Gifts and stuff

  Sleepless in Miracle House. Up wandering around in the night as my sleep schedule is all wonky. The Redding Brothers thought it was great being a tad nocturnal anyway. The never idle Otis, had brought in a soft knitted happy face ball. It had been out in the porch and now he had it inside. He loves to carry things in his mouth and he spent quite a bit of time carrying it from here to there and back again. It made me think of Momma Bea as she was the one that knitted the ball and a variety of animals have played with it over the years. She used to knit smaller ones as well and even tried her hand at a few mice for cat presents at Christmas. I guess that is what “gifting” is all about. We get to keep certain mementos and think of the people they came from at different times in our lives. I am not a sewer of knitter although many years ago I did a bit of both-just not interested unit these days so no one has ever gotten a knitted anything from me. But I did during my Inukshuk phase give almost all of my friends an Inukshuk, which are just stones glued together and I included little cards that I made explaining how the Eskimos(Inuit?) used these stones to point the way to go to fresh water or some place of interest. Some were even made with a little “window” in them, I wonder if that was a way of surveying? But on second thought I doubt it because there would be no reason to survey anything and much more point in trail markers.(No trees of course so could not make a wooden sign for sure) For several years I paid my way to a Women s camp in Alberta by bringing rocks and glue to camp and becoming an “Instructor”. It saved me a lot of money and lets face it no outfall of cash-rocks are free! And really whats to instruct? But it was fun and I enjoyed it a lot. Funnily I have only one Inuckshuk myself and that is a larger one outside. But as I truck around Kaslo and have a coffee with friends I see many of them on display still and will always have an affinity for them I think. During that time in turn, I received “gifts” concerning these little structures. A book, earrings,pins, and a lovely tote bag. And it all began with a friend that came to stay here starting me off when I had never even heard of them! Thanks Barb Authenac! To this day I have bins of rocks beside my house ready for more building but just have not done any more in years and my friends and I no longer attend the camp in Alberta. But maybe one day I will get back to them, who knows??

"Stuff Happens!"

Wow! “Stuff” happens and that's for sure! I have had several hours of quiet in the house with me on the computer and the dogs sleeping and the “Reddings” more or less behaving. Seven a.m. Seems the “witching hour” and it is also breakfast time for the crew. The Reddings began to wrestle and from the sounds of it once again Opus was losing. I think Otis likes to make him sqawk. So out they went in the porch and were fed first. I got Jiggs dry food out on the counter and went back to the computer to sign off a chat, and could hear this unusual noise. I wondered if it was the music on t.v. , but no, it was little sounds Jiggs was making at the delay in his favorite time of the day-eating time! These animals really do run my life.

I remember my vet telling me when I first told him of Keepers' “incontinence” that I would just have to put up with it at her age. And so I have and mostly it is not a big deal(one small bit of info for others-if you continue to feed some dry food the “end” results are much easier to pick up!) I am not sure what happened last night but I was out to a small party and when I returned found Keeper had had an assident and all three dogs had walked in it and there was dog crap all across the front room and the living room right to the kitchen! Oh Joy! I tell you none of this was pickable and after trying to wipe some of it up I got the mop and pail and washed the floors. They needed it anyway but not my favorite time to be doing it anyway.

So yes Jiggs is back for five days. At first I really wondered about him. All dogs like to have their “space” and most dogs respect that. In her day Keeper was always quick to respect another animals “space” but when you add her age to the mix and the fact that she is nearly blind, can't hear and at times staggers(sometimes even falls) this bit of dogdom doesn't work so good. Jiggs growled to let her know she was trespassing but here you go-she can't hear! When she still didn't back off he went for her and if you understand dogs you cannot blame him. But he still got chastised and now seems to understand a bit better. At other times there have been problems with keepers bed in the bedroom. The old girl doesn't settle well at bedtime and will wander around aimlessly and go for a drink etc. This time Jiggs seems to have figured that one out and I suspect he is sleeping on the couch so have put a blanket down and all is well.

Keeper is having a hard time in the frozen snow and now there is also ice right at the door. I put stuff down but will put some sand as well today. I would imagine old dog bones could break as easily as old peoples? We don't need that for sure.Although Jiggs is a great dog he is younger and more exuberant and not one for manners at the door, which also makes it hard for Keeper. Teko being smaller seems to be able to stay out of the way and scoot out the door without any one pushing or shoving him. He really is a little survivor for sure.

