June is really a busy month so here is another posting segment. We had a great Sock Hop Dance in little Cotacachi. Someone commented that it is wonderful that we have 2 American Style Bands that perform for us on a regular basis. I think that is rare since we are in such a small town. So the music ofThree Shades of Gray and Time provides are a wonderful addition to the life of the expats. One of our neighbors, Ron O’Quinn is a renowned international radio DJ. He met all my teenage music idols. I could listen to his stories about the Beetles, Rolling Stones, and my teenage heart-throb Dion for hours.
Here is just a taste of what goes on in Cotacachi with our June Sock Hop. Everyone comes including children, Ecuadorians, seniors, folks using canes and even wheelchairs. So young and old have a great time and it is a real family affair. I truly believe the activity is what will keep us out of nursing homes that are common in the USA. So living abroad saves our children from taking our car way and placing us in assisted living or a nursing home. If you need in-home care your can hire someone to take care of you very inexpensively. Yeah, we are doing it our way and living the good life with like-minded folks. This is our last hooray after years of the corporate daily grind and political atmosphere.
Well, I have not had the energy to post on my blog lately. We have been busy with lots to share but it has been a difficult month for us. One of the deal-breakers I had in moving to Ecuador was that we bring our 3 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to Ecuador. For the past 3 years, they have adjusted well and our little pet family thrived. However, on May 13th I had to say my final goodbye to “My Girl”Q.E. (Queen Elizabeth). She was 12 years old and we had many good and bad times together. She died of congestive heart failure and could hardly breathe. I looked at her chest x-ray and her heart was so large it covered her whole chest. We had a wonderful vet and he tried giving her treating her with medication and was hopeful. But when I got her home she had trouble standing up. I held her all morning and saw her struggling to take a breath. So my last gift to her was to say goodbye and one of the hardest things I have ever done. I had my face directly into hers and sang our little theme song “My Girl”as she peacefully drifted to eternal sleep. Our theme song started when she was attacked by pit bulls and nearly died. Her wounds were so bad that they could not be closed. So she came home with a drain and I had to irrigate her open wound with warm water for 20 minutes 3 times a day. So I would place her in the bathtub and use a gentle spray nozzle to irrigate the water therapy. I had a kitchen timer set and I would sing to her “My Girl” which stuck and I would sing a song to her for the rest of her life.
The Rainbow Bridge Poem
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in a joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
My Girl is buried in our front yard near our swing and the view of Mama Cotacachi Volcano. So forever loved and never forgotten. Why can I not stop crying?
JUST A DOG
From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.”
“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure and unbridled joy.
“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.
Because of “just a dog,” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog,” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a woman.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog,” just smile–because they “just don’t understand.”
Amici Cannis Association is located in Cotacachi, Ecuador and supported by volunteers providing services to spay and neuter street dogs and cats. They frequently sponsor fund raising events and one of the prizes was a dog house and lots of goodies. Dr. Heather Steyn and Dr. Philip Steyn, two Colorado veterinarians donated the dog house for the event. But as luck would have it they won the dog house back in the drawing. They decided to give the prize to the first person that adopted a street dog. So I entered the contest on Facebook and won! Bill and I had just looked at dog houses for Dallas and Texas so this was perfect and we are so grateful.
Dallas and Texas in new Casa
Look what we won from Amici Cannis
Dog house delivery
Amici Cannis Association partners with volunteers and local veterinaries as well as some veterinaries from the United States. I recently read about a program that had a medication that would sterilize male dogs with just a pill. Amici Cannis is excited to be hosting a non-surgical clinic for male dogs in July. This is a USDA approved study currently being conducted in the United States and Amici Cannis was approved to participate! I never dreamed that this would be available in little Cotacachi. They will be receiving enough medication to neuter 300 male dogs in 5 different area communities. The clinic will provide $2.00 non-invasive sterilization to the Ecuadorian families that could not afford to sterilize their dogs. Just think of the impact this will have on reducing the population of unwanted puppies such as Dallas and Texas and their 4 litter mates.
Everyone sits in chairs to avoid the puppies....even Kitty
Bill talking with Dallas
Nap time
Dallas
Texas
Winky ignoring the puppies
Dallas in her new sweater
Lucy not to happy about Texas
Q. E. and Dallas
Play time with leaves
Texas tormenting Kitty
Q. E. very dignified about the whole puppy thing
Not happy about being behind the fence
If you would like to learn more about Cotacachi Amici Cannis Association you can visit their Facebook page.
Our wonderful Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are finally starting to adjust to having Dallas and Texas outside. At first there was plenty of stressful drooling but I made sure our trio knew they were still top dogs in the pack! They do set their limits when the puppies are too wild and nip. Dallas and Texas love to play a rough and tumble chase game with each other. I think the 2 puppies entertain each other and so fun to watch! Dallas and Texas know their names and come when called and have learned to sit on command. Texas does well walking with the leash but as Bill says Dallas is like a pull toy but is slowing learning. I train with rewards of treats and belly rubs. Actually, Dallas is a funny looking dog. Bill thinks we should have named her Phyllis after Phyllis Diller since her fur sticks out everywhere. She is small and so sweet. Since she does not have thick fur like Texas I got her some sweaters to keep her warm at night and early in the morning. Hard to believe but I found darling little crocheted dog sweaters on Leather Street in Cotacachi. Texas is going to be a beautiful dog and they both have started to bark when someone comes to the gate. This is their job to guard the yard. Wow do they eat! I wonder if they will ever be full. I asked Dr. Lara, IMBAVET Clinic (click on the link to view the clinic website) how much I should be feeding them and he said 1/2 cup three times a day. I have to feed them separately since Texas inhales her food and then runs to get Dallas’ food. Apparently, this is the nature of street dogs. Winky does the same thing maybe because he was a puppy mill rescue. Maybe someday they will understand that they will always have food.
Everyone sits in chairs to avoid the puppies....even Kitty
Bill talking with Dallas
Nap time
Dallas
Texas
Winky ignoring the puppies
Dallas in her new sweater
Lucy not to happy about Texas
Q. E. and Dallas
Play time with leaves
Texas tormenting Kitty
Q. E. very dignified about the whole puppy thing
Not happy about being behind the fence
I did find two of the other litter mate puppies. They are living with an Ecuadorian family on the same road where the puppies were dumped. As the story goes someone just placed the puppies in their back yard. There is a little boy that plays with them. Every time I walk by I check on them since I know they have not been treated for fleas but I guess they do not know any better. At least they are being cared for and not hungry. I have no idea what happened to the other two puppies.
June is really a busy month so here is another posting segment. We had a great Sock Hop Dance in little Cotacachi. Someone commented that it is wonderful that we have 2 American Style Bands that perform for us on a regular basis. I think that is rare since we are in such a small town. So the music of Three Shades of Gray and Time provides are a wonderful addition to the life of the expats. One of our neighbors, Ron O’Quinn is a renowned international radio DJ. He met all my teenage music idols. I could listen to his stories about the Beetles, Rolling Stones, and my teenage heart-throb Dion for hours.
