27 months with Lilly

Lilly left us on 5-31, 2014. She had a really bad night, by morning the pain was too much for Lilly so we took her to have her laid to rest. No matter how many times I have done this, it is never easier. It is horrible to feel your best friends body to become lifeless but we knew it had to be done. We could not let her suffer.

We were never sure of Lilly's age when she came to us but, to us that was the day she was born. We had 27 wonderful months with her. She was the most loud and verbal dog we have even had. Now our home feels empty and quite without her.  

RIP Tiger Lilly, we love you forever.

Saying goodbye to Lilly

I apologize, I have been so busy with work in the past year I simply have not had time to update my blog. I have debated on weather or not I should close it since I have not posted anything in so long. But something has come up and I feel like I need to tell those who are interested about it.

Some of you who follow my blog will remember our girl Tiger Lilly, the dog who came to us over 2 years ago. She had been shot in the face with a shot gun. She was blind in her left eye we suspect one of the pellets damaged a nerve to her eye. She had many things wrong with her at the time. She was VERY dog aggressive but we could see the kindness in her eyes and as sick as she was she always wagged her tail when she heard our voices. After several months of her being sick then well then sick again and no one wanting to adopt her we decided to keep her. In time with lots of love and patients she started getting along great with our other dogs and became best friends with them. I never would have dreamed she would eventually sleep with them but she she does & they all get along perfectly.

Bad news: Back in late fall of last year I seen a tiny spot on the floor, it looked like a drop of pink water. Then a few weeks later I seen it again, then again. Finally almost a month later we realized it was coming from Lily’s nose. But it was so little. She had began scratching quite a bit so we figured allergies so I began giving her Benadryl. After the Holidays we were seeing a little bit more blood than pink so we took her to our vet. Everything seemed fine , she prescribed some pills, we brought Lilly home, still no better. So over the next few months we took her back to our vet for more test and tried different pills. They treated her for allergies, fungus infection and other possible infections but nothing worked.

So our vet suggested we take her to a Hillcrest Animal Hospital in Little Rock (over 2&1/2 hours away) to have them run a scope into her sinuses to see if they can figure out what was wrong.

They did the procedure and X-ray (which we had never had done). Upon looking at the X-rays Lilly had way more pellets in her face than we had imagined. The doctors there seen 3 pellets close to the orbit of her eye and her sinus cavity. They felt like a infection sort of “rode in” on the pellets and caused a really nasty bacteria infection in her sinuses. So they removed the infected area and sent her home with 3 months of very strong antibiotics.
 We were so HAPPY to know she was going to be ok and determined to help her get well. But over the week she  didn't get better, she actually got worse. I was supposed to call the vet at Hillcrest back Monday, a week later to see what the results of the culture were that they sent off. That's when we found out in was not a infection, Lilly has Hemangiosarcoma. A very aggressive cancer.  At this point they could not recommend anything, no treatments, no surgery, no hope for Lilly. Even if the cancer could be removed it will come back and it still would not buy her much time. Most of the time this type of cancer starts in the spleen or stomach, lungs or heart. And most of the time people have no idea there dog is even sick until the dog dies or is almost dead. We are just broken hearted over her. She came to us so sick, almost dead and we saved her. And now we are helpless, we can’t save her this time.

We did  LOT of research online and found many people who were using Holistic medicine to treat there dogs and some dogs were living many months longer, some even a few years longer. The #1 treatment that stood out, that so any people are using and it has helped their dogs was Yunnan Baiyao. A Chinese Herb. The main thing it was supposed to help with is the bleeding. Many said it stopped the bleeding. So we checked into to make sure with our Vets that is was safe. We ordered it and gave it to Lilly right way but no changes, her nose still bleeds. This seems to be her only discomfort. When she lays down the blood goes down her throat causing her to cough, sneeze and have terrible snorting episodes.

We got the horrible news 2 weeks today, the vet gave her 3-6 months to live though I think the cancer is even more aggressive since the procedure. Since then the cancer has ate away part of the top of the sinus cavity. so we are not sure she will make it that long. All we can do is love her and spoil her and try to make her as comfortable as we can. It kills us to think of loosing her but we are so grateful we have had 2  great years with her and time to try to say goodbye. She has taught us many things.

I have been taking lots of pictures. As you can see in some of them she has been pretty playful, It makes me so happy to see her run.

We have been doing as much as we can with her. One of her favorite things is to ride the Mule. So we have been taking her, Biscuit & Lucy for rides at least once a day sometimes many more.

As I type this, she is laying at my feet snoring. I don’t know how many more times I will have her here with me like this but I am very grateful for every moment we have with her.

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.   ---Unknown

Family Rules 2

I just added another style of Family Rules to my etsy store. It is a Chalkboard style.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164497788/family-rules-2-chalkboard-art?ref=shop_home_active

New stuff added to my etsy store.

