The second day after we got home, Keeno seemed to take quite well to me some of the time but other times, she was downright bossy and mean. She would lie in the middle of the hall and not let me pass; sometimes she actually let me in the bedroom but only for short periods. She dug up all the bones I buried and took them away or adopted them as hers. That wasn't nice. It is a long time since I had stuff of my own to keep and I wanted to know where they were all the time. She even tried to eat my food. I still wasn't hungry, so that was OK but it is the principle of the thing. She has her own bowl so she should stay out of mine. My new mommy even gave me some Rollover. She said it would help build me up and give me strength. I am quite strong in the mornings but by late afternoon or evening, my legs give up and so I just sit where I am.

Mommy slept with me the second evening in the living room but after a while, Keeno went outside so I went in to sleep with my new Daddy. Mommy said she was glad to get back to her own bed and we all had a comfortable night. When dawn came I had to go out. Mommy crawled out of bed to take me out and brought me back. She didn't know it but I still wasn't finished. I kept trying to tell her by walking back and forth but she didn't pay any attention so I had to poop on the floor. She wasn't very happy when she saw it but what was I to do? I couldn't hold it any longer.

Later that day, she and Daddy helped me into the car and off we went for an entirely new and frightening experience. I was to be groomed. We arrived at a lovely place with lots of dogs and two women came out. They admired me while I was in the car but when I tried to get out, I couldn't because of my stiff, sore hind legs so they lifted me out and took me into a room with a big bathtub. They let me walk around and explore while they talked about how lovely I am and rubbed and patted me all over. But that ended too soon and they lifted me into this big tub and tied me in. Next came the water. That felt funny all over my body but Mommy stayed with me and held me the whole time while the other lady washed me. It felt pretty good. The water was warm and I felt really clean by the time she finished. She tried to dry me off with something that made a lot of noise and blew hard. It was terrifying. I tried to jump out and was so scared I thought I was going to die. She stopped the noise and they wondered what to do. They decided to use towels instead to get some of the water out of my fur.

Then the other woman lifted me out of the tub and on to a funny table. At that point, they started this noisy thing again. Mommy was still with me all the time telling me no one was going to hurt me but I was pretty scared anyway. Could I trust her? After all, I hardly knew her. She hadn't lied to me yet but this was something so new and frightening. I tried to get away but Mommy held me and I was tied by my collar to a bar above my head. She kept talking to me telling me what a good boy I am but that noisy thing kept getting closer and closer. The other lady was combing and raking my fur and really, it didn't hurt although she was getting pretty close to my sore legs. This went on for a long time but they saw I was getting tired so they lifted me off the table and let me go outside to rest. I was too excited to lie down and explored the place all over. The other dogs barked when they saw me but they were in pens so I was safe.

Then it was back to the table again and that noisy machine was put back on. Again I was terrified but Mommy stayed with me all the time and after a while it wasn't too bad. When I was finished, I was exhausted and glad to be out of the room. We all sat around to let me rest but finally I had to get back into the car to go home again. The lady lifted me in and Mommy took me home.

When we got home I walked around the whole place to see if everything was the same as I left it. I was really thirsty because I didn't like the water where I was groomed and drank a lot. Then I wanted to come into the house but Keeno decided to be really mean and wouldn't let me in. Mommy made her move but she kept trying to keep me from going anywhere I wanted.

Finally, I went back outside to escape and took the bone Keeno had dug up and buried it again. I wish she would keep her cotton pickin' paws off it. It's mine. She takes everything! Maybe someday, she will love me and appreciate me but right now, she is making my life quite unpleasant. She hasn't started a fight yet and I hope she doesn't because I can't fight back. I'm too old so just let me be. And, when SHE wants, she is such a flirt. She is always making a pest of herself, just because I am a boy. She dances around, jumps on my shoulders and then runs around jumping all over the place. It is a nuisance but it's nice to think I am young and handsome again.

Dinner time came around and Mommy and Daddy had a lovely dinner of beef bones, corn and vegetable. We sit patiently, well I do, Keeno moons around looking for handouts. We got to eat the bones after they finished with them. They left lots of meat on them for us. Then we just lay around for the evening while the humans watched a box in the living room with pictures and sound coming from it.

When I went into the bedroom and lay down, I saw another dog in front of me. I growled and had quite a conversation with him telling him to go away but he didn't. In fact, he did everything I did. It was very strange. Mommy came in when she heard the commotion and started to laugh. She said I was only seeing myself in a mirror and not to be afraid. These humans certainly do have funny things in their house. I left the room hoping the other dog would leave too but when I came back, there he was again so I decided to wait and get him some other time.

After the 11:00 p.m. walk, Mommy slept with me in the living room again hoping Keeno would go outside. In a couple of hours I had to go out really badly and started walking around so Mommy let me out. I did my business and came back but Keeno woke up and went outside. Goody, now I got to sleep with them again. In a little while, I had to go again (Mommy said I had diarrhoea) so she let me out again. This went on several times during the night.

As soon as the humans got up, we all went for a short walk and were fed. Mommy gave me the food she received from the Rescue League but I wouldn't eat it, even with a bit of Rollover. Oh well. Mommy says I am in for another adventure today. I am going to see a vet. I wonder what that is? Will it be fun?

