Ten, almost eleven years ago, this December, Doug and I packed up my little teal Toyota with doggie "items" and headed to Aberdeen, WA to pick up our little Pug. When we arrived, we found a house full of happy and healthy little Pug dogs. They were scampering about as their parents stood watching nearby. We talked with the breeders for a while and learned that they were kind and caring people who truly had the best welfare of the dogs in mind. We said our thanks yous and goodbye and took our new Pug home. We named her Manzanita Rose. Doug and I were engaged in Manzanita, OR and we had pink roses at our wedding- hence her name. When we brought Manzie home, I was frightened of her! I had never had a pet and had no idea what to do nor what to expect. She taunted me like crazy. She knew that I knew nothing about dogs and she loved that! She chased my feet and bit my toes and she barked at me from the floor while I cowered on the bed. One morning, Doug awoke to see Manzie sitting on my chest looking at my nose. The next thing he knew, she went for it and bit my nose! Manzie slept above our heads on the pillow until she got too big for that and began sleeping by our feet and under the covers. I called in sick for two days when we got her so I could stay home and play with her. Then the first day we left her home by herself, the big earthquake struck. She was obviously fine, but a bit shaken as we all were.
About a year later, we decided that Manzie needed a sister. This time we ventured up to Lynnwood, WA to see a litter of Pugs. There were two we liked, one had a big black streak down her back and then there was Tofie. She was absolutely insane! She ran around and around and pounced on her sister. She scared Manzie so much that Manzie ran into the breeder's bedroom and jumped on her bed to escape the little devil that was tormenting her! Doug immediately wanted to Tofie to be ours, so she came home to live with us. Her full name is Tofino Storm. Doug and I had our honeymoon in Tofino, B.C. and Tofino is famous for storm watching- hence her name. Tofie continued to taunt Manzie, but eventually they both calmed down enough to share a dog bed or a cozy spot in the sunshine.
They truly are like an old married couple. They have come to depend on one another yet they frustrate and aggravate each other as well. Manzie is a little more nervous than Tofie and she tends to be an observer. Tofie is more of a aggressor you might say. She see something or someone that has heightened her curiosity or hit a nerve and she "attacks" well, as best as she can. She is quick to snap at Manzie if she gets in her way or threatens her food bowl. Manzie, on the other hand, just turns around and walks away. The only thing that really gets Manzie riled up is when someone tries to LEAVE our home. She doesn't want anyone to go.
Both Pugs have had a challenging medical history to say the least. Manzie has had terrible skin allergies from early on. She was tested for allergies and was literally allergic to EVERYTHING on the list. We cannot even have a Christmas tree in our house or a bouquet of flowers in fear that she will break out in hives all over. We have tried everything to cure her itchiness, but have had limited luck. So, she is our ever-itchy girl. Manzie has also had a great deal of eye troubles including cataracts and in-grown eye lashes- yuck. Both were treated with surgery. Despite our best efforts to preserve her vision, her left cornea detached and she is now blind in that eye. Her right eye has about 40% vision remaining. Oh, and we cannot forget to mention her arthritis...
Tofie, the crazy, insane, chasing Manzie, never stop moving puppy began dragging her hind legs at about 4 months of age. She had x-rays and severall MRIs done to find the source of the problem. What was found was a compressed spinal cord that, as she grew and the pressure increased, was causing her to lose the use of her hind legs. She had surgery soon after her diagnosis and it stopped the progression of the paralysis for quite a while, but then fate took over and now she has virtually no use of her hind end in ANY way if you know what I mean. She must have been the runt of the litter because her insides are all messed up. She has had countless urinary tract infections over the years that we just couldn't keep from returning. But Tofie is a fighter and she does not give up easily and she is still here today to prove it.
These past two weeks have been particularly hard for the girls and for us. We learned that they both have the early stages of renal failure- also know as kidney failure. It is a little shocking that they both have it, but due to chronic illnesses and continued use of steroids over the years, this diagnosis was inevitable. We knew that we would be in this place "someday," but are surprised that someday is now.
