GreyPoopon Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Sometimes life just isn't fair. Dixie served her industry well as a racer and broodmom for over 9 years. She should have enjoyed a long and comfortable retirement. But she was felled by OS after less than two years. This is about a wonderful friendly goofy dog who left far too soon. Racer and Broodmom Kiowa Secret Sue (Sue) raced at Wheeling for almost two years. There are 46 races in greyhound-data. When she finished racing, she started having puppies. There are currently 40 puppies from 5 litters listed on both greyhound-data and TrackInfo. More may appear at some point--she'd had a litter not long before retiring. In January 2011, 9-year-old Sue arrived at GRA Canada. I noticed her as soon as her name was added to the list. I have a weakness for senior broodies. And this one had my name on her. A few days later, Bill of GRA called me about her. He told me that Sue was a wonderful sweet girl who acted more like a four year old. He said that if I came to visit her, I wouldn't be leaving without her. I turned him down flat. I already had more dogs than I'd intended. But that didn't stop me from looking at her photo, posted that day. Or checking her greyhound-data page and noticing that she was bred a couple of times to Jimbo Scotty, who was Piper's main man, and thus Poppy's father. I kept watching the list. With every update, I found myself half-hoping she was still there. She gradually moved closer to the top after others were adopted, but she remained available. By March, I was teetering. I found a spot into which I could cram one more crate. I checked at school, and discovered that I could get her started right away. I asked at the clinic, and was told there was an appointment available for a new pet exam. I caved. I arranged to "visit" on March 13. The first sight of her gave me a shock. She bore a startling resemblance to Piper (Cee Bar Easy), whom I'd lost in January 2010: tall, long, narrow, similar colouring, big dark eyes in a white face, same just-washed-em-and-can't-do-a-thing-with-them ears... Dixie, November '11: Also November '11: I hoped that I would soon see the differences between Sue and Piper. Other than the shock, the first meeting went well. She was very friendly and kissy. As Bill had predicted, I did not leave without her. Retiree The first order of business was to find a new name: I wasn't going to call her Sue, which is a diminutive of my name, one which I hate. I like the name Dixie, and since she was a southern girl and the 10th dog in the house, it fit. She was a bit tense at first, but soon adapted to retirement. She fit in very well here. She was the friendliest greyhound ever. She loved people, and she was a total flirt. If she spied someone while on a walk, her head would go up and her stride would become more purposeful. As she got closer, she'd start tossing her head and waving her tail. Sometimes she would tremble with excitement. Everybody she met was her best friend ever. She would happily cover them with kisses. If she couldn't reach the face she'd kiss their hands; if their hands were out of reach she'd lick their clothes. Little kids were perfect because their faces were at the right height. Whenever we greeted someone who didn't know her, I'd make sure they were warned that she was a kisser. Fortunately for her, most of the people we saw did not object. I called her my "Lab in a Greyhound Suit". She would even kiss on request. I often asked her to kiss me. At the end of one of her last visits to the clinic, I asked if she were going to give her vet a kiss. The vet bent lower and stuck her chin out. Dixie kissed her. When Dixie first arrived, she also gave hugs. She tended to hit one's chest instead of shoulders, which made it especially hard to tolerate. I taught her not to hug others, but I always had to keep an eye on her in case she got so excited that she forgot herself. When she was in Grade 1, she learned to sit to greet. I didn't ask her to do that outside of school, but sometimes she would surprise me by doing it anyway, as she did for the neighbour holding my crew for a family photo shoot (from left, Graham, Dixie, Jessie, and Cal; November '11): I had originally intended that after I'd taught her not to hug, I'd retrain her to hug me on command. That plan lasted until the day she caught me off-guard and almost sent me through the front window, which is not at ground level. Then I was more insistent that she not hug me either. A little too convincing, unfortunately, since I was later unable to get her to hug me. She liked other dogs as well. She always greeted them politely. At home, she was an excellent snuggler. On her last afternoon, Cal tucked in behind her (January '13): She loved her walks. She was paired with Cal. They walked extremely well together. For the first several weeks, they were almost in a perfect heel. After that they relaxed, but they almost always stayed on my left and were often side-by-side, even when Cal was recovering from the FCE and sprain that