Lingering on ...

They say dogs have the ability to see and sense things that we humans are unable to detect.  Joe, our resident Rottie has on a couple of rare occasions demonstrated behaviour that I thought quite peculiar.  The sort that had I allowed myself to be freaked would make my hair stand!  But you see, even if I seem accept that there is a spirit world out there - am not the superstitious sort nor am I easily frightened by stories of hauntings and expect to see ghosts.  But there was once or twice in our usual frenetic game of 'Snatch Fetch', as the day grew darker and the shadows longer, Joe actually froze, drop his toy and stared at a darkening canopy of bamboos - once, I remembered he growled.

I was wary but saw nothing of course.A Rotweiller's growl is not to be taken lightly.   I thought his behaviour was a little odd - especially when he can never seem to get enough of his game of 'Fetch' and even when his not playing he would guard his toy like his life depended on it (a typical Rottie trait am told). To drop his toy in mid-play and stare into distance was definitely  out of the ordinary.

I never really gave that odd but rare behaviour much thought until I recently  read Dean Koontz account of  his own dog, interestingly called Trixie in his book 'A Big Little Life - a memoir of a joyful dog' who once demonstrated behaviour that he (not a believe in ghost nor expect to see one either) could only surmise as Trixie happily accompanying her 'invisible tall friend' (she kept peering up and wagging her tail) a tour of the house.

A few days ago on our usual evening romp, Joe was oddly not into his game of 'Fetch'.  He would usually pick his toy and carry it with him eager to begin his game but that evening he left them laying idle. Instead he behaved as if he was looking for 'something' - chasing down a scent and occasionally taking moments to stare into the darkened distance.

I read Joe's body language quite easily (as he does mine).  He understands simple English - so I've observed. Apart from the usual obedience command like 'Sit', 'Stay', 'Come', 'Heel', Joe knows to go looking when I ask him where his toy is.  He seems to be able to remember where he's last left his toy. He'd also know how to get me to get his toy for him if it's beyond his reach -  usually too out of my leveled sight.  He looks at me eagerly, runs to a spot and looks pointedly.  And if am a little preoccupied pottering about, he does a little jig,  goes 'Wooah!' (a bark that's indicative of wanting),  looks at me and stares again pointedly at a spot as if to say 'Here! here! I know you can't see it yet but it's here!'.  It could be under something somewhere (a drain, his cage, under the car), up in some tree's branches (god knows how his toy got up there ...I blame it on the squirrels!).  He would not leave the spot until I get down (sometimes into a dirty drain) or climb to investigate.  And almost always Joe is spot on about where his 'lost' toy is.  So on my hands and knees, equipped with a long stick, I strain to retrieve his toy.

The things I do for that dog!   But just to see his glee when I finally hand him toy for him is reward enough.

That evening, I could only guess that he was looking for Trixie and he somehow 'found' her at her usual spot she would stake when I'd tell them both to 'Take a break (from their frantic game of 'Snatch-Fetch') and grab a drink'.  It was almost a daily routine where they would both trot to that one particular garden hose where I'd give them both a drink.  Joe would almost always sit patiently on the right of the garden hose near the potted plants and Trixie would stand or lay panting on the grass to my left while they wait for their turn to be watered and showered down.

Joe for some reason that evening without his usual game, soon lead the way to that particular garden hose.  I took that as him wanting a drink and a shower.  But instead of sitting patiently, he stood and stared pointedly to the spot where Trixie would always lay panting when she was alive.  When I said, 'Are you looking for Trixie?  Where has she gone?'.  He looked at me and looked back at that spot,  as if to tell me 'Look! There she is!' and watched with interest for a while, oblivious to the running water and my mutterings about missing Trixie.

Maybe Trixie's spirit still lingers on and in her cheeky self she got Joe to go seeking after her (like she usually do when she successfully snatches his toy ... she'd make him chase her - sniffing and seeking about Dog Woods) and almost always their game would end at that one particular garden hose where she would finally relinquish the toy for a drink and shower while Joe would make a quick grab for toy.

It's just a hypothesis.  I don't know for sure.

But after that moment by the garden hose, Joe shook the water out of his fur, surveyed his surroundings and trotted off to pick up his toy where he had last left it eager to start a game of 'Fetch'.

Goodbye Trixie my Pixie 23.12.2006-23.2.2010

Dearest Trixie,

I could have sworn I heard you barking last night.  That distinctive Malinois pitch - that certain bark when you insist on getting something - usually's Joe's toy.  For a moment I thought Joe and you were playing your exclusive version of 'Snatch-Fetch'. Only to remember that you are gone.

Then Tuffy barked, as if to answer. Followed by the howls of the entire pack (interestingly without the prompting of the siren's wails). Maybe that was you after all.  Back to say your goodbyes since you left us so suddenly.

I've been deeply comforted by the circle of hearts.  Kind, supportive words from bloggers alike.  Personally, I've never heard of the rainbow bridge until I started reading other dogs' blogs and how dog's who've passed on goes on to be a star.  It could all be tales but I'd like to believe that you've gone to a much better place.  Where you can run and play all day till your heart's content and not be hampered by your inherent physical limitations.

