As I sit here this Sunday morning, like I have done so many Sunday mornings before, sitting on the bed surrounded by my girls, it is easy to notice that someone is missing. It has been 11 days since Imke left us. While some days it doesn't seem long at all, other times it feels much longer. Overall, we are doing well, but what a whirlwind of life and emotions have happened in those 11 days.
I have been overwhelmed by the love and good thoughts I have received on her loss. I am thankful for everyone who took the time to comment on my Facebook and Instagram posts, to text, email, and to reach out in person; to those who sent cards with beautiful words and to all of those who gave me hugs; and for the beautiful gifts I have received. It has been so helpful to know that I wasn't alone in mourning my loss and that she has left an impact on so many others.
Of all of us who loved Imke, poor Maddie has taken the loss hardest. So hard, in fact, that she ended up at the Veterinarian the very next day. She had me so worried that morning when she woke up, unsteady on her feet, unable to walk well, wobbly, stumbling, and falling over. She was barely able to stand at her food dish and wanted nothing to do with her normal kibble. I was thankful that I still had some rice, pork, and veggie mixture that I had made for Imke and that Maddie was willing to eat it. It was a very long hour and a half waiting for our vet office to open so that she could be seen. All I could think was how I couldn't bare to lose her too.
We arrived at the vet that morning and everyone there was so wonderful. They all knew I had just lost Imke and I received so much love from them for that loss, but they also took excellent care of Maddie who was a bit nervous to be there. After triaging her and running some tests, we were called back to be seen by one of the veterinarians. Thankfully they could find nothing physically wrong with her, instead, I was told this was all just a reaction to the loss of her friend. How sad I was to know that she was so grief-stricken by her loss. I had never stopped to think that in the nearly 8 and 1/2 years Maddie has been in our lives, she had spent nearly every day, 24 hours a day, with Imke, She spent more time with her than anyone else during those years and of course that loss would hit her hard.
She was prescribed some anti-anxiety medication and I promised her some one on one time with me for the day. We visited a friend for lunch, ran some errands, and then took a nice walk in the woods. While I still had to bribe her with rice and pork for dinner that night, thankfully she started to act a bit more normally. She still hasn't fully recovered-there are days that she still doesn't want to eat her food, but I am doing my best to give her lots of love, attention, and time to heal.
For the most part, Peaches seems to be okay with the loss. She has definitely been ready to give love to me and to Maddie when we need it, but her happy, crazy personality still shines strong every day. There are some areas that I notice she realizes that someone is missing, but in general she has been just what I needed. I now know why she ended up in my home this year...and she is right where she belongs.
For several days after Imke's passing, no one would sit in the chair where she had passed. Maddie, Imke, Bentley...me. They would walk up and sniff the chair, but no one would climb in. Bentley was the first to get over the hump and resume sitting there. Over the last few days, Maddie has also been found lounging in the chair. I mainly find her there when I come home after work...as if she is lying there to be closer to Imke while I'm gone. As soon as I am home, though, she sits with me on the couch. Peaches loves that chair and previously that is where she would spend most of her evenings while we watched t.v., but since Imke died, she refuses to sit in it still. Last night, with the couch full, she continued to pace back and forth looking for somewhere to lie down. I tried to guide her to the chair, she walked up and sniffed it, and then turned and walked away. I know that there has to be a reason that she still hasn't climbed up there and I will not force her. But it is pathetic to watch her pace, trying to find a place to relax. Generally she's been in my lap or very near to me...always having to touch me before she can rest for the night.
In addition to Imke's loss, my grandfather passed away earlier this week. He was 90 (he would have turned 91 in February) and lived a good long life. He's had a difficult year since my grandma passed last December and he is now reunited with her. We should all be so lucky as he was to live such a good life.
Travel to my grandpa's funeral offered me the perfect opportunity to help with a German Shorthaired Pointer in need. I would be driving right by the shelter she was located in so I volunteered to pull her on my way home and keep her as a temporary foster in my home until a transport could be arranged to a more permanent foster home or forever home. In an effort to help the girls recover, I thought that maybe getting back to our routine of fostering might be helpful. Maybe a temporary friend would be good for Maddie and give Peaches someone to play with her.
So on Friday afternoon, Snitzie(she was named by the winner of the ISR Silent Auction item to "Name a Foster dog"-I've been calling her Zi) came into my home. She is approximately 5 years old and is the calmest 5 year-old GSP I've ever met. I wasn't really sure how Peaches would react to having a new girl in the house, but she has been very good. All Peaches really wants is to be her friend, but Zi hasn't shown any interest in playing. She is very cute, very sweet, and very mellow. Other than going outside to go potty and getting up to eat, she really hasn't done much more than sleep. She's been to the self-serve dog wash because she really needed a bath and today I got to take her on a walk. She really did great. I'm hoping she starts to come out of her shell a bit over the next few days.
So we continue forward in our lives, still missing our friend, but trying to get into a normal routine without her.
