prayer Flags - Prayers On The Wind

The video at the bottom of this post is in Tribute to our Beloved Duchess Sammy.
You will forever be in our hearts

I have been told the music does not play here so please visit this link to listen to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1vZBz6n3J8&feature=youtu.be
The string of flags come with a tag that explains what they are. It reads:

The loss of a pet, a longtime friend and companion, leaves us lost and deep in sorrow as we try to understand and accept their passing.

Tibetians believe that prayers are carried on the wind and become a permanent part of the universe as the flags fade from exposure to the elements.
Just as life moves on and is replaced by new life, our own healing begins, our hearts mend and we find room to love another pet.

It took us a very long time to hang them outside. There was a part of our hearts that felt like hanging them would mean we are ready to move on and stop grieving for our sister Duchess Sammy. That is so, NOT the case! We will forever grieve her loss.
But, now we want to begin to move forward and remember all the happiness she brought into our lives. We still cry when we think about her. I am crying now. I started writing this blog a few hours ago but have to stop periodically to regain my composure. I go out and look at the flags and think of her being healthy and free and with good buddies to romp and run with her tongue lolling out. Then I can come back in and smile as I write.

Thank you Aunty Jean for helping us to begin the healing process. Bless you and all your furry companions.
We will be Okay, ...soon.

The poem on the middle flag reads:
"You have gone ahead, And nothing is the same, Leaving paw prints on my heart, That will always remain"



Until We Meet Over Rainbow Bridge . . .

Duchess Sammy is Running Free Over Rainbow Bridge

Yesterday was an extremely difficult day. It started with a blog posted on www.turtlegardens.org which you can read below and ended with a blog I posted later in the day which I will post first below.

We can not begin to Thank all the supportive people who have so kindly expressed their empathy for all we are going through at this time. It will take us some time to regain our strength and get that task completed. There are over 40 messages and emails that came flooding in to our side.

Thank you so much to everyone of you! You will hear from us soon. We are in a state we had never anticipated would happen. All we can imagine is that the "powers that be" took the pain away from our Beloved Duchess Sammy by bestowing it on us.

If that is the case we gladly accept this pain knowing that in time it will subside for us and it would only have increased if it would have stayed with our Duchess Sammy.

Rest In Peace Forever More Duchess Sammy – 15/04/02 – 07/01/13
Posted on January 7, 2013 by King
| 18 Replies
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society.

Thank you so much to everyone for all your supportive and kind comments. It helps to hear we are doing the right thing. It’s so hard to know for sure. Our hearts are broken.

Late this afternoon Duchess Sammy began to show signs of extreme stress. King and Princess Molly laid beside her for a short time but she did not rest easy. Cuddles and strokes and even extra tramadol did not calm her. She had not been able to empty her bladder for the last two days and we believe her kidneys had failed. A rush to the vet confirmed our greatest fear. There was talk of a catheter but we felt our sweet girl had been through enough. It was time to let our darling cross Rainbow Bridge. She went to sleep in our arms while resting on her big fluffy mat with her teddy bear under her chin. Her warm breath still smelled of her last lick of peanut butter. She’ll be the most desired girl on The Bridge.
Run free and fast Royal Girl. We will always love you.

Duchess Sammy is ill
Posted on January 7, 2013 by King
Turtle Gardens Diary, Updates | 20 Replies
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society.

Two years ago on Jan 9th 2011 Duchess Sammy joined our family. The happiness she has brought to our home is beyond belief. She has the softest, mildest teddy bear personality I have ever had the pleasure to know. She brought something very special to our small pack. She has completely filled a spot that we never even knew was empty.
Duchess was at TG Dec 2010 I remember the phone conversation when Cynda told me about her being brought to Turtle Gardens because she was unwanted at her previous home. She was 9 years old and her family wanted her to be put down. Fortunately someone from her hometown in Terrace put a quick stop to that and brought her all the way down to Yvette. Yvette saw her teddy bear personality and knew right off she DID NOT belong in a rescue facility. She needed a family she could love and be devoted to and that would return all that love to her. She mentioned that to Cynda, who in turn mentioned to us to ask Yvette about the big black rottie that was brought in with no name.
Deezy, Duchess and Raita stayed with Yvette safe from the flood waters
That’s when the wheels began to turn. Those who remember Duchess coming to us will recall there was much turmoil to go through before Duchess was allowed to BELONG in our family. She had to go back to Terrace, but finally came back HOME to stay on June 13 2011. Duchess Sammy came HOME to us permanently. We are ever so grateful for everything everybody did to get Duchess to us. A few people who played an immense role were of course Lisa B, and Nikki from Terrace and of course Dave and Yvette and Brian.
Thank you so much for this beautiful treasure you gave to us.
Duchess wrote a 2 week update letter to Mamma Yvette -Jan 23 2011 Sadly that website is no longer available. Duchess has had one and a half years of prefect bliss. She truly is of Royal blood in our hearts. She has only ever given us perfect devotion. She exudes calm, matronly, diplomacy. She makes no bones about showing someone who is playing to rough that they better calm down or she’ll run to tell mommy. She made it very easy for us to give her all the affection and care she rightly deserved but obviously lacked. This girl really does have a royal heart.
Duchess Sammy’s YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/duchessbelongs

