Abby: My special birthday (I'm 10!)

 

I can't believe I'm ten-years-old! Where has time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was racing out the front door to explore the neighborhood with Mommy and Daddy chasing after me yelling for me to come back. Boy, that sure was fun!

When I was adopted Mommy and Daddy already had Bogey, Gus, Buster and Hobbit, but those boys did not intimidate me in the least. In fact, I was the one in charge - and I let them know it! I'm still top dog today, but sometimes Hope gets jealous. I go easy on her though because I know she had a rough start at life.

Mommy and Daddy say I've matured and they tell everyone that I'm sweeter than ever. I tend to follow Mommy and Daddy around a lot more. I like to know what they are doing and where they are going and anytime they sit down I snuggle right up. I like to have their attention more these days, but I'm frisky as ever! I still LOVE to play fetch, run along the beach and roll in dead things, bark at trespassers (which is anyone in my line of sight) and snort and wiggle in the grass on my back. I love life! Mommy and Daddy always say that a good day is also known as an "Abby Day!"

To celebrate my first decade, Mommy and Daddy sang "Happy Birthday" to me, gave me a birthday cookie, and Doc, Hope and I each got a doggy ice cream cone. It was definitely an "Abby Day!"

I'm 10 ☺️

Yummy 🎂

I didn't want to let go of my birthday cookie, but I also wanted Daddy to hold me. 💕 

(After the photo session I buried my birthday cookie in a dog bed, but then Mommy put it away because I was stressing out trying to protect it.)

🐕

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DogMom: 3 Salty Dogs

{It's been a few years since our last Doggy Diary entry, but hopefully we will be back more often. We -and by we I mean I- simply got busy with life and just didn't make the time to sit down and put thoughts onto "paper."}

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Goodness, a lot can happen in three and a half years! Here are the highlights of what's been going on with us:

• Abby Grace is now a Certified Therapy Dog ❤️

• Hope has grown - maybe a little too much 😉 (See Exhibit A below)

• Doc is as happy and fast as ever 🐕

• We moved to the beach 🏖

It was a long-time dream to live at the beach and we finally made it happen last year. We found a home just a short walk from the beach here on the coast of South Carolina. Abby, Doc and Hope LOVE it! We take long walks on the beach and the dogs get to run loose off leash most of the time. We usually walk anywhere from three to five and a half miles, but Doc probably covers at least twice that. One of his favorite things to do is the "booty dip." He runs into the water and dips his bottom in, looking at us to make sure we are watching him. He's so funny!

Doc has become quite the crab hunter and likes to proudly prance along the shore with his treasures. We try to keep him from getting the crabs, but like I said, he is fast! 

Hope, our Potcake from Turks & Caicos Islands, loves these walks, too. She smiles the whole time. Hope is not a very expressive dog, but when she's on the beach you know she's happy! She is an island dog at heart, after all. 

When Hope is not on the beach, this is what she is usually doing. (This is Exhibit A that I was telling you about.)

Abby will be 10 years old this winter, but that doesn't slow her down. She keeps a steady pace and and never tires out.

Abby Grace became a Certified Therapy Dog three years ago. DogDad and I took her through two sets of classes and now we are all members of The Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Abby has made many patients and residents smile at various assisted living communities, veterans' homes and treatments centers over the years.

Here is Abby Grace with her friend Stella Grace visiting an assisted living center on Halloween. She is wearing a pumpkin costume I made for our sweet Lindsey over 20 years ago. It's the first time we've put it on any dog other than Lindsey. It warmed our hearts. And the residents thought she was pretty darn cute!

Lindsey ❤️ Our first dog together.

Most recently we visited our friends at the assisted living center and gave out Christmas cards. Abby was such a good sport - she shook off her Santa hat only a few times!

Merry Christmas from the DogDad, DogMom, Abby Grace, Doc & Hope! We hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones  ...  both furry and non!

DogMom: Happy DogMom Day!

I may not be a mom. A mom to human kids, anyway. But I still feel like a mom. I have an innate desire to protect and care for our dogs and I love them unconditionally. I think that counts for something. I'm a DogMom and, to me, that brings joy and fulfillment. This is who I was meant to be.

I grew up around animals of all kinds. Living on a farm, I was surrounded by cows, horses, chickens, ducks and the like, and of course dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, etc. I loved all of these sweet creatures. 

