Joy's Tale

Rescued. Adopted. Loved.

Tag Archives: dogs


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Joy’s Happy and Healthy Smile

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It all started a couple of weeks ago when I was getting my own teeth cleaned by my wonderful Dental Hygienist Cheryl Silvidi at Braydich Dental. Like me, she is a dog lover, and told me that she cleans her own dog’s teeth and I said I wish I could do that. She told me how her dog did not mind at all and I noted that Joy loves to have her teeth brushed and that I do it all the time. I told her that I was nervous about her scheduled appointment to have her teeth cleaned at the vet.

The conversation kept playing in my mind so I asked my fabulous vet, Dr. Wendy, if it would be possible to try to just give Joy a little sedation instead of the whole anesthesia and intubation process. Being a Border Collie, she has a long nose and has issues every morning with throat clearing upon waking. I was very worried that the intubation tube might make it worse. My vet did tell me that sometime dogs do develop problems after such procedures and that she was already thinking of using a much smaller breathing tube for Joy. 

Dr, Wendy said that she had never done a natural cleaning in her entire career but she was willing to try, I was so appreciative of her openness and willingness to try and perhaps learn something new. 

Joy is not just any dog. She loves going to the vet. She loves all services! Joy loves anyone who helps her or takes good care of her. Makes sense since she was born into a horrific puppy mill until she went into rescue and we adopted her when she was turning 2. Today Joy is 7.

When we arrived by 8:15am, Dr, Wendy said she had no plan and she thought she would try a little with no sedation at all and then give her a break and then go back and do that several times. She told me I could go back there too. Joy and I are attached at the hip and I knew my presence would be helpful to get her started.

Long story short, Joy never had to have a break, she started with the tartar removal and then proceeded to do the gums with the water thing and pick like Cheryl uses on me! Joy simply stood there and let them do their thing for about 40 minutes  Dr. Wendy and the 2 techs must have said 10 times that they could not believe she was letting them do this. No drugs, no horrible tube, nothing. They were in disbelief that she would be so great!

We were all cheering Joy for being so wonderful and clapped in unison after she was done, Joy was so pleased with herself and her puppy-looking beautiful teeth! “YAY Joy,” we all cheered!

Like the proud Mama, I was elated but I am also so proud of Dr, Wendy who went outside her comfort zone to do something different. I knew in my gut she would be successful because Joy adores her and wanted to please her too, That is Joy’s personality and Dr. Wendy got to do something new and that is a sign of a great doctor – which she is. Much gratefulness to her as I think about Thanksgiving. I could not ask for a better vet. Yay Dr. Wendy, we are cheering you too!

 

 

 

 


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With You…

IMG_5075.JPGIf you have never been around Border Collies, you cannot imagine their intense and seemingly never-ending amount of energy. I wish I could bottle up Joy’s energy and give it as a drink to certain people to spark them into life.

Today we went on a 2 mile nature walk in a state park near us here in Southwest Florida. We wanted to go for the full four, but it was just too hot. Fortunately there is water on either side of the path so that made it a little better.

Joy is always so excited to be going somewhere, getting there and participating in whatever adventure is presented. She fully embraces each day and it’s one of her many qualities that I just LOVE about her. After, she is equally enthusiastic to go home and we got home right before “lunchie” as it known to her. She eats three smaller meals a day and looks forward to every bit of each one – always different and always healthy.

My sister says it’s good that I have my little girl companion and I agree. We are together constantly. I know she is spoiled because of all the time and attention she is given. That is okay. I have more than made up for her rough start in the Amish puppy mill she was born into. Fortunately she got into a good rescue, and I adopted her when she was just turning 2. I know everyone says this, but I personally do not know another rescue dog who was as happy to be adopted as Joy. We show each other  everyday with kisses, affection and genuine heart because I was as happy to adopt her . 

I thought about all this today because I don’t know anyone else who provides as many activities as I do for Joy. Everyone tells me Joy is like a person. She really is because she is always doing interesting things and here in Florida she can even go into many stores and she has come to love shopping; although the pet supply stores remain her favorite along with dining alfresco at some nice restaurant by the water.

Whether we are on the boat, in the car, at a store or just out for a simple walk, life with Joy is always full of adventure. It makes me happy not to just give her a home,  but a life well lived.


