I’m writing this after two very strong cups of coffee. It was my turn on the canine night shift and after a couple of weeks of relatively few interruptions, Annie outdid herself last night.
At fourteen and a half, it’s to be expected. Arthritis, confusion and a weaker bladder, all conspire to play their part and when she wakes, she woofs for us. Bear joined in too last night, twice waking me for a bathroom break. All in, I was up six times.
I’d be lying if I said that there were nights when stumbling down the stairs by the light of my phone, I didn’t long for an uninterrupted night’s sleep, but in the absence of a functioning time machine, a quiet night would mean only one thing. When I think of it like that, the interruptions are a gift.
Senior dogs
Caring for senior dogs isn’t easy. While Bear is wearing his thirteen and a half years pretty lightly (touch wood), Annie is feeling her age. In response, our lives have pivoted around her care. We’ve spent countless nights sleeping on the couch next to her when nothing else would coax her to sleep. I abandoned my upstairs office and moved my desk to the kitchen to be close to her (and always available for backdoor duty). After a bout of fainting episodes the vet diagnosed as neurological, one of us is with her at all times, which makes even walking Bear together an impossibility.
Her medication schedule sits on a clipboard in the kitchen and alarms on Other Half’s phone remind us to dish out her pills three times a day to keep her comfortable. When everyone else was panic-buying toilet paper, we were stocking up on lentil shell crisps and peanut butter – her pill delivery method of choice!
Every day is a blessing
We know our time together is limited, that our love will one day need to step up to the plate, but that just means that every day is both a blessing and a bonus. In the meantime, so long as she’s wagging her tail, reminding us of her mealtimes, demanding the odd walk when the fancy takes her and enjoying her life, we’ll move heaven and Earth to care for her.
The Little Bear Dog Blog 
Your love for this precious little soul, Annie is so beautiful. All animals/pets of every breed deserve to have love, devotion and caring throughout their lives and especially as they near the time the angels will take them to Heaven. I work in rescue and far too often seen humans discard their lifelong animal companions who need them most at this point in their lives. Yes, there are some valid reasons why animals of all ages (not just senior) are surrendered but more not so. The animals give so much and ask for so little.in return. I have seen these little souls at the end of their lives dropped off at shelters – They are old, failing in health and the owners never look back. It’s the rescuers that searches for another home or in some cases holds them as they transition….all the time telling them they are loved. I have always believed the BEST DAY is when we bring these little ones home and when it is their time to leave us…..the WORST DAY. Thank you for being such a wonderful loving pet mama. (a side note…..I apologize for sounding so discouraged but it’s the Christmas seaason and our rescue has had an abundance of returned animals….so perhaps I am feeling a bit judgmental).
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Thank you for your comment and for saying our girl is beautiful (we’re a bit biased!) but it’s always great to hear 🥰
Sending you a huge and heartfelt hug for all you do in rescue. I take my hat off to everyone who does such precious work – the love and the strength required is just off the scale.
Annie was a rescue – she came to us as an ex breeding bitch in a horrible state. She had nightmares for years poor baby and would often wake and start looking all around her for her puppies 😔
I have no idea how some people can be so callous about animals – it’s like they’ve never looked into their eyes and seen the soul who lives there 😔
Never realised that we’re the same.
Please take great and loving care of yourself and remember all of the beautiful souls you help save 🥰
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Is Bear the Schnauzer? I have two who are my world. When you talk about aging, it reminds me of my old standard schnauzer who was nearly 16. It breaks our hearts to see them age so much faster than us. The love you have for your dogs shines through in this post.
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He is yes, a Mini, although in his head he’s a Giant!
Wow, 16 is just amazing although it’s never long enough is it? Life without them is just…well, I can’t bear to even think about it.
Thank you for the lovely comment. I bet two Schnauzers are a real handful! Such wonderful characters though. xx
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When we had the standard and the mini it was totally fine, but two minis, given that one is a mischievous, exuberant pup is a handful. Unfortunately, the quieter, older one one was attacked some years back and has had a lot of anxiety since. This makes walking in new places a bit difficult when the puo wants to investigate and the other wants to hang back. Generally though the pup is dominant and the quiet one retreats upstairs to rest.
They are such beautiful dogs and fabulously loyal companions. I never want to be without one.
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A handful indeed. So lovely though. I wonder if the quieter one retreats upstairs muttering ‘bloody noisy kids’ 🤣🥰
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I am sure she does. She was a breeding girl who had two litters. Apparently she was a good Mum until the pups were about 5 weeks old, then she looked at the breeder as if to say, ” You wanted them, you look after them now.”
Schnauzers are so human like.
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Time flies, she’s been in our lives for 10 years and it’s gone so quick. A good reminder to enjoy and love our furry house guests every day. x
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More like our furry masters. Every day with them is a gift – even days like today 😔 xx
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