SacPaws.com

Was out running this past weekend and came across another wayward doggie!   It was a cute little puffball mix of some sort that sauntered right up to me and fortunately she had tags which included her address.  Phoebe was her name and she had taken herself out for an early morning walk!  Thankfully her home was just a few houses away.  Her owner was thrilled to see her and said she's an escape artist.  They had no idea she had slipped out of their yard!  Makes me crazy although at least the dog had tags identifying her name and her owner's address. 

Whew, I was REALLY tired last night so I climbed into bed around 7pm with a good book, "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Excellent read.  Amie was happy to go to bed but Ruby was a bit confused......she was wondering why we were winding down that early.  I had to explain that their mother doesn't have much of a social life!  I'm still doing my surgery rotation but I finished vascular and started urology this week.  The schedule isn't as brutal but I just felt like chilling out plus the KC weather took another nosedive.  It's chilly and windy.....that always saps my motivation to get outside.  We still managed to get to the park yesterday but there weren't many dogs out.  Thursday night we met two dogs, a pom mix and a sheltie, who were 17 and 18 years old respectively.  They were in astonishingly good shape.  The owner said she's been taking them for daily walks nearly every day at the park for the past 8 years and watches their diet. 

Since we went to bed early, Ruby was stircrazy so she had Amie and I up and out early this morning.....6am.  Ruby's the social butterfly.  She thinks she might be missing out on the action although there wasn't a soul out this morning.  It was a peaceful walk and we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise!

Tonight I was out for a run enjoying all the blooming flowers and warm temps when I decided, quite by chance, to head along a grassy boulevard that divides a main thoroughfare.  The boulevard is about 100 yds wide and maybe a mile long and is filled with numerous oak trees and a large expanse of green grass.  Lots of people like to walk their dogs in and around the big oaks.  As I was running along I noticed a black lab sauntering slowly, stop then lay down.  Initially I thought it was an older dog that was enjoying an evening stroll and felt like cooling off in the cool grass.  The dog was off-leash so I immediately started looking around for the owner.  As I got closer, it was clear there was no one around.  I approached the dog slowly and miraculously the dog let me get close enough to read her tags.....her name was Sadie and the address was nearly a mile away.  I wasn't sure how I was going to get to a phone but I knew I wasn't going to leave her there.  First we had to cross a busy street to get off the boulevard and near some houses.  As I grabbed her collar and started walking, Sadie was obviously limping and she was full of  mud.  By chance (and it seemed this evening was filled with chance), a minivan had pulled to the side of the road.  It was a couple of moms with their kids and, by chance, they had been eating ice cream cones but the kids had more ice cream on themselves than in their mouths so they had pulled over to clean up the mess.  They were kind enough to call the number on Sadie's tags and within 10 minutes the owner  arrived.  While we were waiting, Sadie enjoyed the remains of a melted ice cream cone!  She was definitely limping, something the owner said was new so they were off the vet immediately.  I'm hoping it's nothing serious.  I'm just grateful for all the "chance" happenings that occurred tonight that made it possible to reunite Sadie with her owner.   

Whew!  Just got back from the local park which was PACKED with every breed of dog known to man.  And of course loads of people.  The weather turned itself around after several days of rain and gloom to a stunning day.  Even the proverbial lemonade stand was hopping with activity.  Amie and Ruby had a ball.  Ruby would probably stay out there all day if I let her because she likes to greet everyone.  Amie just patters along content to hang by my side.  I can tell that Amie is slowing down.....she'll be 11 yrs old this June.  Surprisingly she's in good shape but I know with each passing year it will get harder and harder.  I adopted her when she was 8 where she had basically never left this tiny little yard, if you could call it that.  8 years of looking at the same trees and grass!  I think the transition to the States a year ago (we've been back for exactly one year today) has been filled with lots of new stimulation for her and she's been a trooper.  Never complains.  Just wants a daily belly rub, a soft spot to nap and good food. 

Today is also special because it's my birthday and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than a beautiful day spent hanging with my furkids!

Cheers everyone!

