Tucker's Farewell Message

This is a long slide show and for some of you (like me) it might require a few tissues along the way. Please sit back and enjoy some snapshots of Tucker's long and happy life!

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Goodbye Tucker

Tucker is with his sister Charmin now and at peace. I will put together a healing memorial celebration of his life this weekend when I've had a chance to breathe and dry my eyes. Thank you all for the kind words you've shared throughout this journey.

Tucker's "Humomma"

One more day please!

Tucker made it through the night and still doesn't appear to be in distress, just very unresponsive. We got him to drink a little water, and for those of you who know Tucker, you KNOW how much he LOVES his water!!! That's all I can write for now. Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and prayers. I told him all about the things you said and he knows that you're all sending warm zen thoughts his way.

Licks and wags from Tucker
His Momma

Paw Prayers Please!

Tucker isn't eating and we're not sure if this is a sign of the end or if he's just taking a break from food, but he's extremely weak and won't stand up much or walk around. This is something that has gotten progressively worse over the past week. Please send him your biggest paw thoughts and prayers. He doesn't appear to be in any kind of pain, so we'll keep trying to get him to eat and keep him comfortable. That's about all I can write through my tears right now as I think of what is coming soon. Thank you for all of your love and caring.

Tucker's Momma

Come look at the card my momma made!

You can tell that my momma's been thinking about my age lately because her newest card made for her new Etsy shop is one of those sappy "sorry for the loss of your dog" things. Here, I'll show you what it looks like, then you tell ME what you think. I'll pass your comments along to her. No that's not me in the bucket silly! She used a picture from something called a paint chip or sample or something like that. It's also not my paw print, my tootsies are much bigger than that and they don't have flowers on them! I think it's kinda cute! Oh, her shop that she opened with her human daughter is Eco Chique Boutique . It makes me a little sad that someone will need this card. Maybe I'll get her to make some Birthday cards and some other more happy occasion cards for us furries. I'm just a little over one month from my 14th Birthday and they've promised me a really BIG party if I make it, so you know how much I love my treats and there will be lots of them for me and my furry friends to eat. I wouldn't miss it for the world!!! Stay tuned for more information.

Hey I have eyes!

So the other day my humomma decided to cut my bangs so she could see my eyes. She thinks since all I can see now is shadows, if anything at all, that getting the hair away from my eyes will help. Can't honestly say it made a difference, but makes her feel better anyway. Oh, my sisters Katie and Libby were really worried about what she was doing, so they stood guard.

Supper time!

I got to go for a ride!

Yesterday I got to go with my family to a big celebration of my human momma's parents' 60th Anniversary. Since it is a two hour drive both ways and I sometimes have accidents if left inside for longer than 7 or 8 hours they decided to let me go with them. What fun it was riding in the back of my human sister's SUV! I got all kinds of attention at the party, but can't tell you who they were cuz I've never met most of them, can't see them and have a poor memory these days. My favorite was this tiny little human though:

Here's my human daddy getting me ready for the trip home:

and here I am during the ride home. They said I slept most of the way down and back, plus most of the time during the party. All I know is it made me feel pretty special to get to go with them while Katie, Libby and Charlie had to stay behind. Guess that's what you call old age privileges, huh?

I'm on my humomma's socks!

See! Bet ya didn't believe me, huh? She says it makes her feel close to me while she's at work. Silly lady!

Good report from the vet!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still here, just not writing much these days. My vet gave me the thumbs' up during yesterday's visit and said if I make it to my 14th Birthday in October she will be highly impressed. Hey, doesn't she know that us Wires are an incredible breed worthy of awe and adoration?  The prednisone is keeping the histamines low and the tumors aren't showing back up and the great news is that I've put on 2 pounds! My humomma was scared that the bigger belly was another tumor, but the doc said it wasn't and was just from my eating habits returning to normal. I say it's thanks to all that great special soft canned stuff the doc gave my hudaddy to feed me! He adds it to my hard food along with some brewer's yeast with garlic. Yummy! Speaking of food, I wanted to show you some of the pears that my humomma picked off the tree next to our driveway. This is just part of what they got. I don't think I like pears, but I bet Katie and Libby do. Guess we'll find out after they're ripe!

For the love of dogs please stop moving my water!!!

They promised me that this was the LAST time they'd move my water, but you know how us wires get sometimes... well I don't trust them, so today I just staged a sit... er lay-in right there by the water, rear end pushed up close so if anybody so much as even TRIES to move it I'll know!!! Pardon the mess, but my sister Libby eats out of that bowl and she likes to grab a mouthful of food, drop it on the floor, then eat it off the floor. Tee hee hee, I discovered her trick and now I go rooting around after she's done and sniff out the extras!

No funny remarks about my big nose from the peanut gallery either! Hey I saw the history of that saying on tv today. Seems they used to have some cheap seats at the live theater and since peanuts were the snack of the day the people used to throw peanuts. Maybe that's not quite accurate, but it's what I remember hearing. Well, time to go back to sleep...

Lazy Wordless Sunday

Please help me save the oily dolphins and sea turtles!

