RE-ENTRY CAN BE DIFFICULT

It's been a few days since I returned from the Utah desert, and the days have been eventful.
DogTown seems like it was 100 years ago and while I'm so happy to be home, there is some sadness about not being in the desert with the dogs...

Satchel & Luna showed me they were happy to see me by being completely relaxed.

Snuggling with my Satchel

Luna ready for me to cuddle up and go to sleep with her at my feet

I wish I could say we all slept fantastically. Jason said Satchel was ok while I was gone, but I quickly saw the signs of anxiety from constipation and that there was something wrong with his face. Saturday night was a kind of long one.

Sunday was spent attending to all of Satchel's tummy needs and worrying about a scrape on his face Jason said he got from a fall. Satchel is still unstable - more arthritis than Doggy Vertigo - and it stresses me.

Worry and a phone call diagnosed Satchel with an infection that can be cured with antibacterial soap and Gold Bond Powder.

Awwwww Sweet Satchie with an owie...

We had Jason's mom and dad's dog Maggie with us also while they were visiting Aunt Donna in Cadillac. Maggie is very sweet, but she didn't get much sleep either. Poor sleepy Maggie...



So the last few nights have had a lot of Awake-With-Satchel Time, and I'm hoping I've got his stomach feeling better. His skin infection looks better, but still has some healing to do. We're OK right now - on our way to good.

Planning to have some boring every day things to tell on imadog sooooooon.
Enough doggy drama!

DAY 6: Red Mountain Lodge & Spa

Easy Breezy Day.
Took us over 3 hours to get from the Grand Canyon National Park to St. George/Ivins, Utah, but Dana is finally done with mountain driving. This drive wasn't terrible like Mt. Zion, but there were descents and curves that we just don't have in Michigan.

I sadly forgot a very important watch hanging on the headboard at the Grand Canyon Lodge Cabin, but by late afternoon I was told it had been found, and with my credit card information to pay for shipping, it would go out in Monday's mail. Whew!

We arrived at the Red Mountain Spa & Resort and quickly went to the pool. It was boiling hot out!

Red Mountains at the Red Mountain Resort & Spa!

They had a buffet lunch at their restaurant. We felt fat after eating at a buffet, but we put on bathing suits anyway...ugh...
I read at the pool IN THE SHADE.
Then we shopped at Red Mountain Outfitters where I bought $30 Teva sandals to wear with my wetsuit at Owie Rocky Lake Michigan. I've been spending money this trip!
Then we decided to go out for dinner.

The rental car showed us we were right.
It WAS REALLY HOT OUT!

After some Magellan searching and concierge asking, we chose MEXICAN!

Chicken Burrito - YUM!
Ate it with A TON of sour cream.

We've packed up our suitcases, and made sure everything fits, and now it's time to shower in our luxurious resort room and snuggle up into the Serta bed with 4 pillows and a down comforter!

We're home tomorrow.
I miss my Jason and my Satchel and my Luna...

DAY 5: The Grand Canyon

Sad leaving Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, but had such a great experience and did everything we could think of, so it's time to go and see one of the wonders of the world...

It took us 2 hours to get to the Grand Canyon, and the driving was somewhat stressful for Dana, but she did it. That's been her attitude for the whole trip: Stressed but chugging along.

We got there at 10am-ish Grand Canyon time and couldn't check in until 2pm! We did A TON in that time!
We walked the Bridle Path and I walked up to Bright Angel Point (N-O for Dana, but she got to see the pictures). There was a talk on the California Condor that we listened to and we walked the 3 or so mile Transept Trail to the cute General Store at the Grand Canyon Campground. We felt smart and fit because we drank a lot of water and walked the entire trail no problem with the elevation being over 8000 ft you know! We also bought all of our souvenirs and I mailed 4 postcards.

Once we checked in, we sat on our cute porch in the rocking chairs and read some articles in our Best Friends magazines. There was an historical presentation on Lee's Ferry and then we watched the Aspen Fires glowing in the distance. The Aspen Fires were started by lightning at the end of July and have burned through both the Kaibab National Forest and the Grand Canyon National Park.

