Eureka Dog Blog

Hi,

My name is Samson and I own a human named Kathy.

First of all, let me say Hi Coop! WOW! what you went thru sounds bad, but let me let you in on a secret…When I went to the Vet I had a similar experience, except when I woke up, WOW did I hurt and now I am not so much a  macho stud any longer.  But that’s ok my human says I am better off this way, and I am learning to believe her.  So when your humans say take it easy, Coop, you better listen to them.

Today we are just taking it easy.  My human is home today and we don’t get to go see our friends, Foxie and Frodo.

As I am writing this, Tizzy is starting to bother me.  She is just a baby and always wants to play, but boy can she get annoying.  I put up with her for a while, but she won’t stop till I really get firm, then Mama, Lily gets between us and tries to smooth thing out.  What am I gonna do?

I am very excited about this Park that everyone is talking about.  Not to crazy about being fenced in.  I enjoy exploring with no boundaries.  I do however understand the fence thing, to keep the little ones contained.

Well I better go, I can smell something good cooking, I am sure it is for me.

Take care of yourself Cooper and get well soon.

Well, my brother had his surgery.  My parents say that everything went well.  I am not so sure.  For once I agree with my brother (but don’t tell him that).  I don’t see how cutting into his leg and making it so he can’t walk will make him better.  He sure seems worse to me.  Before his surgery he could still limp.  Now he has to hop on three legs.

He is really good at hopping.  He can hop outside on his leash to go to the bathroom.  The three steps on the porch don’t even give him any trouble.  He just holds his hurt right hind leg up and hops along.  I tried hopping when no one was looking….and it’s not as easy as it looks.

It’s been a weird week.  I’ve been feeling some emotions that I am not used to.  I actually missed my brother when he was in his surgery.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I like my brother.  He’s fun to play and wrestle with.  He’s also annoying.  He’s one of those dogs who follows you every where and always butts in.  If I am being pet by someone he noses in to get attention too.  He’s always there.  Sometimes I miss the days when I was an only dog.  On Tuesday when my brother had his surgery I found myself a little lonely.  It was weird when he didn’t steal my toys or follow me around.  I enjoyed getting all the attention and always getting to fetch the ball…but it was strange.  I kept expecting him to be there.  It was especially odd that night when he wasn’t on his bed (he spent the night at the Vet).  Don’t tell him I said this but I was really relieved to see him when we picked him up.

Cooper de Dog here.  Me Mommy and me Daddy trick me.  Dey toll me we is going to play with me Auntie, Uncle, and Doggy Cousin.  Dey took me der but den dey only let me play a teenee bit.  Den dey take me to Vet and dey leave me der.  Next ting I member I am in hurt.  When dey take me der me leg only hurt a little.  I been limping fine.  I am good at it.   But Vet made it bad.  Now I no walk on it.  I have to hop.  I touch it to ground.  But no walk.  And now I hav to hav lampshade on me head.  Not fair.  And what happen to me fur?  Dey took off me fur!  It is cold.  And I hav big cut in me leg.  Me not see how dat fix leg.  Leg is much badder den before.  See what dey did to me?

Poor Cooper

Coop, ducky, and daddy after surgery

Cooper's stitches and bruising 48 hours after surgery

Samson will be another blogger here on the DogBlog! I am sure he will have lots to say.

Cooper da Dog here.  Me Mommy, oops sorry.  My Mom is going to help me write this.  The words are mine.  She will just help.  I am just learning.

Me…oops….I mean I.  I had to go to the vet.  I hurt my leg.  I tried to lick it and make it better but it didn’t work.

The floor there is very slippery.  I don’t like it.  I get nervous and slip and slide around on it.

There is a weird smell there too.  I don’t mean the animals.  I like smelling the dogs and cats.  I don’t like that other smell.  My daddy says it’s cleaner.  I don’t like it.  I think it smells like medicine.  I can also smell the sick animals.  My nose is much stronger than my parents.  I feel sad for the sick animals.  I wonder if the VET made them sick.  I hope that doesn’t happen to me.

Then they take me in the little room.  They close the door.  I feel trapped.  I don’t like it.  I know someone will come in and do something to me.

The door opens.  A lady comes in.  She pretends to be nice.  She pets me and says all sorts of nice things to me.  But I know what is coming.  She’s not really nice.  She’s just pretending.  I know she has that thing my parents call a thermometer.  She’s going to put it in me.  I don’t like it.

I was right.  Here it comes.  She is trying to hide it from me.  But I see it.  She sticks it in me.  I try to get away.  She doesn’t let me go.   I stand there resigned and humiliated.  Only my leg hurts.  My butt is fine thank you very much.

Why do dog thermometers only go there?  I’m sorry to sound whiny and complain.  But my mom puts her thermometer in her mouth.  I’ve even heard rumors from other dogs that humans have thermometers that go in their ears.    Why does mine have to go in my behind?

The mean lady pretends to be nice again.  She pets me.  I don’t like her.  I just stay still.  I hope she will go away soon.  She talks to my parents.  Then she leaves.

