Friendship » Dogs Don't Look Both Ways

safety first, safety always

8: Rehabilitation, _Stuff about dogs in General No Responses »

Jul 242009

Here are some more friends from the animal medical center: Dakota, the German Shepherd, and Steve, his handler. These are a really proud and nice team!

dakota_steve_3 Dakota guides Steve, who cannot see his way. Dakota was in the hospital because one morning when Steve was going to work and the two of them were going up an escalator, Dakota’s paw got stuck. He too was in a lot of pain, just like I had been. His toes were also broken, like mine had been. He too has to wear a collar, just like I did.

When they are walking together, Dakota helps Steve to walk in a straight line and around obstacles. Outside, Dakota also tells Steve where the curb is so Steve knows where to stop.

However, only Steve determines when it is time to go.

When they are stopped at a curb where there is a traffic light or a stop sign, Steve uses his sense of hearing to determine when it’s safe to cross.

Dakota and Steve are best friends but each one has his role and they work together as a team to ensure Steve’s safety and happiness.

I speak for Dakota when I say that dogs, even guide dogs, cannot understand or obey traffic signals and stop signs, and cannot make decisions about when it is safe to cross the street.

celebrating my 10th birthday

8: Rehabilitation, _Stuff about dogs in General 7 Responses »

Jul 092009

Today was a really special day.

I have one birthday every year at which time my parents usually give me a special treat such as potatoes or potato chips or something that I love. They also sing me this song; tonight they sang me a song with a really joyous melody that made me really happy. At the end of the song they said “Joey” then “Yay!” and that made me really happy. Then they sang it again and then once more. I love my parents. They teach me new words so I feel smart and smarter. They try to understand me even when we have trouble communicating. I have friends who let me jump up and kiss them, even when my parents say “Joey, off”. I have doctors and technicians who are kind who let me kiss them and who really care about me and about dogs. I have everything!

here's a picture of me on my 10th birthday. if you look carefully, you can see the full moon and the crescent moon in my eye.

I pose for my birthday photo in a moment of peace the garden

MVI_0020

I go to work one day

7: Recuperation 3 Responses »

Jun 262009

I don’t know what my veterinary doctors are going to think about this but here goes:

There I was – happy as could be – without the splint for the first time in months.

It was the afternoon and I was with my mom. The telephone rang and my mom was talking and talking to my dad. Then my mom turned to me and said, “Joey, it’s “Bring Your Dog to Work Day” in Boston” and we’re going to go out! But she didn’t tell me we were going to see Dad. Next, my mom dressed me all up (that is, she put the sock on my foot, the bootie over that and put the lead on me). Then we walked to her car. We drove to my dad’s work. There, she pulled the car up to the curb and there stood Dad! Happiness and Joy! Dad opened the car door and I got out. Jane drove away. Dad stood and I sat until Jane came back (without the car). Then the three of us walked to Dad’s work, which was only a few feet away. We went up the elevator and into a new and special place.

Right away I was so happy to see new people and make new friends, and people were so happy to see me and I could hear the smiles in their voices. “Joey!” they called to me. This made me even happier. Then more and more people started coming to see me. “Joey! It’s Joey, from the blog!” They were so excited which made me more excited. They especially got a big kick out of my sock.

Rachel, Tammy and me

Then we all walked to my dad’s office. After all, Dad had work to do. I’m not sure what that means, but I think it means that I’m supposed to be quiet and “sit” and “stay”.

Being quiet and sitting was difficult to do because more and new people kept showing up and wanting to pet me and wanting me to play with them, and take photographs with them.

Jane took a lot of photographs but she wasn’t very happy with the photographs. She kept saying, “Joey, stick your tongue back in your mouth”. But I ignored her.

Rachel, Tammy, Jody and Jamie

Then I went into my dad’s office and Jane said, “Joey, sit” while my Dad got quiet and then she got quiet. When I would sit, everybody would say “He’s so gooooood!!!” and then I would get excited and stand up. Jane wasn’t so happy about that because I still had my injured foot and she didn’t want me standing up too much. But that’s happens when a dog goes to work: A dog has to work at making all the friends he can!

