Today with a heavy, broken heart we had to say goodbye to our Ziggy. When thinking of one word to describe how I feel about Ziggy the word beloved seems to encapsulate it all. Such a strong word meaning dearly loved, adored, cherished, favorite, darling, treasured, much-loved, dear. Ziggy was our treasure. Before Ziggy I had tried more than once to adopt a dog but didn't find the right fit. I became convinced I was solely a cat person. I always had cats - mostly strays that found me - Fighter, Hershel, Mittens, Gregory, Lucy, Eleanor, Ceasar, Libby, Tommy, Stinky, Gracie, XiuXiu, Cowboy, Boots, Molly, Elvis, Patsy, Pricilla and Natty. I firmly believed there were two categories of people - cat people and dog people and never the twain shall meet. I was a cat person. After our house was robbed in 2000 the police officer who helped us suggested we get a dog. He said a dog is better than any security system. The next week I heard of a litter of puppies looking for homes. My husband knew the owner of the dogs so we went to see the two that were left. George brought out Ziggy to me. I held him and, though he was cute, I was not sure I really wanted a dog. I asked to see the other puppy. Startled at the request, George told me they were "exactly" the same. If there is one thing I know - no two living things are exactly the same. So George brought out Smokey to me. Smokey looked at me and pushed away. He did not choose me and later that week went to live with my husband's brother and his wife where he has had a wonderful happy life. So we brought Ziggy home. He smelled like puppy urine and even though I didn't want to traumatize him on his first night with us, he got his first bath. We put him in his crate and went to bed. He cried like a baby and I ended up sleeping on the floor next to him all that night. That was it. I was in love. The next night he slept in our bed - something I said I would never do. We became his world and he ours. More surprising was the reaction of the cats - Tommy and Libby. After Ziggy calmed down from his puppyhood they accepted and loved him like I thought could never happen. Later on even the stray cats could be seen rubbing up against Ziggy. Pedro of course would have only been happier if he could literally have been joined to Ziggy's hip. Ziggy never met a person he didn't like. Black, white, brown, tall, short, young or old, he'd like you. That's not to say he wasn't protective of his family but if we were ok, he was ok. Cancer is such an insidious disease for animal and human alike. It came on so fast with Ziggy that we didn't have time to catch our breath before it was all over. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming. There was nothing we or the doctors could do to help him so we did the last kind thing were able to and helped Ziggy to the Bridge today. Our hearts are broken and will not soon mend. There is a hole in our lives and in our house that will never be filled. We wish Ziggy snowy days and happy trails. We will carry him in our hearts always. Ziggy, you are now and always will be our beloved...
We don't know what's wrong. Last Sunday he was fine. Monday he stopped eating. The only thing that came up on his blood work was an elevated white blood cell count, indicating infection. He's on antibiotics but is getting worse. Leah and Jessie slept on the floor with him last night. As soon as his vet's office opens we're taking him in. We're all so desperately afraid for him. Please, please, please pray for Ziggy.
Just look at him tolerating Natty! If Natty tried to share my food he'd be a RED, black and white cat!
Seriously Ziggy? Sleeping with the enemy? This goes too far.
Natty looks cute but, trust me, he is a vampire kitty. I don't know why all of the cats love Ziggy so much. Even the stray cats rub up against him. I mean, he's supposed to be MY electric blanket!.JPG)
Jill (left) and Libby (right) were two beautiful doxies that lived with my mom's friend Judy. Libby was quite old at 15 and started to fail this past summer. She couldn't hear and her sight was gone. All summer long Jill stayed close by Libby acting as her eyes and ears. She watched out for the big sister she loved with her huge dachsund heart..JPG)
Last month Judy and her husband had to help Libby to the Rainbow Bridge. It was heartbreaking for them but they knew it was time. When they didn't come home with Libby, Jill stopped eating. Within 4 days Jill couldn't get up. The doctor tried to help Jill but 5 days after Libby left for the Bridge, Jill joined her. .JPG)
Needless to say, this has been very, very difficult for Judy and her husband. Though they were prepared to say farewell to Libby, Jills departure has left them heartbroken. Judy doesn't have a blog but I know all of you will join me in sending her our paws and tears of support. We know there are more doxies out there that need to be rescued and when Judy and her husband are ready some lucky doxie(s) will have a wonderful home waiting for them.
During my mom's blog meltdown when she went on strike (against my wishes) she made us miss the Dogs With Blogs Holiday Card Exchange! I am sooooooooo upset! My mom is very upset too. We had so much fun last year sending and receiving cards that my mom almost cried when she found out it's too late to get on the list. So, please, if you would like to exchange cards with us, please drop us an email at PedroVotes@aol.com so that we can swap addresses! Thank you!!!
That is definitely not something a dawg could do! 
Tommy seems to be feeling much better. So much better in fact that shortly after these pictures were snapped he beat up poor Elvis! 
Don't worry, Mom ran into the neighbor's yard and rescued Elvis and brought him back for dinner. 
