"I'm right here, are you okay?"

Recently, I've started experiencing a great deal of pain in my left hip and groin. I've found that I have to be careful how I sit, that my hips are aligned and I can't allow my left leg to 'turn out' because when I try to draw it back to center or to stand up, it feels like my hip joint is slightly dislocated. I can hardly put any weight on it at all.

Earlier this week, when I was getting up from my chair, so I could use the bathroom, the pain was so intense, I actually made some noise, groaned, as I stood. It nearly brought tears to my eyes.

My husband was sitting three feet from me, but didn't offer to assist me, as I couldn't put weight on my leg. When I cried out, Kodiak got down off the loveseat and ran across the room to me, his ears up, eyes alert, ready, if I needed him, as if to say, "I'm right here, are you okay?"

My husband said, "She's alright buddy, it's okay." Kodiak stayed by my side, watching, keenly aware that I was not okay.

My feelings were a little hurt, that my husband wasn't as concerned as Kodiak was. I said to him, "I could use a little help. It's pretty bad that Kodiak recognizes that, but you don't." He shot back with, "I don't see what I could help with." To which I replied, "You could give me your arm for support so I don't have to try to put so much weight on my bad leg."

He did get out of his chair and let me lean on him, so I could make it to the bathroom. He told me he didn't know what to do, that I like to try to do things myself, so he never knows whether to offer or not, so he waits to be asked. I guess I can see where he's coming from, sort of a lose/lose situation for him... if he offers to help he risks offending me (causing me to feel as if he thinks I can't do for myself) and if he doesn't offer to help he risks hurting my feelings and appearing to be oblivious to my pain and struggles.

Kodiak led the way to the bathroom, where he curled up on the floor outside the bathroom doorway, keeping his eyes fixed on me, until I was ready to leave the bathroom, then he escorted me to the bed, where I changed clothes and he then took me back out to my recliner, where he waited for me to sit down, then he pressed against me and curled up at my feet.

We are so 'in-tune' it sometimes boggles my mind... he knows me, knows when I'm feeling good and knows when I'm in pain and his moods change as mine do. He is an incredible companion.

Early Morning Walks

Since sometime in June, North Central PA has been experiencing above normal temperatures and staggering humidity. We have endured sustained temperatures in the 90's and even consecutive days with triple digit temps, days with humidity in the 90% range, all of which are highly uncommon for this region of the country.

This makes it terribly difficult for me to be outside, as I have asthma and become short of breath, feeling as if the heat and humidity are sucking the air right out of my lungs. It is equally as hard on Kodiak, since Huskies have a double coat and can be easily overcome by heat.

Making sure "Kodi" gets plenty of exercise can be hard in the Summer time, when it's so hot. He often has to be coaxed just to go outside to do his 'business', as he's burnt his feet on the wooden deck floor and doesn't want to be exposed to the direct sunlight for very long, his black coat heating up quickly.

Evenings can be terribly humid, even more so than the day time, so evening romps through the backyard with a favorite toy are far and few between in the heat of Summer.

I've started setting the alarm for 6 a.m. I get up, go to the bathroom, get dressed, gear up "Kodi" and we try to get outside by 6:30 - 6:45 a.m.

On most days it's still foggy when we leave the house, some days everything is damp and dewy with the sun having just come up over the highway. Sometimes it's actually cool enough for me to need a jacket. "Kodi" is comfortable, I'm comfortable and there are very few people out so early in the morning that we seldom encounter anyone, we don't have to worry about little kids at all and there aren't many people walking their dogs at that time of day either. Traffic is at a minimum, so crossing streets is a lot easier than waiting until late morning or the evening.

It's been especially nice because we get to see a lot of nature's creatures and we can take the time to stop and 'literally' smell the flowers.

There have been mornings when "Kodi" has enjoyed the fluttering of butterflies around his head; tried to pounce grasshoppers who've hopped in front of him; stood on the dike and taken long sniffs of the breeze carrying the scent of a Loon and her babies to his nose; heard and watched a flock of Canada Geese fly overhead. We've followed the whistles of Cardinals in an effort to photograph them and watched as objects appeared through the fog, as it has lifted and burnt off. We've admired the soft pinks and purples of the sky as a backdrop to the lighted lampposts along the street and enjoyed the 'cooing' of morning doves perched above us on the power lines.

This morning, though the sun was already out, it was chilly. I put on a thermal zip jacket before leaving home and everything was covered with dew. It truly smelled and felt like Autumn, a time both "Kodi" and I are keenly looking forward to, when we can walk without care for the temperature, can enjoy the squirrels playing among fallen leaves and admire the beautiful colors of Fall. The onset of "Husky Weather", as we refer to Autumn and Winter.

New Friends

A few months ago Kodi's friends Molly and Maggie moved away. He had been enjoying playtime at the fence with Molly, as she would bounce up and down the length of the fence with him, barking and playing happily.

