Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

The dynamics between our dogs have changed. The first day after Pax was put to sleep the remaining three dogs lay around depressed. All of a sudden the remaining three dogs were quieter. The “ring leader”, Pax was gone. He was the alpha dog and extremely vocal. He always had something to say. When the dogs were let loose into the yard, he always ran into the furthest corner of our yard barking every step of the way. Now sometimes you did not realize they were in the house (or outside): there was no barking. Let us see how they continue to act now with Pax gone.

Tags: alpha dog, dogs, dogs barking, dogs depressed, Pax, Pax was the "ring leader", Pax was the most vocal of all the four dogs, pet dynamics when one dog leaves, pets
Posted in animals, death, life, local, pets, relationships | No Comments »

We had to put Pax to sleep last night. My wife could not witness it. He was a great dog–fourteen years old. This did not make it any easier. He had a full life as a big dog. With much difficulty we got him into my car. I had to wait in the waiting room about fifteen minutes. Pax was in such bad pain. He could hardly move. He had two ripped knees and just got worse with his medication. He would not stop panting. I talked to him softly, stroked him lightly while we were waiting.

Finally we got into the room and he lay on the stainless steel. I did not stop stroking him lightly and talking to him. He lay there and I kept softly stroking him on ___ and talking softly to him. It was his last few minutes. The vet explained to me what was going to happen, shaved one of his legs and gave him his injection. I talked to him softly and lightly patted him as he went from one realm into another.

I burst into tears uncontrollably when he became still. I knew him for twelve of his fourteen years. He had such dignity. In the end no matter how difficult it was for him to exit into our yard and navigate the steps, he still went out into the yard to pee.

We did this for him not us. Now he can run freely, with no pain. Maybe, one time we will meet in heaven. He was a great dog. I loved him but I had to let him go. He is now in a better place.

Tags: a great dog, big dog, burst into tears, dog fourteen years old, dog had such dignity, Doggy heaven, dogs, had a full life, his last few minutes, I saw Pax slip from one realm into another, in a better place, Maybe I Will see him in heaven, my wife, Pax, Pax and his last minutes, Pax was now pain free, pets, putting my dog to sleep, vet
Posted in animals, death, God, life, local, marriage, pets, relationships, time | 1 Comment »

Pax is part of our family. He is old for a large dog: fourteen years old. He once weighed ninety six pounds. He is down to eighty-two pounds and can barely get around. Both of his knees are torn and all his muscles in his back have atrophied. He has been taking pain medications twice a day and then we added an anti-inflammatory medication twice a day. Finally that was replaced by steroids which we just started yesterday. We talked
about putting him down.

He is pooping all over the house and now peeing all over the house. He is a plucky dog. He gets in and out of our house with much difficulty. I am hoping the prednisone helps him more. The vet said that outside of his knees he is in relatively good shape for a dog of his age and size. His advice was to make him as comfortable as possible. I told my wife if she was incontinent and even senile I would not abandon her. We both love Pax and will just clean up after him. We are not going to put him down unless he can not get around any longer and is in too much pain. He is part of our family.

Tags: dogs, incontinent, old for a large dog, Pax, Pax and his mobility, Pax and his two torn knees, Pax is part of our family, pets, vet
Posted in animals, death, local, marriage, pets, relationships, time | No Comments »

I don’t know how much longer Pax will be with us.  Last night the dog came in and walked to the kitchen.  He was on his haunches and his hind legs were so weak that he could not get up right away.  He has two torn knees and get pain meds twice a day.  Our vet said on his last visit just make him as comfortable as you can.  There is no more he can do for him.  Pax is thirteen and an half–pretty old for a large dog.  The time will come when we will have to put him down.  Right now I will enjoy him as long as I can.  He won’t be around much longer.

Tags: dogs, large dog, Pax, pax has two torn knees, pets, two torn knees, vet
Posted in death, local, pets, relationships, time | No Comments »

I looked at my dogs outside.  All four.  Each was facing away from the large white pine tree forming a circle around the tree in a different direction.  I love my four dogs.  Each differently.  Coco, a female black long haired is simply sweet.  Pax the elder likes the sound of his own voice.  Sweetie the golden retriever is just that sweet and happy go lucky and loves to gnaw on branches.  Tilla and I have a special relationship.  I earned his loyalty by almost endlessly rubbing his belly.  In fact, he often gives me a hug by resting his upper body on me and then having me pet him.  He is no small dog–at least seventy pounds–very affectionate.  All of them are big.  They are enjoying the snow today.  I never in my wildest dreams expected to own four dogs (and that does not include the seven cats who roam the house).  To say the least, we have no mouse problem in our house.  I could not have imagined this menagerie twenty-five years ago.

Tags: belly rubs, big dogs, Coco, dog hugs, dogs, four dogs, my menagerie, no mouse problem, Pax, pets, seven cats, snow, Sweetie, Tilla, white pine tree
Posted in local, pets, relationships | 1 Comment »

One of our dogs was in real trouble.  My wife had baked five loaves of pumpkin bread and lined them up on the counter.  And left them there alone for awhile.  She came back later and one of the larger loaves had the whole top of it missing — just bitten off.  She then had a Mom to Dog talk with three of our dogs.  We could not blame Pax:  he is not capable of reaching any.  He is just too old and arthritic.  We did not think “Sweetie” did it.  But we definitely suspected our two black dogs.  She spoke sternly to both of them.  They did not look too guilty.  Tilla definitely had been spotted several times in the past his hind legs stretching tongue extended to reach any crumb he could find on the counter.  More than once.  And we would not put it past our female Coco.  She certainly was capable of this dastardly act, too.  This happened yesterday and today I walked Tilla and he let loose with a big soft poop.  That made him a strong suspect for that bread had plenty of butter in it.  I am sure he has forgotten about that incident hours ago.

