Reminder of Why We're Here

Lest we forget - amidst all the sadness - why we are here in the first place, allow us to remind ourselves (and you) what an awesome, irrepressible spirit Shiva was, and continues to be.  Even just a few short weeks after her osteosarcoma diagnosis and amputation, she blazed around the pool like she had an Evinrude strapped to her tail.  Those who saw her recently will be amazed at how robust and powerful she was back then...in spite of her new limitations.  Although eventually slowed by arthritis, cancer and age, Shiva lived each day in the same manner...even if her body was no longer able to perform what her spirit wanted.

Remember this:  She had more than 3 good years beyond that sunny day.  Her cancer wasn't a death sentence, it was an opportunity to live each day to the fullest.  She lived - and ultimately died - that way.  Enjoy!

Whoops!

So, this is getting to be kind of embarrassing...after all, the point of a blog is to keep its followers "in the know" - something Shiva the Red Dog and Company have not done a very good job doing.  Call it being trapped in the winter blahs, doldrums, etc.  Whatever the case, you deserve at least a quick update on all Red Dog-related activities, so here goes...

We'll start with swimming, of course, as it continues to be an important part of her cold weather regimen, both for the physical and emotional benefits.

She also has been busy schooling our newest family members on all the rules associated with living in the Red Dog's domain.  Here she is hanging with "little" Luna, a kitty saved from an almost certain feral existence.  As you can see, she's fitting in (although Shiva does look like a dog who would rather be elsewhere at the moment!).

In addition, we've had the blessing of taking-in an approximately 15 yr-old Beagle named Bailey whose human passed away recently.  Prior to her passing, our dear friend Miss Virginia asked us to care for her beloved pooch and we didn't have the heart to say no.  Here she is in couple of old dog "action" poses:

The biggest surprise for us is how well a crotchety old girl used to living alone has fit in.  We love her!

Finally, a sampling of what we live with on a daily basis. Enjoy!

Recent Red Dog Happenings

Although we don't post nearly enough, we continue to document our fun whenever possible. Recent adventures include regular trips to the UTCVM therapy pool, as well as the usual neighborhood stuff.  Here are a couple of pics of Shiva the Red Dog getting her swim on with the help of Mr. Man.

She loves the attention and the water, but - most importantly - her hips love the exercise.  Since beginning regular swim sessions, we've noticed an increase in both her strength and stamina.  Her gait also remains straighter for longer.  At $20 a session, we think it's one of the best deals going.

Shiva also loves to enjoy time out in nature, and the recent warm weather has given her lots of opportunities to do so.  Check her out as chills in some "sweet grass" on a recent sunny morning:

We continue being grateful on a daily basis, as we know most folks who have gone through something similar to what we have no longer get this kind of special time with their beloved pets.  We are blessed to have this bossy creature in our lives, and we appreciate all the kind thoughts, words and prayers we continue to receive from all of you.  Keep checking back, and we'll do our best to post more fun stuff!

Checking Out a New Pool

As most of you know by now, Shiva's Mom and I spare little expense when it comes to the health and well-being of our pets, but this is especially true when dealing with our Red Dog. A walking - well, hopping is more like it - medical miracle, Shiva spreads her own special combination of cancer awareness and goodwill wherever she goes, and she recently had the opportunity to do so in a bastion of modern veterinary medicine when she visited the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine to try out their new therapy and rehab pool.

A guest of our dear friend Dr. Cheryl Cross, and under the supervision of the Red Dog's new bestie Dr. Marti Drum, Shiva was able to overcome her initial white coat apprehension to enjoy a nice dip in this little gem. Although our main concern was exercising her arthritic hips, we also hoped to provide our spoiled dog with a regular place to swim through the winter. As you can see, after learning how to negotiate the tight turns, the Red Dog really got with it. She also seemed to do better once her float coat was removed. We'll leave that for her future oceangoing voyages.

We found the staff and the facilities at the UT Vet School to be top notch, and we have since returned and plan to make this awesome place a regular stop in our wellness routine. Thanks, Drs Cheryl & Marti. WOOF!!

Back to the Cape

As many of you know, Shiva the Red Dog made what we thought would be her final pilgrimage to the beach shortly after her amputation surgery two years ago. Instead, it was the first of a string of beach visits to places both old and new. Thanks to excellent care and more than a little luck, she continues to amaze everyone as she thrives in her post-amputation and post-osteosarcoma world.

To celebrate the completion of her second unlikely year of survival, we decided to return to that magical place we call "the Cape." A few quick emails to our old friend Wendy at the Cape Escape, and we were in business. To say we had a blast is an understatement. In addition to Shiva and two other doggie friends, we took three of our family's human little ones for their first look at the white sand and green water of the gulf.

Here's a video that captures just a bit of what was an all-too-short but oh-so-special trip to that wonderful shore:

Fresh Red Dog Swimming Video!

On her recent family vacation to Tybee, Shiva the Red Dog was lucky enough to stay in a house with a pool. Here's a montage of her splishing and splashing the day away while engaged in her favorite pastime:

Shocking Red Dog Swimming Video

Shiva the Red Dog has been busy enjoying the beautiful fall weather, and she even took a quick trip to Tybee Island in the middle of it all. While she was there, she pulled a new trick out of her expansive bag of them. She took advantage of all the activity in the pool to slip in without her life jacket, and she surprised everyone by cutting through the water like a three-legged otter. Later, we were able to capture a similar moment on film. Special cameos are made by her favorite girls Olivia, Kennedy and Kayden. Here she is, in all her aquatic glory:

Blast from the Past

A little something from the 'way back' machine: a picture of Shiva swimming in a friend's swimming pool during a 2005 trip to Tybee Island. Fun!

