After a long couple of days, it was a real treat to just hang out at Anne’s pool all day. Charlie didn’t stop the whole time. He was in and out of the pool constantly. It has been so much fun to watch his confidence grow as he spend more and more time out there. Each time we go, he goes a bit further out in the pool and today he started getting in and out from different locations. By the end of summer, I hope to have him jumping in from the edge.
Doggie Swimming Lessons July 4, 2010
Exhaustion June 27, 2010
I took the dogs with me to go swimming at Anne’s today. The predicted high for the day is over 100 F so the pool was very inviting. The entire time we were there, Charlie was in and out of the pool. He chased kids and balls and even tried jumping (carefully) off of the steps. He had a great time. I’m sure he was smiling, but he was panting so hard it was difficult to tell. He didn’t stop the whole time we were there.
When we got home, he crashed in the middle of the dining room floor and didn’t move for the rest of the night. He was exhausted. He wasn’t even particularly interested in eating dinner… but he did manage to muster enough energy to eat and climb the stairs to his bed where he slept soundly all night long.
Charlie’s Lei June 15, 2010
Charlie got a souvenir from Steel’s trip to Hawaii… This is a doggie treat lei. It fit perfectly and he really doesn’t seem to mind wearing it. Aloha, Charlie!
Balloon Release March 25, 2010
Today was the final session of the grief support group that Charlie and I have been working with through Optimal Hospice. The children planned a memorial service for today’s meeting and invited family and friends to participate. One of the things they wanted to do was a balloon release. Participants tied a note to their loved on to a balloon. We went to an open area, read a poem, listened to the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and then the balloons were released. We were able to watch them for quite a while before they disappeared.
It was truly a privilege to work with this program and to hear the stories of the loved ones that these children have lost. They are certainly gone, but not forgotten. I leave this having a sense that I know these people who have passed along. Through the stories and emotions that have been shared, they have become familiar to me even though we have never met. That truly is the measure of someone’s character. When you have such a profound impact on those you love that your life continues to go on through them… you have really left your mark.
Grief Group February 4, 2010
Today was our first assignment with Optimal Hospice. Charlie and I are volunteering with a children’s grief support group. My job is to co-facilitate and Charlie’s job is to just be welcoming and adorable and he was perfect. I took him to doggie daycare on my way to work this morning so he was thouroughly exhausted when I picked him up. He slept through most of the session, but he was completely pet-able and kind when engaged.
Charlie’s Accident January 28, 2010
I’ve been writing a lot about my preparations to volunteer with a hospice organization with Charlie. I’ve completed all of the necessary steps for myself, the only thing left to do was Charlie’s physical exam and fecal test. I took both dogs into the vet today for a nail trim and exam. Dr. Baker will complete all of the necessary forms for me and then we’ll be good to go. On the way home, I stopped in at the Hospice office for the Volunteer Coordinator to meet Charlie. She had invited a visit several times before and this was a perfect opportunity since we were going right by the office. I left Daisy in the car and took Charlie in. He sniffed around and greeted everyone and was excited for the new experience. We went into the Coordinator’s office and shut the door. She had water in there for Charlie. I let him off the leash to sniff around and check things out while we visited.
Not long after we were in there, Charlie did the unthinkable. He urinated right there in the office on her carpet. I was dumbfounded! I screamed when I realized what he was doing. How embarrassing! The Coordinator immediately jumped up to begin cleaning up and trying to calm me down by saying that it was OK and that accidents happen. I was in shock. I began apologizing as I drug him out the door to finish what he had started. This was not acceptable behavior. The first requirement for a visiting therapy dog is that they are at least HOUSEBROKEN! How could he do this? I was so upset. When I took Charlie outside and told him to go potty, he finished in an appropriate place. By the time I got back inside, the Coordinator had his mess cleaned up. I offered my apologies again and she reassured me that accidents will happen and that I’ll be prepared in case it happens on a visit. She was very nice and tried to console me, but I really felt like he flunked his first job interview.
Sick Charlie January 18, 2010
Poor Charlie has been sick all weekend long. He started throwing up Sunday morning and hasn’t stopped. I’ve kept him out in the kennel (he doesn’t know how to barf in the toilet yet) and he thinks he’s in trouble. I fed him a little bit this morning and he had thrown it up by the time Steel got home from school. A quick call to the vet and we decided to try giving him another small meal in the afternoon. He kept that down along with some water so we’ll see how he does for the rest of the night.
Obedience School November 12, 2008
Tonight, Charlie graduated from his first round of Obedience training. It took us 8 weeks to complete the course… and most of the time he did very well. There were a few occasions when he’d rather sniff around and play than do the commands that were asked of him. I think that Obedience school is really more for the handlers than it is for the dogs. There were a lot of dogs in our class that caught on quicker than their owners did. It was a lot of fun to see Charlie’s littermate each week. It is amazing how they recognize each other and play. I really enjoyed the class and learned a whole lot. Now… the trick is to keep up the work and keep working with Charlie so neither one of us forgets and we can keep getting better and better. Next Spring we’ll take the next step.
Happy Halloween! October 30, 2008
I know, I know… I have way too much time on my hands… and I need to get a life, right? Don’t be a hater… just enjoy the photos. Happy Halloween from Charlie the Chicken and Lady Bug Daisy!
Cheech and Chong October 9, 2008
You don’t have to hang around this blog very long to figure out that my dogs are very important members of our family. Today was a semi-traumatic day for us. Charlie was neutered and Daisy had a “Quick” surgery. I spent my evening nursing these two who haven’t quite fully come out of their anesthetic. They are a bit wobbly, tried and slightly confused. I told Sierra they acted as if they had been smoking weed together. She asked me how I knew what that looked like since I’ve never used weed (true) and I said I just know from all the movies I watched in the 80′s. They look like Cheech and Chong.
I did have one terrifying moment when I went back to pick them up in the afternoon. When I checked in with the receptionist, she said… “The doctor would like to speak to you in one of the exam rooms.” I was a wreck. I thought for sure something had happened to one of them. All of the blood left my face and my heart started to race. I said… “Why? What’s wrong?” All I heard her say was Charlie and stomach. A huge lump developed in my throat and I started to think there was some major complication. I just blurted out… “Is he alive?” She said, “Oh yes, he’s fine. He just has a rash.” I was so relived, but part of me wanted to reach across the desk and ring her neck for scaring me like that.
Charlie’s surgery is pretty self explanitory. (A friend reminded me of a Far Side cartoon… “Charlie’s going to get tutored tomorrow. He’s going to be SO SMART!”) He did well but will be stuck with an E Collar when he’s in the kennel or left alone. He’s on antibiotic and will have his stitches out in 2 weeks.
Daisy’s surgery was a new one to me. It’s called a Nail Quick surgery and basically all they do is put her to sleep and cut her nails way back. Then, they cauterize the nail to stop the bleeding. This will shorten the Quick of her nail and then we can keep the cut back shorter.
The weirdest thing about having her home is that I can’t hear her walking anymore. Her little feet have always made a scraping sound in the kitchen, and even on the carpet I could hear her little nails clicking together. We’re going to have to be careful that we don’t step on her now.
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