Bed #1 in our cute little cabins

Dressing Area

Funky Old Bathroom

Aspen Fires in the Day

To chronicle our trip in a unique way, Dana and I wrote interview questions and recorded an interview of each other on my HD flip. Can't download it here because it's just too big, and it was 20 minutes long, but it was cute to do. We're happy to have done it. It makes a great memory of our adventures.

Our Little Interview Seating Area

Most of our day was spent saying, "Wow." It really is magical at The Grand Canyon.

The View From Bright Angel Point

Another View From Bright Angel Point
I was supposedly looking out and seeing San Francisco!

The Canyon in the Evening Sun

View of where I took some pictures!

This area was seemingly totally unsafe. You can see teeny tiny people out on that point. It's a walkway and platform out over the Canyon. The platform - that's way out there over the Canyon - is completely eroding.

No complaints though. Every bit of the time at The Grand Canyon National Park was gorgeous, and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to see it.

DAY 4: An Easy Day To Be A Volunteer

Super smooth day for us at DogTown!
Our alarm clock didn't wake us up and we didn't have our Ogy Dog so when we awakened at 7:30am instead of 7, normally we might have been concerned, but not at Best Friends. They're so easy breezy here, and we rushed a bit, so arriving at DogTown HQ around 8:40am instead of between 8 & 8:30 was no problem. We were sent to the Deja Lodges because we look "young and spry and can walk big dogs." Dana wasn't so sure that's what she wanted, but I knew it would be great. Healthy dogs ready for walking - that's my thing!

We were sent off as a two humans for one dog team with Purdy. "Usually docile, but can turn at a second" was her description. We chose to just walk with her and not make her stop to smile pretty though she is called 'Purdy Girl' because she's such a pretty girl! Dana wanted to know her breed or breeds and I said I couldn't tell.

Next we needed to take Tiki and Snapple, run mates, on at least a half-hour walk. Tiki, a no one knows what but Dana thought a pitbull mix, and Snapple, a Shiba Inu, had Dana totally stressed. Her dog Allie was attacked by a Shiba Inu about 2 years ago and that was on her mind. Tiki and Snapple couldn't have been easier. We soon found out that they had just been on an hour long hike...well they enjoyed their 40 minute walk too!

Dana with Tiki & Snapple

Dana brought tennis shoes as her closed-toed shoe of choice.
(Best Friends' website tells volunteers to wear closed-toed shoes.)
As we were walking in sand dune-like sand, she says, "My shoes are full of sand. I wish they'd have told me that. I would've bought different shoes for the trip if I would've known there'd be so much sand."
I said calmly, trying not to bust out with You-Are-So-Crazy laughter, "We're in the desert. Deserts are known for sand."
Dana: "Well, yeah, but they only tell you closed-toed shoes. They don't tell you there'll be so much sand!"
Me: "They did suggest you'd be more comfortable wearing your glasses instead of your contacts because of the sand."
Dana: "Oh, that is right. Hmmmm."

It seemed quiet around the Deja Lodges and we were asked to sit with Gramps. A sweet old dog who didn't enjoy the section for older dogs called "Old Friends," so he lives in Deja Lodges and hangs out next to a chow mix of some kind. We were to snuggle him and brush him and sing to him and pet him. He seemed to think of us as "His Ladies" and was very sweet, BUT he knew it was almost meal time and ALL the dogs had their eyes and bodies directed toward where the food cart was going to pull up! So we enjoyed sitting with him and brushing him and then it was on to our next assignment.

Gramps is leaning on me!

Our next assignment was to sit with Sunshine. We saw that she had on a purple collar which means only adults can interact with her, but she was most interested in looking for the food cart! She said hello to us in a sweet doggy way by giving me her butt to pet and scratch and then was back to running her fence line with her lodge mate, an active Schnauzer of some kind. She was completely fine with us hanging out in her run, but all eyes were toward the food cart parking spot!

Sunshine's waiting for food!

We helped with a couple of feedings and then it was back to the kitchen to wash and sanitize bowls. We were so speedy, all the jobs were done before volunteers are kicked out at noon!

