I am Walter and this is my World.

I am Walter and this is my World.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

WE LOVE YOU GUYS



I love this picture of wally, because yes he's at therapy...but what else do we spy on those black lips? Crumbly cookie treats of course! Nummersons!

Sorry I've been missing-in-action lately. NO lack of love - it's just My third novel, Million Little Mistakes is due on January 28th...hence my woeful absence from the blogs. It's scary when your book is for sale...and it's not even fully written yet!! It's another choose-you-own-story type book. In it, you win twenty-two million dollars and you can do anything you want with the money. Give it away, gamble it, buy gold-plated toilets...and I put a special ending in it just for US PUG PEOPLE! Yes, there is a special ending where you start a dog sanctuary. My idea of heaven. If anyone wants to preorder the book, of course we are most grateful and as you know, all our pennies go to Wally's foot.

Mostly today I wanted everyone to know we love you so SO much and we are more grateful for your love and support than you can imagine. Thank you to Lise in British Columbia for the wonderful dog treats!! We are overwhelmed by everyone's love. I did not get to make Christmas Cards this year...but we will put up a special Holiday Post.

-"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." -- The Buddha

Thursday, December 17, 2009

foot


When walter goes out and gets his boot wet, it causes all hell on his feet. His little toes look like hamburger and he's on a week's orders to NOT wear his shoe...which means serious scamperland time. We got really good ointment from the doc, and an "over shoe" to go over his shoe but does anyone else have any sore paw/blistered pad treatment ideas? I am at my wit's, wit's end with all this.

“Supposing you have tried and failed again and again. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call "Failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.”

-Mary Pickford

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Snow Pug

A big blustery blizzard blew in to Minneapolis today and Walter loves the snow. His boot works so well on ice...I wish I had three more to protect his other feet! I have been working on a deadline (what's new??) and unable to get to the blog in awhile, but for us that's a good thing in a way, we're in a steady (albeit intense) routine and Walter's chugging along getting stronger every day.

We're going to have to head south soon, hopefully just after Christmas. The cold weather isn't good for walter's pins, so We're looking for a place to live somewhere warm, or at least warmer. (ten degrees below zero all week here!) I wish I'd had more time to figure out where to go. Right now I feel like just packing wally up in the car, driving south. We're definitely open to suggestions, if anyone has any. We sort of need a miracle. ;)

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Blue Stripey

Just showin' off today's blue stripey soxy. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

"Come on toesies! Time to wake ups from your naps!"

Let me introduce you to our new family member. Anti Monkey Butt Powder. Terrible name, terrific product. Before we put on Walter's shoe, we powder down walters foot with it and make sure it gets in between his toes and pads. It's a powder that reduces chaffing and sore spots. it also absorbs moisture and keeps the toes dry. It also gives me a chance to massage walter's toes, which many have said is very good for nerve growth. I sing to his toes and say, "Come on toesies! Time to wake ups from your naps!"

Then we get the shoe ready, make sure there's lots of anti monkey butt powder in it.

Then goes on the soxy

Then the shoe goes on (you've seen this pic before, but trying to get an action shot of wally putting on his shoe is like getting an action shot of a hummingbird in flight.

Then we walksie! (In this pic he's wearing a white baby sock, not the orange stripey, because again, getting pictures of the "putting on the shoe" process takes time. It took me about three days just to assemble this little documentary!")

The little man can walk TWO BLOCKS now in his shoe. We still have to be super careful not to overdo it and he has developed some hotspots on his poor feet, but the anti monkey butt powder does seem to help and we alternate between using the dorsi-flex and the wonderful little suspension bridge anklet walter first got awhile ago. Between them we try to keep his boot on for 6-8 hours a day. those nerves are growing a millimeter a day, (or so) and we want them to grow in the right direction. Also we dont want wally to mash his little toesies while they're napping!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Mom, if you thought leaving me to go to work was hard, just wait until I give you this look and stick my little shoe out. Now try to leave. Just try.

This is the look I get when I have to go off to work. Little pout. Little shoe. Impossible to leave him behind! Wally's new shoe has doubled his impossible-to-ignorability by a hundred fold. I'm doomed.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Thank you Ace's Angels!

Your prayers worked people! ACE MADE IT THRU!!!! He is recovering and will soon be transported to his foster home in Rochester. He will be sleeping soundly in Walters miracle recovery crib!
That is the adorable Boo sitting by the crib, waiting for his new foster brother to come home!