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A Sunday Ride in the Car…

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I have heard of dogs not wanting to get in cars.  NOT my Joy! She does not care where we go as long as we go and I am glad that gas is less costly because we are on the go a lot!  That is part of the reason I do not have more time to write more blogs! She gives me that look that says, it’s nice out, get off the computer! Today I am gong to take her to her favorite park again, Buhl, after we make a quick stop so she can be a therapy dog for a little bit. She is not a real therapy dog, but in this case she can maybe cheer someone up with her amazing spirit. I only have a few minutes so while I was waiting for my husband to get ready for the cheer-up stop, I thought I would write about dogs in cars.

You should always encourage your dog to take rides in the car, It’s good for them, just be safe about it. If you are going to let he/she hang out the window make sure you are going very slow! We love all animals here at Joy’s Tail and we wish you a great Sunday and a ride in the car!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Leaves Of Joy

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Fall is a tough one for me but Joy certainly makes it better and that is the way Bailey would have wanted it. After all, it was Bailey who found Joy to begin with. When I walk at Buhl Park with Joy I always think what great friends they would have been, perfect companions for each other. Joy might have been a bit too crazy for senior Bailey, but still I think all in all they would have had fun together.. It’s been lovely there and Joy certainly has proven to be quite the leaf cruncher. She is spirited and whines like a baby as soon as we enter the parking lot!  Some kind of slushy snow is expected tomorrow, so I am hoping that we will get to the park and take some pictures and perhaps Joy can catch a few snowflakes on her tongue before we head South to Florida next week.

The ride to Fl is 1100 miles long, but who loves a ride in the car more than Joy? Rest stops, hotel stays, treats all day long and long naps, she says, “what’s not to love?” I always tell her I wish I could lay with her in her crate! She has the best ride of all – well so does Safari. He is the only cat I have ever had that loves his cat cage. He loves to sleep all day anyway, so a long ride is right up his alley as well. We get no sleep because he wants to run around the room all night! It’s awful! I am hanging on to my last days of Fall, my favorite season with leaves of Joy.

Harry, Lorraine and the Magic of Buhl Park

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Lorraineswan buhljoy rolling around buhl pictured left to right, Lorraine, Swan on Lake Julia and Joy rolling around with happiness

Note: I am going to publish this here and on my other blog, www.baileysjournal.com because it is truly because of Bailey that so many magical things happen at Buhl Park.

For those of you who know this blog because of Bailey’s Journal and our book, Letters To Each Other, you know that Bailey has a special tree at this amazing park that was dedicated to her after she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in 2011. She is the only dog with a tree of her own. I knew she would help me find the right dog after a while and of course her spiritual guidance led me to Joy. Literally.

Joy and I walk at Buhl Park every other day. It is her fun and exercise as well as mine. For me it is my peaceful time away from the computer which is much needed in my work.

There is a woman who is part of the staff of Buhl Park named Lorraine. She cuts grass. For many years she would have treats and stop to see her doggie friends and give them a treat. I am never critical of the park, but they stopped her from doing this as of this summer and I think it is stupid and so does Joy! I am sure I can speak for all the many dogs who walk at the park and were happy recipients of Lorraine’s treats!

Today we saw Lorraine and Joy got so excited as soon as she saw her coming on the mower. I had to give Lorraine some treats from my pocket to give to Joy. Lorraine told me she was having a rough morning, but I think I made her feel better and gave her a big hug. Lorraine, who has a dog of her own, told me that before she ever met me, she had seen the tree and its dedication made her cry.  After we said Goodbye to Lorraine continued on our walk. The last part of the walk occurs around Lake Julia, which has beautiful swans and sweet ducks everywhere. Joy loves to check out the lake. As we were walking, a man came up behind us as Joy was stopped to smell whatever glorious scent she has found and he started to talk to me. He was walking an adorable, tiny dog which was black and white and Joy really liked her because she was not barky or aggressive. He said to me, “I don’t mean to tell you about my troubles, but I was married for 69 years and now it’s just me and my dog. I got her after my wife passed away several years ago.” I asked his name. He said it was Harry and his dog was Lady and she was 7 years old. She was a rescue, just like Joy. He said he liked Joy’s name. I really liked Harry. “I am 91 years old. This is our second walk today.” He told me one of his two kids lived in Florida and the other in New Jersey. “They want me to go live in Florida, but I don’t know.” Harry did not seem like he wanted to go there and he talked, walked and could hear perfectly. He did not even have a cane!  He and Lady seemed to be doing great and I could tell Harry was always a handsome man. He still had his hair and was quite nice looking. I should have taken his picture. I hope to run into him again. “What is your name?” he asked. “I am Sherri and that rhymes with Harry, so I don’t think we will forget each other’s name,” I replied. No I won’t. I hope to see Harry and Lady again soon. Buhl Park has a way of bringing people together and dogs, like people, are social beings who enjoy meeting new people and learning new things. Today we met a nice man and his dog and what could be better than that on an early Wednesday morning?

