Wordless Wednesday and Monday Memories Collide

Daddy's Kiss

Woo Woo Welcome Again!

My husband Mark will be taking the reins of today's post. A bit of Monday Memories and current events. He's a talker that boy and there's no stopping him when he's talking about the dogs. BOL! This is our very first post three years ago yesterday. We wanted to share it with those you may not have seen it. Here we are still talking about the same things 3 years later.

June 10, 2010

Woo Woo Welcome

My wife, asked me how I wanted to start out the first post of our dog blog. She was at a loss for ideas. (Not surprisingly because she has done all the blog work so far.)

All I know is what I witnessed when Brut and Silver had their first and last litter of puppies on Jan. 2, 2008 was nothing short of (lost for words) Never in my life have I ever experienced or witnessed, read or seen in any movie what began at 2:50 am when Zappa was born and continued through until Fiona was the last one out. When Fiona was stuck and I pulled her out, I was overjoyed that she was OK.

It is a high that I still have to this day. An amazing miracle of God. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about that night. It changed me in a way that I’ll never look at life the same. I thought I knew what unconditional love was before, but what I have witnessed since that night has made me a different person. It changed my whole outlook on humans, animals, simply everything. When we got Blaze and Chance back, it made me realize how short and precious life really is.

I hope this blog will be able to show and tell even half of what my wife and I want to express to people that think dogs are just dogs. Believe me my friends, dogs are much more. If you pay attention to the dogs around you, they can teach you more than you ever thought possible about yourself, the people around you and what life is really about.-Daddy

Our goal is not so much to share how much we love our dogs, but how much their love means to us. In a world that is full of cruelty, sorrow and pain, there is nothing better than having 24 Paws of Love. -Mommy

Please check out each dog’s story, (link name under picture) and share in the unconditional love they each bring.

And here's Mark (Daddy):

It was three years and one day ago that we started blogging for the world to see our life with our 2 packs of Love.  The 24 Paws of Love.  From which there is no doubt were sent from heaven above.  Even though we try to explain in words the true meaning of our life with our family words can not describe the true feelings of what our 2 packs mean to us.  There are not enough hours in the day to spend and explain what and how the love of our dogs have done for us.

Monday Memories-Food Fight?

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane.

Can your dogs eat out of the same bowl?

And to think Chance and Blaze's previous owners used to throw them a scrap of food and watch them fight over it.

Now look at them!!

Monday Memories-A Strange Coincidence

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane

Who is this little guy???

We were looking for a stud for Silver when we stopped at our friends house who was a breeder. As she paraded the six boys out my eyes immediately caught the curled over tail, short ears and bushy, gruff exterior of one particular dog. I whispered to my husband, “That one has Chow in him. I don’t want him.” A disdain I’d developed towards Chows after witnessing a vicious dog fight as a child that still permeated in me. I absolutely refused to have a dog that I saw as violent and malicious in my home. And so we chose a red and white Husky.

We were unable to locate the breeder at the time of Silver’s heat and in a hasty decision went with another dog from another Husky breeder. Silver did not get pregnant.

The following year we again tried to locate the original dog we had chosen from the first breeder and finally found him with another mutual breeder friend of ours. When we tried Silver with him, they stood and looked at each other. End of story. So when this breeder showed us a litter of Husky pups about 4 weeks old, my mind started turning. With two failed breedings and everything feeling like forced timing, I turned to my husband as we pulled out of the driveway, “Maybe we should just get our own stud.”

We went back the next day to the breeder with the fresh litter of pups. I had my heart set on the black and silver one with a black masked face, only to find he had already been spoken for. Then he held up this little orangish-red male in the palm of his hand and my eyes and heart locked on him. I knew he was the one. The only one. I swear that even in the dark of the night, heaven’s light was shining on him. :) We would pick him up in a couple of weeks when my husband gave him the name Brut, after the cologne.