Can you believe it was just 3+ months ago that it was Walter in this crib? These portable cribs are great transition beds, they fold up and can be taken outdoors. We actually bought two for Walter (one for gramma's house, one for mine) and we're donating them to MN Pug Rescue, so after Ace is done with his beddie-bye, they'll be ready for any other pugglins in need. I'm thinking we should put together a portable pug trauma kit! We could send it anywhere in the world! (Now I'm picturing a pug trauma RV...THE PUGULANCE!)

Thank you to the amazing vets at South Hyland Pet Hospital. Ace's vet proceeded with his surgeries not knowing if funding was in place. We're still scrambling to cover all the bills, if you can help our little Ace, every dollar helps. After his surgery there will be rehab, like Walter's so the bills will keep coming.

Not only that but the vet actually took Ace home with her to care for him. Bless the vet, bless her, bless her and bless all of you for your prayers and white light.

GO ACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Went for a walk and got yogurt treats!



We read all your great advice and went for a walk. It was blissful. Thank you for your support. Then Jess and Lilo sent us a Paw it forward package and we got YOGURT TREATS!!!! Oh yes we did! Plus a check for $25, which is going right to Tc rehab!! thank you so so SO much!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

What now?


Okay, I know this sounds crazy...but I'm still feeling it, so I'm going to put it out there so you wise ones can lead me through. The therapist wants Walter to spend more time out of scamperland and to build up as much time in the shoe as possible. She said, and I quote, "Let him out around the house."

Let him walk around the house??? it goes against my every instinct. I want to keep him in scamperland where its safe. where he's safe. I've become so robotic in our strict "routines" (medication at exact times of day, exercises and physio ball everyday, coordinated babysitting, No time outside scamperland except potty breaks, no running, jumping, rough housing, going on walks etc...) that now that walter's routines can change back...I'm having a hard time changing anything at all. I'm not ready!!!

My little man can actually go on short walks outside on a leash now! It's terrifying! what if a car...what if his leash...I can't even finish the sentence. I won't! I KNOW!! stop worrying! Walter isn't worrying!!! In fact, in an attempt to prolong the "babying" I got walter in a new stroller. a $250 contraption with all the bells and whistles. You know what happened? I put him in the new stroller, said, "Here Wally! It's your new stroll..." Then I heard, "Rrrrrrrrip!"

Walter slashed the front netting with his nails. Slashed it right out like...."I don't believe I'll be taking the stroller anymore mom! See ya!" Then he hopped out.

HOPPED OUT.

So now the stroller is going BACK to the manufacturers! Returned! Come on UPS, take the baby-mobile away! We don't need it! (But...but I need it!!) How can I possibly take this little guy on walks out in the big world unless it's in an indestructible bulletproof gerbil ball with a security envoy!?!

My question is, how do I let my dog be "normal" again when I'm so used to everything being abnormal?? Letting him walk around the house seems as sane as letting him "walk around the mouth of a volcano." What if something happens? It's started to trigger some of the old memories...some of the post traumatic stress stuff. I don't know if my heart can take letting HIM take risks again. I don't know if I can do it. I know I should, I know he's ready...even the doctor says he's ready, but so help me...I cannot go through this again. How do I make sure I never go through this again and give him any freedom at all?

Winston, Lise and many others, I know you'll point me to the positive, which makes me love you!! I'm right there with you! In fact, I am POSITIVE I want to keep walter in an inflated pug bubble-suit for protection ;) okay that might get hot...but you know what I mean. Being positive is essential, and so are fences. So where does caution remain, and faith begin???

I've been clinging to the tippy-top of a palm tree for so long during this 4 month storm...I don't know how to climb down even after the storm is over and the waters are starting to recede. How do I convince myself to step foot on dry land again? Is it safe? It seems so much safer up in the tree!

(I just know some Chinese philosopher has this all figured out already. It's so frustrating to be small.)

Walter's story will be told at AKC Convention...



Dr. Tomlinson, Walter's rehab vet, is going to an American Kennel Convention to speak about therapies...and which little man made the hit parade? WALLY! We shot this short video for the people to see how dogs work in the water tank. (YOU guys have seen this already, and if you haven't b/c you can't watch quicktime, it's also on Youtube.)

