Dogtopia!

What a fun day at the Dogtopia Grand Opening! I enjoyed meeting everyone and photographing your furry friends at this brand new doggy daycare facility in Pleasanton.

Simba - The Cool Cat

It's true. Simba really is one cool cat! Upon my arrival, having heard the doorbell, Simba greeted me with a rub against the leg and then he plopped down at my feet. Not a camera shy guy. It would be impossible to recount all the funny and heartwarming stories I was told by Simba's proud and loving 'parents', Suzanne and Conrad. After Simba insistently adopted them five years ago, they have been delighted daily! Let's just say that a paper clip is worth hours of entertainment! He is a unique, once in a lifetime, cat.

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Fundraiser Pet Photo Event

The "mobile studio" will be set up at this event!

Join the Westin St. Francis and The San Francisco SPCA to toast the Dog Days of Summer with your two- and four-legged friends. Help us officially announce the 2010 Bark & Whine Ball (produced and supported by Critter Lovers At Work, The SF/SPCA's fundraising arm) with fun and games for you and your pet.


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

6:30 pm 8:00 pm

Westin St. Francis Grand Ballroom
335 Powell Street, San Francisco
(Special red carpet entrance on Post between Powell & Mason)

Tickets: $25 each*


Purchase Tickets Now


Dog owners and their four-legged friends will be treated like VIPS (Very Important Pets and Persons) as they enjoy:

A red carpet filled with "pawparazzi"
Music by DJ Josh Dukes
Signature cocktails & hors d'oeuvres (Purina gourmet snacks for doggies)
A fashion show sponsored by posh pet boutique Cheeko B.
Photo portraits of the owners with their dogs
An on-site adoption center hosted by the SPCA.
A raffle to win a Westin Heavenly Dog Bed®
Special "doggy bags" filled with goodies for you and your pet.
* Ticket price includes two specialty drinks and light hors d'oeurves.
Crowd friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.

Tickets must be purchased in advance; for more information, call The SF/SPCA Events line at (415) 522-3564 or email us at specialevents@sfspca.org.

Trevin

My first photo session with Trevin was on the day of his last chemo treatment. He is doing very well and I've since had the pleasure of photographing him a few more times. What a good boy he is! Which should come as no surprise since he was originally trained to be an assistance dog for Canine Companions for Independence. He had a career change though and, with his human mom Carol, became a certified therapy dog. More about his story and accomplishments can be read in this SF Gate article. As a therapy dog Trevin has spent years bringing joy and happiness to many, including terminally ill children. Perhaps the person most touched by this angel is the person who least expected it, Carol herself.

My Delight....

The Inevitable....

There’s a thin line between acting too soon and waiting too long. This past month I have done my best to be realistic about what to expect. I tried to be strong. I have tried to be brave. But it is here. “The Time”. Now the tears are flowing. I knew it was coming. But it is unfairly soon. Today Bodhi was unable to pass any bowel movements. That is how this cancer works. It does not slowly decay his body and spirit. His appetite is still good, but the amount going in is not the amount coming out. I’ve watched him strain to produce less and less. I hoped it was my imagination. But it is not. And there is nothing more I, or his vets, can do.

He is now uncomfortable. Toxic is next. I don’t want him to suffer. He has been brave and stoic, loving and comforting. Even tonight, he wants to take my sadness and worries away.

I watch him now, as he is resting this final evening with me… I think he knows. I think he has no fear, unlike myself full of fear. Overwhelmed. How will I survive watching his final breath. My heart already aches too much. My tears won’t stop. But somehow beneath all my grief is gratitude. He has been a loving and loyal friend. I believe Bodhi was meant to be in my life. He has taught me so much and given me so much joy and love. I will thank him for being in my life. For each and every moment spent with him.

By the time anyone reads this Bodhi’s sweet soul will be free…. Free of the aches and pains that plague his body tonight.

Together Again.... Forever

This past week my grandmother passed away. It was five months to the day after her husband of 68 years had passed. They both went while peacefully sleeping at home surrounded by family. How blessed we are for that. The day before she died I awoke from a dream that my grandfather had come to the house while we were all gathered. He walked her to his car and they left.

One Day at a Time...

The last week and a half somehow feels like an eternity. A whirlwind of information and emotions. It's easy to get lost in the the sadness. The murk that feels like it will engulf one's heart forever. But something has been happening. The support of other dog lovers (animal lovers really) has been like a ray of sunshine that reminds me that I would not trade any of the years of joy with Bodhi to not suffer this pain of losing him. The truth is that the depth of my sadness mirrors the depth of my joy and love for this soulful canine.

One email seemed simple enough: "When you mentioned you feel badly that you can't do anything for him, you are doing something for him by taking time out to cherish every minute together, by sharing his story with others and keeping his spirit strong, and by loving him." These words permeated my thoughts and reminded me of the benefit of staying in the present. Over the last few days I've come to realize in my heart, not just my head, that even though I can not fix his body or change the outcome or keep him here as long as I'd like, I can make the time he has left the best possible! The only thing I really have control over is the quality of his days; lots of love and attention, yummy food, walks at his favorite spots, butt scratches and COOKIES!.... This concept was in my "head" before but now it's in my heart and it feels really good... if that makes sense. Instead of focusing on how sad I am to lose him I want to focus on how much I love him and can give him now, in the present....

