McMullin snuggling in the kennel
My beautiful, gentle old man Wally. He is almost 16 years old now. Over those years he has shared our home with more foster puppies and four-legged family members than I can count. Without exception, each one has gone to him to cuddle and seek comfort. He has always obliged. For an intact male he is truly amazing!!!!
Just a few more pictures to tug at your heart strings:
Filed under Foster Puppies, Tango, Tilly, Wally
It was a year ago today that we said goodbye to our beloved Tango. We still think about her daily. Those big, pointy ears….
Her beautiful, gentle brown eyes…
The way she ran like a cheetah. She would flatten her ears for increased aerodynamics and speed…them bring them up to use as flaps to help slow her down…..
And the big wet puppy kisses she would give to anyone that would let her get close enough.
She was a real ambassador for the Canadian Search Dog Association…..
We still miss you our little ‘search girl’. We know you will be faithfully waiting for us to join you.
Linking up to Wordless Wednesday at Blogpaws:
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Earlier this year SARShop.com contacted search and rescue groups from around the world asking members to submit photos of their dogs. Their plan was to produce the first Search and Rescue calendar. We submitted a couple of pictures of our beautiful Tango and then promptly forgot about it. Just a couple of days before Tango crossed over the rainbow bridge we received an email telling us that Tango’s picture had been chosen for the calendar. This weekend we received our complimentary copy of the 2015 calendar. It was very emotional for us to see our girl’s picture in the calendar. The picture above is the one they chose. She is part of a group of pictures for the month of July.
Back in 2012 this picture of Tango was chosen to hang in the Royal Alberta Museum as part of their Wolf to Woof exhibit. (read more about it here).
Just a few more pictures of our girl. She always looked like she was smiling. Gosh I miss her……..
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Filed under BlogPaws, SAR, SAR Dog, Search and Rescue, Tango, Wordless Wednesday
2004FEB12 – 2014NOV01
Tango put up a brave fight against degenerative myelopathy for almost 2 years. Last week everything changed. Wednesday morning she woke up with almost complete paralysis from mid back down, partial paralysis in her front legs and unable to lift her head without crying out in pain. We took her to the Chiropractor that morning and she said that her neck was a mess. It gave us some hope that maybe this was only temporary. We soon realized that this wasn’t temporary and it wasn’t going to get any better. Although our hearts were shattered we knew what we needed to do out of love and respect for our girl. We said goodbye to her Saturday morning. Before we left for the Vet I lied on the floor with her. She looked at me with those big brown eyes and licked the tears off my face.
12 weeks old – will you ever grow into those ears???
My what big ears you have!
Our Valentine beauty!
Our cheetah…..she loved to run
Always ready to chew on or chase a ball
Daddy’s #1 girl (sorry Erin)
Grandma’s girl
Goodbye my beautiful girl. I’m sure that Tasha and Ming were there to greet you and Grandma’s lap and warm hand are there to stroke and comfort you. You are now free to run like the wind again with your favourite orange ball in your mouth. Until we meet again…….
We got a thoughtful email from a friend with the perfect poem:
“If it should be”
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and the pain should keep me from my sleep
Then you must do what must be done
For this, the battle, cannot be won.
You will be sad, I understand
Do not let the grief then stay in your hand,
For this day more than all the rest
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears.
You would not want me to suffer so;
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they’ll tend
And stay with me, if you can, to the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time, you will see,
It is a kindness you do for me.
Although my tail its last was waved
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Do not grieve that it should be you,
Who must decide this thing to do,
We have been so close, we two, these years;
Do not let your heart hold any tears.
Smile, for we walked together for a little while. ”
——Unknown Author ——
Filed under Degenerative Myelopathy, Tango
So how does this thing work?
Cool!!!!
It is hard to get a good drink this way
How do you turn this thing back on?
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Filed under Tango, Wordless Wednesday
The ‘kids’ love licking the empty yogurt containers. I used to buy 500ml containers so they got to ‘clean’ one every 3 days. When I switched to the 1 litre containers they had to wait a whole week. They still join me in the kitchen every morning hoping that today is the day that the container is ready for their pre-wash cycle.
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Filed under BlogPaws, Tango, Tilly, Wally, Wordless Wednesday
As Tango’s degenerative myelopathy progresses she is having a harder time trying to walk around. She is constantly getting her back legs crossed or having them slip out from underneath her. She can still bunny hop/run fairly well but changing direction and stopping are a real challenge. We ordered a wheelchair for her and we have started getting her comfortable with it. This is a video of her first time testing her new wheels.
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Filed under Degenerative Myelopathy, Tango, Wordless Wednesday
Tango 3 months old – Check out those ears!!