Kodi always seemed to be in better spirits, happier, more contented, after spending time with Molly. When she wasn't on the other side of the fence any longer, Kodi would sit at the fence and look for her, sometimes crying for her, calling her to the fence.

When new neighbors moved in, so did new playmates for Kodi. A black Newfoundland/Retriever named "Lela" and a Rottweiler/Mastiff puppy named "Demon". Unfortunately, Demon passed away when he was about 7 months old.

A month later, "Moe" moved in, an 8 month old English Mastiff. Moe and Kodi have become friends, playing daily at the fence, each sitting on their side of the fence, watching and waiting for the other to come out to play. They run and bounce up and down the fence, taking time to sniff and visit with one another.

Occasionally Lela gets involved in the play and an excited romp takes place between the three of them.

I really enjoy watching them play, they all seem to look forward to their time together at the fence. Kodi even takes his toys over to the fence and drops them there, as if to suggest he's sharing with his friends.

It's so relaxing, watching them, so carefree, so playful.

Kodiak Lesson: De-Stressing 101

My pets have, over the years, taught me invaluable lessons about life, happiness, joy and love, but Kodiak has taught me the value of de-stressing and how to do it.

Step # 1:

Be good to yourself, if you’re tired, not sleeping well, feeling exhausted, treat yourself to a well deserved nap. Even a short nap can help you feel better.

Step # 2:

If you’re able to, get outside, spend some time in the sunshine. Close your eyes and just soak up the vitamins, feel the warmth on your face. Take a deep breath and just ‘be’.

Step # 3:

Get some exercise. Getting up and getting moving is a great way to release pent up energy, release frustration.

Step # 4:

Find a distraction, something quiet, listen to some music, take a moment to enjoy something creative, take notice of birds, kids, people outside your window.

Step # 5:

Talk to or spend time with a friend. Have a cup of tea, go for a walk, go shopping, or just spend quiet time together.

Step # 6:

Sing or scream at the top of your lungs! Just belt one out! You’ll be surprised by how good it’ll make you feel!

Step # 7:

If all else fails, treat yourself to something special, a roll in the grass, a hot bubble bath, a special dessert.

"Molly" Moved

"Molly", the Giant Schnauzer/English Springer Spaniel mix who lived adjacent to Kodi's backyard for the past year has moved away.

He spent a lot of time running up and down the length of the fence that separated them, playing with her. She was the sole canine socialization Kodi got to experience regularly, as he felt comfortable with her, seeing as how she was on the other side of the fence, he didn't have to fear being attacked and she was a puppy, so she was always in the mood to 'play'.

"Molly" broke our hearts whenever we were in the backyard with Kodi. She would watch us playing with him, clapping our hands and calling out to him, chasing him around the yard, as she spent all day, nearly every day, in her backyard without so much as a toy to amuse herself.

We often wondered if she were able to speak to us, if she would ask why her human family didn't play with her, why they provided her with no toys, why they left her outside all day and most of the evening until late at night in the bitter cold of Winter and the horrendous heat and humidity of Summer, while Kodi was always accompanied by his humans, provided with no less than 13 toys to keep him busy, enjoyed interaction multiple times a day on a daily basis.

Many of "Molly's" neighbors talked about reporting her family for neglect, as they provided no dog house or adequate shelter for her or the older female Beagle who lives with Molly. They allowed her to get into the trash and chew on tin cans and plastic soda bottles, often her only toys and source of amusement. Neighbors talked about reporting, but didn't want to cause upset in the neighborhood, didn't want to fight with the neighbor or have to fear some sort of retaliation.

Now, we understand "Molly" will be living with her family in a 'country' setting. We don't know if she will have a fenced in yard, if she will have a dog house or a place to escape the cold and heat. We don't know if she'll have toys to play with or fresh water to drink.

Being in the position of disagreeing with the way she was cared for, but having to live next door to her family was difficult, but the neighbors who discussed reporting her family for neglect should have done so, as now she will be living in a more remote setting where others may not be aware of how little is provided for her.

Kodi isn't sure what to think about why "Molly" isn't outside, why when he calls to her she doesn't bound down off the back stairs like she used to and meet him at the fence. He looks for her, calls to her and sits patiently waiting to see her again. It will be a hard adjustment to make, reaching the understanding that she's not there anymore. It will be hard for all of us to adjust.

Winter Reminder

With the onset of winter it's worth remembering that we need to provide extra care for our canine and feline companions.

Whether your dog or cat lives outdoors or goes out to exercise and toilet we must be aware that dropping temperatures pose a risk to our furry family members. Just because they wear fur coats doesn't mean they are immune to the effects of cold weather.

Dogs and cats can experience hypothermia and frost bite. The most susceptible parts of the body are the tips of the ears, the tail and the pads on their feet.

Small breeds and breeds with short hair can be quickly overcome, as can very young or aged dogs, by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.