I curved down and around so you could see the mirror on the side, which is how the vet tech in the tank watches to see his foot is being held correctly underwater...and I nearly dropped the camera! Still, I Can't imagine an auditorium of AKC folks not laughing at Wally's burned-muffin-face potato-noggin at the end! I think all those fancy people will stand up in their seats and shout, "I WANT TO KISSY-KISSY ON HIM!!!"

Monday, November 2, 2009

Fally Wally


Here is fally-wally standing in the leaves outside the house after we got back from errands. He wasn't even tired!

Walter and I had a big day. We had a huge water therapy session and went to Petsmart and chucks and LuLu's to buy various treats all you wonderful adorable people have gotten him addicted to...(yogurt kisses! Fat free cookie monster treats! beef bites! etc...) Which reminds me, THANK YOU to Jennifer and Maxwell Sneed, who sent the cutest pug stationary and most delicious (according to walter) gourmet doggie cookies and home made cheesey treats! He quivers when he smells them...I tried to take photos while he opened the box but camera was in process of breaking down. you can see by shoddy quality of todays photo I'm still waiting to replace my camera!

Anyway, the big thing about running errands today is Walter and I went TOGETHER. First time running errands together since the accident 4 1/2 months ago! Walter wore his little shoe, and I tried to shop while every salesperson/pet store employee/passerby/dog lover/complete stranger/human with beating heart stopped and asked, "Why is he wearing that shoe?"

I tried to keep my answers brief, but I learned today you can't really say, "he got hit by a car" without causing a group of people to start forming. Wally got kisses, treats, hugs, cuddles and it took us three hours to run some errands that should have taken one, tops!

The lady at Lulu's, Laura, who hadn't seen us since the accident, and who knew me back when I would shop in the store BEFORE I even owned a dog because "I wanted a pug someday" and who has sold me Walter's weight in treats...well when she saw us she teared up, which made me tear up and there I was, weepy in a boutique pet store.

Laura proceeded to tell another customer a story about us. She said, "My favorite story about Heather is when some love interest from California was coming to stay and she was worried about how he and Walter would get along. I saw her the next day and she told me the guy'd already gone home. It didn't work out. I asked her what happened and she just shrugged and said, "He didn't want a pug sleeping in his bed, so I took him back to the airport."

I had forgotten the story...and the guy, completely! (wouldn't you?)

LONG LIVE WALLY! KING OF THE HOUSE!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Pictures soon

Sorry no pics this week, My camera/phone broke and I have to grab a new one. Wally's doing good, building up time in his shoe. He has to wear it just like you'd wear a new shoe, just a bit here and there so it breaks in and doesn't rub his foot raw. That said, when he has it on, he has remarkable stability, the rubber bottom of the she even allows him to cruise around on hardwood floors. Ha! Anyone need some floor runners???

Friday, October 23, 2009

Limogesy-Wally!


REDONKULOUS PRESENT ALERT! My dear friend Heather Thornswood sent me a Limoges pug with a bandaged foot. WHAT?? Have you ever??? She did such a good job with the tiny gauze bandage I thought Limoges had actually started making pugs with bandaged feet, but no, she meticulously did this part herself! This fine little porcelain hobgoblin will have to be included in the "museum exhibit" when walter and I hit the road on our "WALTER WINS THE WORLD" tour! (formerly known as "Walter Takes America Tour." Renamed for our international friends who we also need to meet!) Thank you for the gift Heather T! I was so afraid of breaking it, It took me awhile to even take it out of the box! Walter is IN LOVE with her! I think he thinks you sent him a little Geisha Pug who must do his bidding...and he's into it.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The New Shoe!

 The new shoe is here! I'm still learning how to get it on Wally's foot. What a wiggle worm! I was hardly able to get this one picture! But I think this will really give him alot more mobility. He was walking around really well in it! Also he did TWENTY MINUTES in the water tank today, when he started 3 mos ago, he was hardly being able to do two! the Rehab clinic measured the muscle mass in his bad leg, and it's increased so much it's only 1cm behind the good one! Can you believe how much walking in the water tank has improved his injuries? I can't!

"In this world, there is nothing softer or thinner than water. But to compel the hard and unyielding, it has no equal. The weak overcomes the strong, the hard gives way to the gentle. This everyone knows."

- Lao-Tse


Monday, October 19, 2009

Muggin Puggin!


Wally and I had a good ol tum-tum wrestle today and my is he in fine form. He gets the shoe on Wednesday and we will post picks ASAP!

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

Lao Tzu

Saturday, October 17, 2009

So Much Sassafrass!