My human momma was reading all about this project that is helping clean up our sisters and brothers who live in the water that got all oily. They are asking people to send in towels, cotton sheets, cotton t-shirts and anything that is washcloth or hand towel size and cotton. You can read all about Project 8 on their website at Craft Hope. My momma said she has a whole box of hand towels and wash clothes that she is happy to donate to help our water friends. Won't you join me in my quest to help out too? Now that momma knows about it she'll probably do more of their projects since she has so much craft stuff all over the house! Aren't humans funny?!?

Licks and wags (and if you've watched my YouTube video lately you'll know that I LOVE licking the air!)
Tucker

Tucker being herded by Katie

The quality of this video is a little blurry, so you can't read all the words. Katie was saying that she confirms there are still mast cell tumors after sniffing my rear end. She finally got the hang of this herding thing!

Sleeping on the job

Here I am sleeping while my Humomma gets ready to paint the buffet.

and here I am sleeping after she painted it. Echo thought I looked rather silly with my head up against the water bowl, but you see, that's how I claim ownership. It really doesn't stop the other four-leggeds from drinking, they're just a little neater so they don't slop water all over my head.

Well I DID move a bit! Can't get too far from that water bowl ya know, and this way I don't have far to walk to get outside. How do ya like that new paint job? Momma said she needs ideas for new door and drawer knobs. She's going for a Tuscan theme in the room. Pretty much everything has to be redone, so I'll be supervising her eventually while she paints the walls, trim, ceiling. Hmmm, wonder if they'll take me shopping when they go to find a new table and chairs? I bet I could point to just the right ones, don't you? *snicker*

Oh I almost forgot to give you a report from my latest visit to the doc. The prednisone is shrinking the tumors, BUT she only gives me 3 to 6 months to live.... excuse me while I wipe the water off my momma's face since she has to do all the typing for me these days.... Anyway, I don't know what all the fuss is about cuz I feel just fine and love all the attention I'm getting! I'm sure Charmin has already reserved a special place for me and just can't wait to run and bark at me when I get there. We'll both have the spring back in our legs and 20/20 vision and will be the King and Queen of the whole shebang!

Happy Independence Day to Everyone!

This day makes me think of how every furry in this house, all four dogs and three cats, were rescued either from a pet store, animal shelter or found roaming the streets. We all found our independence when the two-leggeds tooks us in and gave us a forever home. I know there must be many of you out there who feel as grateful as I do about your freedom, so join me in saying a big THANK YOU to our rescuers!

Well I couldn't find a thank you graphic from this program, but since my human daddy loves Snoopy stuff I thought he'd like this guy...


Licks and joyful wags...
Tucker

Phew, I found the back door again!!!

With a little help from me (but Daddy forgot to take a picture) the floor got down today and all the furniture moved out of the front room and I finally could walk to the back door again. You can probably tell that I was just soooooo relieved to find it that I just plopped myself right down on that new floor (water bowl close at hand of course) and gazed out at the back yard. Sure I can't see much, but when it's really bright outside I can see shadows and they look really pretty through my dim eyes! My humans are really happy to finally have a new floor and now they're talking about painting.... sheesh, can't a guy get any rest around here???

It's just not fair!

See me sulking...

see the obstacle course to my day time bed

top view of the obstacle course

and there's my bed!

see big empty dining room and sister Libby drinking water

see me drinking water! At least I found one thing!

ps.  my humans are getting new floors put in and these two guys were here all day today pounding and making all kinds of noise disturbing my nap. My daddy put me in his den and let me get some rest. I'll be glad when all the furniture gets put back where it belongs because I totally got lost in that obstacle course!

Hey I'm on something called Blog Frog!

My humomma just put a picture of me with my new book on something called Blog Frog. Sounds like something Katie and Libby would like to chase around, huh? She put Katie on there too and told about her prize moustache kong thingy. Guess our momma doesn't win any prizes, so she thinks we're pretty lucky!

Dog carpet

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I got my book!!!

What great timing after my bad news to find out that my book arrived! Here I am sniffing around the package.

and reading the awesome pages

and reading to my housemates

and then, well as any good old man will tell you.... I fell asleep!

Thank you April and Kathy for sending me this book. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who has dogs or cats or who just loves animals in general! The author, Kathy Brodsky, lost her dog to cancer less than two years ago, so it seems like fate that I was the winner. My two-legged momma said she'll keep my picture in the book to show everyone after I'm gone and it will always comfort her to know that there are loving and caring people out there who share their lives and the lives of their furry friends.

Sad News :-( ` ` ` `

Well guys, I got the news today that the lump on my rear, along with about ten other lumps all over my body, are all mast cell tumors. I overheard the vet telling my human daddy that they should keep me comfortable, but I don't know what they're talking about cuz I feel just fine! That's if you don't count the times I've bumped my head, but I don't move very fast, so it doesn't hurt too bad. My humomma's face is all wet because she's worried about me and doesn't want me to get any worse. They did find something new in a catalog for cataracts that they're going to order so at least they can try to help me see better and I'm still eating the Tumor Time with my food. Anyway, just thought you'd like an update on my lumps. Oh.... hudaddy calls me Mr Lumpy now.... how funny! Hudaddy calls me Mr T cuz she says I'm a tough guy!