I try to relax.  I can’t.  I know the door will open again.  Someone else will come do something to me.  I wait.

My parents tell me it is okay.  They pet me.  They give me treats.  None of it matters.  I want to go home.

The door opens.  The doctor comes in.  He pretends to be nice too.  He talks to my Mommy and Daddy.  Then the mean lady comes back in.  I quickly hide my butt.

The mean lady picks me up.  She puts me on a metal thing.  Then it raises in the air.  I feel like I will fall.

The doctor feels my body.  He is kind of rough.  It is not petting.  Then he checks my eyes.  He must be stupid.  It is my leg that hurts.  Not my eyes.  I can see just fine.  It’s like the lady with my butt.  I try to tell him but he doesn’t listen.  Maybe he doesn’t understand dog.

Finally he looks at my leg.  He touches it and moves it.  It hurts.  I don’t cry out.  I don’t even flinch.  I am proud of myself.

Then my mommy and daddy are petting me.  They are saying good-bye.  They say they will be back soon.  What?!?!  Wait a minute.  No, No, no, no.  What is happening?

The mean lady pretends to be nice again.  She is petting me and talking soft.  I don’t believe her.  She picks me up and takes me in the back.  I hear the words x-ray.  Whatever it is I don’t want it.

They put me on a table.  I try to get down.  They hold me there.  Then something is stuck in me.  It hurts real quick.  Then I don’t feel it.  I start to feel funny.  Everything feels funny.  Things look funny too.

I can feel the cold table.  I can feel them tugging on my legs.  But things don’t feel normal.  Everything is weird.  Kind of fuzzy and blurry.  I try to get away again.  I can’t make my body move right.  I give in and lay still.  I hope it will be over soon.

Next thing I remember my leash was put on.  The mean lady walked me.  I didn’t want to walk with her.  Then I saw her go to the door.  That’s the door to get out.  So I went with her.  Then I saw mommy and daddy.  I was so happy to see them.  I thought I might never see them again.  I try to jump on them but I can’t.  I’m too sleepy.  I rub against them instead.  They pet me.  I pull toward the door to outside.  My daddy makes me wait.  My mommy and daddy talk to the lady.  Then finally my daddy takes me outside.

Fresh air!  I can breathe again.  I can’t wait to get in the car.  I hope they drive far, far away.  I just want to go home.

We go home and cuddle.  This is what I like.  Cuddling is good.  I hear them talking.  They say something about my knee.  I also hear something about needing surgery.  I don’t know what that is.  Right now I don’t care.  I just curl up against my daddy and my brother and fall asleep.

Sometimes I think the Dog Park is just a dream of mine.  That I will wake up and find out that none of it is real.  My parents tell me that we’re going to have one.  They say it’s moving forward.  I hear things about site walk throughs, some nice company named Laco making it ADA compliant for free, and doggie parents trying to raise money for fencing, parking, bathrooms etc.  All I know is that I don’t see it.  I see a space without a fence.  That means I can’t run off-leash there safely and legally.

It seems like such a simple thing.  A fence.  Some parking.  A bathroom.  Some doggie bags.  Some signs.  It’s really too bad that things cost money.  Lots of money.  I don’t really understand how money works.  I know that money is why I can’t have every toy in the pet store.  I also know it’s why I can’t have a bigger backyard to play in.  Now it’s also the reason I can’t play at a dog park.  As my Mom and Dad say “We have the site, we have the plan, we have the permit…. we need the money.”  I’m tired of hearing that.  I just wish they had the money already.

So how can I, as a Eureka Dog, make or raise money?

CooperDog will be another contributor to our blog – watch for cool stuff from him!

I don’t get to go for a walk today.    This happens sometimes.  My Mommy has fibro…something.  I don’t know how to spell it.  All I know is it makes her hurt.  Often she hurts so much that she can’t walk me.  So I just cuddle with her and try to make her feel better.  Don’t get me wrong, I like cuddling with my Mom.  I take my job of protecting and making her feel better very seriously.  But I’d still like to go for a walk.  That’s why I’m so excited that Eureka is getting a Dog Park.

When we get our dog park my Mom will be able to take me there even if she can’t walk very far that day.  I can exercise myself by running off-leash and playing with other dogs.  And she can sit and watch me.  I know that would make her smile.  She always smiles when she watches me romp and play.  Plus she can talk to the other Mom’s and Dad’s.  Ah, Dog Parks.  I love them!

When we go visit my Grandma or my Aunt we go to the dog parks there.  It is soooooooo fun!  *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

Opps, sorry.  Excuse me for a moment.  In my excitement I slobbered all over the keyboard.

There, that’s better.  Sorry, I just get so excited when I think about the dog park.  I know exactly where the dog park by my Grandma  is.  As we get close I get more and more excited.  Sometimes I can’t keep it all in and I start to whine.  My parents think it’s cute that I remember where it is even though we live five hours away.  But it’s soooo fun.  How could I ever forget?

