Three of the babies have left in the past week, and I’ve been able to shrink the puppy’s apartment a little. This has been quite a trying week, some hard decisions to be made, and thankfully some averted. There have been some major losses, and some averted.
Saturday started out with taking the remaining Olympic puppies to the vet for their second shots. Later in the day Hunter gave me a tremendous scare. Seventeen years ago I lost my very first dog Blaze to liver failure. In the days before she trembled uncontrollably, and just laid around. So late Saturday afternoon , when Hunter was moaning and trembling, I contacted the emergency clinic, because I was afraid it was his time. When the vet called me back, he decided to get up walk into the kitchen and eat. The vet suggested waiting until Monday for a blood test
Monday morning was a sad time for me. I made a very hard decision, and I hope that I made the right one. I had intended to keep Savannah (Cookie) here with me and raise her with Cara. However, as John Lennon says, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”
With great regret I decided to let Savannah accompany Baron to his new home in Texas. This was not a decision I’ve made easily. I have two puppies here from LAST YEAR (Dash and Shadow) who have yet to finish their championships due to a lack of competition. I could have kept her here, but she would have just sat around like them, not reaching her potential, and she is such a pretty puppy she has the potential to do great things, but I know she won’t do them with me. 
So she is going to be co-owned by Baron’s owner (who prefers to announce this when she is ready), and will start a U.S. career first.
Afterwards Hunter had his bloodwork done. I cried throughout, being scared of what they would find – and he is perfectly healthy. She explained that the tremors are a neurological issue that develops with old age. His white level counts are slightly elevated and he is on an antibiotic, but the real problem is his back. He hurts (most likely as a result of falling down the stairs when the gate was left open), so he was put on Tramadol and she recommended he see a veterinary chiropractor. The next appointment with the chiropractor associated with the clinic wasn’t available until November 2nd,, but unbelievably there is one in Minden!!
Tuesday night, Hunter had his first appointment. By the end of the treatment, he was actually wagging his tail!!! Wednesday he was a little ouchy again, but by Thursday, he was getting up and walking around, and actually climbed the stairs to come inside again by himself without me having to carry him.
Wednesday was the 4th anniversary of Chris’ death. It was also the 5th birthday of Carolyn’s “Freedom” litter, including Libby. Poor Libby has gotten the short shrift for her birthday as a result. This year, the dog world lost a great dog man, breeder-judge Paul Hudson, who happens to be the brother of Baloo’s new mother, Collen. Paul has had a rough few years since breaking his back as a result of a fall from fixing a roof, and had been in a coma for the past month. Now he is free from his chair, and can run with his dogs once again.
Friday we lost another great dog person, Fanny Edwards, of Markwell Labradors and previously Cardigan Corgis. Fanny owned Peter, the dog who sired my first litter, and Matthew who fathered my second. Without her help, and helping me to select the puppies I kept, there would not be all of the dogs in my house today.
Today, there was another departure, but this one is a happy one.
Zeus has found his family. Welcome to the Yasashiikuma family Tatyana, Eduardo and Alexander and enjoy your new little family member. Those in the Toronto area will get to meet them at shows in the near future, and hopefully we can give some guidance and encouragement to the newest novice and junior handlers in our family 
