I just wanted to share this picture. I have been feeling down the past couple of days. Callaway... the big white lab/husky mix has been gone for 8 months this Sunday and Brando... the little Jack Russell is 15 and declining... I will have to make the decision soon for him.

I just love how healthy and happy they look in this picture... I wish I could have that day back.

Click to view attachment

That's beautiful, they do look so happy!

They look so happy, healthy and wonderful. Always the way you want to remember them!!!!!

What a lovely picture. It looks like you did your best to appreciate the time you had with them when they were both healthy, and that's all we can do, isn't it? It's 3 weeks today since I lost my guy. I'm sad right along with you...
Thanks for posting that picture, it really captured everyone's mood in the picture...happiness!

I love that pic with the lake in the back....you all look so happy. I occasionally look at pics from a few years ago and I say wow....not only have the dogs aged, but damn I'm looking pretty old! lol. Hang in there and remember those good times.

Hugs,
Sonya

What a wonderful picture--you and your husband are so attractive and happy and the dogs look so content and vibrant. It's a glorious picture--and it's fun to see what one of our members looks like too. You're beautiful!

Try as I may, I have never managed to get the kind of pictures of Ladywolf that really show her essence. It's been very frustrating. I have "okay" pictures, but none that make me feel like saying "Now THIS is my wolf!!" Maybe I ought to get a pro to do some pics for me before she leaves me, because she's still very photogenic.

Great pictures, Rhapsedy!

Margi and Ladywolf

Hi Sonya,

That picture was actually taken at the ocean in North Carolina. My husband used to work out of the house and so we could live anywhere... we chose to live in North Carolina. We had a house on a point with the ocean on the right and the inter-coastal on the left. Callaway and Brando just loved to run on the beach! Those were amazing times and I'm so thankful I have great pictures so I can remember the good times. What I wouldn't give to hug Callaway again... but if I close my eyes and really concentrate I can actually feel myself hugging him like he were still here. I just love him so much!

I know what you mean! I turned 43 yesterday... YIKES!!!! Like you said about being 29 for several years... I have been 29 for 13 years now. LOL!

Take care,
Rhapsedy

Thanks Margi!

Have you ever tried to videotape Ladywolf? Maybe if you videotape her the true Wolf will come out. I truly wish I had a videotape of Callaway but at least I have some wonderful pictures.

Rhapsedy--

I don't have a video camera or a cell phone with video. And I'd like to have done it years ago--this is a pretty old draggie wolf now, not the perky youngster I remember with such delight. Although I could focus a camera on her face forever...

A friend who is a pro photographer has volunteered to do some portraits for me. I just have to get her to him, and he's some distance away. But I think it would be well worth doing.

Once again, I loved your pictures. What a lifestyle--free on the beach. I've had some times like that--most notably, a winter and spring in Cape Cod in the small town where I spent all my summers as a child. I wasn't working, and my dogs and *cat* and I were free to roam the beaches all day long--it was heaven! Glad you had that experience too.

Big Hugs--

Margi and Ladywolf

Hi Margi,

Ladywolf does have a beautiful face. I just love the picture that you posted with your friend, it reminds me of how I used to hug Callaway.

It was an amazing time... thank goodness for memories.

I read your post about the latest on Ladywolf... I am so sorry that she is diabetic. Will the insulin help her to get around better? I sure hope so.

Rhapsedy

Hi Rhapsedy...just wondering how you and Brando are doing? Buck leaving really made me think of you and Callaway. Callaway and Brutus were so much like him I think....I'm hoping Brando is doing well.

Love,
Sonya

Hey Sonya,

It's nice to hear from you.

Brando is hanging in there, he is so tough. I have learned from losing Callaway that I have to enjoy every day that I have with Brando. I had six whole months to say goodbye to Callaway and all I did was fear losing him. I sure wish I would have enjoyed those last months that we had together.

How are you doing? I think about you and brutus quite often. You and I had (have) the same guilty feelings about our decision. Seriously, when I read your story I know without a doubt that you made the right decision for Brutus.

I hope that you are remembering more of the good times and less of his last days.

Take care.
Love,
Rhapsedy

Terrier's are tough that's for sure...sending prayers that Brando has tons of good life ahead of him. My mix Radar is starting to go down hill abit...overall he is in great shape, runs, wrestles and plays with Tanga constantly, but arthritis has set in to his feet and he is started chewing on them at times....I have started him on supplements. Radar is about 10 we believe, give or take a year. When we got him the vet estimated him to be between 1-2....he is so grey now, his whole face almost, even his eyelashes are turning grey.