 Little Bruter

Months later after Brut’s aggressive personality began to unfold, I came to learn that the Husky/Chow dog that I had shunned in the beginning was actually Brut’s Grandfather, Storm. Storm was half Husky and half Chow on Brut’s maternal side of the family. I struggle for a good year or so with this knowledge because of Brut's dog aggression and finally through Brut and our healing together have come to a peace with it. Who would have thought that a breed I didn’t want in a dog that was my heart dog was just who I needed to heal that terrible tear in my life. Coincidence? I think not.

Grandpa "Storm"

(top picture-Storm as a puppy)

 Grandson "Brut"

Coincidence: An act of God that wishes to remain anonymous.

Monday Memories-Do you have a memorial garden or grave site for your pets?

 Sparky's Weigela

We have a small grave site for our past on pets.  It is on the side of the house.  There are five sites and each one is lined with large rocks and has a small fence around it because of dogs.  I picked out plants that flower according to the time of their death.  My cat Sparky and our dog Alex died in June and I bought them both Weigela bushes.  I've actually seen the flowers open on June 4, which is when Alex died and stay open just past June 22, when Sparky died.

  Top view of Alex's site

For Alex I also have ferns from his favorite stomping grounds.  A swampy forest on the lake where he was able to run free and do as he pleased.  I also planted myrtle from another one of his favorite spots where he love to hang out with us.

 Mojo's Rhododendron

When our first duck Mojo died in the early spring, I have a Rhododendron that blooms as early as spring can start up here.

I'm still looking for just the right plant for our other duck and my duck egg, both whom died in the spring as well.  I'm thinking of an Orange Quintz, a small bush that has orange flowers (to also match their bills) and even though my neighbor has one, they tend not to grow well this far north.  But I would like to try.

 Claw's Burning Bush, ready to be planted.

Then for Claw, my heart cat twin, who died in October, I did have a Hibiscus for her that bloomed in late summer.  It died a couple of years ago.  But as I rethought my idea for having the the plants flower during closest to their anniversaries, I decided to go with a Burning Bush.  And while it doesn't flower, the leaves will turn a bright red in the fall in October, the same month Claw died.

So that's how we memorialize our pets.  What do you do?

Monday Memories-Tidbits of 3 week old puppies

Monday Memories-out little trip down memory lane.

Milk Madness

Mommy, Mommy, can I have some more??

No fair, Mom!  

You didn't have to invite my brothers too!

************************************************** 

King of the Hill

I'm Zappa and I'm the King of the castle...

and you're the dirty rascals

It's tough being King every day.
Sometimes I just need a few moments to myself
**************************************************
Down for the Count

Here's the line up and they are finally down for the count

I didn't think those little buggers would ever quit!

Finally some me time!

This week's episode of Monday Memories was brought to you with warm snuggles, puppies breath kisses and all the oooohs and awwww you need to get you through your Monday.
 Any day with puppies is better day!  
So just soak in and enjoy!

Early Monday Memory Edition-Happy Father's Day Brut!!

Brut's favorite place to sleep, the puppy blanket

In lieu of Father's Day today we decided to celebrate Daddy Dogs all over the world with an early edition of Monday Memories by honoring one in particular, our own Daddy Dog Brut!

Since Brut isn't your average dog, it stands to reason he wasn't an average father by far.  :)  When Brut was with his puppies, I couldn't carry a camera because I was so busy keeping watch that Big Bad Dad wasn't getting too rough or overwhelmed with all his kids.  So I don't have any still pictures of the proud father and his pups.

No matter how nervous or cautious I was when Brut was out, I was surprised over and over again how calm and gentle he was his puppies.  Brut's eyes would lite up as he tried to comprehended all the love that was pouring from these ten puppy hearts, in a way that said, "For me?"  The love he was never able to receive in his own puppy hood he was absorbing ten fold through his own children.  They gave him everything he needed: the puppy hood he never had and to be a dad all at the same time.

Can you feel the love? 

