Four years ago today we lost Faye to kidney failure. She was only 4-1/2 years old.
My friend Jane in Colorado lost her Ember the same day to a terrible accident with the UPS truck.
We are both sad today and reflecting on these two little dogs that we loved. Since that time Jane got Mojo and when I saw this picture of him, I fell in love.
She got Mojo from her friend Darlene and after making connections through Jane, I got Hazel from Darlene also.
I took Hazel on a new adventure to mark the day – we drove to town and started learning to walk on a leash.
She’ll get better at this! She also needs a haircut – don’t we all?
What wonderful pictures you shared with us today…and stories too.
Yes, a sad memory for sure! She was such a sweet girl and so sad that she had to go over the rainbow bridge so soon! You will always miss her… Hazel looked like she was doing well with her lead training – she is a special girl for sure! Give her, and Telly both special snuggles today – you need it, and so do they!
We had a dog that we leashed trained, she was around a year old, and you would have thought we were killing her. She howled and cried, bucked and snorted. It was just so funny because we weren’t harming her at all. She did get used to it and became quite good at it. Hazel will too.
Sad about Faye. She was such a cute dog.
Sue – last night I put the harness on her and she stood stiffly as if I had beaten her!! She couldn’t even walk but a few steps – haha! Spoiled th8ng! Today I left the harness in the car so she knows it means fun!
Amazing how it is love on first sight for our pet children. I had been looking for a Senior cat and when I saw Molly on the web site I couldn’t think of looking further. AND she turned out perfect. Couldn’t believe she had been in foster care for 2 years before I saw here. I guess she was waiting for me.
Glad you found Hazel after losing Faye.
I husband used to train dogs for show. Will give hint about leash walking, keep the dog on the left side of
as much as possible during training! Have fun. Marie
Thanks for sharing your story about Faye. I was not a reader of your blog then, so didn’t know about her. I just marked the 1st anniversary of my Labrador, Lady, who died in May 2019. She was 11 when we had to put her down because of an inoperable tumor. She had only been with me for 2 short years. Bailey then came into my life two months later, and things haven’t been the same since! I think Hazel is just so adorable. All I can think of is “I want to give her a big hug.”
Is always makes a sad day when we loose our beloved pets. My Cocoa is 13 and I’m blessed every day I still have him.
Bless Hazel’s heart getting use to that leash! Lol she’ll learn to stop tugging.. hahaha
Thanks for sharing the pictures – what precious dogs!
Why is it so hard to lose a pet? I feel like a part of me is ripped out each time I lose one.
Hurts fierce.
But remembering some of their antics and mishaps helps.
I know someday I will be with my kitties again.
I love all of your animal stories – they are such a big part of our lives aren’t they? What kind of dog is Hazel? She is just too cute! We lost our dog awhile ago and you feel such a void in your heart. Enjoy her!!!
Kelli – Hazel and Mojo are Jack Russell Terriers! Faye was a mixed Jack.
I look forward to the day I get to Heaven and meet up with my fur babies that are waiting on me. I had a lady tell me at church once that there are no pets in heaven. I told her I was sad for her because there most certainly were pets in my heaven.
Jan in a Texas – well, if my dogs and cats and goats aren’t in Heaven, I don’t want to go there either! I’ll go where they go!
I remember that awful day 4 years ago & I cried along with you. They become part of our hearts & thank goodness for memories. Hazel has been so much fun to watch grow & see her become her feisty little self.
I’m sure Faye is happy Hazel came into your life.
I remember how much you went through to get her the best possible treatment options. It was so sad to me afterwards as I know how hard you tried. She was such a cute gal. I get so teary eyed when I sometimes lay in bed remembering all my pets I have lost through the years. I wish Jane still wrote her blog as she was so interesting!!! I loved her thought provoking posts. Thank goodness I have you Mary to warrant why I have an iPad! I so love reading what you write.
It was so very kind of you to inquire on the health of some readers.
Kathy in western NY – do you know MY friend, Jane?
I use to read her blog from something you mentioned about her so followed her after that. Can’t even remember how you mentioned her. Maybe it was when she lost her dog to the UPS driver. Is she doing well?
Kathy in western NY – yes, she’s doing well – you can follow her on Facebook – I wish I had known her when she was on the radio in Denver – she can be brusque but always honest which I love!
