Back When the Red Dog Really Was Red!

On a recent journey in the "Way Back" machine, we discovered some great photos of the Red Dog in her first year or two of life.  As we get through the tedious scanning process, we will post a few for your pleasure, so here we go:

Why are you staring at me like that?  You're kinda crowding my space.

And speaking of crowding me...where's mom when you need her?

Where has all the time gone?  If nothing else, dogs teach us unconditional love and to enjoy every moment.  Their time here with us is all too short.  Thankfully, our three-legged friend isn't quite done yet!

A Little More Retail Fun

The Red Dog never tires of visiting her friends at Agri Feed in Knoxville.  She went there a few weeks back, and we were lucky enough to remember our video camera.  Enjoy!!

A Nice Little Review of a Nice Little Book

Although originally published awhile ago, Dog Walks Man: A Six-Legged Odyssey is a fun read for dog and nature lovers alike.  I resurrected my examiner.com page to publish my thoughts on this little gem.  Enjoy!

Prayers Please

Lovely Luna with a two-legged friend.

Today our dear friend Luna had a rear leg amputated to stop the spread of that nasty old foe, osteosarcoma.  Although Luna is a nine year-old Great Dane, her mom Shannon keeps her in excellent health and thus made her a good candidate for surgery.  X-rays of her lungs were clear, so it appears the disease was caught in its initial stages.  Kudos to Shannon for catching Luna's limping early, and then aggressively pursuing diagnosis and treatment.  Quick action can make all the difference in the world.

After she spends a couple days with our friend Dr. Mitch and his awesome staff, the jumbo pup will be heading home to be with mom and her four Dane brothers.  Please keep both Luna and Shannon in your prayers as they go through this difficult time, and we will be sure to keep you posted on our newest Tripawd's progress.  In the meantime, we're going to put together a shopping list so they can get on the Red Dog's Anti-Cancer regimen.  WOOF!!

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!

Our Newest Best Christmas Gift Ever!!

Every few years - if you're really lucky - someone outdoes themselves while giving you a gift, and you're left with something that has much greater value to you than whatever it cost in the first place.  Several years ago, Mr. Man's mom presented us with a hand-painted perpetual calendar depicting the smiling faces of our dogs.  Aside from a brief trip back to Santa's workshop for repairs thanks to the handiwork of Ajax the cat, this calendar continues to occupy a special place in our dog-addled minds and hearts. 

Now, thanks to Shiva's Aunt Dian, we are making room for our newest favorite surprise...

A BOXIE PET PORTRAIT!!!!!!!!

 

She did it...she really got us a Boxie!  If you've never heard of them before, Boxies are custom hand-painted pet portraits on a box frame.  They're made right here in Knoxville, they look awesome on the wall and we can't think of a better way to immortalize our original three girls than with this.

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

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!