My dogs of childhood were Beethoven, Ben, Timothy, Gretchen and Holly. Beethoven and Ben were miniature schnauzers and they were a handful! Timothy and Gretchen were strays that showed up at the farm. I loved those dogs. Holly was one of Gretchen's puppies. She was precious.

The first cat I remember our family having was a kitten named Lucy. Unfortunately, my memory is of my brothers and the neighbor kids burying her. She had gotten hit by a car. Interesting what memories stick with us. I wonder how big of a role that memory has played in my desire to save animals. When I turned four years old my parents said I could pick any cat from the animal shelter to adopt. I chose an orange and white kitten and named him Tiger. I vividly remember him sticking his paw out of the cage trying to touch me. I knew then and there that Tiger was the cat for me. He may have grown to be big and tough, but we called him "Kitty." He was with us for 18 years. Gertie was an affectionate and beautiful kitty with long gray fur and gorgeous green eyes. I am thankful I decided to walk outside to look at the stars one cold November night because that is when that pretty gray kitten came running to me, practically jumping into my lap!

Since 1987, I've been blessed to be DogMom to ten sweet, loving, smart and beautiful dogs. All rescued either from life on the street or in the shelter. And I couldn't have done it without DogDad. I love our DogLovingLife!

Lindsey

Bogey

Annie

Gus

Buster

Hobbit

Huck

Abby Grace

Doc

Hope

Abby: Things to smile about :-)

It's been a long time since I've written, but I'm happy to be back. Mommy, Daddy, Gus and I are still saddened by the loss of our dear Hobbit and sweet Buster, so we haven't much felt like writing in The Doggy Diary the past year. The other day, though, Mommy took a picture of me that really made her smile. :-) She said we should share it with others.

So, I went to Home Depot with Mommy to help her pick out some flowers. There were so many pretty ones and I got to see them up close because she put me in the cart. At first I wasn't sure what to think, but when all the nice people shopping stopped to say "hello" to me, I decided that I was going to enjoy the ride! We were successful in finding a big pot of red, white and purple petunias. Aren't they pretty? I think my smile shows how pleased I am with our selection!

You might like an update on Gus. He is doing so great! He turned 14 in April! He enjoys playing with his stuffed toys, taking naps and eating yummy doctored-up dinners of healthy canned dog food and warm chicken broth mixed with some real chicken or fish sometimes added in by Daddy. I'm happy to report that I also benefit from the special "Gus-Can-Have-Whatever-He-Wants-Because-He's-14-Years-Old" Diet. ;) Another reason Gus is feeling better these days is because he had surgery on both of his ears a few months ago. He can hear a little bit now, and it's obvious they don't hurt any more. Here he is with one of his favorite toys, Puff Dragon! Doesn't he look awesome for 14?! He makes Mommy and Daddy smile all the time. :-)

I hope to be back more often. Now that it's summertime I bet I'll have more adventures to share!

xoxo, 

Abby Grace

Abby: Ahoy there!

What an exciting weekend I had! Mommy and Daddy suited me up in my own little life vest and took me on my very first boat ride! As you can tell by the pictures below, I LOVED it! There were so many new sights and smells. Oh, and the wind blowing through my fur was the best. It was like sticking my head out of the car window for two hours straight! I also had fun sitting on my daddy's lap while he steered the boat. My daddy does a good job driving the boat. He's the captain and Mommy is the first mate. Most people name their boats, but they said they probably won't name ours. I still made my suggestions known: "Ruff Life," "Coleman Canine Cruiser," and my personal favorite, "Princess Abby Grace."

Mommy and Daddy said they plan to take Hobbit on a boat trip next. They think he might like it. Gus and Buster would probably get too nervous, though. They're getting old, so they have trouble adjusting to new environments. And we all know Hobbit is pretty much happy no matter where he is as long as he's in Poncho's lap!

I hope you enjoy the pictures my mommy took of me on the boat.

Love,
Princess Abby Grace <3

I've never seen so much water! Maybe I'll get in someday.

The setting sun was beautiful!

New smells, wind blowing through my fur and sitting on my daddy's lap. 

I am a happy girl!

Abby: Merry Christmas!

I just got back from a walk with Mommy and Buster. It's a beautiful Christmas Eve Day - bright, sunny and brisk!