  Watch how Brut never steps on one puppy!
 (I've posted this video before, but it is one of my favorites and I thought quite fitting for today)

To watch on YouTube go HERE

Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's out there!

Monday Memories-It was about so much more...

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane.

Today's story is about Chance a pup from our litter who was neglected and abuse and then returned to us.

Chance's first day home

Dec. 16, 2008

You might be surprised but when Chance’s owners called us and wanted to return him, we weren’t sure about keeping him.  My husband was worried about me being able to handle another dog, when we were still dealing with Blaze’s return four months earlier.    We had struggle with introducing Blaze with the Back Dogs, how were we going to add another one to the bunch?   Everything was suddenly up in the air.  We didn’t know what we were going to do.  So we introduced Chance to potential new owners one night. 

I sat on the floor with Chance later that same night after the meeting and wrote this:
:
Jan. 5, 2009
Monday

My husband and I have come to the conclusion there has been some kind of brain injury with Blaze.   We also witnessed some protective aggression with Chance and his potential new owners.  And it really makes me wonder on a much deeper level if Chance is meant to be here also.  Something about this info has given me a grave difference about things.  As it becomes more about their (the dogs) well being than I originally thought.  More than just taking care of them, but the fact they need us.  Much more than I ever supposed.  On a level I can’t explain.  It put things into a different perspective that I feel I don’t have the right or the want to question, having nothing to do with my needs.  Though mine are being met also with this awareness.  There is a reason they remember.  There is a reason why they feel safe and secure with us.  And there is a reason they are willing to sacrifice direct one on one that they are used to, to be here with us.  This is deeper than emotions.  There is strength and security and this is what they need and crave more than anything.  For some reason I thought Chance couldn’t stay.  There was no way.   And then I had fallen in love with him again but still I thought it best if he were to leave.  And now with this revelation seems deeply rooted that neither can go.  There is something stronger and coincidental that the two puppies that played together, growing up together, their families related and BOTH ended up back home.  It’s not really that big of a mystery.  They had already formed an alliance and it was only a matter of time.  They have a bond like Fiona and Zappa.  Unbreakable.  I can not pull them apart again.  I can not break that bond again.  They are both here for a reason.  That want to be here.  They know they are safe, even if it means less attention. 

There is too much peace in this house, under these conditions for if there wasn’t, something would be horribly wrong.  Even if all the dogs were never able to get together, there would still be peace. 

There is a deeper reason Chance and Blaze came back.  Came back from the same past.  What are the odds?  What are the odds?  

Monday Memories-Snap! Silver the Photographer

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane.

  Whenever my husband's mom used to change a baby's diaper, she would baby talk, "Are you taking my picture?"

So since Silver sleeps on her back most of the time, my husband thinks she is taking everyone's picture. 

Silver snapping away at 7 weeks old

Lots of shots of the kids while she was nursing

Warming up the camera.

Smile!  You're on Silver Camera!!
BOL!!

Has anyone else heard of this phrase before?

Monday Memories-The Brut Beginning

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane.

This week I'm going to share some of my experiences about Brut and what is considered his aggression.

Today we are starting at the beginning and what happened from the moment we picked Brut out at 4 weeks old.  This is how Brut's life started.

 Has anyone seen my mommy?

To understand Brut, you have to go back to the beginning.  At four weeks old Brut and his siblings were taken from their mother and brought in to live with aggressive adult dogs in an environment that generate a constant state of survival.  This was how he learned his social skills and the discipline that was suppose to taught by his mother as he learned how to be a dog.  Instead of playing with his brothers and sisters to learn the ropes of what was acceptable dog behaviors between dogs, Brut was warding them off in protection for his food, toys and life.  Instead of a nurturing, loving environment where he was free to express and be properly corrected, Brut lived with the hostile mentality of 'every dog for themselves.'  At a time in his life when Brut should have been able to explore in innocence, he lived in the utmost fear and instinctively imitated what he saw from the other dogs in order to get through the day. At an age when he wasn't emotionally, nor mentally ready to cope.  All the while dealing with the abandonment from his mother who wasn't there to protect him and he had to learn far too early to do so himself.

