Last Christmas

I just realize that I didn't post our annual Christmas doggie portrait last year. That's probably because I was almost finished crocheting Christmas scarves for the annual photo when I learned Declan was coming back to us - I had to make one more at the last minute. So, better late than never.

2017 has been a tough year for so many people that I know. We had to make the ultimate decision for both Declan and Diamond this year. We are hoping that 2018 is a kinder, gentler year.

Declan 2007-2017

We visited a neurologist in Tampa yesterday to learn that the best treatment for Declan was humane euthanasia. After caring for him and watching him decline so rapidly the last few days, and the suffering he endured,  our choice was obvious yet no less painful.

When you foster dogs you do expect to lose them. You expect to give them up. But those losses are happy losses as they go to a new family that will love them even more than you did. Losing them in this way was not even a consideration for me.

Declan came to us when he was about 6 having been born into rescue (Ratbone Rescues). His mama was a pregnant rescue. He spent his first six years in the home of his special person- a man who died 5  years after his adoption. The wife struggled to keep him but ultimately her work scheduled won and he became my foster in March 2013 and was adopted again in December 2013. He came back to us in Dec 2016 and within a couple weeks was in the vet. Two very expensive bouts of treatment, emergency room visits, test, surgeries, and treatment found nothing specific but labeled acute gastroenteritis (which I now believe was probably a secondary issue caused by pain).

Yesterday we saw a neurologist who narrowed down to only two possibilities - neither with good outcomes even with extensive treatment. The possibility of a normal life where he could walk, raise a leg to pee, or go through a dog door were none. More important, he would continue to degrade and need constant pain management. We had to let him go. We stopped on the way home to our vet for him to enjoy a lunch of Wendy's chicken nuggets.

Our vet was wonderful. She said a little prayer stating that he had made his way back to his true family to be with us during this time in his life. He fell asleep in my arms, much as he had many other nights, and drifted away peacefully.

Ours March 2013 - Dec 2013 and Dec 2016 - May 2017

Declan

Declan feeling miserable at his first trip to vet

We've been busy with Declan since we got him back. He started out a very happy boy considering he had just been relocated after almost 3 years. But a couple weeks later we had an incident.

I'm not sure if Declan ate the insides of a toy or if he just happened to throw up where another naughty ratty had destuffed a toy. He acted weird - scared, trembling, lethargic, wouldn't eat or drink.

My vet discovered fluid in his belly via e-rays and aspirated (is that the right word?) via a needle through the abdominal wall. She said toy stuffing usually passes but he's not improving and x-rays are not conclusive - you really need an ultra sound or MRI to determine if there is possibly a blockage. So, she suggested a specialist which is part of the emergency vet (cha$$ching).

Long story short, they did surgery on him to find nothing. Then the healing process totally aggravated his itchy condition and he made a bloody mess of himself especially from these little growths (kinda look like warts only smooth) he has on himself. That was to the point that he had to undergo surgery again to remove the growths (previous owners had some removed) and it turned out at least one was cancerous! The only diagnosis we got was acute gastroenteritis.

In talking with his past owner she had two episodes of this and also spent a lot of money to find nothing. Basically gave him something for tummy upset and then added chicken broth to water to coax him to drink. We do the same but with nonfat milk.

So, we are here again only this episode has an additional component. He can no longer jump on furniture and his legs are wobbly. The next step is likely a neurologist but right now he is eating, drinking, and digesting so I will leave him be. Oh, all these incidents occurred around the time there was a change in household routine (moving or away on travel).

Happy Thanksgiving

It's appropriate that I would pull up an old banner I made from 2013 because it contains my former foster Declan - who is once again my foster. Yup, he was returned to me last weekend.

Pencil Sketch

I discovered a new program (because my Internet Explorer no longer works on my laptop, I am using a loaner right now, and the only way I can access online programs is if there is an app for my Windows 8.1 laptop) called "Pencil Sketch" which will make your photos look as though they were drawn or painted.

For example, this photo:

Becomes these:

 

I also did some rattie photos (surprise, surprise) but did them like real pencil drawings (B&W) and saved them in another new app called "Cool Collage" and got this:

It's my first use of a free-form collage. I usually use Pixler where you choose the layout and put the photos in boxes. I tried to do that with the old photos of me (above) but they saved as wrong format (boo). So, it's not exactly how I envisioned it but a good start. Working with so many overlapping photos is just that, work. Gives me a new appreciation for all the ads and brochures we receive and just toss away- lots of time and work probably went into them.



Former Foster & Butt/Body Collage

Just a little doodling with Pixlar and photos of my former fosters (by the way, we are adopting the old gal, Diamond) and one where I assembled the leashed up and ready to go butt shots. The butt/body shots include the beautiful Miss Daisey (miss her everyday) but excludes Peanut. Peanut was an accidental foster and I didn't have a digital camera at the time.

 

 

Declan Moved to His Furever Home in Orlando!



There's something about my birthday! On December 28th in 2009 we picked up Jakey from the shelter in Naples. Now, exactly 4 years later we are saying goodbye to another sweet boy - Declan.

Deckie's farewell photo taken just before his new mama arrived to pick him up.

Declan with his mama Jamie. Today was actually the 3rd time they have met.

The girlie on the right is Lucy, Declan's new sister! They played every time they met. The photo bomber on the left is Diamond Ratbone.

Secret Santa Declan!

Each year Ratbone Rescues organizes a Secret Santa for dogs in foster care. Good Samaritans can volunteer to send gifts to a foster dog by picking one from the web site. Declan got his box first.

He was very interested in the smell of the box until Diamond came over to claim it then he wanted nothing to do with it for fear of Diamond. So, I took him in the bedroom, alone, hoping that would help.

He was a little freaked out and worried that the packages belonged to Diamond so I had to open them for him. 

He was very interested once they were opened.

Declan with his Christmas loot! Thank you Secret Santa - licks!

Annual Tree Photos, 2013

The yearly collage

Declan Ratbone

Diamond Ratbone

 I couldn't decide which Eddie photo I liked better so I am posting both!

Halloween Brats 2013

It wasn't easy but I did finally get three photos decent enough to make a FB banner (last photo). They become a squirming mess when you dress them up or take out a camera so doing both is a disaster.

Eddie is wearing a buzz lightyear costume but he wouldn't let me pull up the headpiece and I couldn't get a back or side view for you to really see it. He was focused only on the treat in my hand.
 

I got a couple shots with Deckie's hat on but he looks miserable. Too bad because he made a cute Woody (wishing they had toy story woody costumes when I had my foster Woody - that would have been hysterical.)

Diamond just wanted to stare at me so I would have to turn her sideway to get a photo, quickly shoot, turn her again, shoot again....you get the idea.

I hope that when you click on this you get a larger view because these were the top three photos.

Declan "Deckie"

An updated photo of my foster, Declan

"Someone" Got A New Foster!

His name is Declan. Yes, I still have Diamond. In fact, we are coming up on 1 year with her. Deckie turned 6 in January and is very sweet. I suspect he will adopt out quickly because he is really a good boy although he will NOT face a camera.