My brothers are happy that Mommy didn't insist on a family portrait for this year's Christmas cards. Instead she decided to make a collage with pictures she took of us this year. That made it much easier on everybody. It's pretty difficult to get all four of us to sit still for a picture!

We have so much to be thankful this year. It was a tough summer with Buster's illness, but we made it through and he's doing better than ever. He's back to eating his regular food and he hasn't gotten sick in over six weeks! Mommy and Daddy said they are so thrilled and grateful.

Mommy tells me that Santa Claus will be filling out stockings again this year. Apparently, we've been good! We already got our big Christmas presents from Mommy and Daddy: four fluffy memory foam dog beds! Oooooh, they are so comfy!

Merry Christmas to all our blogging buddies!

Love,
Abby Grace xoxo

Abby: Citronella Cinderella

About a month ago Mommy decided she had to do something about my barking. She said it's excessive and loud. I say it is necessary. Like I wrote in my August 8th entry, I have a job to do and to get that job done I need to bark.

As the only little girl of the house I believe my purpose is to keep the other boys in line, especially Buster. Mommy and Daddy say it's not. We have a difference of opinion. Anyhoo, after much consideration Mommy ordered something called the Gentle Spray Citronella Anti-Bark Collar. I have to tell ya, I wasn't too keen on this idea. I mean, me, Mommy and Daddy's Little Princess, wearing an ugly black collar with a box on it? And on top of that, what little girl wants to smell like bug repellent?

I thought wearing the collar would be a lot worse than what it is. It actually isn't too bad. I learned really quick that if I bark while I'm wearing it, then a funny smell is sprayed just under my chin. I picked up on that connection real fast. Bark = funny smell. I'm pretty smart. So smart I figured a way around it. Being the boss doggy I need a way to communicate to my brothers when they are irritating me. Yes, I am the boss. Buster thinks he is and no matter how often I try to correct him he just ignores me. Talk about infuriating! Basically, that's what usually gets me barking. But, like I said, I've learned that I can communicate with him in quieter ways. I can stare at him and growl just enough so the spray collar won't detect it. Or I can initiate a standoff with him. He usually gives up first and just walks away. I think he's slowly getting the message.

I'm happy to say that the citronella collar was a success. So much so that I almost never have to wear it anymore. I think my mommy and daddy are pleased. And that makes me happy.

Goodnight,
Abby, aka Little Princess

***Oh, by the way, my mommy wrote her version of this experience on the Daily Mail's pet blog, Cap West's Pet City.

Abby: All lives are precious.

I'm going to make this short. I have a few things on my mind, but I don't want to go into detail. What I want to do, though, is share what I've learned this week:

1. Life is precious.
2. Everyone is special to someone.

My mommy and daddy say we should appreciate one another, our family and friends, and the time we have together. Sometimes a loved one can be taken from us too soon, so we need to keep in mind that we have all been given a wonderful gift - the gift of life.

I may annoy my brothers Gus, Buster and Hobbit at times, but they are my family and I love them. My mommy and daddy love all four of us, no matter how much we bark, pee in the house or bicker with one another. They love us unconditionally.

Unconditional love. It's what parents have for their children, and it's what God has for all of us. What a blessing.

Love,
Abby

Abby: Can you hear me now?!

So things are getting back to normal around here. Mommy and Daddy miss Huck very much, but say the sadness seems to lessen as time passes. Buster is trotting, howling at whatever scent he picks up in the air, and eating like crazy. (He still gets sick about once a day, but Mommy and Daddy are in constant communication with the vets about that.) Gus is happy and sweet as always, and all is right with Hobbit's world, well, as long as either his Poncho or Mommy is nearby. (Nothing new there.) And me? Well, Mommy says my barking seems to be more offensive than ever. Hmph! I don't think my voice is shrill, but Daddy and she say they beg to differ. Mommy says she doesn't mind that I bark because that's what doggies do. It's just that she doesn't want me to bark so much, especially because it's pretty loud. She says it's more like "eardrum-piercing loud." Well, how am I supposed to get my point across if I can't make myself heard? I have valuable opinions to share. Like when someone new comes into our home, I need let them know that they are to greet me before they do anything else. Or when Buster is ignoring me while I'm trying to get his attention, it is necessary that I raise my voice to make him listen to me. I have to admit it usually doesn't work, though. Oh, and when  I want to play fetch, I must bark loudly so that Mommy and Daddy know that it's time to throw the ball. Yes, they may be standing right there reaching for the ball, but I still need to prompt them. I am certain of it. So, as you can see, my voice is an important one in this family.

