Arnie (2002 - 3 Nov 2016)

Arnie disappeared on the 3rd Nov 2016.  It was not unusual for him to be away from home overnight or even once 2 weeks but this time it didn't feel right.  We called him that night expecting him to return during the night meowing as he did to announce he was home.  Sadly that did not happen so next day after I got home, I took the dogs for a walk up the drive.  When I spotted Poppy and then Shilo looking in a drain under the neighbour's drive, I thought I had better investgate.  It was Arnie.  He was half in the drain and definitely dead.  I picked him up and carried him home so we could say goodbye properly and bury him with the others.

This is the last photo I have of Arnie sitting on my legs while I was sewing the binding on my niece's quilt.  He was a real character cat and a mean hunter.  He lived a good full life with us after we rescued him and his brother Forrest from a forest out of Dargaville where they had been dumped.  He was 14.5 years old and outlived his brother by 7 years.

 Arnie was really confident with the dogs and was often found close to one of them.  In this case it is Shilo who really wasn't so sure.

 A group of tabbies - Arnie back left with Bruno and in front Forrest.  They are altogether again.

 Always in the centre of things.

With Jake.

Hanging out with Hogan.

We were due to get a ginger kitten the week after Arnie left us.  I was so looking forward to Arnie training the new one but sadly he left before that happened.

RIP Arnie 

Life is much quieter without you.

Brocketsway Shilo Rose (5 Nov 2006 to 8 Feb 2017)

Little Miss Shilo

Shilo left us after dinner on Tuesday 7th Feb 2017. Originally I started this blog to record her puppy adventures.  At the time I was a blog novice and realised this was public and deleted all of that history. I had saved it on my computer but subsequently lost the hard drive. Now I wish I had those memories.

Shilo was the most gorgeous puppy.  She was the youngest we had experienced at 7 weeks old and when she arrived was smaller than the cats.

She was very adventurous and probably was not trusted alone on our property for longer than any of the others.  She was an independent spirit from the beginning but was loyal to her big brother Rocky and sister Casey.  Casey played with her from start but Rocky wouldn't even look at her.

She grew into a beautiful girl and was lots of fun.  She loved doing agility and did it with lots of noise and passion.

Shilo was still competing at agility the weekend before she showed signs of being really sick.  She was only just 10 years, 3 months old and that really was too young to leave us.  We miss her so much.

Bon's Casey on Fire (Casey) 10 Mar 1999 to 26 Feb 2015

The day arrived that we had to make the decision to farewell Casey.

We had a lovely week at Matarangi and although she spent most of her time at the bach walking round and round the the house, she was well and showed signs of the beautiful girl she was.

 We took her to the wharf a couple of times for a paddle.

 She was good and walked well.

 A family shot

A tired girl.  

After walking around the bach she would crash and sleep 

for a while.  Here she is crashed at the water bowl.

It felt like she deteriorated on the last day and got quite distressed in the car 

when we got caught up in rush hour traffic on the way home.

  She could hardly stand when we got home. 

We gave her a day at home and she had a lot of trouble standing and would end up

lying down.  Here Arnie is keeping her company.  He has been a constant companion to her

and I am grateful that she made it home.  This photo was taken on the morning

we had her put to sleep.  She hadn't improved and it was time to relieve her of pain.

It was a really hard day but she had a good long life and she was no longer able to walk freely 

and had stopped eating her dinner unless I helped her.  

At  midday on the 26th Feb 2015

I helped my best friend of nearly 16 years pass to Rainbow Bridge.

Tribute To A Best Friend

Sunlight streams through window pane

unto a spot on the floor....

then I remember,

it's where you used to lie,

but now you are no more.

Our feet walk down a hall of carpet,

and muted echoes sound....

then I remember,

It's where your paws would joyously abound.

A voice is heard along the road,  

and up beyond the hill,

then I remember it can't be yours....

your golden voice is still.

But I'll take that vacant spot of floor

and empty muted hall

and lay them with the absent voice

and unused dish along the wall.

I'll wrap these treasured memorials

in a blanket of my love

and keep them for my best friend

until we meet above.

Author Unknown

Introducing Hogan (Kiwibeatz Mister Hogan)

On the 1st July I was approached by my friend Paula to see if we were

ready for another Border Collie.  We hadn't planned on getting another one so soon

after Rocky but it seems that this was meant to be.  After some discussion and

checking out of photos we agreed to take this little Mister.

The photo that won me.

On the 11th July we drove down to Pirongia early to meet and collect the newest addition to our family.

Lil Mister or Mister as Paula called him, was her favourite from the litter and she 

wanted to keep him but couldn't so we are now the privileged owners of

Kiwibeatz Mister Hogan (Hogan)

whelped 23rd May 2014. 

