Monday, August 28, 2023

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2023, My Babies


 ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:


Deb Barnes founded Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day (RBRD) in 2015 as a special day for pet guardians to honor the memory of those beloved pets in their life they have loved and lost, but never forgotten – whether fur, fin, feathers, scales or something else. It’s held every year on August 28, in honor of the day Deb had to say goodbye to her  precious Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, the meow author of Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond.  




My "Baby Bobo"




The first to make his way over the Bridge was my precious Angel Bobo. I had found Bobo late in 1989 during a blizzard in Ohio. He was approximately 6 months old at the time. I was blessed to have him in my life for 18 years. Bobo was truly MY cat. He hated other cats, wasn't a fan of dogs (except for one Sheltie who lived near us in Ohio, that Sheltie was named Kelly and they used to eat grass together when Bobo would go outside on his leash.).



 Bobo was the first kitty I had ever share my life. We had a bond that I thought would never ever be as intense as it was, until:

My Cody

 

My Cody, My Codester, my precious love bug, my cuddle bug, my shadow, my heart, my soul. My "Velcro kitty". When Cody was adopted July of 2007 (two weeks after my Bobo passed), I never, ever thought that I would have a bond like that again. My Cody, the day I adopted him he crawled up my chest at Petco and wouldn't let go. From that day on until his tragic, unexpected death in 2020, he DID NOT LET GO. My chicken loving, catnip loving, Sheltie-loving cuddle bug only wanted to be loved from the moment we laid eyes on each other.

Cody was the reason that this blog began. He was my "co-pilot", my sidekick. Our blog started October of 2009 and to honor his memory, while the name of the blog has changed, the link never, ever will.



Cody gave me more happiness, love and yes, heartbreak than I could ever imagine. My precious boy, I miss you beyond words.

I used to love when Cody played with certain toys from kittenhood on, he would do a somersault while he played. It was the cutest ever. Cody was a "people cat". Anyone who entered our home, in his mind, was his friend.





He spent every single night on the armrest of the couch next to me while I watched TV. To this day, that armrest remains empty. 

When he wasn't sitting with, or following me, or playing with his brother, Cody loved nothing more than to spend time in his cherished cat tree.



I will be forever grateful for Cody's cat tree as well as his custom-made urn, where Cody is at rest. He gets to spend eternity in his favorite spot in the world, his cat tree.

My Dakota, My First Sheltie



Believe it or not, when Dakota joined our family in October of 2007, while I loved him, it took us a few years for us to truly form the deep bond that we had.

Daddy was the one who used to take Dakota to the Vet and to grooming, so he bonded with him earlier than I did. While I was CRAZY about Dakota, our bond deep bond began probably when he was about two years old. From that time on, Dakota and I were deeply bonded. So much so that he had an uncanny sense of understanding my emotions, coming to me to give me kisses when I would cry. He was my cooking buddy; he would watch me like a hawk from the babygate whenever I would cook, and I would tell him everything I was doing.

Dakota was stoic, funny, barky, quirky, handsome, loving, loyal and all I could have hoped for from my first Sheltie. Dakota was the fulfillment of a lifetime dream of being a mom to a Sheltie. I couldn't have asked for a better dog.

He adored his Daddy and his Mama, popcorn, apples, chicken, hamburgers and his beloved red, white and blue ball. 



He didn't like other dogs, wasn't a fan of that many people, but he was fiercely loyal to his Daddy, Mama and to his brother, Cody. Dakota loved with everything he had, even in his last moments. I am grateful for each and every moment I had with this special boy and miss him terribly.

Dakota and Cody adored each other. Many who wrote me notes of comfort when they passed, a mere 9 days apart, felt that the two of them planned on leaving together.  I'm not surprised. When Cody passed first, Dakota was lost. He kept looking for Cody everywhere, it was the most heartbreaking thing to witness. Dakota had already been diagnosed with cancer (Hemangiosarcoma), and when Cody left us, it was as if Dakota lost his will to live. He wanted to be with his Daddy and Mama but missed his brother terribly.


The photo below was the last photo of the boys taken together; it was taken extremely close to when they passed. I am grateful that I have it. Cody and Dakota brought his Daddy and Mama more joy and silly, loving moments than we ever could have imagined.