Well, I overheard Mommy and Daddy talking about something called a citronella bark collar. Hmmm. I'm not so sure how I feel about this. Mommy says that it may be necessary, though, because I don't listen to her when she tells me to stop barking. She asked our vet Dr. Sarah about it today and Dr. Sarah said it's safe and effective. Mommy says she is apprehensive but she might go ahead and order it and give it a try. I'll let you know how that goes - you can be sure that I will voice my opinion about this experiment!

It's getting close to my bedtime and I need to rest my vocal chords. Good night!

Love,
Abby xoxo

Gus, Buster, Hobbit & Abby: Goodbye, Huck. We love you.

Yesterday was a very sad day. And things will be sad for a while. Our mom and dad had to make a difficult decision. They prayed and prayed for guidance and they had heartfelt and honest conversations with our vet Dr. Sarah, and our doggy behaviorist Mr. Scott about our brother Huck. It was determined that although Mom and Dad did everything they could to help Huck, there was nothing else that could be done. Huck was a nervous dog with aggression issues that could not be brought under control. Dr. Sarah and Mr. Scott truly believed that Huck was suffering from a mental illness or genetic brain abnormality of some kind. So, yesterday afternoon, Mom and Dad held Huck on their laps, kissed him, hugged him and told him how much they loved him and what a handsome, smart and loyal dog he was. He was sedated, and then Huck went to Heaven. Mom and Dad said they had never seen him at such peace. Peace that he never seemed to have because of his anxiety issues.

We all miss him terribly, but Mom and Dad said they know in their hearts that they made the right decision. The right decision for us, for them and for Huck. Our brother is at peace now. We know that God welcomed him home and that he will now get to meet our beloved brothers Bogey and Lindsey and our sister Annie.

The day we found Huck.

Huck as a beautiful puppy.

Huck comes home with us and discovers his new backyard.

A growing boy with lots of energy.

Our very smart Huck on the day of his obedience graduation.

Playing in the snow and with pine was fun for Huckleberry.

Huck was quite fond of gerbera daisies.

Huck giving Mom a kiss during our Christmas photo session.

Huck's beautiful smile.

Handsome Huck.

Goodbye, Huck. You were so very loved, and even though things weren't always easy with you around, we are so glad that you were a part of our family for the past 14 months. Be at peace, sweet brother. We love you.

Gus, Buster, Hobbit and Abby

Abby: Sleepover!

My mommy and daddy are out of town so they sent me to my home away from home: Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike's house. This place is the best! Their children Josh and Kimberly live here, too, and they are very nice to me. And, guess what! There are FIVE doggies here for me to play with! Their names are Brandie and Annie (aka "The Girls"), Sully, Maggie and Sassy. Brandie, Annie and I are buddies! They are golden retrievers, but I don't let their size intimidate me. We not only play together, we take naps together. When it comes to actual bed time, though, I get to sleep with my Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike. They call me "Little Princess." Is there no wonder why I like it here so much? I mean, I practically run the place! Now, Sassy and I, we had to come to a special understanding when I first started staying over. She is blind, so she let me know right off that she wouldn't put up with my "antics." I don't think of my play style as "antics," just an exuberant friendliness. :) Anyway, she didn't have to tell me twice. Once we got that settled I had no trouble fitting in!

I am very thankful that I get to stay here. It's fun to spend time somewhere else. Everyone needs a change of pace every now and then, whether you're a human or a doggy. That's why Mommy and Daddy are on vacation now. They needed a change of scenery and routine. My mommy also said this arrangement works out well for Gus, Buster and Hobbit, who are at home with a very nice dog sitter named Miss Debbie. Mommy laughs and says it's like a vacation for them. I don't think that's so funny. I just know that they miss me and will want to play with me when I get back. (By the way, poor Huck is staying at the kennel. Mommy and Daddy hope that he will be grown up enough to stay home with the dog sitter soon.)

Well, I think I'll go see what kind of fun I can get into with The Girls!

Xoxo,
Abby

Here I am snuggling up with Annie.