Josie's Corner

Note: In the past year we have been blessed by finding homes for deserving bichons and mixes that are advanced in their years but still have many years of love and affection to share. One of our recent adoptions was of a 12 year old bichon/cocker mix named Josie. Josie is now the loving companion of an elderly woman who has a new lease on her life, now that she has a loving four-legged companion to share her lap. The lady's daughter, Karen, has written a number of 'stories' about Josie since she has joined their family. In this corner on our web site we will share some of Karen's observations about Josie.

August 2006

You would not believe our little girl. A little over a month ago I took her in to have her teeth pulled and the vet had to pull 12 extra teeth above and beyond what he had originally thought. She has no upper teeth at all. He said they were so infected and decayed that he had to do it. She threw up from the anesthesia and not having had anything to eat. I asked about what soft foods to feed her and was told she can eat whatever she normally ate because dogs really do not chew their food. He also told me that she would feel a lot better and have more energy now that her infected teeth were gone. Home we went armed with antibiotics and pain pills. The next day her appetite had returned and this little girl was hungry. We were truly in awe at how much friskier she was acting already. Now that she has totally healed she has the energy of a much younger dog. If she could see she would be running and bouncing everywhere. I felt so bad because I did not realize how bad she felt because of her teeth. This little girl runs and bounces and dances and feels so good and is so happy. And, the vet was right, she still eats anything and everything we offer her. She truly loves watermellon.

What a joy she is to have.

Karen

June 2006

We gave up on the vet's meds as they did not help her cough. My friend, who is the groomer and has a Pom with the same chronic cough told me someone told her to try Claritan. I gave Josie 1/3 of a pill and guess what! It worked. Josie hardly coughed for several days and we could pick her up without her coughing. Right now Claritan is the only med she is taking.

She and my actually mom carry on conversations. Josie will dance for treats and my mom happily obliges her. As soon as I come home from work Josie is there to greet me. Actually, there have been even a couple of times where she has coerced me into feeding her, my not realizing my mom had already fed her. She does love to eat. I think next to eating she loves her tummy rubbed. When Josie is relunctant to go outside, my mom puts her on the seat of her walker and off they go. This is a picture I will take and share with everyone.

I wish I could describe the change that has evolved in both my mom and Josie. It is like they have each given the other a new purpose in life. Oh, how I wish you could see them when they get animated at the same time. What a hoot!

And my grandchildren love Josie. They understand she is a senior citizen so they are very gentle with her. I thought they might lose interest because she can't run and play with them, but the opposite is true. They rub her and talk to her. My 3 year old granddaughter has a captive audience in Josie and she tells her princess stories. Nick was hoping for a dog he could run with but after he got to know Josie he loves her dearly and is very tender with her. Josie loves kids and they love her. I am sending a picture of my grandson, Nick, with Josie and I will take pictures of my mom and send now that I have a new digital camera.

Josie is an amazing little dog with an amazing spirit. When I see her with my mom I know that she was meant to be a part of our lives. She is a testimony of the joy, love and devotion...did I mention satisfaction .... in adopting a senior dog .

We'll be sending more updates soon.
Karen and Josie
 

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I wish you could see how Josie wags her tail and drops her head down to play...as much as she is able. She is such a different little girl than when she first arrived. I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago and then again yesterday. He wanted to check her thyroid. Dr Esplin called the vet in California and they faxed over what records they had on her. Poor Josie got her bum espressed and blood drawn , adding insult to injury for her I am sure. She was really good though but stayed very close to me. Her cough is chronic and will not go away. The vet thinks it is her trachea compressing and that she coughs to open it. I know whenever we pick her up she always coughs. He gave her a stronger cough suppressant that has a narcotic in it and she only takes 1/4 of a tablet.

Josie loves the back yard and right now we leave both sliding doors slightly open so she can come and go as she wishes. We are looking into installing a doggie door. I dog sat my friend's Pom and the two got along great. Josie ate her food and Buffy's food as well. By the way, Josie has a really good appetite. I had to be very firm with my mother to not feed her from the table, which at some point Josie had enjoyed, or give her lots of treats. We want to keep her weight (14 and 3/4 lbs.) under control.

Josie has been so good for my mother. She talks to her, has her get up on her lap and is able to just spoil her and do for her. My mom needed an outlet like Josie so she could give and do. I told mom the first day that Josie was her dog, but I did make a few rules. Josie rode on my mother's lap and we went to the park Sunday evening. Mom has a motorized chair.

Josie is really getting cute now that her hair is growing in. It is kind of a blonde color and is wavy.

By the way, my grandson has Josie shaking hands. I am not too sure if he will be able to help her master anything else but he is excited about that. Oh, and she did sit up and beg at the table. This little girl is full of surprises. Happy ones.

We are doing good here...really good.
We'll be back in touch with more stories soon.
Josie's New Family