pics of Zeke from last summer. I totally forgot about them. He looks so happy! I'm SO sad that he is gone. But, these pics show what a happy life he had.

In an effort to keep busy, I have been walking Ava and Cole a lot and taking lots of pics. It sure is strange to go walking anywhere without my Zeke. Here are some from today and some others I found while browsing through old pics.




Weird mushrooms


Beautiful boquet from Dr. Cary - best vet ever(she cried with me about Zeke).



Ava and Apache (Collie)




One of my fav pics - they are all holding on to the same toy.

I can't believe it, but it's true. Zeke is gone. After his spleen surgery, he developed fluid in his abdominal/chest cavity(pleueral effusion).This was causing him to cough. I had the fluid analyzed and it was non-cancerous. I had scheduled to do a ultrasound on the heart to see if this is where the fluid build-up was coming from. However, he had a very bad night on Wednesday and early Thursday morning I let him go. I didn't want him to suffer. Poor guy, he had been through so much.

This is just killing me. 12 years is not long enough. I thought I would have a few more years with him. You just never know.......

Hmm....



This feels awkward.



This doesn't seem quite right, either.



Oh, like this!

Zeke came home last night. He wouldn't eat and couldn't sleep. He whined and cried the whole night. Poor thing. I tried having him sleep by my bed, on the bed, etc., etc.....nothing worked. At 6:30, I finally got down on the floor with him and he slept.

My Mom offered to stay with Zeke today so I could go to the trial. But, I just didn't feel right about that for today. Also, there is no way I could have been 100% for Cole , so I didn't go. Bummer when it's just 5 min from my house! Maybe I'll get to go tomorrow and Sunday.

I talked to the vet and he said I can take the Morphine patch off tomorrow. That will probably help with the not wanting to eat. He ate a little chicken(cooked) this morning. Poor guy.

He's resting comfortably in the living room right now...what a relief!

I called the AKC today.  I explained that Ava is not a mixed breed and comes from a well respected breeder who does not register her dogs with AKC.  I spoke to a nice woman who explained that the pictures I sent really made Ava look like a mini.  I explained that Ava is small, but is not a mini and is not registered with any mini organizations(she asked me this).  I questioned why her ASCA registration didn't hold more weight in their decision making process. She said it did hold weight, but just because she was is registered with ASCA doesn't mean she couldn't have something else in her. As if her mother just bred with any dog coming down the road.  

The woman was nice, but it was a weird conversation. At one point I asked about DNA. Does she really think I'm going to offer sending in DNA results if she is a mixed breed. Sheesh!  I love mixed breeds as much as purebreds...it isn't about that.

So, she wants me to send in better pictures. She said I didn't do myself any favors with the pics I sent in. Some of the pics were of when she was younger - I had noted this on the back. Apparently she didn't read the back until today.  She also asked if I know how to measure a dog. I told her that she has been measured by an AKC agility judge. Then she said it would be good if her ears were tipped over a bit (not that she was suggesting altering them). As she is saying this, I clearly felt that she wanted me to write down that Ava is over 18" tall and to glue her ears before I take pics.

No wonder people get disgusted with the AKC.......   I really like AKC agility and tracking, though, so will send in some more photos. This all seems like a bit of a joke to me.

Zeke came through his surgery well. Dr. Cary said the growth was confined to the spleen. She said the other internal organs looked very good. She said that she had to make a big enough incision to get both of her hands in to lift out the spleen.  That sounds awfully big to me! She stated that it was a definite blessing that we did xrays yesterday and saw the mass. She said the growth was starting to turn black and was becoming necrotic. She said when this happens, the chance of rupture is higher. She is saving the spleen for me to see - oh, joy!  I am kind of interested, though.

They will be keeping him an extra day to help with pain control.  They called me as she started surgery to let me know he was handling the anesthesia well. Then she called as soon as the surgery was fininshed. She came in on her day off to do this surgery.  She is awesome.

She sent off part of the spleen to be tested. The results should return in 3-5 days.

I miss my Bubba, but am glad he is in good hands. 

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, prayers and blessings for Zeke!

Poor Zeke. He was acting very sore at the trial in WA this weekend. I took him in this morning for xrays and bloodwork.  He does have some arthritic changes in his spine and hips(this is recent, because these changes were not there last time we xrayed him - less than a year ago, i believe). Two of the xrays showed a mass. So, they did an ultrasound that showed a growth on the spleen. Dr. Cary is removing his spleen tomorrow.  His blood work looked good, so Dr. Cary is hoping that the growth is not cancerous. I totally trust Dr. Cary- she is super meticulous and a very good surgeon. I am hoping for a good outcome. Poor Zeke, if its going to happen, it's going to happen to him!  :-( 

So, AKC denied Ava's application and said she is a mixed breed.  Below is the email I received today. It refers to PAL, but the application I completed said PAL/ILP.  I'm going to call tomorrow. How can they say she is a mixed breed when I sent a pedigree and her ASCA registration?

Dear Lori   

I’m sorry to inform you, but the committee does not feel that Slash V Aviana is a purebred BREED but a mix-breed. Therefore, we will not be able to issue an AKC PAL number.

The good news is, just recently the AKC Board of Directors has voted to proceed with a program for mixed breed dogs. As of October 1, 2009 we are enrolling mix breeds in the new "Canine Partner" program. Dogs that apply for a PAL number but denied, can be automatically enrolled in the new program at no additional cost. Please, let me know if you would like your dog to be listed and receive a Canine Partner number, it will be processed automatically for you when we receive your response to this e-mail.

 

Mix-breed competition will not start until April 2010. For more information on Canine Partners, AKC program for mix breeds, go to the follow web address.  http://www.akc.org/mixedbreeds/index.cfm

 

Have a nice day,

Julie Hairr

AKC Special Service/PAL

PAL@AKC.org

Fx) 919-816-3770

 

 

Has anyone used this food (it's a premix)? I usually make up my own raw food, but have recently been hearing really good things about this food(you just add meat). So, was thinking of trying it. It seems pretty affordable, too. Anyone?

I sent in Ava's ILP application to the AKC last week. She is only registered with ASCA, so will need an ILP to compete in AKC events. Somehow I feel worried about this. I sent in her ASCA registration and pedigree. But, I have heard they have turned down applications even when this info is included. With the whole issue of Mini Aussies and the AKC...well, it just makes me wonder.....  She looks so little in the pics (well, she is so little)!

Our office is offering Tai Chi classes at lunch. They originally brought in the instructor to teach Tai Chi to seniors for better balance. Somehow, the staff got lucky enough to have him teach us, too.

Our second class is today at noon. I loved the first class. It is a beautiful form of martial arts. He explained how many of the motions can be used to protect yourself.  I am so happy that our management staff saw the need for this...this can be a stressful place, with a demanding population. At the end of our first class, he demonstrated all the moves we will learn...it was just beautiful!