 Ready to defend!!

When our litter reached that glorious four week old mark, I remembering looking at 10 bundles of innocence, full of trusting dependence on their mother and us and everything just clicked.  I finally had a grasp on why Brut was the way he was as all of the pieces of the puzzle came together. His physical size, how young he really was at that time, and his mental and emotional development stunted in fear. That was the age Brut was stripped of everything safe that he knew in his life, including his birth place.  And all of that fear was internalized into the external version of aggression.  He was taught that every dog is a threat because they wanted to take something from him, hence the fierce possessiveness of a puppy who had to fight for everything he had.  

We witnessed first hand the environment that Brut grew up in on more than one occasion.  I lived with the damage that was done on such a impressionable mind from the time we brought him home.  I saw the vast difference when our ten puppies reached that prime age of four weeks old and I have broke into many tears over that frightened little boy who fended for his life with the only tools he had just to be here.

That boy is one tough cookie!

 I finally made it.  HOME.

*4-12 weeks old in a puppies life are when the crucial bonding and social skills are built.  It is when a dog learns how to be dog.*

I hope you will join me for my next post where I will share my personal experience and observations about Brut and what is called his dog aggression.   

Monday Memories-What Was Your First Pet?

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane

 This post is in special thanks to this little Red Squirrel, who wished to remain anonymous who reminded me that I have loved a few rodents in my day.

See, I don't care for rodents.  Of any sort.  They may look cute and fuzzy but to me they are a nuisance and who's only good is being prey for the dogs to chase and occasionally catch.  So yesterday while I was in one of my funky morning moods staring into nothing land I see this Red Squirrel racing through the pines, across the fence and up and down the post at lightning speed.  He caught my attention.  Now I can appreciate the agility and speed of squirrels, as they are the true acrobats of the trees in these parts and as I watched him race and jump with such fine balance, I became pretty awed.

 He sat up on the post flipping his tail at me as he wanted to know why I didn't like his kind.  Staring me down through the pane window and as I stared back, I told him, the disease you carry, the destruction, and that constant gnawing that never ends.  He turned tail and flew down the fence for more goodies.  After a few minutes he flew back up and sat at the top of the fence post to confront me.  Eye to eye he said with so many words, "Have you forgotten so soon?"  "What is THAT suppose to mean?" I quipped back.  "You once loved rodents too."  OMG!  My first pet!!.  I giggled as he wiggled his butt down to the stash of seeds in the grass.

My fifth birthday I received my very own guinea pig.  To this day I can not tell you his name.  No idea if it was a girl of boy, except that he was mine.  And although not the most active pet I'd ever owned.  He was mine to love and care for.  He was a long haired breed and I would comb him every night.  Clean his cage once a week and gave him carrots and lettuce as a treat.  He was the start of several pairs of hamster that would follow after his death.

Mr. Squirrel flew back to the top of his perch feverishly munching on his seeds that he held with both hands.  I giggled again with a smile as I remembered so vividly loving that part of my little rodents pets.  Standing on their hind legs with their little jaws nibbling at top notch speed while they stuffed the pocket inside their cheeks until they were full.  I remember how cute and exciting it was to witness this storage habit as they "hid" seeds for winter in the corner of their cages.  I didn't know what they were doing at the time, but I just loved watching them do it.  I also discovered they were smarter than one might think.  We were always trying to escape proof the cage and we weren't always so successful.  I remember coming home from a week vacation and having to search the house, only to find one of my hamsters in the couch but still alive and well even with two dogs in the house!

I smiled a thank you to Mr. Squirrel before he scurried away while he reminded me that he had a purpose too and it wasn't just to be bait for the dogs.  BOL!  Because of him I was able to reminisce about the my first pets that were all my own at such a young age and how and why I loved them.  Even they were rodents.   :)

So what was your first pet?  