bailey's beretThis is a picture of Bailey at the park in my beret one Fall.. She loved it there as much as Joy…Everyone Love’s Buhl Park!

 

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A Joyous 4th Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY 4

Today is Joy’s 4th Birthday. She, along with our cat Safari, is the light of our lives. She is always smiling, always happy. She truly lives up to her name in every way. Though she had a rough start in that puppy mill, it just shows how trusting and amazing dogs are and can be with the right set of circumstances. By the time we got her she was near two years old. Here we are 2 years later and she could not be a more pampered or loved little girl. She eats better than most people, sleeps wherever she wants and goes with me everywhere. She is an adventure-seeker, squirrel herder and cat lover. The relationship between man/woman and dog is truly a special one. Though I am not an overtly religious person , it really makes sense that God is dog spelled backwards, now doesn’t it? Happy Birthday little Joy. I love you so…


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A Dog Mom’s Reflection

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We adopted Joy the day before Mother’s day two years ago on May 12th. Often when I look at her fall asleep at night, I think how happy she was that someone came for her. She kissed us immediately, as though she knew that was her special day when she would have a forever home. It’s the day that all rescue dogs wait for. For Joy, it was not because people were not interested in her. Her Grandma Summers knew Joy had to be with just the right people, as she still held fears from her puppy days, which no puppy should have to endure. Being born into an amish puppy mill was not fun for her and all the pups that her cage was stacked on top of and below.  What puppy wants to be confined to a tiny space no bigger than a chicken crate with no time to run or play. Instead she was peed and pooped on from the cages above and this was her life. A beautiful, purebred Border Collie whose tail was docked for no reason (and has left nerve damage) and then to top it off she is bred to have pups that would be taken from her before they were weaned. She did not even get to be the mother she wanted to be. I often think she thinks of us as her puppies and her intense protectiveness indicates that at times.

Thankfully she was rescued by an amazing woman, Dr. Victoria Summers of Indian Summers Border Collie Rescue, who, because of Joy, we not only added a great dog to our family, but a great friend as well. She is mom to the many dogs she rescues and perhaps her job is the hardest of all. To most of the dogs, she is the temporary mom until they are adopted, but some never leave her care and become true shelter dogs, like Hoss.  We think Hoss decided to stay. He was happy with her as his mom and that was that and perhaps some of the dogs take that stance on purpose.  Joy had a buddy there named Shawn. I feel badly he is still not adopted. He is now six and still waiting and that makes me sad, although he seems pretty happy there.

I feel honored to be Joy and Safari’s Mom. Safari is our gorgeous Orange Tabby boy. Joy might not have been able to be the mom to her pups that she longed to be, but I promised her that I would be the best Dog Mom there is and she knows how much pleasure I get from that. She feels it and loves it everyday. My husband says our fur kids are privileged. He is right. I am ecstatically happy to be able to give a happy life to someone who so deserves it.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the animal moms out there with Love from Joy and me.

Jumping for Joy!

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safari grass 3safari chair 1

Aside from my husband, no one loves me like our dog. Yes, our cat loves me too, quite a bit actually, but no one reacts quite the same as Joy after you have been gone for a while.

After returning from a cruise this week, Joy pretty much muddled me to the ground with her happy greeting. She jumped at my face so hard to kiss me I had to be careful she doesn’t knock my teeth out! She also jumped on my husband but he is second to me that is for sure. She is young, powerful and her energy should be bottled since it’s better than any vitamin because it’s simply pure love. There is nothing else that compares to that feeling of complete and unconditional love of a dog. Her rescue Grandma, Victoria Summers, named her Joy and it could not have been more on the mark. Joy is always smiling with that big Border Collie tongue hanging out – I love it.

