My Dog Life

I’m so tired from all the fun I had at today’s family cookout I can barely keep my eyes open. Even with a bone next to me. The cookout was to celebrate me! Just kidding. It was a Father’s Day cookout. But with all the attention I got from so many people, you woulda thought it was a celebration for me. Joey got attention too but he doesn’t like it as much as me. Joey pretty much sticks with mom. I work the crowd. Hope you all had a nice weekend.

This is the only acceptable way to start the day.

Hydrangeas make us happy.

I had yet another unplanned trip to the vet this week. Did you know some dogs only have to go to the vet like once a year? Not me. I’m at that place on the regular. I started acting a bit off on Friday and wasn’t jumping up into laps or on furniture like I usually do. Then, I wouldn’t go down the steps. I just paced and paced at the top of the stairs not wanting to go down. I started to get better as the weekend went on and was going down the steps occasionally. My mom thought I was getting better but when she came home to see me yesterday at lunchtime, I wasn’t even all that excited to see her. Usually I go bananas. She called the vet and they fit me in. How nice of them…

I got to go into the office with my mom and work with her for the rest of the day. For once in my life, she didn’t make me work and instead let me just lay in her lap (okay, okay, she always does that). Everybody makes a big deal when I go to work. It’s like they’ve never seen a dog before. Whatever it is, I do enjoy the attention. We headed straight to the vet when the work day ended. I did my usual shaky shake routine while we waited for the doctor. 

My mom was worried I might have a tickborne illness because I had an episode like that back in December too. When I went to the vet that time, they took an x-ray of my back and all was normal with my bones. I saw a different doctor this time who I’d never met before. She said I looked “pretty good” for a dog with the bile acid levels I have. (I can’t catch a break folks.) This time around the vet noticed I tensed up when she examined my neck. Aha! A pain the neck. Just like my mom is sometimes calling me… Hey, wait a minute!? The vet took another look at my x-ray from December which fortunately had included a neck x-ray too. 

What my mom thought was pain in my hind legs was really neck pain. You see the vertebrae in my neck are not spaced out like they’re supposed to be. I have one spot that’s a little off; it’s just the way God made me. I must have tweaked it by making a big jump or having a tumble. The vet said these things happen “as we get older.” Excuse me, I’m only 5! They sent me home with some pain meds — a medication that’s safe for my wonky liver — and a backup supply for any future episodes. Add this to the list of things “to keep an eye on.”  

Hunting for lizards at my grandparents’ house. This activity kept me busy all weekend. I even caught one!! But my crazy mom panicked when she saw I had one in my paws and she pulled me away and that bugger ran off. I was just trying to make friends…same as last weekend when a big black snake slithered into our backyard. I wagged my tail at him too and got real close to say hi. Mom didn’t like that either so much. She called me away before I really had the chance to get to know that snake. Doesn’t she know I’m a friendly dog by now?

Clean folded laundry on top. Dirty laundry pile on bottom. When it comes to laundry, I don’t discriminate. It’s all comfy to me.

Coffee in bed on a Friday morning?! We’re having a three day weekend cuz momma took the day off. She’s taking us to the beach once we get all packed up. I’ve been on the beach before but Joey hasn’t. We’ll see how he likes sand between his paws. TGIF!

Correction: Joey HAS been to the beach before. Silly me, I forgot. My brain is a little fried these days. But this will be our first time at the beach together!

I have BIG news to share. BIG BIG. Saba was adopted!! *celebrate celebrate* These photos are from the going away party we threw for her. Well, it wasn’t so much a party as it was some special treats for us dogs and my mom taking photos. Saba is going from having a foster mom and two foster brothers to having a furever Dad and canine cousins.

She met her new Dad — and one of her new cousins — this weekend and after some careful thought, her Dad realized he can’t live without her. We got to spend the rest of the week with her so that when she starts off in her new home on Saturday, she’ll get to have a couple days to get settled with her Dad before the workweek starts up.

Saba has been with us for four months. Four months! She started crashing at our place the day after Christmas. She was really scared and shut down when she got here. She was even afraid of my mom for a while. Today, Saba is funny, friendly, playful, sweet girl. She’s only a little bit scared sometimes. We all took our time with her and gave her space. It’s been fun to watch her come out of her shell. Joey especially loves to play with her.

We’re going to miss Saba very much. But this is what fostering is all about. Taking in a homeless pup, helping them grow and blossom and seeing them through to their forever home. Congratulations Saba and good luck! I’m going to enjoy being a two dog household…while it lasts.