Monday Memories-Alex sitting on the dock of the bay

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane.

When Alex died, for some reason Otis Redding's, "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" started playing through my head and it became his song.

There's no significance or tie to Alex and the song, not even in hindsight, just that it was suddenly playing inside my heart when I lost him.

I had a few different ideas I planned to choose from to write for Monday Memories, when Otis started grooving again inside of me and all I could think of was Alex.

 Sing it Alex!!

Monday Memories-A memory about a memory

Monday Memories-our weekly trip down memory lane.

Geesh!!  The little piggies won't even let me lay down!!

My husband and I watched this awesome video this past month of Silver feeding the puppies who were about 4 weeks old at the time.  We wanted to share it with all of you, but we were unable to copy it as our DVR is broken and all of our puppy footage is on analog.

My husband went movie crazy with the puppies, mostly for the fact he wasn't able to be around much due to the double time at work that suddenly happened not 24 hours after the little guys were born.  So he was quite a insane about getting everything on tape.  He used to drive me crazy.

Four years later as we are watching this video segment, I feel like I'm seeing it for the first time, through my husband eyes, who is also seeing it for the first time.  It was one of many feeding sessions, Silver walks in the whelping box and the puppies bombard her. She does everything to dodge them and avoid stepping on them.  She is standing and they are on their back legs standing up all fighting over those precious teats.  Somehow some way Silver slips in a quick move and quickly lies down, the puppies attack her in a crazy fury.  Fussy, yipping, and in a constant chaos as everyone fights to grab on for that furious suckling time.

1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4  All there!

Watching every move of this feeding frenzy after Silver is down,  I step in the box to count the pups to make sure she isn't lying on any of them..  1-2-3 (Husky-looking pups), 1-2-3 (black and white pups), 1-2-3-4 (white pups).  Every time Silver was in the box, I was counting.  Every time the pups left, were in another room, outside, I was counting.  I never left their sides, except for my own necessities and always made sure they were all there.  I never thought once about it or that I was doing anything special, it was just part of taking care of our grandkids.

As we watched the video, my husband had this loving smile on his face and said, "and there's you, right in the middle of it.  You just got right inside Silver and her puppies from day one and became part of them."  As I sat there mesmerized by 10 little tails on the screen all wiggling at attention as their bellies were being filled and watched what became a pivotal point in our lives, his words struck me, and I smiled back and said, "I did, didn't I?"  I begun to realize how completely enmeshed I was in this world of our litter of pups that we refer to the "Power of Ten."  I told my husband as we continued to be swept away by this feeding video, "This is only an example of ONE aspect of the puppies that was a continuous cycle flowing through our home for almost twelve weeks."  And I remember being so stunned as I relived just a piece of that time period.  The sounds, the smells and the touch that reverberated through our home of love as we live and breathed these new lives that surrounded us.  During that time period I was so wrapped up in it, I barely had a moment to realize the miracle that had taken over our home, until my husband's words attacked my heart and soul with such a fierceness as we watched with new eyes and the swelling blessings of the never ending miracle of ten puppies.

             The Amazing "Power of Ten"
(p.s. hopefully before long we will be able to transfer tape to computer.  Stay tuned!)

***********************************************************************

We'd like to send out a special crossed 24 Paws of Love for Houndgirl.  Our hearts are with you. 

Monday Memories-Which do you prefer: Puppies or Adult Dogs?

One of our own whom we called

 "T-bone," now known as "Jack"

Hello Monday Memories Readers!  Today's Monday Memories kicks off the 24 Paws Participation Week.  For this special week we are throwing out a dog questions and looking for your answers to get to know our readers a little better.  

So our first question for the week is:  Which do you prefer:  Puppies or Adult Dogs?

