In the fall of 2000, we answered a newspaper ad and adopted a playful red hound from a terrific lady who had rescued her from the street. She gave her the name "Maui" and nursed her back to health from being infested with fire ants and mange. Maui just barely survived this ordeal, but she recovered completely. When we drove over to see her, we brought along our other dog, Penny, to see how they would get along. Penny got along fine with Maui and was obviously excited at the prospect of a new playmate.
We renamed Maui "Maggie" and soon learned that she was a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and still a puppy. She ultimately grew to be about 70 lbs.
Maggie and Penny became an inseparable team. Although Maggie became the Alpha dog, she loved to play with Penny. Both Penny and Maggie loved to play with my laser pointer and would furiously chase the red dot all over the living room or the back yard. Eventually, they both figured out where the bright red dot came from and where the laser pointer was stored. We always knew when Maggie wanted to play with the laser pointer because she would run into the room where it was kept hoping one of us would take the hint and go get it.
Maggie was a very sweet and loveable dog who loved to cuddle. She lived for the times when one of us would get on the floor and let her snuggle and love on us. She loved attention and would shamelessly lie on her back in front of the television in the hope that one of us would cave in and rub her tummy.
About a year ago, we became the blessed custodians of my daughter's dog, Oboe. Oboe was a Newfoundland Hound mix, very advanced in her years. She had never lived with another dog before and was initially defensive and uncomfortable around Penny and Maggie. Eventually, Oboe realized that Penny and Maggie were not a threat to her and she settled down, blending in as a member of our canine family. We now had three dogs living with us, Penny, Maggie and Oboe.
Oboe was almost 17 years old and Penny was 14. In September of 2010, we had to put Oboe down. Then, the end of November, we had to put Penny down. Maggie was never the same after that. Maggie seemed lost after Penny left us. She would look for Penny, particularly when it was time to eat. She would walk over to where Penny's food dish was, looking for Penny. This was the first time in Maggie's life that she had been alone.
The end of January, Maggie became short of breath and we took her to the vet. X-rays revealed several massive, inoperable tumors in her chest cavity that had grown to the point that they impacted her ability to breath. There was nothing we could do, except take her home and give her all the love we could give her during the time she had left. We got on the floor and snuggled with her and let her know how much she was loved.
Eventually, Maggie became very uncomfortable and her breathing became even more labored and energy-draining. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but knowing that surgical intervention was not an option, we ended Maggie's suffering before her condition became so acute that she was unable to breathe at all.
Maggie, Penny and Oboe were all at similar stages in their lives, but losing them all in such a short period is almost more than we can bear. Our only comfort is that Maggie is now reunited with her playmates, Penny and Oboe. We love you, Maggie!
We renamed Maui "Maggie" and soon learned that she was a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and still a puppy. She ultimately grew to be about 70 lbs.
Maggie and Penny became an inseparable team. Although Maggie became the Alpha dog, she loved to play with Penny. Both Penny and Maggie loved to play with my laser pointer and would furiously chase the red dot all over the living room or the back yard. Eventually, they both figured out where the bright red dot came from and where the laser pointer was stored. We always knew when Maggie wanted to play with the laser pointer because she would run into the room where it was kept hoping one of us would take the hint and go get it.
Maggie was a very sweet and loveable dog who loved to cuddle. She lived for the times when one of us would get on the floor and let her snuggle and love on us. She loved attention and would shamelessly lie on her back in front of the television in the hope that one of us would cave in and rub her tummy.
About a year ago, we became the blessed custodians of my daughter's dog, Oboe. Oboe was a Newfoundland Hound mix, very advanced in her years. She had never lived with another dog before and was initially defensive and uncomfortable around Penny and Maggie. Eventually, Oboe realized that Penny and Maggie were not a threat to her and she settled down, blending in as a member of our canine family. We now had three dogs living with us, Penny, Maggie and Oboe.
Oboe was almost 17 years old and Penny was 14. In September of 2010, we had to put Oboe down. Then, the end of November, we had to put Penny down. Maggie was never the same after that. Maggie seemed lost after Penny left us. She would look for Penny, particularly when it was time to eat. She would walk over to where Penny's food dish was, looking for Penny. This was the first time in Maggie's life that she had been alone.
The end of January, Maggie became short of breath and we took her to the vet. X-rays revealed several massive, inoperable tumors in her chest cavity that had grown to the point that they impacted her ability to breath. There was nothing we could do, except take her home and give her all the love we could give her during the time she had left. We got on the floor and snuggled with her and let her know how much she was loved.
Eventually, Maggie became very uncomfortable and her breathing became even more labored and energy-draining. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but knowing that surgical intervention was not an option, we ended Maggie's suffering before her condition became so acute that she was unable to breathe at all.
Maggie, Penny and Oboe were all at similar stages in their lives, but losing them all in such a short period is almost more than we can bear. Our only comfort is that Maggie is now reunited with her playmates, Penny and Oboe. We love you, Maggie!
