Thank You and Happy Turkey Day

We wish a Happy Thanksgiving family, friends and cyber pals.  Dad went to a restaurant with two of his pals and had some turkey.  He didn’t bring any home for me though.  Dog Dad said something about Essex and Deacon eating turkey and having extremely fowl and runny dog poop.  Sigh.

Dog Dad and I are thankful for having you around this month.  There were many kind emails, cards and posts sent to us.  Your acts helped us get through the Rainbow Bridge crossing of Sherman.  We received cards from Dad’s brudder, sisters, our vet’s office in Key West and the vet’s office in Marathon.  Dad's sisters sent him a small stuffed animal collie named Lassie.  It reminded Dad of his childhood and was even made the year Dad was born.  Then there emails from Aspen’s pack, Angel Dog Jake & JH Pawrents, Gracie’s Pack, Navy’s Pack, Magnum’s and Samson’s Pack. Chloe’s Pack, the Moondance Huskies, and Lil and the Holmhaven Collies.  Sky’s and Tonks’ pawrents posted on face book and a sent us the comments from Angel Paws Dog Park pawrents that we are no longer in Key West.  If we missed anyone, we apologize.  Your words meant a lot to me and Dog Dad.

 

Rainbow Bridge Cards Fur Sherman

Lassie From Sisters 

Young Dad With Stuffed Animal Lassie Dog

Thank you, Dog Speed and Happy Turkey Day to all.

Gemini and Dog Dad

Sherman - 5 June 2011 - 4 November 2019

Sherman At Holmhaven

Sherman & Essex Playing

Sherman & Leo

In Our Back Yard With a Sandy Nose

Sherman & Karma At Angel Paws

Giving Dad a Loving Look

Sherman Experiences First Snow

Sherman & Gemini Playing At Home

Sherman & Gemini Sharing the Dog Bed

This took longer to write than I wanted.  Helping friends move and a lot of other things happening.  Sherman was one heck of dog. 

What was my Uncle Sherman’s story?  Sherman was born on Sunday, 5 June 2011.  He came to live with Dog Dad and Great Great Auntie Essex due to the tragic Rainbow Bridge crossing of Great Uncle Deacon on 27 May.  There was an immense hole in Dad’s heart. Sherman filled that hole and then some.  He was one of two sable boys in the litter.  His brudder Duke went to live in North Carolina and Sherman came to Key West on 6 August.  Dad, Essex and Sherman intended to visit our cyber pals Jake and Just Harry that day, but there was a terrible thunder storm in the area.  To avoid driving three hours in heavy rain, the pack drove back to Key West.   

I first met Uncle Sherman on 4 September 2015.  I was smitten with him and followed him around the yard at Holmhaven Collies.  My other three sisters were not as interested in Sherman.  We became a bonded pair when I came to live in Key West.  Anytime we went to the vet, I would whimper when Sherman left the room.  He was a gentle giant, that loved being around dogs and hoomans.  Sherman and I would play in the yard and living room.  Sherman would lay on his back and I would pounce on him.  He was a special dog and many hoomans knew him from our walks or time at Angel Paws.

Gemini

= = = = = =. 

Dog Dad here:  I will think of Sherman sleeping either by the bed or right outside the bedroom door.  Many of those times either his nose or paws would be under the rug.  In the house he would stay right at my feet when I sat on the couch, or by the sliding glass doors.  When fireworks went off, he was a Velcro Collie.  If a treat was involved Sherm was close by. At Angel Paws I will think of him doing fence patrol after Essex crossed the bridge.  Sherman the pup was bounced by Essex whenever he tried to help her with fence patrol.  During morning walks, he would bounce like a jack rabbit and bark at one part of the walk.  That was where a dog escaped his yard and ran up to us.  Essex was unfazed and Sherman hid behind her and Dad.  Sherman never forgot that, and when he got bigger he would started bouncing as approached that place.  He seemed to be saying  “I’m a big dog and not a little puppy anymore mister.”  He loved chewing on water jugs and was a very social puppy. 

At the park I will think of Sherman playing with his best pals Leo and Karma.  Sherman was an enthusiastic face licker.  I won’t miss having to watch Sherman when there tennis balls around.  Sherman was not gentle in taking a tennis ball away from a person.  He would growl at the other pups too.

Sherman was called Sherm, Shermee, Shermster, the Speaker of the Park, Big Guy and Silly Boy.  He crossed at middle age, and I had hoped he would be with the pack for several more years.  The spinal lymphoma and his front legs being paralyzed force a difficult decision.  As he was being helped across the Rainbow Bridge, I stroked him and talked to him.  His mind was there but the body was failing.  In many ways I wanted to keep him alive, but I could never put him through that.  I loved him to much and had to the right thing.  Sherman left a paw print in my heart and I miss my Silly Boy.

