November

Bentley • April 7, 1997 – April 6, 2004

November is National Canine Cancer Awareness month.

As I thought back, I realized that the evil beast has taken way to many of our babies.

Phoebe • October 1, 1991 – November 27, 2005

Gracie • September 15, 1994 – March 25, 2006

Cleo • December 22, 1995 – March 28, 2008

Fonzi • October 4, 1999 – February 10, 2009

Barbie • April 16, 1996 – October 13, 2007

Duncan • April 22, 1999 – May 14, 2010

And so, as I looked a little farther, I learned that one in three dogs will be diagnosed with canine cancer.

The National Canine Cancer Foundation is raising money for research grants to help find a cure.

Who knows, maybe if we can find a cure in canines, we can find a cure in humans.

Flight of the greyhound

Years ago, after we sent Gracie to the bridge, a yellow swallowtail butterfly appeared in our yard the following summer. I was certain that Gracie had returned to the gardens.



Just last week I saw a pair of butterflies chasing around the white flower bush thingy that grows so well. Gracie had brought Cleo home with her this year.

Thursday we sent Maddie to the bridge. I was running the dogs on Friday noon, and to my delight, I saw three butterflies chasing around the bush.



I know this one is Maddie. Maddie had the softest coat of any greyhound, ever. Check out the fur around the body of this butterfly.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

First, the good.

Feb. 20 the Fly Boys joined us from Florida.
Nov. 2 Pasha joined the gardens when his family moved to California
Nov. 9 Joey comes up to us on his own for ear scritches
Nov. 26 Crystalbella is back after four years in another home
Dec. 15 Cinderella arrived home from Florida

And then, the bad.

March 28 Cleo is diagnosed with lymphoma and goes to the bridge
April 9 Adam diagnosed with auto immune hemolytic anemia, and as of January 9, 2009 he will be nine months post diagnosis
July 31 Oneco goes to the bridge
Aug. 1 Clancy diagnosed with sarcoma, surgery removed the tumor with clean margins

Unfortunately, the Ugly

Vet bill for 2008 $13,717.40
Dog food 7,280 lbs.

Manic Mondays

The Rules

Main Folder: Pick a number 5-13 • 5
Sub Folder: Pick a number 11-30 • 11
Photo: Pick a number 25-50 • 34

This is Cleo (fawn) and Blender (white and black).

Blender was our first foster dog. Needless to say, I failed miserably at fostering. She was very shy, almost frightened of her shadow. My youngest daughter spent hours and hours reading to her and talking to her just to become her friend. Seven years later, she is a happy outgoing crazy girl.

Cleo had been in her family for eight years. Shortly after she turned ten, they moved into a new home and decided to give her back to the adoption group. Cleo was one classy dog. We were a very lucky family to have adopted her. She was with us for almost two years before we lost her to cancer.

Do not disturb

As I look around the room of wall to wall, floor to ceiling dog beds, I seriously have to wonder how they earned the nick-name

45 mile-per-hour couch potatoes?

Crystal and Adam

Minnie

Pasha

Cinderella

Buddy

Roxy

Pasha and Talley

Minnie and Crystal

Happy Birthday, we miss you sweetie

Cleo's Cameo Dec. 22, 1995–March 28, 2008

December 18

Another call came. A ten year old girl was being bounced through no fault of her own. Sadly, Gracie had just been diagnosed with osteosarcoma and we didn't feel we could take another greyhound.

We lost Gracie a few weeks later. In Gracie's honor I called to see if Cleo still needed a home and sure enough, she was waiting. She came as an only child and soon adapted to a big family. She was a true delight.



Barbie was another one of the Humane Society calls. Her family had left her off to be put-to-sleep. She was way to wonderful for that, even at ten years old, so home she came.