Back at our cottage, we had some lunch! Dana had a bit of chicken quesadilla and spicy rice - part of last night's dinner - and I made some chicken salad with chicken (obviously), onion, celery, red grapes and walnuts, just like I've seen at the Whole Foods prepared foods counter. So good, I ate 2 bowls. It would NEVER be eaten by Jason for various reasons, but a big one is the mayo. Ooooo, I love mayo, but Jason denounces all white condiments. The only partially approved white condiment is Cool Whip for some desserts. Well, I love all white condiments and restrained myself from putting a ton of Hellman's in the chicken salad. I think I got it just right!

Today's trainer demonstration was at the Fitness Center. Hydrotherapy! So fun! There was Pickles, a pitbull we'd spent time with on our 1st day at Best Friends, waiting patiently for his water treadmill time. We heard about the many animals that have benefited from hydrotherapy at Best Friends and got to hang out with Pickles during his.

Sweet Pickles waiting for the water to fill the tank!

Pickles at work on his arthritic legs
XOXO

It came up in the conversation that all dogs could benefit from hydrotherapy and treadmill work, so I mentioned that our Luna LOVES the treadmill at home and everyone seemed genuinely surprised! It was cute to talk about how it's just a regular people treadmill and since it gets icy in Michigan and can be unsafe to walk some days, Luna loves her treadmill time and will walk as long as I want her to. Most of the time we walk together, but sometimes she walks alone while I work out on the mat next to the treadmill. It just so common at our house, I'm still surprised when others are surprised that our dog LOVES the treadmill.

Two things we've forgotten to mention:
#1
We learned a new word - Zoonotic
Zoonotic: a disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans
Here, I'll use it in a sentence:
Kennel cough is not zoonotic.
That's been important for us on this trip!

#2
We went to the beautiful and reverent cemetery at Best Friends called Angel's Rest. It was easy to feel all the love there among the sadness. Humans really really really love their pets as well as animals that lived their lives as potential pets at Best Friends.

Angel's Rest

THANK GOD we got our Ogy Dog Monday night because we are not allowed to have a sleepover dog tonight. We are going to the Volunteer Welcome Wagon Meet and Greet where no dogs are allowed. Since you're not allowed to leave your sleepover dog, there's no way we could have gone to the volunteer get together if we'd gotten a sleepover dog. We have wanted to do everything we could at DogTown, and looks like we're doing just that.

The Volunteer Meet and Greet was GREAT! We talked with Gabriel, one of the Founders of Best Friends and he told some great stories of how it all started and some of the things they learned the hard way along the journey. He said it wasn't until 1994 that he knew Best Friends was really going to make it and everyone still thinks in terms of how to be the best.

Leanne, Gabriel (one of the Founders of BF), and Dana

After the Welcome Wagon, we've decided to eat just junk for dinner.
Ruffles & French Onion Dip for Dana. Cream cheese (another white thing denounced by Jason) with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce and Wheat Thins for Leanne.

We are living large in all ways at Best Friends!
There is some sadness in saying goodbye to this Sanctuary, but also renewed appreciation for all we have and all we can do with our lives.
We'll see the Grand Canyon tomorrow and expect to be overwhelmed in another way with the magic of Mother Nature.

DAY 3: Full Frontal Kennel Cough

Our Ogy Dog woke us up at 5:30am - we think to tell us he had to go potty. Then we all went back to sleep...thank goodness Ogy Dog woke us up again at 7am because we needed to get back to DogTown Headquarters by 8:30! Ogy was dreamy cute and sweet and decided to sleep on a doggy bed in the living room. Dana says he took his sleeping seriously! I heard him a couple of times, but the only time he came in to gently wake us was 5:30. We were told he was 'dog aggressive' so we think that has to be the only reason he has not yet been adopted. He was so great.

Well Good Morning Ogy Dog!

We made it to DogTown HQ in time to receive our volunteer assignment: "Head on over to The Garden where they have kennel cough." Ok...
We had to sign our names to The Garden List. We saw that ours were the only names on it and all the other sections had lots of people...

Turned out to be a great day! Even with the sketchy start...

