It keeps the rain from falling on my head so I like it......
I'll See You in My Dreams
11 years ago
Friday, January 11, 2013
I Hate the Rain
I hate the rain. I don't like sprinklers or swimming pools. AP knows this and got me something new to try for when she makes me walk in the rain. It was made to clip on the side of those red wagons that the kids in the neighborhood have and it clips onto the side of my wheels.
It keeps the rain from falling on my head so I like it......
It keeps the rain from falling on my head so I like it......
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Tonka January Friends
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| Chatting with Ms. May |
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| Nala, Jake and Jazzie |
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| Walking with Keith, Muffy and Pearl |
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| Sweetpea, Shania and Muffy |
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| Shania and Sweetpea pulling the Tonka Man |
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| Love My Kids |
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| Love Ms. Lisa |
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Walking Underwater
AP here:
Today Tonka had the best session on the underwater treadmill ever. He was clearly walking, picking up his feet and placing them deliberately and staying mostly on center. It was a beautiful thing to see. Diana is holding onto his fur on the outside of his legs and will lift and move his legs forward when needed but in this session he is doing all the work. Now if only he could do that outside of the treadmill.....
Today Tonka had the best session on the underwater treadmill ever. He was clearly walking, picking up his feet and placing them deliberately and staying mostly on center. It was a beautiful thing to see. Diana is holding onto his fur on the outside of his legs and will lift and move his legs forward when needed but in this session he is doing all the work. Now if only he could do that outside of the treadmill.....
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy 2013
AP here:
I for one am not sad to see the end of 2012. It was an emotional roller coaster of a year for me with Tonka's steady decline in mobility. The different Doctors and their theories, the horrible medications they had us try, his depression at not being able to get out to "see" his people and friends, its nice to bid adieu to all these things.
We ended 2012 with a therapy day which was a very positive way to go. He got to wheel around and see some of the amazing staff in the building. Everyone treats him with such love and compassion, stopping to hug him (and slip him treats) so he is always excited to be there. He cruises up to the front desk, sticks his head up for some love and a cookie and Ms. Kim and Ms. Gloria are always ready for him. This time he got to see Brittany who had not seen him since September. That was a horrible month and he was having to be carried in and out of the building. She was excited to see how well he was getting around in his wheels and how he was back to his happy go lucky self.
There was a positive in 2012 and that was the people we met at all the different specialty practices. Tonka has some amazing people in his corner like Chris Fritsch and Diana Huey at CVSS. They have worked with him every week through 2012 and always give us hope and support. I am not sure where we would be at this point physically or mentally without them.
The staff at VNOC Gina, Donna, Brittany and Shannon are always full of positive energy and give him lots of love and affection.He truly is a spoiled rotten boy by all that know him.
The newest addition to the "spoil Tonka rotten club" is Caitlin who works as a vet tech at Great Annapolis Vet Hospital and does pet sitting. I needed someone to come by and express his bladder and get him up and moved around so that I did not have to keep driving the 30 miles home mid day to take care of him. Caitlin was recommended to me by Carmel at GAVH who is the one that taught me how to express Tonka's bladder. She has always been so good to all of my animals and I trust her judgement completely. Caitlin has been a life saver and he is always so happy to "see" her because she is amazing with him and spoils him rotten.
Here is hoping 2013 is a better year health wise for my boy!
I for one am not sad to see the end of 2012. It was an emotional roller coaster of a year for me with Tonka's steady decline in mobility. The different Doctors and their theories, the horrible medications they had us try, his depression at not being able to get out to "see" his people and friends, its nice to bid adieu to all these things.
We ended 2012 with a therapy day which was a very positive way to go. He got to wheel around and see some of the amazing staff in the building. Everyone treats him with such love and compassion, stopping to hug him (and slip him treats) so he is always excited to be there. He cruises up to the front desk, sticks his head up for some love and a cookie and Ms. Kim and Ms. Gloria are always ready for him. This time he got to see Brittany who had not seen him since September. That was a horrible month and he was having to be carried in and out of the building. She was excited to see how well he was getting around in his wheels and how he was back to his happy go lucky self.
There was a positive in 2012 and that was the people we met at all the different specialty practices. Tonka has some amazing people in his corner like Chris Fritsch and Diana Huey at CVSS. They have worked with him every week through 2012 and always give us hope and support. I am not sure where we would be at this point physically or mentally without them.
The staff at VNOC Gina, Donna, Brittany and Shannon are always full of positive energy and give him lots of love and affection.He truly is a spoiled rotten boy by all that know him.
The newest addition to the "spoil Tonka rotten club" is Caitlin who works as a vet tech at Great Annapolis Vet Hospital and does pet sitting. I needed someone to come by and express his bladder and get him up and moved around so that I did not have to keep driving the 30 miles home mid day to take care of him. Caitlin was recommended to me by Carmel at GAVH who is the one that taught me how to express Tonka's bladder. She has always been so good to all of my animals and I trust her judgement completely. Caitlin has been a life saver and he is always so happy to "see" her because she is amazing with him and spoils him rotten.
Here is hoping 2013 is a better year health wise for my boy!
