November 11th is Remembrance Day.
It also just happens to be the birthday of Tessa, Hammer, Buzzy and Ralph.
I’m wearing my poppy today, and I happen the believe it’s not at all sacrilegious that I’m wearing it for two different reasons.
In my mind’s eye, this is how Tessa and Hammer will always look. If I concentrate on this photo long enough, I find I can achieve something which will, for now, feel as close to zen as I can currently imagine being.
Bullmarket's Terror of Toronto - 22 Nov 1994 - 05 May 2010
This was written in 2007. It is re posted today, in memory of Tessa.
Her eyes are a deep chocolate brown, with long dark lashes. Both are cloudy now, and the left has an opaque area that I’m beginning to worry might be a cataract. I haven’t taken her to the doctor yet, out of fear that he’ll tell me she needs surgery. I don’t want to put her through that, I’m not sure enough that it will help. Her deep chestnut hair is almost completely white, and looking at older photos make me ache. My partner says he prefers her like this, that she looks stately. I don’t want her to be stately – I want her to be young.
Her hips hurt her, too frequently now for my taste. I’ve had to carry her up the stairs a few times, and I worry when she walks on ice. I make sure she takes her supplements, glucosamine and shark cartilage and blue green algae. They probably don’t make any difference, but it’s something I can do to try to stave off the inevitable. It’s been years since she could jump on and off the bed without help, but last week she made it onto the couch – one simple jump, and she was up. I’m not sure who was more amazed, of the two of us. Read more →
I read a review of Pawz dog boots on line, in which someone mentioned that they gave their senior dog extra traction when walking on slippery floors. This has been a huge problem of late for Tessa – while she does well on carpeted floors, or even on grass, she just can’t seem to keep her feet when walking on our hardwood. Anything that could possibly give her more traction would be a godsend. Intrigued, I bought a package of the small size Pawz boots, and decided to give them a test run.
They’re not fancy – basically, they look like natural rubber balloons. You slide them on your dog’s foot, and the rolled edge keep them in place. First impression is that your dog is wearing balloon animals on their feet. Second impression? That your dog, who previously was slip sliding on her rear, is suddenly walking with more stability and balance than she has been in months!
I decided to try them out on Mae, who has Degenerative Myelopathy. Same effect! Mae is now running around and playing, instead of wiping out and falling every few steps!
There are twelve pairs in the package, and I paid $20 Canadian for them. Each pair is re usable, and when they start to show signs of wear, you just toss them in the garbage.
I am completely blown away by what a difference such an inexpensive product has made for my two wobbly reared girls. Pawz get two pawz up from Tessa and Mae!!
I am pretty sure that they’re available in the USA as well as in Canada. I did find some for sale on eBay and Amazon, and their website is http://pawzdogboots.com/about/
I love puppies – I love watching them play, I love smelling puppy breath, I love their little pink feet and their little pink ears. My truest love, however, will always be my senior citizens. Sure, they’re not as playful as puppies, but they’re not as high maintenance, either. They’re content to hang out, have a nap, enjoy the warmth from the fireplace. The older I get, the more I appreciate my old dogs.
Tessa and her daughter Sailor have had a tumultuous relationship. Even now, in old age, they’ll still occasionally try to kick each others asses, but more often they just snuggle up together, forming Frenchie bunk beds and cleaning each others faces.
This was one of those moments.