Pet Updates

Hello, everyone!

As readers of the blog know, Christopher passed away last January. Well, six weeks later, we also lost Kandi, Jeff's family dog. Kandi started to decline before Christmas, and had moments where she bounced back. But by March, she was struggling, and we decided to make the painful decision to end her suffering. She had a long life (almost 16 years!) and was loved and cared for until the very end.

Chris and Kandi had a very unique bond. Kandi had stayed with my parents when Chris was there so that she could get treatment for her arthritis and the two of them were thick as thieves. We took the two of them to the Dog Days baseball game in San Francisco, they took walks around the creek by our old home, and always protected each other. If a dog or other animal charged or threatened one of them, the other stood up to the imposing animal. As you can see in the photos, they were always with each other. Even when Kandi was sick, Chris stood guard, and vice versa.

Our pups together

Kandi, as sweet as she was, was not always the brightest at times, and was accident prone. She had been hit by a car twice: once when she was younger, and again at 12. The first time, Jeff was able to help pay the bills, and the second time, she was hit in front of a vet's home, who took care of her for almost nothing. Until the very end she was very healthy, even surprising the vet with how healthy she was. She outlived her siblings by a few months, we were told.

When Chris died it was a very sad time for us, but Kandi it was mixed emotions. We were relieved that she was no longer in pain, and that she and Chris would be together taking care of each other. But there was definitely a bigger hole in the spirit of our house. Our three puppies, Fox, Jacob and Pepino, seemed like they were lost without their leaders, and it was hard to feel happy about anything. When Chris passed, we had considered looking for another dog, but weren't rushed. When Kandi passed, after some thought and prayer, we decided to pursue getting another dog.

After some thought and prayer, we decided to go back to Merced County Animal Shelter in Atwater, CA. Even though this is over a two-hour drive, this shelter has special meaning to us. This was the shelter we rescued Chris from, and where Jen's sister, Myra, got her dog, Mason. When we adopted Chris, this shelter had a very high kill rate of dogs that they took in (if you'll recall, Chris was hours from euthanasia). So, to honor our "firstborn", we returned to save another dog. Little did we realize what we were getting into.

Originally, we were debating between a female German Shepherd and a male Pitbull. Jeff went with the dogs, and together they decided on the German Shepherd. While there, though, Jeff noticed a young girl husky mix, and it was decided that Jen would go the next time to meet the German Shepherd as well as this other dog. As it turned out, the husky girl was very fearful of our pack, and especially didn't like Pepino, so we passed on her. While looking through the kennels, however, we found a large male Husky, and brought him out to meet everyone: both of us, our three dogs, and the German shepherd, and it was a match made in heaven! The deciding factor on the husky was his eyes. They reminded us so much of Christopher's, we couldn't tell him no, so we arranged for them both to get fixed, get their shots, and we drove up to pick them up!

We had a lot of names in mind for dogs, but from when they went in to get shots on Thursday until we picked them up two days later, we decided on their names. Our German shepherd girl is named Callie. It was a similar name as Kandi, and Jen wanted a dog with a C name for Chris, so Callie was a good combination. She also has that same personality as Kandi: very sweet and pretty mellow, but just a little dopey :-). She is very young and it seems like she's grown since we got her, but we have her down as about 2 years of age.

Our other pup is a little boy husky named Ichabod. Ichabod was the harder one to name, because we couldn't agree on a name. A lot of huskies have very outdoorsy and cold-weather-themed names, like Snow, or Aspen, or Laika. But when we saw the name Ichabod, we felt the name fit his personality. He is a lot like Christopher, in that he's very bright and picks up on things fast. He also is a very happy dog, and smiles a lot, but isn't too much of a handful. He doesn't walk the greatest on leash, and when one of us has him, the other one will have to man the other four dogs! But over time he'll figure things out.

 The two puppies blended in well to the pack, but they also have a unique bond with each other. Jen always jokes that they're littermates, although that isn't possible obviously. They are often cuddling with each other and tend to stay close. The only downside is that they both sleep on Jen's side of the bed, so with them both there with Fox, and Pepino usually sleeping with Jen also, it gets hard if she has to get up in the middle of the night! 

Although we are still very sad about losing our two babies, we are very happy to welcome these new babies into our home and to help save two other lives.

Paint Nite Adventures

For those that don't know or haven't seen on Facebook, we have both been attending Paint Nite. Paint Nite is where you go to a restaurant, hang out, and learn how to paint pretty cool pictures. We have gone to a few of them now, and our house is starting to look like a little art gallery. Now that we are both doing more in school, it may be less likely that we go to these events, but we are hoping to go to a few more now and then at least!

Jen's koi fish

One of our living room walls, but now the koi fish are just below the cherry tree

Jen's bridge, and the sunset one Jen made for Jeff

Jeff's bridge. He does pretty well with these!

The sea turtle painting

To Christopher

We have had a bit of sad news. For those who haven't seen on Facebook, our beloved dog, Christopher, passed away last week. I won't bog you down with the details, but he was starting to get sick, and then suddenly was in distress. Last Friday, we made the tough decision to let him go.

Everyone who has come to visit has noticed a change in the air in our home. Everyone thought of Chris as people, and he was quite the presence wherever her was. There's definitely a missing energy in this house now, and his absence is affecting us all. Not only are the two-legged parents still grieving, but the four-legged siblings are as well. In particular, our little husky Fox appeared to be hit the hardest. She and Chris did live together for a while before Jacob, Kandi and Pepino moved in, and she showed her sadness those first few days. The day after it happened, we had Chris' collar in our hands and the little tags clinked together. When they did, Fox ran for Chris' bed, looking for him, and when he wasn't there, she just flopped onto his bed. She also had a tough time eating, but that thankfully has since gone away.

We wanted to thank everyone with their thoughts, emails, texts, and phone calls. We are keeping all of these lovely notes and putting a little book together for us to remember our Christopher. We also requested that the vet take footprints for us to keep, and will be getting those after we receive his ashes. We haven't decided what to do with them, but we are also thinking of getting a miniature orange tree in his honor. For those that don't know, Chris LOVED oranges and orange juice. When he was at his sickest, he would only eat cottage cheese with blueberries and orange juice, so we want to get a small tree we can take with us when/if we ever move.

Had it not been for Chris, we would not have any dogs in our family. Because of him we rescued not only three of our pups (Fox, Jake and Pepino), but we also took in Kandi, and Jen's sisters each adopted a "cousin": Mason and Hiccup. Because Chris was the pioneer, a few dogs were saved from being put down. And someday, another one will be brought in when the time is right into our pack, and our house will be happy again.

And before we sign off, we have read this wonderful poem many times prior to Chris' death, and it's how we try to think of him now.

Our first day with Chris

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown...

Our last photo shoot with Chris

 Christopher Perry: Rescued 1/13/08 at age 1; Returned Home 1/17/14