Dogs with kennel cough can't walk on the regular trails. Kennel cough germs live for 15 minutes so an uninfected dog walking on the trail after us could become infected...bad thing. So they sent us off the beaten path and into the area where MOUNTAIN LION ACTIVITY HAS BEEN SEEN RECENTLY...bad thing Again. We've received all kinds of brochures and handouts - one was received on our door last night...and it is LAMINATED!

In case you can't read it, it says:
"Since there have been sightings of a cougar in the area, we are encouraging our guests who have dogs to walk them along Potbellied Pig Trail and 'not' clean up after them. The dog poop will help to deter the cougar from visiting our piggies."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, so 2 things:
#1 It's LAMINATED which means they hand it out frequently.
#2 There have been cougar sightings near the pigs so they ask us to walk IN THE PIG AREA to PROTECT THE PIGS. What about US!?!?

And then we go to the kennel cough area where no one else will go and they want to send us right into the area where the latest mountain lion sightings and 'activity' has been!!!!!!! I thought Dana was going to Lose. Her. Mind.

The first walk was nice even though Dana was totally stressed, and each walk was easier and nicer until we got to the last walk. Our staff member gave us 'The Hounds' for the last walk and asked us to keep them out for at least a 1/2 hour. They were Cuh-Ray-Z.

Goober - who likes to hang onto his leash a little!


Dana and Shy Dandy


Dana with one of "The Hounds"
Haus


Me with the 'houndiest' Hound: Pilot!

We didn't get a picture with every dog, and we didn't take pictures of the sweeping, and poop scooping and watering and feeding and sanitizing of the kennels. That all happened, but we didn't document it...I know...you're very disappointed.

In the afternoon, we were able to attend a little informational demonstration on training leads and enrichment toys. We got to see all the kinds of collars and leaders and harnesses they like to use at Best Friends and we were shown some ways they try to mentally stimulate the dogs. It was all fun and a nice change in the volunteer schedule.

Just before the demo, we bought some souvenirs. Those of you who know me will NOT be surprised that I spent $50 on hats. Just for me. You know I'll use them all.
It wasn't terribly difficult to not purchase a jacket, but you know that's what I gravitated to after the beanies... The jackets just weren't 'The North Face' enough.

My 3 Hats

Dana's Purchases

We were able to go into Kanab for a little while too where we bought more chips and dip! We can say we went 'into' town today and we got to have a bit of a relaxing evening. Because of all the kennel cough, we don't have a sleepover dog tonight, but we did find out in our "Cougar Patrol" walk last night that you can have a piglet overnight! We'll see what we've got going on. We do have to get up and get going Thursday morning (onto the Grand Canyon) so Ogy Dog might be our only sleepover buddy...

We've been noticing a special boulder every time we pull into our cottage parking space.

Harry Potter Rock

I'm calling it "Harry Potter Rock" because it looks like it's been struck by lightning and received a 'lightning bolt scar.'

The scenery is beautiful everywhere and we're thinking about how beautiful the Grand Canyon is going to be. Dana is hoping the drive there isn't treacherous. Her Mt. Zion experience was more than she could manage. She CANNOT do that again she says... But she believes it surely cannot be nearly as treacherous a drive because our Grand Canyon Lodge address is 'End of Highway 67' and NOT Windy Switchback Cliffdwelling Overhang Narrow Overpass Drive.

We've got until Thursday in Angel Canyon so I'll just enjoy this beauty and all the dogs until then...

DAY 2: Orientation to DogTown

We're still on Michigan time, but we're adjusting to life at DogTown!
It is so laid back here. Whatever you want to do you pretty much can do and on your own time schedule.

We woke up earlier than expected this morning, and while it was chilly, it was very very pretty.

The view from our balcony

Dana in the sun on our balcony

Our day started with an Orientation and a Tour. Very Very nice people! Everyone is genuinely nice and appreciative that we are here.

We're actually here!

Once we were oriented to the Sanctuary and the rules of DogTown, we went back to our cottage for lunch. We made grilled ham & cheese sandwiches and they were Excellent! We are loving our little cottage. It's like a little apartment. It's great.

Then we went to work!
We spent the afternoon with Larry poop scooping (of course!), watering and feeding the dogs and sweeping out kennels. A very busy afternoon with not much opportunity to spend time with the dogs unfortunately, but there was a little interaction, and making them more comfortable and happy is always good!

