Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009, on St. Patrick's Day. One of Mattie's friends gave him the glasses, headband and necklace. So Mattie was decked out for the day, ready to visit the cancer clinic for treatment. I still have the headband and glasses, in fact if you look in the cabinet photo below, you maybe able to see them displayed in Mattie's memory shelves.
Quote of the day: Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Sunny is a VERY sensitive creature. He has bonded with me and frankly I can pick up when he is anxious. The place I take Sunny for grooming, is a lot like Dogtopia (where Sunny was today). However, when Sunny enters the facility where he is groomed, it is visibly noticeable that Sunny is anxious, because he shakes with fear. He doesn't react that way to Dogtopia, but he isn't exactly calm there either. This is Sunny's second time at the facility. I am trying to get him used to it before moving to a full week of boarding. Notice where Sunny is in this photo. At the 9 o'clock position, which puts him in front of the door to the room. Meaning he wants out!!! The beauty of this facility is that there are webcams and I can assess how Sunny is doing for myself.
Sunny refused snacks today at daycare and spends most of the time by the door. So I will be bringing him back next week for more visits, so he understands that being there is temporary. I even spoke to the general manager today. She asked how long I had Sunny and where I got him. Once she learned he was a rescue, she felt that being in a room with other dogs may remind him of being in a shelter, which could trigger his anxiety. So I am not sure what to do with Sunny. I can't imagine boarding him at a kennel, where he is locked up in a cage for a majority of the day being a positive experience for him either.
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1 comment:
Vicki, I feel anxious for Sunny, wishing I had a solution for you! It is odd the groomers, would pass the reason Sunny is anxious off on you!
It is not only people who are anxious and anxiety comes as a result of a situation or person reminder. Animals, much like people, stick close to people that make them feel happy or safe. Which is why Sunny hangs with the person at dogtopia. I know Michael's dogs were anxious while they watched them pack. We tried to help with that by holding them but more so we both sat in the room with them watching them pack, while holding them. I watch Rounder go from a calm dog yo shaking all over. When he did this he would leap onto one of our laps or sit so closely as the shaking would subside. Hoping that each time you take Sunny, he becomes more bonded with someone and becomes calmer because though he is left, you return. I totally understand your thoughts on this!
I loved the picture of the Irish Mattie!!! Also in reference to your post about the life span of a butterfly - I had no idea of this short life span until our visit there in January. Yet, the butterfly has long been a favorite of mine. I can't help but put the image of a butterfly and the Pediatric Oncology patients whose own life span ends up to be way too short together!
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