The best way to prevent injury or death as a result of cold weather is to keep your pets indoors whenever possible. If you're unable to have your pets indoors, providing a dog house or sheltered area with some sort of bedding where they are protected from the elements is necessary for the health and well-being of your pet.

Signs to look for include shivering, ice on body or limbs, stiffness, bright red color of effected tissues, followed by a pale color, and finally black discoloration and sloughing off of skin. Foot care is vital during the winter, as ice accumulated between the toes can cause irritation and various ice melt products can cause blisters on the pads of the feet.

Please remember that our furry companions depend on us to provide adequate care and a safe environment.

A good rule of thumb is, if it's too cold for us to be outside for a prolonged period of time then it's too cold for our pets to be outside. When we bring a pet into our home they become a part of the family and should be treated as such.

Kodiak's Third Birthday

Today is Kodiak's 3rd Birthday. Happy Birthday my beloved boy.

"Just Checking"

Yesterday, I had to make a trip to the Emergency Room. I've been coughing, feverish and achy for days, but over the weekend things took a turn for the worst.

Many years ago, when I was in first grade, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I spent two weeks in the hospital, the first in an oxygen tent.

This past weekend, I thought that I was going to repeat that experience.

The coughing was so bad, my throat so raw that drinking or eating was painful. I coughed so hard that I vomited. I was having trouble breathing, having to sit up at night, if I got four hours of sleep a night that would be a generous estimate.

I called my family physician yesterday and asked if there was any way they could fit me in. They told me there were three other people on the list ahead of me, waiting for a cancellation, so they could get in to see the doctor. They told me to go to the Emergency Room seeing as how they could hear me wheezing and were afraid my asthma was effected.

I spent 4 hours out of the house yesterday as I sat in the ER waiting room, then finally getting to see a Nurse Practitioner. I received a breathing treatment by a Respiratory Therapist and was sent home with a handful of prescriptions.

When I got home I was excitedly greeted by Kodi. I knew he would have to go potty, so I didn't take my coat off, I put his collar on to take him outside.

As we walked around the corner of the porch he stopped and looked back over his shoulder at me. I told him I was okay and he could go ahead. He took a few steps and stopped again, looking back over his shoulder at me. I reassured him again and we started toward the ramp. This went on several more times, until he stopped and looked back over his shoulder at me, turned to face me and without taking his eyes away from mine, came back to me.

I asked him what was wrong and bent down as he stretched up. He sniffed all over my face, he licked my nose and chin. When I kissed him back and told him I was okay, he then waited for me to straighten back up and turned toward the ramp, bouncing down to the bottom where he went into the yard and went 'potty'.

It was very clear to me that Kodi knew I was in trouble earlier in the day, that he missed me while I was gone, as he always does when I leave the house and that he was concerned as to whether I was okay or not as I was breathing heavily as we rounded the corner toward the ramp. Once he was secure in the knowledge that I was okay, he was willing to go about his business.

He was "Just Checking" on me to make sure I was okay.

I LOVE this incredible, adorable creature so much more than words can express.

Appreciation

Recently, while in the grocery store, a woman I'd never seen before came up behind me, put her hand on my shoulder and said, "You're that little lady that walks the Husky, aren't you?" I said yes, that I was. She went on, "I walk over near the park and I've seen you out together a lot. I just mentioned to my daughter the other day that it was obvious how much you love him, how much he means to you, since you're clearly out there in the cold for his benefit."

I wasn't sure what to say. I told her he needed a lot of exercise and he's truly 'saved' me, given me a reason to be outside, get fresh air. She said, "He loves you, anyone can see that, the way he walks along beside you. It's an inspiration to see." She patted my shoulder and walked away.

Earlier this week as Kodiak and I were walking, a car pulled up next to us and an older woman rolled down the window and called out, "Excuse me, Ma'am?" I thought she was going to ask for directions. She said, "I just wanted to tell you that your dog and you are just wonderful. It's wonderful seeing you out walking together." I thanked her, not knowing what else to say and we all went on our way.

I realized that other people 'get it'. They understand what he does for me, the companion he is to me, how he's liberated me, gotten me out and about and that I probably wouldn't be out if not for him.

People are always stopping me to tell me how beautiful he is, rolling down their car windows to yell that he's gorgeous, etc. If we haven't been out for a few days because of rain or cold weather, people will ask us if we're alright. It's comforting for me to know that people keep their eye out for us, that they know when they see us and notice when we're not out and about.

I really appreciate that people are watchful, that they feel 'protective' of us.

Filling Out

During our last annual physical the Vet informed me that Kodiak was a little under weight. I was a little shocked by her assessment, as her husband and partner told me previously that Kodiak was a 'lean husky', that some are more stout and some more lean, there was nothing to worry about, he didn't see a reason to change anything.

When the Vet told me she rated him at a 2 out of 5, 3 being healthy weight, 2 being significantly under weight, I was stunned.

