CHA ... CHING!

November 18th, 2011

I thought I felt punky the week before last.  Well of course, I have another one of those ICKY bladder infections.  What is this ... number 4 or 5 since I was rescued in August?  I am really getting tired of them!  And not to mention the visit to the vet, the antibiotics, and labwork is hard on my pocket book. 

But, I am on the mend again and feeling pretty good ... Nope, I'm feeling GREAT! 

Cha...Ching!  I have moved out of my apartment and into the house!  I get to be with Jewel and I am truly part of the pack and pet family!  I have my own "posturepedic" dog bed right in the middle of things so I don't miss out on anything! 

Remember when the girls were discussing options for my rehab and the possibility of acupuncture?  Well, I went to my first "experience" with the "needles and the snap, crackle and pop" with a very special and talented lady named Harmony.  She does acupuncture and chiropractic treatments on pets, just like me. 

We went into this room and all of the humans sat on the floor with me ... now that was a change!  Harmony asked lots of questions about me and the girls answered the best they could, since so much of my past is a mystery. 

Harmony "manipulated" (LITERALLY) my left leg and found there was a lot of pain there (NO KIDDING!) and decided not to do a full exam because of the discomfort it would cause.  (Thank you Harmony!) 

We got to learn about acupuncture and then came the needles ... in my back, left hip and knee, and back feet.  I just wanted to crawl into Harmony's lap and give her kisses!  Meanwhile the girls gave me a massage and tiny bites of chicken.  It really wasn't that bad ... a little strange, but not bad. 

And of course there was another visit to see Joy and hydrotherapy.  I got myself right out of the car and right up to the building to meet another "4 legged patient" who was leaving ... and then I "stopped and dropped" right before the door!  Mercy just picked me up with the harness and deposited me right on the scale.  (OK, she didn't have much mercy for me today L). 

Cha...Ching!  110.8 pounds ... another whole pound down in a week.  And you know the routine ... 10 minutes and another 264 yards in the water on the treadmill.  Joy said I felt stronger even though I didn't really want to be there.  After we were done, I got a "stylish" blow dry and we were on our way back home. 

All of the girls, and especially Jewel say that I was obviously loved at one time because I am such a sweetheart.  I know what some words mean and I have obviously lived in a house before (no potty accidents).  And I was probably loved TOO MUCH "through food."
Speaking of food, Thanksgiving is here and I have so much to be thankful for ... where do I begin?  (Deep sigh...) 

A very tail waggin', sloppy kisses to all of my angels and fans out there who believe in me and have given me a new life! 

On behalf of Ms. Valentine, the other "foster" dogs and me ... We wish you, your family and your pet family a very, very happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, Gobble,

~ Summer

© Summer’s Journey – All Rights Reserved

 

FIELD TRIP!

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Today was the coolest of COOL days!  I knew it as soon as Brooke drove up.  That usually meant we were going "for a car ride."  I was so excited to see her and get going ... look at me go (in the video above)!

We were going on a field trip to St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School to meet 17 very special kindergarteners!  I SO love "little people" and these "kinders" have the hearts and souls of GIANTS!

The class participates in "Care for God's Creation," an all-year social justice project.  Every Friday is Quarter Day! and the students bring in a quarter for a charity that benefits homeless animals.  This year Pat Mill's kindergarten class is helping ME!!!  (Isn't that just so COOL?)

When we arrived, the kids and their teachers came outside to meet ME (and Jewel and Brooke of course)!  I was proudly presented with a pink heart dog tag with my name on it and $42 (and some change) from the "St. Al's Kinder's."

I got to meet each of the kids, get LOTS of pets and give LOTS of "Thank You" kisses.  It was one of the most special moments since I was rescued.  The girls shared my story; the challenges I am facing and my successes so far.  We also talked about the importance for both pets and people to eat a healthy diet and to exercise.  The best part was when the children were able to ask LOTS and LOTS of questions and share stories about their pets.  (You know ... out of the mouths of babes, they are the BEST!)

Then we were off to see Joy and 10 minutes and .05 of a mile of hydrotherapy.  It was ok ... but I wish I could have just stayed and hung out with the kids!

The scale is still dipping.  Today I weighed 111.8 and I have lost another 3 pounds in 2 weeks.  (The real bummer was the girls stopped at McDonald's ... and they wouldn't even share their French Fries ... so much for being healthy.<g>)

I can hardly wait to head back to the "black pack" so I can share my exciting day.

