Jasmine

Happy 13th Birthday Sham Can't believe it's your birthday again tomorrow, where has the time gone? We've got a nice little party lined up for tea time tomorrow and look what Dad came home with today. My sister-in-law and brother have a cake shop in Warrington doing speciality cakes (weddings etc etc) and OH rang to see if my SIL would make something for Sham. I'm not advertising as they are always booked up months ahead. But she made this little cake for Sham and I think it's fab, she even sent us candles to put on it so will take more pics when it's time for her to blow them out. Sham has already had a sniff in the box. Have a lovely day sweetheart, we love you lots and lots. [ Pics and vid not brill in the electric light, here's the little vid too (you'll be sick of this cake without eating any). PS: Holiday pics coming soon

I know I don't post much but Mum has been so busy with Rosie's problems and our newish arrival (who's still finding her paws) that she's not had as much time to do my bidding (she usually does everything I tell her). I know she worries about me too as she says to Dad that I'm slowing down and keep tripping over my own legs. Mind you when we have our teatime walk I always manage to run home as I know mum has our tea on. But as Rosie still isn't right (she won't get any worse but won't get any better either) and I'm reaching the grand age of 13 this month we're off on another holiday to Scotland. We usually have one in September and one in March but we missed our March one this year due to mum being ill and then Rosie and of course we didn't know what was happening with Lindy. So we're off here on Saturday, http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/prop...ttage-a403.html ohhhhhhhhh can't wait, they've been this area before but I haven't. I've been North, West, East and now I'm going Central. We're going to have gentle walks this time with my age (think it's mum's age really) and Rosie's leg. It will be Lindy's first ever holiday so I'm not the newby anymore and will be able to give her some tips on how to enjoy herself. Here's a pic of me so you don't forget what I look like while I'm away. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8242...mp;id=705238739

Way to go Ollie

I had a call from my vets Monday evening regarding a 8 year old Staffie the RSPCA had brought in. They'd had the dog since Feb and when examined he had a lot of phlegm on his chest and a very slight heart murmur. The vet said after the treatment for the phlegm etc he may not need medication for the murmur but he'd know more after the 2 week treatment. They left him there to be PTS, they were at their wits end and tried a Staffie rescue who were full but said they'd help with vets fees. I was there last call, as I'd taken Zak in for microchipping for RDR and they knew Sham had come from Oldies they thought they could only ask if I knew anyone. I racked my brains while cooking tea as he only had overnight, then I remembered a lady I met through delivering and had kept in touch with sporadically and met a few times socially. I checked to see if I still had her number and I did. She's always rescued Staffies with a small local rescue. She got in touch with her friend from the rescue and after much phoning back and forth between me, her, the vets she took him on. My friend picked him up the following morning and said he was a beautiful lad, loved other dogs, cats, children the lot. My friend paid the vet bill and they had a foster home lined up. The Rescue got in touch with the RSPCA to check where he'd come from etc etc etc. Anyway it's now Friday and he's already in a new home, a older couple who have a big property and are well off were looking for a older dog to add to the two they have and fell in love with him despite his health problems. Apparently he's the daftest, softest big lump you could ever meet. I'm just so happy that there is a Happy Ending for once, I went the vets tonight with Rosie and Lindy and he said he just couldn't bring himself to put him to sleep without trying, what a great vet. Have a lovely life big boy and make sure you live it to the full.

So sorry Run free Dougal

So sorry Donna Run free Cassie

Love those pics, he's so laid back is Brian The piddling on the bunny made me laugh so much.

So sorry to hear this sad news Cindy:( Run free Snatch

Thinking of you all Donna Get well soon Cassie

Lindy's mum died today, she was nearly 91 years old. I had looked after Lindy for her for 2 years as her family do not like dogs of any kind. She passed away in a nursing home with just the carer by her side. She adored Lindy more than anything and I took her to see her a couple of times at the home. It's so sad, she'd been suffering since January and is now at peace. I lit some candles and got on the floor with Lindy and hugged her with tears streaming down my eyes, the little love gently licked them away and snuggled into me. We then went for a lovely evening stroll just the two of us (OH took the other 4 later) and I spoke to her and said how much her mum loved her and will be watching over her and also that we love her too. Then I said "Should we go home for a biscuit" and she wagged her tail and got a spring in her step. Rest In Peace Win, you were one very special lady and we will miss you so much.