I agree.. wouldn’t it have been great to sit and listen to her on the radio while sewing in the mornings!
I love Hazel. I love reading about her. I love seeing the chickens. I evny you living on the farm with all the wonderful creachers. I was raised on a farm but for work I have lived in the city. Now live in Dallas Texas. Raised in Henryville Indiana. Will be 73 yrs old on the 25th of May now too old to go back to the country. I live through your posts. Thank you so much.
Betty: you’re not too old to move again! At 75 I moved from NC to VA (with the help of my friends) and have survived! I’m now 81 and have not regretted it. I miss my NC friends, but keep in touch by phone, text and email. I love my new apt. It’s in an old former high school built around 1900. I look out on a big park and a nice neighborhood. The residents here are for the most part over 70 and its a great group of people. I’m so glad I made the move. Never say never. Bette
Bette Berlo – wow! Good for you making that big move.
Betty Vest – I’m thrilled that you enjoy my look at life in the country!
I understand the importance of these anniversaries and feel your pain, Mary. The pictures are lovely.
Your account of Hazel with the leash and harness brought back a happy memory of our granddog, Carly, who lived with us for six of her ten years. When we lived in St. Louis, we decided we would take a Sunday drive out west to Merimac State Park, where we led Carly down to the river. She stood there in ankle deep water looking so miserable, as if saying, “Can we leave now?” It was so funny! All she needed was her two daily walks and being with us, preferably at home.
I just love Hazel! I wish I had one just like her and MoJo.They are adorable.
Feeling your pain on your loses. We have lost 2 dogs and 1 cat over the years . Each one of them were special to us. They were not just pets they were our children being that we did not have any.
Keep up your good work!
Spencer Theresa – I am convinced I feel more love towards animals due to the fact I was never able to have children. You’re right – they’re not just pets.
It’s so hard when one of our dogs leaves us, and especially so when you have them for a short time. You gave her a wonderful life on the farm.
Had a Rottweiler that when you put leash on her would flatten herself to ground & cry like a baby…she also did not want to leave her yard. I referred to her as my agoraphobic dog.
Nikki M – haha! I can just see it! Hazel did pretty good in town and I want her to make the connection between the harness and the fun! She runs free on 7 acres at home and has no idea what traffic is, cars, other people walking dogs, etc. how’s Ms. Maci?
Ms Maci is doing great…& she walks ( more like prances) great be it with a harness or her collar, I am lucky there. I had appointment in FW today for a sonogram of my thyroid ( Dr happy with as tumors stabilized & not increased in size since increase in medication). Since groomers reopened ( by appointment only & with restrictions) I called & girl that does Ms Maci said come on over , she said she’d come out to do her nails, was great no people around & she came outside masked & gloved with freshly autoclave clippers & cut Ms Maci’s nails, both were glad to see the other. I have always trimmed my other dogs nails, & while Ms Maci is so good when has her nails done just not comfortable doing hers. Had to go by Costco & parking lot not real full so decided to try it…didn’t set off any anxieties, they require masks be worn, & worn correctly, people for most part being cognitive of distancing. Got what went in after & few things didn’t. Headed home & stopped at farm outside Weatherford that does CSA ( think that what calls it) you buy shares & get fresh produce on weekly/biweekly basis..bought share for one person biweekly for next 3 months ( will see how it goes) decided I am not going to attempt any garden this year & friend in Weatherford has bought shares for a little over a year & been happy so what the heck will give it a chance.
Stay safe..be calm as you say.
Nikki M – glad your appt was good! One less thing to worry about, right? And Ms Maci even got a manicure! Even though Connie plants a garden, she subscribes to a fresh produce farm and they deliver once a week – gorgeous vegetables!
Sad day that I too, remember. You did so much to help Faye. We have had many cats, all rescues, and two dogs that we’ve had to take to the Vet for gentle death. Of course all pets go to heaven. How could they not?
Hazel and Mojo are so cute. She’ll get the leash she’s so smart. I tried a leash on a cat once. It was hilarious: she just laid down flat with NO movement. She could have been a dust mop. End of story! We had 75 degrees yesterday and several days of heavy frost last week. It is like we have Winter/ Summer and Summer/ Winter, but not much Spring or Fall. Sad.