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| Cheese |
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Greater Annapolis Veterinary Hospital Pet of the Month
I love everyone at Greater Annapolis Veterinary Hospital. AP has been taking me there since I was a little guy. I love going in the door and up to the counter where Ms. Denise gives me treats. All the people are always nice to me and I get lots of attention so I don't mind going there. I even don't mind when Tom trims my nails or sticks me with a needle although I do fight him sometimes on clipping my front paws.
AP told me they made me Pet of the Month which is a very big honor. She said they even put up my story and picture on their website - how cool is that? http://www.gavh.com/pet-of-the-month/
AP told me they made me Pet of the Month which is a very big honor. She said they even put up my story and picture on their website - how cool is that? http://www.gavh.com/pet-of-the-month/
Monday, December 10, 2012
Happy 5th Birthday Tonka Dog
AP here:
Since Tonka came from a shelter we don't exactly have an actual birth date for him so the vet techs at GAVH gave him December 7th. That is also Pearl harbor Day so it does make it easy to remember. This year his birthday happened to fall on a an underwater treadmill therapy day which meant getting into "water" one of Tonka's last favorite things. It actually meant the "w" word twice because once we are home from treadmill he then gets an actual bath. I felt bad that he was going to have to get wet twice on his birthday but the treadmill is helping him so I did not want to cancel.
What I didn't know is that it was also going to be raining for his birthday so he was going to have a very wet day.
We started the day with a walk in the rain and it was not coming down too hard when we first went out. We made it all the way to the park and the sky opened up and we had to take shelter under the jungle gym.
Later in the day we went to the Canine Fitness Center and he walked on the Underwater Treadmill. Diana and Chris gave him some extra birthday attention which made him happy. He has been doing really well on the treadmill and is up to (2) five minute sessions with a 2 minute rest in between.
Once we were home the boy had a bath and relaxed while I blew him dry. Of course Tonka is always relaxed and can fall asleep during anything.
After he was all dry he got brushed..
Then his girlfriend Nala showed up to hang out with him.
I think all in all he had a pretty good day!
Since Tonka came from a shelter we don't exactly have an actual birth date for him so the vet techs at GAVH gave him December 7th. That is also Pearl harbor Day so it does make it easy to remember. This year his birthday happened to fall on a an underwater treadmill therapy day which meant getting into "water" one of Tonka's last favorite things. It actually meant the "w" word twice because once we are home from treadmill he then gets an actual bath. I felt bad that he was going to have to get wet twice on his birthday but the treadmill is helping him so I did not want to cancel.
What I didn't know is that it was also going to be raining for his birthday so he was going to have a very wet day.
We started the day with a walk in the rain and it was not coming down too hard when we first went out. We made it all the way to the park and the sky opened up and we had to take shelter under the jungle gym.
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| Hate the Rain |
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| Can I Come Out Yet |
Later in the day we went to the Canine Fitness Center and he walked on the Underwater Treadmill. Diana and Chris gave him some extra birthday attention which made him happy. He has been doing really well on the treadmill and is up to (2) five minute sessions with a 2 minute rest in between.
Once we were home the boy had a bath and relaxed while I blew him dry. Of course Tonka is always relaxed and can fall asleep during anything.
After he was all dry he got brushed..
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| Sweet Boy |
Then his girlfriend Nala showed up to hang out with him.
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| Nala |
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Middleburg Christmas Parade 2012
AP here:
Last year we missed the Christmas parade in Middleburg VA. Tonka was just starting with his neurological problem and could not walk very well. This year with his Eddies Wheels cart we were ready to go.
Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue (Tonka's rescue) participates in the parade every year and typically there are anywhere from 80 to 100 dogs that show up. These are all rescues and it is truly a wonderful sight to see.
The parade is very well known and a large crowd always gathers in the small town so parking is at a premium and if you are going to go you should get there early.
I got the boy up early and he was very excited to be going to the parade. His girlfriends Bertha and Sylvia were going to be there so he wanted to look extra handsome. I put on his jingle bell collar and his Sparkle Christmas Collar that Bertha got him a few years ago.
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| Ready to go |
We packed up his wheels and headed out on the 2 hour drive to Middleburg.
Fortunately we grabbed a parking spot semi close to our staging area at the Sporting Library. As we crossed the first street and ran straight into Mommy Vicky the Director for AGPR. Tonka took off towards her at the sound of her voice (he loves Mommy V). We got stopped a few times by kids (Tonka's Favorite things) before finally getting to the library. His Aunt Nancy was there with his girlfriend Bertha and buddy Oliver. I put down his Mutt Matt and took him out of his wheels to rest till the parade.
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| Tonka and Aunt Nancy having a conversation |
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| Bertha |
and Sylvia
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| Sylvia |
As more dogs and people showed up I got him back in his wheels to take him to see everyone and to go potty.
We met some Corgis
and some pipers with the bagpipe corp.
he got some loving from some kids
and then he rested again
Everyone was there and it was almost time for the parade
We lined up
And off we went
We had over 100 dogs this year and it was such a good time. On the way back to the truck the Tonka boy was a tried but happy boy. We passed some other tired pups as well.
Tonka can't wait till next year.....
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