This evening as I was staring into the heavens, I witnessed something most curious.  A silent moving globe of light - the size of a distant star ... yet a little nearer to earth.  For a while I thought it was a flying object - an airplane?  A helicopter?  But usually their lights would blink, and this light was constant. Nor was there a distinct roar of engines.  I stared at what I could only describe as a 'little star' moving towards the half moon ... and then as mysteriously as it appeared, it dissappeared into the moon's light.

All I could think of then was you, Trixie.  Maybe they were right after all, you have gone on to become a star.

We will all miss you.  The Furkids for being their race- queen ring leader.  Tuffy and Snoopy would miss your affectionate wags and kisses.  (Not sure Anna would miss you since you almost made ribbons out of her face).  Joe will miss having you in his game of 'Fetch' or 'Snatch' - infact, just now after a game while I was giving him a drink from the garden hose, he half expected you to sneak up to his toy and snatch it away!  And I most of all would miss just calling for you and watching you come happily bounding.

This is the only way I know how to say goodbye Trixie.  With words.  Take care darling girl.  Love you loads.

Tee, Tuffy, Snoopy, Joe, Anna, Tubby, Wally, Brandi and Dexter
Xoxox

Acute Pancreatitis

""Acute Pancreatitis"- that's what Trixie's doctor said was the cause of death when he called to report later this morning.

"What caused it?"  I asked.  He answered, "No one can be too sure. However it is common amongst particularly amongst female dogs.  Causes?   It could be her diet (but they all eat the same thing!).  Her age (Trixie's four human years old) But there's no determined causal link ...although some breeds are known to develop the problem "

The puzzling thing is, Trixie out of the lot was possibly the most robust out of the pack.  She hardly ever had diohrrea, or vomited.  Hardly ever shown signs of lethargy or developed a fever.  Infact, hardly fell sick for that matter. From the day she came to Dog Woods as a wee pup of 3 months she was always on the go.  She was so hyper, I had to properly school myself on how to handle and train a dog so highly strung!

To be honest, she was the one that caused the most injuries amongst the other dogs. The two, Joe the Rottweiller and Anna the Doberman never stood a chance against Trixie the Belgian Malinois. Don't get me started on how many times Joe (the Rottie) got nipped in the butt and the wound later demanded some careful care.  And then there's Anna - Trixie's caused some major damage there too - twice required stitching and draining.  Even from her cage recently, she manage to inflict a couple of bites on Anna's left check.   Because of the recent clashes I've been giving both Anna and Trixie many running checks just to see if I've missed any injuries.  Trixie almost always seem to come away unscathe after clashing with either Joe or Anna.

And then all of a sudden she left us.  Time's up.  Maybe all these while she's been trying to tell me that something's wrong and I mistook that for her being afraid of firecrackers (since she scaled her pen's fence every time she heard a pop).   You know the song 'Who Let The Dog Out??' - that was Trixie.  She'd let herself out, climb any fence or gate that confined her - more so over the CNY festivities.

The only time she required the doctor's attention was when she had a piece of skin dangling from behind her left hind leg.  Am not sure how that happened (from running too hard - into fence?) but she came bounding and sat even without me calling.  And when they are that good, something's definitely amiss...The doctor had to stitch her up.

I suppose am still plagued with 'what ifs ...'  Could it all have been prevented ... had I called the doctor earlier .... *sigh*

To think those pictures were taken  a little more than a week ago.  After Joe returned from having his wound treated (thanks to Trixie), Anna getting bitten (by Trixie yet again) and Wally getting tick fever.

So rest in peace Trixie.  I'll always remember you.  Some day I'll see you again ... over that rainbow.

Thank you for your kind thoughts ...

Dear kind warm readers,

Thank you for your kind thoughts.  I truly appreciate them.  It helps - at least for me trying to get my mind to accept the full fact that Trixie's gone for good.  There's always so much to do at Dog Woods.  If it's not the dogs to mind and fuss over there's the chores to be done at home, meals to cook and people to fuss (or boss ;) around.  But in those still moments where nothing immediate warrants my attention I find myself staring into the horizon.  If there was a mirror before me, the expression would be that of bewilderment - slightly gaping mouth, furrowed brow, and a look - lost somewhere, going over and over again what had caused her sudden death.  That's when the sad realisation dawns - that I would never see Trixie (or Iggy as I'd usually call her), again

Dog woods is fairly spacious - more than an acre, enough space for the nine dogs to run about without cramping their style.  Understandably I can't possibly keep an eye out on all nine of them at once... the two Basset Hounds would be tumbling over each other - Tuffy teasing Snoopy and Snoopy giving him a mouthful of what she thought, Anna and the Furkids would be chasing down or digging up a scent (someday I'd post pictures my increasingly crater-ful lawn), Trixie would be running in circles attempting to herd us lot (minus the butt nipping - which we trained her out of), Joe clutching a toy would be looking for a game of fetch.

