Welcome Daisy!

Since after losing Pixie, sleep was so hard for me and many tears before falling asleep. I finally asked Sue if we could adopt another dog, but not to take Pixie's place in our life - just begin with her own life.  Daisy came to us on September 15th.

 

On September 14th I felt an urge (God driven) to look for another companion in our life.  I was moving around the different SPCA sites in and around Delaware/PA/NJ.  We had our hearts set on another Cockapoo, with the same coloring as Pixie.  I made many calls that morning and many times I was told that "this dog is not available."   I saw an image of a light colored small dog listed in the Camden-Wyoming Delaware SPCA.  I called an asked...I was told she WAS available, and that she was a poodle mix. I was so excited and we left home as soon as we heard this news.  The left image is one of the first taken of Daisy when we visited with her.  After arriving at the SPCA, we met and walked a time with Daisy...a handler was involved and explained that there was needed paperwork to be filed.  Sue and I filled out all the paperwork necessary and went to the car to talk about adopting Daisy.  Time passed and we shared many of our moments with Pixie when we first met her.  We sat in the car for 1 1/2 hrs and when we decided to adopt we were told it was too late in the day to take her.  We were so let down and on the ride home we thought of all kinds of reasons to pass on her.

When we awoke on Tuesday, 15 September, I said today is the day we bring another girl into our lives!!  Both Sue and I were excited...I called the groomer across the street (Hair of the Dog) from the SPCA and asked if they would have the time for a short session of just taking her overgrown coat down to an inch or so. Becca answered the phone and wasn't the groomer, but she said it would be Ok.  She said she would ask Melody who was the owner.  Driving to Dover on Route 1 took so long... I stopped at the groomer's salon to again ask if it was alright to bring Daisy over for a trim.  Melody said she had quite a few large dogs today, but explained that she would fit her into the schedule.  Wonderful -- Great!!
The time at the desk with the folks at the Dorothy M. Gooden SPCA Building didn't take as long as we expected, however, when we arrived, I asked if I could go to Daisy's cage to see her..."oh sure" they said and I hot-footed it over to her cage.  She was up on the plastic step that is supported by a PVC piping looking kind of upset.  Her hair was damp with urine and she seemed hurtful since we left the day before.  I told her we had come back for her and asked if she was ready to come home with us. I reached just passed the metal cyclone fencing material and she tried to bite my fingers.  I withdrew in time, but still wanted to give her a chance to let us love her.

We drove across the street and walked into Melody's Salon.  I held Daisy up for Melody to take her and I could smell her uncleanness.  Since Daisy just had been spaded five days prior, a bath wasn't a good idea since dogs aren't stitched anymore, but glued.  She could be infected or worst if the skin separated if she got it wet. Melody did a super job on Daisy and used a dry shampoo on parts of her that needed cleaning.  We were so grateful!  Melody would not accept payment because of her closeness with the kennels across the street.  She felt each dog should find a home and doesn't charge for those that she cleans up.  We set an appointment with her in the time necessary for Daisy's glued area to heal. 

Here she is sitting on my lap just like how Pixie did when she was young

One Month and Counting...

So many thanks for your cards, letters and Facebook postings to help us through this time after Pixie's death. 

We treasure these caring notes you have sent!  As you can see, we had Pixie's ashes placed in this memorial box to be kept in our hearts and placed in our living space as long as forever turns out to be.  I have asked to have her ashes mixed with mine when I pass.

 

 

One Week Afterwards...

Yes we have completed just one week after Pixie died.

Many of our friends have sent us cards and letters and we've received some flowers too.  We have tried to stay alive, but as evening rolls around we are reminded that our little girl isn't to be found.  We miss her terribly!  Sue has removed most of the beds, covers and toys that Pixie once played with.  Our fond memories are hidden away.  I am on the verge of tears constantly as it is hard to remove her from our life in such a short time.  We hold hands in bed and cry together to sleep.  Pixie will be a hard memory to forget.

From Harry & Joan

Pixie Died Last Night

 

On National Dog Day, August 26, Pixie passed away with both Sue and I at her side at the Red Lion Veterinary Hospital. Just 15 years ago, Puppy Pixie at 6 weeks old was examined by Dr. Wm. Southard Jones the founder of RLV.  Now both he and Pixie have been laid to rest. Pix is perhaps the smartest dog I've ever known; we will miss her happy eyes and joyful expressions!  Pixie mannerisms ran abundantly here in her home.  We loved caring for her and will miss those times when she needed to be carried upstairs (she never liked the wood steps) or at the 10 PM hour when she wanted treats before bedtime. Oh yes bedtime...we both placed our hands on her and when on the boat we snuggled constantly.
Early in her life she was bitten by a territorial black lab; she barely lived through this with a total of 17 stitches inside and 17 outside to close the wound. 
Healthy most of her life until melanoma was discovered on August 15, 2014.  The many visits with oncologist Dr. Ann Jeglum in West Chester, Dr. William Riddle's hyperbaric oxygen chamber visits with his wife LuAnne in Port Deposit, MD, and close care of surgeon Dr. Dina Schofield of Stoneback Veterinary Associates in Oxford, PA were the professional folks who cared for her.

