Hallie

Chance ~ Fortified Heart (1/23/99 - 1/24/08) We miss you still, our beloved boy. I can't believe it's nearly a year....our hearts still ache for you.

I'm so terribly sorry for the loss of your dear boy, Darius. He'll always be with you and the time will come when you will think of him with a smile and a chuckle instead of a sigh and a tear. Godspeed, Darius!

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. What a wonderful tribute to your beautiful girl. Run free and easy, Mattie.

I'm so very sorry. She was quite a special girl. Godspeed sweet Sally girl.

I'm so terribly sorry for your sudden loss. I'm doubly sorry that you have lost two in such a short amount of time. I know John E has found beautiful Brandy, and they are running together, free and whole.

I've tried soaking his kibble in water, yogurt and chicken broth, but he turns his nose up - I've thrown out more than he's eaten. When he eats, it's one piece of ProPlan at at time. He does go at the water bowl like a fiend, not a couple of gulps at a time, he'll gulp for a minute straight - then the gurgling begins. I've been taking him away from the bowl after a few laps, then letting him back 15 minutes later, etc. I spoke with the adoption group this morning - they really are very attentive and concerned about his well-being. His teeth are terrible in my opinion. The gums are red and the tartar has almost completely overtaken some of his teeth. The group was under the impression that he had a dental when he was neutered, but sometimes they don't do a good enough job. I'm going to give it another day or so and let them know. He'll be 5 in August, so he's been on the track for awhile.

I might try the pepcid. He is finicky - at first I thought maybe his teeth were hurting since his breath is awful, he chews funny and he rubs his mouth with his paws. He doesn't eat more than 1/2 - 1 cup at a time so I just leave some in his bowl. I have noticed his tummy gurgling after eating, but much more so after drinking. He ate a bit yesterday, then had water and up it all came after the stomach symphony. How much pepcid do you give. He's about 75 lbs.

Our foster, Pat C Cobble, who we are now calling Angus, is doing very well. When he drinks water his stomach gurgles something fierce!! Yesterday he even threw up after drinking. Anyone ever experience something like this? I'm trying to blame a lot of this on the stress of all of the new stuff he's dealing with, but it's very odd.

Bill, I'm so very sorry for the loss of your precious Tipper. May you find comfort in all of the wonderful memories she gave you. One day you will be able to think about her and smile instead of cry.

What a beautiful tribute to Munchie. My heart goes out to her family....

I'm so terribly sorry. May all of the wonderful memories you have of Harley help you though your sadness.

It's been a week since we lost our beloved Chance. I miss him so very much..... Where To Bury A Dog There are various places within which a dog may be buried. We are thinking now of a setter, whose coat was flame in the sunshine, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought. This setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or gnawed at a flavorful bone, or lifted head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in life or in death. Yet it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else. For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that dog sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is un-rebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost -- if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog. One place that is best of all. If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already have, he will come to you when you call -- come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they should not growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he belongs there. People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing. The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master. By Ben Hur Lampman from the Portland Oregonian September 11, 1925

Well, I have to agree that it's a shame that she's blind, but comforting to know she's adapting well. I had a cat that was blind and you'd never know it - she navigated as though she had 20/20 vision and lived for years that way.... and by the way, she was a tripod!!!! Animals do so much better than we humans!! Hugs and scritches to Hanna.

I'm so sorry this has happened!! Sending warm, healing wishes for Beau. . I had the same thing happen when I had Chance and Seamus. They were actually fighting over a groundhog (ugh) and things got crazy and Chance went after Seamus. I was watching from the window and felt like I was in slow motion. Even after Seamus got away and started to run, Chance chased him and took him down again. Seamus was terribly wounded and had to stay at the vet overnight. Chance had attacked him once before, although not nearly as bad. I made the decision to rehome Seamus - I knew Chance had to be an only dog. Of course, this is MY situation, I'm not for one second thinking you should do the same, I'm just relating my experience. I was very fortunate to place Seamus not too far away with a wonderful woman and a sweet Grey-sister. Chance was very happy being an only until he went to the Bridge last week.... I'm sure Beau will recover nicely, and yes, they do 'fur' over the scars.

I'm so glad Ember is home and doing well!!! :yay

May all the joy Zoe brought you help you through this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss. You can believe Sarah has found a warm, sunny spot to share with her sister.....

I haven't heard of it, but I believe the fact that ticks have become immune to Frontline. I live in a wooded area and Chance used to come in with ticks pretty often. In the beginning I'd never see them attached, but in the last year or so, they'd attach and hang on for days if I didn't get them off. UGH! I had much better success with the Preventic collar until Chance developed a rash.

I'll be thinking about you and Ember tomorrow morning and hoping for a speedy recovery. Please keep us updated.

It's day four since we lost our sweet Chance. I think I'm coming to accept it - everything happened so quickly. I went through the second-guessing myself, but I am becoming more sure of my decision every day. Two vets told me he probably didn't have more than a month, and it would become more and more painful for him. I still have my moments that I bawl and just want my Chancey-Boy back. I feel better after crying. He's buried in the backyard, and I say good-morning to him when I unlock the door in the morning and good-night when I lock up at night. My son and his girlfriend are making a plaque for his grave. He'll always be with me and that makes me feel better. My sons and I are thinking of fostering. The house is so quiet and empty without a dog. We're not looking to replace Chance - that will never happen, but kind of feel that maybe, in his memory, we can give another hound a "CHANCE". I think everyone deals with death in their own way and in their own time. I'm more than grateful that I have the people here to talk to. It's been such wonderful support.

Sending good thoughts and healing wishes to Miss Diamond.

Sending hugs to you. Remember that you have a wonderful angel waiting for you.....

I seem to be having a tougher time today than yesterday. I guess I'm working on acceptance a bit. I'm really trying to remember all of the joy he brought us, but the grief is just too overwhelming right now. I can't wait until the next week or two...I'm hoping by then it will have gotten easier.

Such a shame. She's home now. Godspeed precious girl....