She was such a sweet puppy, so ringworm and all, I took my mum down to meet her. I think she was dubious at first but after she nuzzled into my mum’s arms, I think it was basically a done deal. She gave me something that I was missing for a long time, she gave me back my soul. She put back part of me that died when my dad did. And while she was headstrong and at times hard to train, she became entrenched in our lives and now we can’t imagine how it is we are going to live without her.

A few months ago, before Christmas, it dawned on me that she was growing old. She was starting to get a little grey around the muzzle and on her head and her stamina just wasn’t what it used to be. She would still love a walk but tired sooner than expected. She had arthritis and a dicky heart so I couldn’t expect her to go for miles anymore. But I still thought I would have that little bit longer with her and I’m sure my mum thought the same.

Last night we said our final goodbyes. I think she knew she was going but all the while as we sat with her and patted her, told her we loved her…..her only concern was for us and that we were protected and looked after. She was our guardian right until the end.

I will miss you my friend. Rest peacefully.

]]> http://www.eucalyptuscountry.com.au/saying-goodbye-to-a-special-friend/feed/ 6 http://www.eucalyptuscountry.com.au/phoney-photo-pile-6/ http://www.eucalyptuscountry.com.au/phoney-photo-pile-6/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 08:14:57 +0000 admin http://moggie-madness.com/?p=488 Woohoo! May has finally rocked around which means I’m nearly halfway through this photo a day madness! And it IS madness because when I work for 9hrs each week day, my photo opportunities of things outside the absolutely mundane is pretty limited. Once the new house starts getting built, I might have a few more stimulating photos….maybe I could throw in a phoney photo pile which is exclusively of construction photos to bore your socks off.

Today was the Million Paws Walk for 2009, so I figured I would take the 365 photo I took today  of our canine companions and make it a more prominent feature in the mosaic. And what a great day out it was! I think we saw every dog breed from A to Z, from the diminutive to the monstrous and everything in between. We attended the Cleveland walk as we did last year and we couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather. Rock on MPW 2010!

When I got to my sister’s place 20 minutes later, I couldn’t hear any barking so I was quite worried that both of them had gotten out. But there was Mischa lying calmly in her kennel. I let her inside and called Mindy but no little silky terrier came to greet me. I thought perhaps the lady might still have her at her place but a short walk down the street in the drizzle confirmed that she had already returned her home and that she must have gotten out again. Ordinarily, I would not think of going out walking in the dark let alone in an electrical storm but I needed to find her so I sent my other half off driving in the car while I walked in the rain, calling for her every so often.

Half an hour later, I’d met about 20 new cats but no little Mindy. I was determined not to go anywhere without finding her so I just kept plodding along, even though the rain was getting increasingly heavier and the lightning frighteningly close by. Thankfully, I got another phone call saying that she had found another home to shelter in and that she would hold onto her until I got there. Even better, thanks to my new phone, I had GPS and a map so I could easily find the house even in the dark. Poor little thing, she was bedraggled and scared stiff but she had made herself at home on an old crate and some blankets while waiting for me to get there. I couldn’t thank the home owners enough for offering her shelter for the short time she was there because I knew that company and protection was all she was after. As soon as my other half picked me up, she was happy as larry and back to her usual self.

It is reassuring to know that there are still lovely people out there who are willing to accept a stranger’s pet into their homes in order to make sure they are okay until their owners can collect them. And how grateful am I that I convinced my auntie (the dog’s owner) to microchip her when she moved down here recently. Without having the microchip details clipped to her tag, we may not have found her so quickly.

I was scrolling back through my 52 Blessings pile, looking for a subject I have not featured yet. I popped over to my sister’s to take my favourite canine for a walk and took a few snaps, so you guessed it, Mischa is my blessing for this week. Forget man’s best friend, this is MY best friend. Still bright eyed and rambunctious as ever, although she is a big girl now at 9 years old. She came along during a time of great sadness in my life and without her, I doubt I would have come through it in as good a fashion. She is my counsellor, my best friend, my part-time exercise partner and a source of endless amusement for me. She has shared my sorrow and my happiness and I hope she continues to do so for many a year to come.

“Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won’t buy the wag of his tail.” – Henry Wheeler Shaw

As for us, we had a brilliant time. Both the dogs got a lovely hydrobath from Bill (Aussie Pooch Mobile Cleveland ph. 0411 776 663), some really nice treats and they have gone home thoroughly exhausted from all the excitement. It was a brilliant day and if you didn’t get a chance to participate this year, keep an eye out for dates for next year.

A mere fraction of the people and dogs walking in today’s walk – Cleveland’s shoreline has never been so busy!

I still think she is possibly the most gorgeous lab I have ever met, both in looks and nature. Till next time Indie!

This afternoon I received the full brunt of what those claws can do. I’d let Indie inside to hide under my computer desk and as per his usual self, Mojo came in and sat poised on the top of the desk, just biding his time for me to either let down my guard or the dog to stick her head out from underneath my desk. All was well until Indie, bless her black wildly thumping tail, managed to knock out my network cable.

Now I should have just switched to wireless. But I forgot Mojo was still sitting on top of the desk, so I just climbed underneath the desk to plug it back in. Everything was fine, until I backed out and went to get up on my chair. The top of my head of course, was the first thing to come above the level of the desk. Consequently, it was the very first thing he stuck his claws into. All damn ten of them and was he going to let go??

Simple answer, not without a fight!

Usually if Mojo gets stuck into something we don’t want him damaging, like the sofa, a pillow or blanket, I just pick him up by the fold of his neck and he retracts his claws instantly. I’ve since discovered this is very hard to do when the cat is on top of your head and you have a whimpering lab in your face wondering what on earth all the screaming is about. So I did what any female would do when in an awkward position and her attackers legs are in front of her face.

That’s right dear readers, I punched him in the balls…..or where they would be, if he had any left. *hehe*

The effect was instantaneous. He let go and bolted for the couch, closely followed by me doing my best impression of Homer getting cranky at Bart….”WHY YOU LITTLE!!!!”. Meanwhile, poor Indie was still cowering under the desk, not game to even stick her nose out to see what had happened to me. She may just stay under that desk until her owners return from Europe.

She’s grown accustomed to my house being her home for the holidays, so she makes herself at home quite nicely and settles in. She has a beautiful temperament – very excitable though – and would love to get to know my cats a little better but they are just not coming to the party at the moment. Indie has had previous exposure to Mojo last holidays – he quickly laid down the law and said “I’m boss” and Indie being the smart dog that she is, readily agreed. But being Rosie’s first Christmas here, she isn’t accustomed to the Christmas dog invasion as yet. She likes her well enough so long as she keeps her distance, which is easy enough while Indie is outside.

In the meantime, there is a strengthened border patrol presence to prevent the invader from encroaching on their turf. Not to worry…I’m pretty sure Indie knows better than to cross the border into moggie territory. *hehe*