Holding our breath......

Could he be the one?



I'll find out tomorrow.

A gift....

Today, among the bills and the junk mail was the most precious thing I think I've ever received in my mailbox. An envelope addressed to Domi, all the way from Singapore.....


.............from the Musketeers!!!! I had forgotten about her prize for being Miss Beauty in their contest. What was inside brought tears to my eyes and could not have been a more perfect prize.



I had known that a collar was one of the things she had won since they had asked me about the size and pattern I would like. The painting was a complete surprise and so wonderful. The artist captured Domi's expression and eyes so perfect. Everytime I look at it, the tears just start flowing and I feel like Domi is with me again.

Stella loves the treats. I tried to get a photo of her enjoying them but since she is such a wiggler, they were all a blur. This is my favorite one. I finally got her mostly to be still, but if you look at her tail, you'll see that she couldn't quite do it.




Thank you Musketeers!!!!! Words can never express how much this meant to me today.

Help Snickers

I just discovered a poor pup who needs the love and positive thoughts that Domi received so many. I don't know if there is too many who still check in on Domi's blog but just in case I know she would want me to help spread the word. The following was taken directly from Miss Snickers blog.

As you may know

Miss Snickers is struggling

Mightily

Along with her family.

(The best place to keep up with updates

is her Gussie’s blog.)

Last night looked as if it might have been her last.

This morning she rebounded with improved symptoms.

She is far from out of the woods

But she and her family

Including her gentle and loving brother Butchy

Have been granted another day.

We can’t help but believe

that part of the improvement is because of

The support and love that have surrounded her

From all around the world

Thanks to the linked paws

Of her blogging friends.

The Power of the Paw

We are asking everyone to set your alarms

And at exactly 11:00 PM GMT on Saturday 14 Nov 09

(Go to this link to find what time that is for you)

5:00 PM Saturday evening in Iowa

as Snickers' family sits down to eat

Turn toward them (in the central USA)

And join together in a silent minute

Of prayer, meditation, contemplation, reflection

Whatever feels right to you.

Followed by whatever means of communication

You choose.

Arrooing

Barking

Howling

Yipping

Yapping

Wooing

Meowing

Mewing

Purring

To wish and send Miss Snickers and her family

whatever is in your hearts

That will help them feel the Love and Support

They need right now.

Personally, we’ll be praying for a Miracle.

Then

Blow a Kiss

and send your Love and Prayers and Best Wishes

to Miss Snickers and her Family

and they will feel their arrival

in the breeze.

OK?

We believe it will help.

And we'll do anything in our power right now

To help.

Love,

Jake, Fergi, MomaSally and NinaGirl

Not this time....

I'm back home but without the dog. Shy Girl was as sweet as could be and I could have easily brought her home but......there were some issues. The shelter that had her does not do any vaccinating, testing, spaying or use preventatives (heartworm, flea, etc). It was so tempting to bring her home and I almost did but I started thinking what I could be getting myself into. For all I know I could end up with a pregnant, heartworm positive dog with worms that needed a fortune in medical care. If we weren't still paying off Domi's medical bills and I didn't have Stella who I refuse to take the risk of infecting with anything, I might have gone for it just to get her out of there and know that she would be in a good home.

We are still thinking about Kiedis and Kitty (if only we could agree on one) and I will keep looking around. There isn't a rush for us.

Oh dear.....

As if I weren't having a hard enough time thinking about Kiedis and Kitty (Bridget has been adopted), I would have to find this dog. The day I walked into the shelter and saw Domi for the first time, this is what what she looked like. So sad.....and the fact that this dog looks so much like Domi.......my heart is telling me to go there right now. All my coworkers are telling me to go too.

I guess from the advice I've already gotten about following my heart.....you all would agree.

Tough decision

On Saturday we went to a shelter in our state that had received some of the Border Collies that were removed in the Tennessee puppy mill raid. If you haven't heard about that, you can read about it here. I've seen several photos of the dogs and the condition they were in. Absolutely horrible.

They have 4 Border Collies left of the ones received and our hearts were breaking looking at them. We stayed there for a while and visited with 3 of them. We went with the intention of possibly adopting one but realized this called for a big discussion and lots of thinking. None of these dogs have had any training or socializing. Kitty, the one that pulls my heart the most seems to be afraid to leave the her kennel. She stays in the back corner, curled up in a tight little ball with as much of her body as she can fit under her bed. I've never seen a dog so shut down. Kiedis, the one that Domi's Boy can't get out of his head, is a bigger than average boy. We are wondering if he also has some lab. He isn't quite as withdrawn as Kitty but he also seems to not know how to enjoy being a dog. He at least appreciates affection and I think wants to be able to love. The third one is Bridget. She is the most "normal" of them and fortunately is in a foster home. She is very affectionate and can't get enough attention. She also is very interested in everything around her. Her only problems is that she has had no training and will need a home that can make sure to focus her high-energy in a positive direction. The fourth dog is Fly. While a sweet and cute boy, we eliminated him from the list because his problems seem more than what we can take on and we don't think he would be good for Stella.

While we hate saying no to bringing any of these dogs into our lives and home, we really need to think about what bringing one in will mean, for both us and the dog. We both work full time so do we really have the time available that it will take to properly train and socialize one of these dogs? And what about Stella? While I know she is lonely during the day, is this the right "friend" for her? Expenses are another factor. The dogs have all been vaccinated and fixed by the shelter but they've been malnourished for a long time (resulting in some teeth needing removed). Will this cause any future health problems? Neither of us are sure if we can emotionally or financially take care of another long term illness after our battle with Domi's cancer. The shelter is a 3 hour drive from us so we aren't able to spend time getting to know these dogs as much as we like. I'm considering driving up later this week to meet them again and go from there.

If anyone has had experience rescuing a dog that has come from a similar environment, I would love to hear to hear about it. The good and bad.

~Domi's Girl

A year ago...

Last year around this time we all headed to the pumpkin patch. Domi really enjoyed the ride while the other dogs couldn't wait to get out of the car. We'll be heading back to get some pumpkins soon and when I think back to this day last year, I can't help but smile. We'll be sure to make an adventure out of it in remembrance of a silly Border Collie who made every trip something special.