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.
Not Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pet blog, Sofie
Miss Noel, the Christmas Cat, Queen of the Zoo, turns 15 on March 17. She is spry and happy and that is what we live for. Oh, and she is very demanding as you can see. Though she gets quiet when the camera is on.
Mommy turns 65 today. She is not spry and happy but she also is very demanding.
We made them a cake.
But we ate it before the party.
(Nine we are always thinking of you. We miss you tons!)
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, cat birthday, cat blog, cats, DogDaz, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, white cat
Sofie has made it to the Top 5 in America’s Favorite Pet contest. She is currently 3rd. Voting for this round goes until March 10.
You get one free vote every day.
Help her win $5,000 to help with Louise’s vet bills.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: americasfavpet.com, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pet blog, vote for sofie
I was so surprised when I got an unexpected package from Chewy.com, the pet supply service, and it contained a real painting of Mr. Charles on canvas. I guess we were the lucky recipients of a customer service initiative where they paint a picture of your pet from its profile picture and send them to random people. They really know how to do customer service, that is for sure. Now I want one for everyone at the zoo, but they actually don’t offer it as a service.
Isn’t he handsome?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Chewy.com, customer service, dog, Dog Art, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pet art, pets, pomchi mix
Louise received an awesome care package from the Live Like Roo Foundation for pets with cancer. They help people offset the cost of caring for their animals when they receive this terrible diagnosis. We had fun opening it and finding all these fun toys and treats. Louise (and everyone else) especially likes the pumpkin cranberry treats that were in the box (I am going to have to find them and get more). There was a handmade blanket, Theo the Octopus (which I think was Roo’s favorite toy), another squeaker toy, more treats, a McDonald’s gift card (I guess to get her a happy meal hamburger), and a wonderful card made by a 4-year-old wishing Louise well.
Everyday with Louise is a gift!
What kind of mischief did you get into today?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: cancersucks, canine acanthomatous ameloblatoma, care package, dog, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, livelikeroo, livelikeroofoundation, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, Pet, pets
The LIVE LIKE ROO Foundation (#livelikeroofoundation) for pets with cancer sent Louise a wonderful care package including Theo the Octopus. She used to love toys with squeakers before the mouth cancer. She is just so cute even though she did not understand why I made her stand there with this thing. I will post more pictures with the care package next week. 🙂
Have a wonderful Black and White Sunday!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Black and White Sunday, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, livelikeroo, Pet, pets, theo_octopus
UPDATE: Sofie is currently in 2d place and made it to the top 15 round. Now she is in the race for Top 10. Then they do another week with Top 5. Then the win in April. This is so exciting. You can vote FREE every day.
Sofie is trying to win $5,000 to cover Louise and her medical bills. What a wonderful gift it would be if she won. You can vote through Facebook once a day for free. Currently, she is 3rd in the competition which closes in about 4 days.
Please Vote if you can: VOTE HERE
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: americasfavpet.com, competition, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, dogster, lorian lipton, pet blog, Sofie
Sofie is trying to win $5,000 to cover Louise and her medical bills. What a wonderful gift it would be if she won. You can vote through Facebook once a day for free. Currently, she is 3rd in the competition which closes in about 4 days.
Please Vote if you can: VOTE HERE
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: americasfavpet.com, competition, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, dogster, lorian lipton, pet blog, Sofie
DogDaz Zoo 