Wordless Wednesday

 

 

Captions, remarks, and comments welcomed

Jo

Wordless Wednesday

Getting big he is now 8 months old.

Wordless Wednesday

Fallen Hero

 

     For Americans September 11, 2001 will always have an impact on our lives. Those that lost someone close to them in the World Trade Center Twin Towers collapse. The New York Magazine reported in 2002 that the number of people killed was 2,819. This included 343 New York Firemen, 23 New York Police, and 37 Port authority officers.

     What the report doesn’t tell you is that one of the 37 port Authority officers that lost their lives that day was a K9. Sirius, a yellow Labrador retriever, was a bomb detection K9 assigned to the WTC.

     The day started like any other day for Sirius and his partner/handler David Lim. Officer Lim took Sirius down to his kennel in the basement of tower two to get ready for their shift when the building shook. Officer Lim went to investigate thinking that he and Sirius had missed a bomb.

     Officer Lim went to the first tower and made his way up to the 40^th floor where he help direct people down the stairwell when the upper floors came down trapping him and several others on the fourth floor. He lay trapped for 6 hours. When he was rescued he was told of the second towers collapse and that Sirius had perished.

     Sirius’ body wasn’t recovered until January 25, 2002. Sirius along with the other 59 officers that lost their lives was given full honors.

     Artist Debra Stonebraker did two portraits of Sirius. One she presented to Officer Lim and the other hangs in the headquarters of the Port Authority. Prints are available and 100% of price is donated evenly between these three charities.

* Port Authority Police K9 Unit of New York New Jersey
* The NASAR Search and Rescue Dog Training Fund
* Southwest Pennsylvania Retriever Rescue Organization (SPARRO)

     I knew about the people that lost their lives on this day, I knew about the rescue dogs that cut up their feet so badly doing their job but until today I didn’t know about Sirius his story should never be forgotten. He is one of the fallen heroes that needs to be remembered and I am sure Sergeant David Lim has never forgotten him.

     Thank you Joe Maringo of SPARRO for telling me about Sirius. I didn’t know that SPARRO was one of the charities until I got home and started doing research into the Sirius.

     Thank you Debra Stonebraker for permission to use my photo of your beautiful portrait of Sirius.

 

Jo

Book Review

     I just finished reading Dog On It by Spencer Quinn. What a well-written book from the point of a dog. Yes you read that right a dog. Chet is a lovable character that knows his human really well and is willing to follow him anywhere.

     Dog On It is the type of book that draws you into the story and if you are able to put the book down before finishing it you are thinking about what is going on until you pick it back up.

     Chet is ungraduated K-9 dog whose human is Bernie a private eye. These two partners take on the case of the missing Madison from her mother only to have it not being a missing person after all…or is it?

     Chet’s wandering mind gives insights in to the thoughts of dogs and how they might think. You can tell how much the two trust each other by their interactions.

     Dog On It is a good read. You want a copy to read? One lucky reader will win a copy of Dog On It.

     Leave a comment below with one ferret fact that you have learned from this blog or somewhere else.

     On Tuesday I’ll used a random number generator to pick the winning comment.

Keep on Chittering

Jo

Manny’s Shoe Obsession

 

 

This was the last day of Bark World Expo and Manny was bored so I let him have my shoe. Kept him busy for a while. Enjoy.

 

Keep on Chittering

Jo

Update on James

     James has been on Prednisone® for about two months. He is showing an increase in appetite and is playing more and more each day. Manny is finding out just how bossy James can be about what he feels is his areas.

     These include his cage, one of his hiding spots and just how much he will tolerate being bounced on by Manny. It is good to hear James being vocal again.

     Getting James to take his Prednisone® is fairly easy. I just tell him he can have a treat after he is done and while he still pushes the syringe away when he needs a break he does take it all. I still haven’t worn any of the medicine but I am sure I will some at a later date.

                  

 

     The one thing we both don’t like is when I need to do a paw stick on James. His paw pads are tough and the lancet doesn’t always penetrate the first time so I have to stick him a second time to draw just enough blood. I am glad I made the investment into a glucometer for James it saves me time and money by not having to go to the vet’s office every few weeks.

     The other thing I’ve noticed is that James’ strength is returning and he is able to do some of his old tricks like sit up for a treat. He still tires easily and will sometimes use an object to hold himself up to get his treat but each day he is getting stronger.

     I will be making an appointment for the end of the month just to have James looked at and see where we stand with this disease. James will never get rid of the insulinoma but he could live longer with proper management and care. I can only hope that others can learn from our journey of living with insulinoma and what it entails.

Keep on Chittering

Jo