The breed standard for a male Siberian Husky is between 55-65 lbs. by most accounts. Kodiak weighed 54.6 lbs. She had recommended that I find some sort of food to supplement his diet, whether it be canned cat food if he was wiling to eat that, peanut butter or unseasoned roasted chicken breast, anything that would inspire him to eat a little more, more regularly.

I'd asked if we could go back on the liquid vitamins Kodiak was on when he was a puppy, but each time I've asked, they said we could but they don't really think we need to.

Kodiak was eating sporadically, pigging out one day and not eating for 2 or 3 days, though he is high energy and exercises a great deal. The Vet said she thought his metabolism was exceptionally high, so he's burning off everything he is eating.

I tried canned cat food, but he would eat it one time and turn his nose up at it the next. I tried peanut butter, but that wasn't palatable when mixed with lamb and rice kibble. I started roasting chicken breast, shredding it and putting a handful in his dish with his kibble and that did the trick. He began eating twice a day.

I'm pleased to report that Kodiak now weighs 58.6 lbs.

Recently, when we went back into the bank for the first time in months, the tellers all commented about how he'd 'filled out' and how well behaved he was. We're playing outside 4 times a day, usually once after walking, then three other times throughout the day.

He's become a 'big boy'.

Come Out to Play?

About a week ago, as Kodi and I were sitting in the backyard one evening a young girl on a bicycle came to the driveway. She parked her bike and asked if she could play with Kodi.

He welcomed her, sniffing and licking her, jumping up and talking to her.

For about a half an hour, she threw his ball, tossed his Kong Wubba around the yard for him. It was nice, as she and I got to chat while they played.

When she was ready to leave, as it was getting dark, she told Kodi goodbye and I told her she could come over and visit whenever she saw us out in the yard. Kodi would appreciate having someone who could run around the yard with him.

Last night, there was a soft knock on the screen door. I called out, as I was getting up to answer, “hang on.” A meek female voice asked, “Can your dog come out to play?”

I nearly fell over as I crossed the room. Now Kodi has ‘friends’ coming over and asking if he can come out to play… ugh! LOL

I’m telling you, he’s more human than some humans I know.

I Love My Dog More Than Most People I Know

I truly love my dog, Kodiak, more than most people I know.

I've not been feeling very well. I'm trying to keep up appearances and keep moving every day. Some days that's easier than others. I've been feeling dizzy, weak, dropping things, just experiencing a general sense of 'disconnect'.

Because it's been so hot and humid this Summer and I've spent more than a month and a half without my power chair while it's been in the 'shop', we've not been taking walks, not been spending a great deal of time outside. Kodiak simply doesn't want to.

As a result of our lack of 'outdoor time', I've been trying to exercise him in the house by getting down on the floor (that's the easy part, falling off the chair onto the floor. LOL) and playing tug-o-war or bouncing his ball for him.

When Kodiak was a puppy my husband played rough with him, wrestling with him, letting him chew on his hands, etc. (something I didn't want him to do), so when Kodiak is bored, has a lot of stored up energy, playing can quickly become wrestling.

We were wrestling on the floor, when he stopped and went to get a drink, so I decided rather than trying to struggle to my feet, I would just lay down on one side and watch television from the floor. Not the most comfortable way to do it, but certainly more comfortable than what I would experience trying to get up off the floor.

When Kodiak came back into the living room, he came to me, sat down against me and began to lick my face, my glasses, my neck and nibble on my nose. He got up momentarily to chase a cat away from his food bowl and when he came back, I was feeling a bit dizzy. I had my eyes closed and was taking some deep slow breaths.

He sat against me, placed his front paws over the arm I was leaning on and lay down, holding me down, as he licked my face. He lay there for quite a while. Before he let me get up, he licked my face one more time and sat up as I did. He followed me over to my chair, as I sat back down he curled up between my feet.

I've been laying down and taking a nap during the day, whenever our schedules permit and sure enough Kodiak is right there, on the bed with me, the whole time, curled up against me, so I can feel him. He makes soft noises, crawling up the bed so he can lick my face, cuddle with me. We often 'spoon' for a few minutes before getting up and getting back to our day.

When we go outside so he can 'go potty', he stops and waits for me to catch up to him, cognizant of the fact that I move slower, that he is my protector and companion. Once I've caught up, he will move further toward the ramp. If we are coming up the ramp with my husband, he will let my husband get ahead of us, but wait for me, turning and looking back over his shoulder until I'm coming, looking back as we move up the ramp to be certain I'm there and following closely.

I can think of no human, except my husband and son, who demonstrate the level of caring, compassion and love for me that Kodiak does.

Big Changes

For a little while now, Kodi and I haven't been seeing eye to eye. He's been crabby, growling, moody.

I consulted someone who trains dogs and they suggested that my female problems, the menopause, the changes in my body, emotions, etc. can be sensed by Kodiak. She said, "you probably seem like a whole different person to him."