Not a lot happening with the Reddings although Otis has been upchuking a lot lately. I had put it down to his greediness and cut back on their food but yesterday found he had eaten a silver ribbon! I can only hope all of it came up and there isn't anything in there causing a problem. Exrays and/or surgery would prove to be costly I am sure! I will see what the next few days bring. I know animals are costly at times and can only hope he grows up and learns not to eat eveything he finds. Otis definitely seems to be the “wild child” of this family anyway. Opus was making the awful hairball noises the other day and I quickly applied the hairball medicine to his paw and he licked it all up so hope that did the trick.

As I said at the beginning I know “STUFF” happens but I am really getting tired of dealing with all these bodily fluids! Of course once spring comes and the first green grass there will all sorts of upchucks as the dogs do their purging so maybe it is all just part of life. Uh oh the old girl who has been sleeping heavily just woke up and will want her brekkie soon so gotta go. Have a great day everyone sans animal body fluids!!

Programmed

 Programmed- we all are to a certain extent and Miracle House is no exception. I was thinking this morning how I have become programmed by my animals- especially the Reddings! The bathroom door was something I often left open as I live alone. Then the Redding Brothers arrived and Otis has a penchant for water. The tub is no longer a big deal as I finally got the leaky faucet fixed. The toilet had remained the same and he is right there whenever it is flushed. I have learned to close the lid and keep the seat dry as his puddlings in there left water everywhere. Finally I have taken to closing the door on all four of them(dogs included). When I am in a hurry it takes far too much time to gather up the animals so I can close the door and leave the house.

Now to some extent they too have become programmed. My getting up from the computer for another coffee anywhere near 6 or 7:00 a.m. could result in a feeding so much attention is bestowed upon me and I usually so give up and feed them. It is just easier and then too if they show signs of initiating the Redding Romp upon my poor house, this also prompts me to feed them. They eat in the porch and may not be back in the house until 11:00 when I come back from work. When I am home I let them in earlier thinking they may be cold but so far they are never in a hurry except Otis who really likes warm water from the house as opposed to the water in the porch. Smart cat!

Then again it is me who is programmed to constantly be letting the dogs out. Neither has been big on letting me know they need to go out so I have devised a method of letting them out whenever I am in the kitchen and they have followed me. Some days it seems all I do is tend animals.

A few things have happened of late. Yesterday, foolish Otis was feeling his feed and lept in the air and came down on poor Keepers back! She of course was startled and trying to reach back and get him and fell over into her feed bowl and all hell seemed to break loose in a matter of seconds. Luckily at her age she doesn't hold a grudge and seems to forget all about in no time at all. Not so with Teko! He has never forgiven the cats for sleeping in his baskets and has no intention of sharing any type of food with them at all! Not even when it is Keepers food.(But then dogs don't seem to differentiate between what belongs to who,unless it is a biscuit or bone right in the other dogs paws.)

I recently read of a cat who became the “eyes” for a totally blind dog. This dog was afraid to be anywhere but on the couch and once the cat came could go places again. For some time I have watched Opus rub against Keeper and walk beside her when she tries to walk away. As stated before the “old Girl” is not all that steady on her paws and can be tipped over pretty easily. Keeper becomes most annoyed and eventually tells Opus off and he leaves her be. Now I notice Otis doing the same thing! It would seem Keeper does not want any “seeing-eye cat” to be helping her and indeed seldom seems to want my help either. The only time she accepts my help is when she jumps in the van, I make sure I am right there for an assist and we are getting rather good at it and it saves my back. I am grateful and more than a little astounded to think she is doing this more or less “blind” and simply trusting that the van has not grown overnight and that I have her back so to speak. What a good ole dog! After emerging with talking to myself about if I am being unfair to her by NOT having her put to sleep, I no longer feel guilty and as long as she is not in pain and it is possible for me to care for her, I will. Hopefully her issues with the Redding cats will just serve as a stimulant in her old age and keep things “happening”?

