Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Survivor and Sweet 16

Our dog Claire is a survivor! She almost died the week of Melinda and Landan's wedding. She had "issues" during our drive south i January. Now, she has survived being boarded while we were back home for Michael's procedure.

While we were away we considered that as far as Claire was concerned, "No news was good news." We were in very late from our trip back and had not had our full complement of sleep. When the alarm went off this morning we groggily pulled ourselves out of bed. Me to go to water aerobics, Michael to help the groomer at the boarding kennel groom Claire before bringing her home.

Michael reported that she did fine while were were gone. It was fortunate for Claire and the groomer that we'd already arranged for Michael to help. After the fiasco in December when we tried to get her groomed, we knew that it probably couldn't be accomplished without another set of hands.

I heard the garage door go up and the Yukon drive in. Michael, with a few scratches and covered in hair, and Claire, now covered in very little hair, were home. Michael indicated that it had indeed been difficult for all concerned, but clothes can be washed and scratches heal. Claire's wardrobe has expanded. She's now sporting a plaid bandana and looks like she's lost 5 pounds (or more of fur/hair).

We've now had her for 15 years. When we adopted her on February 11, 1995 the vet said that she was a young adult, a year old. So that means she's now Sweet 16. Her health, for now, seems stable. She's mostly deaf and mostly blind, but she doesn't seem to be in any pain. She gets around fairly well too. Some of her other issues can be attributed to canine senility. I won't say she's a shadow of her former self, because there are occasional flashes where we see "Claire," but she's an elderly dog. I hope when it's her time to go that she can just go to sleep.

She's a good dog,

NS

2 comments:

Laura-Lu said...

I'm glad to hear Claire is doing well. We even made a point to pray for her while she was alone. We're also very glad to hear that dad's procedure went well.

It was a pleasure visiting you last week and thanks again for letting us stay in your absence on our way home!

Mom and Sarah said...

Claire really is a survivor. We had to let Oreo go last year and it was so hard. She had been blind for at least 2 years and was in a lot of pain and sleeping 95% of the day and then couldn't make it to the outside to go potty. So hard. I wish she had just gone by herself, too, but it was a decision we had to make. But we LOVED her for her 13 1/2 years. They have a way of working right into your heart. She survived way too many kennel visits, too! So nice to have one that takes such good care of her.
Miss you! Lisa B.