She also suggested that since I clip his toenails and trim the hair on his feet while on the bed, and the bed seemed to be the place where we were most at odds, perhaps he felt threatened by me on the bed. She thought maybe he was claiming the bed as his.

Since then, some of my female issues are more under control. Kodiak got pretty aggressive on the bed this past week, growling and nipping at me. I'd had it. I snapped and gently swatted him on the side of his muzzle telling him "No!"

He lay there, still, then I told him to get down off the bed. He did. He walked around the bed and came back up on the bed, his head down, snuggled up against me and licked my face.

Since that day, he's been amazing. There's been no more odd behavior on the bed, no more grumpiness, no more growling, he's not jumping off the bed as soon as I come close to it. We're playing multiple times a day on the living room floor, because it's still too hot and humid to be outside playing.

I would never advocate hitting a dog, I felt terrible about having swatted him, it was a knee-jerk reaction out of frustration, but it appears he was claiming the bed as his and threatened in some way by me being on the bed. I claimed the bed, dominated him on the bed and the issue is gone.

I've had a couple people also suggest that for whatever reason he was viewing me as weak, inferior, because of my illnesses and health problems, that he thought he could dominate me.

Again, I feel terrible about swatting him, I didn't use any force, just made contact, but it was enough for him to understand the severity of his mistake and make corrections.

At Odds

It seems that Kodiak and I are a bit at odds lately.

It's been terribly hot and humid outside. We are experiencing sustained temperatures in the upper 80 and 90 degree range with humidity above 84%. Our nighttime temperatures are in the mid to upper 70's, so it's terribly uncomfortable outside.

I'm trying to walk Kodiak in the mornings when it's cooler, but we don't go out in the yard to play much at all during the day. On several occasions he's vomited when we've been walking, drooling excessively, panting so hard, I knew he was minding the heat. I don't want to risk heat stroke.

We play inside, in the air conditioning, the best we can. That typically means bouncing a tennis ball for him to catch, playing tug-0-war with his stuffed animal. It's just not the same.

It's as if he translates the lack of walking and playing as me punishing him. He acts like he's afraid of me, ducks when I reach to pet him, growls at me whenever he's on the bed and I'm near the bed, as if I'm threatening him somehow. I'm really stumped about what's going on with him.

I've talked to a number of other friends who have dogs, service dogs, and they've told me they are experiencing something similar right now too. Their dogs are 'off', 'odd', not quite themselves.

I can think of no injury to his head, no symptoms of seizures, etc. I can think of no physical reason why he would have such a change in personality.

What is so puzzling, is that he's inconsistent. For several days, he's a doll, obedient, compliant, willing to do whatever task put before him, then he will take a sharp left turn and suddenly require a great deal of prompting, convincing and cajoling to get him to even 'come' when called.

I know that huskies, by nature, are stubborn dogs. They are very headstrong and have a reputation for being obedient, even for years, then suddenly behaving as if they've never heard their name before, don't know you, etc. I'm sure some of his behavior can be explained by his breed characteristics, but some of it certainly has to do with lack of exercise, boredom. Huskies can be very difficult, destructive, when they are bored. They need to be stimulated constantly, whether through interaction with humans, other dogs or toys that cause them to problem solve. They need to have a 'job' to do, something that challenges them.

Unfortunately, right now, my power chair is in the shop and I don't know when I could get it back, a motor seized up. We aren't even able to walk right now, it's been 6 days since our last walk. I don't know what else I can do to keep him active, keep him from being bored and crabby.

Right now, I guess we'll be at odds.... it's almost like he has a 'time of the month' when he's crabby and irritable. Is there such a thing as 'male doggy pms'? LOL

Attacked Again!

Yes, it happened again. Kodi and I were out walking, in an area we chose to walk in because we were avoiding another area where we had been attacked several times.

There is a stretch of road with no sidewalk, behind a ball field. Only the backs of houses face the ball field, so there isn't much activity on the street and portions of the road are shaded by old tree growth, so it makes for a quiet and serene place to walk.

We have noticed that one back yard is fenced in with a short decorative fence consisting mainly of a decorative lattice and a frame. There is a small boxer mix that has been in that yard on occasion, though she has barked at us, she's never attempted to jump the fence.

She jumped the fence! We were walking by, following (at a safe distance) a Samoyed and his owner who often walk the same route. As we were passing her back yard, she had her paws and elbows on the top of the fence, barking at us. We ignored her and kept moving.

We had just passed her property line, on the other side of the street, closer to the ball field, when suddenly I was startled by growling and barking, two snapping dogs. Kodi had spun around, pulled the Halti off his face and was defending himself.

I didn't have my pepper spray in reach (of course), so I swiped at her with my hand screaming "No! No!" and "Get away from us!"

She ran toward her yard as the man walking the Samoyed came back. He said she liked his dog and he would get her in her yard again.

