A Weekend with Etta James

Etta James… so many things I can say about this adorable pup! She is sweet, silly, happy, lovable, cuddle bug… an actual angel. Absolutely nothing bad to say about this dog.

For the whole weekend, I got to snuggle, eat snacks, nap, and play with a pup who couldn’t stop smiling and wagging her tail.

Etta James has been through the worst of the worst and still… she has this joy in her heart that she has to spread to those around her. Sweet Etta had her leg amputated and has to hop around with only three legs. She has tumors all over her and is suffering from mass cell cancer. She doesn’t have a lot of time left, and while it breaks my heart and I hate this for her, she still keeps going. She doesn’t dwell on the sad parts of her life, and instead, she gets excited about everything.

**Her face when she hears someone in the kitchen**

She lives to hear the fridge opening. Her ears go all the way up and she listens so intently, hoping for a snack of any kind. Mom got her chicken nuggets from McDonalds, gave her cheese crackers, and we made her eggs. She had cheese bacon flavored dog ice cream and doggie cookies too. She was eating to her hearts content and nothing less the entire weekend (she also couldn’t stop passing gas lol).

And what’s so adorable… she loves to lay in your arms and be pet endlessly. She requires lots of pampering and I have no problem giving her all the snuggles. If anyone deserves it, it’s Etta James!

Mom and I even got to take her for a car ride to say hi to my grandma and go for a ride in the PetSmart cart around the store and outside in the parking lot, taking in the fresh air. It was one of the best weekends I have had in a long time. I wish I could permanently foster her, but unfortunately, no one in my family is home all day to do so.

Etta needs someone home for the most part to help in case she needs it… especially with moving around. It’s so hard for her hopping around on the three legs with her little body. She is such a trooper though!

I will be taking Etta for many weekends coming up. I plan on giving her as much love as I can and picking her up just about every week for as many days I can be home with her. I want to give her so much attention. She needs and deserves it. I will do everything I can for this sweet, kindhearted animal with the biggest heart.

Thank you Emma and Sedona for sending miss Etta James my way. 🙂

Fostering Dogs :)

Mom and I are going to foster a dog for the weekend. I get excited just thinking about having a sweet, furry creature to cuddle and give love too. I’ve missed having a dog in the house to follow me around and be my best friend. Sedona has been gone since January and I haven’t felt the same since then.

I bought the dog we are fostering for the weekend a stuffed animal… Biscuit. It’s not very long at all, that we’re fostering, but the rescue organization we got Sedona from said we could foster for a weekend or a week… any time. It helps dogs that have been there for a while get a break to relax away from the other dogs in a safe, cozy environment. So, Mom and I agreed to do it for the sweet pup, and I knew a little stuffed animal would make them smile as well. And so… here we are… about to get a dog and have a little present to make the pup feel welcome in our home. It’s exciting. I’m so happy to do this.

I’m not sure which dog I’m fostering… just yet, but I will find out tomorrow. It’ll be a surprise and I love that. I don’t care what breed, what age… I just want the saddest, loneliest, in need of the most love, pup. ❤

Dogs are so special. Even if you can help a dog for a short amount of time, it makes a difference to them. They’ll appreciate it. I would save all the pups if I could.

Since I was little, I’ve always had a heart for dogs. I would read to them at library events, play with my uncle’s dogs, want cute doggie stuffed animals. I loved them since day one. I can’t wait to continue this journey of helping sweet dogs out and giving them the happiness and contentment they deserve in a warm home with a soft bed and all the stuffed animals to snuggle with.

Always remember… adopt or foster… don’t shop!

How to Make Your Pets Hoppy This Easter

Happy almost Easter! Any of you who are big animal lovers love to spoil your pets as much as you can. I know especially with dogs, holidays like Easter are a good excuse to give them extra treats, toys, and snuggles.

I miss having my Sedona to do an Easter egg hunt with (I would fill those plastic eggs with her favorite cookies). I miss buying her a cute new rabbit stuffed animal and taking fun Easter pictures with her.

It’s hard. I miss my pup and celebrating holidays with her so so much.

I am thankful, though, I can at least spoil my grandma’s puppy, Kona. Isn’t she cute with her bunny ears on in the picture? 🙂

A few suggestions to make your pet feel extra adored this holiday…

1) If your pet is up for it… an Easter egg hunt in the house or outside. Spread the plastic eggs out but make it easy enough for them to find and not get too confused. Put their favorite treats in there. 🙂

2) Stay home and watch TV and relax with them. My pets used to love whenever I’d be home all day for a holiday (it brightened their day).

3) Buy them a brand new toy to play with (whether something to chew on or cuddle with like a stuffed animal).

4) Give them a little bit of people food as a special treat (if they don’t have a sensitive stomach, of course).

5) If you can, take them for a walk or outside for extra sunshine.

6) Take some pictures of them (maybe put on the bunny ears… if they allow it). They’ll get extra attention from their person, and you’ll have adorable photos to post on social media.

Happy Easter to you and your pets, fellow bloggers! May it be a relaxing holiday for you all.

