I've been back home from college for a few weeks now and I decided it was time to update my blog.
First, the bunners.
Still not bonded. I tried a few bonding sessions, but nothing went all to well. I'm still not giving up though.
Here are some pictures from one day when I put them in a playpen outside.
Fiona,
(she's in a particularly bad molt right now and apologizes for her appearance)
And, second, Timmy
And now for some sadder news. On Friday we had to take our beloved Shadow, one of our two 13 year old Golden Retrievers, to be put to sleep at the vet. Nearly a year ago she had a toe removed because it had cancer in it and the vet estimated that she would have another year. A few weeks ago we noticed the same thing happening to one of her other toes on the same paw and we essentially knew it was only a matter of time. We wrapped it up so she wouldn't lick it and make it worse and decided as long as she was happy and eating and not limping around, we'd keep bandaging it up.
Well, on Friday she just didn't seem interested in getting up, lost appetite and in general wasn't herself.
We brought both dogs up to the vet because we hoped that if Missy was there, she'd understand what happened and wouldn't look for Shadow.
She really did pass peacefully and we know we did the right thing by putting off her pain, but it hurts us so much. We're not sure if Missy knows because sometimes it seems like she is looking for her sister, but she could just be looking for us, or for food, and we're misinterpreting it.
We find ourselves saying "Missy and Shadow" or "the dogs" and then choking up when we realize that there's only one dog now.
At the same time, I keep hearing the clickety-clack of toenails on the floor and expecting her to come bumbling around the corner alongside Missy, or I keep going out into the backyard and expecting to see her lying in her favorite spots.
I still remember the day, nearly 13 years ago, when we went to get them. I was only 6 at the time, but I remember walking through the gate into this family's yard and seeing all the fluffy little puppies and Charlie (my brother) and I each picking one of our own. We had brought a box in the car for them to ride home in but we would only put one puppy in the box at a time because they were identical and didn't have collars yet and we didn't want to mix up our puppies.
I've always wondered if they would have been different if we had chosen eachother's dog. Shadow, Charlie's dog, loved to play ball and would chase the tennis ball maybe 100 times before you would tell her "no more" and she'd finally go lie down. Missy, my dog, has always loved being brushed and pet and even loves to hold your hand.
In conclusion, a few pictures of our beautiful "Shay Shay Muffy" and her sister.
She always loved to rest her chin on things.
RIP Shadow, you will always be missed and always be remembered.
We love you.