Sorry for another long-time posting, I spent this week catching up from last! I tell you what guys, our pal Walter has hit a new level of health! Everyone is in unanimous agreement. He all of a sudden started eating more (He'd leave his bowl full almost all the time and just take treats, maybe nibble at his food) but now he's clearing the bowl out and its everything we can do to keep him from standing on his hind legs! Thats right!!!! I came in and walter was so busy sassing me "get me out of scamperland! Now!!" and he stood full weight on his hind legs. I nearly fell over rushing to him so he would get back off!! Also, he wants to RACE around the backyard. It's actually problematic. I tell you what, he gets that new shoe this next week and it isn't a moment too soon! I can hardly get a picture of him, he's permanently on the move. But look how well his hair is growing in!! AND, check out that back foot!! He's standing like a lil champion. He looks so good. Every day I thank God he's alive. It's just a miracle.


"My little dog -- a heartbeat at my feet." ~ Edith Wharton

"A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself." ~ Josh Billings

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

Friday, October 9, 2009

Back on our feet and dukes up!

WOAH! Whatever flu/cold/infectious plague is going around side-walloped me and sent me for a LOOP! Fevers, body aches, stuffy head, the works. Of course Walter enjoyed the additional space heater laying next to him. (that would be me sweating with fever)

I'm better now but we are low on supplies since I haven't been shopping, we're out of everything! oooh is walter mad. All those treats everybody sent gave been CONSUMED by king walter and haha, jokes on me, b/c Wally is now addicted to treats I have no idea how to get! Anyone who knows where to get those yogurt-kisses, those are like crack to him now. Also the low-fat treats with cookie monster on the front? Also crack. I won't even try to replicate the venison bites from Canada. He'll just have to dream about those.

But the best news is I was able to have a good old fashioned tussle today with wally and his lil puggie here, this is post-tussle, when wally is like "Oh yeah, I beat him goood."

I hope everyone is well, I've missed you all and now that I've crawled back to my computer, I can check up on your blogs! Heavens, I'm out of date with whats happening!

MORE big news, Walter was fitted for his new shoe! He gets it in ten days and we'll see if the doc allows him out of scamperland. Either way, I think he can wear this new shoe more often and wont walk on his foot wrong. We don't know what the shoe looks like, but we're hoping it's like a wingtip oxford. Our little man's got to look sporting!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

back soon!!

Sorry for the delay guys! I was ill this week and busy fighting off a fever. will be back to posting soon!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Wally as a Therapy Dog?

Wally loves his short jaunts outside. Only 5 mins each, per doctors orders, so it's great when there's a little sunshine!

I was wondering - Does anyone have any information on becoming a therapy dog? The programs, training etc? Otis mentioned the idea of Walter being a therapy dog in the last post and even though it'll be awhile before Walter is ready for the public, it's something I've been thinking about more and more.

A friend told me Walter might be a good match for kids who are about to undergo surgeries or starting physical therapy. He could show them hard work, patience and positivity pay off!

Friday, September 25, 2009

rug-o-rama


all right, it isn't pretty, but we never thought it would be. Through carpet runners, bath mats, welcome mats, crib liners and my once-perfect green yoga mat, we have created walkways that are floppy-foot-friendly. Today was the FIRST DAY Walter got to walk about the house more (or less) like he used to! this is the trail that leads into my office. As long as the carpets are close enough together, he doesn't slip on the floor. (goal being at least two feet are on carpet at all times.) He adheres to the new rules well, only because the wood floor is like buttered ice to him now. Anyone have any experience with post-op dogs being unable to walk on hardwood floors? It's like his paws aren't sticky enough anymore. Anyway, he's getting along all right and is busy checking all his old hiding spots for stashed away loot!


15 mins later...had to post this picture - can you find the pug? this is where Wally used to sleep when I wrote...my heart did a little jump to see him there again.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

repairs

So Walter enjoys his stroller walks so much, he's practically torn the screening out of the lower half. I went to Pet Smart to replace it...but their "new " strollers seemed really rinky-dink and flimsy so instead I went to Home Depot (no, not happy about shopping at all these meglo-marts...) and got some new screening that was identical! it's actually called Pet Screening. ANyway, we fixed the strollie up and away we went!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

This is a BEFORE picture of the apartment...I have to take one with the rug runner I bought. It helps, it's a start, and I can buy the runners off rolls in any length I want, so he can have a trans-room highway of carpet tracks to trot on.

