Monday August 31st

I had a great weekend! Usually I just hang around the large den mother calls home; lie around, chase Bea until she hides under the bed, eat, sleep and hunt for lizards around the small blue lake behind the house. This weekend, I actually got to leave the den and go somewhere other than the clinic. Don't get me wrong, I love the clinic, but if I can sniff out new territories to conquer I gladly accept the challenge. Admittedly, this challenge proved difficult.
We went somewhere called the PetExpo. It was in a big building I've never been to before and was filled with more dogs than I had ever seen together in one place. I was sporting my school girl outfit that everyone seems to love to see me in. Of course the scary part was that I was there without my best friend, Bea. Since Bea came to live with us about 9 months ago we've been literally inseparable. That's in part because Bea has what mother calls “separation anxiety”, which just means she gets terribly upset if I get to go somewhere and she doesn't. But this weekend, my sisters Becky and Tara were staying over, so Bea could stay with them. I know that they're not a real substitute for me, but Bea doesn't always pay attention to the details.
With Bea at home, that meant that I had to tackle the PetExpo by myself. So I tried to put on a brave face, but mother must have known that I was scared and carried me around instead of making me walk. I think that she was afraid that some of the big dogs would think I was a squeaky toy by mistake. The PetExpo had dogs, dogs, dogs, and more dogs. It also had a few of those short-haired whiskery things with the humming machines inside that Bea calls “cats”, along with feathered creatures, cupcakes, fancy outfits and comfy beds; so many things to sniff and investigate it was a true pet paradise.
I got to meet quite a few people too, everyone always going on and on about how cute I am and what a fascinating dog mixture it took to make me. I would be lying if I didn't admit to loving every minute of it. I just wish those people would show their love for me with treats instead of rubbing my head. Don't get me wrong, I like a good head rub as much as the next dog, but treats people, treats -- that's what I live for.
After awhile my buddy Ruben (of my previous post Broken face Ruben) showed up and I was SO glad to see him. My tail came up and I jumped right out of mother's arm to bite his fluffy head. I can't really explain why I was so happy to see him, but I knew everything would be alright with him there. I guess maybe Bea isn't the only one with the separation anxiety. Just don't tell my mom.

Friday, August 28th

Broken face Ruben


Another summer day spent lounging in the clinic apartment. Bea's coat had lots of green seeds in it this morning, so extra snacks for me. This Friday, reminds me of a Friday a few months ago when one of my friends Ruben had to make a surprise visit to the hospital.
He was new to the area, his newly adopted family had brought him on one of those great noise machines in the sky only a few weeks before. He was officially over missing his mom, but had not really fit in with the other dog in the house, Bosco. Not at all like me and Bea. For us, it was love at first sight: the first time she let me lick her ears, I knew we would be friends forever.
Bosco is one of those large dogs that likes to growl to make you think he's scary. I know that he's really just a push-over though. He's been in and out of the hospital so much, I don't think he could hurt a fly. Also I never smell fear on any of the people that work here when Bosco comes in, and my moms' a pretty good judge of who to watch out for.
So, to hear Ruben tell the story, he claims that he was only walking by Bosco's ball and wham, out of nowhere, a giant growl erupted from the sky and smacked him in the face. The next thing he knew he was here at the hospital. Mother was looking at him and he just kept yelling, "It's my face, it's my face!" . But I think that must sound different to people, because mother kept trying to touch his face. Then finally, we heard a sound like your teeth make when you chew on a bone, and mother said, “We need to x-ray his face”. And there it was ... broken face Ruben.
I heard mother explaining it to Ruben's dad who had to take him to another doctor to fix his jaw. At least, after his pinch medicine he wasn't crying anymore. I never did ask him if he got to chase anything while he was asleep.
When he got back he had something white and hard in his mouth. I overheard mother saying, he's got more metal in him than a hardware store. I have no idea what that means.
Anyway, Ruben is fine now. It never really slowed him down. I could always dominate Ruben when we played and metal jaw or not, I still own him. I might think twice about bothering Bosco though.

Thursday, August 27th

Just when I thought I'd seen everything at our clinic, something I'd never seen walked through the door. I don't know what her name was, because she wasn't sharing. Not that she didn't want to talk, she was wailing on about something, but her name wasn't among her ranting. Mother's technician helpers just called her, "wowwhatisthat".