My male and female humans (I think maybe I can call them Mommy and Daddy now) put the ramp down and helped me into the car. We drove for a little while and then went into a building where there were lots of animal smells. I got up on platform which they said was a scale and found out I weigh 98 pounds. Then we went into a room where the vet examined me. He said I was in fine shape for a dog/person my age (12 years). I did have cataracts, arthrtitis and my hearing was going but that was to be expected. They spent a long time talking and finally we went home. Mommy told Daddy she was very happy with the new vet they chose for me and she is going to take Keeno to him too. She said he is very knowledgeable. He listens to her suggestions and to top it off, he is gorgeous. I wonder what that means in terms of skill? Maybe it just means he is pretty to look at like Keeno and me.

I really don't like the food Mommy got at the HELP LEAGUE. I won't eat it even with Rollover. Mommy called Molly Moldovan who suggested she try some Pro Plan which they had used a few months prior. Daddy went out and got some and I quite enjoyed it. Then they added some canned dog food and boy oh boy, was it ever good. Daddy thinks I am a junk food addict because I love the peanut butter sandwiches and bagels and cream cheese he gives me. Mommy keeps putting what she thinks is "good" food under my nose like carrots, broccoli, fruit and other things that Keeno likes and can't understand why I turn my nose up at them. It's because I have never had them and they don't smell or look very good. I'll stick to my kibble thank you. She also tried to give me some nasty pills (Vitamins C and E and glucosamine) but I wouldn't have any of that. Then she put them in cheese and then in the canned dog food. That's better. She says I take them now and don't even know it.

Mommy is still sleeping with me in the living room to keep me away from Keeno. I am still pretty uncomfortable at night so she is up 3 or 4 times a night with me going for walks. She says now she knows why babies are born to young women. Sometimes I go in and visit Keeno but she isn't very friendly. We growl at each other and one of us goes somewhere else. When I make it to the bedroom first, Mommy comes with me and gets to sleep with Daddy. She says she likes that.

I am beginning to fight for my rights with Keeno and now SHE's the one to go outside and leave me in my rightful place in the house. At dinner time she comes in, begs for food, stays for something called dessert and Mommy gives her pieces of melon or a bite of cheese and then she goes back outside.

We have had a couple of scraps over some rawhide bones. Mommy gives both of us a bone and I run and bury mine as soon as I can. Keeno chews on hers for awhile and then leaves it around so I take it and bury it too. If she wants hers I really get angry. Doesn't she know there will be a time when we are really hungry and need them? If they are all eaten, then what will we do? They will all be gone. Mommy says I should learn how to chew on them so my teeth will look better but I never had things like this and want to keep them safe. Mommy sometimes gives Keeno a bone while I am out and picks it up when I come in so she can have her own toys.

Other than the occasional tiff, Keeno and I are getting along fairly well. We both grumble at each other when the other walks by or gets too close but we seem to be reaching an agreement on boundaries.

I am getting around much better now. My legs aren't nearly as sore as they were and I love to walk with Mummy and Daddy. Sometimes, if it is very hot, we get in the truck and we go to thepond. Keeno and I love going in and getting cool but we don't swim much. We just enjoy splashing and standing around in the water. Then, I go back up the ramp into the truck for the mile ride back. Keeno jumps in beside Daddy and Mommy stays with me in the back. There are only two seats in the truck so somebody has to be in the back (usually Mommy and me). They say they are going to get a vehicle where we can all ride inside. I can get into the car fairly well and don't always need the ramp (it isn't very high off the ground) and like to go with Mommy if she is going some place. It gives me time to be close to her alone, without Keeno hanging around.

I think I am going to like it here. They are very good to me and look after me really well. They protect me from Keeno and Keeno from me, let me sleep on the couch in a thunderstorm when I am very nervous, give me nice blankets to rest on, let me sleep in the bedroom with them and if Keeno wants, she comes in too. My humans give me good food and lots of hugs and kisses. I don't like it when I am sore and they touch my shoulders and croup and let them know it but they are very gentle with me most of the time. Keeno and I are both getting needles to make our joints feel better (Adequin) and I almost feel like a young dog again. Keeno has cut down her flirting with me and leaves me alone most of the time. We walk well together and we wait for each other when one of us wants to snuffle around.

Thank you Mommy and Daddy for taking me home with you. I hope I will be with you a long time.

POSTSCRIPT

Blizzard died shortly after he wrote this and the following obituary has been also submitted to the Howler:

GOODBYE, BLIZZARD

You had only been with us for a few weeks but in those weeks you brought us a lot of joy. We were so very proud and happy with the progress you made and the fun you were having. At the rate you were going, we though you would be with us for at least another five years.

You were such a good boy. You always tried to understand your new Mommy and Daddy and do exactly what they said. You never got lost on our walks through the farm, never got into the garbage can, never drank from the toilet, only occasionally got into a fight with other dogs, never stole food (except the occasional bone from Keeno) and, of course, never came when you were called (so what else is new for a Mal)?

We don't know what happened. On Sunday at the Pac 'N Pull you suddenly got sick. We don't know why. Maybe it was, as the vet said, that you herniated a disc. Or maybe it was just that you figured: "I've had a few good weeks of fun, jogging along, climbing a few stairs, exploring new territory, smelling new smells, going for swims in the pond (even riding in the new van to get there), walking as far as I wanted, having the odd peanut butter sandwich or cream cheese on a bagel and going for long car rides. I'm an old man now and I've seen and done everything I wanted to see and do, so I guess it is just time to have a long rest."

Blizz, you will be sorely missed. After only a few short weeks we had grown to love you and to respect you.

Keeno, George Davis and Holly Levinter