Soon my Dad brought me a bowl of water and Jane said “Joey, drink”. People were watching me drink and they said, “Wow! He’s so good!” I felt happy to hear them say that with their approving voices.

so much work

Then it got quiet again and Jane said “Sit” and then “down”. She kept piling books near me. It depressed me that I couldn’t play with my new friends while she kept piling more and more books near me.

What’s that?

Another big deal was the bald patches on my fur. Although my coat is beginning to grow back, people pointed and said “What’s that?” and my dad was explaining everything. I actually don’t understand what they’re talking about but I do know that they talk a lot and point a lot to my back.

Soon it was time to leave. My dad didn’t think he could work with me there, which I think means that I couldn’t sit and be quiet. Actually, I could sit and be quiet but all my friends there couldn’t stop coming and visiting me. So it was time to go back home with my mom.

The most important thing I have to say is that I love all of my new friends and that if my friends are reading this I want them to know that I would be happy to come back and see them some time.

this photo speaks for itself

The other most important thing is that it was really nice to spend some time with my dad in the middle of the day and I really love him a lot. And Dad, if you’re reading this, I love you.

“Why is his tail doing that?” and other questions children ask

7: Recuperation 2 Responses »

May 262009

Why do some dogs love being at the animal hospital? Why does a dog wag his tail? About the special connection between dogs and children. When a child’s pet dies.

Today I got to spend more time at Angell and to see more dogs. Never mind that the doctor changed my splint again because my mom noticed that I had eaten the bandages once again and that about two feet of bandage was trailing out the bottom of the splint, and that I had chewed away at the bottom part of my splint. There is no doubt that I would have continued pulling and chewing had she not seen me and stopped me. Never mind that within ten minutes of her noticing that, we were back in the car, my joy at going for another car ride had made me forget about my annoying splint and bandages. I was at the animal hospital, among friends.

traveller

In the animal hospital, I met a wonderful dog named Traveller. I am showing you a photo of Traveller, who was really friendly, very sweet-natured, and very mature.

A lot of children also came up to me. The children were very interested in me and asked Jane a lot of questions about me.

Two little sisters, Wanda and Miri, came and sat near us. Wanda wanted to know my name and I couldn’t answer for myself so Jane answered for me. When Wanda’s little sister Miri saw my tail wagging back and forth, she pointed to my tail and her finger was moving back and forth as my tail was moving back and forth, and she asked, “What’s that? Why is his tail doing that?” Jane said that it’s called wagging, and that I’m wagging my tail. She said that I wag my tail when I’m happy. The little girl seemed happy with this answer.

what happened here

Then a little boy who said his name was Giovanni came up to us. He saw my leg in the bandage and wanted to know what had happened to him. Jane said that I was hit by a car. Honestly, I don’t remember being hit by a car, but that’s what Jane said happened to me. Giovanni had a lot of interesting questions. He pointed to the large bald spot on my back and leg and asked, ‘What happened here?” Jane said that the doctors had to shave me so they could do surgery on my ankle. They wanted the whole leg to be clean. Then Giovanni pointed to the bald rectangle on my side and asked, “What happened here?” Jane said that when I was hit by the car, I was in a lot of pain so the doctors shaved that area and then put some medicine on that spot so that I didn’t feel so much pain and could relax. Giovanni held out his hand to me and I licked it. Then I licked his face! He laughed and enjoyed that!

Wanda then came up to us again and held out her two hands that were cupped together as one, and showed us a little box that she was now tenderly carrying. Wanda had had a little white pet hamster named Cookie Dough and he had fallen down and gotten very hurt. The girls’ mommy and the two sisters had brought him to the hospital but the doctors couldn’t save his life. Wanda said, with tearful eyes, that inside the box was Cookie Dough and we said “Goodbye, Cookie Dough” and gave Wanda a little hug. Then Wanda, holding her little box, and Miri and their mummy left the hospital, to allow Wanda time to heal her fractured heart.

good neighbors

7: Recuperation 2 Responses »

May 102009

How do dogs perceive something far off in the distance? Do they use their sense of sight, hearing, smell, or touch? Why would the doctor not allow our friend Joey to chase a squirrel?