Whew!  A long long day in the OR -- 8 hours -- but the case was really interesting.  Esophageal cancer.  Part of the esophagus and upper portion of the stomach were removed and the remaining esophagus was reattached to the stomach.  I had been at the hospital for 14 hours so it was wonderful coming home to my two furballs jumping around with excitement.  Thankfully I have an incredible dogwalker that takes care of them when my days are long like this.

Here's a strange and uncommon happening which occurred to one of our patients over the weekend.  A 73 yr old gentleman who has severe diabetic neuropathy (lacks most sensation in his legs/feet) came to the ER because, and this is not for the faint of heart, one of his dogs chewed off the tips of three of his toes!!!  He was unable to recall which dog although he's ruled out the chihuahau because it doesn't have any teeth!  This REALLY happened because we went to visit the patient to determine whether he needed to go to the operating room for debridement of his toes.   I'll keep you updated!

Time for bed!  This chick is tired. 

It was one of those weeks where Ruby and Amie decided to spice things up in my apartment....namely by leaving surprises for me!  In the past year, Amie, for reasons known only to her, has peed on certain things.  One of her favorites was the rug at the front door (it's been replaced several times) then it was a shopping bad WITH new pants inside!  The bag had fallen from a chair in my bedroom so she decided to add to its contents.  While we were in Shreveport for my psych rotation, I was using an air mattress and she peed on that twice!  This past week, she peed on my backpack which I've used for the past three years!  Not sure what possessed her to do that.  Then, yesterday morning, I woke up to find that Ruby had thrown up on my bedspread which of course seeped through to the down comforter.  Ugh.  I've used a lot of detergent and Bounce dryer sheets this past year.  Never a dull moment with these two furballs!   

Miss Ruby decided it was time to get up.....at 4:15am this morning!!  Actually, I had to get up around that time anyway to get to the hospital for pre-pre-rounds (the life of a med student....when will I be done paying my dues??).  Anyway, as was forecasted, it was raining with a few bolts of lightening and a few boomers but Ruby was undeterred!  Normally she REFUSES to go outside even in a light drizzle but she made a beeline across the patio to a patch of grass and commened grazing like a holstein cow!  She's done it before but this morning she was very insistent.  I've often heard that a dog will eat grass because it's stomach is upset but Ruby didn't have any problems wolfing down her breakfast.  Then, after breakfast, she wouldn't go outside for a walk!  I had to carry Amie to a patch of grass so she would pee and then carry her back.  The life of a pug. 

  

Finally spring weather arrived in Kansas City!!  It was a beautiful sunny day so our favorite park was packed.  As we were heading back to the car, I noticed a woman with a puppy.  Actually it was Ruby who noticed the puppy so we had to say hello.  As we approached, two more puppies popped out of a kennel.  I thought this woman was brave to take on the care of three puppies but that wasn't the case.  She was actually there trying to give them away!  They were darling as any puppy is.....mixes of lab, jack russell and pit bull.  It makes me crazy when people do this because there is no way to screen potential owners while you're sitting in the middle of a park!  People get caught up in the cuteness factor without thinking of the ramifications of adding another life to their family.  A family came by with a half dozen kids in tow and the father was cradling one of the puppies in his arms, so close to adding another family member until he thought better.  He reluctantly put the puppy down saying he had enough kids already!  Good decision.  Anyway, it made me wonder as we were driving away what will become of the puppies.  Wonder if this pet owner watched Oprah's special yesterday??   

We were at our favorite park yesterday and saw our usual array of dogs and their owners out enjoying the balmy spring weather.  Came across a golden retriever who was delighted to bark and bark and bark as we approached.  He was a bit wobbly on his feet but it made sense once his owner told us he was 15 years old!  His name was Sterling and he had recently dislocated his back right hip but because he loves his daily walks so much his owner was able to rig up a harness that acted to support his hips.   It was really clever.  

Got an email from a friend today passing along the message that Oprah is doing her show on puppy mills tomorrow.  Should bring a lot of attention to a much needed topic.  The friend who sent me the email has eight dogs of herown, four of which are former puppy millers from Missouri.  Some day when our nomadic lifestyle finally comes to an end, I plan on having a pug sanctuary.....even have a name for it:  The Purple Pug Santuary.  I hope to provide a forever home for those older puggies that are generally more difficult to find adopt.   I've been warning my family and friends that I'm putting together a donor list so get their checkbooks ready!!!