Thanks all She went back the vets still lethargic yesterday, her temp was okay and her gums etc etc. They said not to worry about her not eating till at least Thursday. Ate a little last night and still lethargic today, then around teatime she picked up a little and ate her tea. She's spent every day since the op upstairs on her bed even though she struggles to get up and down and she has a bed downstairs. Anyway things are looking a bit better now thank goodness, it's just the fact that Rosie has always come round fairly quickly after her ops and I expected the same but every dog is different so I'm told and Ruby has just taken longer than most. Thanks for you kind words, I was worried there for a while as she had never had anything wrong with her and with her being so fit and active I thought she'd bounce back quickly, shows how much I know. She did have a slight internal bleed and I think that's what worried me most.

Ruby was still down on Saturday morning, the vets rang to see how she was and if we were still bringing her in and I said yes. Then within the next hour she perked up and eaten two bits of food from my fingers (with Sham and Rosie either side trying to pinch it) and seemed brighter. I rang back and told them and we decided to see how she went and take her in if needed. The vets rang again and asked how she was doing as it was lunchtime and they were going home. They said to take her to their out of hours vets if we thought she wasn't right. She ate some more later and even ate her tea and had two short walks. She still wasn't her usual self but a lot better than she had been. Everything fine then later this afternoon she wouldn't eat again and went back down, she's been lay upstairs all evening. We managed to get her down and have a little toot on the heath at the front for a wee wee and then she's gone straight back to bed. We're booked in for a checkup in the morning so will see how it goes from there. Thought she'd be a lot better by now but you watch she'll perk up again when it's time to go to the vets. But, it's checkup time anyway so she won't be getting out of it.

Rosie's mouth opening hadn't improved but he said that they think it's reached the final stage and won't go any worse. We've to take her off the steroids, keep giving her physio and just keep monitoring it every few weeks and occasional blood tests to check her levels. So we're slowly weaning her off the steroids and she goes back in two weeks. I feel like I'm living at the vets at the moment. Got to say that Rosie actually stood up for herself for a change (never seen her do it before). She grabbed a doll's hat to greet me and Sham pinched it (as usual), Rosie turned round and snapped (only a little snap with her poorly mouth) and barked at her, I think Sham was that shocked she dropped it and sloped off.

1st Rosie now Ruby Found a lump on her nipple last week, hard and horrible. She had it removed yesterday and came home teatime. She cried all night, drank loads of water and threw it back up and wouldn't eat anything. Still not right this morning so I rang the vets and took her back in this afternoon. He said her bloods were okay (he rang us later with results), her gums were okay etc etc. There was a small amount of blood where there shouldn't of been (OH took her and I never get the full story). He gave her some Hills prescription food which she won't eat (don't blame her, yuk) and said to take her back in the morning while he looks at her again Anyway she's still lay in the same place, still not eaten or had a drink. She does keep wagging her tail furiously when you say "I luv my Wooby Doobs" And she actually got up when her dad came home. It's just not our Ruby at the moment who's usually mad as a hatter and so full of fun and life. He said she might need another op if this blood thing is any worse. I'm going to take her tomorrow then I'll know exactly what's been said. Get well soon Ruby Doob, we luvs ya PS: My kettle broke, my phone broke, my monitor broke, I broke my glasses and two workmen failed to turn up to do jobs this week, what else is going to go wrong I ask myself.

Happy Gotcha Day Ollie Wow, I can't believe it's a year. The pics are fab by the way, he is adorable.

