FiveRoooooers

Ducky, I am so sorry. Even when you know and have time to prepare, the heartache is the same. Your love for Gracie shines through in every word and photo.

Thank you all so much

Our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. She was the last of the Old Guard. She was Segugio’s littermate. She was feisty. And adorable. And a homebody through-and-through. For almost nine years she was my daughter dog. But Sorella (Worldtradecenter) was simply The Prettiest Girl In Town. Sorella retired at 4.7 after a good career at Raynham, Bridgeport, and Plainfield. I received an email asking "What is Segugio's track name?" City Policeman. "Ah, I have his sister, she just retired." And so, for the next two hours I wrestled with myself about bringing home a third dog. When I emailed back that I would indeed love to have this girl, I was told "Someone else is interested in her, you're off the hook." NOoooo, I don't want to be off the hook! She is already named! Sorella, "sister". And the arrangements were made The longest day of her life had to have been the day I picked her up at the vet after her extreme make-over. Still a bit groggy, her cat test was when the office cat walked between her legs. At home, she made fast friends with Molly. We drove 90 minutes to Eileen’s for a 35 minute walk with her dogs, then 30 minutes to home, where she met Pal and was reunited with her brother for the first time since they had gone on their separate career paths. Love was in the air She had to learn stairs that first night, and from then until she passed, she did stairs just the way she had learned them: left front up, right front on same step, hind feet next. Even when she was in a hurry she maintained that pattern it was adorable and heart-warming to watch. When it was finally bedtime, she climbed in with Pal and Segugio and gave a huge sigh. I’ve never seen a dog so tired, so relaxed, and so comfortable. She knew she was home. I had contacted the siblings’ racing owner when Segugio arrived, and now again when Sorella retired. He was delighted to learn that littermates had been reunited: “Enclosed are some schooling results for Worldtradecenter and also $ - please buy them each a nice treat, they deserve it.” She must have been a real firecracker at the kennel and been lechtered most of the time as she arrived with tiny little muzzle whiskers. I was soo happy for her when her whiskers grew back And so, there were three. (No, she was KNOT happy about having to GO somewhere for this photo shoot ) Oh, there was a learning curve. There is the time I refer to as “The Day My Girl Dog Lost Her Mind, aka Hurricane Sorella.” Or when Pal looked at her apparently the wrong way and received a “Shiner by Sorella.” Other than that, TPGIT settled in nicely and made it known from the start that she intended to take her retirement seriously. She was going to stay home and no one could convince her that a car ride to any destination would be worth it. She remained a homebody forever and was content to be our Resident Skwirrel Yeller-Atter and Nurse Dog, cleaning the ears of those who needed it. She had the most expressive hands. She lived a simple life. Her favorite things (after her brother) were staying in the pool (indoor or out) so long that she became Sorella Bella Prunella; a stuffin’ bone; grazing; and especially her purple pillow. She was not fond of other women in her house. She wasn’t a flirt at all, but she preferred boy dogs to girls. So when LadyBug joined us, I remember clear as anything the day they met and Sorella literally rolling her eyes. But we were a grand five-pack, I don’t remember a time we have ever been so happy. She took tremendous comfort from Seamus after the loss of her brother. I worried about how confused she might be but Seamus steadied her. (The “Gifts of Seamus” is another story I must write.) We won’t know for sure what Sorella was struggling with because getting her to clinic for films was not an option; at this point, a car ride could have heightened her laryngeal paralysis and that could have taken her. After having dodged it for so long, we suspect that that ugly OS finally found its way to our camp. I kept her comfortable for as long as I could, until I could see that the pain was too much. The campers and I love our vet, who came to the house last night to help Sorella on her journey … to be pain-free and reunited with her beloved brother. Being a homebody, she had her bag ready and took with her the most favorite of her lifes’ joys: a stuffin’ bone, her Grammy’s Jammies, grass seed, her skwirrel, and, that purple pillow. Rest well baby girl, my sweet Sorella, The Prettiest Girl in Town. Momma loves you so We really have had A Wonderful Life. There is a new bright star in the Heavens tonight, the prettiest star in the sky.

You have much support here as you say "See you later" to your beautiful Charlotte. I am so very sorry for your tremendous heartbreak.

Mine, too, is an old Home Depot rechargeable model. Maybe it depends on the dogs' nails? I didn't change the sanding drum for a very, very long time (years?), and that was dremeling (at the time) three hounds Every Single Week. I was waiting for the drum to drag or be less efficient but that didn't happen. No change when I had five hounds. In the past couple of months, tho, it has begun to not hold the charge as long but it's still going. Now I may do two or three dogs the first day and the others the next day, but keeping up with their nails every week makes it less of a chore and less to dremel. (Yeah, every week. I'm weird. I know )

Mission accomplished! Well done, Tempo I try to stay out of H&M but have been following your and Tempo's journey. He looks *amazing*.

Yep, that's where I got mine years ago and they've held up really well.

:grouphug

Of course he's hungry, there's nothing in his stomach The joys of an old dog.... You bet

I keep them frozen and give Seamus one, sometimes a second one, maybe once/twice a week. And I may be the minority but I DO chop off the nails. They are mostly soft and lots of dogs don't have issues with them, but to me they feel sharp and pointy so *I* feel better chopping them off. Seamus lives for FEET! Sorella, on the other hand, does not

I used Costco's Kirkland brand, it's Glucosamine HCl 1500mg with MSM 1500mg. The bottle is 375 tablets and the dose is two tabs per day and I think I paid ~<$17.

Thanks for updating us. for Jonelle, (paperbags are good for something, lol) for her mom.

Please don't get lost in that paper bag. It's nothing. It just has to be nothing.

How could you not have fallen totally head-over-heals in love with that face What a wonderful friend your Flirty has been to you, and you to her. I'm so sorry for the pain in your heart right now. Godspeed beautiful girl.

Sigh ... Yep.

I had the pleasure of meeting sweet Freddy. His momma's proud smile covers her entire face. Adding my good thoughts for this sweet, sweet boy