Every day I have gone out for my daily walks but today I am finally allowed to go outside to sit outside on the grass, like I used to, as long as I am wearing a sock on my wounded foot, and have a plastic bag over that. I still have to be on the leash at all times. Dr. M said I might want to chase a squirrel or go run to say hello to a neighbor and the leash will prevent me from running off. He knows me very well and we’ve just met; how could this be? Doesn’t he trust me? Still, it was fine with me. I can’t run around much anyway, since my ankle is really sore from the surgery. For now, I’m happy to be outside in my world!

When I walk, sometimes I hop on my three paws, holding the fourth leg up in the air, and sometimes now I’m actually using my fourth paw, putting my 4^th leg down every now and then. Dr. M said this was a good idea, because he wants my muscles to get nice and strong again.

That hole over on the side that I dug…It’s still there. But today I’m not getting any ideas.

wait

Wait. I perceive some movement beyond the fence. Who’s that I see and hear off in the distance? Is that my little neighbor, Zooey, and her mom? Oh, it is! Can she see me? I’ll just quickly wag my tail and say hello!

Zooey’s mom calls hello back, and tells Zooey to say “Hi Joey!” They wave. Then Jane calls out, “Joey had his surgery two days ago and now he can have visitors.” Soon Zooey and Zooey’s mom come over to my home to say “Hello, Joey!” closeup. They walk slowly because Zooey is only now learning how to walk. This is great. When Zooey and her mom come into our home, I am very excited, because I love to play with children. However, I’m a big dog and almost 10 years old, and Zooey is a small child and only 2 years old.

So on this afternoon, my mom puts me in the living room and closes the new gate that we have, and Zooey stands in the hallway in the arms of her mommy, and she waves at me from there, and says, “Hello, Joey!” Then she smiles, and I wag my tail. Both Zooey and I are happy.

We have great neighbors, and I’m a Labrador Retriever, after all, and being neighborly is one of my and our favorite hobbies.

homeward bound

6: Surgery 4 Responses »

May 072009

What can we expect after our dog has surgery? How should we treat him after we bring him home following surgery? Is there anything we need to do to our home to protect our dog?

evan-and-joey

One of my new friends was Evan. Here you can see Evan and me, as I was about to leave the hospital. Even has a mixed Labrador Retriever puppy. He said that he hopes his Lab will grow up to be as strong and healthy as me. Wow, that’s quite a compliment!

The air at Angell energizes and excites me. When I was leaving, I saw a lot of people who made me happy, and I let them know that by wagging my tail. I think that people really like it when dogs are friendly to them. When I go to this hospital, people who pass by me, or who I pass by, say “Good boy” and “He’s a beautiful dog” and “He’s so friendly.” I don’t understand “boy” or “beautiful” or “friendly” but I do know that people are saying the nicest things!

Outside of the hospital, I jumped into the back seat of my parents’ car, they jumped into the front seats, and we drove off. Suddenly I started to feel really tired. My dad opened the back window so I could get some fresh air. That was nice. But still, I felt very slow, very low on energy. At some point the car stopped and Jane got out of her seat and ran around the car to the back and got into the back seat with me, and petted my head, and kept saying, very softly, “Good boy. Good boy, Joey.” She said, “We’re going home!” I felt so knocked out and barely heard the word “home” but I do know that I was with my parents, and that was just fine with me. Jane scratched me under my ears, and in between my eyes, some of my favorite places. It was so pleasant that I kept dozing off.

Maybe my being so groggy was a good thing. When we got home, Jane walked me into the house with the lead on, and then she took the lead off of me. Freedom rang and I was able to walk around the dining room and the living room and the kitchen on my own. I was able to drink my water right in the kitchen, in its old place. Life had the ring of familiarity to it.

