New Year’s Eve? Spent cleaning up messes made by Riley. In his defense, he had been given a little tranquilizer in the morning in order to get his nails cut. (If we don’t he will try to bite the technician.) For some reason, he had an extreme reaction to the meds and he was out of it for about 2 days. He was so bad that we had to lift him and help him walk. It got a bit scary. He’s had this medicine before, but clearly he has developed a reaction to it over time. Obviously, we won’t be using it again. Yesterday found me in tears, thinking I had harmed him in some way, even though I knew his nails had to get cut because he was slipping on our wood floors and that could be dangerous for a boy with bad hips. Thankfully, by last night he was almost back to normal.
When you adopt a dog who has been neglected and abused, there are just certain things you have to accept. In Riley’s case: no pulling on his collar, or cutting his nails, no approaching from the rear and taking him by surprise, only a certain amount of brushing, nothing to do with his ears or the area around his ears. Over the years, he has come such a long way. He didn’t know how to play or ask for affection when we got him. He is such a loving boy now. I took advantage of his incapacitation to brush his heavy coat:
Yep, that’s a lot of hair. He has a heavy undercoat.
I drove the 2 hour round trip to the Apple Store yesterday to pick up my laptop. All is well. I thought as much, but wanted to be sure. No charge. Thank you, Apple. Being without my laptop for 4 days was not fun. I did accomplish a lot in its absence. Don and I completely rearranged the office/guest bedroom/studio and it looks so much better! Since Don is the one using it 99% of the time, it needed to become his space. Now it is a studio that also has a wonderful bed for house guests. Since I spent so much time creating my little studio space, I figured it was time we did something with his.
I also read and crocheted a lot. Today, we take down the decorations. I’ll leave you with this shot of Scout, who has been feeling rather ignored the last few days:
I’ll give her some extra cuddles today.
I’m so glad everything worked out. That must of been scary for you.
Hugs, Liz
Riley looks lovely and I am sure he feels better with his nails cut and his fur brushed. Scouttie looks very put out and I am sure you will be making up to her for weeks.
Love and miss you,
Mere
I really enjoy your blog and the love you have for your animals. Bless you for taking such good care of them, they are so lucky to have you as their momma.
Riley is very handsome!!!
That must have been VERY scary for you. Is there a different medication that he will be able to use?
Happy New Year!
Suzann
Oh poor Riley! We too have a rescued dog that requires special attention at times. Riley is so lucky to have such loving parents:)
Happy New Year Claudia!
How frightening! Poor thing. Glad Riley is better. Have a great day.
Such an ordeal for Riley and for you! I hope you both have a nice, restful day today. Happy New Year, Claudia!
Claudia, I’m glad you got your computer back and that Riley has recovered from his reaction to the medicine. That can be a scary experience. Now, I think I need to pretend my computer is broken and get some things done around here now that the crowds and excitement have gone! Happy New Year! Ann
HI CLAUDIA,
HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND DON. SORRY ABOUT RILEY, BUT I AM SO GLAD HE IS FEELING BETTER.
I HEARD WE MIGHT HAVE MORE SNOW THIS WEEKEND, I HOPE NOT.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
RIZZI
Yep, Apple is the absolute best when it comes to customer service!
Poor little poochies, but they DO have someone to love them now.
xoxo,
Connie
How frightening! Glad Riley is feeling better. There will be other New Year evenings and reasons to celebrate. Our little furry friends come first. Love seeing the sunlight streaming through your photographs. May it shine brightly and warmly on you all year!
Claudia, I am so glad that all is well with both dogs. You brushed enough extra hair from Riley to either knit a sweater or build another dog!!! Happy New Year to you all!
It makes me sad that Riley was so abused, but happy he wound up in your loving home. Love the picture of Scout (: We are dogless, so I enjoy your doggie posts. Blessings for a great 2011.
Riley and Scout are so lucky to have you as their guardians.
I know all too well the issues that come with rescues and I know how you were feeling! I did a lot of holistic type remedies for Kodak and one time when I gave him a detoxifier mix he got so lethargic and I got so scared. Vet said I gave him a wee bit too much.
Your babies are so sweet and so loved. Give them tummy rubs from me!
xxoo
Marsha
hi claudia,
you are such a patient pet owner. i so applaud you. also, i wish someone would take my computer for 4 days so i can see just what i’d do w/o it. it has become another appendage for me and that’s just wrong. arghhh. how can i love something so much and hate it too?
xo
janet
Don’t you wish we could just tell our animal friends it’s going to be okay? Or that they could tell us what’s wrong? It sounds like Riley has finally found a loving family with you & Don. :-) Happy New Year!
He gives me such hope for Emily! The fact that you brought him around as much as you have. Your poor baby, he does the best he can.
Brenda
Poor Riley. I am so glad that you are his Mama now and he will never be mistreated again. Glad he’s doing better. When our babies don’t feel well it’s so worrisome.
Glad you are giving extra hugs to your other sweet baby.
hugs
Sissie
I’m sure that was scary! The pile of fur reminds me of when I used to brush our cat, Vanilla. For a little bitty gal, she sure did shed a lot!!!
Back to Riley – what a lucky, lucky do he is to have such loving parents, now!
You’ve been busy!
Happy 2011
Oh Claudia, I would have been frightened out of my mind. I am so glad Riley slept it off. Makes me wonder about the half life of that drug though.
Poor Riley, and poor you……at least he is better now. That can be so scary, because you just don’t know how they react to medicine…..poor puppy!!!!
Good for Scout, hanging in there for some love!!!
Hugs,
Margaret B
Dear Claudia, wishing you and family much blessings and happiness for 2011, and may it brings much love into your lives.
hugs
maria cecilia
Hi Claudia:
Kes has a hard time getting out from under tranquilizers now, too. Age, I guess. She wasn’t herself for about a week after The Stone incident!
I hope you have a wonderful week. I have a few projects I’m working on – with a little something special on its way to you, too.
Hugs from Florida,
Donna
They’re so sweet, dear Claudia, and so fortunate to live with you!
Hugs and Happy New Year! Thanks for being there!
Monica xo.
Such a good soul to have given Riley a loving home – so often dogs with issues from their past don’t have sucha lucky outcome.
Love love love the grey scarf your sister made for you in the next post too…gorgeous.
Your Dogs are adorable. My Dog Max was adopted from a shelter and he too has some quirks that I feel have to do with where they found him. They teach us alot about patience and acceptance don’t they? Blessings, Joanne
Oh I love your fur babies…I have three fur babies, Jack (lab & border collie mix), Fergie (Min Pin), and Cocoa (shitzhue). They are all loved very much. I hope your baby is doing better. They are so much a part of our families.
Love,Debbie
Oh poor Riley and poor you! We have to medicate Maxie on New Year’s Eve since the fireworks make him a nervous reck – he shakes with fear. He’s also a rescue and any loud noise frightens him among a host of other things! But we love him and all his little strange ways!
Manuela
They are so lovely and you are such good parents to them! Always thankful there are people like you to rescue and love the forgotten and mistreated animals.
Blessings, Mary