Larry & His Midwestern Girls

We asked Larry for some support in choosing a dog for a sleepover. Of course the dog I LOVED, Hera, was unavailable for a sleepover. She'd recently had a bad experience in town and was for now unable to go on sleepovers...A couple of dogs were recommended - the #1 and #2 sleepover dogs. Dana and I decided to choose a dog that didn't get to go on as many sleepovers. We have Ogy (pronounced 'Augie') Dog for the night!

Our Ogy Dog

Gettin' Sleepy!

We don't know what breed or breeds he is. He's sweet and cute and energetic and calm. He's a bit crazy about jumping from bed to bed in the bedroom, but we appreciate the novelty of such things. He's alert and interested in what's going on around us which Dana LOVES because there have been mountain lion sightings recently and Dana is sure we are going to be attacked.

Spaghetti Dinner was good...

Though boiling the water for pasta was a humongous challenge, we made a fantastic spaghetti with meat sauce dinner on our hot plate.

We're tired again tonight and Our Ogy Dog is starting to wind down so I hope to sleep through the night tonight. I've never slept through the night in my life, but I'm hoping for some seriously recuperative rest. Tomorrow is a full volunteer day and we'll be busy and terribly dirty. I need to be well rested to give my all to the dogs!

We're in DogTown! Day 1 - Travel

We made it!

It's been a long long day of travel - about 14 hours - and here we are!

For those that don't know, my mom and sister Dana have sent me and Dana to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary as my 40th birthday present. Dana and I are volunteering at DogTown (www.bestfriends.org/dogtown) for 3/3.5 days then going to the Grand Canyon for a day and onto a froofy resort (Red Mountain Spa & Resort) in St. George, Utah for one day. It's going to be a glorious adventure.

There have already been some hilarious experiences, but Dana and I are so very tired, and I can't get my flip video to upload - think it's too big... so I'll give what I've got and hope to have the gumption to do much more tomorrow.

I think I did a good job of packing...wish I could take the whole Pack with me...

Of COURSE we were at THEE last gate in the terminal

The beautiful mountains on the way into Salt Lake City

I THINK this is part of the Great Salt Lake and the Salt Flats

Here's a view of the propeller...yup a little prop plane to take us from Salt Lake City to St. George.

There was A TON of turbulence and Dana was about to lose her mind!

In N Out Burger! A West Coast staple, and my dear friend Carrie's junk food love!

Here is a Double Hamburger 'Animal Style' minus the pickle.

Beauty in Mt. Zion National Park

Big story here involving luckily getting in free, Dana freaking out, awesome video of her meltdown that I can't upload, and general hilarity in a Godly place.

It was a crazy, traumatic drive....for Dana. I loved it!

The hardest part of being at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is that cell phones don't work here...

Jason and I are never this far apart. We'll get a communication system arranged and be back in contact, but we haven't spoken since 9am today...We're really roughing it.

More to come from Kanab, Utah!

Peanut Butter Houdini

Now Jason and I are very familiar with Satchel's resistance to taking his medicine. As you may have read in an earlier post, Satchel has A LOT of supplements and two prescription medications. There are just a couple of pills that we consider 'essential' - pills that he must have every day even if he doesn't want to.

Now that phrase, "...even if he doesn't want to" is completely foreign to Luna. How in Thee World could a dog reject anything wrapped in flavorful doughs (crescent roll, pizza, cinnamon roll) or frosting or peanut butter? Luna simply does not understand Satchel's insanity with his medicines. When we say, "It's time for your medicine!" Luna is very excited and starts to drip with drool.

Satchel goes through phases. Sometimes he takes all of his supplements with no issue, other times I have to be very very very very patient and then force him.

The last few weeks have been very stressful at Casa Curtin-Hess. As we were consumed with caring for Koko, we noticed Satchel becoming more and more unstable. I thought he might be feeling the stress in the house and therefore was pacing and panting more and therefore was fatigued and therefore was stumbling more. After saying goodbye to our Sweet Koko, Satchel became completely unable to stand on his own. When I described his behavior and appearance, THANK GOD our vet diagnosed him with Vestibular Syndrome which is totally curable. There are ideas of what causes VS, but nothing is certain, and it often disappears within 3 weeks. It's Bad Doggy Vertigo. Satchel requires Antivert for the severe dizziness and Tramadol for the pain from falling. This means 2 more pills to add to the mix, and of course he's in a 'I don't want those' phase and feels sick to his stomach from the spinning feeling.

