Visiting Gracie in Western Massachusetts

On Friday, we packed up Dad's truck and went on a very long drive to visit Gracie and her peeps in South Hadley, Mass. I was the navigator and made sure I had my map handy.



I was very alert the whole way to make sure that Dad did not get lost. I did not want to land up in Canada!

We pulled into Gracie's driveway around 8pm Friday. Gracie's Mom Di was a bit nervous to reunite us as Gracie can be an aggressive gal when she doesn't know you. Dad was fully confident that we would remember eachother, and disregarding Di's nerves, he opened his car door and literally threw me out. Gracie bounded towards me, Di nearly had a heart attack...but of course we recognized eachother, and boy were we happy to see eachother! Unfortunately it was pitch dark, so we have no photos of the heartwarming reunion.

However, for the next 2 days, all we (Gracie, her little bro Fenway and me) did was play and run and eat a few yummy bones that Mom packed! Gracie has an awesome, huge back yard the size of my park at home! She sure is a lucky gal!



We also played inside a lot! Fenway and I got along real well, Gracie is more mature now and didn't always want to join us in our wrestling!



Massachusetts sure is pretty - we drove around and saw lots of pretty trees and sites:

On Sunday we visited Di's brother Tim - he lives in the woods and has more land than I have spunk! We were supposed to go for a walk in the woods, but the day before a Coyote had grabbed a little dog and nearly killed it, so we didn't want to risk it until the hunters shot him. Poor Coyote. Tim and his lovely wife and kids have lots of animals - 6 dogs and many of these funny birds called chickens. I'd never seen a real chicken before, I just enjoyed eating the featherless product! I was a little scared of them to be honest.


I met one of Tim's bitches - she's a special hunting dog that flew to America all the way from the Czech Republic! The breed is called Cesky Fousek - they have wiry hair like me - Mom thought she was adorable. I was more interested in the Khoi fish in the pond and jumped in to take a swim with them. Dumb move on my part, I forgot it was 25F outside - I soon regretted it when I started to shiver!


I met more dogs at Tim's place - but I didn't really know them and we left Gracie and Fenway at home, so I didn't feel very sociable. Besides, I was freezing my nuts off. Oh yeah, I forgot, I don't have any...but you get the idea!


Between shivers though, I did marvel at the beauty and space around us. I could quite easily adapt to life in the country! All that space to run and play!

I have to admit, I was so nervous when I saw Mom and Dad packing up the truck on Sunday - I feared they might leave me and bugger off somewhere (again) - so I jumped into the truck way before they were even ready to depart. So I never said goodbye to Gracie or Fenway...sorry guys, I do love you, but home is with my humans. Home is in the city. Home is even my tiny back yard, just big enough to pee in. But it sure was GREAT to visit! Hope to do it again soon!

AGC

New Coat

As you all know, because I keep telling you, I do not like to wear clothes or costumes. I like to go kaalgat as we say in South African language Afrikaans which means, basically, naked. I don't know why humans think we need winter coats when it turns cold out...what do you think our fur is for people??? Thousands of years ago before we were domesticated, do you think the cavemen would knit us coats? Oh please!

But no, humans think just because they need loads of layers to keep out the freezing temps, so do we. Well, listen up. We do not. At least I do not.

Unfortunately, I cannot speak - so when Mom triumphantly came home with a box and said it was for me, and produced a bright orange and silver dog coat - I thought, oh crikey, not a frigging coat again. I had been so happy to see her mail Gus my winter coat from last year - I thought that was it for me and coats. Mom had finally understood my body language...but no such luck.

I didn't even try to feign happiness when she called me over to put it on. I just stood there and let her. So here I am, in all my glory...in my new Landsend coat, or squall as they call it (it is waterproof on the outside and lined with flannel):

What do you think? The only positive thing I will say, is that it is less restrictive then my last coat which ran all the way to my pee-pee and I didn't like that cos it made me nervy to pee in it!

We didn't make it to Gracie this weekend, but we will be going this coming weekend. I can't wait. Hopefully I can leave the coat at home...but Mother keeps yakking to me how cold it is in Massachewsits and yadda yadda, you need your coat!!