She was one of the biggest dogs I've seen here, but that's not what made her unique. She also had strange eyes that were missing something, and made you feel cold just to look at her. But that's not what made her special either. Her most striking feature was that her girl parts were enormous and seemed to be turning inside out. I only call them "girl parts" because that's what Bea said they were.

Bea came from somewhere called a "breeders", mom says. Bea knows a lot about a lot of things because she lived somewhere else first. She says she doesn't remember much, but the smell coming from that dog reminded her of having puppies. To me it was a fascinating smell, one that I wanted to taste very much. But the part of her body that was dripping and hanging out was at least the same size as me.

Well, needless to say the presence of this large dog with this large feature made everyone at the clinic start rushing around. Sweet Sally started the procedure set up, while mother's other technician, Vonnie helped her hug the dog and give her some pinch medicine. Shortly after, "wowwhatisthat" was on the humming table. Bea says the humming table takes pictures that see inside of you. I can't imagine what could be inside that anyone would want to see, but parents do strange things sometimes.

I had front row seats to the whole procedure through a window into the special no-non-sleepy- dogs-allowed room. Mother got all dressed up in a green outfit complete with a hat, gloves and a paper face cover. She spent two hours in the special room with the "wowwhatisthat" dog. I saw some of the dogs insides get placed onto a table. I've heard the term "spay" before, but neither Bea nor I really know what it means. I think this large dog got a spay so that her insides could go back inside. I don't really know why they even came out to begin with, but I trust mother to have made sure that they won't be coming out again.

So I never did find out that dogs' name. She woke up quietly, which was a nice change for all of us. And when she walked out, nothing was dripping behind her. I'm happy for her I guess, but I really wished I could have seen what it tasted like.

Wednesday, August 26th

Today was a mixture of good and bad: the good was that my sisters -- Becky and Tara are staying at my house for awhile. They live at "Nana's house" normally, at least that's what my mom says. So maybe they're my aunts. One thing us dogs don't get that caught up with is titles. I mean Bea and I could be related, and I wouldn't know, and it wouldn't matter. I would love her the same. But I know I'm not related to Becky. It took me awhile to figure out that she was even a dog like us.

While it's lots of fun playing with my friends, the bad part is that I didn't get to go to the clinic today. Instead the sisters went. Becky has this ugly green goo on her eye that has to get washed off every day. Then she gets drops put in there. Mother says Becky doesn't make her own tears and that the drops replace them. I asked Becky if it bothered her, and she said it didn't. The drops felt funny at first but now she's used to them. Tara is sad after the goo is gone though, because she said it tastes good. I tried to steal a taste, but Becky wouldn't let me try.

I guess Becky had a bad day too because she went to the clinic smelling all yummy like corn chips and cheese and when she got back she smelled like soap and fruit! I would much rather smell like cheese! Cheese is my absolute favorite thing! Becky says she has to smell like soap once a week in account of the fact that she's missing so much hair. She says she doesn't miss it, because she never had it. I know I would miss it.

Monday, August 24th

So, I've been coming to work with my parents for almost a year now.
Me and my best friend Bea have an apartment at my parents veterinary clinic. Our pad is the best seat in the house to watch life in a pet hospital. Most dogs and cats seem scared to be here. I can't figure out why. Pretty much I just lie here, clean Bea's ears faithfully twice a day, bark a greeting to all that enter, go for walkies and eat yum-yums.
Now that I'm a year old and have everything under control, I thought I'd blog about what life behind the scenes at a veterinary clinic is like. Maybe if the other dogs and cats read it, they won't be so afraid.

Today, was a weird day for me and Bea. It started normally enough. It only became strange when there were no other dogs in the clinic. Even with no other dogs around, my mom and Sweet Sally, one of my mom's technician helpers were busily setting up for a "procedure". That's what they call it when they make a pet sleepy. I don't really know how they do it. It only happened to me once, awhile ago. I felt a pinch in my back and the next thing I knew I was chasing pink bunnies through the clouds. I must have really chased them far because when I woke up my belly hurt a little.
Anyway, Bea and I soon realized that we were the only dogs in the clinic.
It was Bea's turn to feel the pinch. I admit, I was nervous to see her asleep on the special table, covered in tubes and wires, with the special machines that make the beeping sounds. But Sweet Sally was so gentle with her and made sure to hug her the whole time while she woke up. Bea told me later that she was chasing rainbow colored lizards and that explained why her mouth was a little sore when she woke up. All I can say is her mouth smells so much better now, I even let her lick my ears now, sometimes.