Linking up to Wordless Wednesday @BlogPaws
Filed under Tango, Wordless Wednesday
Tango: Nice day for a drive to the off-leash park
Wally: Yes dear
Tango: Crazy Human Driver….signal your turns!!
Wally: Yes dear….it is a nice day for a drive to the park
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Filed under Tango, Wally, Wordless Wednesday
From the Dog House to your house……we wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope you are surrounded by family, warmth and joy.
Yesterday Don and Tango had their annual RCMP certification in 4 profiles (small article, alley, large article, person) and obedience . I am very proud to say that they passed. During their large article test a stray dog came into their search area and wanted to play with Tango. Our girl just kept searching and didn’t even look at the other dog. There were four RCMP dog handlers observing the certification and they were really impressed with her focus and dedication to her search. Knowing our dominant, bossy girl….I bet she didn’t want to share her “prize” with another dog so she was determined to find it first.
Filed under SAR, SAR Dog, Search and Rescue, Tango
Last weekend we were in Slake Lake to participate in a large multi-agency Mock Search put on by the Slave Lake Regional Fire Service. There were people from the RCMP, Edmonton Regional Search and Rescue, Canadian Search Dog Association, Slake Lake Search and Rescue to name a few. We had 9 dogs teams there representing Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge. It was a very well planned and thought out exercise that had scenarios and search areas to suit each group. We even had helicopters flying low over head throughout the day. The dogs did great and didn’t seem concerned about the noise or the low flying choppers. No one encountered any bears or angry wildlife and we all had a great time.
Filed under SAR, SAR Dog, Search and Rescue, Tango, Volunteering
I am proud to say that Don and Tango passed their annual RCMP Cadaver certification last night. They had three 20 x 20 metre fields that they had to search, one had no material in it and the other two had 1-3 samples. The scent sources were placed 48 hours prior to the test. They were allowed 30 minutes per field but they completed all three fields in approximately 20 minutes. They found all samples and correctly identified the negative field. Don said that it was a ‘thing of beauty’ watching our girl work the fields. Tango got Timmy bits as her reward and the skinny guy and I are going out for dinner tonight for our celebration. Yeah Team!!!!
Filed under SAR, SAR Dog, Search and Rescue, Tango, Volunteering
My two favourite Dad’s celebrated breakfast in bed this morning. Don got his McDonald’s Big Breakfast and Wally got his beloved Timmie bits.
All 3 dogs very generously offered to help their Dad eat his big breakfast.
Filed under Tango, Tilly, Two legged family, Wally
This morning we gave the ‘kids’ each a prime rib bone to enjoy on Easter Sunday…..better than chocolate eggs any day!!!
Even with a king size bed there is no room for the two-legged members of the family when all 3 dogs decide they want to cuddle in our bed. Seriously we do manage to fit all 5 of us in bed.
We found this surprise sitting on our front door step. We don’t know who left it there. As you can see by the pictures, Wally liked it more than Tango did. Those of you that know my boy will know exactly what he did with his new friend.
Filed under Tango, Two legged family, Wally
This past weekend Team Tango participated in a multi-agency mock search in the Slave Lake area. The training scenario was a plane crash in the remote wilderness with 15 passengers and crew that needed to be located and rescued. The search included 4 helicopters, 2 fixed wing aircraft, 3 boats, approximately 30 quads and 110 personnel. They utilized an actual 1975DEC29 plane crash site which added to the realism of the search. The disaster scenario tested the readiness of many agencies including Slave Lake Regional Fire Services, RCMP, Environmental and Sustainable Resource Development (Fish and Wildlife, Lands and Forest), Slave Lake Regional SAR, Edmonton Regional SAR, local aviation companies and of course the Canadian Search Dog Association.
Team Tango was deployed to two search areas and travelled by quad into the crash site. They also did a person search demonstration for the Slave Lake Regional Fire Chief. The big thrill of the day for Don was getting to ride in a helicopter with Tango. I think Tango was more fascinated with the flashing lights and reflections inside the helicopter than she was with the actual flight. Our girl is a little OCD when it comes to watching and chasing reflections. Here is a video and some pictures from the mock search:
Filed under SAR, SAR Dog, Search and Rescue, Tango, Training, Volunteering
Last night we attended the opening night of the Wolf to Woof exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum. It was exciting to see Tango’s picture hanging in the museum. There was a wonderful formal presentation and we got to hear the stories behind all the winning pictures. There were 30 winners chosen to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum Society (FRAMS), 10 in each of the following 3 categories: Best Buddy, Hall of Shame and Hall of Fame. Tango was a winner in the Hall of Fame category. We were presented with a beautiful framed copy of her picture and bio. When the exhibit ends this fall, we will also get the framed picture that was hanging in the gallery all summer.
