As we roll into the New Year, I realize just how much change has occurred.  The emotional change, the energetic change and the inevitable personal ways we change in our organic life’s journey.  What we forget, is that this change affects all of those closest to us… including our pets.

Some of the greatest change has been apparent in my household over the past year and I have had to take the time to focus on my own ‘human’ issues.  I have been forced to delve deep into my own emotional path and personal growth.  In doing this, I have found that my very own Daisy has also wrapped herself around these feelings.  Her eyes, wide and sad as she wonders why things are not the same.  Her ears perked and head tilted as she looks confused, wondering what she could possibly do to make it all ‘better.’

The greatest lessons I have learned, are from her, my now 3 year old Black Lab mix, Daisy!  Her head in my lap, her cold nose in my ear and her constant love and commitment have been steady and present throughout this personal change.  Our pets become our friends and just the same as friends, we sometimes take them for granted.  We let our own personal agendas blind our objectives as a friend and a companion. 

The simple things get lost and we forget that our pets have emotional needs as well.  A simple scratch behind the ear, a belly rub and a short walk around the block mean so much to our furry friends.  That hidden treat buried in her Kong, a shiny new tennis ball or an extra five minutes of playtime bring the life back into those sad little eyes. 

How quickly we forget that our lives affect more than just our own.  That our choices and actions are mirrored in our pets’ eyes.

So… this year, I make the commitment to my Daisy… my friend…

To be a better friend to her.

To recognize all she does for me.

To make the special effort to have one-on-one time with her every day I can.

To help her realize just how much I love her.

To allow her to be a friend to me as well.

I hope that this will help everyone to realize just how much our pets not only care for us, but do for us… we are all intertwined in this life and our souls are dependent upon each other for the support necessary to strive!

Here is to my four legged best friend, my Daisy!

Daisy came to us as a 7month old, 37lb Black Lab/Coonhound/Border Collie mix rescue dog.  Malnourished, skittish and infection ridden, we brought her to health. 

As many of you know, dogs who come from an abusive/neglectful home bring along with them a slew of physical and emotional problems.  Daisy’s issues were as follows:

1. She was malnourished and her ribs were showing severely.
2. She had dry/itchy skin.
3. She had a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection since age 5months).
4. She had severe separation anxiety and other various emotionally disturbed behaviors.

My heart was broken as these issues started to surface.  One after the other would arise and it seemed overwhelming, as though we may never bring her to a state where she could enjoy life again.  What had her previous home done to her?!

We started asking our veterinarian, experts and other pet owners for advice on how to handle these issues.  The most common thread running through all of their advice was, ‘consistency and love.’  Keeping this in mind, these were some of the tribulations that we dealt with while overcoming Daisy’s issues:

1. She cried herself to sleep for 3 months, every night.
2. She would urinate or defecate in her kennel at night for the first month.
3. She would lick and/or chew on her hind quarters, skin and legs when we would leave her alone.
4. She would bark until her vocal chords were ‘horse’ when we would not pay attention to her or when we would leave her alone.
5. Due to her UTI’s she would need to be let out to urinate every ½ hour to every 2 hours or else she would urinate on her bedding or our rugs.
6. She was unable to settle down and relax without being completely exhausted to a point of ‘crashing.’
7. She would exude symptoms of separation anxiety such as when we would return from leaving her alone, she would whine excessively, rub herself against us in an uncontrolled manner, urinate multiple times, chew/destroy small items in our home, lick us excessively and seem extremely excited to a point of her exhausting herself.

Stay tuned to hear how we overcame Daisy’s trials and tribulations…

Upon buying my first cottage style home in Minneapolis, I had ‘the bug’ to find the perfect new puppy for my new life!  My significant other, Jason, and I were bound and determined to find a fun-loving, medium-large breed pup about 1 year old.  All we knew was that we were definitely going to adopt! 

We had applied to meet quite a few other pups in the area.  When we finally received communication from the local shelters, we were saddened to find that our new puppies were already adopted or that they were no longer for adoption.  Over and over again we would say, “Well, that dog was just not meant for us!” 

Until… one day we received a call from C.A.R.E.S. in Wyoming, MN saying that they had two lab mix puppies, both 7months old and ready for new homes.  We immediately scheduled a time to go up and meet the two puppies. 

Buried in the mass of dogs that greeted us at the door, was this skinny, black puppy, with the most beautiful caramel eyes!  She took one look at Jason and I and it was over for all three of us!  She was the one we were waiting for… or were we the ones she was waiting for?

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into…

Here begins the story of a young puppy, her humans and her journey to health!