Tags: Coco, dog ate pumpkin bread, dogs, Pax, pets, Sweetie, the Mom to Dog talk, Tilla, tilla and the pumpkin cake
Posted in animals, humor, local, marriage, pets | No Comments »

Pax the elder of our pack of four dogs is getting old.  Both knees are torn and we started giving him pain meds.  It was just too painful for him to get around.  We were thrilled when we started giving him a second pain pill (in the morning) and he became more active.  No dog lives forever.  He is thirteen — old for a big dog (he must be eighty pounds) now.  His rear muscles have atrophied.  The vet said to make him as comfortable as possible.  He has been around forever.  He is the father of two of our dogs.  He is feisty.  Sometimes he will come into my room just to get one pat on the head and then he leaves.  He is one confident dog.  He literally prances up and down at the end of the day for after the last “out” for all the four dogs he will get some kind of treat.  And he knows that and gets all excited.  Now it is a slice of bread with some peanut butter dabbed on it to hide the pain pill.  He has always loved bread.

Tags: big dog, both knees torn, dogs, dogs get treats, four dogs, Pax, Pax loves bread, pets, slice of bread with peanut butter, the elder dog, vet
Posted in animals, death, health, local, pets, relationships | No Comments »

Tilla (one of my dogs) will feel no pain (or aches) this night.  I had put some peanut butter and a pain pill to give to Pax (another dog of ours).  Tilla grabbed it.  I immediately pulled the slice of bread out of his mouth.  Too late.  The pill was gone.  I was mad. Tilla will feel no pain tonight.  I prepared another slice of bread with peanut butter with another pain pill and made sure Tilla was far away when I gave Pax his nightly meds.

Tags: dogs, Pax, Pax and his nightly pain meds, peanut butter, pets, Tilla, Tilla is just too quick
Posted in animals, humor, local, pets, relationships, time | No Comments »

It is so odd not having any of our four dogs around.  We kenneled them so we could leave on our trip to the shore the following morning.  I fell asleep and none of them were at the foot of the bed.  No barking.  No locking the front door so Tilla does not let himself out by “popping” the screen door latch.  No Tilla under our computer desk.  Pax is not under his blanket facing the big fan. No Sweetie or Coco.  No barking.  No anything.  I miss them already and we have not left on our trip.

Tags: Coco, Coco or Sweetie or Tilla, dogs, four dogs, kenneling our dogs, No barking at all in the house, no dogs at the foot of my bed when I retire, Pax, pets, Sweetie, Tilla, trip to the shore
Posted in animals, local, marriage, pets, relationships, time | No Comments »

It was a reprieve for Pax.  Last week one day he just lay there almost motionless.  My dog would not eat or drink anything.  He just lay there.  I thought it was the beginning of the end.  He is a big dog, thirteen years old.  Really big dogs don’t live as long as smaller dogs.  I thought his time was up.  His malaise lasted only one day.  All of a sudden he perked up, drank water and ate again.  It was not his time.  I will try to not take his life for granted any longer.  I don’t know how much time he has but I will make an effort to treasure his remaining days.

Tags: big dog, dogs, Don't take his life for granted, it was not his time, Pax, Pax's malaise, pets, treasure remaining days
Posted in death, local, pets, relationships, time, wisdom | No Comments »

Tilla, my favorite dog (I have four) I discovered loves car rides. His nickname is “Tilly Willy”. Yesterday I was taking another to the vet and Tilla was quite insistent about going out. I thought he had business to do outside. That was not the case. He headed for my car. He just wanted another ride. So I said okay and he immediately hopped in the car and accompanied Pax to the vet. He loves being in the car and taking rides. And smiles and looks out the window.

Tags: dog loves car rides, dogs, Pax, pets, Tilla, Tilly Willy, vet
Posted in local, pets, relationships | No Comments »

I went to bed by nine thirty PM and Tilla took advantage of it immediately and crept in the Lazy Boy chair I just vacated and fell asleep.  I checked on him a little later:  he would not raise his head.  He was out for the night.  My TV room is where he goes to sleep every night.  All animals are creatures of habit.

His sister, Coco always sleeps in my bedroom in the far end of the bed at the foot of the bed.  She likes her privacy and will retire to that room if she is inside.  Other times she may be the last one in from the yard.  She is a real sweet dog and has the personality of her mother, Sweetie, the golden retriever.  Unlike her, though, she can be really insistent if she wants something, like for instance, to go out into the yard.  I have one other dog, Pax, Coco’s and Tilla’s, dad.  He is a real character but I will talk about him, again, in another time.

Tags: Coco, Coco sleeps in my bedroom, Coco's nature, creatures of habit, dogs, golden retriever, Pax, pets, sleep, Sweetie, Tilla, Tilla's sleeping room
Posted in local, pets, time | No Comments »