Now if you'd asked me this at any other point in my life, my answer would be, hands down, adult dogs.  Now don't get me wrong I love puppies and everything that is puppy, but they could never grow up fast enough for me.  I couldn't wait to get through the whole puppy phase so that I could do all of those 'big dog' things that I've always loved when they became adults.   In fact when we got Alex, he was 9 years old and it was a great relief to not have to go through all the training and housebreaking.

 OK, you can stop growing, NOW!!

(4 week old pups)

Ask me the same question now and you'd be amazed how quickly a litter of 10 puppies can make you rethink all of that puppy stuff.  No matter how much I read or videos I saw, I was never fully prepared when the puppies were born that they would practically grow and develop right in front of my eyes. Ever minute was like watching the impossible happen.  One day they are dragging themselves across the whelping box and the next they crawling and stumbling on wobbly legs and I witnessed these incredible beings never stop to risr to their next challenge.  They never gave up, they just kept going.  They didn't sit and pout or cry if they fell, they had a goal: to reach that teat before their brother or sister.  Ten of them all striving for the same thing.   Talk about absolutely beautiful inspiration.   

When they were four weeks old, past the newborn stages and really began to look like miniature puppies, I would have done anything to be able to find a magic formula and keep them that way forever.  That age made the biggest impact on me in ways I couldn't even imagine.  If I could have stopped time, I would.

The entire experience gave me a deeper respect and appreciation to all of the puppy stages that I was always trying to rush through and an understanding of the importance of letting them grow and mature at their own pace.  I can not tell you how many celebrations we had for the many accomplishments each puppy made trying out their new legs or getting the courage to think about jumping on the chair, it was the stuff of champions!!.

 Another one of our boys

Formerly "Red," now called "Stone"

So while I will still always love being able to do all those 'big dog' things, I will cherish the puppy stages with a deeper sense of gratitude.  Those ten little puppies whom I was so blessed with taught me to never give up and to celebrate everything.  :)

So tell us, what is your favorite stage of a dog's life?

Monday Memories-Would you do it?

Perfect.

Just the way they were on their first day in this world.

About 24 hours after Silver gave birth, I ran her to the vet to make sure she had given birth to all her puppies, par the vet's instructions.  Being a new “Grandma” I had some uncertainties if there were any more pups to be born.  After Silver had her x-ray and all was clear, the receptionist, out of the blue made mention that to in order to have dew claws removed and tails docked, I had a three day window to get it done.  I was shocked by the very thought.  I had never heard of removing the dew claws.  I had ten freshly born, healthy pups and I couldn’t imagine chopping off any parts of them.  The thought was a bit disturbing, to say the least. 

Brut's back dew claw

Both Brut (father) and Fiona (daughter) have a third dew claw on their back right leg, an inherited trait, that Brut must have picked up in the genetic line.  As you can see it hangs looser than a front dew claw and is more susceptible to getting caught on things, though I have never run into that problem.  Our vet mentioned when Brut was young if we wanted to have it removed we could.  It has never crossed my mind. I have always loved the uniqueness. 

Fiona's back dew claw

From my understanding the removal of all dew claws is a preventive measure, because they can snag and tear off.  It is can also be a selling point if the dew claws on puppies are already removed.  Tail docking is considered show standard for particular breeds.

Though I am aware of that these procedures exist and understand the theory, but I personally could not begin to fathom the idea of actually doing them to our little newborns.  Even now as I look back at that precious little bundle, so perfect just the way they were, the thought gives me chills.  I am just not to type that could do that for any reason.

 How do you feel about it?  Could you do it?       

Monday Memories-Starring Chancer Dancer and the Milk Pumpers!

Monday Memories-our weekly trip down memory lane.  

This week:

THE MILK PUMPING DANCE

We open with newbie Rocket, just minutes old, taking those tumbles and rolls with ease.   He is ready to play his part as milk pumper.  Then out of nowhere a silly girl tries to help by shooting Rocket to the top of the pile.  Not sure what she was trying to accomplish there, but it does cue the other puppies.  Look at those back legs go!  Can you believe the strength of those little legs pulsing to their own synchronized beat?  Only hours old, these puppies already have the milk pumping moves.   Lead by Chance,(the big white boy in the middle), the seven pups prepare the journey for their three sister who have yet to be born.  There is nothing like the Newborn Milk Pumping Dance to welcome everyone home.  :)

Monday Memories/Happy Birthday Puppies!!

