Happy Saturday, and a Blog Hop

First please let me express my gratitude and awe for the outpouring of love and sympathy we received after Bullie's passing on Wednesday. I could not have gotten through it, nor the terrible day that came after, without my incredible internet family.

Although we knew his time was close, he suffered rapid decline over his last few days, falling nearly every time he tried to stand. He seemed confused and uncomfortable and I made the decision to release him. I was there with him, holding him close and telling him over and over how much we loved him. Thank you so much, friends, for easing my grief even just a little bit.

"The misery of keeping a dog is his dying so soon. But, to be sure, if he lived for fifty years and then died, what would become of me?" 
--Sir Walter Scott

Join us on the Blog Hop after the cut!


Drive spent the whole of Thursday at the vet's office. We had expected him to get a full dental; I'll explain tomorrow (or whenever) why that didn't happen. But that meant that Lanie, our less-than-sane old brindle girlie, was the only dog in the house all day.

I know that animals feel. I know they love, I know they have joy, I know they mourn. I saw a side of Lanie during those long lonely hours that shocked me. Far from the snarky and assertive old dame that she usually is, she spent the day following me timidly around the house, looking everywhere for her brothers. She didn't eat, which is just unnatural for her. She was so lost and so depressed. We spent a great portion of the day curled up and consoling each other.

When, late in the evening, I came home with Drive, she was beside herself. She licked him for a good solid five minutes and then tried to harass him into playing. She abused every toy in the house, jumped from couch to couch, bounded and leaped. She was overjoyed to see him, there is no question in my mind.

He spent the day after his harrowing veterinary ordeal on the couch.

So I took Lanie for a walk down to our stream, one of her favorite places even though there is no food there. (Aside from the occasional unfortunate frog.)

Once again we're joining the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop, hosted by Life with Dogs, Confessions of the Plume, and Two Little Cavaliers. Welcome! Poke around, look at the pictures, have fun.