LOTs of tail wags today!

~ Summer

© Summer’s Journey – All Rights Reserved

FAST FORWARD!

October 2011

It's time to fast forward and catch up with all my fans!  Time flies when you are having fun and working hard!

I am doing DOG GONE GREAT!

• I am making it back up the hill from the yard every evening to get my dinner and go to bed without much help and assistance from Jewel or Mercy.  I'm being to feel like a "light weight" and it feels good!  I have so much more "umph and energy."
• I LOVE tennis balls and dog toys ~ although I can't chase them yet, I can chomp and chew on them.  And of course, catch them when they head my way.
• I really want to play with the other dogs in the field and I tried.  They thought they were kinda like "body slammed" by a walrus ~ but hey, I want to get in on the fun!
• The cold weather is affecting me and getting into my bones; just like so many of you who feel the pains of winter coming on (NO, I didn't say that!)
• And I got another one of those icky bladder infections.  So, when your friends and family tell you "DRINK more water!" PLEASE listen to them, it is for your own good. 
• But ... I squatted and peed on my own the other day (AND that my fans, is a really huge deal!)

Everyday, I continue to meet more people and be surrounded by more and more angels.  Did you know if you just look around ~ they are everywhere!

• Auntie Sherrie dontated 2 more sessions of hydrotherapy for ME.  (GREAT, that means more work ... but it also means more weight loss and strength.)
• Animal Advocates generously offered a Dollar for Dollar Matching Grant up to $1,000 and the MATCH was MET by several caring folks, including a $1,000 donation from an Anonymous Angel who couldn't resist my cuteness and the challenges I am facing!
• All of the donations went directly to pay off my previous bills (and I had a lot of them) and will "continue" to pay for vet/medical bills, medications, and ongoing rehab (i.e. hydrotherapy and acupuncture).  (Maybe I should see about starting a college fund while I'm at it ... just kidding!)

I am such a lucky dog and SO very, very thankful! WOOF!

I know, you can't wait to hear how those pounds are rolling off. Well, I weighed in at 114.8 on October 21st (YAHOO!) and up to 3 mph, 264 yards and 10 minutes on the treadmill while Joy is working those back legs!  That's about 13 "ish" pounds in a little over 2 months - just what Dr B. said is a safe rate.

That reminds me, I wanted to tell you about the cat that I met at the vet.  Fifi weighed 32 pounds and had to be weighed on the dog scale (how humiliating ... I know!)  This poor cat can't walk or barely move and had sores all over its belly ... sound familiar?

Fifi looked a lot like Otto (shown here).  Otto made it on the Today Show earlier this year, for weighing the equivalent of a 500 pound man.

Otto - click his picture for his whole story

So, I wanted to talk about the growing problem of overweight and obesity in our "pets" that join the 33.8% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents aged 2 - 19 who are obese.

Fifi, Otto and I are just THREE of the approximately 53% of cats and 55% of dogs that are overweight or obese according to the latest study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). 

These numbers keep going up every year.  Last year's study revealed 45% of dogs and 58% of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their vets. 

This equals almost 90 million pets at risk for developing diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney and respiratory disease and many forms of cancer ... costing pet owners millions in avoidable medical costs. 

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) claims it pays out over $14 million in weight-related claims each year.  Dr. Ward stated:  "It's not only the cost in tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars in largely preventable medical expenses that concerns me.  It's the incalculable  
suffering and needless loss of life that compels me to take action against obesity.  Pet obesity is far the greatest health threats our pets face."

It is a very scary thing, knowing how many health risks are associated with this problem.  I just want to be able to walk, run, be healthy and be a dog!

I understand the struggles that I am going through and know it is the same for people and other pets out there to "drop those unwanted pounds" - It is very hard work and you need a lot of help!

That's where I come in, my dream is to share my journey and successes (and those of others like me) and to be an inspiration to people (like you) who may be faced with weight, health, or other personal challenges ... and of course, being the "spokes-dog" for pet parents and their pets!  Please Visit my "Resources for Pets Like Me" to learn more.

I'm getting ready to head off to meet some pretty awesome kindergartners ... you won't want to miss this "field trip."

~ Summer

© Summer’s Journey – All Rights Reserved