Lucy is 7 months old now. She was 4 months in this picture. I learned that I can't hold Lucy and eat pizza, unless I am willing to share. My daughter gave Lucy to my Dad and I. I could not believe how Dad took to her. Dad never allowed pets in the house while we were growing up. The same rules don't apply to Lucy.
When my Uncle first became ill, Dottie went with me to California to sort out what needed to be done. She was my source of strength, and his source of comfort. She became a celebrity at the nursing home he was in. When Dottie was there, we all knew everything was going to be all right.
She'd make a spot on Uncle John's bed and curl up and go to sleep, as if to say "No worries". She really found her calling late in her own life-as a visiting dog. As her own health failed, she was no longer able to make visits because she had vision, cognition issues of her own.
When it was time to die she let me know she was ready to go, again teaching me how to let go.
Dottie was a true hero-to both caregiver and patient.
Trouble (Samoyed) is Max's sister. She is 9 yrs old and is to Max as "Lucy" was to "Ricky". We named Trouble correctly because she never foregoes an opportunity to get into trouble. She has also worked with Max in a local retirement home and adult care facility, visiting the residents and bringing joy (an a lot of fur) wherever she goes. She was the one that originally took up "singing" when my son played the flute.....Trouble sings bass, Max sings tenor (we blame neutering on that) She is truly a pup that loves to please, yet her mischievous side gets the best of her. Trouble has also needed surgeries on both knees for ligament tears, so her career as a therapy dog was cut short. She visits my Mom who has Alzheimer's and never ceases to make Mom laugh. Her fur is SO soft, and she has such a patient, sweet temperment that she provides much needed tactile and emotional support.....to us all.
Trouble is certainly "trouble"....but she brings a smile and joy, no matter what the circumstances may be. She is one of a kind.