My 1 year wedding anniversary is April 12th. It’s honestly been such a crazy year that I can’t believe it’s already here. It was probably one of my hardest 12 months of my life though not in the way of marriage, if anything my marriage is stronger due to the year we had. Suddenly having to move, dealing with difficult ex-landlords, financial stress of having to pay for two places at once (looong story), CCS string of illnesses, MDP’s father passing, CCS passing, you name it.
Last year MDP and I had decided that with CCS turning 14 that we wanted another dog. The plan was to get rescue spaniel, preferably a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel about 3-5 years old and then after CCS passed start taking on final refuge dogs for Old Dog Haven.
Well as soon as we started looking CCS got Old Dog Vestibular Disease and her myriad of illnesses started. We decided not to upset her by getting another dog. At Christmas when I just knew deep down that something was really wrong with her we decided we would start looking on Cavalier Rescue and Petfinder not super seeking but that if a dog spoke to me for us to go and explore it.
In CCS’s declining days MDP and I agreed we would start looking right away. That no dog can replace CCS as she is one of a kind and we would not want another one of her but that we are people that need a dog in their life. But that we wouldn’t get a dog to get a dog it had to be one I felt a connection to. The only dog that sort of spoke to me was a cocker down in San Francisco, so the likelihood of getting her wasn’t going to happen.
The day after CCS passed I got up and looked at the Cavalier Rescue USA website and there was a picture of a Cavalier that became available that day…he spoke to me…big time. I read his sad little story and my bleeding heart felt for him. His owner died and the family gave him away to a shelter. Then he was returned twice back to the shelter before Cavalier Rescue got ahold of him. Why return him? He was growly towards men, was grouchy, and didn’t want to be pet or sit on anyone’s lap. He didn’t have an easy going Cavalier behavior.
Cavalier Rescue got ahold of his vet records and discovered he was grouchy and didn’t want to be touched because he has a very painful vertebrae condition and was in pain, on top of losing the only owner he ever knew and going to two different places. So he had an MRI and was found to have a very common Cav condition called Chiari-Malformation Syringomyelia…which has to do with overbreeding and being a smaller dog. He’s on nerve blocker and pain meds now (will be his whole life) and his disposition has softened greatly.
Ironically the woman fostering the dog is a friend of a friend who I had actually talked to about renting her vacation home a few years back. I talked to her and decided to meet him. MDP was super worried that the dog growls at his foster dad when he comes home from work (but only then at night) since MDP is really involved in our pet’s lives. The foster mom sent photos and video of the dog, I felt like it was online dating in a way. MDP was nervous that the dog couldn’t walk or something along those lines due to his neck/back issue so she sent videos of him running and walking (he walks 30-45 minutes daily). After I got the first video I sent it to MDP at work. He wrote about an hour later admitting he had watched it 8 times already. So we made a date to meet him.
We met up with him and his foster mom and met on neutral territory since most rescue dogs do best when meeting people that way. I’m not sure what I was expecting but he was far more friendly then what I had in my mind and not a growl was heard. He sat in both MDP and my lap and walked around with us for an hour and a half. We left very smitten and made a date for him to come over to our house to see how he did over here. And we were told that we would probably have about 4 meetings total.
He came over Saturday morning and was here just shy of 2 hours. He was very relaxed the whole time. Peed in the back yard. Checked out the house but mostly enjoyed our large couch, and when I say large I mean it (8-x-12-x-6 ft.). He is very motivated by food (yes he is overweight we are working on it), so luckily whoever has the food wins so he will go to you if you hold the magic tiny treats. 🙂
He again did really well with MDP and at one point the foster mom made a face and I thought something was wrong and she said “oh no, it’s just that he pawed at MDP and he only ever does that to us”. The dog puts a paw on you when he wants your attention. And he put a paw on MDP when MDP didn’t have food, he was just petting him and stopped, and he wanted more. I could tell by the look in my husband’s eyes that he was in. Well it went so well that they felt if we were ready that they would prepare the documents for us to take him. We asked him if he wanted to join our family and warned him that we are like the mafia and once you are in this family you are in it for life! 😀
So for our first wedding anniversary we are giving each other the traditional gift of paper: adoption papers.
I give to you our newest family member: Mr. Squishy Face or MSF as he will be referred to now on here on the blog.
