Kiera, Graidy, Wink and Me
So. Life in the very slow lane. What does that look like?
Graidy is 18ish, Finn is 15 and Wink is 12. All are still going strong-ish.
But all now have heart problems. And Finn’s about to go get nuked with a radioactive shot to the tune of $3k to kill a benign tumor that’s making him hyperthyroid.
I know. It’s nuts. But I’m pathological. I can’t not do it, because Finn isn’t ready to go yet. These animals have … Read More
This is what 17 looks like at our house.
Graidy, our white BC mix, is 17ish–we don’t know his age exactly since he came to us as a stray at about 1 yo.
He still runs around like a puppy. Nobody can believe he’s that old when they meet him.
Wink, our Cavelier is 11. Finn, our Maine Coon cat is 14. All going strong.
I think there’s longevity in the water here. (That and lots of love, high-quality food, … Read More
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt comfortable leaving my dogs with anyone else. I tried a couple of dog boarding places over the years with mixed experiences.
One (a veterinarian boarding facility) was the worst experience of all. Another, a woman who had a great setup on her farm, was great for several years, but she closed up shop a few years ago.
And there’s one woman who has come to our house to sit–who is fabulous–but … Read More
Just pulled four dear ticks, the carriers of Lyme disease, off of Wink today — in March. Let the Lyme wars begin! :(
I’m too bummed to explain our Lyme protocol for you today, but I will give a refresher soon. Until then, you can review here where I have a photo of what a Lyme bulls-eye looks like, and here where I outline various options for tackling Lyme.… Read More
Several times a day, Graidy comes and sits on my lap, and then gently presses his forehead to my forehead, with his nose to my nose. He does this with deliberate precision, until we are staring eye-to-eye. Then he closes his eyes and breathes his warm breath on my face. I feel his body relax. We stay like this, merged, for several seconds.
I wonder, is he trying to read my mind? I’ve no doubt that if he could climb … Read More
Sigh… Big sigh… Really big sigh…
I hate ticks.
Especially deer ticks–the carriers of Lyme disease.
And this tick season is as bad as I can recall. (Just to be clear–it’s never not tick season, because adult deer ticks don’t go completely dormant like the nymphs do, but they’re especially active during the Spring and Fall.) I’ve been picking several ticks a day off of each dog for a couple of weeks now. Even with using Frontline. It’s enough … Read More
Graidy, my border collie mix, is 14ish now. Wink, my Cavalier, just turned 9. And Finn, though not technically a dog but a Maine Coon cat with a dog’s spirit, is 12.
I’ve noticed the most significant changes in Graidy. He’s mostly deaf and nearly blind, and he’s slowed down to a trot from a non-stop gallop. He often stumbles on the stairs now.
And while Wink still seems to be going strong overall, he’s happy to lie quietly and … Read More
I’ve been getting a lot of emails and comments lately on these two posts Five Facts You Need to Know Before Choosing an Australian Shepherd and Bringing Home an Australian Shepherd Puppy: What You Need to Know.
There are many wonderful people out there who think their lives might be enriched by sharing their lives with an Aussie, and they’re asking my opinion.
So who would make a good match for an Aussie and vice vera?
I’m going to try … Read More
