WELCOME TO MY DOGGY WORLD!

I'm so excited that you have come to check me out. I'm not just an ordinary dog by any stretch of the imagination. In fact I'm rather special- even if I do say so myself. Not that life has been full of tummy rubs, doggy treats, or juicy bones. You might be surprised though at how much we have in common if you stick around.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

LUCY LOU

Lucy Lou







It’s been three weeks since I held Lucy Lou in my arms as she took her final breath and her valiant heart quit beating. Everywhere I turn I miss my faithful companion of twelve years. It was happenstance that my life even intersected with Lucy Lou. I just happened to be at the Dogwood Animal Hospital talking with Cindy, the vet, when Lucy Lou was rescued and brought in by Sharon Cravens, who is president of Best Friends Sanctuary Inc.






The last thing I planned was to have a house dog, but at Cindy’s insistence went to see this abandoned dog. My heart went out to the bedraggled lump of matted fur, which was trembling in fear despite Sharon’s loving touch. I looked into dark haunted eyes and spoke gently telling this shivering animal that everything was alright now that she had been rescued. Lucy Lou whimpered, reached out, and licked my hand.  Sharon and I were both convinced this dog was someone’s pet. Two weeks later, I got a call from Sharon. No one had come forward to claim her even though posters had been put up and the police had canvassed the area for a couple of miles.  If Sharon’s home hadn’t already been overcrowded with dogs needing homes her family would have gladly adopted Lucy Lou. On my end I was busy getting ready to head to Florida as my husband’s younger brother had suddenly died. There was no way I could take in a dog. Remembering how Lucy Lou had responded to me, Sharon said she would keep Lucy Lou if I would be willing to adopt Lucy Lou and I agreed.






A month later from the time I had first set eyes on Lucy Lou (the name Sharon’s daughter had given her and what I kept), I went to pick up Lucy Lou wondering if she would even remember me. As soon as Lucy Lou saw me it was as though we had never been parted. It was hard for Sharon to say good-bye as they had gotten attached to Lucy Lou. I was impressed by the big heartedness of animal volunteers who not only rescue animals that are deserted, but go the second mile keeping these neglected animals safe until they can be adopted to someone they know will give them a good home.





Three months passed before Lucy Lou’s confidence and true personality emerged realizing she had found her forever home. Wherever I went Lucy Lou became my shadow. Despite being discarded by a human, Lucy Lou was quick to trust anyone who entered our home. Visitors found her a whirlwind dancing on hind legs anxious to welcome them with doggy kisses, yet Lucy Lou would patiently posed for all kinds of pictures knowing she’d be rewarded with treats.






It didn’t matter how big the outside dogs were, Lucy Lou let them know in short order that she was top dog and was quick to boss them around. Even when the snow was deep for her short legs, my feisty dog loved playing in it. She was an endless bundle of energy. While Lucy Lou could play rough with the big dogs, she also had a gentle side.






Nights found her curled up in bed with me or lying on the floor close to my feet snoozing when I had to spend the day in the recliner due to increased pain. Every time I left the house, Lucy Lou would lie on the bed facing the door waiting for me to come home. When my husband had open heart surgery and a stroke resulting in becoming disabled, even though Lucy Lou had never been trained, she would bark and alert me whenever Dana had a seizure. When he fell and I had to get help, Lucy Lou would lie beside Dana licking his hand to keep him calm while I called for an ambulance.





This intelligent mixed poodle/schnauzer became the fiber of our household. She loved running in the woods or rolling on the ground while I worked in the garden and when I cooked in the kitchen there always was two dark brown eyes watching me intently. I began and ended my days with Lucy Lou by my side. It was while I was at my computer preparing my weekly get well cards to send out that Lucy Lou, whose furry body was flopped on the floor beside me, gave me a brainstorm. We had a friend battling cancer and none of my cards seemed appropriate. Why not pretend Lucy Lou was writing? What would she say? And so began a special correspondence between our friend and Lucy Lou that quickly caught on. You can tell a dog anything. During Clayton’s last hospital stay, I took Lucy Lou to see him. His face lit up as soon as he saw Lucy Lou and the small room was filled with laughter as she gave out lots of doggy kisses.  I also started a blog of Lucy Lou.





Time passed swiftly and this dog, whose heart was bigger than her body, slowly started slowing down with age. I dreaded the thought of having to say good-bye, but when Lucy Lou became nearly blind, deaf, and it became harder for her to get around I knew it was time to let her go.  As the autumn leaves began to fade, I took Lucy Lou back to where it all began so many years ago at the vet’s office. There Cindy and one of her staff put Lucy Lou to sleep for the final time. Wrapped snugly in a towel and her blanket, we buried Lucy Lou in a flower garden beside the stream and woods where she loved to run and play. This spring a bird bath surrounded by a ring of blooming daffodils will mark the grave of a very special dog, whose life made a lasting impression on all who came in contact with her. Even though there is a huge empty spot in our lives without Lucy Lou the many memories we shared together will always warm our heart.