Miss you Sherm. 

Dog Dad

Sherman Crosses The Bridge

It is with great sadness the I report my Uncle Sherman crossed the Rainbow Bridge today at the Marathon Veterinary Hospital.  I can imagine him running over to Essex and meeting Deacon for the first time.

As you know Friday we went to Marathon.  On Saturday we visited Sherman and he looked a lot better.  Sunday morning we get a call and Sherman can't move his front paws and the Doc asks to use a catheter.  Dad tells them yes and is then informed more tests will be done Monday.  Dad is worried.  The call comes Monday morning that Sherman is paralyzed and will not recover.  He is eating though.  Dad knows that Sherman will need assistance in crossing the rainbow bridge.  As much as he loves the big guy, he could never keep him bed ridden.

We arrive at Marathon about 3:10 PM.  We are amazed that Sherman is totally alert and clear eyed.  He can move his head, but his legs are not working.  Dad lays down with him and Sherman gives him a ton of collie kisses.  Dad lets him go on for minutes.  He tells Sherman how much we loves him, and that we will miss him so much.  Sherman smiles and licks Dad some more.

Last Pawtograph of Sherman & Gemini Together

Sherman 

The vet comes in and talks to Dad.  She tells Dad Sherman has lymphoma and explains the process of helping him cross over.  Sherman gets a sedative while Dad talks to him and strokes his fur.  At 4:15 PM Sherman crossed the Rainbow bridge and will be missed.  Heaven has gained a gentle giant with a huge heart.

4:15 PM - Sherman Has Crossed The Rainbow Bridge

I'll write more later.  Right now I'll need to keep Dad company and give him plenty of collie kisses.

Dog Speed,

Gemini

2 November - Sherman Update

We drove up to Marathon and visited Sherman this afternoon.  He is in much better spirits and looking much better.  He ate food that morning, so the appetite is coming back.  He gave Dad some collie kisses, during the visit.  Sherman moved around some, but tired quickly.  His nose is still dry to the touch, instead of cold and wet.  While Dad didn't talk to the vet, he knows Sherman is making solid progress. We are both hoping for a recovery for the big guy.

We will post again on Monday.

Dog Speed,

Gemini & Dog Dad

1 November 2019 - Sherman Update

Marathon Veterinary Hospital Entrance

It has been over two years since we have visited the Marathon Veterinary Hospital.  Dad was up early in the morning after a rough night trying to sleep.  Marathon is the only 24 hour vet in the Florida Keys and has great facilities.  Dad called them up and the three of us arrived at 6:30 AM.   There would be a big extra charge if it vet saw Sherman before 8 AM. Dad figured they would want to talk to our vet about Sherman's tests earlier in the week.  Our vet didn't open until 9 AM.  Dad asked if we could arrive early as he didn't want to be driving looking into the bright morning sun.  The vet tech told Dad no problem.  

While we waited Dad talked to the two of us in the waiting room for about 90 minutes.  He stroked the two of us, and talked in that calm voice of his.  Sherman told Dad he was a brave boy and would make it through.  The Doc looked at Sherman and our medical records book.  The Vet Tech and Doctor both told Dad more people kept a medical file book.  Sherman left with Doc for blood work and an ultrasound.  

Sherman & Gemini In The Waiting Room

Visiting Sherman In The Back Room

We waited quite some time before the Doc came back.  Dad spent a lot of time talking with me.  I could tell he was worried.  We went for a couple walks too.  Doc said Sherman's liver was in overdrive.  The Doc went over a lot of things.  She didn't want to raise our hopes and told us Sherman's chances were 50/50.  We went to the back room and visited with Sherman before leaving him for overnight care in Marathon.  Dad held it together, but I could feel his voice and emotions coming through.  Dad is stoic like a collie, so this side rarely comes out.  Doc told call if he didn't hear from them by 7 PM.

We left Marathon and got back to Key West at about 11:45 AM.  Dad went to work to keep his mind busy.  This is a typical male hooman reaction to this type of crisis.  After work he visited the folks at our regular vets office to tell them about our Marathon visit.  Then he came back and talked to me and we went to Angel Paws.

Dad called Marathon at about 6:45 PM.  He was told Sherman's temperature was down and he was sitting up at times.  Things are looking better, but Sherman is not out of the woods.  Odds are probably 60/40 in Sherman's favor.  We will hear from the vet around 9 AM and 4 PM tomorrow.  Hopefully, we will hear more good news.

Dog Speed,

Gemini

Paw Ssss:  We appreciate all your prayers and wishing us well.  It means a lot to us.