Saying goodbye to Paula

 Sitting up looking forward in his crate ready for the trip home.

Happy wee man with the toy from his father.

Sleeping puppy

 Checking out his new home

 The old girl waiting to mark the spot

 Meeting Arnie

Settled like he has been here forever.

Chicks and Chickens

On the 7th June we had 6 chicks hatched out of the 6 eggs that 2 hens were

sitting on.

 

There are 4 white and 2 brown chicks.

This photo taken 29th June 2014

The 2 hens started fighting so the brown one was removed.

I made an outside enclosure so they could move about a bit.

Johnny Snow the Rooster looking in.  He was the only survivor

from the 2 chicks hatched last year.

DH put some branches in the play pen and the chicks  are climbing them.

On the 25th July I found one white chick sitting by itself with its head tucked

side ways.  Brought it inside as it was cold and kept it in the cat cage thinking it 

was about to die.  It perked up and was getting about so put it back with the others that

afternoon.  Checked later and the hen had pushed it out.  Put it back in the cat cage and

kept it inside overnight. It was looking good and chirping so put it out in with the others again.

 White hen and the 5 chicks, 2 Aug 2014

Here it is now.  The white hen wouldn't let it back in  so set up a little hutch 

and put one of the gold hens with the chick.  The first night I had to place it

with the hen but after that she seems to have kept it warm.  It holds its head to the 

side sometimes but is certainly eating and being kept warm.

Casey Pup

Casey gave us a fright.  On the Tuesday night after we had laid Rocky to rest, 

she raced up the drive with the other 2 and then coming back she was really slow.

That wasn't entirely unusual as both Casey and Rocky had been slow on the return of our

half walk.  I went about some of my normal routine and then found Casey sprawled on the deck. 

 I thought she had slipped between the deck and the wall so lifted her up and she fell again.

From Tuesday to Friday she could hardly stand up and needed assistance to get her walking.

I thought we were going to lose her on the same week as Rocky.  I managed to get time off work

and we booked her in to the Vet's on the Friday afternoon.  She started to look better so 

cancelled the appointment.  On the Saturday morning, I went off to get a couple of things and

came home to find Stuart really worried about Casey.  We had a long discussion and I phoned

the Vet's and made an appointment for 5.15pm.  

We put Casey on the dog bed in the dining room and covered her with a blanket.

I brought my computer downstairs and worked on a photo album I had made digitally 

for Casey and also one for Rocky.   About 2 hours before the appointment, Casey woke up

and looked at me with bright Casey eyes.  I got her up and she walked freely around the garden.

We cancelled the appointment again and now 2 weeks later she is better and more like herself.

She is getting herself upstairs again and following me like she always has.  

She runs after the others and is eating all her dinner again.  She is one amazing 15 year old dog.

Arnie with his dog Casey.

Rimrock Valerian Rocker (Rocky) 10 Apr 2001 to 19 May 2014

It is a sad day today as we said goodbye to Rocky.  The poor boy has been deteriorating steadily but over the past 2 to 3 weeks it has been more rapid.  It went from struggling but managing to get upstairs to last night when he collapsed in a heap walking across the kitchen floor.  It was one of the hardest decisions I have made as he was so good in himself.  His eyes were still bright and he was eating well.  He started drinking lots over the past 2 weeks and over the past week I had been getting up once or twice a night to let him out to the toilet.  He was amazing in that he would try to stand and most times managed but on occasions I had to help him.  He was finding it harder to squat.  He was still looking after himself and the front end was still looking really good.

Last night I decided to stay home from work and take him to the Vet.  I felt bad as he ate his tux biscuit with his usual gusto and his piece of toast.  He stayed on his bed for much longer than normal and then made it outside and lay in the sun.

We came home from the Vet's and let all the other dogs and cats say goodbye.  Shilo stayed in the back of the car with Rocky until I was ready to move him to his grave.  She has been really devoted to him and will miss him.  Casey and Rocky have always been good friends.  Casey seems sad too but with not hearing I think some of it is passing her by.  Rocky is now laid to rest beside Bruno with some of his favourite things.  I put the leftover of his favourite squeaky toy, a ball and an old bone in with him.  I planted a camellia on him and the alstoemeria back.

We Have A Secret

We have a secret, you and I

that no one else shall know,

for who but I can see you lie

each night in fire glow?

And who but I can reach my hand

before we go to bed

and feel the living warmth of you

and touch your silken head?

And only I walk woodland paths

and see ahead of me,

your small form racing with the wind

so young again, and free.

And only I can see you swim

in every brook I pass

and when I call, no one but I

can see the bending grass.

Author Unknown

From <http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/asecret.htm>

RIP in my sweet gentle Rocky boy.