 One day old

Today is a very special Monday Memories.  Today is the "puppies" 4th Birthday!!  Zappa, Fiona, Chance and Blaze.  Four years ago today our eyes were opened to the wonder and miracle of ten healthy puppies as entered this world, four of which we have today.  Memories we still find ourselves in awe of and have become the bulk of many post for Monday Memories. 

Today we have a special guest speaker who would like to share his thoughts about that day and the many that have followed....so take it away Daddy!

Never would I have ever thought in my wildest dreams that I could be learn as much as I have since that early morning when Brut and Silver's puppies were born.  Since that day I have learned more about life and love than I have ever learned before. 

ZAPPA:  The first one we welcomed that early morning as I watched in amazement of his birth. I felt an instant unexplainable bond with Zappa from the moment I took care of him when Mommy Silver didn't know what to do after giving birth.  A bond that has continued to grow and deepen as we seem to think alike and have the same personalities, like we are twins.  It is hard to put into words this connection between us but that has been there from the first time I touched him, I think Zappa may be my heart dog.

FIONA:  Fiona was the last puppy born and when she got stuck in the birthing canal I had to pull her out. Ever since watching her grow from being the runt of the litter to catching up with her siblings we have had a strange, but wonderful relationship.  She reminds of someone I know who is trying to tell me something but can't because she is a dog.  Fiona always looks at me with those eyes of wanting to tell me something, something she just can't seem to relay to me.  On more than one occasion, I have said to my wife that Fiona's sweet, sassy attitude reminds me of my sister who passed away 15 years ago and sometimes it feels like she is right there living through Fiona.

BLAZE:  We couldn't have picked a better name for the 9th pup, born just before Fiona.  It seems as soon as Blaze was able to open her eyes and see what was going on she became the instigator.  Blaze was always the last one to go to sleep and was always trying to start something with the other pups.  Four years later...she's still the instigator and the last one to go to sleep.

When Blaze first came back, I would take her on the job with me and every time I would look out to check on her, she would be lying on the dashboard of the van.  She became my Dashboard gGrl.  Of course she is the only one of the dogs who could fit on the dashboard.  It was these car rides that we bonded as we both tried to heal from the abuse the happened to her with her previous owner and a friendship that continues to grow today.

CHANCE:  When he was the born, we called him Blue for the blue ribbon to separate him from his two white brothers.  He was the second biggest and though I don't remember as much as I wish I did when he was young, but I do remember when Chance came back home to us and the impact it had on me.  After Chance left, we would visit once a month and he seemed to be doing OK but when they didn't want him no more was when we noticed how thin he was.  For the first few months Chance would be in the front yard, sitting by the fence, just looking.  Looking for something or someone.  He was glad to be with us, but you could tell he missed his first owner, a boy.  He was so sad and it took some time for him to accept the boy wasn't coming.  It was a blessing for all of us that Blaze had been returned and that Chance was with his favorite sister again and he began to come around.  

Now Chance/Blue isn't Blue anymore and is doing well.  He is my Scooby Doo dog, goofy, serious and full of love.

I will always be amazed and awed at what I have witnessed from the beginning until this Happy 4th Birthday of Zappa, Fiona, Blaze and Chance.  How four inch puppies have become full grown dogs.  So every night when I sing "Rock-A-Bye Baby," I realize how grateful how our 24 Paws of Love Family has made this "little boy's" dreams come true.  The have become what they have taught me about myself, life and most of all love

Happy 4th Birthday

 Fiona, Zappa,

.

        Blaze and Chance!!

Thanks for ROCKING our world!!

Love,

Mom and Dad