Tiger is gone

This is Tiger on the right, Tia sleeping on top of him. My fav pix of them. We got Tiger first, before Frank and I married. We bought Tia a year later, after we got married.

I believe they're together again now, playing in dog heaven. Surely there is a heaven for dogs, because they bring us so much loyalty and love.

I went to RT for two days, had a great time, came home yesterday. DH had to go to work. Tiger was having breathing problems, then he had other problems.

When DH got home, I told him it was time. The poor dog was uncomfortable, couldn't walk and it was just time.

We took him in today to our great, great vet, a man who loves animals as much as we do. DH and I just sobbed out in the parking lot, holding Tiger for the last time.

This is the worst part of having pets, having to make that dreadful decision, yet knowing it is right for them because you don't want to see them suffer.

Last night I dreamed of Tia, I still miss her so much, even though she's been gone since '06. I dreamed she came to me, happy and wagging her tail like she used to. She looked at me as if to say, "What's wrong?"

I just looked at her, and said, "Are you happy where you are now?"

And she wagged her tail as if to say "Yes."

Maybe all dogs do go to Heaven. But man, it surely sucks when they leave us, even though you know it's for the best.

Right now, I just can't stop crying. I look around and remember Tiger in "his" chair, Tiger hiding under the bed, his favorite spot, Tiger everywhere. :-(

But Mom, we don't WANT you to go!

Dolce and Tiger lodge a silent protest by lying near my suitcase as I pack for Haiti.

Leaving for Haiti

Sunday. Warm outside, the breeze drifting through the opened windows of the Florida room. I love this room. It's where I do most of my writing, sitting on the flowered couch, looking at the garden. In the summer, it's far too hot, but now, when it's still winter, even when it's warm outside like today, it's lovely.


Sometimes the dogs join me. Dolce will sit on the couch, looking at me to pay attention to him. Tiger, featured here, will lie on the tile, dozing in the sun.


We got some very bad news about Tiger this week. Like Tia and Rainey, the two other Shih Tzu's we had, he also is dying of cancer.

He has cancer of the spleen. So while we were concentrating on trying to save his sight from glaucoma, it was a losing battle anyway. We suspect the cancer has gone to his brain as he's been having seizures.


I can't believe I'm losing another beloved pet to this horrid disease.

So I do what I can. He's on meds to try to make him comfortable.


Tomorrow I leave for Haiti, leaving detailed instructions with the pet sitter, God bless her, she loves animals as much as we do. We'll be in the mountains again, in an area where there are more starving children.

I finished The Savage Wolf, and emailed it to my editor. I'm feeling a sigh of relief that I was able to finish it before deadline.

Next up, are revisions to Unwrapped, then the proposal for the next Nocturne. I have an historical out in two weeks, and the novella in Midnight Cravings. No time to promote these books. I just don't have any energy, either.

I'll be offline most of the week, away from email as I'll probably be without internet access. If I can get wireless, I may post from the road.

Have a good week, all.

this is just too cute

By now, the world has heard of Puppy Cam, where the San Fran Shib Inu puppies are on Ustream.

Click here.

These 6 little pups make me smile when I really need it. Watching them at night really cracks me up, when they attack their bed, after sleeping in it all day.

They dig at the underside and gnaw at it, and tear up the foam.

It reminds me of Tiger, our Shih Tzu who is 15, and has had health problems. But when he was that age, he used to attack the underside of his bed and gnaw at the foam, until DH put a board at the bottom of the bed, so he couldn't turn it over.

Ah, puppies! They make a hard day less hard!

Why our dog hates us

Tiger is saying, "Must I endure this? This is sooo NOT worth a lousy dog biscuit. Why don't you take these antlers and stuff them up Santa's uh-huh? Tia, I sure hope they don't make you put this crap on in doggie heaven."