A woman was sitting on the monument at the corner of the ball field who had witnessed the attack. She and the man, who had returned with his dog, asked if we were okay. I was getting the Halti back on Kodi's face and proceeded to run my hands over the length of his body. There was saliva on his back/shoulder, but there didn't appear to be any breaks in his skin.

I have to say I was shaken up. Kodi was too. Once we had moved on and were a good distance away from where the incident took place, he kept looking up at me and slowing down. I stopped my chair and spoke to him, as he put his paws up on my forearm and licked my face, rubbing the top of his head and nose under my chin, across my chest.

Clearly, he needed reassurance, as did I. We stayed there on the sidewalk, and took care of one another for 2 or 3 minutes, just letting cars pass us by.

When he was comfortable enough to put his feet back down, we continued on our walk.

I don't understand what it is that gets us attacked so often. I've had people suggest that perhaps it is the power chair, that some dogs are frightened or threatened by the moving chair, something beyond their realm of understanding or experience. I've also had people tell me that one dog can be prone to attacks depending on the way they 'carry' themselves. I don't know... I wish I knew what was prompting these attacks. This would make no less than 7 in about 2 years.

We are never going to overcome Kodi's insecurity if this sort of thing keeps happening. Short of constructing some sort of bubble around us to protect us, I am clueless as to how to avoid future attacks.

Our area in which we can safely walk has shrunken considerably, as I avoid places where previous attacks have occurred. We are becoming seriously limited as to how much exercise Kodi can get by walking.

I wish there were more I could do to protect us.

Kodiak Keeps Me Sane

“The vital function that pets fulfill in this world hasn’t been fully recognized. They keep millions of people sane” – Eckhart Tolle in Guardian of Being.

This is a quote provided as inspiration to pet owners willing to accept a writing challenge. The This good-That bad (TGTB) creative writing contest asks entrants to complete a sentiment in 125 characters or less by explaining how their pets keep them sane.

I had every intention of posting an entry, in fact, I started writing something several times, but I know myself, I was unable to write what I wanted to say in such a limited frame. So here I am.

I have been blessed by the pets I've had throughout the years, whether they were cats or dogs, made no difference.

For the past two years, Kodiak has been the savior of my sanity. When I lost Echo, a huge void was left in my heart, a piece of me died with her, depression came to visit and stayed.

I hadn't realized how much of my day was invested in caring for Echo, as she had arthritis and 'disabling' diseases similar to those I live with. She required a lot of care and a lot of trips outside. After I lost her, I was only leaving the house to get groceries, once a week and if I could find a way to avoid doing that, I would.

Kodiak's arrival in my family forced me to establish a daily routine, to go outside again, to focus my time and energy on house training my new puppy. I began spending time outside in the backyard playing with him and training him when we were inside.

When I was able to begin leash training him, I was able to take my power chair out and go for walks, enjoy the sunshine and seasonal changes. Watching him communing with and watching nature, getting joy from the breezes, sunshine on his face, marveling at a butterfly, gave me pause, to consider that while I was hiding in the dark, quiet of the house, wallowing in my grief and loneliness, I was missing the beauty life has to offer.

As he grew up, our bond grew stronger. I began training him to perform service dog tasks. Quickly he began to respond to my needs without commands. He helps me to complete my housekeeping chores, do laundry, pick up the trash and load the dishwasher. He's really made my life less complicated.

He's sensitive to my moods and feelings. He lays on the floor between my feet so we're touching. He follows me from room to room and even lays on the bed watching me while I use the bathroom, following me back to the living room when I've finished. He naps with me, licks my tears and when I'm having trouble breathing, he's held me in my chair so I couldn't get up or put his head under my chin and lifted my face so I could catch my breath.

When I lay down with a migraine, he slides his face and shoulder against my upper body and shoulder, down across my chest and "spoons" with me, cuddling against me, looking back over his shoulder, kissing me softly. He will lay with me while my 'meds' take effect.

He sleeps with us at night, laying between us, with his back against my whole right side, usually with his chin resting on my ankle. He allows me to rest my hand and forearm on his hip, or to hold his tail, while I'm falling asleep.

I've had a lot of trouble sleeping at night when my pain level is high, there have been times I've lay in bed crying because I can't get comfortable. When I'm able to touch or feel Kodi by me, not only does it offer me emotional comfort, but the warmth of his body provides some relief to the pain in my hip, the stiffness of my joints. I've become somewhat spoiled, in that I have trouble sleeping without Kodi.

He wakes me with soft kisses and helps me with dressing and undressing every day.

He keeps me sane. He keeps me from succumbing to the depression that lives in the dark corners of my mind. He helps me to 'de-stress' and slow down.

He gave me my life back when I was throwing in the towel. He's helped me to regain some of my independence and to appreciate every day.

Thrifty Eater

Huskies, as a breed, tend to be 'thrifty eaters'. One would think for such an active and high energy breed, they would be big eaters, fueling all that activity, but they aren't.