I am looking forward to a short work week with Thanksgiving this weekend and hopefully some fun adventures with the girls over the next few weeks as we continue to work on Peaches bucket list. This will be her first Holiday season with us and I am looking forward to lots of great new firsts and making lots of new memories.
I have been overwhelmed by the love and good thoughts I have received on her loss. I am thankful for everyone who took the time to comment on my Facebook and Instagram posts, to text, email, and to reach out in person; to those who sent cards with beautiful words and to all of those who gave me hugs; and for the beautiful gifts I have received. It has been so helpful to know that I wasn't alone in mourning my loss and that she has left an impact on so many others.
Of all of us who loved Imke, poor Maddie has taken the loss hardest. So hard, in fact, that she ended up at the Veterinarian the very next day. She had me so worried that morning when she woke up, unsteady on her feet, unable to walk well, wobbly, stumbling, and falling over. She was barely able to stand at her food dish and wanted nothing to do with her normal kibble. I was thankful that I still had some rice, pork, and veggie mixture that I had made for Imke and that Maddie was willing to eat it. It was a very long hour and a half waiting for our vet office to open so that she could be seen. All I could think was how I couldn't bare to lose her too.
We arrived at the vet that morning and everyone there was so wonderful. They all knew I had just lost Imke and I received so much love from them for that loss, but they also took excellent care of Maddie who was a bit nervous to be there. After triaging her and running some tests, we were called back to be seen by one of the veterinarians. Thankfully they could find nothing physically wrong with her, instead, I was told this was all just a reaction to the loss of her friend. How sad I was to know that she was so grief-stricken by her loss. I had never stopped to think that in the nearly 8 and 1/2 years Maddie has been in our lives, she had spent nearly every day, 24 hours a day, with Imke, She spent more time with her than anyone else during those years and of course that loss would hit her hard.
She was prescribed some anti-anxiety medication and I promised her some one on one time with me for the day. We visited a friend for lunch, ran some errands, and then took a nice walk in the woods. While I still had to bribe her with rice and pork for dinner that night, thankfully she started to act a bit more normally. She still hasn't fully recovered-there are days that she still doesn't want to eat her food, but I am doing my best to give her lots of love, attention, and time to heal.
For the most part, Peaches seems to be okay with the loss. She has definitely been ready to give love to me and to Maddie when we need it, but her happy, crazy personality still shines strong every day. There are some areas that I notice she realizes that someone is missing, but in general she has been just what I needed. I now know why she ended up in my home this year...and she is right where she belongs.
For several days after Imke's passing, no one would sit in the chair where she had passed. Maddie, Imke, Bentley...me. They would walk up and sniff the chair, but no one would climb in. Bentley was the first to get over the hump and resume sitting there. Over the last few days, Maddie has also been found lounging in the chair. I mainly find her there when I come home after work...as if she is lying there to be closer to Imke while I'm gone. As soon as I am home, though, she sits with me on the couch. Peaches loves that chair and previously that is where she would spend most of her evenings while we watched t.v., but since Imke died, she refuses to sit in it still. Last night, with the couch full, she continued to pace back and forth looking for somewhere to lie down. I tried to guide her to the chair, she walked up and sniffed it, and then turned and walked away. I know that there has to be a reason that she still hasn't climbed up there and I will not force her. But it is pathetic to watch her pace, trying to find a place to relax. Generally she's been in my lap or very near to me...always having to touch me before she can rest for the night.
In addition to Imke's loss, my grandfather passed away earlier this week. He was 90 (he would have turned 91 in February) and lived a good long life. He's had a difficult year since my grandma passed last December and he is now reunited with her. We should all be so lucky as he was to live such a good life.
Travel to my grandpa's funeral offered me the perfect opportunity to help with a German Shorthaired Pointer in need. I would be driving right by the shelter she was located in so I volunteered to pull her on my way home and keep her as a temporary foster in my home until a transport could be arranged to a more permanent foster home or forever home. In an effort to help the girls recover, I thought that maybe getting back to our routine of fostering might be helpful. Maybe a temporary friend would be good for Maddie and give Peaches someone to play with her.
So on Friday afternoon, Snitzie(she was named by the winner of the ISR Silent Auction item to "Name a Foster dog"-I've been calling her Zi) came into my home. She is approximately 5 years old and is the calmest 5 year-old GSP I've ever met. I wasn't really sure how Peaches would react to having a new girl in the house, but she has been very good. All Peaches really wants is to be her friend, but Zi hasn't shown any interest in playing. She is very cute, very sweet, and very mellow. Other than going outside to go potty and getting up to eat, she really hasn't done much more than sleep. She's been to the self-serve dog wash because she really needed a bath and today I got to take her on a walk. She really did great. I'm hoping she starts to come out of her shell a bit over the next few days.
So we continue forward in our lives, still missing our friend, but trying to get into a normal routine without her.
I am looking forward to a short work week with Thanksgiving this weekend and hopefully some fun adventures with the girls over the next few weeks as we continue to work on Peaches bucket list. This will be her first Holiday season with us and I am looking forward to lots of great new firsts and making lots of new memories.
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