We've tried everything from frosting to chicken to poptarts to peanut butter. Satchel is being a real bugger about it all. It's been suggested to us that we just 'pill him' and make him swallow each one. Welllll, complicated Satchel had laryngeal paralysis surgery last year which tied his throat open permanently so to 'pill him' puts him at risk for having pills in his lungs. Not an option.

I find peanut butter to be the most effective right now. I embed the pill in a big hunk and stick it to the roof of his mouth. He can't spit the pills out. He just has to keep licking and swallowing and licking and swallowing, and poof, the pills are swallowed. Or so I thought.

Satchel is so crafty. He reminded me tonight. The weather has his sinuses making him miserable. He has dark circles under his eyes (in part from having sleep trouble) and his nose is dripping. He and Luna get 200mg of Benadryl per day which equals 4 little pink pills 2x/day. I gave him a big dollop of peanut butter with the 4 pills embedded and he quickly flipped 3 of them out! How does he do that!!!!???? His new nickname is Peanut Butter Houdini!!!! I gave him more peanut butter and they went down. Or so I thought.

Jason discovered several minutes later that our crafty Satchel was 'cheeking,' as we like to say, that Fourth Benadryl!!!!

The one on the Left is the 'cheeked' Benadryl.
The one on the Right is an untouched Benadryl for comparison.

I got him to for sure swallow the Tramadol, his heart medicine and the Antivert, but he only got 3 Benadryl tonight.

God blesses Satchel and He blessed us when He gave us Satchel over 12 years ago. Among our sadness and tremendous stress, Satchel finds a way to make us smile and even laugh.

And Then There Were Four

It's all dog all the time at Casa Curtin-Hess, but over the last few weeks it has been a little more intense. I think the animals in The Pack knew a big change was coming.

Since mid-June, our beloved Koko has gone from refusing a few meals per week, to eating only a few meals per week, to eating virtually nothing. For a few days she ate 2-3 chicken breasts per day, and then she ate nothing. And then she had severe colitis and then she couldn't walk on her own.

Jason and I carried our Kokies outside and inside for several days. She had to receive subcutaneous fluids as she was becoming terribly dehydrated. She started showing doggy signs of discomfort. Though I would carry her in and out 20 times a day, that's no life for my Koko. She let me know I needed to let her go.
On Monday, August 3rd, 2009, Our Koko, Our Kokopelli, Our Koko Puff, Our Kokie-motion died. I do not want to live without her, but I know she wants me to find my way.

As we knew we were going to have to say goodbye, I told Koko to be prepared to see nothing for a few seconds and then to realize that she could smell leaves and dirt and pollen. I told her to follow her nose to those favorite woodsy smells and her Carrie would be waiting for her. Carrie would have on her hiking boots and hiking pants, a fleecy shirt over a sporty t-shirt, and a baseball cap. Though they wouldn't be needing it, Carrie would have a leash slung across her body and she would bend down to greet Koko by saying, "Hey Kokopelli! It's mumma! Good to see you girl!"

I told Koko they would both feel good and be ready for a long walk in the woods. The best part would be that there are no burrs in Heaven so Koko could run through any flora and never have to be brushed out. And I told her she wouldn't have the urge to kill the baby bunnies anymore, but would feel free and strong and light enough to chase them. Carrie would whistle for her and guide her through their next places together.

I asked Koko to please be with me whenever I walk in the woods because I will miss her and I still need her. I'll need just a little sign now and then to help me live without her.
We knew it already, but in the last weeks Koko showed us, as Jason says, that "She's a bad ass." We are still a strong Pack. We're just minus one. And not just Any One. We're missing our Koko. Our beloved Koko. Our strong and forgiving Koko. Our Family. Part of my Soul. I don't want to rush it, but through my sobs and tears, I look forward to seeing her again.