Nutsy Fagan.  She was acting out again.  Circle dancing on the porch when I let her in. 
Jumping around, giving me a phony growl.  Haven't clamped down on her too much for
that.  It has been months since she has shown such animation.
    After Sharon left us, Kelsy slept in the room where the hospital bed had been placed. 
She looked expectantly out the front window, through the gate where you could almost
see if Sharon's car pull into the garage.  She would look at the reclining chair where her
favorite person sat and usually slept, the chair being about the best  for positioning 
Sharon's nerve-damaged shoulder. 
    Kelsy has been in a depressed state. I have tried to comfort her, giving her the usual
nighttime rubdowns.  But it is just not the same for her.  She could no longer go from one
reclining chair to the other, checking out both her mothers' masseuse skills.  She has not
shown that much interest in her old habits.
    Before the hospice stage of illness, there were marathon interviews.  One day, I set
up a bowl of water and one of Kelsy's beds in a newly painted spare room.  An insurance
man questioned us for over an hour.  Right after he left, a nurse visited with her series
of questions.  I did not hear anything unusual in the spare room.  Of course my hearing
is not that good around the corners of this house.  After the nurse finally left, I say the
carnage.  Shreds were dangling where the new cellular shades once hung, lace curtains
and bent rods were pulled down from the windows.  I did not speak to Kelsy until the
following evening.   
    I knew there would be strange people in and out of the house, so made arrangements
for boarding.  The folks at the kennel like Kelsy and I could visit from time to time.  Toward
the end, I asked Sharon if she wanted me to bring Kelsy home. "No," she said.  I did not
question her decision. 
   

    Since Kelsy's return after Sharon's death, I tried to sign her up again for private lessons. 
She had them in 1999  (after she adopted us at a shelter on Long Island).  When the
new trainer asked specifically if she had ever done any damage, I had to own up to it.  She
said she would train her at her home...the cost several thousand dollars. My Vet said that
was rediculous and gave me a few tips.  Mainly to make her sit and stay whenever she
wanted anything.  Food, out, in.  Anything.  She also recommended an anti-barking device*
to be worn around her neck.  That did not work too well.  (A defect in the device, not the dog.)  
I know it has been hard for her.  Add to that, I have complete control of her diet.  She has
slimmed down considerably from seventy-odd pounds of canine.    After some months of
training, she now sits at the edge of the kitchen, while I fill her dish out in the garage.  As I
do that, she manages to scootch into the kitchen a bit, but still stays far enough away from
her food and water stand.**   She barks out the front window but usually quits when I say,
"Enough."  
    So far, we have made progress.  She does show positive emotion when I get the lead
out for her.  I do not do it often enough; this mother's legs are not what they used to be.  
Plus, it was nearly impossible to handle her with a harness.  Another recommendation was
to use one of the the new training harnesses***  that circles around the snout.  We have
been able to walk over near the driving range and/or to the mailbox without bolting (I do
not bolt well) after a rabbit.  Things are getting better.  She behaves  tolerably.

    Yesterday was Sharon's birthday.  Her family came over so that we could spread Sharon's
ashes in the garden.  I took a few handfuls out to the fenced-in run, a really large area
Sharon ordered when we moved in 2000.  One of our neighbors had gone ballistic over this,
even though there was plenty of room left on our property for their dogs to roam.  [These
charmers deserve a blog of their own.]  
    Don't worry, Sharon, Kelsy and I will take care of each other.

                *    The anti-barking device sprays citronella up toward the nose when barking
activates it.  Battery powered, I ordered it on the internet.  Could be the supplier.  More
reasonable than the pet supply store.  They must get seconds.  I had no time or patience
to return it.  Just felt like saying "Enough" to them.
                **   The stand is a small table with two large holes for stainless steel bowls.  It
helps align the gullet for easier swallowing of food or water.  
                ***  There are several of these training harnesses on the market.  Gentle Leader
or Hilti Halter are two you can enter in Search.   Some time ago I bought a leather lead, by
the way.  If your dog gives you pull trouble, those nylon jobbies are murder on your hands.


