introducing the fabulous & amazing desert pirate dog

So I'm sure it will come as no surprise to most everybody that I ended up keeping the scruffy little ratdog known as Minx that I was fostering back in January. Yeah, I couldn't help it.

Well?? Look at that face!!



The Minx became a really important part of our motley little family very quickly; she's lovable and kinda crazy- so she fits right in. As she has gotten more acclimated to her new home her weird, funny personality has been emerging. She of course still has a doggy-sisterly relationship with Mia- she had that right away- but even cuter is how she has gotten to the cat. The cat loves her! It is seriously adorable.




One of the best things about Minxie is how she has shown herself to be a true desert pirate dog- look what she does! This is not something anyone taught her- she will just jump onto/perch on your shoulders like a wannabe parrot, it's hyterical. Weird dog!




I really love this little freak. She has wiggled her way into my heart and she's there to stay. I think it's safe to say the feeling is mutual...




...right, Minx? ♥

Minxed!

So I got myself into another foster situation (this year so far I have fostered & found homes for 2 stray cats and one wayward turtle)... this time it was 2 little dogs- a snow white poodle & a jet black terrier- whom my uncle found wandering near an intersection together, lost, dirty & hungry. The poodle was obviously boss lady, with the little terrier shadowing her every move, which was cartoonishly cute. Both dogs had (dirty grimy) sweaters on, but had no collars, tags, or microchips to identify them, so we ran ads in the paper and alerted all the vet clinics in the area. No one claimed them.

The poodle was eventually adopted by a friend of my aunt's and is reportedly doing great in her new home, with new friends both canine & human. The little terrier is still here with me, however, and I have a sneaking feeling that I'm being slowly but surely seduced by the pint sized thing.

Because of her feisty personality I began calling her The Minx, and it sorta stuck. And this is The Minx (chillin' here w my chihuahua Mia):



Check out those ears! The vet said that Minx is about 10 months old and is most likely full grown, which is funny because this dog is practically pocket-sized. I've always thought my chihuahua Mia was tiny, but this pooch makes her look like a big dawg. They are close in age- both still in puppy mode- so they've been tearing shit up like trashed rock stars in a fancy hotel together. Ah, puppies.




My sis-in-law thinks they look like peanut butter & chocolate- so I guess that together, they combine to make an adorable canine version of a Reese's PB Cup..?



So what to do with this insanely-cute, Muppetlike little creature? I think she wants to stay- she sure seems to have become at home here, she's even made friends with the cat.

And every time I think about finding her a home, she gives me those heartbreaking puppy eyes (see image above, doh)... it's like she knooooooows and she is saying 'pleaseplease let me stay, lady'!

We shall see, puppy, we shall see...

Dearly, departed

This past Saturday night, my much-adored dog Dearly died in my arms.

I haven't been able to write about it because I have been heartbroken... well, I am still crushed. But I want to leave a memorial here for my beautiful Dearly-dog. So I'll do my best. Forgive me if I'm still a bit um, overwrought...




Back in July when Dearly mysteriously went blind overnight, the vet warned me that there might be underlying problems that she couldn't really diagnose or reverse. One possibility for the blindness was a brain tumor or some sort of aneurysm (they can't diagnose those things by x-ray because of the skull, it would take an MRI which costs approx $1500-2000 and can't even be done locally)... and these things, even if they could identify them.... they couldn't have done anything about them. The best (and only) thing we could do was to take Dearly home and to try to keep her happy and help her manage with the blindness, and if she started becoming sick or distressed take her back to the vet. And thus we have been since July... Dearly actually adjusted to her loss of sight quickly, like a champ, and she'd been her sweet lovable self ever since.

Then for a few days last week she didn't seem to want to eat as much as usual. But she was still her regular happy self, seemed ok in every other way, so I got some different dog food (thinking maybe she just didn't like the other) and kept an eye on her... and she actually seemed to feel a little better. Then this past Saturday night she suddenly started acting sick again, and vomited once. After that she became really lethargic, she almost seemed like she was drugged... could barely stand, seemed drowsy. I laid her down on her pillow and her nose and lips were icy-cold. I covered her up in blankets and me and my cousin took turns holding her for awhile... she warmed up a bit but she never regained alertness, she was just limp in our arms, and very quiet.

A few hours later, she was back on her pillow and I was on the floor beside her petting her when she suddenly stood up and staggered onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around her body meaning to hold her when she made a little coughing sound and went limp in my arms. At that exact moment I felt her heart stop beating against my hand, which was cradling her under her chest, she was still standing in my lap but she was... gone. Her head went heavy onto my chest and her breath sighed once and she was gone in my arms. Just like that.

The horrible feeling that opened up in my chest at that moment just won't seem to go away. I know her prognosis wasn't too great 6 months ago but I still for some reason cannot believe she is gone. Ever since I rescued her from a cemetery death-trap years ago, Dearly has been my literal shadow... trailing closely by my side every single time I moved, and I am not exaggerating. So her absence, and the silence when I walk (I can't get used to not hearing that tickticktick of her nails against the floor)... it's just overwhelming me still.

She was really special to me and I hope her spirit is somehow still trailing me even now... because I just can't bear to think she's gone. Goodnight, Dearly-dog... I love you very much mama. I know I'll see you again someday.

RIP Dearly D. Parted