During the last six months Duchess has been on NSAID (Deramax) and battling severe arthritis in her front leg. We believed it had begun to affect her hind legs as well. On Oct. 23rd 2012, during a routine six month, blood test and x-rays, Duchess was diagnosed with advanced bone cancer. We were told to prepare for a tragedy before the end of the year, possibly before Christmas. It had already spread to her lungs and possibly other areas. We were devastated but determined to allow Duchess to continue to live out what ever her remaining days were, in as much comfort and dignity as she so rightly deserved.
She is now almost bedridden. We carry her or trolley her in and out of the house. Daddy did a bang up job of building her a ramp and a trolley for transport. We have placed long walkways of carpet throughout the house so she could walk without slipping on the lino. It is becoming rough more and more difficult for her to stand. Her bladder is shutting down. She still has control of her bowels and we put pampers on her during the night to prevent the possibility of mishaps. (Thank you so much for those Paula.) Her disease has metastasized further to other organs and she is now taking tramadol three times a day to keep her as comfortable as possible. A double dose at night. We are so thankful to all the people who have offered so much support for us. Of course, Yvette and also Carol Hines from S.A.I.N.T.S. for their expert advice on quality palliative care. A special thank you to Wendy for sharing the meds she had remaining after the tragic loss of her beloved Daisy.


Time is quickly running out and we have prepared ourselves as much as we can that we will have to let her go to run freely over Rainbow Bridge. We believe we are down to one or two days now. I keep a fairly up to date record of her days on her blog and try to add videos to her YouTube as much as I can. Our vet lives an hour out of town and I also hope it provides an opportunity for him to see her progression as well. For now we all enjoy a few of lives simple pleasures that Duchess Sammy reminds us about each day.
A wagging tail, a deep sigh while sniffing the fresh air, the feel of her favourite teddy bear under her chin, the taste of her favourite chew toy, the sound of her favourite squeaky toy, a bark when she sees the other dogs playing to rough, the feel of her soft, clean, thick, glossy black coat. . .

THANK YOU FOR
ALL YOUR SUPPORT

Duchess Sammy in a CONE??

I think not! I promise not to scratch or rub my eye.
After all I can only barely lift my hind leg as it is, to touch my ear, let alone get it up a further couple of inches to my eye!

Okay so I let you try it on me to see how it works and NOW WE KNOW! I can not move around with that silly thing on my head! I need to use my nose to give me balance when I stand up and turn myself around.
How in tarnashun am I supposed to do that with a stupid cone stuck on my head!?

Take it off! Take it off NOW!
Thank you, for laying beside me in this silly ordeal King. Good grief!!

So apparently I have a scratch inside my eye. I think I must have done it when I was rubbing my backside on the branches. I recall slipping a bit and I think a branch may have caught my eye. So anyway t's infected and now I am on two types of eye drops. Twice a day now mom has to put these stupid drops in my eyes!
Well at least we know what that swelling was. I have to go back in two weeks to see if it's cleared up.

As for the swelling on my right leg. . . Well that's another story.
Not so easily remedied. My tumor has grown to an incredibly large size and begun to metastasize. It has moved up my shoulder blade and creeping onto my spine. It's also down my leg in several areas almost cutting off a great deal of blood flow. The best thing for that now is to continue to gently massage my leg in hopes of keeping some blood flow to it. I'm being good about letting mom gently move my shoulder and leg several times throughout the day. Of course we hope to keep the blood flowing to prevent gangrene from setting in. Oh for heavens sake, what next! Well next is some good news!

Yayyy! Good news! My tooth has absessed as we thought and it has aleady fallen out all by itself! On Friday when I went in to see the good Doctor Ross, at Cache Creek Vetterinary Clinic, told mom he could wiggle it and it would probably fall out right in his hand. Mom said if it's that close let's let it come out on it's own. So it did, the very next day. Mom is still spraying salt water on the empty cavity to keep food from lodging in it. Double Yuck!! But at least that's feeling better.
Now we're back to the waiting game. It sounds terrible to talk that way but that is exactly what we're doing.

