I Left My Mark

Before I begin, Daddy, Mommy and I would like to thank everyone who sent cards, left comments or wishes after Chloe's passing.  We miss our little girl, and it meant a lot to us to know people were thinking about us.

  

I also have an announcement to make.  Now that I'm taking over the blog, Aunt Pat will now be known as Mom, or Mommy.  Mommy  may have been Chloe's aunt before she moved in, but I've always known her as Mom.

Yesterday, as a  matter of fact, I left my mark.  In the Vet's office.  On the clay pot that held one of their floor plants.  I smelled so many smells there, and got to sniff another dog that looked a little like my cousin Jade, only this dog was black, and Jade is blond like me.  I just had to leave my calling card.  It didn't matter that Mom had taken me outside right before we left, and that I left a little message outside the office as well.  Mommy was mortified, and cleaned up the mess right away.  Everyone at the Vet's office understood.  I gave almost everyone kisses as an apology, and they accepted.  I'm fine.  The Vet gave me a very thorough check up.  I went for my kennel cough vaccine because I meet and play with other dogs, plus they board dogs at the rehab vet I may run into.  

 A few days after Chloe passed, our friend D brought Sarah and Weezie over for a visit.  I save special kisses for her, since she's the one who introduced my old mom to Daddy and Mommy so I could live here.  It was so nice to see all of them again!  Sarah, Weezie and I had fun running around the back yard and playing with the toys in the house.

 Sarah sniffed all over the house and jumped on Daddy and Mommy's beds like she used to do when she stayed here.  Mommy and Daddy put the baby gate up to try to keep us out of the kitchen when they ate lunch.  But, Sarah was able to get through, and we all had a little treat.   They pooped me out.  I took a break on the sofa while they ran around. Weezie came to check on me, though.  She's a very sweet girl.

I made a boo-boo though.  When D was ready to go, she asked if Sarah and Weezie wanted to go for a car ride.  Well, I heard the words car ride, and I was raring to go.  I got right up and started over towards her.  D had a really nice truck that would fit us all comfortably in the back. Oops.  Maybe next time they come I'll get a ride around the block or something.

Chloe 2004-2013

 I'm sad to report the sudden passing of Chloe, who blessed us with her lively spirit from the time of her adoption in  2006 until this morning.  According to her adoption papers, she was born in 2004.  

 Chloe was fine on Christmas, but this past Thursday, she started with vomiting, and not eating.  She still seemed to have her usual get up and go, so we thought she had stomach upset from a joint supplement that she'd been taking.  So we started a bland diet, and watched her.  Over the weekend she seemed to be panting more, so we took her to the Vet on Monday.  He had trouble hearing her breath sounds, so he did an x-ray, which showed a great deal of fluid in her chest.  He removed some of the fluid and diagnosed her with a Chylothorax.  The Vet wanted to drain some of the fluid in her chest and take some blood to test the triglyceride levels in each fluid to confirm the diagnosis, and to schedule the ultrasound.We started her on a low fat diet and a supplement called Rutin.     

The Vet drew enough fluid for the test, but didn't drain it because Chloe's breath sounds improved, and  the ultrasound images would be better with the fluid in place.  She actually ate a couple of small meals; seemed more comfortable; and was more interactive.  

 Yesterday, her condition worsened.  She started having more trouble breathing, and she looked more uncomfortable.  The ultrasound showed extensive lymphoma in her abdomen, and in her chest, what appeared to be clots and fibrin/fibrous tissue around her heart, and more fluid in her chest.  This morning, Chloe joined her sisters Heidi and Katie, her friend Tony, and Freddy's mother Grace at the Rainbow Bridge.  She was very peaceful, and finally appeared to be at rest.

 Chloe was smart, sweet, stubborn, temperamental  and had a zest for life.  She loved going for her morning walks, which my brother referred to as the morning "Sniff and pee", since the sniffing and peeing over other dogs' scents seemed to take more time than the actual walking.  Chloe also loved a set schedule, and any alteration in walking time, or nap time, or play time resulted in a look, stomping of her paws, and a horse-like whinny, that indicated her disapproval.  We called it, getting all "Hubba-bubba.", because that's the noise it sounded like she was making.  If Chloe wanted something, and the humans weren't responding quickly enough, she would do some silent doggie communication thing to get Freddy off of the sofa to come over and nudge me to pay attention to her.

Chloe was also very social.  Whenever we went for a walk, or saw another dog, rabbit or other creature, Chloe assumed the other creature wanted to meet her as much as she wanted to meet it.  This resulted in friendships with her friend Tony, the dog that lived with our neighbor, another neighbor dog named Lucy, and of course, Sarah and her sister Weezie.  It also resulted in a nice scratch across the face when the rabbit she chased  in our back yard kicked her.  It also resulted in her being picked up and carried on some of her walks when some of the other dogs weren't interested in being her friend, and Chloe wouldn't stop barking at them. She also enjoyed visiting Freddy's family and meeting and playing with the foster dogs.

Her best friend was her sister Katie.  Katie was older than Chloe, and I think acted as a little mother to her.  They were very close, like Yin and Yang.  Chloe was saddened at Katie's passing, but really seemed to come into herself afterwards.  

 Chloe was sweet and loved a good cuddle.  It didn't matter if it was two in the afternoon, or two in the morning.  She would swat one of us with her paws and roll on her side or back indicating her need for a tummy rub.  She would also curl up right behind her back, nearly causing me to fall out of bed on more than one occasion, and causing Andy to sleep on the sofa more than once.  She also like to jump onto the sofa and onto my lap, especially if I was knitting or crocheting.  She would sprawl across my lap and sometimes stand on my project, ensuring that the only way I could continue would be to put it down and pay Chloe the attention she deserved.  She also sensed if you weren't feeling well.  She would stay close by and snuggle.

Chloe wasn't afraid to try new things.  She enjoyed obedience class, and even started going into the swimming pool once she became comfortable around the water. 

Chloe's favorite perch around the house, besides her pillow on the sofa, was the table in front of the living room window.  She would lay there and watch the world go by, barking as needed at anything, anyone, or something only Chloe could see.

Chloe will be missed, but we know she's no longer in pain, and the Furry Horde of Doom, or the Three Musketeers are finally back together.