In Memory of Ashley

Ashley, one of the labs I dog sat for just 9 days ago, has gone to the the Rainbow Bridge.











Ashley started life as a Paws puppy, in training to be a service dog. Jennifer and Jill Swearingen decided to keep her when she was career changed for allergies. She lived a happy life with laid back Texas. Then when Texas retired and Flurry moved in, Ashley and Flurry became best buddies.

Ashley was 7 years old and was diagnosed with cancer about 6 months ago. She will be missed.

Kittens!

This mom is a stray who ended up pregnant in a friends neighborhood, so she took her in to have her kittens. Bobbi (she's a bobtail cat) had 5 kittens on Tuesday April 13. My friend was going to be out of town for the weekend, so I got to kitty-sit.


Bobbi is a very sweet gentle cat who let's you handle her babies without much protest, until her baby cries. Then she is right there tugging the little one out of your hand and carrying them back to the box.

The kittens have one goal right now, that is to nurse....

There are so tiny. Look how big mom's paw is next to the kittens!


And look at these cute faces!


Besides the kittens, I'm also dog sitting my friends dogs. So her 3 dogs, plus 5 kittens, plus 1 momma cat, plus my 2 dogs, plus my foster dog, plus my cat....that makes 13 animals at my house this weekend! Here's Kramer, Wilma, Flurry, Ashley and Texas.

Turning in Macy

On Sunday, Jen and I brought Macy to the Leader Dog school in Rochester Michigan where she will begin the next phase of her journey to become a guide dog.

We drove to Rochester and took Macy out to lunch for the last time. I think she knew something was up because we weren't at our usual Big Boy restaurant!

At the Leader Dog school, we handed the leash over to the Leader Dog person and watched as she walked Macy for a while. This was Macy's first test....and she passed with "GREATS" in all 7 categories!

Next, we were told to take as much time with her as we wanted, so we walked her outside and took some last pictures with our little girl.

When we brought her back into the school, we got to bring her into her kennel. Then we said our teary eyed good-byes and walked away.

I really liked that Leader Dogs gives the raisers a choice of putting the puppy into the kennel. It helps the puppy know that it's OK because Mom put me in here. After we dried our eyes, I looked back in the window of the kennel area and Macy was standing in the kennel staring at the door where we left, I'm sure waiting for us to come back. That is the hardest part. But I'm sure she did just fine and is doing well.

Wilma is 4 Years Old!

Happy Birthday, Wilma!

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She wasn't too crazy about the hat, but put up with it.

She loved her birthday cake!

And look at all that Birthday loot!
She even shared her new toys with Kramer.

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I think she had a very happy birthday!

On the Trails

I took Wilma and Kramer out to explore some new trails the other day at The MacCleary Reserve in south Jackson County. There are several trials winding through the woods and up and down hills.

It was very nice and I think we'll be spending more time there this spring. I think Kramer enjoyed every minute of it. Wilma, on the other hand, slowed down and gave me a look like she was saying "...are we there yet, mom?"

The Last Macy Swap

I've been co-raising Macy with Jennifer since last May. Every 2-3 weeks we do the "Macy Swap", usually meeting at the Meijers or Big Boy's in Mason, although there have been other swap locations.























Macy is always happy and excited to see both of us and jumps right into the car of whoever is taking her home.

Yesterday when I met Jennifer it was our last "Macy Swap". I kind of wish I were on the receiving end of this swap, but I turned Macy over for the last time. Out of my car....
Into Jen's car....
And next Sunday we will be bringing Macy to the Leader Dog school in Rochester to start training for her career as a guide dog.