I highly recommend checking out the exhibit. It was well done and very informative for people of all ages who are interested in dogs.
Filed under Tango, Volunteering
Once again this year Tango and Hope co-hosted their annual birthday party. Susan baked special dog friendly cups cakes smothered in “icing”. Both Tango and Hope had their eyes focused on the same cup cake but when they got the go ahead to start eating, they quickly figure out which one was theirs.
As you can see by Tilly’s chin and her ear (in the picture below)…….everyone thoroughly enjoyed their treat.
Filed under Foster Puppies, Tango, Tilly
It was a beautiful, mild day on Sunday so we knew that we had to grab the puppies and spend some family time outside. First Don, Tango, Wally and I went for a brisk 12km walk. Then we packed everyone into the van and headed out to Stony Plain. Wally and Tango did a little SAR training and then we all went for a nice off leash walk. Everyone was wet, muddy and very happy when we were done.
I found a talented local artist who did these spectacular drawings of our “kids”. I just gave her pictures of the dogs and I got these wonderful keepsakes. I know that when they have all gone to puppy heaven, I will have these amazing drawings to ease my heartache. She is particularly talented at capturing the eyes…they show the heart, soul and personality of our dogs. People who have seen the drawings and know our dogs comment on how she has managed to convey much more than just an image. I love them all but I especially love the one of Wally with his big, jowly puddles. If you would like to commission a drawing of your beloved companion animal, get in touch with me and I will give you her contact info.
I surprised Don and got this extra drawing of Tango in her search vest that he can hang in his office at work.
Filed under Tango, Tilly, Two legged family, Wally
Picture Courtesy of: Rene Mercier
I am thrilled to announce that Team Tango passed their annual RCMP cadaver certification this morning. As a reward, Tango got a Mega-P’nut treat from Bone and Biscuit in Sherwood Park and Don is going to get a nice ‘take-out’ dinner from the restaurant of his choice. I think Tango got the better end of this deal.
Filed under Tango
This week we had Don’s Mom over for dinner to celebrate her 96th birthday. As you can see from the pictures, each dog took their opportunity to snuggle with Grandma and wish her a very Happy Birthday!
Filed under Tango, Tilly, Two legged family, Wally
On Sunday we volunteered to set up a booth at the Humane Society’s annual Pets in the Park. Tango was a little excited when we first got there. Both she and Don were wearing their “search gear” so she thought that she was there to work. Once she figured out that there wasn’t going to be any searching, she settled down and helped greet all the visitors and their pets.
Filed under Tango, Volunteering
Don and Tango passed their annual RCMP certification test today. Although it has been raining non-stop all day they went ahead with the testing. The large articles have been laying out in the test field for two rain filled days, but Tango found them all. The people search was picture perfect and a thing of beauty. She hit on the scent more than 75 yards away. They were tested on 4 profiles today: large articles, small articles, people and alleys. Their cadaver test will happen this fall. I wasn’t allowed to watch the certifcation tests because I am too much of a distraction for our girl. While she is searching she likes to do a ‘run-by’ just to say hi to Mom.
I’m so proud of them. We are going to have a celebration dinner tonight!!!
Filed under Tango, Volunteering
I got Don a book on search and rescue training for his birthday. He had been reading it and when he took a break, he put it down on the couch beside him. Next thing we know, our search girl has crawled up beside him and put her paw on the the cover of the book. It was such a perfect photo opportunity that you would almost think that we posed it…..but we didn’t.
We spent another wonderful day at Patty’s acreage with all the dogs. It was great to walk the property without trudging through thigh deep snow…..but…..the damn mosquitos were crazy. I’ve never seen so many in my life. We had to bathe our entire bodies in deep woods off to keep from getting eaten alive. There were so many that you could hear a loud hum. The City is saying that we are experiencing the worst mosquito infestation ever in recorded history. The annoying part is that this variety is out in full force during the hottest part of the day. Poor Hope got so many bites on her pretty, black face that she was all swollen and itchy. She must have an allergy to them.
Even with all the skeeters we had a wonderful time. Tilly got to meet a horse up close and personal…..I think the horse enjoyed it more than she did.
Wally managed to roll in everything stinky and disgusting that he could find. His beautiful golden coat took on a greenish patina from all the poop he ground into it. We left the big dogs outside in the dog run so that they could dry off. Tango managed to squish her fat head through the gate and got herself stuck. Thank goodness my “mommy” instincts kicked in and I decided that I needed to check on the kids so we were able to free her before any damage was done. It took two baths to get the green tinge and disgusting smell out of Wally’s coat.
Filed under Foster Puppies, Tango, Tilly, Wally
Life In The Dog House 