Animal companions- share your pictures!

[KarenNWendyn]

Reminds me of a scene in “Meet the Fockers”.

 

[KevinM]

Ok...my turn. Nori and I are Sheltie lovers, and the little boy of our dreams, JJ, is pictured first with me in Colorado 2014. He was our road boy, traveling everywhere with us in our motor home, hiking the steepest mountains trails, being petted and hugged by thousands of children, barking out the window at Custer State Park at the Tatonka (bison) herds ten feet away, and loving his family with the love only canines can summon.

We euthanized our little man at 14 in October 2018, four months before my first symptoms. The stress was unbearable, but as with all our pets, we made a quick decision and spared prolonged suffering. So peaceful and painless. I’m dangerously close here to devolving into my rant about how we treat our beloved pets with more humane empathy than we do our species, so let me take a breath.

Now about our former auxillary sheltie Rosie, at least before JJ’s exit ( picture 2). She’s now our main sheltie, and as opposite JJ’s laid back “hug me all you want little stranger” personality as a dog of the same breed could possibly be. Shy, excitable, family-centric to a fault, and with the capacity for an amazing range of sounds from snuffles, yips, shrieks of delight, to fake bravado growls, she obviously came from a different Sheltie planet.

We adore our crazy little 3-year old girl, but most of us that have loved, and lost many dogs over the years also know that in our hearts there almost always is “the one.” For us it was JJ. Given my recent diagnosis, I have turned to the memories of my little man as a reminder of good times past, but also with an overwhelming sense of gratitude that we shared the same time and space on this rock for a magical few years. I struggle with the concept of karma, but there was certainly some serendipitous juju that brought him to our family. Maybe karma has a little coin in the game after all. Kevin

 

[KarenNWendyn]

They have beautiful markings. Did you ever show them?

 

[KevinM]

They have beautiful markings. Did you ever show them?

No, never did Karen. A serious breeder/show dog trainer opined that JJ was too lanky and large, and poor Rosie has a swayback that you could sling a saddle on. We first thought that JJ had the mojo, but I’ll never forget our one year trip to our vet. She looked him over and pronounced him to be one fine Sheltie. Then, she leaned into Nori and I and said in a low voice: “obviously not a show dog, though.” We were crushed at first, but laughed hysterically the rest of his life. He was our “obviously not a show dog” little boy. K

 

[KimT]

Great pics, Kevin. Thank you for the narration. Glad to see a pic of you, too. Good to put a hot body.....I mean face with a name.

 

[KevinM]

They have beautiful markings. Did you ever show them?

Let me add that Mr. Cashel looked like a perfect “forever dog.” Here’s to the best of the best...

Great pics, Kevin. Thank you for the narration. Glad to see a pic of you, too. Good to put a hot body.....I mean face with a name.

You’re too kind, Kim! It sounds like lots of us had toned, athletic bodies in the “before” days. Also, probably going with the buzz cut later this summer. Have always had the long hair Florida beach look, but it’s going to be too much trouble going forward. Starting to thin anyway. Time to shed my old skin and make life as easy as possible. K

 

[KimT]

I get it, Kevin. Sometimes I can't even stand to look at pictures of my "before" body. I like long hair on guys but, I agree...too much trouble. I keep cutting mine shorter and shorter.

Lord, I miss surfing and running.

 

[KarenNWendyn]

Cashel was my forever dog , but all our subsequent dogs have had their own charms and special gifts.

I bemoan the loss of my 6-pack abs and toned thigh muscles from years of long distance bicycling, and now I look in the mirror and see my Buddha belly. Maybe this means I’m on my way to attaining enlightenment .

 

[KevinM]

I get it, Kevin. Sometimes I can't even stand to look at pictures of my "before" body. I like long hair on guys but, I agree...too much trouble. I keep cutting mine shorter and shorter.

Lord, I miss surfing and running.

Oh man, tell me about surfing. I lived in Sarasota for a number of years in my 20’s but the west coast swells were modest. Spent lots of time on the east coast, most near the jetty and inlet at Ft. Pierce but also select places in Volusia. Got away from it when we moved to Tally, but on a rare occasion still pulled out a long board for the old man, non flashy ride.

 

[KevinM]

Cashel was my forever dog , but all our subsequent dogs have had their own charms and special gifts.

I bemoan the loss of my 6-pack abs and toned thigh muscles from years of long distance bicycling, and now I look in the mirror and see my Buddha belly. Maybe this means I’m on my way to attaining enlightenment .

Here’s to big beautiful bellies! I’m in dire need of higher enlightenment right now, Karen, so once you attain the highest realm teach me!

 

[KarenNWendyn]

I’m in dire need of higher enlightenment right now, Karen, so once you attain the highest realm teach me!

Ah, but the path to enlightenment comes from within!

 

[KevinM]

Ah, but the path to enlightenment comes from within!

Oh sh—t. Forgot that detail. As a lifelong Dawkins disciple ( actually have a poster of him!) I’m probably screwed.

 

[nona]

Here is a picture of me and my late buddy, Elle (German Shepherd/Pointer cross) a few years before my diagnosis. We shared many a hike and trail run. I wrote a poem about us about a year into ALS (below). My current cat Augie thinks he's a dog and greets everyone who comes to visit.

To Elle and Back
To think that we used to beat the plow to the road in morning snow,
and she used to chase it, hard, out of sight,
Then run back to me just as hard, her lungs bursting more than mine
but neither of us breaking a pant,
Both of us enjoying a morning run in the cold air
and the change from dark to dawn.

Now our lungs open for a snowy trudge in the woods,
like mountain climbers at high altitude,
Both stopping to rest our legs and catch our breaths,
And I have to fend her away from my walking stick,
as this is more work than play,
And we each know that it’s harder than it used to be for the other,
But we still share the cold air and the glory.

 

[KimT]

Fritz was the love of my life. He was trained so well. I wish I had more pictures of him. My housemate and I bought him together when we were together. I love little Ace, in part, because he sorta reminds me of Fritz.

Fritz and my first Italian Greyhound, Puppet. They owned me.

My first dog, Laddie. He actually belonged to a neighbor but adopted me. I had just turned four in this picture.

 

[KevinM]

Here is a picture of me and my late buddy, Elle (German Shepherd/Pointer cross) a few years before my diagnosis. We shared many a hike and trail run. I wrote a poem about us about a year into ALS (below). My current cat Augie thinks he's a dog and greets everyone who comes to visit.

To Elle and Back
To think that we used to beat the plow to the road in morning snow,
and she used to chase it, hard, out of sight,
Then run back to me just as hard, her lungs bursting more than mine
but neither of us breaking a pant, View attachment 17199View attachment 17198
Both of us enjoying a morning run in the cold air
and the change from dark to dawn.

Now our lungs open for a snowy trudge in the woods,
like mountain climbers at high altitude,
Both stopping to rest our legs and catch our breaths,
And I have to fend her away from my walking stick,
as this is more work than play,
And we each know that it’s harder than it used to be for the other,
But we still share the cold air and the glory.

That is so freaking beautiful, Nona. Thank you for sharing. K