I was shocked this past Friday when my 9 year old Ridgeback, Zoe, developed severe vaginal bleeding. After three vet and emergency visits we are still scheduling an ultrasound. We suspect kidney mass and will have to make the sad decision based on budget as to how we proceed. This is crushing. I just told her how lucky we were that she was so healthy. Zoe is the perfect dog. You check when she barks, she is protective yet the sweetest personality. Never a meaan act.

She is a food thief and I swear she can make a sandwhich on her own. Then she retreats to one of about six sleeping spots, depending on the sunshine in that room or time of day.

We are praying that the surgery will fall within our means, economy and all, but surgery is necessary.

Zoe gets walked about 2 miles most every day and looks to be in peak health, except for a little grey. Hey, who am I to judge?

We have taken her on numerous vacations and she enjoys the beach. She loves to run and there is nothing more beautifuk than her running across a soccer field or two.

One funny memory is of here chasing four baby armadillos. She could not grasp them but chased them pinging them back and forth like little tennis balls.

Thanks for letting me tell you a little.

Dale from TX

When Jake came into our lives more than 15 years ago, he was living on the street, scavenging in trash cans; found by a very kind family that owned 5 cats and couldn’t possibly take him in.  We fell in love with him instantly, although to this day we can’t tell you why.  Can you call a dog “misanthropic?”  He was a bit Benji-looking, scruffy and dirty, and we couldn’t wait to make life better for him.  The vet had no idea how old he was, at least a year or two, she said.

Jake drew family and friends in slowly, and if they didn’t love him right away, they at least respected his distinct, almost ballsy personality.  He became another family member as most dogs do and protected us against strangers, squirrels and finches with the same vehemence.  He got to know us so well that he cried if one of us was upset; and stood by the “injured party” if there was an argument in the house.

As he got older, he thrived on his routine (ok, ok, my husband and I do too), and that is probably going to be the hardest part in the months (and years?) to come.  We had to make the terrible decision yesterday.  Jake was arthritic, cyst-ridden and the vet had just discovered several masses in his abdomen.   My husband, kids (now grown) and I lay on the hospital floor with Jake while he passed.  It’s a moment we’ll never forget.  We’re so grateful for the time he gave us.  We thought we were going to make his life better, never understanding how much fuller he would make ours.

Terry from DE

Your story of sprite inspired me to tell you mystory of the finest dog i ever had. in the early ’70’si had a friend who had a purebred male akita, a beautiful powerful dog who had a next door neighbor with a purebred german shepherd female. well you can imagine the rest! they could not separate them even with a high fence. the owner did not want the mixed bred puppies so they were given away,we took one of the females and she quickly became my 3 young childrens favorite. beautiful , stong and fiercely protective of the entire family.

One day when the local trash truck had come down our street we heard a terrible screaming sound and we soon realized our “kinojo” which means “she or female” in japanese had been hit. She never liked the trashmen and i believe they deliberately hit her. her only wound was confined to her l. front paw but it was so severe the skin had been ripped off the top of the entire paw. my son and i took him to myfriend jack a vet in damascus,md. jack s diagnosis was not good, it was so severe there was not enough tissue to close the wound. “you should consider putting her down” he said. we pleaded for an alternitive and finally jack said he would call his friend at the u fo penna vet school for advice. they said if we could get her there they would try to treat her. i knew exactly where the school was since i had grown up at 49th and girard ave,a few miles from the school so the next am my son and i left for the 3 hour drive to phila,penna. what they did was extaordinary! they opened her side and positioned her paw there for three weeksand when a blood supply had formed and healing had taken place theycut the paw free and aside from the long stomach hairs now covering her paw she was good as new(although she never gave up her hatred of trashtrucks!). (more…)

Thank you for sharing Sprite with us. Although so painful, I could not put the book down. I borrowed it from the library Wednesday and was finished about 4 hours later. Dogs are wonderful and you helped me remember why.

Thank you.

Barbara from CA

My name is GEORGE, when I was a child my 2 best friends move away. I developed a friendship with a neighborhood dog-CANDY. A year later she rescued me freom being attacked by a sick and injured RACCOON. I told this story at bedtime to my daughter and she asked me to write a book. “George, Candy and the Raccoon” was just published. The children’s picture book is dedicated to Candy and all the dogs that have enriched my life. The book can be previewed at authorhouse.com

George from OH