This is the sweatshirt that was on the floor of the closet
where Cody ultimately passed.
He chose to lay next to it.
This sweatshirt had been missing for years.
Until Cody passed away on it.
"Coincidence? I think not."
To each and every one of you who have lost beloved babies,
please remember:
"We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun"--John Lennon




Thank you, my precious pets, for your unconditional love, for the happy times and memories that will live with me forever. Thank you, my beloved Cody, for this blog and all that I experienced because you were the first to make it possible. Love forever to all of you, always, your Mama.

I didn't intend for this post to be quite this long, and I thank you for taking the time to read it. I also would like to thank Deb Barnes for creating this wonderful event. I send my love to each and every one of you and look forward to reading your stories and seeing your photos of those "who came before." May we all derive some comfort from these posts.

Saturday, August 26, 2023

National Dog Day 2023

  Happy National Dog Day! 

from Levi!!

The photo on the top left and the photo on the bottom right
 were taken by Alyssa Paris from Canine College

In honor of this special day, I wanted to share some of my favorite Sheltie and dog quotes with you:

"If Lassie had been a Sheltie, Timmy never would have fallen in the well in the first place."

"Silence is golden, unless you have a Sheltie, then it's SUSPICIOUS!"



"Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen."--Orhan Pamuk

"Everyone thinks they have the best dog and none of them are wrong."--W.R. Purche


For our final quotes, we are sharing a photo of our beloved Angel Dakota:




"Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart."

"Shelties, once they love, they love steadily. unchangingly, till their last breath."

"Having a dog will bless you with the happiest days of our life, and one of the worst days."


I wouldn't have it ANY other way! Kisses to all of the woofies out there!!




Thursday, August 10, 2023

National Spoil Your Dog Day!


 HAPPY NATIONAL SPOIL YOUR DOG DAY!!!!

I would say that Levi is spoiled EVERY SINGLE DAY. MUCH more than Dakota was! 

Levi goes to Canine College to play (at least once a week). If you look at the photo on the left above (sorry it's blurry but I took it from my computer when I was watching Levi on camera when we boarded him, hoping they don't mind my posting it!).....it is obvious by the sweet employee, (possibly Julianna, I'm not sure), leaning into the playhouse where Levi is looking at her,, that he gets TONS of loving there! I often see him getting kisses and extra pets when he is at daycare/boarding.

Levi gets his beloved bully sticks (one a day, EVERY DAY). Daddy has taken him on countless walks since Daddy is home from school for the summer and he gets tons of kisses and loving from both of us. Levi is an attention hog so he makes sure he gets spoiled EVERY DAY!

Today is also another special day! Our eldest granddaughter turns FIVE today!


We cannot believe she is five!! Where has the time gone?

Have a great Thursday everyone!!!







Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Happy International Cat Day 2023!!!

 As all of you do, we celebrate cats EVERY DAY but today is a day to celebrate not only our cats that live with us, but cats ALL OVER THE WORLD! It is a day to spread the word about just how pawesome life with cats is!

"Effective since August 3, 2020, the leading cat welfare charity, International Cat Care, became the custodians of International Cat Day. Since 1958, they’ve challenged cruelty, ignorance, and misunderstanding to affect positive change in the lives of cats. With an estimated global population of 600 million cats, half of which are thought to be unowned, their work has never been more important. To learn more about the charity, visit their website."

To all of you who have visited us for oh so many years and to those we recently have met, we think you are PAWESOME and we appreciate and celebrate each and every one of you!

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY!!


AN UPDATE ON ROARY!

I thought it would be fitting to include an update on Roary and how he has been doing since his bladder stone surgery that took place at the end of May.

He is peeing like a champ and is doing SUPER WELL! (Paws crossed that this continues to be the case!

He had bloodwork done last week (because his bloodwork at the time of his surgery wasn't that great, the Vet felt it was due to the stones and it turns out it was!) Roary's bloodwork, kidney function, etc. was NORMAL and they also ran a urine test that was NORMAL!! YAY!!

One of the most wonderful outcomes of Roary's surgery is that he and I have FINALLY BONDED!

 (It only took THREE YEARS lol!)

I think Roary knew and appreciated that I barely left his side after his surgery......I waited on him hand and paw and we started a new ritual that I think helped us to bond. I started brushing him with the Furminator that used to be Cody's and he LOVES IT! I brushed him when he was wearing the cone to bring him comfort and now it is a daily ritual. 

He FINALLY sits with me on the couch, either on my lap or next to me (as you can see in the photo above where he is lying by me wearing my Lions pants.)

If it took the surgery to FINALLY have us finally develop a close bond, then I couldn't be happier!