Re your partner's immediately response to Farmer on an early date: When I was single, I met men who actually told me "get rid of your dog." Of course I instantly knew who to get rid of, right? The man I've been with a quarter of a century walked in the door for our first f2f meeting, got down on the floor, and snuggled with my dog and cats. He still does, and it makes me love him more every day.
When she finally started losing mobility, I think it was probably a year or so. A neighbor had a cart that we tried, but she kept trying to lie down in it, so decidedly mixed results there. We just kept heaping on the love.
My most recently departed dog (Betsi the Belgian Shepherd, adopted from the Humane Society) had degenerative myelopathy. It's a difficult condition to go through. I gave her as much "wander" as I could as long as I could. Her heart and mind were still full strength. And her last meal was Cheetohs from the vet tech, which made us all cry to lose that big hairy sweetheart. <3
Aw Ellen, the cheetos - priceless! I'm so sorry about your Betsi. Do you mind telling me how long the process was? We feel like we've been lucky so far that it has been moving relatively slowly, but i'm really wary - always looking for the next stage...hope you are well, by the way!
Our dogs are being dog sit right now - all comfy at home while we babysit a young grandchild in Seattle. Our vet thinks our older dog, Casper, a 16 year old Brittany mix we adopted as a puppy in DC, is amazing for his age- most likely due to our younger spaniel keeping him up and about- Casper's routine sounds a lot like Farmer's (who I remember fondly when driving in to the old farmstand at the farm). When our grandkids visit in each summer, the older ones say special goodbyes to Casper each year, but when they return, he's still there. We hope they and we have one more summer with him.
Morgan! I LOVE that story of Casper - it gives me hope! Also, I'm glad to know your guys are comfy at home with a pet sitter. Of all the options we've considered (and it turns out we're having to turn right around and leave the Island again this weekend for a funeral so I'm so glad things worked out with our friend/pet sitter as she is coming back!), it seems best to leave Farmer in his familiar surroundings when he can't travel with us. I also love the idea that you got a younger dog as a companion. I am thinking we should have done that at some point but probably won't now. Thanks for the reassurance. Hope the babysitting in Seattle is going well!
I understand completely. Every time I leave my 4 aging dogs I am anxious until the dog sitter checks in for her stay and gets settled. I require daily proof of life pictures. I finally settle. They have each other. They are in their own home. We will be back. But still...I know they are anxious when we’re gone. God bless the relationship you have with Farmer. And yes dogs can save our lives when we need them the most.
Dee I just read your post about Bogey and it was so wonderful. You should repost that sometime. I was there with you all the way. Just incredible what dogs do for us. My husband’s first dog was a golden. They are amazing. I had two purebred labs in a former life, and of course I loved them so much. I don’t know if I could do four rescue dogs at once like you have, but this one has been a total gift and blessing.
We are in the car almost to
The ferry and have had a nice update with photo from our sitter. Phew.
Re your partner's immediately response to Farmer on an early date: When I was single, I met men who actually told me "get rid of your dog." Of course I instantly knew who to get rid of, right? The man I've been with a quarter of a century walked in the door for our first f2f meeting, got down on the floor, and snuggled with my dog and cats. He still does, and it makes me love him more every day.
He's a keeper - ha! (obviously - 25 years!) but wow, yeah, a big no to those "get rid of your dog" types! We love our snugglers.
When she finally started losing mobility, I think it was probably a year or so. A neighbor had a cart that we tried, but she kept trying to lie down in it, so decidedly mixed results there. We just kept heaping on the love.
Aw, love goes a long way. Thanks for sharing that information with me, Ellen.
My most recently departed dog (Betsi the Belgian Shepherd, adopted from the Humane Society) had degenerative myelopathy. It's a difficult condition to go through. I gave her as much "wander" as I could as long as I could. Her heart and mind were still full strength. And her last meal was Cheetohs from the vet tech, which made us all cry to lose that big hairy sweetheart. <3
Aw Ellen, the cheetos - priceless! I'm so sorry about your Betsi. Do you mind telling me how long the process was? We feel like we've been lucky so far that it has been moving relatively slowly, but i'm really wary - always looking for the next stage...hope you are well, by the way!
Our dogs are being dog sit right now - all comfy at home while we babysit a young grandchild in Seattle. Our vet thinks our older dog, Casper, a 16 year old Brittany mix we adopted as a puppy in DC, is amazing for his age- most likely due to our younger spaniel keeping him up and about- Casper's routine sounds a lot like Farmer's (who I remember fondly when driving in to the old farmstand at the farm). When our grandkids visit in each summer, the older ones say special goodbyes to Casper each year, but when they return, he's still there. We hope they and we have one more summer with him.
Morgan! I LOVE that story of Casper - it gives me hope! Also, I'm glad to know your guys are comfy at home with a pet sitter. Of all the options we've considered (and it turns out we're having to turn right around and leave the Island again this weekend for a funeral so I'm so glad things worked out with our friend/pet sitter as she is coming back!), it seems best to leave Farmer in his familiar surroundings when he can't travel with us. I also love the idea that you got a younger dog as a companion. I am thinking we should have done that at some point but probably won't now. Thanks for the reassurance. Hope the babysitting in Seattle is going well!
I understand completely. Every time I leave my 4 aging dogs I am anxious until the dog sitter checks in for her stay and gets settled. I require daily proof of life pictures. I finally settle. They have each other. They are in their own home. We will be back. But still...I know they are anxious when we’re gone. God bless the relationship you have with Farmer. And yes dogs can save our lives when we need them the most.
https://deerambeau.substack.com/p/can-a-dog-save-a-life
Dee I just read your post about Bogey and it was so wonderful. You should repost that sometime. I was there with you all the way. Just incredible what dogs do for us. My husband’s first dog was a golden. They are amazing. I had two purebred labs in a former life, and of course I loved them so much. I don’t know if I could do four rescue dogs at once like you have, but this one has been a total gift and blessing.
We are in the car almost to
The ferry and have had a nice update with photo from our sitter. Phew.
Yay! Proof of love ❤️
Thanks Susie I’ll republish it for sure. It was early and not many people saw it but it was such an important story for me. Thanks for reading 🙏
Awwwwwwww… I’m not the only crazy-in-love with my dog mom!!! At almost 14, I, too hate to leave Hazel, even for the day!!🐾❣️🐾
Hazel!! What a love. .
Time for you to get hazel a new sibling, maybe?
This is a so sweet. What a beautiful relationship you have with that dog!
Nothing like a rescue dog! He is the best! Thank you.
Here is just one article on the deep connection between dogs and humans. https://www.science.org/content/article/how-dogs-stole-our-hearts#:~:text=The%20results%20suggest%20that%20human,our%20dogs%2C%20and%20vice%20versa.
Oh wow, Jean, that's a fascinating article. Thank you for sharing. Makes a lot of sense!
Labs are so wonderful. I had two and adored them. Farmer, it turns out, is a real mix - only 6 percent Lab!