"Links" to Friends

Live Like a Dog

Live simply

Love generously

Care deeply

Speak kindly

Learn things Like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy

Take naps

Stretch before rising

Run, romp, and play daily

Thrive on attention and let people touch you

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk

Be loyal

Never pretend to be something you're not

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently

And... ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

Onyx came to live with us, as a 7 month old Black Lab, almost 9 years ago when her "hunter/owner" discovered she was gun shy.  We quickly grew to love her and her us.  I think what she loved most (besides us and eating) was to play ball.. She would greet every visitor to our home with a wagging tail and "The Ball".  I'm sure she thought everyone who visited came just to play ball with her.  She wasn't one to hog the ball, she'd bring it back and toss it to your feet for you to throw it off again across the yard.  When I'd wash the car she'd be there with her ball so we'd have to play ball while washing the car.  If I'd become to busy washing and not paying attention to her ball playing she toss the ball into the bucket of wash water so I'd get with the program again.

I think she liked our daughter Ruth best.  When Ruth would come by or call, Onyx would run about the house all excited calling "Ruth..! Ruth..!"  She would get excited and run about when others would come by, she just never called their name.

A couple of years ago Onyx started limping while playing ball and weeding the flowers with Bev.  We examined her foot thinking it was a bee sting and discovered a lump on a toe of her left foot.  A visit to our Vet, then a trip to the MSU Veterinary Collage revealed that it is  a bone spur and arthritis that was causing her limp.  So like the rest of us who are getting up in years she started on an arthritis medication, and she was soon back to "restricted action" on the ball field.

On November 9, 2007 she started limping again only more severe, not putting any weight on her left foot.  We were thinking Arthritis again or perhaps a "sports injury"(from the ball field).  Sooo, we took her to our Vet on the 13th, the x-rays showed that cancer had destroyed her left "elbow" joint and the right elbow joint was frozen (not moving, cancer or artheritis, we don't know).  Our Vet counseled us that this is a non-treatable form of cancer and we determined that the best thing to do with Onyx for her comfort would be to put her down.  So we did.  Very sad day. 

But....through it all Onyx didn't complain one bit, we had no idea she was hurting.  The only indication we had that something was wrong was her not placing any weight on her foot.  She was still the happy friend she had always been.  She still wanted to play ball (if only on 3 legs) I suppose because she thought it made us happy, and it did.  About 3 weeks before this she no longer wanted to ride in the truck with us (she always loved ridding), but thinking about it now, we are sure that her leg was hurting to much to get into the truck.   We never knew.  How many of us would keep quiet about our pain, suffering in silence, putting on a happy face?  Not very many of us, if any.    

                                                                                                                         November 2007

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, what ever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."

Philippians 4:8-9  (NIV)

Onyx with Dora

Onyx keeping an eye on the cook

ready to clean up anything that

should drop to the floor..!

We found a Lab to continue our training

Meet Hildy.......... 

Onyx did "ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY" and was teaching us to do the same..

And....the subject of an English Creative Writing Class...

Hildy graduated on January 22, 2008 to being outside without a leash (yep.. she has passed with fling colors the buried fence test).. our yard is 3 acres fenced except for about 60' across the driveway at the road.. there we have the buried fence.. the training took longer that I'd hoped because of the snow covering the flags at times and an injury to my knee.. but we kept at it and she is now free.. and boy can she run in the deep snow.. and track all the different scents through the yard (rabbits, squirrels, cats, 'possums, deer, raccoon, coyote and what ever else passes through in the night).. she loves everyone that comes to visit..

We've discovered her favorite TV show is the "Dog Whisperer" she sleeps through most other shows (Law and Order, NCIS, National Tractor Pulling, as well as everything on HGTV & DIY).. but she loves to ride in the truck.....she even keeps her nose off the windows....how great is that..? she leaves a lot of black hair on the back seat however..........

You are Guest #

Or call 248-459-1200

A small, boutique boarding kennel (in a country setting near Holly Michigan), providing personal attention to all our guests.  We'll treat your family like our family!

"And they do,"

Hildy said.  "This is a great place to stay when... mom & dad are away..!"

Traveling with your pet..?

Onyx with Chloe

Hildy is a Lab/Shepherd mix (a "Lab-pherd..?" or would that be a "Shep-ador..?"), she came to us from "Love of Labs in Indiana" on December 9, 2007.  She is around 3 years old and is fitting in very nicely. She's house broke, knows to "sit", "shake" (hands/paws) and is very good on the leash.  She is learning "down" (as in "lay" down) and "stay".

Hildy is trying to be friends with Dora, however as you can see, Dora is not ready just yet............   

(12-18-2007)  check back often.. she'll come around.

Hildy met Chloe and...

they're firends already...

What's wrong with that cat..!

(12-25-2007)

Have you ever tried to take a photo of a black dog on a bright sunny day in the snow...?

They don't come out so good sometimes...

It doesn't work at night either..!

Hildy loves the snow...

We had a pretty heavy snow late winter of 2010 and she just liked to stay out in it...

In fact.. it snowed so heavy at that time.. we ended up with 3 feet of snow on the front walk...

She is always on the watch for anything that would come into her yard...

Chloe and Hildy are really good friends now...

Reese and Hildy are becoming friends...

Or boarding your pet..?

HILDY'S

Updated on: 17 December, 2011