First video of them actually playing for a while (there were moments so I saw this coming eventually, but it’s nice to see it really come to fruition).
Bonnie digging a nest at top of backyard. I ended up putting some bricks in the corner to make she didn’t accidentally dig her way into someone else’s backyard. She seemed most interested in making a cool spot to hang out and has no fear of the steepness of the hill despite being vision impaired.
Bonnie in a heart outfit coming down the hill:
Below is me with the two dogs in the backyard. I’m getting some sun with Bonnie and watching more adventuring Snoopy. Moments like this keep me sane and remind me of great memories of the before time.
Bonnie was very patient when I gave her a thorough bath and trimmed her all over. I’ll give her a real grooming once I get my grooming supplies fully replaced in a few days. I’m so proud of her for easily navigating up the staircase despite being vision impaired and getting a little more confident in coming down the stairs. Ironically she climbs the little hill in the backyard and back down without hesitation, but the carpeted stairs give her pause.
Happy to be fostering a vision-impaired dog, Bonnie, that was in the HSNB shelter for about a year. Those who know me know I have a soft spot for blind dogs like the two I recently lost among the five that tragic day. Bonnie seems to have accepted me into her fold and her love of other dogs will hopefully soon be reciprocated by Snoopy, who is clear on his boundaries, but who is also more than tolerating her!
Front page Vallejo Times Herald article today mentioned the five souls I lost in the fire and the pet grieving events I was already actively trying to facilitate with Kathryn D. Marocchino and Carlene Coury. Hopefully this will trigger more donations in their memory in the link listed at the bottom of the article. I do like knowing that their memory will help other cats and dogs find homes and have better lives.
Apparently I’m not the only one in the world to be out of the home and lose FIVE animals to a fire, as unfathomable as the thought is to have lived through. I’ve started reading this book recommended by pet grieving expert Kathryn of the Nikki Hospice Foundation who happens to be a lovely neighbor I adore and who even speaks Italian with me. Some of you know that I was working with Carlene and Kathryn and others about the periodic pet grieving gatherings that we could facilitate, particularly in association with the Humane Society of the North Bay, but I never dreamed I would soon be the “poster child” for such things.
Here is Snoopy on my garden furniture brought to the rental during a spot of sun we had today. I had to make room for the cleanup and renovation crews at the damaged house a few minutes away. Today makes a month since the fire and I’m counting the days until I can go home.
I got a call from the veterinarian’s office downtown. I was told in the chaos of the fire that they would cremate all five dogs that were killed in the fire individually for free, which is very touching. I think one of my neighbors arranged that for me. The remains of the last of the five are expected at their office tomorrow, so I’ll have to pick them all up. I will make sure someone drives me because I’m not sure how I’m going to handle it.