Anyway, as we get close I start to pant.  Then I sit real still so that my parents will open the back of the car and let me out.  They won’t grab my leash and let me jump out unless I sit.  It is sooooo hard.  I’m wiggling all over with excitement.  Then they grab the leash and we’re off.  Towards the gate we go.  I try to walk with manners and not to pull but I can’t help myself.  I can’t wait to get to that gate.  My parents make me slow down.  I do it because I know if I don’t I’ll have to wait even longer until I’m in the dog park.  It takes every ounce of willpower I have to slow down.  Then we’re at the gate.  My parents open it and we go inside.  They take off my leash….and I’m free!!!!!!  I’m running with the breeze in my long white fur.  Other dogs are running up to me.  I sniff them.  They sniff me.  I sniff the ground.  So many smells!  I am in doggie heaven.

Then someone sniffs my butt!  Hey!  So I sniff their butt.   And then it continues.  We all sniff each others butts and say hi.  Then we can get down to running and chasing.  Ah, the good life.

As I’m running across the grass I look back at my parents.  They are pointing and smiling.   Sometimes they stand or sit by themselves and sometimes they talk with other people.  I really don’t understand how they make friends with the other people.  I never see them smell each others butts.  How do they know anything about one another?  Still, they somehow seem to make friends.

I don’t want to stop daydreaming about the dog park.  In my fantasy another dog is coming towards the gate of the dog park.  I have to run and greet them.  I hope that someday soon I get to run and greet your dog.  *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*  Darn it.  I better move my daydream away from the keyboard.  Until next time……Here’s a picture of me content and relaxing after playing.

Hi.  My name is Porter.  My parents embarrass me by calling me Porter Pup or Ragamuffin.  They are always embarrassing me.  But that is another subject.  I am a 3 year white dog with long fur.  I’m fairly tall and I weigh 80lbs.  People say that I am a Golden Retriever/Great Pyrenees Mix.  All I know is that I am who I am.  Or at least I thought I knew who I was….

I have always been a little independent and pretty brave.  Then last month’s earthquake hit.  I was really scared.  I crouched down real low and ran to my Mom.  She and I climbed under the kitchen table just as a large picture flew off the mantle.  Oh yeah, my brother Cooper was with us too (he’s a black lab).  I was so scared I forgot about him.  Everything was shaking.  It was really loud.  Then things started falling and I could hear them breaking.  I thought it would never end.

When it stopped I tried to run to the back door to go outside but my way was blocked by broken glass and liquid.  So I ran back to my mommy.  She made me and my brother lay down and stay while she cleaned up the mess.  I heard her tell my daddy that glasses had fallen out of the cupboard and that a bottle of alcohol had fallen and broken on the floor too.  I didn’t know about all that.  All I knew was that I was scared.  Once my Mom cleaned up she came over and gave us treats.  It made me feel better.

Then we had an aftershock.  I don’t know if Mom felt it.  She didn’t run under the table.  But I did.  I ran under the table with every aftershock no matter how small for days.  I didn’t want to get hit by anything falling.  In that big one it sounded like my whole house was going to fall.

I had just started thinking that we were all done with earthquakes.  We hadn’t had one in a while and I was beginning to relax and get back to my normal routine.  Hiding under the table was taking up precious time for napping, squeaking toys, chewing bones, and checking the perimeter of my yard.

Then Sunday I felt something.  I thought it might be an earthquake but maybe I was imagining it.  I must have been.  Those things were over.  Still I started sticking closer to Mom and being cautious.  Then I felt another one and I knew.  For some reason my mommy and daddy and brother didn’t seem upset.  By Monday they were talking about me acting weird and being scared again.  But they didn’t seem to get it.  We were having earthquakes again.  Why wouldn’t I be scared?  Shouldn’t they be?

Then came yesterday.  I was laying at Mommy and Daddy’s feet while they had lunch.  It was really windy.  The loud noises were making me jump a little.  Even my brothers were a little jumpy.  Usually I like the wind through my fur but this was a bit much.  My parents were just eating and talking when all of a sudden there was this loud noise and the house moved again.  I was glad I was right there with them.  It was good that daddy was home for lunch.  They said it was okay.  They even said it was smaller than the other one.  Well, I knew that.  Still, it was a good size.  Now I’m worried we might have another big one.  I’m having trouble sleeping and I’m jumping at every noise.  My Mom says it’s okay.  But I don’t feel okay.  Am I the only one?

My brother Cooper says that everything is okay because Mom says it is.  My brother Guinness (the kitten) isn’t bothered anyway.  But I’m not sure he’s that smart.  He’ll chase his tail around and around forever.  So I don’t know what to do.  For now I am going to stay cautious.  I know all routes to the table.  I’ve even timed how long it takes to get there.  I’m also going to take my naps closer to my Mom and Dad.  I’ll let you know what happens.  I just hope that all the Eureka Dogs and their parents stay safe!  I want to be able to play with you once we have a dog park.   So stay safe.  Woof!

Our new contributor PorterPup will be here blogging soon – watch for lots of cool stuff.