I was very busy smelling cat butts and, of course, marking everything, like the pool cover. 
So much to pee on, so little time! 
Here's a picture of Natty's mom - Pricilla (that's Natty's uncle Cowboy next to Pricilla). 
And Natty's dad Boots.
Look how BIG Natty, the pest, is getting (see Gus & Louie - there is a pest in my dawg house too!) I hope you had as much fun on Sunday as I did!
Unfortunately, my cat-brother Tommy has not been well at all. While Mom and Dad were gone he had to stay in the hospital. They did all kinds of tests on him to figure out what was wrong but it's a mystery. All his bloodwork came back as normal - no Leukemia or FIV, his red and white blood cells were normal, liver and kidneys fine. The VET thinks it's either Irritable Bowel Syndrome, cancer, or a virus. His usual portly physique has been replaced with a new bony thinness that doesn't feel healthy at all. He's on Flagyll, Amoxicillin and Prednesone. Mom thought he was doing better but he cat-yacked this morning. Keep your paws crossed for Tom-Tom! He's the cat that asks for nothing. He's sweet and lovable and drools when you pet him and we sure don't like seeing him under the weather.
I don't know what's going on. I'm confused, disoriented, scared and depressed. Everything in my dawg house has been moved around. At first it was kind of fun - lots of open space to run around in. The openness made my bark seem louder and more ferocious than usual. The kitten found dust bunnies to chase and was in his glory. Then it happened... Monday night the hallway got crammed with furniture and Mom had to squeeze us in to Leah's room. I heard Dad say he was going to sleep in the trailer. 
Trailer? We don't have a trailer. What is a trailer anyway??? Tuesday morning my Mom got up, hurried to get ready for work then put Libby and Natty in the trailer. Libby HATED it! She tried to escape but Mom kept putting her back. The trailer was creepy because Mom covered everything in it with comforters. I wondered why and she said her friend Kathy leant us the trailer to live in while our floors are being refinished and she didn't want us to damage anything so she covered it all. Now, why would she think WE would damage anything??? Hmpf! After locking up the cats (BTW - Tommy has decided to be an outside cat since Natty came live with us so his life has gone on without interruption), Mom loaded Ziggy and me in the car and off we went to her job.
I don't like going to work. I don't know why my mom has to spend so much time at work but, as she's reminded me soooo many times, it's so she can buy us nice things, like food. Work is very stressful for me. So many people to bark at and bite. Ziggy doesn't mind because he actually likes people outside of our family. 
Mom's boss makes me a little nervous too because there is this weird, crazy energy coming off of him that put's me on edge. Wednesday when we came home the house STUNK so we all had to sleep in the trailer that night. Thursday the smell didn't seem as bad. Mom couldn't take it though so she tip-toed over the floor to Leah's room, bringing Tommy with her, and they slept with the windows wide open in 40 degree weather all night. Tonight Dad says he's going to his parents' to sleep with Ziggy. Me and the cats will be camping again with Mom. 
I'm tired, Ziggy is completely exhausted, Libby is beside herself and Mom has a permanent headache from the fumes. No pictures of the chaos but we'll post some pictures of the floor when it's done - this picture was taken after the stain was applied. 
Sorry we haven't visited anyone this week. Once our house is in order we'll be by to say hello!
The views were beautiful and the Monongahela River sparkled in the valley below - great Christmas Card photo ops! They didn't exactly rough it with the food because Mom didn't want to pack all the things necessary to cook so they ate out. The only thing she made sure to bring was coffee! After a delicious dinner at Texas Roadhouse they headed back to the campground for dessert. S'Mores! 
This is a Leah favorite after so many years of summer camp (Camp Ma-He-Tu).
They gathered some fire wood, stoked up a cozy fire and started roasting marshmallows. The pictures sure look yummy!
Sunday came too quickly. After a $200+ grocery shopping trip Mom hit the road, taking a different route home. Even with a little traffic in Pennsylvania and by the George Washington Bridge (is there EVER not traffic there???) she made it home in 7 1/2 hours - not bad at all. Camping was fun but a little creepy since they were literally the only 2 people in the campground. Mom said she'd stay there again but maybe during a time when more people are around.
So mom broke out the new camera this weekend and took tons of pictures of that bratty little kitten in my dawg house - Natty. There are no pictures of me with him, mainly because I don't really like the little bugger all that much. He is kind of fun to chase around and tackle but there will be NO snuggling with me! 
Ziggy and Libby tolerate the brat much better than I do. 
Tommy, on the other hand, absolutely hates him and won't even come in the house any more - he insists on dining alfresco! 
Natty has GROWN like a weed (but I'm still bigger, for now...)!
My mom finally got a new camera today. It wasn't the camera she planned on buying but that's ok because it was FREE!!! Yes FREE!!! Mom had to go to a trade show for work and they gave her some raffle tickets when she got there and she won! No new pictures yet because the battery is charging but I imagine I will be tortured with many photo sessions very soon...
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