I'm still enjoying some of life's simple pleasures on a fairly regular basis. I still wiggle my tail when I'm out side. I still take my ball and hold it in my mouth. It still taste good to lick it. I like it when the other dogs comes by to give me a sniff. Sometimes they give me a lick in passing. I always wiggle my tail so they know they've made me happy.
Mom said she put a new video on my youtube. It shows how I come out to the yard and go back in. I don't stay outside for very long. Even though I have a plastic tarp under my cozy quilt, I get chilly fast. I would much rather be in the house beside the heat vent.
So at least I don't have to wear the stupid cone and my tooth is no longer painful. Whew. Life is still okay. :-) For Now . . .

A Simple Pleasure

Daddy Phoned The Doctor And The Doctor Said . . .

Yesterday daddy phoned the vet to give them an update on how I'm doing and to ask a couple of questions.

You see I had a couple of very bad nights and he and mom became very worried.
I've had a couple of things show up in my body and they were not sure if they should be concerned or simply take them as signs of the progression of my bone cancer. At any rate they wanted the vet to be aware of the changes in order to help me through this difficult time.

• Most significant is the swelling of my right leg. That's the shoulder where the cancer has concentrated. Mommy measured both wrists and there is an inch's difference. Doc says if it's not red it's probably not inflamation. It could be that the blood vessels are being affected by the tumor and the blood flow is being hindered. Mom is to massage it periodically throughout the day.
• Also my bottom tooth seems to be inflamed. At first daddy thought it was just where I scraped it on the ground while eating snow. On closer inspection it appears to be an absese of sorts. It hasn't spoiled my appetite but mom has been giving me softer foods anyway. The doc says I have to use salt water to clean it out. Mom mixed up a solution in a small, spritzer, spray bottle and is going to do that several times a day. YUCK
• The other concern is my right eye. It is also swollen and it's started weeping alot lately. Doc says there is really no way for him to give a proper diagnosis over the phone. He says to check for redness, watch it and let him know if it doesn't improve.

Well, that's it then, dad made me an appointment to bring me in to see the doc on Friday. I'll let you know how it turns out.
In the meantime, mom is still adding video's almost daily to my youtube channel. I really want to play on some days but mom is afraid I'll overdo it and she stops me.
Like on the New Years day video

Duchess Belongs's YouTube Have a look and feel free to comment. I'ld love to hear any suggestions or advise you have.

Check out my wiggly tail! here - Dec 29th Day by Day

And after snow play it's time for the warmth of the house.

Look at me I'm weightless! - HERE -Rolly Polly UpsideDown

NEW YEARS DAY

2013 - A New Year

What a Wonderful World
AUNTY CYNDA - THANK YOU FOR MY SONG!

My New Year Wish came true. I have been able to see it come in. I will not see it go out but I will be watching over when it does.
My nights are becoming restless now, two nights in a row I have not rested easy.
I think my days are quickly coming to an end.
I'm not quite ready to go but I'm ready to accept that the time is close at hand. The time when I can run fast and far and be free of pain.
I was searching for wonderful poems to write here but there are so many to choose from.
I wanted one that tells my family how much I have loved them. One that tells them I know how much they loved me. Instead I wrote what's in my heart, if I could really talk.
Im so Thankful and grateful to the people who rescued me!
Nikki from Terrace and Yvette Labatte from Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Topley B.C.
You gave me what I was searching for
My Forever Family to Love and Cherish me.

THANK YOU!

I am so grateful I was rescued
Two more years of life accrued
I learned I really did belong with Royalty.

I was pampered and adored
and I was told twas my reward
for just being who I am, Duchess Sammy

The others knew that I was ill
when I came within their guild
but they did not spill my secret even once.

Soon the day was coming
I would have to stop my running
Now that day has come and gone, yet here I am

And now I'm growing tired
and I try so hard hide it
Yet it's difficult some days to even smile.

Soon I'll find the strength to ask
my mom and dad to do the task
let me go to run o'er Rainbow Bridge.

But for now I soak up snuggles
lots of tummy rubs and cuddles
and a chance to lick the faces of my friends.