AGC

Another Dinner Party

Our dinner parties are not as glamorous (or delish-looking) as Asta's dinner parties, but they are much fun none the less and I like to take an active part not only in the eating but in the shmoozing. And to do that, you can't sit on the floor waiting for food to miraculously fall in front of your snoot! So about a week ago, when Dad's parents came for dinner, I took every opportunity to take Mom's seat when she was busy serving or adding finishing touches to dishes in the kitchen:

Mom served London Broil with gravy, asparagus (I like it but it makes my pee stink!), caesar salad, roast potatoes with herbs and an Entermann's cake for dessert. Mom says to make it clear this was a spur of the moment affair, nothing fancy. Boy Mom can be defensive. They were actually going to order in, but since Dad had been away working for 5 days on the road, Mom thought he'd appreciate a home cooked meal. And he did.

When everyone left I felt a little sad - so I sat on the front step and hung out. Note I am not tethered or fleeing. I have really mellowed. I only go crazy if a stranger walks past - I lunge and bark...and I don't discriminate between little strangers or big strangers. Mom says I'm silly and shouldn't be mean to little strangers who are likely to get a BIG fright. Too bad I say, it's my turf, STAY AWAY!

Thanks for everyone's nice messages for Ricky Pepper's family - unfortunately the family have decided to find Teddy a new home to appease the horrid neighbor - so if you know of any Doxie-loving family with lots of patience for a special needs boy, please let us know.

AGC

PS Yay, Mom fixed the template. We removed the Google ads cos they were advertising unsavory foxie breeders. Thanks Pat for the heads up!

A Plague of Frogs for a Horrid Neighbor

Why does the world seem to be full of nasty neighbors? You'll remember we had a run in with our neighbor last year over my barking - he went to Animal Control and then the COPS (who in our city of Philly clearly have more important things to worry about!)

So you can imagine how distressed I was to read my pal Ricky Pepper's blog tonight to hear that their neighbor slipped a copy of their town's ordinance under their door stipulating that households are only permitted 3 animals. How dare this witch threaten Ricky Peppers lovely family! All the doggies are rescues, two are therapy dogs - they don't bother or harm anyone - and their parents are the loveliest folks you'd ever meet. If I was still living there, I'd have to take action. But for now, since the ordinance says you can have unlimited amount of frogs, I think the doxies should round up as many as they can find and ask them to croak day and night along this bitch's fence! Also strange that the ordinance allows horse, sheep and cows - as long as the sum total of animals is THREE.

I really can't suffer humans who don't work and have nothing to do all day but start up nonsense with their neighbors. Get a life woman and leave these people alone!

I know you are disappointed that I ignored Halloween and did not publish photos of myself in cutesy costumes. I don't like to dress up and I don't like to wear anything on my dogen (vs. person). If you like to dress up, that's great and I don't for a minute mock or begrudge anyone who enjoys it. Take Terry for example - I nearly burst my appendix when I saw his costume! How funny is that! A wirey lobster!

Exciting news is that there is a wee possibility that Mom, Dad and me and our neighbors/friends Vin and Sophie (a sweet 9 year old retriever type) will make the trek up to Massachewsitts to see our pal Gracie and her family! We may go in two weeks but there are many factors to work out, so it's only tentative for now, but it sure is exciting to think about!

Prayers to my friend Jackson in the UK who is undergoing many tests to find out why he is having fits. Poor guy is the bravest wire around and he's been through so much already, but we Wires are a tough bunch and we know Jackson will get through this too.

Happy November!

AGC

A Moment for Prayer

I, Axel G Chocholoza, want us all to take a minute to pray for all the people and animals and creatures of California who are being swept up in relentless and unremitting fires. We pray for their safety and we hope that those unfortunate humans who lost their homes will have the strength and fortitude (and state assistance) to rebuild their lives.

A friend sent me a photo of two fire evacuees - a little wire and his best friend at a shelter. It does my heart good to realize that California allowed humans to bring their pets into shelters, unlike the heartache that was evident in Louisiana during Katrina when this was not the case.

I hope this man and his wire can go home soon.

AGC

Preparing for the Big Party

So I am very excited to be going to the big Mega Barkday Party being held in honor of Koobuss, Amber-Mae, Lorenza, Lola, Dewey and Precious. I haven't even met half these guys, but I love making new friends!

So Scruffy and Lacie asked if I was bringing cheesesteaks. Hmm, Dad and me like them - but Dad eats them plain, I like all the toppings. Mom can't even look at a cheesesteak. She must be nuts...I mean would you turn away from one? And cheese fried, hmmmmm!