Also - to answer a few of the shoe/boot/orthotics questions, for now we are getting his legs strong enough to wear a boot. He's up to 14 minutes in the water tank (he started at 2!) and they say he IS getting stronger, so in another 4 weeks, if his foot has not regained nerve function, he will be fitted for a little shoe.

For now He's back at Nana's house, and I am working. We're going on an afternoon stroll shortly though, and I will steal kisses.


UPDATE - we took a walk and had a little stroll around the back yard. I called Wally to come inside...and this is the look he gave me. I'm excited b/c This is the look he USED to give me when I called him inside. Brooding, indolent...stubborn...WALLY!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Looking for Creative Ideas...


So Walter is really REALLY getting sick of Scamperland and Pug Pen. The thing is, he can walk just fine on carpeted areas, which is one reason we keep him contained, but my place is completely hardwood floors, with some occasional rugs.


This is the first time in my life I wished the whole house was carpeted. Even if he stays in Pug Pen for 90% of the time, it's nice to let him out now and again to join the family in the living room or what have you. After all, his mind is as alert and active as ever. Picture putting your pug in a pen thats the right size for a goat and see how long the fun lasts!! Anyhow, anyone have any cheap ideas for secure-footing flooring? Looks don't matter anymore, we have a pug pen in the dining room. Maybe industrial door mats? Remnant carpet? Anybody own a remnant carpeting place? ;)

And what, what WHAT?? Walter got his first INTERNATIONAL CARE PACKAGE! Hey-O! All the way from Wonderful Mary in Canada. THE COOLEST stuff came, and it came the day we found out Walter's pin was broken, so he didn't even have a minute to feel down, he was chomping on venison treats, getting a backrub with his new groovy back rubbing thingie that he loves, and I was stunned that Mary sent me a dreamy eye pillow! How did she know sleep is my most precious thing these days?!?

Also very cool was pad balm for the pads of Walter's feet. His bad foot especially has been taking a beating despite efforts to protect it. He knuckles it like this:
So thats another major reason to figure out the flooring thing - we can't have him mashing the dorsal side of his paw on wood. Oh, my kingdom for shag carpeting!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Acropugbat


So the surgeon, who operated on Wally both times, just received Walter's new films, called me and we had a chat. Apparently one of the pins in Walter's leg, the smaller one, might have broken. The good news is it broke AFTER significant scar tissue already formed, so it hasn't shifted a lot. It does mean however Walter has another month of Scamperland, so I built him a new one. I call it "PUG PEN" Walter seems to be enjoying it...here he doing whatever it takes to gnaw on his new Pug Pen bone!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Pins Held!

GREAT NEWS! We took X-rays yesterday and Walter's Pins are right where they should be! They held! The scar tissue is forming, Walter's body has accepted his new bionic legs!

I was hoping to put up images of his before/after X-rays, but the technology is too advanced for me right now...

The only small thing is one bone is still fractured. It is floating in betwixt two bones that have healed (this is in the pelvis region where bones triangulate,) so it is something we may have to operate on in the future, as it may be a catalyst for arthritis. I am thinking I need to research bone/joint regrowth/health etc...

Also, the vet was a bit pessimistic about his foot ever healing. (This is NOT his rehab vet, this is the his primary caregiver vet.)

VET: "His back foot may never heal, you know."

ME: (locking eyes with her like Clint Eastwood) "And it may."

VET: (pauses,) "Yes, it may."

ME: (deadpan) "Well we're going with that one."

VET: (nodding, registering my compulsive-obsessive glare) "All right then. Okay."

So we're going with the foot healing. If anyone has any info on nerve regrowth, send it our way, because we're not giving up. No how, no way.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Big Time Loot and the 8-week X-ray


Walter received TWO care packages this week, one from wonderful Mary in California, who sent a box of goodies hand-selected by her four darlings! Walter KNEW the box was for him and enjoyed snorfling each and every package of treats, toys and goodies. He then patiently (sort of) waited for me to allow him to taste-test the treats and gave each toy a welcome mauling. He couldn't believe how much stuff there was!
As if that were not enough, my good friend Kelley, a bookseller at Barnes and Noble sent us the SWEETEST bag of special treats. Walter was totally into the gift-wrapping! His absolute favorite was the chicken strips that have Glucosamine in them, which is good for joints/hips. He snacked on one immediately - see his lil stuffed pug buddy saying "Hey! What about me!" THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, exciting/a little nerve-wracking news...Today we go to the vets to get Walter's 8-week xrays. This is to see if the pins are in fact where they're supposed to be, and if scar tissue has developed, and "accepted" the pins. Please send us some prayers if you have extra, for Walter's pins and for my ability to stay calm. Just walking into the vets now makes me start trembling.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Apocalypse Pug

L. took this picture of Walter in the water tank, we think it looks like the movie Apocalypse Now in that scene where Martin Sheen rises up out if the water, face painted and ready for war.