So, we begin yet another fight. We will fight this disease tooth and nail and we will continue to delight in our Pugs and their silly antics, funny habits and strange behaviors. We will continue to pamper them, cuddle them and treat them to apples and carrots and other treats they love. And, of course we will continue to love them with all our hearts because they ARE our hearts. And, then, when their time has come, we will love them enough to say goodbye. Then, one day, we will see Tofie running towards us using all four legs and Manzie running along side with perfect vision and flawless skin when we meet at the rainbow bridge.
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| Manzanita Rose Whittle |
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| Tofino Storm Whittle |
Ten, almost eleven years ago, this December, Doug and I packed up my little teal Toyota with doggie "items" and headed to Aberdeen, WA to pick up our little Pug. When we arrived, we found a house full of happy and healthy little Pug dogs. They were scampering about as their parents stood watching nearby. We talked with the breeders for a while and learned that they were kind and caring people who truly had the best welfare of the dogs in mind. We said our thanks yous and goodbye and took our new Pug home. We named her Manzanita Rose. Doug and I were engaged in Manzanita, OR and we had pink roses at our wedding- hence her name. When we brought Manzie home, I was frightened of her! I had never had a pet and had no idea what to do nor what to expect. She taunted me like crazy. She knew that I knew nothing about dogs and she loved that! She chased my feet and bit my toes and she barked at me from the floor while I cowered on the bed. One morning, Doug awoke to see Manzie sitting on my chest looking at my nose. The next thing he knew, she went for it and bit my nose! Manzie slept above our heads on the pillow until she got too big for that and began sleeping by our feet and under the covers. I called in sick for two days when we got her so I could stay home and play with her. Then the first day we left her home by herself, the big earthquake struck. She was obviously fine, but a bit shaken as we all were.
About a year later, we decided that Manzie needed a sister. This time we ventured up to Lynnwood, WA to see a litter of Pugs. There were two we liked, one had a big black streak down her back and then there was Tofie. She was absolutely insane! She ran around and around and pounced on her sister. She scared Manzie so much that Manzie ran into the breeder's bedroom and jumped on her bed to escape the little devil that was tormenting her! Doug immediately wanted to Tofie to be ours, so she came home to live with us. Her full name is Tofino Storm. Doug and I had our honeymoon in Tofino, B.C. and Tofino is famous for storm watching- hence her name. Tofie continued to taunt Manzie, but eventually they both calmed down enough to share a dog bed or a cozy spot in the sunshine.
Both Pugs have had a challenging medical history to say the least. Manzie has had terrible skin allergies from early on. She was tested for allergies and was literally allergic to EVERYTHING on the list. We cannot even have a Christmas tree in our house or a bouquet of flowers in fear that she will break out in hives all over. We have tried everything to cure her itchiness, but have had limited luck. So, she is our ever-itchy girl. Manzie has also had a great deal of eye troubles including cataracts and in-grown eye lashes- yuck. Both were treated with surgery. Despite our best efforts to preserve her vision, her left cornea detached and she is now blind in that eye. Her right eye has about 40% vision remaining. Oh, and we cannot forget to mention her arthritis...
Tofie, the crazy, insane, chasing Manzie, never stop moving puppy began dragging her hind legs at about 4 months of age. She had x-rays and severall MRIs done to find the source of the problem. What was found was a compressed spinal cord that, as she grew and the pressure increased, was causing her to lose the use of her hind legs. She had surgery soon after her diagnosis and it stopped the progression of the paralysis for quite a while, but then fate took over and now she has virtually no use of her hind end in ANY way if you know what I mean. She must have been the runt of the litter because her insides are all messed up. She has had countless urinary tract infections over the years that we just couldn't keep from returning. But Tofie is a fighter and she does not give up easily and she is still here today to prove it.
These past two weeks have been particularly hard for the girls and for us. We learned that they both have the early stages of renal failure- also know as kidney failure. It is a little shocking that they both have it, but due to chronic illnesses and continued use of steroids over the years, this diagnosis was inevitable. We knew that we would be in this place "someday," but are surprised that someday is now. 
Steph, this is so sweet. I laughed about the part where you describe never having a dog before and being kind of scared. I remember! This is why I was so surprised you were not only a dog owner, but a dog ENTHUSIAST! Hope the pugs are ok. Xoxo nan
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