My Puppies

We've had dogs going on 22 years now. We first had "Snack." A beautiful yellow lab, basset hound mix. She was so sweet, gentle, kind and calm. The perfect "starter" dog and so great with little kids. My dream of having a menagerie of animals was soon crushed by my husband's insistence that we only ever have dogs. I was able to sneak in the odd fish now and again. But aside from two cats when our son was very young, we've only ever had dogs. 

When Snack got a little older I decided I wanted a puppy. I'd never had a puppy before and my hormones were going crazy. My husband said "no." I got a puppy. He lived with it. "Sweetie" was four months old and the only puppy at the pound when I got her. The same pound we got her sister from years before. They didn't know what breed she was. I just knew that I loved her and she needed us.

She grew into a beautiful whipped rat-terrier mix. (Best as we could tell.) She was very sweet tempered and we loved her every day of her life.

Snack (left) and Sweetie - November, 2007
Our family Christmas card photo

Next Came Lulu. My husband heard of a basset hound being dumped in our friend's backyard. She couldn't keep the dog and was looking for a new home. Snack had been gone for a while and John wanted a basset hound. It seemed like destiny. Lulu the basset was ours before the end of the day. 

     Lulu with our son 2013

Lulu and Sweetie kept us laughing for many years with their antics. Lulu was like having a stubborn, slobbery donkey. Sweetie became my close companion when I became ill and too sick to work. She loved wheelchair rides and naps with mom. 

(Lulu - With Sweetie behind her. April 2013)

We lost Lulu too soon due to a back injury. Sweetie grew old and cranky with us. 

Sweetie was with us till around 13. We took to calling her "Kreacher" after the Harry Potter house elf. Because she would walk by any room we were in, look at us with a disgusted look on her face and keep walking. "Filthy muggles" we'd mutter in her voice. Canine dementia can be amusing if you try hard enough. We had her for her long, love-filled life. 

Sweetie towards the end of her life.

2021

We were determined to take a "break" from dog ownership after Sweetie passed on. We wanted to travel if possible and not take care of a needy animal for a bit. That only lasted a few weeks. It literally felt like the heart of our home had died. It was empty, cold, lonely without a dog.

I was looking around online at different pets and I saw Max. The second I saw his picture I just knew he was my soulmate. We hadn't had a boy dog before, so this was a new adventure. Three other couples had already applied for him. He had been rescued from a hoarding situation and was at a foster home. I beat everyone out with my determination and commitment to him. I just knew he was our boy.

Max and I in our wheelchair days.

2022

2022

Two years later his sister Margo joined us. My muscles had improved and we were talking about getting a second miniature pinscher now that Max wasn't going out with us as much as before. I saw a beautiful female listed online as needing a foster. I commented that I "hope she finds one soon." Almost immediately I received a phone call from the organization. It was the same one we found Max on. They wanted to know if we would foster her.

They were desperate as she was currently in an over-crowded kill shelter and had been there for THREE MONTHS!!! I was also told she was pregnant. Oooooh no. But my husband and I talked it over. We couldn't leave her there. So we agreed to take her. The rest is history. She was officially ours three months later. Through kennel cough, immunizations and a spay surgery. Luckily they were wrong about the pregnant part. I couldn't have been more relieved.

January 2024

Who could say "no" to that face?

I will spend the rest of my life trying to right the wrongs that have been done to them both. Owning a miniature pinscher is like owning a toddler. They are very smart, stubborn, unpredictable and hilarious. Flustering, but they make me laugh all the time. They both came to us with substantial trauma. Margo more than Max. Before being in the pound for three months she was on the street. That's all I know of her story.

It has take a long time to soften her hard edges. But with love and time she has grown into an affectionate love bug. Both of my dogs adore the sling and being worn. Both love treats and being buried under blankets pressed closely next to me.

The older I get the more I dote on my dogs. They are my "fur babies" and I can't imagine my life without them. Each time I loose one my heart breaks even harder. But the love and joy they bring to my life makes all the heartbreak worth it. And they deserve all the spoiling I can afford to give them. 

Margo on the left and Max.

Yes, these are the same dogs.

They love being in my mom's Jeep.

And all the treats she gets for them.

So loved and spoiled.

August 2025

Puppy Love

All animals are amazing, but my top favorite has to be canines. Dog's love you like no other animal on earth. They make you laugh, lower your heart rate, reduce stress, keep you active and give you the most unconditional love you will ever find. If you pay close attention there is much to learn from a canine companion.

We've been lucky enough to share our life and home with three dogs over the last 20 years. The first was Snack. Her "gotcha" anniversary is coming up next week. We got her from our local animal shelter. We were told she was dropped off in the night box, though who would ever let such a precious soul go like that is still beyond me. We figured she was about two years old when we got her and was a cross between a yellow lab and a basset hound. A more perfect dog there never was. She had endless patience for our son, was always hungry for a treat (or five) and gave us so much joy. She was with us for about 10 years.

Our second dog was an impulse rescue on my part. I really wanted a puppy bad (I blame hormones) so I went and adopted one without letting my husband know. Snack was wonderful with Sweetie. I think she might have had her own puppies at one time because her maternal instincts kicked in immediately.

I adopted Sweetie from the same shelter we got Snack from, but she was only three months old at the time. We now think she's part Whippet and part Rat Terrier, but I was told at the time that she was a Chihuahua mix. She's always had a tiny bit of a stinky temper, but she also lives up to her name.