My next battle? A reading at the Galleria Barnes and Noble in Southdale. Come on down my pug peeps I need a hug!

Heather McElhatton
reading from her book "Jennifer Johnson Is Sick of Being Single"
Author Reading (Fiction)
Thursday September 17, 2009 7:00 PM

Hope you can come, love to see you there!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

2 Mos Anniversary

Today is the the TWO MONTH anniversary of Walter's accident. On July 10th he dashed out of the house and into the street and was hit by a Lexus SUV, the entire lower half of his body got crushed under the wheels - It all happened in about 15 seconds, the longest 15 seconds of my life. I rushed him to the emergency room where I was told that because of his extensive internal injuries and severe state of shock, he would not live through the night.

But this little guy fought and hour by hour he improved just the littlest bit. I would not leave the emergency room not even after they said I should, even after friends and family came. I stayed and wept in the waiting room barefoot because there hadn't been time to put on shoes.

I told the doctor, that she had to save him. That my life did not make sense without him. I told her to go back in there because he was going to make it. He had to or I wouldn't. I fought, she fought and most of all, little Walter fought and he survived.


He spent an entire week in critical care and finally came home drugged up and in terrible pain.I wept every day thinking this marvelous animal was taken down so young and I was powerless to help. I had horrible flashbacks, the sound of him getting hit would flash in my head, the picture of him laying bloody on the road replaying over and over until I thought I'd lose my mind.

Then I asked you all for your prayers, and they came. Not just a few, thousands. Thousands of people prayed for him, sent good wishes, emailed kind words, sent healing blankets and big boxes of gifts. People sent checks. 5-yr-old twins drew him pictures and hoped he came home soon from "the Vegetarians." You all bought copies of my books, which boosted sales and we were lifted, supported and propped up by strangers.

My family rallied and set up a nursery for walter just like you would for a newborn. They sacrificed time, money, and countless backbreaking hours, especially in those beginning days when he needed round-the-clock-care. He had no control of his bladder and couldn't sit up. We fed him water with an eyedropper, changed urine-soaked bedding every half hour, slept in shifts so he got his pain meds on time no matter what. Mom helping me was the reason he made it out of that horrible, dark, critical time when the doctors had done what they could do and we hovered over his crushed, broken body to see if he'd make it.

He still didn't sit up. He howled in pain if we shifted him the wrong way. It was my mother that insisted a second set of Xrays be taken and sent to the orthopedic surgeon because something "just wasn't right." It turned out that hunch of hers is what led to the second surgery. Three days later he got up and walked. Not far, not easily, much like a newborn deer unable to steer his body, but he WALKED.

Then he was unstoppable. We had to build a pen like you would for a foal just to keep him from charging around the house on his still-healing legs. We started physical therapy and landed at a clinic with dedicated, clever people and walter worked harder than ever to show off.


Now, a mere 8 weeks from the accident,we are somewhere I never expected to arrive. There is still a long road ahead of us and we don't know where it leads. He walks, but his rear foot still drags and it is unknown if it will heal. If it does, it will take a long time and alot of clinic visits and a lot of homework and hardest of all alot of patience and endurance on my part to stay the course.

That's why I wanted to thank all of you. Everyone. My loved ones, my friends, and all of you who have followed our story. You are part of why he is alive and I will never be able to thank you but I will promise you this. I will stay with Walter's recovery no matter what. I will see this through regardless of cost, pressure or fatigue. I will not give up, I will never give up and your love combined with Walter's indomitable spirit, is the reason why. Blessings to you and thank you for saving us.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Lil outdoorsy time


Check out how much Walters hair has grown in...and the WEEDS IN THE YARD! This is absolute proof of how hard we're working over here, the whole place is going to hell in as handbasket, but Walter is good and I am better since I relocated my computer set up to work beside walter. (If you can't beat em...) Plus, with his handsome concenred face, no one can stay away....

Saturday, September 5, 2009

No Sunshine - Getting Pale without him.