I too believe you did the right thing with Callaway. I think one thing I learned with Brutus is that when the time comes for Radar, I'm going to try not to fret so much like I did with Brutus...Brutus' going downhill totally consumed me and we all know how our dogs are affected by our overall attitude. I will do whatever I can for him, but not let it consume me to affect his attitude/life too. Does that make sense? Just like you said, enjoy everyday we have with them cause in the end, there is often no choices left but to free them of thier pain.

Tomorrrow will be 7 months that Brutus is gone, and I still miss him so much, but it is not the main thing in my life now...I have moved on abit and sometimes I feel so guilty about that. Tanga and I have become very close, but there will only be one Brutus of my life I think, he will always be the most special.

Hugs,
Sonya

Terrier's are tough that's for sure...

Tough and stubborn... that comes in handy for them later in life.

sending prayers that Brando has tons of good life ahead of him...

Thank you for the prayers. I also need you to pray that I will be able to make the right decision when it's time. I am so scared of making the wrong decision that I might just not make a decision... does that make sense?

My mix Radar is starting to go down hill abit...overall he is in great shape, runs, wrestles and plays with Tanga constantly, but arthritis has set in to his feet and he is started chewing on them at times....I have started him on supplements. Radar is about 10 we believe, give or take a year. When we got him the vet estimated him to be between 1-2....he is so grey now, his whole face almost, even his eyelashes are turning grey.

It sounds like Radar is having a wonderful life and the good thing is that there are a lot of products out there to help him with his arthritis. What kind of supplements are you using? My JR mix Barney has been chewing at his feet alot lately.

I too believe you did the right thing with Callaway. I think one thing I learned with Brutus is that when the time comes for Radar, I'm going to try not to fret so much like I did with Brutus...Brutus' going downhill totally consumed me and we all know how our dogs are affected by our overall attitude. I will do whatever I can for him, but not let it consume me to affect his attitude/life too. Does that make sense?

That makes soooo much sense. I did the same thing with Callaway... every waking moment was spent worry about losing Callaway and when I was home all my time was spent with him. I know he could feel my stress which didn't help him at all. I'm acting as if everything is good with Brando, he stresses enough as it is so he doesn't need me to be all stressed out too.

Tomorrrow will be 7 months that Brutus is gone, and I still miss him so much, but it is not the main thing in my life now...I have moved on abit and sometimes I feel so guilty about that. Tanga and I have become very close, but there will only be one Brutus of my life I think, he will always be the most special.

Tomorrow will be 9 months for Callaway. I have finally moved past thinking about him every minute but I do find myself feeling guilty when I'm really enjoying myself, like I don't deserve to be happy... UGH! I'm working on these guilty feelings and trying to figure out why I do this to myself.

I am so glad that you and Tanga are close, I know that you were struggling with being close to your dogs after Brutus died.

Like you and Brutus I will only have one Callaway... there will never be the same kind of bond with another dog. When I think about what I said how cool is it that we had that bond. Just like you and I Brutus and Callaway were so lucky to have that bond too. I really feel that Callaway is still a part of me.

I just rescued another dog, you can find his picture under the title Oliver. He is such a sweetheart and I really do love him very much.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Rhapsedy

I don't need to pray for that because I know you will make the right decision, you made the right decision for Callaway and Brando will be no different. When I first read your post about Callaway laying in his urine because he couldn't get up, there was no doubt in my mind that you made the right decision. Even though he got that burst of energy that haunts you, please know you did the right thing. No animal wants to lay in thier own mess ever.

I am just giving Radar a supplement that has Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin and Hyaluronic Acid...plus it has a few other vitamins in it. It is made by Nurtri-vet. Plus he is getting a low dose dog asprin once a day. The supplement is the same I gave Brutus the last 3 years of his life. I think it did help him, but wasn't any miracle, but I figured every little bit helps. Brutus was also on Rimadyl, but Radar is not in need of that, so I just give him the low dose asprin.

I can't find the pic of Oliver, is it under another topic? I'm so glad you got another dog....there will never be another Callaway, but a person like you has so much love to give to an animal, it would be a shame for that to go to waste.

Keep in touch,
Hugs and much Love,
Sonya

Thank you Sonya. As you know I have struggled a lot with my decision and hearing your words really helps.

I will order the supplement that you are using. Barney isn't bad so I think something like that may help him.

I forgot to post it yesterday. However, I just posted it, take a look, isn't he cute?

Sonya if you would like to e-mail me sometime my e-mail address is rhapkiley@hotmail.com, I would love to hear from you. This goes for everyone on this website. I know sometimes there are things that you may want to say and may not want to post it on the website. I have been to hell and back with the death of my Callaway and I would love to help anyone with their loss.

Love,
Rhapsedy