Adding to my own happiness to seeing my furkids was the still joyousness I felt from reading a book I took on the trip. It’s called Dogtripping by David Rosenfelt and his hilarious experience in transporting 29 dogs across country to move into their new house from Southern California to Maine. He and his wife Debbie rescue mostly senior Goldens, sprinkled in with some others, and the story is just so heartwarming. While reading it, it made me miss Joy and Safari so much more. I always said the first cruise line to initiate a trip where you can take your dog would be sold out in moments.

Joy certainly did not disappoint me with that Jump for Joy greeting she gave me. Safari, our almost 13-year Orange Tabby sauntered in, saying, Oh finally you are back; it’s about time! It’s also unconditional love for after all he is a cat and they just have a different way of showing it and I have had cats my whole life. Joy is only my second dog but oh is she special.

I own my own business. I am always busy and there never seems to be enough time in the day, but furkids tend to make you stop. As much as I needed a break, I am always happy to return to doing those routine things like feeding them and even cleaning up their messes. I love being their mom and home is truly where love flourishes everyday with “Joy.”

Simply Joy

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Today I tweeted: “I love my Joy. Simple as that.” So true. I cannot believe how much this little fur daughter of mine warms my heart and soul everyday. She is such a wonderful personality and sweet girl, I am giddy with her.

Nights are often my favorite time with her. I call it “tired eye.” When she gets tired, she gets a certain sleepy look that is so cute it’s hard not to photograph her. We all love our animal companions but I really love mine. Her name is so perfect for her I cannot remember life without her. Kiss and hug your pets like I do with Safari and Joy every night and you will certainly sleep more soundly.

With tired eyes, I bid you all a goodnight.

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I’ll Start With My Toes….

Joy likes to drink water a lot more than she likes to stand in it. Most dogs splash in puddles, Joy, our princess of a Border Collie  prefers to step around them.  We have tried to introduce her to water next door  at Anthony & Julia’s pool,  Anthony tried really hard to hold her gingerly so she would not be afraid. She made progress after 3 or 4 tries one day, but I figured pools were just not her thing. Maybe it’s the chorline I convinced myself.

A couple of days ago we took her for the drive to the marina where we will dry dock our new boat next season here in Southwest Florida. When we had our other boat this particular marina was the first one we kept it at but then they had a grand idea to make it all boat condos for a million dollars each, so we  left. Guess that did not work out so well after the crash, since now they have re-opened it up to the public and interestingly, have the lowest monthly fee we can find. When we got there we were amazed at how gorgeous the place now is, with all the fabulous amenities, restaurant, water sculptures, a big maine store and a simply beautiful marina. While my husband looked around, Joy and I sat on the big outdoor couches. It only took two minutes before various people came up to her wanting to meet her, pet her and love her up.

I knew we were going to head to the beach after visiting the marina and it dawned on me that I had forgotten the regular camera. Sure I have my camera phone, but in the very bright May sun in Florida, you may as well be looking into the abyss because you cannot see the screen. I pointed a shot a few pics which are here, but that was it.  This was Joy’s first visit to a beach and I was wondering how she would like the soft white sand and the gentle, rolling waves of the salty ocean water. To our surprise she did go in at the shore, just a little bit, so her toes could get wet. I had to prompt her a touch to let her know it was okay, because the first time she saw the waves and the water roll ashore, it puzzled her. The water rushed up and then it was gone! “What?” She did take a lick of the water, I  knew she would and after tasting the salt, she did not like it, thankfully so I did not have to worry about her gulping some down and then getting sick later on.

She went in a few times with her toes and enjoyed it. A nice family came up and said they loved dogs and thought Joy was so adorable and pretty. They stopped to talk and pet Joy. She loves when she gets attention from perfect strangers and she rubbed up against all of their legs, happily. Before we head north, I will take her along with extra new camera I bought so I will always one with me, wherever I go. I love to photograph her and chronicle her life, especially since she is such a happy girl. When I think that this poor baby was once in a puppy mill and how far she has come to be able to trust, it’s simply amazing. She truly does live up to her name. Joy, I love you.