Ugh. No pictures today, no cute Wally story - because Here I am once again strapped to my desk as one might be in a slaveship galley, hurrying to churn out my latest, most urgent the-world-will-end-if-I-don't-get-it-done deadline. I can handle big work loads. I know being a working writer is a privilege these days and I'm lucky to have this deadline in the first place...but The part I can't deal with is being apart from Walter. He's at mom's, safe and sound, being loved and pampered, but when he's not here it's like there's no sunshine and I wilt.

I worry that things will never be the same again. Walter used to sleep on the chair with me when I wrote (sorry...tearing up) and snuggle in bed with me and go everywhere with me. Now he's trapped in that damn Scamperland and I'm trapped at my desk and I hate it. It's painful and I need to believe one day we'll be back together. If I don't hang on to that thought...I'll collapse. Sorry to be such a drama queen. it's a DQ day.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

We can rebuild him...using the Brooklyn Bridge

So we went to rehab today and the ingenious folks at Twin Cities rehab devised a setup for Walter that not only had I never seen before, NO ONE has ever seen before, because it has never been done before. Using some orthotic designs for bigger dogs, they came up with this sling, that puts absolutely no weight on Walter's little chicken foot ankle, but acts almost like the spring on your back door, using light tension to life his foot correctly whenever he lifts it. I think it looks like a little Brooklyn Bridge.
It's a piece of light velcro around his ankle to which is sewn a small silver ring. Elastic loops are tied to the ring, and each one is measured carefully and then slips over Walters toenails. It LOOKS uncomfortable, but he actually had no idea it was there. The only part he could feel was the velcro around his ankle, and it didn't seem to bother him a bit. Isn't it ingenious? He only wears it for 2 hours a day as we fiddle with the mechanisms, and see how he responds but I have to say, I think TC rehab is genius.

Here he is walking in his ankle sling. Dr. Julia had him walking over little PVC pipes to practice lifting his leg. You can see, even when he gets excited by another dog and tries to jump (Thats our wally!) the sling helps keep the foot placed correctly. Normally this amount of excitement would mean he landed butt-on-the-floor. but he stays up! Amazing!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Good Boy? YOU be the judge!

This is just a little video I shot in the back yard before my battery died, but look at Walter's response when I ask him if he's a good boy!
DEES-GUS-TED!!!!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

WOO-HOO!


Super ultra pug-butt thanks to Loren Boyce in Medford, Mass who sent Walter the COOLEST presents! A little Booda pig with a serious squeaker toy in it and a whole bunch of little perfect colorful pug-sized balls that are hard enough to bounce, but soft enough for a lil pug mouth to maw on them and make them squeak too! Wally loved them and we had our first quazi-game of catch!

There was also the smallest Kong ball I've ever seen, also perfect pug size and a jar of peanut butter. This photo makes me smile - look how worried wally is! I'm spreading peanut butter in the Kong, but with how many medications Wally has gotten, pills, salves creams etc...he wasn't sure it was a treat he was getting, not at first! He's looking up, saying "WHAT is she doing? Is anyone going to get me out of this or not??"

I can't believe how many people - perfect strangers- have sent Walter the kindest most thoughtful gifts. Every single gift he's gotten has become essential somehow. The healing blanket he sleeps on, the Indy blogger treats he lives for! Pug people are the best people on the whole earth. We will conduct a scientific study to prove this as soon as Wally is well enough for his trip across America to meet his fans!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Spa Pug


Walter did TWELVE minutes in in the water tank today and afterward, they turn on a spa whirlpool to relax his muscles. Jenny, the nice vet tech feeds him dried chicken liver treats whilst the jets massage his nether regions. Pretty nice set up if you ask me Wally!!!

We then did pimple ball and peanut ball before heading home for a nice long nap where we will dream of our pal, Little Miss Pearl, making a full recovery like we are!

Also, we toss our cap in the air for Winston, who with the help of his pug mom installed a FANTASTIC looking new gate out front of their home! I can hardly believe how fancy it looks and how SAFE! Plus, they call it WALLY GATE! can you believe it! Walter is helping make other pugs safer! wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!


Happy Friday everybody!!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Sentry Wally

Here's a fine pose of Walter as he was being annoyed by neighbor dogs. This is where he listens closely to the various infractions occurring nearby and soon he will respond with a bark-back retort worthy of earplugs. GO WALLY! Doesn't he look wise and thoughtful?