Although I probably shouldn't tell everyone, but I did an awful thing one night last week. I had let the dogs outside and usually they bark when they want back in. I guess I brought Keeper in and Teko was taking his time or not finished yet. I got ready for bed and thought everyone was in and that Teko had fallen asleep his front room basket, as I could hear no snoring. That should have been my first clue! At any other time he would have barked and I would have heard him especially from the bedroom but I heard nothing and later at 3:00 a.m. When keeper was stirring again I got up to let her go out and in came a very indignant long-haired chihuahua! He held a grudge for most of the morning and I wondered if I would ever get him to go out again but he forgot about and went when he had to. He seemed no worse for wear and just goes to prove these little dogs are tougher than we think? I am now more careful with my nightly head count and last night actually dreamt I heard him bark and got up but he was actually sleeping in his bedroom basket like he is supposed to. So maybe these animals act as a stimulant for me as well? He is such a little dog he still surprises me when I am looking for him and he is right behind me. Actually he is usually quite near me, except for when he is totally asleep or when he is outside. Kind of like a velcro dog? Anyway life would be really drab without the Reddings and the Geriatrics!

Old Dogs and Decisions

  I have just been on a site about living with blind dogs. It was interesting to see that someone has invented a “hoop” that they call a “halo” to help these dogs find their way and not run into things. There are even instructions on how to make your own-how unusual is that?Although it is a good idea I think, I don't think it would help Keeper very much. She has always been such an independent dog that I think wearing this thing would upset her. Although of course ,they adapt more readily to change than we do, I think it might make things more difficult for her. She seems to have figured out how to jump down a small bank in the back yard on her own. Sometimes the “jump” is much more than she needs but still accurate, so what the heck? I wonder what happens if the halo gets caught on something and then of course there are the Reddings, they I am sure would be fascinated with this device and would pester the poor dog even more than they do already. I also think it would impair her comfort when sleeping. Added too, to all the info on living with a blind dog is the fact that this dog also has impaired hearing. Like her sight she still has some and I am grateful for that. However that doesn't change the fact that recently I think she lost some more of her sight as she seems to have more difficulty under certain circumstances. As soon as we got some snow it seemed more difficult for her to see where she wants to go. She goes out willingly but doesn't always seem to remember what she is out there for. Getting her back in has become a chore. Its almost like she can't figure that out and possibly feels lost out there, so she barks. I dislike this as do not want to put my neighbors through listening to it. A few years ago I attached a bell to her collar so I know where she is and a bit of what is happening to her. In the night, often at 3:00 a.m. she seems to need out, so I get up and of course no one in the area wants to hear a dog barking at the hour. My method of getting her in consists of banging an old horse whip on the door and I am afraid that may make as much noise as the dog! Since it snowed this seems to take a great deal of time and before the winter is done I may have to wade out there to physically get her.

I don't want to stick my head in the sand and ignore what is happening to her and am well aware that just possibly she is not living a life of good quality and just possibly it is time for me to make THE DECISION and have her put to sleep. Before Christmas I had decided that I would do this, now I find myself weakening again. So many things to weigh in my mind. It hurts my heart when she has difficulty getting up or walking after she has slept for awhile. This dog has always had a lot of heart and is very stoic about her aging. If there was a lot of moaning and groaning going on I would be quick to take her into the vet for that last trip. But again she seems to take it all in stride and is going on heart I suppose and that is what stays my hand. Other dog owners assure me I will simply “KNOW” when it is “TIME” and I don't know as I feel that way yet. Of course I get tired of cleaning up after her accidents in the night. I know many people would simply not put up with it and that would be reason enough-- but it all cleans up and seems a small price to perform for such a wonderful friend.

How can one not admire a dog that still at 18 attempts to jump in the van even though she cannot see where she is going? I make sure I am right there to assist and damned if it doesn't work! But how brave of her! Her nose tells her where I am and I suppose where the van is but still I think it is commendable given her disabilities that she still attempts to live as she always has and wants to please me. Does she live just because she doesn't know how to die? Is it to please me? How much pain is she in? And most of all “Is it time and I just refuse to see it?” I don't know when or if I will get the answers to these questions so I can only go with my heart. I do my best to see to her comfort and feed her temptingly, and even interfere when the Reddings are bugging her . I cannot turn back time for her or give her a younger body and so we will simply continue on and see if those questions above get answered in the future.