For those of you who opened up this blog today looking for bright shiny Mudgie love, just close it now... you aren't going to get it... today's blog is on the circle of life for our fur babies... I'm writing it now while I can, because when the time comes that I'd like to write it, I won't have it in me.Along with two kids and two cats, Bill inherited 3 dogs of various ages... Hana, Stella and Tootsie (aka nonobaddog)... I've had Hana for 15 years as a month ago today. She is, we believe, a mix of German Sheppard and Pitbull. I've googled the life expectancy of both... Sheppard's live usually up to 13 years... Pits, 15.
Hana (Hanaleigh Kamehameha) was adopted into my family on October 10, 2000. My ex and I had just returned from an anniversary trip to Hawaii (thus the name), our son was 16 months old, and I wanted a dog as I'd grown up with dogs and believe fur babies help make a house a home. We peeked in at our local SPCA and there she was... this little ball of fluff that looked just like my first dog and I couldn't walk away.
Hana has always been this stubborn bitch... When she was young she was so full of energy and barely controllable. We hired a doggie trainer to put her in her place. My ex, at one point, was done. He told me she was too much for us... I was pregnant with our daughter, and taking care of a toddler running at full speed. He found someone he thought would be good for Hana and told me to think about it. I cried for days when everyone was asleep in our house. I don't give up on pets. I fought him and won.
A year later we're moving to Georgia... we have Hana shipped after us... and we get a different temperament dog. I have jokingly laughed with people since saying "If you're dog wont behave quite right just ship them across the US. They'll kiss the ground around your feet for the rest of their lives..." Whatever it was, it was the beginning of her mature years... Didn't rid her of stubborn, but mellowed her. Stubborn was whatever was on the other side of our fence was hers... don't mind that shock collar, if she wanted it she would yelp through the pain then run after the creature that dared to torment her. Hana was the dog that went for LONG walks without us... Not like our Stella who ventures only in a radius around our house.
Hana is my ex husbands dog and my sons dog. She follows them faithfully. Each fur baby picks their human. Stella and Avery chose me... Lucy is Bills (and mine hehe)... Cleo is Katie's... and Tootsie just shares her love with everyone because everyone should love NONOBADDOG... lol. Anyway... CJ is amazing with Hana in her doddering older years. Two years ago Hana had a stroke that left her unable to walk with her head straight up. She lolls to the right... but she hasn't shown a decreased quality in life other than needing to walk against a wall to go downstairs...
The last two winters I was sure she wouldn't make it through the winter. She's been weak... but she'll show her alpha side if there's a steak and any of the other dogs are thinking they are sharing it. She doesn't come much to her name being called... but you open the refrigerator and she's in the kitchen. Selective hearing much?
A month ago we had two cysts removed off of her side and leg. I guess they removed another growth too that I was unaware of because we got the call last week that the growth was cancer. They were glad they got it all out. The last couple of days she's been favoring a back leg... near where the operation had been... That scar is healing... but I know the C word... and I'm guessing there's more there than we know... and I'm not willing to put her through any more operations at her age.
I've spent the days I've been home the last week giving her all the love I can.... she no longer wants her lifelong morning treat.... but if you put a bowl of meat in front of her you better not put your hand in front of her face... she will devour everything in her way... which, again shows me she's still fighting... She can't make it down the stairs anymore, so when she stubbornly goes up the stairs, Bill carries her down when she needs to go outside.I'm pretty positive she's got dementia... her bowels are weak and we're cleaning up daily... and yet she keeps showing me she's got life... but I'm looking at her and knowing that this winter really is the winter she's not going to make it through and it's tearing me apart... I know our family is going to have to make that tough decision sooner than later and I'm just waiting for the old girl to tell me "when"... You know it's coming when they lay down in the garden to enjoy the sun and you just wish God would take them right there and then, in a happy place.
I'm soo glad that I fought 13 years ago to keep her... she's been a great part of our family all these years.... My protector.. my family's loyal fur baby... My Hana.