Usually after all that play and if i knew that no one would be visiting, the dogs would be left to roam about freely (within the confines of Dog woods that is) - with minimal supervision.  And that's when it happened I think ... where and what happen to Trixie within that moments while am pottering about.  What had she ate?  Could she be bitten? What kind of bug had she picked up - so virulent that it took her life so suddenly.   Now am afraid for the rest of the pack ...

Will call the doctor later (don't think his practice is quite fully open yet) to find out Trixie's results.

With a heavy heart ...

... Trixie crossed the rainbow bridge today.  It was so sudden.  I discovered her lying so still this afternoon in her crate when the doctor finally arrived to give her a check.

She wasn't touching her food the last couple of days and I had been feeding her the usual multivitamins (when the dogs are not eating).  Thinking it could be tick fever (since Wally was down with it last week and the Vet had been around to see him twice) I had the Vet to come round to give Trixie her shot of antibiotics only to discover she was no longer breathing.

To think she was ok this morning and I was fretting over getting her to swallow her multivit.  Am still trying to grasp the fact that she's gone.  I can't say am numb.  Just shock.  Not quite sure how or what cause her to leave us so sudden.  It's not that she's been ill for prolonged periods.  Even the good doctor was puzzled.   He'd just seen her last week - trotting about her usual sunny mischevious self.  

And that's how it is whenever I think of Trixie.  Her alertly trotting about - being ring leader to the pack of Furkids (Anna's usually kept in her pen when Trixie's out since they both don't get along), giving chase to  whatever that moves (joggers, motorists, neighbour's dogs) - all well within the confines of the Dog Woods perimeter fence (so no harm done to others)

She was character in her prime who love nothing else but to run like the wind, snatch Joe's toy and guard her home.  And now she's gone.  I feel so sad whenever I think I'd never see Trixie with in all her fawn handsome-ness patrolling the perimeter fence.  Or come running (usually the first to arrive) whenever I call, or just to sit pretty - just to show that she's a good-er girl than the rest of the scampering lot - who's usually playfully wrestling about.  

The only explanation would either be a) deliberate poisoning from someone who hates the Dog Woods Pack or b) bitten by a venomous snake - cobras possibly c) a heart attack - from too many firecrackers?  (honestly, Trixie's heart is built to withstand firecrackers ... though she does like to complain about them alot).

The good doctor's taken Trixie's body for an autopsy.  Still running some tests when I last messaged him.  We'll all know tomorrow why Trixie left us so suddenly.  

That not so innocent 'puddle' ...

Sniffing for pity

That not so innocent looking 'puddle' that's left on either ends of the coffee table or the legs of the sofa is the chief-est reason why Tuffy (self claimed basset top dog of Dog Woods) is banned from the living area.  And when that happens, out comes industrial cleaners.  From disinfectant wipes to detergent, anti bacterial-ladened clean ups - yours truly determined to get rid of all manners of germs and smells that comes with his lordly pee - only to be satisfied with at least a couple of wipe downs.  


Understandably it's a alpha male thing to want to mark his territory - so long as it's done outdoors.  


One would have thought, with a large yard, miles of grass and many trees to mark and closely supervised outdoor romps - usually to water them telephone poles,  Tuffy would have emptied his bladder. But somehow or another, the ol' boy almost always have some emergency reserve left for the corners of the couch, the legs of the coffee table or the sideboard!

'*Howl!*, I surrender!'

Mind you, the Tuffy knows leaving his mark indoors is unacceptable behaviour yet, he's determine to take his chances ... preferably behind our backs, of course.  But yours truly have since learn to pre-empt his urges.   Before he even thinks of lifting his back hind legs I'm already on his case.  A stern 'Tuffy!!' and off he'd sit guiltily - knowing he'd been caught yet doggedly unrepentant he'd not been quick enough.  

Basset Charmer at large

All's usually forgiven one's he's slunk off to join the rest of the pack merrily playing - momentarily given up the idea of leaving his noxious mark indoors.  We all know, given half the chance, the top dog Tuffy will be back to mark his spots indoors!

Double Greetings ... and many adoring licks and wags.

Hello!  

It so happen that this year's Chinese New Year falls exactly on Valentine's day.  So, here's wishing everyone out there a very:- 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

May there always be an abundance of affection and love in your life!

and 

to those who're celebrating the Chinese New Year a very

Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year.

'Gong Xi Fa Chai!' 

P.S.  The Dogs are riding the loud festivities with much aplomb.  Trixie's back to her old gregarious self now that the fireworks and firecrackers have quietened down a little.  As for yours truly, am lying low, seizing the opportunity to grab some much needed rest (after some major baking).  

According the Chinese beliefs (I only JUST read) that tomorrow (the 2nd day of the Chinese New Year) is believed to be the birthday of ALL dogs!  I really must have something special planned for the Dog Woods Pack tomorrow :)  Last but not least, here's yours truly and her pack, wishing all you wonderfully adorable doggies out there a :-

Happy Happy Birthday!