As some of you know Rosie was limping badly a few months ago. She's had so many problems during her 9 years (ear operation, skin allergies, hyperthyroidism, anal gland removal, etc etc) and here was another. We suspected cruciate ligament probs and that was the case, it was only 5 months since her ear op and in the meantime we'd changed vets. We'd noticed she dropped treats but never gave it a thought and gave her smaller ones. When the vet went to x-ray her leg he found he couldn't open her mouth wide enough for the tube and had to use a mask. Anyway after a blood test sent to America and two biopsies and much research on mine and the vets part she has MASTICATORY MUSCLE MYOSITIS. She couldn't have the op on her leg as they needed a tube to go down as it's a long operation. Thankfully that seems to of stabilised, she still limps slightly but is much better on it. She was put on steroids for the Myositis and our vet spoke to a muscle specialist in Edinburgh who recommended two different blood tests which we did. We were told to give her physio with plenty of pigs ears or anything large that she needed to use her jaws to eat (can't give one without the other so it's been costing me a bloody fortune ) So we have done that now for 3 weeks, dropped her steroids by half and she is going back to the vets tomorrow to have her mouth opening measured again (it was opening a extra 1cm last time). And she's put weight on but is still boney round the skull. This it why I was upset when she was attacked, she's the softest thing but couldn't of bitten back if she'd wanted to and couldn't run away because of her leg. Although this is a rare condition our vet who'd never seen it had another dog in a few weeks after with the same thing. Only this one was further advanced, if it hadn't been for Rosie's leg we wouldn't of known till it had progressed further. So, just be aware and check your dogs now and again, I didn't know there was such a illness. Rosie is eating like a horse, very happy in herself and has started bouncing around a lot lately. So much for one of my neighbours saying it would be best to put her to sleep. I think I'd know when that time was upon us without being told by somebody who hardly knows her.

I knowww, but the little purple elephant has only one ear hung up. When I went to hoover and fluff their beds up later I found another lot in a corner of the living room. I never realised she had THAT many cuddlies. Rosie brought one out to greet me the other day and Sham flew out the house and snatched it out of her gob. Poor Rosie never has a smell in, what with Ruby with her balls and Sham with her cuddlies. Think it might be about time I formally introduced my new Oldie as well.

Sham has patrolled the garden all day ................................................................................ .

Looks like a fab time was had by all, brill piccies. So wanted Sham to go so she could meet all the other oldies, never mind, maybe next time although a year is a bit far away. Showed her the piccies and she sloped off sulking onto her bed.

I absolutely loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it, I remember Virginia Wade winning it in 1977 (oops, showing my age now). I never miss it and have 3 tv's on round the house and that's all we watch for a fortnight. We went to the 1st Liverpool event and watched Safin, it was great, must go again. Tonights match was brill, I wasn't keen on Murray but I'm warming to him a bit this year, and you can't fault his determination. I'm that sad I get depressed when it's finished and then have to wait for the US Open and sit up late. Can't stand cricket, football, rugby, golf, darts although I do like athletics and swimming.

One of my saviours today after nearly 3 years. She was so lovely I had to leave my mark on her so I slobbered all over her trousers. Funny thing is I only usually do that to mum and dad but I just couldn't resist cosying in to her leg and leaving her a memento. So thank you for helping me Michelle, mum told me I was going to meet a special person today and she was right, you are lubberly. PS: Everyone else was lovely too, I particularly liked Henry mainly because someone was more vocal than me for a change. And Rosie (not our Rosie) kept giving me lovely wafts with her tail, cooled me right down that did.

2 CSO's came round tonight, had a chat and said it was a neighbour dispute. He's not even a neighbour, he does live round the corner but that's not a neighbour. I told him what the police said when I called. He asked if I thought it was a dangerous dog, I replied it was dog aggressive but it is the owner that is dangerous. Anyway the crux is they went round to have a word with him and said if any other incidents to call and it will be dealt with by a proper police officer. Lets hope that's the end of the matter, although knowing him somehow I doubt it. And, as for blaming Ruby all the time I think enough people saw today that no way is she dog aggressive.

Not updated on Sham for a while with so much going on here, she's still thriving (13 in September), happy and a little madam sometimes. Got to say though she has us keeling over with laughter most of the time and we love her to bits, she should of been on the stage that girl. Oh and two nights running I've been distracted and she's pinched Lindy's tea. Here's a couple of pics. Up the wood on Tuesday I know there's food about There it is, nice doorsteps. Come on Dad, get my tea done, can't you see I'm starving. About time too Now don't be rowdy I need my sleep.

Awwwwwwwwww she's gorgeous Doesn't look her age my 9 year old has more grey than that.

Look forward to the pics Donna