It is with great sadness that I must tell you that Sofie Bear, my little Soda Pop, left this earthly plane on Friday, March 18, she was 11 years old. The pain is almost unbearable because she was my heart. We never expected to lose Nine, the cat, on March 10 to cancer and then lose Sofie ten days later. She had significant hip issues and could no longer get up the stairs or walk easily without pain. These issues only exacerbated her aggressive behavioral issues, where she was attacking Charles and the cats, and biting Louise in the neck and mouth.
Sofie was always my troubled furchild. She suffered from behavioral problems which started when she was about 2 or 3 years old. It has been so long that I can’t remember her without them. Her anxieties were off the charts most of the time. She had night terrors. She had noise and thunder anxiety. She had separation anxiety. She ate through 3 doors and the wall-to-wall carpet. She had to nibble on a lovey all the time and then protect it (resource guarding). Yet, I guess, I thought my love, commitment, training, and medication would help her. I had trainers, behaviorists, tons of vets, tons of meds, to the point she was taking 6 different medications and herbs at the end with every meal and in-between. I had several vets tell me that anyone else would have ‘put her down’ years ago. But, to me she was worth fighting for.
I know that she is out of pain now and not scared of anything. That is what I wanted for her. I hope she is chasing sheep in the meadow beyond the rainbow bridge waiting for me along the road with Nine and all the others. The back door picture above was taken on the day she left us. It looks to me like she was prepared to be out of pain and to be in a better place. The sun shine was perfect to show the warmth inside her when she could quiet for a moment or two.
I might not be able to blog for a while. This one-two punch has knocked me for a loop.
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there.
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there.
I did not die.
These Ground Hogs are such funny weather predicting creatures. They have names like woodchuck, land-beaver, and whistle-pig. Our regional prognosticator is named Punxsutawney Phil. Phil is known as the “Seer of Seers,” the “Prognosticator of Prognosticators” and the “Most Photographed Pennsylvanian.” People in Pennsylvania dress up in top hats and tails and have this whole big event each year to see if we are going to have an early spring or late winter. Leave it to a rodent to let us know.
Groundhog day actually designates the middle point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. There are 6 more weeks until the Vernal Equinox, which marks the beginning of spring. No matter what Phil says – SPRING IS COMING!!!!! Make way for crocus and daffodils.
“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
Louise, aka Lulu Bell, aka BooBoo head, is one of the sweetest dogs once she knows you. From the day this shy, fearful, mange-covered, pup with a collar embedded in her neck, came to the Zoo, she has taught us much about patience and quiet strength.
I loved to sit on my father’s shoulders. He would walk down the street with me way up top and we would play a game he called ‘high bridge, low bridge.’ He would stoop down when a low branch came so that I cleared the danger.
Someone asked me one thing that I learned from my Dad and I said ‘kindness.’ I was blessed to have this man in my life. He is gone for many years now but I see him every day when I look in the mirror since I look like him.
“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
Another month has come and gone by quickly here at the DogDaz zoo. December is always a fun month because there are lots of celebrations, lights, and boxes. Everyone gets extra brushings, cats get extra wrapping paper, and dogs get extra cookies. But, then in a flash, it is gone. The first video below is our December review in 1-second clips every day.
When we look back we can see that the year 2020 was full of fun, fur, flowers, and catfights (at least from the Zoo’s perspective). Below is the DogDaz Year (Jan – Dec) in review video. Did you know that 12 months of 1 second a day clips come out to be about 8 minutes?
The animals did not mind that Mom had to wear a mask and they loved that she started to work from home full-time again. We are looking forward to a 2021 full of snow, sun, long walks, cardboard boxes, and lots of treats.
So we were having tree work done. It was way past time to trim back the big trees which needed to be cleaned up, so they could breathe, as well as, be less of a danger to the house. But, in doing that, the wonderful tree climbers discovered and cut down a squirrel nest.
That evening, the owner of the tree company, bless his heart, tried to reunite the babies with their mom. But it was late and dark, and a storm had come through, so she never came.
The next morning at sunrise, we tried again, but she just wasn’t coming. Even with a tape recording of baby squirrel sounds playing loudly. So now, Rocky and Rockette, are going to live on a nice 14-acre farm after they a bottle feed for a few weeks.
Thank you tree people for caring enough to try and save the babies. And thank you, Tim Ballard, for teaching your teams about wildlife rescue. If you are in the Annapolis area, try Ballard Tree Service.