Our third dog came along soon after we lost Snack. Lulu the 100% pure Basset Hound had been dumped in a friend's backyard by her son's roommates. Apparently he had moved to Mexico without his dog, so his roommates drove her all the way from San Diego to Davis just to leave her alone in the backyard. She HATED to be in a car the whole time we had her. Understandable given what happened to her. My husband saw Lulu's picture on Facebook with a desperate plea from our friend. We met her that afternoon and took her back home with us that night. It was a no-brainer. My husband LOVES Basset Hounds and Lulu needed a family right away. We were her 5th and last family.

Sweetie got along with Lulu just as well as she did Snack. They would play together and walk well together. Well, as good as a Basset can walk considering they are all part stubborn donkey. We had Lulu for about eight years before she passed. She was a ton of fun, but also enough work to make me swear off pure bred dogs for eternity.

Now Sweetie is 13 years old and into her twilight years. She has moderate dementia, but still loves going for walks. She also eats well and has never had an accident in the house. We love her to bits, even if she takes up our whole bed.

I find myself really missing that total companionship and dedication you get from a dog though. Sweetie is much more like a cat behaviorally now than like a dog. She likes attention on her terms when she feels like it. Her favorite pastime is just to stand and stare at nothing. -sigh- Not that big happy grin you get from most dogs.

My heart says I want another dog NOW but my brain says it's a bad time. We'll see who wins the battle. 

Remember How to Play

Why so serious?

My son told me last night that he's taking a break from Facebook for his mental health. I applaud that level of self care. Another important thing to remember with all the stress people are under right now is how to play. Your inner child needs to be fed more than just ice cream and Taco Bell. They need to play. YOU need to play.

When was the last time you played?

Do you remember how to do it?

Play is vital to keeping your mood up, interacting with other people in positive ways and helpful for your relationships! Here's some ways that my family and I play. 

Go for a nature walk and touch everything.

Go to an art supply store and buy whatever looks fun. Even if you've never used it before. Make yourself an art basket and keep it out where you can see it. 

Do some doodles.

Take pictures of yourself making funny faces. You DO remember how to make a funny face... right?

Go to a thrift store and "rescue" a stuffed animal. Or better yet, find one in a dumpster! Take it to a public laundromat and clean it all up. Give it a second home and a new life.

Paint your toes the color of the rainbow and find some shoes that look like muppets. 

Make funny faces with your pet and take pictures. Or just rub and nuzzle on them.

Buy yourself a tiara. Because everything is better when you're the boss!

Stop and smell EVERY single freaking flower you come across. Even if it's just at the store.

Go look at some art. 

Blow some bubbles, or a pinwheel.

Do a puzzle. Especially with someone else.

Paint a picture of your pet (even if you think you're not any good).

Other ideas:

• Sing your favorite song really loud
• Make yourself cupcakes
• Go outside and play in the mud
• Make a fairy house out of stuff you find
• Start a new hobby (like air plants or Yoga)
• Taste something you've never had
• Have a pillow fight with your partner
• Try a new musical instrument
• Buy some sidewalk chalk and decorate your street
• Make a nature crown for your head
• Look for interesting bugs
• Learn to juggle tissues
• Teach yourself tarot or runes
• Make a big batch of something delicious and share it
• Dig out your old video games and have a retro game party (ditto for board games)

Missing Her

One of the hard parts of now working 40 hours a week is missing my dog Sweetie. I've had her since she was a 3 month old puppy. She's around 12 now. I saw her sweet face at the animal shelter. She was so small and curled in a ball in a giant cage. I just knew I had to save her and make her feel loved, safe and warm the rest of her life.

She has been my constant companion, especially when my chronic illnesses struck. If I'm in bed, she's in bed with me. When I'm up, she's right there. When I'm in the shower, she's in the bathroom waiting for me. My husband has a dog too and they do get along very well, but I'm her Mama. It's just always been that way.

I do what I can to make her cozy before I leave in the mornings. She jumps up on the couch on her fluffy pillow and I cover her with blankets. If she seems cold I tuck a hot water bottle right next to her. But then I'm gone for 11 hours. I miss her terribly and I know she misses me.

One of my favorite parts of the day is coming home, sitting on the couch with her tucked between myself and my husband and snuggling her. Yes, I'm the kind of person who kisses her dog. No tongue, but I can't help it! I hope you have your own rescue comfort animal too. I can't imagine my life without her.

My Sweet Companion

I'd like you to meet a very important person in my life. She's been with me for the last 12 years. She's seen me at my best and at my lowest. I can testify that her fur is very absorbent for tears. This is my precious dog "Sweetie." I adopted her from our local animal shelter when she was just 3 months old. Although we've had a few dogs before her, she is my first "puppy" and very much "my girl."

I'll tell Sweetie "want to go nap?" And she'll come and jump on my bed with me and stay there till I get up again. She's been the best companion I could have asked for through all of my illnesses and challenges. I don't know what I'd do without her. 

We DO have another dog. Her name is Lulu. She's a full blooded Basset Hound that we also rescued. We think we're her 5th family and she's been our girl for about 4 years now. She's very sweet and full of love too. But unlike Sweetie, she's high maintenance and needs a ton of attention. Lulu is my husband's girl just like Sweetie is mine. But of course we love them both and would do almost anything for them. They both bring a ton of joy to our lives.