Hey who moved the furniture?

You know how us WFT love tight spots, right? Well someone left the vacuum cleaner out by my bed and then someone moved the tv tray holder out too, so I decided to make myself at home.

Well NOW where am I??? scroll down and you'll see what happens when the furniture gets moved and a blind dog gets confused. Remember now that the pillow/blanket/bed is in the living room...

and here I am in the dining room.... NOT quite right, huh?

Well the humans had a garage sale yesterday and sold the dining room set so they could get ready to get new flooring put in, then they will buy a new set, but they didn't show me around before they put the temporary table and the big recliner that didn't sell in the dining room, so I got confused.

Here's all my siblings, Katie, Charlie and Libby wondering why I'm sleeping in the dining room.

I WON, I WON!!!!

Guess what everyone???? I won a book! Thanks to The Teachers Pets and the generosity of Ms Kathy for this opportunity. I hope you all go over to both of their blogs and say hi to them. While on Kathy's site you can find out all about her and the other books she's written. Oh, that's her below in the picture. Doesn't she just make you smile looking at her? After I get my book I'll tell ya all about it!

Bump on my rear end

I'm not gonna show it to you cuz I think it's gross, but now that my momma cut my hair she found a nickle-sized lump on my rear, well you know where... She said it might be those glands needing to be drained, but she wants the vet to do it and since it doesn't bother me they're gonna wait till they take Katie in for her shots. Rats, if it's not one thing it's another. Oh and momma says I've turned in to a little old man with warts all over my body! Can you believe she said that? Who ME a little old man???? Nevah happen!

I got a haircut!

Seems that my humans think I was getting too hot, so they chopped off all my hair today. I have to admit that it really does feel nice and cool. Humomma said my hair was starting to turn reddish brown where it was always black back there on my back hips.

See my happy face! Actually I was waiting for my food. My food always arrives at the same time every afternoon right here in this little room with two doors to keep out the other furries who try to eat my dinner.

Where's the food? See how nice and quiet I am while I wait? Aw common, bring it here please!

I just don't understand what's taking so long, so might as well lie down and rest while I'm waiting.

ps.  I finally got fed and am ready to go to bed now.

Fell down the stairs and found a new hiding place

About a week ago I fell down the basement stairs and stopped eating and didn't walk much and really, really worried my humans. They should've known that it was my way of healing, but nooooo, hudaddy just HAD to take me to the doc again! Well as it turns out that was a good thing because she gave me these pills that really knocked out the pain and got me back up and walking. Humomma said I reminded her of Angel Charmin when she used to walk around in circles, then fall down cuz she was dizzy. They're still trying to train Katie to be my guide dog, but she won't do it. Maybe Libby will do it?

Remember my last note about my new hiding place? Well since I got discovered by the light box I decided to dig in a little further... er, not really digging, but you know what I mean. It's the next best thing to digging that I've found in these parts where the outside ground is rock hard. This spot is right around the corner from where I was before and if it wasn't for my hudaddy finding me it would still be a secret!

Those speaker wires don't make the best pillow, but they provide a little distance between my face and those daggon dust bunnies! Humomma wanted you all to see that I was holding my head up again.

Since I can't do much hopping around anymore like I used to I decided to join this Blog Hop! When I signed up I was number 64. Come along and join the fun!

My new hiding place

Guess what? Nobody can find me here... well at least not the other furries in this house. Of course the two-legged guy with the flashbox found me, but he was really quiet so I could keep my special hiding place. None of the other doggies can fit in here anyway and the kitties only like soft places, so unless they lay on top of me, well,  I don't have to worry about them.

Thanks to everyone for writing in and asking about how I'm doing. Since I can't see much anymore I'm bumping in to more things and getting lost in the back yard. The other day my humomma had to put on golashes and don an umbrella to come rescue me from the rain. Guess where I was standing? Out on the cement by Charmin's grave waaaaaay in the very back of our big back yard. Guess I was asking for her help finding my way back. You know all that rain made it hard to sniff my way back to the deck. I couldn't even smell my own stuff to know where to drop more and kept going around in circles. Good news though! Still no more tumor growing back! WOOHOOO!!!!!

Take care everyone. Summer is on the way!

Look, no more tumor!

So my two-legged momma took a picture of my belly sans tumor, but then decided it was a bit too revealing since this is a family blog, so you'll have to use your imagination a bit to see my flat belly. Remember how big that tumor was? Well let me tell  ya, I am feeling sooooooo much better now and as you can see, am all smiles! If you zoom in on the pic you can also see my shiny white teeth. Daddy asked the doc to clean my teeth while she had me knocked out for the surgery. Now my humans let me kiss them without wincing from the bad breath.

If you haven't been on Katie's blog lately, go read all about our new sister Libby. She's an 8 year old Border Collie mix and she thinks she's the boss of everyone, except me of course. She just pretty much ignores me, probably thinks I'm just furniture since I'm usually sitting or laying on my pillow and staying out of everyone's way.

Thanks to everyone for your care and concern. My humans read all of your comments to me since I couldn't get online for awhile.

Licks and wags...
Tucker