Those of us who have true connection with our animals experience them not just as "pets" but as companions. Friends. Family. And in the stories of love and loss that have been shared with me this past week I find a comfort, even a bond. I am not alone. We, as animal lovers, are in this together.

Ms. Muffet's Happy Tail...

Muffet's story warms my heart as well. After a hard life of being a high volume breeder, Muffet, an 8 year old English Labrador was retired and put up for adoption. Joann, who had just lost her 14 year old Lab mix a year ago, was not intending on getting another dog quite so soon, especially one of such an advanced age. But a friend told Joann about the web site of a breeder that was retiring some breeders and Joann fell for Muffet the moment they met. Although the "free" adoption turned out to be quite expensive after addressing several expensive medical issues Joann says she has no regrets and plans to spoil Muffet for the rest of her life.

"Muffet is an incredibly sweet, lovable dog who had lived her life (prior to my adopting her) in a kennel situation where she gave birth to, and raised several litters of puppies. She had never known what it was to go for a walk or play in the park, or have one-on-one attention. She was initially very tentative & nervous because everything outside a kennel situation was a new experience for her. We have been together for 7 months now & Muffet has really come out of her shell & is definitely enjoying life as a spoiled, only dog. "

Yeah Muffet!!

PUPPIES!!...

What better way to warm the heart and soothe the soul than PUPPIES!?!? Okay, how about seven puppies? Seven puppies only seven weeks old! Cathy Tsao may be one of the most dedicated people I know. Amid working and attending school she is dedicated not only to her own dogs but to her Canine Companions for Independence dogs. These dogs will go on to make huge impacts on the lives of those that depend on them. As quoted from the CCI web site "The most advanced technology capable of transforming the lives of people with disabilities has a cold nose and a warm heart. Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities, free of charge".

Cathy, I commend you for all your dedication and hard work!

A Bodhi Update....

Thank you to everyone for your support! There are so many people asking for updates that I thought I'd better make an update...

Bodhi is in excellent spirits, has a healthy appetite and good bowel movements (I only mention that because I anticipate that to be the next hurdle). I have had a chance to 'digest' the events of the last week and am feeling calmer and more accepting of the situation (until it changes, of course). I actually had an animal communicator session yesterday and it was interesting. According to her, Bodhi is in no pain and has no complaints about all that is going on. Although she says his heart aches, for me. Bodhi wants to get back to our routine (longer walks! which were restricted due to his torn ligament, which seems to have healed nicely on it's own). Everything she said rang very true and there were no 'revelations', only some useful information like he needs to pee more frequently than I am aware of and he would like tastier food. Also worth noting, she asked him if he had cancer and he said no. Hmmnnn... food for thought there... we are definitely going to seek a second opinion from a holistic based doctor. In the meantime, he is doing very well!

I am also wishing I were a more domesticated woman these days and that I would have learned to sew! I've been struggling to make him an outfit (for lack of a better term) that protects the catheter and allows him to NOT wear the e-collar (which cuts right into the sore on his neck - ouch!). After several modifications and a huge learning curve he now sports his new get-up... :-)

Thank you for checking in on us! For those of you curious or interested in the animal communicator her name is Barbara Martin. Her email is nugget@sbcglobal.net and her web site is http://www.animalcommunicationplus.com.

The Waiting...

They say that waiting is the hardest part. There's even a song about it. But I'm not sure. The hardest part is imagining life without a loved one. The most disappointing part is hearing at the end of the waiting that the test is "inconclusive". There could be more tests, a biopsy would tell us conclusively that cancer of the prostate is the issue. A biopsy is an invasive procedure, the results of which do not alter the end. Having been told that prostate cancer does not retreat from radiation or other treatments with much success we will not be going down that road.

No more tests. No biopsy.

The pressure from the enlarged prostate has blocked Bodhi's urethra, which means he is not able to pee. For now, an in-dwelling catheter will allow the urine to pass without daily visits to the veterinary office. This buys us a little time with him.

Who knows when the next hurdle will occur. There certainly was a wave of relief knowing that I would not have to make that unthinkable decision in the next few days. I don't know if it will be weeks, months or, dare I think it, a year but having been faced with the reality of losing him every minute longer is a bonus.

When I first adopted Bodhi I knew that the lifespan of a large breed was not as long as the smaller dog breeds. I hoped for a long and healthy life. Whenever I saw those rickety, lumpy bumpy dogs wobbling down the sidewalk I would hope that someday Bodhi would be so lucky. That I would be so lucky. To have shared a lifetime. Thoughts of the slow pace of a senior canine warmed my heart. Bodhi has had such fantastic health I got my hopes up. Those hopes have come crashing down.

Now, each moment is precious. His spirit is good. He's still very "Bodhi". I will savour him. And our time left together.

The hardest part.... is knowing there is nothing I can do.

Quote

"A heavy downpour. Stand and face the rain, let it's iron rays pierce you; drift with the water that wants to sweep you away but yet stand fast, and upright in this way abide the sudden and endless shining of the sun."
Kafka