Mr. Squishy Face just turned 8. Ironically I found out last week that we have always celebrated (for the last 14 years) CCS’s birthday on March 13th (because that’s what the rescue people said) but that going through all her records after she passed turned out that her birthday was March 1st. MSF’s birthday is March 1st. So in a way I felt with him popping up the day after she passed, him being the foster of a mutual friend, and then the birthday being the same it was CCS’s way of saying help this one mom, he needs you. He is almost completely deaf and so we are going to have to work on a hand signal system. He has the back issue which we will have to be readjusting meds throughout his life and possibly surgery (though I don’t like the odds of the surgery) and of course is just aging in general. He will also have some separation anxiety as he has been with his foster family since November. I’m figuring it will take about 6 months or so for him to be okay with everything. He will probably end up having his own blog so that other dog owners who have his condition can benefit from what we learn along the way. And since he does have so many health issues we are considering him our final refuge dog in a way (though we feel he has a few good years in him) and will eventually end up with two dogs.
As far as how we are doing with CCS’s death, surprisingly well. Part in fact that we cried a WHOLE bunch before her death. MDP ugly cried for the first time in his life the weekend before she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The fact that it wasn’t sudden we were able to prepare, though you are never fully prepared. And the way she went, I cannot say enough about the vet (Dr. Sara) that came to our home to euthanize CCS. It was loving and peaceful and she is an amazing woman. She also does acupuncture which we might look into for MSF down the road. Both MDP and I agree that doing that here at home has helped immensely in our healing. If you are local (north of Seattle) and have the unfortunate position of having to put your beloved fur-family down I cannot recommend Compassion 4 Paws enough.
I still tear up about twice a day, but the hard core bawling hasn’t happened since the day she actually passed. I thought for sure I would lose it when the vet brought her ashes back but mostly I was just glad to have a part of her “back”. MDP and I did cry and hold each other when we had a little ceremony when we put her on the mantle and read this poem:
I Loved You Best:
So this is where we part my friend,
And you’ll travel on around the bend,
Gone from sight but not from mind,
New pleasures there you’ll surely find.
I will go on, I’ll find the strength
Life measures quality not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
Share one last look before I grieve.
There are others, that much is true,
But they be they and they aren’t you,
And I fair, impartial, or so I thought,
Will remember well at all you’ve taught.
Your place I’ll hold you will be missed,
The fur I stroked the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
Take with you this… I loved you best.
By Jim Willis
Because we had such a positive in home experience I want other dog owners to have that option to euthanize at home. It’s not a cheap option and so MDP and I discussed it and I am going to write a E-book in which a percentage of the profits will be going towards a fund that we are going to set up (hopefully through Old Dog Haven…I’ll work on it when we raise some funds) in honor of CCS. And if we raise enough money perhaps the fund can including helping those who take in senior pets with health issues that arise and they cannot afford. I plan on working all summer on the book so that it can be out in time for fall baking season. I’m hoping you will support this project wholeheartedly because I will be putting my whole heart into it…CCS deserves nothing less.
Tiffany P. says
🙂
Gwyn says
He is adorable!!!! Congratulations!!
Peabody says
Thanks @Gwyn
erika says
Aww, I am soo happy for you! Thank you for taking on a senior rescue and one with minor health issues to boot. So often they are cast aside when they are just as loving and probably MORE appreciative (older and wiser, you know) than younger, healthy dogs. I tip my hat to you! Such kindness and generosity is seemingly harder and harder to come by these days. If you need contributions for you ebook I am happy to provide some of my concoctions to support such a worthy cause. Although, I will admit baking is not my forte, sometimes I get lucky! Best of luck to you and your new addition!
Oh, and because I just can’t help myself, GO RANGERS!!!
Peabody says
@erika- thank you! And I’m all for the Rangers…they have Rick Nash and he is my eye candy 😉
Victoria says
Hey Peabody, I’ve lurked at your blog for years and I love your site. Everytime CCS has come up, I tear up a little and my throat tightens up. That’s also the rare times I’ve usually delurked. Anyways, you and MDP are in my prayers and thoughts. My furbaby is asleep across the room but I think I’m going to go cuddle him anyways.
Peabody says
@Victoria- yes! Go and get all the snuggles you can!
Ann-Marie says
He needs you. You need him. What could be better than that? Wishing you a very happy anniversary, and many years of love and joy for all of you!
Peabody says
@Ann-Marie- we do indeed need each other
Angela says
congratulations on your anniversary and on you new addition. we have a cavalier who will be 8 this year and he is the bundle of love all cavs should be, currently asleep and snoring loudly. ❤️🐶 Enjoy MSF.
Peabody says
@Angela- mine totally snores as well…which he is doing right now. 🙂
Audra Blair says
Your new pal is adorable and I am thrilled to read that he will hold a forever place in your heart. sending all srts of support your way – some untangible and some tangible – but ready to throw actual cash in when the time comes.
Thank you for bringing awareness for old dogs – they, also, deserve loving homes.
Peabody says
@Audra- thanks for all the support you give me and this blog!
Donna @ What the Dog Ate says
He’s darling. Congrats!