In the fall of 2000, we answered a newspaper ad and adopted a playful red hound from a terrific lady who had rescued her from the street. She gave her the name "Maui" and nursed her back to health from being infested with fire ants and mange. Maui just barely survived this ordeal, but she recovered completely. When we drove over to see her, we brought along our other dog, Penny, to see how they would get along. Penny got along fine with Maui and was obviously excited at the prospect of a new playmate.
We renamed Maui "Maggie" and soon learned that she was a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and still a puppy. She ultimately grew to be about 70 lbs.
Maggie and Penny became an inseparable team. Although Maggie became the Alpha dog, she loved to play with Penny. Both Penny and Maggie loved to play with my laser pointer and would furiously chase the red dot all over the living room or the back yard. Eventually, they both figured out where the bright red dot came from and where the laser pointer was stored. We always knew when Maggie wanted to play with the laser pointer because she would run into the room where it was kept hoping one of us would take the hint and go get it.
Maggie was a very sweet and loveable dog who loved to cuddle. She lived for the times when one of us would get on the floor and let her snuggle and love on us. She loved attention and would shamelessly lie on her back in front of the television in the hope that one of us would cave in and rub her tummy.
About a year ago, we became the blessed custodians of my daughter's dog, Oboe. Oboe was a Newfoundland Hound mix, very advanced in her years. She had never lived with another dog before and was initially defensive and uncomfortable around Penny and Maggie. Eventually, Oboe realized that Penny and Maggie were not a threat to her and she settled down, blending in as a member of our canine family. We now had three dogs living with us, Penny, Maggie and Oboe.
Oboe was almost 17 years old and Penny was 14. In September of 2010, we had to put Oboe down. Then, the end of November, we had to put Penny down. Maggie was never the same after that. Maggie seemed lost after Penny left us. She would look for Penny, particularly when it was time to eat. She would walk over to where Penny's food dish was, looking for Penny. This was the first time in Maggie's life that she had been alone.
The end of January, Maggie became short of breath and we took her to the vet. X-rays revealed several massive, inoperable tumors in her chest cavity that had grown to the point that they impacted her ability to breath. There was nothing we could do, except take her home and give her all the love we could give her during the time she had left. We got on the floor and snuggled with her and let her know how much she was loved.
Eventually, Maggie became very uncomfortable and her breathing became even more labored and energy-draining. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but knowing that surgical intervention was not an option, we ended Maggie's suffering before her condition became so acute that she was unable to breathe at all.
Maggie, Penny and Oboe were all at similar stages in their lives, but losing them all in such a short period is almost more than we can bear. Our only comfort is that Maggie is now reunited with her playmates, Penny and Oboe. We love you, Maggie!
We renamed Maui "Maggie" and soon learned that she was a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and still a puppy. She ultimately grew to be about 70 lbs.
Maggie and Penny became an inseparable team. Although Maggie became the Alpha dog, she loved to play with Penny. Both Penny and Maggie loved to play with my laser pointer and would furiously chase the red dot all over the living room or the back yard. Eventually, they both figured out where the bright red dot came from and where the laser pointer was stored. We always knew when Maggie wanted to play with the laser pointer because she would run into the room where it was kept hoping one of us would take the hint and go get it.
Maggie was a very sweet and loveable dog who loved to cuddle. She lived for the times when one of us would get on the floor and let her snuggle and love on us. She loved attention and would shamelessly lie on her back in front of the television in the hope that one of us would cave in and rub her tummy.
About a year ago, we became the blessed custodians of my daughter's dog, Oboe. Oboe was a Newfoundland Hound mix, very advanced in her years. She had never lived with another dog before and was initially defensive and uncomfortable around Penny and Maggie. Eventually, Oboe realized that Penny and Maggie were not a threat to her and she settled down, blending in as a member of our canine family. We now had three dogs living with us, Penny, Maggie and Oboe.
Oboe was almost 17 years old and Penny was 14. In September of 2010, we had to put Oboe down. Then, the end of November, we had to put Penny down. Maggie was never the same after that. Maggie seemed lost after Penny left us. She would look for Penny, particularly when it was time to eat. She would walk over to where Penny's food dish was, looking for Penny. This was the first time in Maggie's life that she had been alone.
The end of January, Maggie became short of breath and we took her to the vet. X-rays revealed several massive, inoperable tumors in her chest cavity that had grown to the point that they impacted her ability to breath. There was nothing we could do, except take her home and give her all the love we could give her during the time she had left. We got on the floor and snuggled with her and let her know how much she was loved.
Eventually, Maggie became very uncomfortable and her breathing became even more labored and energy-draining. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but knowing that surgical intervention was not an option, we ended Maggie's suffering before her condition became so acute that she was unable to breathe at all.
Maggie, Penny and Oboe were all at similar stages in their lives, but losing them all in such a short period is almost more than we can bear. Our only comfort is that Maggie is now reunited with her playmates, Penny and Oboe. We love you, Maggie!
