Category Archives: Beloved Pets

An analogy

This is Sushi. She’s a pug and she’s quite the character.

Sushi isn’t spayed so she still goes into heat. This is new to me. I have no experience with an unspayed adult female doggie. Among some other things, not being spayed and going into heat means she drips fluid from her lady parts. She drips on the floors, on the couch, on your clothes, on the other dogs, and on and on, and it is a bit annoying. It also means lots of extra cleaning.

*Fun science fact: the protein in dog blood is different from human blood. Although human blood is one of the toughest things to get out of fabric, dog blood is not at all difficult to get out.

Even so, it’s really not fun at all to see and have to clean up that mess. Everywhere. All the time. While she’s in heat. I know some of you are thinking, just get her spayed. And yes, that would remove this issue. However, you can’t do that while she’s in heat. So you have to endure. Or do you?!

And that’s where doggie diapers come in. For a small fee and minor inconvenience (you have to remove it when she goes out to go potty and put it back on when she comes back inside), all the little drips are no longer a problem! Fortunately, Sushi just accepts having the diaper on. Not all dogs would leave it be. So that’s a blessing.

And, what’s more, you can get washable doggie diapers in different colors. So it’s really easy to clean the diapers, you’re not adding waste to incinerators or landfills, and you can choose ones that look like jeans or pink ones to match her collar. What fun!!!

In all seriousness though, have you ever found yourself annoyed and frustrated cleaning up little drips everywhere, knowing you can’t turn that faucet off?! Well , is there some way you could instead bandage that puppy up (pun intended) and give yourself some relief?! Think outside the box. Talk to other people about it. Perhaps there is a simple solution you’re not seeing right away. It’s worth spending some time to see.

One Year

One year ago today, I said goodbye one final time to my beloved boy, Ollie.

Despite severe epilepsy, a bad and rare reaction to prednisone, and two ACL replacements, he lived almost 13 years. Unfortunately, the epilepsy slowly took his mind and personality and caused real suffering at the very end. I regret he suffered that last night; as fellow dog mommies and daddies out there, I know you understand needing to be absolutely sure it’s time before you make the ultimate decision.

That being said, I want to spend time remembering all the love and joy he brought to my life. He was such a good good boy. Obedient, smart, silly, loving, and cute. From the way he pranced instead of walked, managed to sneeze in your face and step on your feet, was incapable of being anything but in the way, and how he’d approach you all happy and seeking attention but as soon as you’d try to touch his face he’d turn away, to being the world’s best snuggler, butterfly chaser, and strangest wrestler (putting his butt up in the air as he wrestled with a toy), and so so much more. He was simply, frustratingly, and endearingly the best.

I could post probably millions of pictures of Ollie from his almost 13 years. He dominated my camera roll. The featured pic for this post is one of my all-time favorite pics of him. Here is a collage I put together shortly after he passed away of pictures of him and me together. The single pic of him and me I found later on an old phone. It’s one of my favs too.

Ollie’s passing was the first big step toward me moving to Florida, although I didn’t realize it at the time. The loneliness I felt after he passed was overwhelming. It spurred me to awaken to how much I was putting on hold to prioritize work.

Some final notes, if you are nearing the end with a beloved pet, consider Lap of Love. They come to your home and are consummate caring professionals. Thank you to everyone who sent me cards, gifts, prayers, and love after Ollie passed. It meant more than I can say. Thank you to Trinda, who helped care for my boy in his final months. If you’re looking for some drop in pet care, she’s your lady (message me and I can give you her contact info). And finally, thank you Monica, for being Ollie’s mom away from home and for being there for both of us, always.

I love you Ollie and I miss you. Be a good boy until I see you again. 💙