Monday, October 26, 2015

Doggy Autumn


QUESTION:
What does a doggy do when autumn comes bringing chilly rainy weather that flares up the arthritis in your hip?

ANSWER:
Curl up on whatever bed is handy and have a doggy snooze.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

A doggy Christmas


A dog has to watch herself during the holidays.  There is a lot of excitement with humans everywhere.  I love playing with the children and checking out new babies, although the adults are rather fussy about me giving it doggy kisses.  But it gets kinda crowded under foot where I'm at so I have to be extra vigilant not to get stepped on or tripped over- especially when it comes to the little people.

Even though I get lots of attention from the kids (the baby sure does find me fascinating and we would have a grand time together if only the adults didn't interfere), my Mistress gets so caught up with her grandchildren that she tends to ignore me.  Imagine!  She stays busy cooking, talking, and playing with the grand-kids until she forgets I exist.  I could starve right under her nose.

Do I sound jealous?  You bet.  Do I take it lying down?  No way!  I just watch and push my furry body around until she notices me making sure to claim my spot beside her every chance I get.   And if things get too bad, I'll hop up on another lap to find some comfort.

After all, I'll still be around when all the people are gone, the house gets quiet again- when a dog can thing straight-, and my Mistress needs some doggy love. 

Whew!  I need a doggy nap. I'm plum worn out. 

Lucy Lou 



Saturday, May 5, 2012

Springtime Madness



Springtime madness is when us dogs go crazy trying to keep up with all the new smells of growing things.  Each day brings a new adventure outside.



I run in circles in the freedom of the outdoors, roll on the soft new green grass, and check out anything that moves until at last out of breath I plop down on the ground.  My Mistress says that's when I act like a heathen.  Really I'm just being myself, but I don't tell her that.


But the most fun of all is playing with my best friend, Lady.  She is a mommy dog to me letting me chew all over her fur to my heart's content as I growl and act ferocious sometimes swatting back at me with her huge paws.  Springtime is a great doggy time to be alive.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Autumn News



Hi,

I'm finally back again after a long summer snooze. It seemed like every time I turned around my Mistress was taking the Master to the doctor or hospital. I tell you I was starting to get quite bored and lonely as I always stay indoors whenever my Mistress is gone. I'm not about to be outside when I needed inside to guard this house. Nobody is going to come in and bother things when my Mistress is gone. I'm the big brave guard dog- of course it helps to know that the big dogs are outside and any intruder has to go through them first. But you don't want to mess around with me. I can make all kinds of noise and my growl is rather fierce, even if I do say so myself.

The other week the oldest dog, Sandy, was put to sleep and buried in the back yard. It was a sad time for my Mistress as Sandy was ancient having been around for sixteen years. All we dogs were careful not to run Sandy over when she'd hobble off the back porch as she was real slow. Don't tell anyone, but Sandy made messes where no self respecting dog would like right on the porch, but nobody scolded her as she couldn't help it.

Meanwhile I have Lady to pal around with and play with. She and I are good friends. Lady will lie down and wrestle with me, although her large size doesn't intimidate me in the least. I just bark and jump around on my back two feet to get her attention whenever I want to expend some energy that has been pent up inside my furry body for too long.

Well I'll mosey along now and see if anything interesting is happening outside. Just because I'm an indoor dog doesn't mean that I don't keep up with what goes on around this place.

See you later,
Lucy Lou




Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Springtime Blahs



It has been quite boring around my house lately.

My mistress was in the hospital with our Master, who had to have open heart surgery and it seemed like she was gone forever.

One day my Mistress was here like usual and then after talking on the phone she madly dashed out the door and only came back for quick visits. I know that my Master needed her, but I sure did miss her.


It was an exciting day when my Mistress finally brought the Master back home again. Since then he's been here at the house taking lots of naps. I spend my days staying close to my Mistress or whenever the Master lays down, I curl up beside him in bed and take a snooze too. It sure has been a different spring from last year spending most of my time outside. Oh well, as long as my Mistress is here that is all that matters.


Now if you'll excuse me it's time to go jump up on the bed with the Master and take another dog nap.


Lucy Lou




Monday, January 10, 2011

Winter Blues



We've been having so much cold weather around here this winter and snowstorms every time I turn around until a dog needs something else to help keep a furry body warm. So this morning I checked out my Mistress gloves and scarf that I see her put on every time she ventures outdoors. I must admit they are cozy and fuzzy- almost as nice as my fur. I wonder if she will mind if I borrow them.
Lately I've been inside most of the time curling up on the bed with my Mistress at night (staying cozy & warm feeling her heating blanket under my body), or curling up on her lap when she sits close by the fire, and snoozing most of the days away. What else can a dog do?
Wake me up when it gets warm outside, okay?
Lucy Lou