Who rescued who...

Remember when we adopted our sweet puppy Ziggy Boo?  I have a confession, her name isn't Ziggy.  It was Ziggy for about four days but it just never caught on.  Everyone was calling the dog different names and it was getting confusing.  We called a family meeting and went through lots of options.   We wanted a Z sounding name because we liked having Sandy and Skoopi (S names) and now we wanted this pair of dogs to be matching. Lame?  Totally, but that is how we do things in our house.

So Ziggy Boo became...   Xena Warrior Princess (except we spell it officially Zeena Warrior Princess).  AK picked it out, it is ridiculous, and so perfect.  This dog is one tough chick and we love her mighty fiesty spirit.  When Zeena plays with Zoey, she snaps her jaws with ferocious-ness.  

When she is not snapping her jaws and roughhousing she is a mellow sweetie pie.  Zoey and  Zeena are so unlike Sandy and Skoopix.  Sandy and Skoopix were always in the middle of everything, jumping on everybody, sniffing inappropriately.  Zoey and Zeena like to find quiet places to rest and rejuevenate.  Zoey is completely antisocial when people come over and hides, while Zeena likes to climb into my lap and observe from my arms.  They aren't like any other labs I've known, they love "their people" but don't really want to get to know anyone else.  Sandy and Skoopi would force friendships on anyone who walks through the gates at the Chalet.

Zeena does this prancing-dancing-walk when she greets you and it melts my heart.  I can't resist but drop everything to scoop her up.    Having a black dog is a new experience for me.  Black dogs are really hard to photograph,  I never feel like I do her justice in photos.  She is gorgeous and her ears are full of expression. 

I often think about how lucky Zeena is to live here, from the streets as a stray to living in the hills, hiking everyday...  but I always come to the same conclusion. 

   

We are the lucky ones to have her in our lives. 

Introducing Z-Diddy aka Ziggy Boo

It was a little over a year ago, we lost our beloved dogs, Sandy and Skoopi within a few days of each other. 

My poor children have grieved heavily for the loss of their pets and were so traumatized by it.  Zoey has helped immensely and has been the best thing to help our family adjust, but the whole family feels the void of going from two dogs to one.   Add in that Zoey has been miserable since the kids started going to school all day long, because I'm apparently not nearly as fun as the kids.   Zoey also has a terrible secret, she eats the house when she is left alone.  Yes, the same beautiful house that the Juans built.  Muy Malo, Zoey!

The Neighborsteins just adopted two beautiful puppies and since we got puppies with them last time, we were feeling the peer pressure.   I wanted to adopt an older dog this time, but finding the right dog proved to be a challenge.  We fell in love with one, but she was already adopted by the time our adoption application was approved.  Another dog had 10 potential applicants and I started to feel just like I do when we are on a "Baby Chase" trying to adopting babies.  I started to get anxious and felt defeated, just like when we are adopting.  The ever patient and calm Mr. Man said, "La patience mon amour,  the right dog will find us."  And he was right.   

On Saturday we visited an adoption fair put on by our very favorite rescue, Best Friends Animal Shelter.  They are a no kill shelter that goes in to shelters and pulls animals out of high kill shelters when their time is up.  This sweet little thing was put in AK's lap.  This sweet little puppy is from the hood, South Central Los Angeles and comes complete with a tatoo.   She was picked up off the streets and after two weeks at the South Central shelter her time was up.  Best Friends stepped in and rescued her on Halloween, knowing this Labradorish pup would easily find a family.  

 "Oh Mama, Please can we keep her?"   

  

I couldn't resist this little face. 

 

And I couldn't resist those crooked ears either.

 

So she came home with us to start a new life.  

 

We named her Ziggy Boo.

 

And we are smitten.  Can you blame us?

Giving Thanks for Puppy Kisses

Sweet Zoey is no longer puppy sized anymore.  She still behaves like a puppy and destroys whatever might be in her path.  Zoey gave Chelsey Handler's new book 1 star for taste, but 3 stars for holding her interest. 

She still rides in the front seat as if she were only 10 pounds.  She likes to wear a hat, which makes people do double takes because they think it's a human at first. Okay, maybe the kids like for her to wear a hat.

Mr. Man and the kids are begging for a second dog, because "that's all we ever known!"  And when I look in these eyes, I can't help but think... Ok let's get one more. Zoey has been the best thing to happen to this family.  Every single day I give thanks for her sweet and gentle nature, and her ability to love so unconditionally.

She also took good notes from Skoopi on how to be a good dog.  I can't help but smile as I watch her attentively keep an eye on the kids everywhere we go. She knows they are her "job" 

I know she is just a dog, and it may seem silly, but I am totally smitten.   Sometimes I wonder if Sandy and Skoopi are whispering in her ear... "Love the boy, he needs your love.   Be patient with the little girl, and watch over her.  Mr. Man needs to be greeted with enthusiasm when he comes home, work has been hard for him today. Nudge the woman, she needs you to remind her to pause and spread some love."   Am I crazy to think this?