When I'm gone I shant look back
but run far and fast and free
Forever with The Rainbow Bridge Pack

Merry Christmas To All

"They" said I might not make it to see Santa arrive. BUT I DID! And this morning I went out for my morning ritual and came in to eat breakfast just as normal as these days have become.
Now I'm resting in my trolley until I have recovered my strength to move into the living room and settle on my mat by the heat vent.
I had a wonderful Christmas day with my family. After my morning out, I snuggled back down on my mat to open my Christmas package from Nan, who's over in England. Thank you Nan those treats are DEEELISHHHH!
King and Molly and I munched away, MMMM YUMM! They are so good. Mom said I could only have one because they are very rich and might give me the ... well you know.
We have snow on the ground so it's basically a white Christmas. I love the snow and am so happy I got to see it this year. Im making it through day by day and my pain seems managed just fine.

I tire pretty quickly when I'm out in the snow to play so when I have had enough I simply lay down to let mommy and daddy know it's time for me to go indoors.

My leg is swelling a bit now, and it hasmom worried but it really doesn't seem to bother me any more than it did before.

I've included a few more snow pictures and I'll get mom to upload the christmas pictues next blog. Merry Christmas Everyone!

I'm Being Kept Comfortable and Well Loved!

These days I have a happy, simple, quiet life. I love my favourite place to be, it's in front of the heat vent on my fluffy warm mat. I still take my Deramax to manage my arthritis every day twice a day. My bone cancer pain is under the control of Tramadol, three times a day. I still try my best to walk every day to keep my muscles as strong as they can be given my condition.
I love to cozy in my day bed that daddy built for me. On days when I don't want to walk mommy or daddy putme in my trolley and roll me to the outdoors. I just cozy down and enjoy the ride now.
A few weeks ago my mom received a message from a generous person on facebook who had recently gone through the pain of loosing her beloved companion. She was full of compassion and comfort for my mom which then transferred over to me. After the passing of her sweet Daisy she was left with several suppliments and pain pills. She sent these to my mom through the post for me to benefit from.
Thank you so much for them Wendy.
I have days when I don't want to go outside except to do my business and come back indoors again. The growth on my shoulder is about the size of a small football now, though it's not noticable unless you feel my shoulder blade. I don't use my right leg at all but rather just let it hang limp while I walk.
I'm still very alert and eager to head out doors to find my toys and have a snack on the Mountain ash berries with King and Princess MollyDawg. I have a healthy appetite and still drink my share of water each day.
Mom says I'm still "Ole Roly Poly, Moany Groany, Sloppy Jaws" :-) Although she says, I've trimmed my waistline down considerably. Good thing cuz I don't think my ole leggies could carry that extra wieght this time in my life.

If you want to take some time to go have a look at my current photo album please visit this link. Duchess Sammy's Ramp and Trolley
Mom is adding new videos regularly on my youtube channel HERE - www.youtube.com/DuchessBelongs

My Ramp and Trolley are Complete

Yesterday my dad finished my ramp and trolley and I love him even more than I thought I did before.
I'll be posting a few pictures that I think will tell the story with out my having to.
Mom is just uploading them and they should be available later this afternoon.
You'll notice in a couple of the pictures. Its not me in the Trolley but actually King and Princess MollyDawg. Can you believe it?? The minute my back is turned they hop right in and tried to claim it. Well I guess it's okay after all we always share everything around here. Besides I was busy getting a drink of water. Oh, and isn't it neat that the Trolley can come right into the house?
Yea cool eh?
Mom and dad say I can use it as a day bed when I dont need to ride around in it. It's helping me get used to it. I've been rolled around the house a couple of times and I even went down the ramp already! I KNOW WOW EH!
Mom didnt take a picture thought because both her and dad had their hands on teh trolley and sort of getting ready to guide me back if I should get spooked and try to bolt out of it. Phhhhffft ! AS IF! There is no way Im going anywhere by right down on my comfy cozy foamy and uilt when I'm in there. I love it. Mom will get some pictures soon she says. :-)

Im so happy

I had to remove this SLIDESHOW It wasn't working properly. I'll fix it later but for now you will have to click on this link to go see it. Im sorry about that!

How Am I doing?

Before I begin this post I need to say a resounding Thank you to two of the strongest women Ive ever had the pleasure to speak with. I admire them both,and I hold the deepest respect for them. Carol Hines from S.A.I.N.T.S. and Yvette Labatte from Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue. You have given me strength to cope with this and I plan to FIGHT!
Thank you!

