Farewell Pretty Lucy

It's always an honour for me when someone asks me to feature their recently lost Boxer in a memorial post, always.

We had to say goodbye to our Lucy Girl last Saturday(Nov 24th). She was finally diagnosed with Hepatocutaneous Syndrome after suffering for several months with a very painful foot and footpad infection which originally was thought to be allergies. This terrible disease affects the liver and eventually destroys it.

Lucy was a pistol and kept her brother Max, and our rescue Rocky, in line. She ruled the house and the boys did as she told them. She had so much personality and loved being the center of attention at all times. This last month, she was unable to walk because of the pain in her feet, she wouldn't eat (except when the Prednisone kicked in), and would just lay on the couch and hardly ever wiggled her stub. Her big brown eyes said how much she wanted to get up and play and get back to the way she used to be. But now, she is running and playing and being bossy to some of the others at The Rainbow Bridge.

She went peacefully with her head on my lap, her Dad close by, and her brothers closer. So very sad.  She will be missed so much around here.

Lucy - 8/1/2005 - 11/24/2012  RIP "Lucy Bug"

Mack & Alice

Another response to the Brindle's plea. He would however like to state in advance that he is a Patriots fan.

We all felt kinda bad that the Brindle had to sacrifice himself for his Mom's blog, so Mack and Alice offered to do their fair share.

We've had our Thanksgiving dinner and now the Bubbas are doing what they do best .... hold down the sofa!  Mack & Alice aren't too interested in football - unless mom is yelling at her Pittsburgh Steelers or dad is hollering at his Buffalo Bills!!  Nap time it is ... notice mommy's pillow on the floor in the one picture?  Heaven forbid should a Boxer be caught on the FLOOR!

Fan Mail

As previously mentioned we've been receiving responses to the Brindle's plea the other day. Today a special one from a special lady.

My dear, dear Max,

I just don't understand why you don't care to have your picture taken.  You are soooo very handsome and just the right age for me. I like mature guys like you!  Ohhh, how I wish we were nearer to each other so that we could be close friends.

Whoops!  Here comes mom, so I gotta go.  Please write me soon.

The White Rose, from Maine

I could be yours!

 The Brindle is suitably flattered and somewhat embarrassed.

Lily & Jake

Our last blog post resulted in a few good responses, here's the first one.

Max, we know exactly what you mean, we're getting tired of hearing that snap, snap and flash, flash all the time too so we do the same thing, we don't look!  I think we heard that about a million times (well, maybe we're exaggerating a little) last weekend and then we heard, "oh crap, only three good ones!"  But that didn't bother us, we went inside and took a nap.

signed,
Miss Lily & Baby Jake

Message From the Brindle

Mom was bugging me today to take my photo, I'm not a fan of that. If I don't make eye contact, she's not there..

She's going to keep doing this until someone else sends some photos for the blog, isn't she? Maybe I can email someone...

Save me!!!

And Portia Goes Home

Today is the last one with Wee Portia. She's had some wonderful luck for a girl that had such a rough start.

Finally adoption day!

The family fell in love with her.  She put on a good show and did the "boxer stomp" including the bark! I let Fenway out of his crate and she attacked him with vengeance and actually knocked him over because the 3-legged boy was off balance. She showed them that she was a BIG tough boxer girl!

On the fifth of Nov. she weighed in at 9 lbs. 5 oz. When she was adopted on the tenth she had to be at least 10 lbs. The adopters only live about an hour from Tufts, so when she is spayed, and her cleft properly evaluated, they have that resource if it is deemed necessary for her to have corrective surgery.

Sunday morning when I opened the gate to the family room, three of my pack went right to her crate. I suspect they thought she might reappear overnight. They will adapt to her absence.  She was fun!

Portia Grows

Day two of our wee lady Portia.

As she grew, everything was a toy. I took a plastic bag away and put it where it was supposed to go and then she had it again because it made nice crinkly noises. I took it away again and when I looked for her, she was dragging my printer usb cable into the living-room! Even the leaves were not safe!  Bushes in the back yard were chewed, adult dog feet were nibbled, etc. All the while, she was being crate trained, toilet trained and had learned "NO" and "Good Girl".

Special Little Lady

I received a lovely note along with some special photos the other day. In fact it was actually three notes, with photos to go with them so we're in another part 1 today. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did when I received it.

I have been privileged to foster this tiny boxer girl.  She was born with a cleft palate, the vet refused to do her tail and dews and wanted to put her to sleep then and there. The owners of the litter refused and tube fed her until she could eat on her own. In spite of the vet saying that she was going to die anyway, she has thrived. She was kept with the rest of the litter between feedings. The vet had said "no need".  I'd be finding a new vet!

She weighed 6 lbs at 8 weeks. I had the honor of naming her, and chose Portia.

Another Champion

I like announcing champions, it's almost as much fun as puppies. Here is Stoli's story.

Here's the picture of Stoli and me Winning WB and BOW at the Greater Humble Area Show Sunday Oct. 7, 2012. R And G’s Shakin’ Not Stirred At Relatta (Stoli), won Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for 2 points. Shown by owner/handler Pride Riccardi. Thank you Judge Thomas J Touzel. It was a great pleasure showing under him and a lot of fun!!

Aslan, Honourary Boxer

If I may introduce you to one of the cutest creatures I've seen in while. Here's the description from the new "mom".

Here are some pictures of what is going to be a new addition to our family on Nov 7th.  We visited with him this weekend but we picked him out and put his deposit down when he was 4 weeks old.  His name is Aslan and he is now 6 weeks old.  On his first check up and first shots and deworming it was found his eyes are entropic.  We made the decision to get him anyway and have the surgery.  He is ours and his eyes weren't going to change the fact that we had already fallen in love with him.

Oh yeah he is not a boxer but will be an honorary one just like Safari and Apollo.  Aslan is a Blue Cane Corso.  Perfect or not we love them all the same.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

Her Again... Xena!

Yes, a new update from our friend Xena. I'm pretty sure this girl has her own social secretary, she's that busy.

"Xena and I went to our first AKC obedience competition today at the Hidden Valley Obedience Club of North San Diego County's  obedience & rally trials. I'm proud to say that she not only qualified in Beginner Novice A - she actually was first in the class of 7 dogs with a score of 195 and a half out of the possible 200 points!  I have to say, the rosette she received for today's win is way bigger than any of the ribbons she got while working on her conformation championship..."

And here she is!

Doing our heeling pattern, Xena was giving nice attention here.

Starting her recall off leash...

Almost there...

Exercise finished - she knows she’s a good girl!

Another Check in the Box

As in I have now been to Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands. They tell me it doesn't rain there and it hadn't in 18 months. Could have fooled me, I think it rained every day at some point.

Aside from that it was a great trip. I managed to get a dive in and can check Barracuda off my list of fishes seen. That was it for that though, due to the weather the visibility in the water was bad and that's just no fun. In the process of sorting that out I took a bus out to Mogan and got this great photo of the beach.

There were also some amazing meals to be had one of which was at a restaurant where oddly enough the owner had no accent. That of course means he had the same accent as me. That meal? Well check out the size of this prawn.

Need I mention the cocktails? Well let me tell you they have a certain flare with presentation.

And then there was the local wildlife. If I may introduce Charles.

Last but certainly not least, what would this blog be without a Brindle? Nope, not the usual Brindle but it should surprise no one that this one was bellying up to the bar for a cerveza. (That is the draft tap in front of him)