Diane and Squeak – it’s been cold, windy and rainy here for 3 days now! And I just moved most of my indoor plants outside last Friday – it’s sink or swim for them, I’m afraid.
I think Hazel is so cute.
Paula in KY
Such sweet pets. They give us happy memories and don’t ask that much of us but their loss is hard! Thinking of you today.
Has Hazel been in my house? She’s standing on my husband’s plaid shirt, which is still hanging in the closet! LOL … too funny! Those pups are all so cute!
Candy – haha! I bought that identical shirt at the thrift store to cut up for fabric! I noticed it, too, and like it still!!
Those precious faces; this is a sad anniversary for you, you’re right about that but these beautiful pups had loving homes and they knew that. Your JRTs are both too, too cute. The leash walking will take some practice; but she’ll get it, she’s a smart one! ❤️🐾
Such wonderful pictures you shared with us today Mary. Also sad at the same time. We have lost several to cancer and old age that we have had for what seemed like forever, but then again, not long enough. If, we could just hug them again. But they will be waiting for us at the bridge I believe. If not, I don’t want to go there either.
We have taken in a lot of dogs that were pulled from puppy mills or were palliative care dogs, but that was ok with us. All they wanted was love and we had plenty to give and were going to love them until they closed their eyes for the last time.
We take in a lot of chihuahuas from the humane society that are old and in need of fostering until they find homes, but the truth is, they never find homes because of their age. We love the older dogs. So, we don’t mind a bit. At one time we had seven palliative chihuahuas. We lost three in one month and I thought it would absolutely break me and never want to take another one in, but I remembered why we did it. It wasn’t for me….it was for them.
Anyway, enough sadness, hope everyone is well. We are really getting some rain, which my flowers are loving!!!
Brenda inSC – I’ve always said that when Telly and Hazel are gone, I will do strictly senior fostering. Then if I die unexpectedly or can’t take care of them, the foster program will see to their care. I so admire you for taking in these unloved dogs! The puppies were different – they were wanted by many and who doesn’t love a puppy? But those old dogs who have never demanded anything but love from a home who takes them in – those are the dogs who need you! Thank you for including puppy mill dogs – I hate puppy mills more than anything in the world. The owners should be shot and killed for all the animal abuse they heap on those poor dogs. How many dogs do you have right now?
Mary,
Right now we only have our four personal furbabies. Well, actually one is my dads. When my Dad passed away last year, I kept him (greyhound/wippet mix) as I was not going to see him go to a shelter as he is 11 or 12 years old and knows us and considers us family. We also have a german shepherd, one chihuahua (old dog that is a rescue) and my sweet Australian Shepherd, that is 10 years old. We are waiting to take more, but right now, thankfully, there are no rescue/palliative/puppy mill chihuahuas available, so we are actually thankful for that. I am sure if we went further out into other counties, there would maybe be others, but they have not called us.
It is very rewarding and sometimes sad. But I love that I know they received lots of love while they were with us and NEVER did they go to bed hungry.
Brenda in SC – yes, your dogs are in the older side but think of what a wonderful life you’re giving them. It was YOUR GS who brought home the kittens, right?
Yes, it was the german shepherd…..the first day she bought home the grey kitten and the next day we caught her outside with the peach colored one in her mouth. Unfortunately, she had put a tooth through her back and into one lung, collapsing it, but we were able to save her. I guess God had other plans for her. After three days of rest and plastic wrap, wrapped around her abdomen, the crackles we heard from her subsided and she started to eat and go potty, and now she is a perfect little kitty. Just a little on the smaller side. I am afraid we will not be able to keep the kitties because of the shepherd as she is only fifteen months and is just too rough on the kittens and it would just break my heart if she killed them.
Brenda in SC – but I know you’ll find a good home for them!
Mary, I have been gone all day. We went to visit one of our sons because it was our DIL’s birthday, so I didn’t read your post last night as I was taking care of some things.
I understand your pain, both Bill and I grew up having animals and for the longest time we had cats, then we got Sunshine and later Zena. Our pets become an intrinsic part of us and when they leave us it is painful. I am sending you a big hug and hug Telly and Hazel from me.