Sasha

11/27/2002 - 01/29/2022

  Oh - tough post to write.. Sasha died last Saturday, .... 19 years old.  Working hard to be grateful for how much time we got - we got so much time -. But there is an emptiness in this house - a Sasha size space missing now; i just love her so fiercely, it seems impossible that she is not here  - won't be here.. trying to be grateful for the time i did get, but i wanted more...

Adopted May 2004 - about 1 1/2 years old - one of the first pictures we have of her... Such a baby.. looks a little worried in this picture - she was still getting to know us...

She was so fast - we couldn't catch her if she was was after something... too fast. Big prey drive - chased birds, mice - caught more than a few too...   Also tennis ball OBSESSED - i remember whenever I would get sick of throwing the tennis ball - I would always try to throw it another five minutes - thinking one day - she won't want the tennis ball anymore and I would miss it.  She enjoyed her tennis ball obsession, though got a lot slower as she got older until she was about 15ish... before giving it up... I missed it, I bet she missed it too. 

We started fostering in 2010. Sasha was about 8 years old.  The intent was to get another dog.  Sasha never really played with any of the foster dogs - didn't care for the hyper and playful ones.  The nappers - those she enjoyed and didn't mind so much.  Skittles, Sissy and Skeeter would good nappers - some of her favorites that would almost snuggle with.     We fostered over 50 dogs with New Rattitude (and a few with a local rescue WAGS) - she was a good mama dog to them - showing them the ropes.  How to get treats, where to potty - how to nap.  Most of the dogs looked up to her... and if they got too hyper - she would just do a slow walk by and they would stop playing... we would call her the fun police - since she could stop all playing - just by her presence.... resuming once she was out of sight...   I did adopt Skeeter in 2014 - they were good buddies.. After Skeeter died 2019 and Sasha's eyesight was failing - she would always sniff new dogs a little differently - I think she would trying to sniff out Skeeter. 

I could go on and on about Sasha - she was part of our lives for nearly two decades.  I do know that we didn't waste these last few years with her.  The past 5 years have been rough - I lost my dad,  Cassie's cat Sarah died, Skeeter died - Mike's two cats died.. some family and friends that I loved died.  It's been a time of loss and I knew how lucky I was to have Sasha and have her in good health for so so long.  She was with me through all that grief making it better.  So we made sure to take her on vacations; get her to the water that she loved so much as often as possible. She had a blast a Camino Island and Soap Lake last year...  Bought a stroller so she could go on walks.  I would just take her alone to the pet store or the coffee shop for treats.  As long as she was here, I wanted the time to be spent well- no regrets and I got that. I will never not love her. 

 

 

I'm Adopted

I had this plan to do a blogspot about Thorn neuter surgery and how he also was running in my yard and luckily managed to get a thorn right above his eye rather than in his eye!  lucky duck... but he was such a stud working his wiles at the veterinarians office - he got one of the vet tech to fall in love with him and she's gone and adopted him! So sweet and I couldn't be happier for him.   Gonna miss my little cuddle buddy but I don't think Sasha will miss him, he was too fast and busy for him... He's headed home today!!!!

But here is some last pictures of Mr. Thorn....I will miss you buddy and thanks for warming up to me - I've enjoyed our snuggles! 

Thorn is a STARRRR!!!

Thorn went for his WAGS photo shoot... It was pretty scary for him, but with another dog, (Watson) and a little time, he was good for a came of chase and some great pictures came out of it!!!!

He's off to get neutered this Tuesday and then he will be ready for adoption!   Good news too - he is just starting to use the doggie door on a regular basis so I'm thinking he is about housetrained... yay!!!  He's a smart little dude. 


Also - look at Thorns neck!  He's literally got a turtle neck built in,... It's so cute!!!!

 He is now asking me to pick him up while i'm at work so he can nap on the dog bed... it took three weeks, but worth it!!!!

Bright Sunny Day

Well, after that trip to PetSmart last weekend, it's like something clicked with Thorn... or maybe he knows he can trust me know... He isn't as scared as he once was, more inquisitive and his energy level is up!  Yay for him!

He loves doing zoomies  in the yard everyday... He runs, he hops, likes to do circles and occasionally chase his tail... Super helpful the snow has gone away and the weather is mild.  He also loves to zoom around the house too, much to the annoyance of Sasha.  He's so fast!   But, he's also super mellow and always up for a good snuggle... He loves to burrow.. .likes to lay next to you... He's a good napper...

He is very smart too... He's been sleeping in an xpen and 3 nights in a row he appeared in the middle of the night in my room for a snuggle... First time, my fault - I didn't close the door all the way, but the next two times he managed to unclip 1 of the clippies and squeeze out... Once I put some newer ones on, he can't get out anymore and he's sad about it... He really would prefer to sleep with family. 

Winterizing Thorn

so, it finally snowed here... Thorn hates it... he shakes, shivers, acts like he can't stand getting his dainty paws wet... Can't blame him, it's cold, it's new to him.... He's coming around though... While he's not happy about it... he's finally started doing his zoomies in the yard and getting back to peeing outside again - which YAY!!!  video---->Yard Zoomies

So - of course we had to keep him warm - so out came the outfits!  He's adorable... He didn't like them at first, but once he quit being a drama queen about it and figured out he could do zoomies just fine - he was okay with being bundled.  He likes to be warm - I think he will come to love a good sweater...

We also took him to a meet and greet at PetSmart on Saturday - I thought would would just try for 30 minutes, but we stayed the whole 4 hours!   He was nervous, but he did great.. He would great people for treats.. he loves little girls too!  had no problem with them at all.   He let some people hold him.   He even did a few laps about the store on the leash... I was super impress by how brave he was being and letting me gently push him out of his comfort zone.  We even walked out of the store with him on the leash.  Way to go Mr. Thorn!!!   He had a nice hard nap when we got home.  Well deserved!

Thorn learning to dog

Thorn has really come around.... while Cassie was here, he started to play with toys; learning to go inside and outside in the house.   He's had to readjust when Cassie went back to school and hang out with me more - but he has quickly gotten into my work routine and even spending some time on the desk napping... Difficult to see a new dog in Skeeter's space, but nice to have a buddy working with me too.  He really is a world class napper and burrower - so it's a good spot for him rather than keeping him in the xpen while I work.   He also asked me to continue to pet him today while working... Progress!!!  He also have a voice activated tail ------->Thorn's Voice Activated Tail

on my desk - all nice and cozy

Tonight he got his first case of the zoomies - chasing after the tail chaser toy... good to see him run and get some energy to him and not be so nervous around me.  He's also ready to learn the doggie door.  He actually asked to go outside twice tonight with some little whines... and he's been nosing the dog door.  He's pretty smart - i think he will have it figured out as soon as I just work with him this weekend.

He's still nervous - doesn't mind being held, but doesn't like being taken outside in your arms.  It's good that he's able to follow me outside now..  I think he really hates the cold - he so likes be toasty.  Not sure how he will feel about a sweater... or some pjs... hahaha... Get ready Thorn, it's happening...

Thorn in the New Year

We have learned a lot this week about Mr. Thorn and him us... and he has really started to relax and settle in... We are now getting some play from him everyday and he will even shake and squeak a toy.  He loves running around the yard (instead of peeing like he's suppose too) showing off to Sasha.

He's a burrower...a master cuddler...  Has a fascination for q-tips.... good at his house training if kept on a schedule.   Found the water dish and is now brave enough to use it!     And did well with his bath.   He likes to shred his peepads in the xpen when we leave him, but he'll still pee on them!!!  hahaha

Thorn with toy <--- A video of the first time he showed interest in a toy - it was a good day!