Kodi has been true to his breed, hardly eating at all. I'm amazed that he has the energy that he has, that he's able to walk twice a day for an hour or an hour and a half each time, to play in the yard for a half hour to an hour at a time, several times a day, seeing as how he sometimes really only eats once every two or three days.

He has never preferred canned dog food, nor has he liked kibble.

We started him with a well known, highly recommended brand as a puppy, he didn't care for that, we tried a Veterinarian recommended prescription diet, but he wouldn't eat that. We tried mixing canned food with kibble, which worked a half dozen times or so, but then he stopped eating that.

A year ago, the Veterinarian said that they weren't concerned about his weight, though he's in the lower acceptable range for the breed standard. He's lean, lanky and apparently some Huskies can be that way.

We talked to the Vet a couple months ago about whether we could put him back on the vitamin supplements he was on when he was a puppy. They didn't feel that was necessary, but suggested trying another flavor of the same brand of dog food, saying that Huskies can be finicky.

We changed to a lamb flavor, from chicken and he seemed to be willing to eat a little more, but he started begging for canned cat food when I was feeding the cats, so I offered him a teaspoon of cat food each time I fed the cats.

When we recently saw the Vet, this time, they said they weren't 'concerned', but would like to see him put a pound or two on. They recommended taking that little bit of cat food and smearing it all over the bottom of his food dish and up the sides, then putting his dry kibble in on top of that, so that to get to the flavor of the cat food on the bottom of the dish he has to eat through the kibble.

We tried it and it worked! Kodi's eating twice a day. He's not finishing all the food, but he's eating about 3/4 of it each time, which is more than he was eating in two or three days.

They also suggested a spoonful of peanut butter was a good source of protein, fats and carbs, since Kodi LOVES anything peanut butter flavored. I've always treated him at least once a month to some plain cooked pasta with a little browned hamburg as a treat.

He's so active, has a high metabolism and burns up everything he's eating, so a little indulgence won't hurt him.

I can't imagine what he might look like if he puts a few pounds on. He's going to be an incredibly intimidating figure of a dog.

Yearly Visit to the Veterinarian

Today was Kodiak's yearly visit to our Veterinarian.

This afternoon we got ready, put his Halti and leash on, grabbed his stool sample and medical records and went to the car.

At the Vet's office, Bud went in first to let them know we were there, as the last time he was at the office the three or four small dogs that belong to the staff were running loose in the building and when they opened the door to allow us into the exam area, he was rushed by all of them at once. He slid on the floor and fell into the metal display shelves where he cleared the bottom of products. I didn't want a repeat of that incident, so they restrained the other dogs before we came in.

"Kodiak will be entering the building momentarily, please restrain his adoring fans!"

The first time we'd been to this office we saw "Dr. Dave", a very animated man who has a great attitude, but was a bit too 'enthusiastic' for Kodi. This time we were treated to "Dr. Stephanie", the wife of Dr. Dave.

Kodi's sample was clean. He received a quick once over. His teeth are looking good, she said we're doing great with brushing his teeth. His eyes look clear, his ears were clean. She gave a dew claw a quick trim for me, listened to his heart and told me he looked really good.

She gave him his distemper and Lyme Disease vaccines. This time he also got a Kennel cough vaccine as they told me there is a 'dog flu' that the kennel cough vaccine has been proven effective in preventing. We have to go back in 3 weeks to get the booster for the kennel cough. The Vet shared that a service dog should have kennel cough vaccine just to be sure they are fully protected.

When we saw Dr. Dave the last time, Kodi weighed about 54 lbs. I asked Dr. Dave at the time if that was something to be concerned about, as Kodi seems thin to me. He reassured me that there are leaner and lankier huskies, then there are stocky and heavier huskies and in his opinion Kodi is just a leaner dog, nothing to be concerned about.

Today he weighed approximately 54, 55 lbs. Dr. Stephanie said she was NOT concerned, but thinks he's a bit on the thin side, as his vertebrae are easily felt down his top-line. She said he's not seriously under weight, but she would like him to gain another pound or two to be ideal.

I explained that he's a very thrifty eater and very finicky about his food. She asked about the amount of exercise he gets so I explained that he was walking about 2 - 2 1/2 hours a day as well as playing in the backyard up to 2 hours a day, though his time outside has been limited by my power chair's inability to navigate in the snow and weather.

She believes that his metabolism is so high and he eats so little that he's literally burning off everything he's taking in. She laughed and reassured us that needing to put on a little weight is a rare situation with pets, that we should be thankful we don't have to take weight off, as that's a much more difficult process.

She gave us some ideas for higher calorie additions to his diet. She doesn't want to see us reduce his activity level as she reminded us he's still a very young dog and all dogs as they age tend to gain weight because not unlike their human companions, their metabolisms slow as does their activity and energy level.

She also noted that as a working dog, he will likely be more lean because he has a natural desire to be busy and active.

She provided us with two oral doses of a general worming formula, just to be sure he doesn't have an undetected parasite hitching a ride, but was pleased with his condition, health and care.