She was so loved and of course she went along with everything because WE were with her. It was a horrible 6 months since March, 2015 when her weakened radiated skin on her right cheek broke and exposed her jawbone and more. Since her skin was not healthy, it could not cover her face. We did realize a whole year more with her after the cancer was detected, but she wasn't herself during this past year and her quality of life suffered terribly. We owed Pixie this deadly needle to stop her suffering, but it is a far better way to go than to continue to see her hurting.   Pixie adored us as much as we placed her in the center of our lives!  I know the crying will stop sometime, but we'll never forget her and the good times we had before cancer came into her body. Pixie's loving attitude was focused on both of us all of the time. 
 

She is in GOD's hands and we have been praying that we'll see her again!
Bless you Pixie Girl, we love you so!

Last day of radiation treatment 10/2014



Our beautiful baby girl - Aug/2000

Frequent visits to the boat

Love the Pixie Kisses

With Miranda 2006



Crystal loved to groom Pixie when we had a special occasion



Pixie's babysitter Geri will miss her dearly



Park image of the Pix after a family session

Watching the Westminster Dog show

Studio portrait with squirrel toy that Kathy Wright gave Pixie for 2005 Christmas

Will miss her terribly






beachcombing in the Exumas with Pixie

Renewing our visa in the Bahamas





At Big Majors Spot Exumas

I love spaghetti too...and she did!

haircut time aboard Jubilee






She loves ice cream

In the studio

With Grandson Jimmy - Sept 2014












On Jubilee - 2010 - the good years

 



July to 15 August

As we move into our third month of this summer, we find our use of Jubilee has been somewhat reduced since our Pixie is still not able to endure the heat.  We knew this as the warmer days increased therefore we purchased a personal air conditioner for the boat and to keep the Pix and us cool throughout the time on the water at marinas.  But we can't always "plug-into electric." 

Pixie enjoying the comfort

A sailing day aboard Jubilee

Geri & Don under the bimini
 

The WSPS Cruise had weather that didn't allow us to sail on many days. No air on Monday, rain Tuesday, sail Wednesday and rain on both Thursday and Friday. We decided to go home on Thursday morning and to try to enjoy what time on the water we could have.



Sue in control

 

July brought us hotter days that kept both Don and Pixie comfortable in the cooler air-conditioned house, forsaking use of the boat since it seemed Pixie couldn't get her breath.  We did spend one July Friday to do miscellaneous chores and visit some friends in the marina. Don cleaned the bottom while I did some housekeeping below.

Pixie resting on the cabin top with the large sun awning keeping the heat off of her.



Let the cleaning process begin!

Our latest visit with the West Chester Oncology Vet yielded more medicine for Pix to keep her jaw area clean and to allow her comfort to sleep at night even though Sue had to get up most nights to let her out.  Pixie does sleep a lot, but as we all age, this is normal.  She shows us some exciting times too.  Since Angel (daughter Karen's dog) is visiting for 20 days, we see a different side of Pixie trying to compete or just keep up with this younger (6 yrs) dog. 

snack time















As 15 August  passes so does the remembrance of when all of the Cancer development that began in Pixie at Red Lion Vet. while doing Pixie's teeth cleaning.  A growth formed on her lower right jaw area just about her lip line.  This was sent to the University of Pennsylvania for a biopsy and on 18 August we found it was cancerous and growing at a fast rate.  We visited with the oncology department of Animal Specialties here in Delaware and they said she may only have a month to live.  Most of this info and more can be found in our past blog archives.
This winter our plans included a trip to Florida, at Marathon Key and side trip to Cuba for a month, but without being sure of Pixie's health, we don't want to leave.

Taking Angel for a dink ride

Bottom cleaner

The Week in Review...

Normally we don't have a lot of news to impart, but lately, exciting things are happening.

Sue rowing to Jubilee

We placed Jubilee in the water on Saturday, 6 June.  The delay was because of Pixie's on-going problems with radiated tissue on the right side of her face.  Many hyperbaric oxygen treatments and many trips to the West Chester Oncology equate to less time to spend preparing Jubilee for the water.

It was a windy day and the tide was running the wrong way but Sue was able to row to Jubilee for us to place the dinghy on the bow.

Finishing the changing of the duck bills

We decided that we would use the racing sail for the WSPS Cruise which will begin on 20 June, so Don needed to change all the connectors for the mainsail. That is, to remove the hardware from the Dacron mainsail and add it to the carbon one.

Another item that he deemed necessary to replace were the "duck bills" in the vacuflush system.  This operation tends to be somewhat smelly and he really didn't need my assistance.

So here we go down the Chesapeake Delaware Canal headed toward our summer marina Green Point Landing

 

off of Worton Creek.  Notice the lovely color the Summit Bridge is now painted... and some traffic on the Elk River.








The real story is how our Pixie is doing.  She had surgery on 2 June; an examination on the following week and the stitches removed on 16 June.  The skin didn't stay closed up on her face and because of the radiated tissue, it pulled away from her jawbone once again.  The good news is that she has developed healthy tissue that is connected to her jawbone inside her mouth; just the outside has slipped away.  We are bathing her twice a day and administering an antibiotic ointment to the affected area.  Her hyperbaric treatments will continue and we are hoping to close this area soon.

Sitting with Dad in his "easy chair"