A Short Message from the Red Dog

Take a moment to click the thingy so you can see a tiny preview of the fun had by all at Edisto Beach. More to come!

A Little Heat Miser, Please

The Red Dog wants to know what a girl has to do to get swimming pool weather moved up on the calendar. This cold and rainy crap is for the birds...at least the ones that like that kind of stuff. Hurry! WOOF!!

Follypalooza

Although we understand conceptually that some of you might tire of seeing a multitude of videos showing a three-legged Red Dog frolicking in the surf of Folly Beach, we find comfort in the relative certainty that such a notion is as foreign to you dear readers as it is to us; therefore, we are proud to present to you several vignettes from the joyous event we fondly call "Follypalooza."

Red Dog's Folly

While many of you were vainly attempting to stay dry over the weekend, the Red Dog was busy expanding her sphere of influence and simultaneously sampling the delights of a new beach (to her) called Folly Beach. She enjoyed it immensely (thanks Aunt Dian) and hopes to visit again soon...after another trip to the Cape, of course! She also wanted to share with her cyber-friends her new beach friends Maddie and Montana. They are five-and-a-half-year-old sisters who get to play on that awesome expanse of sand every morning...lucky girls! Lots more videos were taken but Mr. Man says we can't share them all at once due to some stupid bandwidth thing...whatever. Stay tuned and until then enjoy the lovely sights and sounds of the Red Dog and friends on Folly Beach!

Silly Beach Fun

Behold what transpires when Joey the Tennessee Cattle Hound (our own "special" breed) meets-up with the dreaded surf-foam at Folly Beach:


What a silly boy...Katy wasn't scared, that's for sure!

That's Using Her Noodle!

More summer fun in the sun with the Red Dog and friends:

A Glorious Time Was Had by All

If you take nothing else from the videos of Shiva's trip to the beach, take this: she had a blast!

Red Dog Surf Safari

Check out the Red Dog as she hits the surf with old and new friends...everyone here is so nice and they all seem to love Shiva. This really is a dog-lover's paradise! The snappy life jacket by Ruff Wear was a fortuitous investment, no?

This cinematic masterpiece captures the Red Dog and her new friends as she gets to live the doggie dream of LEASH-FREE play on the beach. This, of course, never would have happened in a million years if she still had that fourth leg. We may be her slaves but we're not stupid!



Notice her Quixotic quest to stop each wave with a strategically-placed bite...can't wait for the digestive results of all that salt water...that should be fun!

To borrow from a celluloid classic, "Red Dogs love water like a sailor loves rum...why is that, Captain Ron?"
"Nobody knows."

A Little Bit of Summer of Shiva for You All

Lest you think we've forgotten about all of the Red Dog's followers and fans out there, think again. What follows is evidence of Shiva's aquatic progress (and of Mr. Man's hideous lack of a tan...I mean, really, could a human be any more pale?) as she goes through her paces in Aunt Rita's pool. We are amazed at the seemingly insatiable appetite in cyberspace for a partially-clad Red Dog splashing about like a three-legged (or would it be one-legged?) Esther Williams. Who knew?



Notice how at times she now seems to have a small outboard motor strapped to her backside as she plows through the water. Amazing, no?



The Red Dog also has allowed the broadening of the application of the car ride principle now to include both Katy and Joey in her evening "treatments". This has caused much mirth among neighbors as the human heads in the car now are outnumbered three to two. Snoopy and Daisy continue to be required to have separate appointments, however. This therapy has greatly improved the overall well-being of the canine population in Shiva's "queen-dom" and is fervently recommended to all who share their lives with dogs. Incidentally, proper technique must include very slow speeds (blind, head-below-the-steering-wheel, blue-haired Palm Beach slow) and open windows for maximum sniff-ability and bark-at-everyone-walking-by-on-foot-ability. You will know when you have achieved the optimum dosage levels.

On a more serious note, the Red Dog continues to build her walking and running stamina as she prepares for her trip to doggie beach paradise. She now heads down to the river every morning with Mr. Man, Shiva's Mom, Katy and Joey in tow so she can visualize her open water swimming technique (and sniff the goose poop...yum!) and say 'hi' to any humans lucky enough to cross her path. Both her attitude and fortitude are AWESOME! We count ourselves lucky to know her every day...she is a blessing. Now sit back and enjoy the Summer of Shiva...WOOF!

Wet 'n Wild, Red Dog Style!

After much anticipation, here she is in living (lime green!) color (THANKS FOR THE POOL TIME AUNT RITA!!):

Coming Soon: Wet 'n Wild, Red Dog Style!

Due to the size of today's video of the Red Dog taking her first three-legged swim in her fashionable new life jacket, Mr. Man is having to upload it to YouTube first, and then figure out how to imbed it in the blog or some such nonsense. Hopefully you will be able to see Shiva in all her waterlogged glory sometime before the pool freezes over!