Peabody says
@Donna-thanks!
Karen says
Congrats! He is an cutie.
Dyana says
I seemed to have gotten something in my eye…either that or it’s REALLY dusty in here. Hello MSF, you handsome devil. Amd what a wonderful idea for a fundraiser, I’ll definitely support it!
Sarah says
So happy for you all and loving your heart in all this–you are a treasure!
Diana says
Congratulations on the addition to your family! He is precious! Wishing the first of many happy anniversaries to you and MDP.
Judy says
Congratulations! What a lucky dog and a lucky family. I, too, adopted an older rescue dog (7) whose owner had died. That was just last August. It does take awhile to adjust, but we’re both doing fine and I’m lucky to have a loving, mature dog.
Morven says
The world needs more people like you guys. MSF’s appearance in your lives sounds like a movie plot – very serendipitous.
Kathy says
Reading this post made me smile for you. It is so obvious that you guys love dogs and this sounds like the absolute perfect dog for you! On another note, when I read the part about Chiari Malformation, my jaw about dropped since my daughter also suffers with Chiari and has had multiple surgeries over the years.
Wishing all of you such a happy life together.
Joy says
Ooh Peabody! I’m in tears! For what an amazing human you are. Opening your heart and home, writing books and the love you have ccs!
Bill says
You made a wonderful choice, Peabody. I love my girls. I lost Jessie on August 26, 2014..11 years 8 month sto the day of her birth. She had mitral valve disease (murmur). I cry every day. Your little poem set me off! LOL. I will copy that. It was the most difficult thing I ever did. Love him. They are wonderful. Thinking of getting another for Katie. She misses Jessie. The best thing you can do (if he is able) is to exercise him and help him to lose weight.
Tracey C. says
Thank you for sharing your stories, and about your new family member! I lost my second-eldest cat last year, and have just found out that my eldest has weeks left to live, at most. We are so broken-hearted that just about anything makes me cry, but this sure did and would have anyways. I love the fund you are starting; I was lucky enough to have an in-home vet (Lap of Love) come out for Malia’s last day with us. Sachi would rather have all of our attention without any other curious furry family members sticking their noses in – she’s always been people-focused rather than animal-focused.
We have two younger cats and currently two foster kittens, so the house will still have fuzzy love in it. It helps. Anyways, thank you for everything you do, and good luck with little smush nose.
Beth says
I’m so glad you rescued a senior dog, sounds like he’s rescuing you, too. I haven’t followed lately, but now I’ve signed up for emails, so I’ll be a stalker now, lol. I’m sorry to hear of CCS’s passing. It’s always so hard when it’s our furbabies. Enjoy MSF, he’s adorable!!!
MaryAnn says
Hi Peabody,
I was sooo excited to read about this in your blog today! 2 reasons: we are currently looking to adopt a new dog after ours passed away (after 17 years!) and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is at the top of the list. I went on the national web site and will be using their regional adoption section to (hopefully!) bring a new family member home. So thank you for that, I would otherwise not have known about this organization. Second, my husband and I are taking our first vacation to the PNW. Do you have any favorite restaurants to recommend? We are starting in Seattle and road tripping thru Washington & Oregon. Or maybe “not to miss” sights? Just thought I’d ask you since I see you are located there. Thanks!
Paulette says
Just look at those eyes, he is telling you how thankful he is that you have made him part of your family. I can see why you chose him. A very handsome face that makes your heart melt. I know he will make every day special for you and your family. Paulette
Valerie says
I just discovered your blog today, and had to start with this post when I saw the doggie adoption paper. What a beautiful story! Congratulations on MSF, he is absolutely adorable! I’m so sorry about CCS! It’s an amazing gift to be able to give our pups such a wonderful life! There aren’t enough doggie treats in the world to equal all the love that they give us in return. My mini aussie is my baby…don’t know what I’d do without my “stinker”.
Peabody says
Welcome to my blog Valerie! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I always appreciate comments.
Yes it was very hard to lose CCS but I will say having MSF does help.
Hug your furbaby as much as you can…their time on Earth is never long enough.
Dori says
My heart just aches to hear that CCS passed away. I’ve been reading your blog for several years now, and I always loved seeing posts with stories about her antics or photos of her big eyes looking out at the world. Such a cutie! Beautiful poem you posted-brought tears to my eyes as think about my own aging kitties at home. Hugs to you and your hubby during this tough time. And of course, congratulations on adopting a brand new family member, too! Mr. Squishy Face really has the most precious little face and I hope you all bring much joy to one anothers’ lives.
Peabody says
@Dori- thank you. It’s definitely been weird without her around, the world just doesn’t seem “right”. But our new guy certainly helps with the healing.