My Little Buddy

Kona has been a sweet, little dog and good for the soul. I know for a fact Sedona sent her my way just as she left this world.

Our dogs look after us even when they’re gone. They never leave us and become little guardian angels, making sure we’re OK down here.

They are so special…our pups. I can’t imagine life without them. It just wouldn’t be the same. Kona has become my little companion… my new buddy to spend time with and have that sweet connection and love like I did with Sedona and Emma.

Kona may not be my dog but she’s still an important pooch in my life and who I love very much.

There’s nothing like going over your grandma’s house, and you walk into the hallway, and there… you see a fluffy tail going at full speed, and a silly canine smile on a cute pup’s face. Kona loves to jump on me and give me the biggest kiss, too. It’s adorable and brings me so much joy.

Even if you don’t have your own dog right now, go visit your family and friend’s doggies, go to a shelter and volunteer… find some dogs to snuggle, and it’ll make you feel so much better. 🙂

I LOVE my Kona girl!

Sedona is Home Again

It’s bittersweet. I get Sedona back home with me but I can no longer cuddle and kiss her. Instead, I just have her ashes in a box. I feel sad all over again. I wish I could have physically brought my sweet pitbull/boxer, full of life, playful, silly girl back home… ready to follow me all over the house and stay close by my side. I wish I didn’t have to bring her home in a small box…

It’s so difficult losing a pet. I don’t care how many or what kind of animal you lose… it’s a horrible loss no matter what, when you loved that animal so deeply. So deeply they became your family… best friend. Oh how I wish our pets could live so much longer. We will never get enough time with them. Never.

Sedona is free and running around, prancing, jumping high in the air, enjoy life again. I just wish she was back here and not so far away. I know she’s with Emma now, but I wish they were both here with me. We all have those good and bad days. And right now, I’m sad. I want Sedona back. I want Emma back. I want my dogs to be by my side bringing all the joy and laughter into my life. I miss and love them so much.

I know they’ll send me another dog to look after, just like Emma sent Sedona my way. This time, they’ll find me a sweet dog together.

Sending all my love to my girls who are playing right now over the Rainbow Bridge.

“Sometimes losing a pet is more painful than losing a human because in the case of the pet, you were not pretending to love it.” –Amy Sedaris

Adventures in Pupsitting

Young puppies… gotta love them! Cute, super silly, very playful… it’s hard not to enjoy them. I recently puppysat my grandma’s dog. I spent the night encouraging the zoomies, chasing her around the house, walking her, cuddling her… living my best life with a silly puppy.

They’re a lot of work though. Let me tell ya! She was like… “A nap? What’s that?? Let’s play, play play!” She kept nipping at me, too, wanting me to become her chew toy (no thank you, pup). T

hey are so energetic and full of life and I don’t know how! I would be tired from doing the zoomies all day and barking…but nope, she just keeps going and going!

I honestly forgot just how active puppies are. It’s like spending the day watching a toddler. Super fun but super duper exhausting. Let’s just say, I slept good that night. And the next night.

Kona is one of a kind. She’s been so good for my grandpa and grandma. She keeps them on their toes and puts a smile on their faces daily. A puppy was just what they needed! And, I get to hangout with the lil pup whenever I want to. It’s the best.

Winning the Lottery

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I would buy a big house… a mansion… to rescue all the dogs. I would take big dogs, little dogs… dogs with disabilities, seniors. I would take all the dogs no one wants and need love the most.

I would make each room in the house setup perfectly for my dogs with lots of toys, cozy dog beds, TVs only playing Disney movies. I would make it a dog’s paradise. I would have a huge swimming pool in my backyard and lots of grass to run around and play in for hours.

They deserve it… don’t they?

And if there’s room left, I’m helping out the cats too and giving them a cozy place (I’ll just have to keep them on the opposite side of the house so no fights occur with the doggies).

Animals deserve all the good things and if I could help out and make their lives better, I’m absolutely doing it!

My Beautiful Sedona Girl <3

Every day is a gift with Sedona. I learned that from the very beginning when she first walked into my life. Every dog is precious, yes. But there’s something about Sedona that makes her unique, original.

Maybe it’s how she loves unconditionally once she connects with someone. Maybe it’s how she never barks (only when she thinks an intruder is among us). Maybe it’s the way she’ll watch Toy Story like a little kid and pay attention to the Pixar film. Maybe it’s the way she prances around and boxes her paws when she’s excited. Maybe it’s the way she closes doors with her snout. Maybe it’s everything about her that makes her so wonderful. Yeah, that’s it. 🙂

When we first met, she was very anxious. It made sense. She had been abused and mistreated like she was nothing… a worthless object. I was the first one she came up to, in my family, and trusted. It’s like she knew, instantly, I was safe to be around and could be her person. That meant so much to me. To have a sweet, precious dog, who’s been hurt and mistreated by people for almost her whole life, gives me a chance… instantly.

I don’t think she regrets it either. She’s been following me around and excited to do anything with me since the moment she came home with me.