left her a two-legged dog for a bit (November '11): She was an avid hunter. At first, I had to be very aware of squirrels--even those 100' or more away--to ensure that she didn't rip my arm out. She gradually realized that there was no need to react. I was also concerned about her prey drive in the yard in case she didn't see the fence or decided to jump it, so it was at least a month before she was allowed to be loose. One day when I was taking photos of all the dogs, she was stuck on the deck, longingly surveying her new domain (March '11): She was very smart and learned very quickly. I taught her to bow on command with just a few repetitions. She then used that bow to extract treats. Early on, when I was rewarding frequently, she'd come in from pottying and quickly repeat bow-treat over and over. I eventually tired of the game; she soon realized that it wasn't working any more and went back to waiting for the command. But if another dog got a "good bow" or "good sit", she would race to wherever we were and join the lineup of dogs performing for treats. She taught herself how to use the dog bells. I'd hung them early in 2012, but did very little to train the dogs because they tend to go out at particular times, and when one goes, the others usually follow. Despite the lack of instruction, Dixie figured it out. If she thought I wasn't paying attention when she went near the door, she'd ring the bell. She was the first--and for a long time the only--dog to use the bells. She was very playful. She loved stuffies. She'd reach into the toy box (a laundry basket)--often stepping into it with one or both front feet--grab a toy, play for a bit, then dive back into the box for another. When Betsy resumed her old tendency to consume stuffies, I had to leave the toys out of reach except when I could supervise. Dixie would make do with something from the bone box (Graham in the background; November '12): While Dixie was lying on the chesterfield beside me, she would ask for attention by putting a foot on my leg. When I was willing, she would play fight with me--flailing her front feet and chomping in my direction--always with care not to paw hard or get close with her teeth. She loved to run. She'd start with a few loops. Once she'd burned off the initial energy, she'd run figure 8's. Then she'd do a lot of pausing--sudden stops to sniff followed by equally sudden starts. Running loops (November '12): The best photo I have of her running (November '12): It was fortunate that she loved to run on her own. Her favourite play buddy was Pink (Dixie left and Pink right; July '11): But one or the other was usually lame, so there were few sessions and none recently. She was a master roacher. She also roached for tummy rubs, especially if I'd been petting her and stopped. I called the resulting pose her chicken chest, which she did even a few days before the end (January '13): She was also a major nester. And she had the greyhound law of physics down to an art--she could spread out over an incredible stretch of dog bed, or curl herself in a tiny ball at the back of a 42" crate. Sometimes, the fit wasn't so good. I have photos of her trying to stuff herself into a too-small Perla bed and into the kiddie pool, both of which she eventually mastered. I also have a lot of photos of her half on top of another dog. It was usually one of the other greys. She didn't often attempt or get away with landing on top of Minnie (Perry, Dixie, Minnie; May '12): The wallpaper on my phone is a photo of her half on top of Cal. I guess I'm going to have to change it soon. Again. The previous photo, changed in November, was of Edie. Like the other four senior broodies that I've had the honour of bringing home, she was remarkably tolerant of handling. Whatever I needed to do, or the clinic required, she would accept. She might not like it, but she'd acquiesce. She was, in fact, a lot like Piper. But I never had trouble distinguishing Dixaroo-who from my memories of Stripey-Pipey. Oddly enough for such a tolerant dog, she was involved in the only two biting incidents we've had here. The first occurred when Minnie was having a seizure and she attempted to tug Minnie away. A 45 pound adult cannot be pulled by the leg without causing some damage, and Minnie ended up with a couple of punctures. The other was a minor tiff over a bone that I somehow missed when cleaning up. The other dog involved must have swung her head with her mouth open and caught Dixie with her canines. Because I didn't see the puncture, it got badly infected. Something about the treatment of that wound set off an allergic reaction that caused her entire face to balloon. Things were pretty scary for a bit. Her major weakness was her sensitivity to loud noises. Thunder turned her into a shivering ball. Fireworks were no better. She would not eat or move or potty until hours after the noise had ended. She was distressed by other sounds as well--construction equipment, banging dumpster lids...anything loud and unpleasant. She was far less enthusiastic about her