I was feeling at a loss and wondering how I would ever manage to carry on with the results of my last tests.
Bone cancer and arthritis. What a combination!
Apparently it will be over by Christmas time. Or so my Dr. thinks.
My plan is to prove them wrong.
I plan to be here to see the new Spring come in. I can beat this.
Mom and dad have started me on Tramadol combined with Deramax. Twice a day, once in the morning once at night. I'm sleeping way better.
I'm very hungry by morning and can't wait for my dinner. Mom has altered my diet to oinclude more veggies, more protien and vitamins. I'm getting an increase in fish and Omega 3. Vitamin A, D and E. Carrots, Sweet potatoes, Beatroot and way more broccoli.
I'm getting even more fresh lean meat and my kibble is being cut back to reduce carbohydrates. So those are my recent changes in my mental state and my diet.

How's it working?
I'm very sore first thing in the morning. Still able to pull myself up with the help of mom or dad lifting the corner of my mat to give me a boost. I walk to the door where mom or dad carry me down the 3 steps to the lawn for my morning business. I'm a bit wobbly but still able to support myself. I still like to walk over to the Mountain Ash tree with King and munch of a few of the fallen berries. I can't usually make it back to the house so dad comes to carry me back. I can walk from the doorway to the livingroom and onto my mat of choice. Whew! that's a big event in the morning. Mom makes my breakfast and I eat it very eagerly. Mmm I still have one healthy appetite. Sometimes mom or dad brings me my breakfast or dinners instead of me walking back into the kitchen to eat it. I'm a bit wobbly on the kitchen floor so I wait on my mat for it. They bring me my water as well, which I still drink by the gallons.

I sleep all day while mom and dad are at work and King and Mollydawg don't bother me at all. When dad come homes for lunch they run outside toplay and I wiggle and moan and groan with happiness to see him. He carries me outside for a pee and I like to show him how happy I am to see him. I wiggle and bark and do little jumps of joy. When Im done after about 10 minutes, dad carries me ack into the house and I sleep for the rest of the afternoon until mom comes home and we do the same thing over again.

Yes I'm in pain but it's not unbearable as yet. I can handle it and I will continue to. I am still a happy girl who loves my family and I know they love me. We are fighting this and will not give up!

There are new videos on my youtube so you can see how Im doing. Please feel free to go have a look.

Im Okay!

http://www.youtube.com/user/duchessbelongs

What Do We Do Now?

October 23 2012 My semi annual vet appointment. I was scheduled to have my bloodwork done, and an x-ray to look at the arthritis in my front leg. Mom asked if they woudl please schedule an x-ray for my shoulder as well. She has been watching a lump grow and thinks the arthritis has spread up to my shoulder. I've been very sore but can easliy endure it with the NSAID's (Deramax). Im taking 75 mg a day, half at breakfast, half at dinner. My wieght, according to the good doc, is at a stable and acceptable 36.2 kg For the most part I thought I was doing okay. The x-rays showed otherwise. The large lump on my shoulder turns out to be a cancerous tumor. Im devastated! How can that be? I was just fine 6 months ago! I can beat arthritis. It won't get the better of me. My mom and dad can easily support me through a life of stiffness and arthritic pain. I get good quality food. High in protein, subsidized by extra nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Omega 3 oils, Glucosamine Chondroitin, veg and meaty bones. This is unbelievable to me. Not only is there a tumor on my shoulder . . . my lungs show cancerous spots on them as well. It's so hard to write about this. I have been told I may not see Christmas this year. Will it really happen so fast?? I know my mom and my dad will continue to give me as much of their support as they can. I know they are doing whatever they can to make me as comfortable as I can be. For now, Im in pain when I lay in the wrong position. I am in pain when I try to move to quickly. I can still play with my ball and I still love my breakfast and my dinner time. Im drinking well and still have regular bowel and bladder control. How long will this last? Today my mom will write a letter to ask for any information she can get from a well respected Animal Seniors advocate. I will write again when I know more or when something changes. October 12 mom and dad and King and Princess Mollydawg and I all went camping at Rogers Creek. It's about an hour away from home, Southwest of Lillooet. I am so happy I was healthy enough to enjoy it. Here are some photos and videos of the weekend.
Limpin But Happy

Time To Lay Down Big Girl

My Bloodwork came back

Yesterday was a good day for me. Dr. Richards from Cache Creek Animal Hospital called to talk to mom about how good Im doing! Yep, the NSAID Im taking has shown no affect on my liver or kidneys. YaHOOOoo I can take them for as long as things stay the same. They really help me feel better.

I've also lost another 2 kg so my weight is slowly getting down to perfect for me as well. I'm now at 38 kg. (83.7 lbs)I still need to lose a couple more and I know I can do it!

Carrots and cauli and broccoli oh my!

Now its just my weight

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, cauliflower 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 love 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

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

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

Sharing Peace, Companionship and a Special Place

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

I Love Autumn

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

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!