I can't emphasize how important it is to visit your Veterinarian for yearly physicals, maintain good communication with them so you are always supported in caring for your pet.

"Door" to Progress

We recently started working on "Kodi's Spot", a place just inside the bedroom doorway where Kodiak goes when someone knocks on the door. He's to go there and lay down waiting for permission to come greet the visitor.

He's been doing well with that. Today we had an opportunity to practice it and he did fine, though he left his spot before being given permission. Later in the day, a neighbor was at the screen door where Kodiak could see him, as the inside door was open. I didn't have a chance to take Kodiak to his spot, but I stood just inside the door as I invited our neighbor inside. Kodiak had to stay back, as I didn't allow him to pass and rush the door.

He stood next to me when I gave the command to sit down, which he did. He faced the door as I instructed him to stay. He did so. I didn't need to hold his collar to 'restrain' him, he obeyed verbal and hand commands.

I sat down in the recliner, between Kodiak and the neighbor and Kodiak shifted so he was sitting between my feet. He waited until I allowed him to greet the neighbor, waiting for him to calm down. When he did greet him, he was a good boy, kept his feet on the floor, didn't bark or howl at him, sniffed his hand appropriately and came back to sit with me.

I was impressed by how easily he controlled himself, how well he listened to me. Again, positive reinforcements and patience prevail!

I'm encouraged at what more we can learn and accomplish.

A Healthy Environment

I am a bit obsessed with Kodiak's environment being safe, clean and healthy. Whether it be indoors or out, I try to make sure that there's nothing within reach that could cause him harm. I was meticulous about 'puppy proofing' the house before bringing him home as a puppy and I made sure there was nothing in the yard that could pose a threat to his health.

I'm fanatical about keeping the solid waste out of the yard. I am on my fifth 'pooper scooper' as a result of how often I use them, I've worn them out, their hinges have broken or they've simply fallen apart.

When I walk Kodiak in the community, when we go out to run errands and I use my chair, I have a 'pooper scooper' strapped to my chair so I can clean up after him.

I was cleaning up in the yard, a while back, when a neighbor yelled, "if I 'went' in your yard would you pick mine up too?" I was appalled! He often made fun of the way I immediately took up the 'pooper scooper' and went into the yard once Kodiak had finished toileting.

I don't see the entertainment value in being a responsible pet owner and caring about the health of my dog, perhaps I'm missing something?

I know I'm very protective of Kodiak, as I never tie him out and leave him alone in the yard. When he's outside, I'm outside with him, interacting, throwing a toy, watching him, praising him for 'taking care of business', as he was nearly stolen once when he was less than a year old, while I was outside with him.

I realize other pet owners aren't as vigilant as I am, they are of the mind that their pet is 'street smart', 'can fend for themselves', etc.

I've had occasion lately, to observe Kodiak's friend "Molly", the puppy who lives next door on the other side of the fence. While she lives in a large fenced in yard and does go inside, she's often left outside for hours, sometimes all day and evening, without a water bowl, with no supervision or interaction. The only toy she has in the yard is the one Kodiak gave her.

Her yard is littered with piles and piles of waste, as she shares the home with another dog, as well as a kitty who goes out into the yard. We hear her crying and whining for hours on end, wanting to go inside, but has been relegated to the outdoors because the family isn't home to work on housebreaking.

Lately, she's discovered the garbage can, emptying it into the yard, where she plays with plastic milk jugs, tin cans, bottles, etc.

She spends hours chewing on tin cans, trying to dig out from under the fence, tossing garbage around the yard, chewing on fallen limbs and sticks. I'm terribly concerned that she'll injure her teeth, gums or tongue, especially since she's a puppy and losing her teeth.

I may be overly protective, but I think having a dog (or any pet) is a serious commitment, a serious responsibility that we shouldn't undertake if we're not prepared to do what needs to be done to care for our pets.

My elderly neighbor called me to complain that she's been threatened with a fine by the city for the dog feces in her yard. The water meter reader complained about the mess. The problem is, she doesn't have a dog, her son who lives next door does and the waste in her yard is his dog's. The meter reader counted 56 piles of mess in the small area between the two houses.

People don't realize that waste that isn't removed from the yard can cause infections and disease in your own dog. It draws insects to the yard which can become a serious problem for the home owner and the smell of waste attracts stray dogs, cats and wild animals to your yard where they deposit their own waste which can contain disease and parasites.

It goes without saying that people who don't practice waste control in their own yards also don't pick up after their dogs when walking in the neighborhood. Sometimes our walks are more like navigating a mine field.

Some food for thought, while you can take off your shoes, if you 'step in something', when you go inside, I can't exactly take off the wheels of my power chair, so whatever I roll through, ends up in the house, so cleanliness and waste control is of great importance to me.

A healthy environment is important to all of us. Keeping Kodiak healthy and happy is key to my own health and happiness.