Then familiarity overcame me and I made for the door to the basement and nudged it open with my nose, and started down the steps to the basement and…I was on the first step when suddenly “Joey, NO!” rang out like thunder. I don’t know what the big deal was, but next thing I knew the lead was attached to my collar and Jane was walking me down the stairs, on the lead, one step at a time. Might this have had something to do with the “instructions”? Frankly, I was too tired to care.

Jane brought my bed down into the basement, where I made myself right at home. It was nice to be home, nice to be able to walk up and down stairs, even with the lead attached, nice to be in the basement with my parents, and nice to be able to fall sound asleep in my own bed.

another sleepover

6: Surgery No Responses »

May 062009

Around 6:15 this morning, after I returned from my 5:30 sunrise walk with my Dad, after my Dad had gone upstairs to see my mom and had forgotten to close the wooden gate to the living room, I exited the living room and scampered up the stairs to visit my parents! That was easy and was something I hadn’t done in a while, and I was running in circles to express my joy at being upstairs with my parents again, although at first they seemed pretty upset by my upward mobility. I don’t understand humans sometimes! But it was really a lot of fun to be back upstairs with them, and I got hugs and kisses from my mom, which was really a lot of fun and extended my joy from my morning walk.

The next thing I know, Dad was saying, “Joey, come” and he walked downstairs, and I followed him, showing my downward mobility, and he put the lead on me. This was really great! Another surprise! I got to take a car ride with my dad very early. He drove to the big 24-hour animal hospital and parked, and we walked in together. Even at 6:30 in the morning it was filled with wonderful smells and signs of canine life and activity! The last time I was here and Jane and I were in the waiting room, there was another little dog there who was very very nervous. Her dad was holding her in his lap and said that she was always nervous when she was taken to the animal hospital. Later, Dr. M’s assistant said that some dogs are nervous when they go to the animal hospital but that most dogs were very happy to be there and be around other dogs. I’m in this group.

Soon, somebody came and got me, and we went off together to the back. I remained there with new people and new animal friends.

Then my dad left.

Soon, Dr. M came and brought me to another part of the hospital.

day 9

5: Dogs Don't Look Both Ways No Responses »

Apr 232009

weighing-in

Today is going to be a great day for me. I have an appointment with my doctor, Dr. B, one of my best friends. The “Instructions” said to bring me there within 7 to 10 days of my going home, and this is Day 9. Perfect.

I don’t really care why I have to go there; for me it is a wonderful thing because I get to go outside for a little bit. I also don’t have to wear the collar while I am in the car. Maybe Jane will open the car window while she’s driving and I’ll feel the fresh air blow on my face and be able to sniff at all the lovely scents of animal life that are in the air.

My parents are saying something about taking out the stitches and staples that are in my belly. I wonder if that means that I will not have to wear the cone any longer. While I am there, Dr. B is going to look at my leg and tell me if he thinks it’s getting better. Then he is going to put on new bandages.

***

At the hospital, Dr. B lets me walk longer distances, which is a lot of fun, though I’m still on the leash. There are so many other dogs and cats there; I am unaware of who is big and who is little; I am aware of males and females. Some dogs are on leads like I am, some are in carriers. There is one dog who has three legs and he is hopping around, as happy as he can be. I find the whole experience of being in the hospital wonderful. All of these dogs could be my friend! My nose and eyes and ears are always busy! My tail is wagging continuously and my ears are alert. Lots of dogs, including me, are marking the walls and posts in order to say, to each other, in our own language,”I am here!”

Each time that I go to the hospital, the doctors want to know how much I weigh, whether I’ve gained or lost weight. Dr. B needs to know so he can figure out how much medicine I should be taking. I’ve lost some weight since I was wounded. Before I was hit by the car, I was a strong 80 pounds. Here in this weighing in I’m down to 74 pounds. Jane says that that’s because I am not running, and Dr. B agrees with her: Phil and I have not gone jogging together for two weeks now. I really don’t care about my weight, but I do care that my ankle and toes heal correctly and that I will be able to run again.