Grateful for Puppy Love

This little dog has me completely smitten.

 

Zoey is proving to be a sweet little addition to the family.  I swear this dog smiles in her sleep. And do you know what is better than round toddler bellies?  Deliciously plump and crazy soft puppy bellies.

Zoey often sleeps just like this.

 In the car, Zoey is either on someones lap or up front with me. 

If she is up front, she sits like this, with her nose sticking straight up to the ceiling.  It makes me laugh each and every time. 

 Her favorite chew toy...  door trim.  The Juans are not going to be too pleased. 

Since Zoey needs some attention prior to the morning rush, I'm up early again, just like during the construction.  I know I've griped about not being a morning person, but I had forgotten the serenity of those early mornings.  The deer are ambling by, the hillsides are covered with a silvery mist, and everything is calm and peaceful. 

And during those mornings walks around the property with Zoey, I give thanks for her,  For Mr. Man who insisted on her, because ultimately, he is wise and tries to do what is best for the family.  I give thanks for the children who make me laugh each day, and for the friends in our lives.  I even give thanks for the Juans who helped us create this oasis in the big city, and for the deer... yes, even Rupert.
Starting each day off with thankful heart has been the best thing, and I am grateful for this little dog, who has reminded me of the power of gratitude. 

Zoey, Inspired by Mr. Man, Saved by Mr. Vet

We made the decision to put Sandy to sleep after pondering the idea for several weeks.   It was a decision, neither Mr. Man or Moi wanted to make.  It didn't feel like it should be our decision.  Mr. Man especially couldn't fathom life without Sandy or Skoopi.  Unfortunately, Skoopi was starting to refuse food and we knew her time was coming to end.   Sandy's body started failing and we knew that this was the right decision for her.  We had never once imagined in the dog's lifetimes that they would go at the same time. 

 During the week of September 12th, we had an appointment for Sandy later in the week to be put to sleep.  The mood around the house was blue, and tears flowed freely.  We watched TV on the floor, spoiled Sandy with food she shouldn't eat, took Skoopi on hikes and spent every minute with our dogs. 

 

The family was a wreck, no one was handling this situation well.  I know, they are just dogs, but it still felt like we were losing our best friends.  Mr. Man woke me up late one night and said, "We need to get a puppy right now and I found one on the internet."  I went through 100 reasons why we should wait several months.  Finally, he broke down and said, "I can not walk into this house without a tail wagging to greet me, I just can't.  I don't think the kids can either, they don't know any different."  Those words resonated, especially when Mr. Boy would greet me from school with tear filled eyes and ask, "Did Skoopi come in the car to pick me up today?"

    

On  September 15th, we said goodbye to Sandy, and I'm not going to lie it was terrible.  I had underestimated how hard it would be on the children.   I hadn't planned on them reaching over to pet Sandy while playing xBox only to realize she was not there anymore.  After some sound advice from a professional on children's grief, I was reassured a puppy is not going to interrupt the grieving process, it would ease the transition.  Her professional opinion was, "Get a puppy, ASAP"

 And so Zoey, joined our family in time for Skoopi to teach her how to take the kids to school. 

And the smiles that had disappeared started to make appearances.

Among the tears of grief, there was laughter sprinkled in.

I learned there is nothing better for a grieving heart than puppy love. 

On Monday, September 19th, everything went wrong.  Skoopi was miserable, and we knew without a doubt what the right thing was to do.  Zoey had not been feeling well that morning, and by the afternoon she was limp and lifeless.  We took Zoey and Skoopi to the vet.  Immediately, the vet and his team started to work on Zoey.  The vet told us, "I am so sorry, this is a very sick puppy.  The next 24 hours will be critical, and we won't know the outcome until then." 

Then we said goodbye to the world's best dog.  Skoopi eagerly and peacefully left this world.  I'm convinced her first stop on the way to heaven was to get a bite to eat.  She had lost half her body weight in 4 months. Then we went home, empty handed to a house with "no wagging tails there to greet us."   The silence in our house that night was deafening.

The next 24 hours were miserable, waiting for word from Mr. Vet. This is the same vet that saved Sandy from Parvo 14 years ago.  The vet told me later, that he did not sleep at all, knowing Zoey's life was in the balance.  "This family cannot lose three dogs within five days."  Zoey showing signs of Sandy's determination and Skoopi's loyalty to our family, pulled through.  Mr. Vet saved her and she came home to rejoin the family she was meant to be with.

And when Mr. Man came home that night from work, there was this little tail there wagging to greet him.

 Just like how it should be.

Meet Miss Puppy

Meet Zoey,  an impulse decision, made by Mr. Man who thought that she was a lot cheaper than all the therapy the kids are going to need after what they have experienced in the last year, or even just the last week.  The kids have learned to grieve enough this year, they don't need to wallow anymore.

 I'm not gonna lie, Mr. Man was right on this one.   She is providing a whole lot of love to those who are hurting the most.  There are broken hearts, in need of mending.

 For me, this was the moment where I exhaled for the first time in a week.  Thank goodness for puppy love.