I've been so busy filling orders that I have not had time to get many new things made but here are 5 new ones I just put up in my etys store. If you don't have a etsy account and would like to buy directly just bounce me over a email.cplugnut@centurytel.net :)

 

For more info on these please check them out in my etsy store. ~~Thank you!!

 

All of the proceeds from the sales of this sign will go to Angie’s Fur Angels with Emerald Coast Animal Rescue. To see some of the many countless lives Angie has saved please click here...https://www.facebook.com/TheForlornDogsOhHughesAr

This sign will be available for 2 weeks only. Depending on the amount of sales, please allow up to 4 weeks for me to have your sign shipped to you.

 

 This beautiful little poem was written by my niece, a very special girl who loved animals and loved to sing. She and her boyfriend were tragically killed in a car wreak 3 years ago. This poem was one that was found in her home by her mom. We were all so touched by this poem as it is “so Jessica”. She was always smiling. A few Christmas’s ago I was asked to make this into a sign for Jessica’s dad, my brother. While I was making one I thought I would make a few more for family members. I had several request from people who wanted to buy one but I never felt right about making money off of something Jessica had written.
And then recently I was thinking of making a special sign for my friend Angie to help with her rescue. As I was thinking about it I kept coming back to this poem written by Jessica. Knowing how much she loved animals, remembering her carrying around her kittens and playing with the dogs. I knew this was the sign to help my rescue friend out with. So with Jessica’s parents OK I have redesigned the first one so I could offer it to sell with all proceeds going to a rescue in memory of Jessica. This month would have been her birthday as well. So in honor of Jess’s birthday and in her memory I bring to you .....Where You Go In Life, by Jessica Dene’ Draper.

 For more information about this sign please follow the link. https://www.etsy.com/listing/159672459/where-you-go-in-life-chalkboard-art?ref=shop_home_active

 

It's been a year ago today that we had to let our ole Goldie go. She was the best dog ever.

 

Where has my time gone? To the dogs ?

It’s been a extremely busy summer. We have been doing some much needed work on our house,still more to be done...or is it ever really done? ;)

Sales have been fantastic and a BIG THANK YOU to all of my customers, you are the greatest!

 

I have had a few dogs to come my way & with a lot of help from a friend we were able to save them. I am forever grateful for my rescue friends who have devoted their life to saving the fur babies.  

The first dog this summer who sort of “came to me” was a gorgeous Coonhound.  I was contacted about this sweetie who had been brought into the shelter a few towns away. I was told she didn't stand much of a chance as she was due to have puppies anytime. Here is the south its VERY VERY hard to find much help and so many are euthanized. But I was told about a lady who might could help me and SHE DID! She has helped me with several dogs this summer and COUNTLESS other dogs in NE Arkansas. This remarkable lady really is a Angel on earth. 

 Please be sure to check back tomorrow and I am going to be offering a very special OOAK sign that will only be available for 2 weeks with all proceeds going to my rescue friend who does all her rescue work with donations and many times money out her pocket.

She found a rescue for Miss Coonhound and the others who came to me in one way or another this summer.

 

Me and Coonhound momma to be... she ended up having 11 puppies just a few days after this picture.

Coonhound momma has come a LONG WAY. She went from Pocahontas Arkansas to Jonesboro Arkansas. Then to St Louis Mo. Then BACK to Jonesboro Ar. Then to Ill. and now in her forever home in upper Michigan .

 

 This is Mr. Curley, he and his friend were living off the streets of Black Rock Ar. But some very kind folks couldn't let him and his buddy, Hoppy starve and made sure they were well fed and got with me to help them get these boys off the streets.

 Curley (now Jude) is now living happily ever after in St. Louis Mo.

This is Curley's (now Jude) buddy, Hoppy. They called him Hoppy as he sort of hops when he walks. Some mean folks ran over him on a 4 wheeler,must have broken his lower leg and it healed back all crocked,poor fella.. ~Hoppy is currently in Springfield Mo in his foster home. He is undergoing treatments for heart worms and hopefully will be well and ready for adoption later this fall.

 This silly boy is Lucky and LUCKY he sure is. He really did come to me, right to my porch steps.

 Mr. Lucky was rescued by a wonderful group in Colorado. Lucky is now in his foster home, doing great and will be for adoption soon. :)

 These 2 came to my neighbor's house. Before I could get them in a rescue the sweet brown boy was given away. Hopefully to a good home. But this sweetheart white puppy went to rescue.

And look at her now! She's all cleaned up and ready for her new home too. She is such a doll.

These fur babies could not have been saved if it had not been for my friend Angie. She is with Emerald Coast Animal Rescue. Thank you Angie!!