Pictures

PUBLISHED
JUNE 3, 2012

First, I'd like to say that this update page is long overdue. I
would have had this published in December of last year but so
many things just got in the way. There has been serious illness
in the family, both people and dogs. And just when we think
things are getting back under control, the other shoe drops and
we start again. But this page has been put on hold long enough.
So here is all the latest news about
ALL THE DOGS IN MY LIFE!

ROLL CALL

BAILEY

HOLLY

SARAH

JENNIE

RUSTY

MAX AND AMBER
AKA
DaWEENIES OF FLORIDA

BENJI

ANNIE

Sadly we lost our precious April. As many of you may know, April had
some health problems the last few years. She was diagnosed with
canine Epilepsy about four years ago and shortly after that, suffered
from chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
She was placed on Phenobarbital to control her seizures, and it
worked very well. She was seizure-free for over 3 years. But the
medication was doing hidden damage to her liver. Even though her
blood was tested every six months with normal results, the final blood
test in April revealed severe hidden liver damage had taken place.
April was hospitalized and under the best possible care, but it was too
late. The damage couldn't be reversed and she began her final
journey to the Bridge eleven days after diagnosis. She celebrated
her eleventh birthday six days before leaving us.
**********
As this page was planned before April's illness, I am including her
pictures taken in February and March when this page was in the
planning stages.

April models my very first
attempt at sewing a pair of
doggie pajamas!

I also crocheted her a sweater to
wear on the cooler winter Florida
mornings.

My Silly Girl!

April receives a kiss from Jennie just
before being taken to the hospital.
Somehow the others seemed to know
their sister was seriously ill and they
wouldn't see her again.

The last photo ever taken of
our girl.

MORE BAD NEWS

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS!

Benji had to go to the hospital for some surgery on the back of his
neck in February. The above photo was taken when he returned home
after the surgery.
While he was in the hospital, x-rays were taken before the surgery
and three spots were discovered on his lungs.
Benji is 16 years old and the specialists at the hospital felt he was too
old to undergo a biopsy to determine if the spots were tumors or just
old scar tissue from his battle with heartworm disease before he
came to live with us. So it was decided to wait 3 months and take
another x-ray. The new x-rays were taken just this past week and
revealed more spots on his lungs. So the doctors now feel that it is
cancer and is spreading from another part of his body. Nothing can
be done because of his age other than to keep him comfortable.
So far he's happy and enjoying his life although his breathing is
labored at times. But he is able to rest comfortably so we'll give him
all the love we can and enjoy the time we have left with him.

Our Benji Bear went to the
groomer last week and looks
like a happy cottonball!

INTRODUCING ANNIE!
OUR NEWEST PACK MEMBER!
(Link to Annie's full story will be at the bottom of this page)

ANNIE'S MITTENS!
(When Annie first came to live with us, we had some ingrown nails
removed)

Annie meeting the twins for the first time. She really loves kids and
gets so excited whenever they come to visit for the weekend.

In November of last year we got a surprise letter in the mail from
Workman Publishing Company.
Years ago I had submitted a photo of DeeDee and Angel (April's
mother and sister, both at Rainbow Bridge) for consideration to be
part of the calendar they publish every year. In 2012 they started a
new "Bad Dog" calendar and chose DeeDee and Angel's photo to be
included in their calendar, sold world wide.

AMBER DaWEENIE
Blogville Princess

Amber and Max (DaWeenies of Florida)
are still having fun with their Blog. We hope you visit them and join in
the fun. (Link included at the bottom of this page).

TIME FOR CANDID CAMERA!