morning walk than the other jaunts because that was when she most often heard rumbling and banging dumpsters. But mostly, she was a lot of fun and a total goof. I once did an entire post of her in silly poses (September '11): I even had a little nonsense rhyme I'd use to signal a walk or a trip to school or other fun stuff: "Pick up sticks, Miss Dix." The Premature End In early December--just a week after her 11th birthday--I noticed that she was occasionally a little off on the right front leg. This was a surprise, since she'd previously only had trouble with the left front, and that only since late Spring. On Saturday December 8, she was very lame during her morning walk. I hoped that it was just some odd stiffness. I had to work that morning, so she had a chance to rest. She was even more lame at lunchtime. I cut the walk short and took her to the clinic. The vet--not our usual--did not like Dixie's reaction to the examination and recommended an x-ray. When she saw the view of the right shoulder, she decided to x-ray the left before commenting. The second x-ray caused her to say, "Well, that's interesting." There was an area of lower density on the humerus of the right (lame) leg. It was not clear whether it was OS (osteosarcoma) or "just old dog bone". The left humerus had a weird line that looked like photocopied highlighter. Her tentative conclusion, based not on the x-ray but her clinical findings (the location and degree of pain), was that there might be OS in the right; it might even be bilateral. When I spoke to our regular vet on Monday the 10th, she was not concerned about the left, and not convinced about the right. I was going to opt for pain management in any event, so time was not critical. We arranged that she would examine Dixie on Friday. She found that the pain was fairly diverse, and was hopeful that it was just a soft-tissue problem. A week later she repeated the x-ray and did not see much change. But she seemed less positive, and the original vet, who was there as well, seemed strained. The limping got worse despite an anti-inflammatory and restricted activity. We added another pain medication; then, because it might have been a soft tissue problem, a muscle relaxant. By Monday January 7, the lesion on the right was larger and more ominous. We tried an antibiotic in case it was an infection, although neither of us believed that it was. We also increased the dosage of the second medication. By Wednesday we were at the maximum dosage of all three meds and Dixie was even more lame. She was still bright and playful in the house--she was in the toybox when I got home Wednesday night--but I knew the pain occurred even at rest because that afternoon she screamed while lying quietly on the chesterfield. We started a fourth medication. It did nothing, so on Thursday we increased the dosage dramatically. Still no improvement. When I was at the clinic with another dog on Friday morning, my vet asked what was happening, and I said, "It's time." We made the appointment for that afternoon. When she was taken downstairs to have the catheter inserted, both the vet and one of the techs noticed that the right shoulder looked bigger; there was a prominence on the front of the left as well. I'd noticed both. Her OS may well have been bilateral. February '12: November '12: She made it to age 11, but she had yet to reach her second Gotcha Day. When she left, she took some of the liveliness, goofiness, and warmth in this house with her. She was indeed a wonderful sweet girl who acted more like a four year old. And she barely had a chance to enjoy her well-earned retirement. Sometimes life just isn't fair. Kiowa Secret Sue Racer. Broodmom. Retiree. November 25, 2001 - January 11, 2013 Godspeed Dixie Quote Standard Poodle Daisy (12/13) Missing Cora (RL Nevada 5/99-10/09), Piper (Cee Bar Easy 2/99-1/10), Tally (Thunder La La 9/99-3/10), Edie (Daring Reva 9/99-10/12), Dixie (Kiowa Secret Sue 11/01-1/13), Jessie (P's Real Time 11/98-3/13), token boy Graham (Zydeco Dancer 9/00-5/13), Cal (Back Already 12/99-11/13), Betsy (Back Kick Beth 11/98-12/13), Standard Poodles Minnie (1/99-1/14) + Perry (9/98-2/14), Annie (Do Marcia 9/03-10/14), Pink (Miss Pinky Baker 1/02-6/15), Poppy (Cmon Err Not 8/05-1/16), Kat (Jax Candy 5/05-5/17), Ivy (Jax Isis 10/07-7/21), Hildy (Braska Hildy 7/10-12/22), Opal (Jax Opal 7/08-4/23). Toodles (BL Toodles 7/09-4/24) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greybookends Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I am so sorry Dixie had to leave you so soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 So sorry to read this. She's a lovely lady and makes me think of my Molly (Kiowa Mystricrule). Take care of yourself. Linda Quote Angel Gary (Hallo Smoke'em 2000-2013), Angel Molly (Kiowa Mysticrule 1999-2011) Linda, Hana, Sultan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I am so very sorry. Run free, Dixie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiffer Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Run free sweet girl. You were loved more than you'll ever know. <3 Quote Jennifer and Beamish (an unnamed Irish-born Racer) DOB: October 30, 2011 Forever and always missing my "Vowels", Icarus, Atlas, Orion, Uber, and Miss Echo, and Mojito. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamaha_gurl Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Rest well Dixie Quote Greyhound Collars : www.collartown.ca Maggie (the human servant), with Miss Bella, racing name "A Star Blackieto" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I'm so very sorry for your loss. Your tribute to her was wonderful. How lucky she was to have made her home with you. She was very loved. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hannahmom Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Oh sweet Dixie Godspeed sweet girlie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 What a life she had with you! I'm incredibly sorry that she didn't get to stay longer and teach *you* some more tricks. Godspeed, silly Dixie. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 She was as beautiful inside as out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vjgrey Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I'm so sorry she had to leave you. What a wonderful, happy life you had together. Just way too short. Quote Valerie w/ Cash (CashforClunkers) & Lucy (Racing School Dropout)Missing our gorgeous Miss Diamond (Shorty's Diamond), sweet boy Gabe (Zared) and Holly (ByGollyItsHolly), who never made it home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlies_Dad Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I am so sorry. Dixie was truly one in a million and that white face, so sweet. Run free Dixie, run free sweetie... Quote Kyle with Stewie ('Super C Ledoux, Super C Sampson x Sing It Blondie) and forever missing my three angels, Jack ('Roy Jack', Greys Flambeau x Miss Cobblepot) and Charlie ('CTR Midas Touch', Leo's Midas x Hallo Argentina) and Shelby ('Shari's Hooty', Flying Viper x Shari Carusi) running free across the bridge. Gus an coinnich sinn a'rithist my boys and little girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schultzlc Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I am so sorry for your loss of Dixie. She sounds like she was a truly special girl. Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neighsayer Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 So not fair! Hugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fliggie Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 A beautiful gal. I'm so sorry. Quote My Photojournal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvhounds2 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I'm so sorry your sweet Dixie is gone. Sounds like she had a wonderful life with you. Quote Barb, Mom to Grey's Tickertape & Grey's McCarthy.Always missing: Wizzie and Desi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Sweet girl. What a beauty, with those Cobblepot ears Dixie reminds me so much of someone I knew. S, I am so very sorry your girl had to leave so soon. What a beautiful tribute to your friend. Godspeed Dixie. Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 This is a beautiful tribute to a lovely, smart, silly girl. I'm so sorry she couldn't have had more time with you. Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiRayMom Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Lovely tribute.....lovely girl....... Godspeed, Dixie. Quote Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I am so very sorry for your loss. Quote Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I'm so sorry, Suzanne. Such q beautiful girl. I'm so glad you caved, and I bet she was, too Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickiesmom Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Your time may have been cut short by that most cruel disease, but it is clear that you and Trixie packed a lot of love and fun into the time you had. I am so sorry she was taken from you so soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryz Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I'm so sorry for your loss. She looked incredibly happy to be a part of your life. Quote Mary, mom to kitty Rebel.Always missing Sherri (SO DELICIOUS) (12/6/2005-8/29/2018) kitties Marley (4/2000-12/3/2015) and Beady (4/1998-2/24/2006) and Dalmatian Daisy (7/25/1984-5/13/1999). The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not - Thomas Jefferson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartdogs Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 What a sweet tribute for a sweet girl! I'm sorry she had to leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabrina Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Dixie I am sorry that you didnt get more gotcha days with your mom, RIP Quote Caroline, Mom to Daphne (49B-50215) and Penny (41D-55779)Remembering Bridge Angels Margo and Sabrina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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