I love her sweet, big brown eyes. They’re innocent and beautiful and sparkle. She’s a pretty little puppy girl. And she’s all mine.

That’s why this has been a huge heartbreak watching her slowly get worse and worse (health-wise).

Sedona had what they call Vertigo in dogs back in February. Dizziness while standing up… barely able to walk. I thought I was going to lose her then. She got better. God healed her. She was never the same after, though. Her back legs started to weaker and weaker.

A week before Thanksgiving, we found out the devastating news. We went to the vet (Mom and me), thinking we were just getting medicine to help our pup with a urinary tract infection. It turned out, that was the least of our concerns. Pain in her hips and back legs had gotten worse. She was paw knuckling, wobbly in the legs, going potty more in the house. We thought we could get medicine for that too and that everything would be OK. We thought…

The vet told us to give her pain meds she would prescribe. All we can do is give her the medicine and keep her comfortable. Eventually, she will become completely paralyzed in her back legs and it will progress quickly. I still can feel the sadness in that moment, hearing she wouldn’t get better. Mom and I cried. We were heart broken. I hate it. It felt like losing my childhood dog, Emma, all over again. Sitting there with tear stained eyes, hearing there’s nothing more they can do for our senior pet. It’s the worst news to hear.

I was thankful that this time, Sedona would come home with us. Emma didn’t. We had to say goodbye in a sad little room as her heart slowly stopped and she peacefully went… laying on a little pink blanket. I felt sick. I remember taking her collar with me, giving her one last kiss and pet on the head, thanking her for all she had done for me. What a blessing she had been in my life.

I don’t want to do that again with Sedona. But, I know it will happen. This time, I do get to have that time with her. Time to give her extra kisses, hugs, cuddles, treats. Time to make what she has left with us special before we say goodbye and she crosses the rain bridge and greets our Emma.

It’s hard to even write this and not get upset.

I love you so much, Sedona girl. I promise to make these last few moments for you on this earth… amazing. I promise to love you and care for you until the very end. With all my heart, I promise.

Dear Sedona

Dear sweet Sedona pup,

I love you so much. I’m happy when you’re happy. I’m sad when you’re sad. I’d do anything for you. Anything. I just want you to live forever and love every moment you spend with me.

It’s hard knowing I can’t save you from the pain you face. I can’t fix your back legs. I can’t fix the pain in your hips. All I can do is give you medicine, take you to the vet, pray God heals you, pray He gives you more time with us.

If I could take all the pain away for you… I would in a heartbeat. I just want you to smile with your lil canine teeth and wag your nub of a tail 24/7. Seeing you like this, well… it breaks my heart…to say the least.

I wish I met you sooner in life and had even more time with you. But, I’m still so grateful. I wouldn’t trade the past 3 years I got to know you for the world. You have brought all the joy into my life. I felt so lost when I lost my childhood dog, Emma. You helped me through it. You put a smile on my face again. You made me laugh with your prancing around and being silly. You made me loved with your kisses and hugs. Thank you, my sweet girl.

Getting to cuddle and watch movies with you on the couch, going for walks, eating lil snacks together, taking all the cute pictures… I treasure every moment I have spent with you. I’ll continue to until the very end.

I promise to make the time you have left here on earth special and full of love and snuggles. You’re my best friend. You always will be. I love you to infinity and beyond (I know Toy Story is your favorite movie).

Love always and forever,

Your Chea

Two Years With My Sedona/Her 12th B-Day

**Sedona looking glam in her b-day bandana**🥳✨

06.06.20 ~ the day Sedona entered my life and became my forever foster senior dog!

It was the beginning of COVID-19. I had just moved across the country with my family to Arizona. It was the beginning of summer and we had finally started to settle into our new home. It was then we decided to foster Sedona, the sweetest boxer/pit-bull mix. The most adorable senior pup full of spunk and always eager to please. The doggie who always gets super excited for all her walks and can close doors— it’s safe to say she’s literally one of the best dogs I’ve ever met. Sedona is so well trained, so lovable, so silly, and just all around the perfect dog for me (and my family)!

I can’t believe it’s two years ago today she became my best friend fur-ever. And it’s her birthday!! Twelve-years-old! My furry baby is twelve and doesn’t look a day over 6. 😉 I’m so thankful we’ve gotten to watch her grow and become this happy, care-free dog full of love and life. She went from this very shy, nervous pup who would barely leave her chair, to this big girl pup who rules the house (she’s literally queen of the couch now). She feels safe and content and most importantly happy and for that I’m so incredibly glad. Every dog deserves a special home— no matter the age. We can’t save every dog but even if one pup’s life is changed, it’s all worth it. It’s worth it to rescue a dog and make his/her life 10x better. It really is.

To celebrate this very special day, we made sure Sedona got a walk over to the park, a new stuffed animal, and a kiddie cup of vanilla ice cream. She also got lots of naps in today. What more could a senior doggie want in life, right?

I think it’s safe to say she felt extra loved & appreciated today.