As the year comes to a close, I, like many other people, try to take stock of what I am thankful for from the past year. Of course, I am thankful for the health of my family and friends and that those who suffered pain or grief are on the mend. But this is DogDaz, so let me put that into my zoo context. I am very thankful that I have found DogDaz, so that I can blog about the wonderful creatures that share my life. And, that I have found you, the reader, to help me honor them day by day.
This was a very hard year at the zoo; we started the year with 8 animals, lost 4 animals, and gained 1.
In February, our very loved Squash E Bear, could no longer walk. After years of being an insulin diabetic and going blind, his big old body could not take the strain anymore. There is not a day that goes by that I do not miss him. I know that everyone says their dog is special, but he was just something else. People used to stop their cars in the street while I was walking him to ask about him (I am not kidding, ask V). He just had this amazing dog presence.
At the same time in February, we lost Zackary Cat, our beautiful Russian Blue, who was about 15. He was the kitchen cat. He never ventured far from the kitchen, mostly because he was always hungry, so that was his domain. A docile gentleman, he was fearful in his younger years and would hide a lot, but as he aged, became more comfortable with himself and would lie with people on the couch in the living room. He could no longer deal with being old and cried and cried and cried all the time, so we knew he was no longer OK. He and Sqaush went to the big meadow together.
Then in March, Georgia, the last of the Guinea Pigs, and actually the Mom of our 5, past away at about 7 years of age, which is really really really old for a Guinea. She was the sweetest little thing and gave us years of joy. After losing her daughter, Checkers. and hubby, Mr. Motto, last year, she was kind of lonely.
And then in September, Cuddles, Zackary’s twin sister, our meanest cat who owned the bedroom and never let any other animals near the bed (and a lot of times she tried to box me away too) appeared to have developed a brain tumor or something and had a series of strokes. She joined the rest.
So after all that we were left with The Muffin Man (18) and the kittens, Noel and Constance Kitty (now 4) and Louise. Soooooo, in March, we adopted the wonderful Sofie. The ‘S’ is for Squash. Sofie was suppose to be a Collie/Shepard mix, and I thought she would be about Squash’s size, but she turned out to be this very portable 40 lbs maybe Sheltie/Corgy. Sofie Bear has been tons of fun. So now we are 5.
3 cats on the bed now that Cuddles is gone
Lulu & Sofie 4ever friends
May 2012 bring everyone health, happiness and incredible DogDaz!!!
