Pet Walk

Kelly and I did the Pet Walk on Saturday, with proceeds going to the Bay Area Humane Society. I was a little worried about how she would do around the hundreds of dogs, (seeing as she doesn't really like other dogs), but she did very well. As long as I kept her moving and close to me and some mutt wasn't trying to sniff her butt during a water break, she was fine!

She didn't have any trouble with the 3.1-mile walk, and even had energy to spare!

Happy 10th Bday, Kelly!

We celebrated Kelly's birthday yesterday! We had burgers, chili, potato salad, taco dip, fruit, veggies, and a big birthday cake. She got some bones, a new harness and some treats. On Friday, she got a "spa" bath by a dog groomer, so she smelled and looked extra pretty for her party.
There are more photos on my flickr page.








This is what she looked like at the end of the day. Totally wiped out! Actually, after everyone left and I cleaned up, she and I both napped for a few hours. Although she is older, she certainly does not look or act like 10. She is in great shape for her age.

What can I say? She is my pride and joy!

Me and Kelly

Peppy Kelly

Kelly's back (I took this photo today!)
She's definitely back to her more normal self, only not as crazy as before.
She wants to play, cuddle, bark, go for walks, chase rabbits, sleep on my bed, eat a lot, be nosy and nibble at my food. I'll take this Kelly any day, compared to the sad one I had for a few weeks.

I've been putting some aspirin in her food, and I think it's helping. If it makes her feel better, then I'm all for it.

I'm glad she's back to her former self, because when she's happy, I seem to be happier, too. She just has that crazy, stupid way of always cheering me up. If I need a little nap after work, she knows to just lay next to me and take it easy. If I'm not feeling well, she knows not to pester.

I know she won't live forever, but I'd like her around for awhile yet. I can't imagine not having her or another dog in my life. It's amazing how attached I've become, and its surprised me more than anyone else. When I agreed to take her, it was on a "trial" basis. The deal was that I could give her back if at any time it wasn't working out. Now if someone tried to take her from me I'd probably fight tooth and nail!

Taking her in has definitely changed my life and lifestyle, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Where's Kelly?

This morning I woke up and expected to see Kelly on the floor next to me, but she wasn't. I checked the other side of the bed. Still....no Kelly. Hmmm...I figured she must've went into the living room at some point.
I went into the living room...no Kelly.
I checked the dining room...no Kelly.
I checked the kitchen...no Kelly.
I checked the bathroom...no Kelly.

By now I was starting to get really worried, because in the last two weeks Kelly has not used the stairs. I dashed upstairs anyway, and still, no Kelly. Well, what the heck? She couldn't get out. She couldn't have been kidnapped, or dog-napped. Or could she?

I started going downstairs to the basement, and much to my dismay, there she was, at the base of the stairs with her tail flapping crazily. Wow!! How she got down there without killing herself, I haven't a clue. Is she feeling better?!? I can only hope so.

I'm sure when she looked up at the stairs, it looked like Mount Everest, and she seemed groggy from sleeping. I didn't have a lot of time to dink around and still had to let her out and shower for work. So I stuck my arms underneath her belly, hoisted up all 60+ pounds of her and carried her upstairs. I heard her grumble, kind of like...."I can do this myself, you knucklehead!" But I carried her anyway. And maybe she didn't mind.

I took this photo of her on Wednesday. She's looking more perky, is holding her neck up better, eating well and enjoys her walks. As long as she's happy, that's fine with me.

Not the Same

Kelly is not the same.

I noticed some changes in her about a week ago. She didn't want to play fetch anymore. She wasn't barking hysterically when I, or even strangers would enter the house. When I threw her a treat in the air, expecting her to jump and gobble it up, it clunked her in the face.
Maybe it's the heat, my friend said.
Maybe your cold is rubbing off on her, others said.
Maybe she is just getting used to you and isn't as hyper, my sister said.

I wasn't sure what it was, but she certainly wasn't the same Kelly as when I brought her home.
When I described her conditions on the phone to John, he knew right away what it was. Kelly had very extensive neck surgery a few years ago, and he thinks it's acting up again or that one of her discs might be leaking fluid. That would explain the no jumping, less barking and no ball fetching.

I took her to John and Amy's house yesterday, and my other brother had to lift her out of my car. She was walking with her head down. She was tentative, timid and wasn't herself. I asked what we could do, knowing full well that there isn't probably anything short of putting her through another surgery, which we don't want to do. John said, "if she doesn't improve, and she'll probably get worse before she gets better, we'll probably have to put Kelly-dog to sleep."

As much as I hate that thought and have balled my eyes out since hearing that, I know it's the right thing to do. Kelly has lived a very good life, and if she's hurting and not the same, then we don't want her miserable. I had to lift out of my car yesterday, and had a hard time getting her to go outside. This morning I let her out the front door, because she won't go near the deck, and after she went pottie, I had to carry her back into the house. Two weeks ago I couldn't go outside without her if I wanted to, and now she's hesitant to go anywhere. That's not the Kelly I know.

For now, I'm trying to keep her as comfortable as possible. I made her homemade doggie treats last night, I let her sleep on the couch (which was a no-no before), and her walks will be short, if there will be any. That's all I can do. We'll take it one day at a time.

Clingy Kelly

Kelly is starting to follow me around like a....lost puppy. But she is not a puppy anymore, and she is not lost! She is definitely more clingy than she used to be. Yesterday I swore she followed me into every room I went. The living room, the kitchen, the bedroom, laundry room, upstairs, downstairs, even the bathroom! Now, if I want any privacy at all, I need to shut the door, otherwise she nudges it open.

When I get out of the shower in the morning, instead of finding her in the living room like I used to, she's in "my spot" where I get ready. When I used to turn on the hair dryer, she immediately left the room. Now she endures it. When I go into the garage to put some cans in the recycle bin, she yelps like I'm leaving and never coming back. The last couple of nights I have woken up to find her laying right along side me instead of at the end of the bed.

I guess I should take it as a compliment. She's getting used to me and is starting to feel more at home. When I picked her up last weekend, she couldn't wait to jump into my car. She's even listening better than before and following the commands from me that my brother used.

But I'm sorry....if I need to do my business, especially a No. 2, I don't want no dog panting right in my face. That's where I draw the line!

I Have a Dog!

As of this week I became a dog owner to a cute yellow lab named Kelly. She is nine, and we are big buddies! She loves to play fetch in my backyard and take walks in the neighborhood. Sometimes she drives me a little nuts, like when she tries to lick my face in the morning or growls at other dogs, but I'm hoping she will become accustomed to city life. She was my brother's dog, but, now she has a new home...with me. :)