11/11/07:  Did I tell you that Kelsy bears a strong resemblance to the "Drive You Crazy
mascot?"  Except for the
earphones.  She has improved with the sitting thing.  She does a great backup move while
squatting.  Because she  positions herself too far into the kitchen, I have to tell her "Back". 
There is usually a little under-the-breath complaint now but I am able to go out to the cold
garage to get her food after closing the kitchen door between us.  Personally, I think she thinks
she should be good because it is in her head that I'm going to drive off on her.  I have been
spending much too much time away on business.  The filing season for our non-profit and other
obligations have pulled me away from my friend, Kelsy.  If I put on something spiffy, she knows! 
If I put on a coat, she wants to go with me.  Just staying in my P.J.s most of the morning
makes her comfortable.  Me too.

12/7/07: The usual routine is to let Kelsy out just before bedtime and give her one of her
glucosamine "treats".
A few nights ago, I called her but had to go collect her from the bedroom.  She had trouble
getting up, the hind legs seemingly not working.  What goes through your head at these times. 
There is a pet emergency facility right down the road but, "I can't carry you," I thought, 
"Could never lift you into the car."
    She did finally get the legs working but walked three steps, then sat, walked three steps,
then sat.  This went on through the hallway and three rooms of the house, with me trying to
bring her back to reality.  I could never lift her down the back steps to her pen.  When she
got to the door, something clicked in.  Thank God.  She walked down the steps without
hesitation, peed and came back into the house.  
    There have been minor incidents like this for the past few years, "Come on sleepy baby," 
being the rally words. 
She has been all right the past few days, even Nutsy at times.  It's Hell getting old. 

12/30/07: So far, so good with the "out-of-it" syndrome.  She has been her usual self,
showing up whenever I enter the kitchen for serious business.  I could be in and out all
day but as soon as I think about starting something up cookwise, there she is.  How does
she know when I'm about to prepare food?  Do dogs have a radar system built in?  
    The Nutsy Fagan stuff rears its head every once in a while.  The circle dance and tripping
on the floor is not too terrific.  Fun is fun but broken anything is not.  She has been
responding to "Enough" quite well, including the barks.  One thing that had been difficult
was to make her look at me.  She was avoiding that like the plague but improvements
are there and gratefully accepted. 

1/19/08: Today we went for the annual physical and shots.  We were O.K. until the kennel-
cough-up-the-nose part.  She probably thinks she is being water boarded.  Vet is good. 
Very patient with Kelsy.  Doesn't mind the shots much at all.  Good Girl, Kelsy! 

4/27/08: Attempted to introduce Kelsy to the new Prius.  Had to hold her rear quarters to
boost her into the hatchback.  She was also afraid to jump down.  Back end higher than the
Vue. Spent a little time on the road shopping for a ramp.  Found one at a discount.  Hitched it
to the back of car. Kelsy was not having any.  After a little encouragement, she gingerly
walked up, laid down briefly, then came down, again with coaxing.  She then went up and
down a few times like she'd been doing this all her life. 
    "Phew."  The sigh of relief is because some dogs just do not take to ramps.

8/1/08: Kelsy has become a pro at getting up the ramp.  I can get her down by grabbing her
chest and rump and coaxing her to jump down.  Have made several trips to vets lately.  She
has a mass under her jaw and will be operated on next Wednesday.  They tell me that it is
melanoma but that the tumors do not metastasize in dogs as they do in cats and humans.
Am praying for the old gal.

8/8/08: Surgery done last Wednesday the 6th.  Tumors more extensive than we thought. 
There were choices, so I opted for the less extensive surgery to make her as comfortable
as we can.  I get to pull out my nursing skills for the next few weeks.  Things like compresses
to help drainage, soft foods.  However, she has only a patch for pain.  I rejected the Rimadyl,
as it nearly killed her a few years ago. Our main vet caught that when her blood count went
dangerously low.  
    For now, it's the land of no for her.  No running, no jumping, no dry foods.  We'll lay off the
rice cake treats for a while.  When I make my morning oatmeal, I prepare a small portion
for Kelsy.  That way, she can have second breakfast.  She deserves it.
   
8/23/08: Kelsy was doing surprisingly well after her operation.  All clips were removed and we were
settling in to not going near a vet or awhile.  Medication to keep her comfortable, no
restrictions.  
    We went for a walk to the mailbox the other day but she did not do well, so I thought she
just needed more rest.  Not so.  She went downhill fast and I had to call for help.  A nice
young vet came to the house and handled everything.  
    Kelsy went to join Sharon last night.  I have now lost my two best friends.



One of the Good 'Ol Boys of the Cape



Oops.  This one was taken in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  We did not take Kelsy on that 2005 trip. 
Sorry, gal.