When we got back from Colorado last week, we picked up the guys and tried to get the house back in order. We noticed that Cassidy -- who had stayed with her son, Jasper, for the two weeks -- was a bit gimpy on her right front. So we decided to watch her and see if she healed up with simply some rest. Marion Louise, who stayed with Linda's sister RoseAnn along with Harry Potter, was limping badly on her left front -- something we had treated a little over a month ago and had felt was getting better. When neither dog responded to a week of relative calm and rest, we decided to take them to the vet to get them checked out further.

Cassidy's limp seems to be the result of a strained neck muscle and we've scheduled her for massage therapy next Thursday. Marion Louise, however, is another case entirely. The Xray showed clearly that she has Osteosarcoma of upper left arm/shoulder. Marion is our rescue girl. She's at least 13 years old and has filled our home with her exuberance ever since she joined us some 8 years ago. Here's a picture I took of her just a short while ago. Now, is that a face to love or what?



So, now we just treat the symptoms and watch her carefully to make sure she doesn't do anything that might shatter the shoulder bone. Shortly, we'll have to say goodbye to Ms. Marion Louise. But for now, we'll continue to enjoy her time with us. Since food is her singular joy in life, she's going to get spoiled a bit. And she's going to have to imprint on Moxie so Moxie will get some of her soul when she leaves. If you can spare a prayer or two, please wish that Marion has as little pain as possible. We promise not to let her suffer.

Jim

Oh Jim, I'm so sorry to hear this. Yours is the second Rotty with Osteosarcoma that I've heard of in the past few days.

Thanks, Jim. At 13, Marion Louise was probably due for something so this isn't a total surprise. But osteo is definitely an issue for our breed and the Rottweiler Health Organization has been studying it for almost 5 years now. Annie's dad, Mobster, died from it so we've been part of the study and have had all her kids included in it as well. So far, only one of them contracted osteo and she just died recently at 10 years of age. Annie had 17 kids so that's a pretty decent ratio. 0% would be ideal. And, unfortunately, with cancer there are environmental issues as well as genetic ones so it's very hard to pinpoint the genome(s) that are involved.

We've been trying to manage Marion's activities since we got home on Friday and have realized that she has no intention of letting us do that . She still goes out with the other dogs and runs with them. She limps a lot when she's not outside but let her out with the kids and she romps, and plays, and even drops Sundance and humps him. She intends to be herself until she can't. That's my Marion Louise!

Jim

Rotten news, indeed. She is lucky to have caring humans to see her to the finish line. I hope she does not linger in pain but humps that boy to the very end.

When it rains, it pours, I guess. Sorry to hear you are being visited with more sad news so soon.

Hang in there.

Jim

Today, we took Cassidy and Moxie to our vet's for a visit to the massage therapist. On our way out the door this morning, Ms. Marion Louise did her best to sneak out to join us for the trip. Realizing that she really wanted an adventure, we conjured one up for her.

Today was the 19th birthday of our surrogate granddaughter Melanie. Mel has helped whelp most of our litters; has shown Rowdy and Annie when they were younger and has been as close as any person to being our "grandchild". We had planned to visit her bearing gifts and so this afternoon, I called and asked for a big favor: I asked if she would mind sharing her birthday with Marion Louise. Marion is a Rescue and we've never known her birthday but I asked if we could celebrate Marion's 13th birthday with Melanie. Mel said that she would be "proud" to share her birthday with Marion Louise. And so, we packed up our gifts -- and Marion -- and went across town to celebrate the two birthdays.

Mel and her parents own Jasper, Sundance's big brother (at 150 lbs. he is indeed a BIG brother) and Jasper was very excited to see Marion. He whined, cried and generally was as annoying as possible to her but she was given a rawhide bone and just growled at him if he got too close . Marion chased one of the cats that wandered through the living room. She ate birthday cake off of a fork with the rest of the celebrants. She chased Jasper around the yard despite our trying to keep her from exerting herself too much. And she eventually fell asleep in the back of the van on the way home.

Our view of how we're going to deal with Marion's cancer is very different than Marion's. She intends to live every single day to the hilt. She intends to eat her own meals and then try to steal Moxie's. She intends to run until she can't run any more. She intends to live her life fully until she can't live it any more. What a wonderful canine companion God has given us to share LIFE! There are some lessons here for all of us. I'm paying very close attention.

Jim

Just a quick note: ML (Marion Louise) is doing fine. She continues to vibrate at breakfast/dinner time and she always finishes her meal first. Moxie (the baby) has learned that if she leaves just a few puppy food morsels, ML will finish them when she comes in from outside. So, she makes sure to leave them and the two of them kiss as they pass on Moxie's way outside. It is so unbelievably cute and symbiotic it truly amazes me.

The dogs know something is wrong with Marion. They sense it. She doesn't let them take advantage of her but she lets them help her. Watching these "intellectually-challenged" dogs, I am overwhelmed with their understanding and ability to give support. In the native Wolf environment, a dog that is dying would be ignored and left totally alone. Here, in the Garvie household, the dogs seem to understand what is happening with Marion but are willing to help her. To support her. To give her the standing in the hierarchy that she's earned. Cassidy (the Queen) lays by ML's side every evening and licks her ears. She understands that ML is her diad. Her support bitch. And she doesn't want her to leave the pack.

I watch the dynamics with both awe and joy. These are very well-adapted dogs. They have both the wolf-like pack dynamics and the human/dog family dynamics. I've watched the pack change when Annie left. And, again, when Rowdy left. But ML is a different element of the pack. A negotiator. A peace-maker. A crowner of queens and a dominator of would-be kings. Her impact in our household is immeasurable. She will truly be missed.

Jim

I read. I weep. I'm such a sucker. You go, ML.

How dare you post such touching stories to reduce me to a blubbering fool after the roller coaster week I've had?!

All kidding aside, this is yet another chapter in the wonderful story of your dogs.

Off to hug my puppy and get ready to go home to the rest of the pack. Then, Moma gets to come home to us after work tomorrow and all will be well again in the Little Poorhouse. Things are looking up in the Big Poorhouse too.