I don't turn away from any food except these potato chips Mom brought from South Africa called Tomato Fritos. You get Fritos here, but not the yukky tomato flavor! Anyway, other than tomato fritos, I love South African food, and I'm bringing some to the pawty! I am bringing boerewors - that is delicious beef sausage that you put on the braai (BBQ) and then slip between a fresh footlong bun. Yum. They aren't much to look at...Mom said they look a bit like something I'd poop out (gross Mom), but I can tell you, they are delicious. Or as they say in South Africa - baie lekker!

Mom also insists that I take a bottle of her favorite spread - Marmite! Dad won't go near the stuff and from informal testing, Mom says she has yet to find any American who likes the stuff. But Mom grew up eating it and can eat it ten times a day on toast or cheddar cheese. I like it too. So I will pack a jar just in case we sleep over and need breakfast fare.

So the party is October 27 and it's in Massachewsits - I wonder if it is anywhere near where my old girlfriend Gracie lives? I think I'll invite her too! I'm planning on hitching a ride with Koobus in her cute red convertible... I'll probably fall asleep, driving makes me sleepy.

Dad left town today for a few days on a job...boy will I miss him. Hopefully he will keep in touch by reading my blog every day. I miss you Dad!

AGC

My Best Treat of All

It's supposed to be Fall, but I think it got lost on its way to Pennsylvania, because it's still Summer here! Hot! Mom and Dad are thrilled, but I prefer it a bit cooler thank you very much! I'm just grateful that my itchies haven't returned, they disappeared a few days after my shot, that stuff is a dogsend!

So twice a month or so, Mom gives me a big treat. She lets me go to doggy day care for half a day! This past Saturday, we woke up and Mom said, "Axie, how would you like to go to Daycare to see and play with your friends?" People think dogs don't always understand humans, but I understood Mom straight away and ran to the front door in glee! We took the camera along but no sooner had I arrived then the batteries died, so we only got ONE lousy shot:

In that photo, I had just hurdled the gate, I am that enthusiastic to get in there! Can you see my Airedale pal behind the gate? She is beautiful! After Mom and Dad left, I went out to the outdoor yard and played and played.

I suspect the reason Mom and Dad treat me in this way is because they enjoy some "without Axie" time (but they miss me straight after they drop me off!) and because when I come home, this is where you'll find me for the rest of the day/evening....

Yup, that's me. Big couch potato. Daycare exhausts me! And yes, sigh, I do look chunky in that picture...but I had just eaten my dinner - so don't make any disparaging remarks about my freckled belly!

Note from Mom: Yes, Ax seems to have gained a few pounds again...he is such a snack fiend, he tricks his Mom and Dad into giving him treats. We are now creating a list by the treat/chew cupboard so we know who is giving Axel what per day! He doesn't know it yet, but as of today, he is back on diet!

I CAN READ MOM!!!

AGC (Big boned and fabulous!)

With Apologies to the Famous Artist

The Wire Yahoo Group is running a contest to feature a Wire Fox Terrier in a famous painting. Mom went to work immediately and came up with this...the little known, Surrogate Mother of Whistler:

I am NOT amused as that is ME in the picture! I am a boy first of all, and second of all, I don't think I look good in a bonnet!

AGC

Let Me Eat Cake!

I am always envious when I read my pal Asta's blog - it is always full of wonderful descriptions of dinner parties in New York City, with sumptuous food and great ambience. So I was thrilled to hear Mom's plans for her own dinner party that took place last night. Only two people were invited - you'd think she'd invited ten the way she agonized over what to cook/bake! You see these are Mom's cousins and Mrs Cousin is a fabulous cook/baker - so Mom felt she couldn't serve just anything!

Mom set the table with all her African paraphenalia and wedding presents that she'd hardly had the opportunity to use. Here is the table setting - not sure you can see much - but the beaded placemats are African and the napkins are too. (They call them serviettes in Africa!)

I wasn't much interested in the decor frankly, I was far more interested in the menu! As it was Sunday night, Mom decided on hot pastrami on rye (yum), and three different salads -- green bean/red onion/peppers salad; new fangled potato salad recipe; and a green salad that had yummy avo, big mushrooms, green onion, lettuce, green pepper from our garden and other stuff in it. That all looked quite tasty - though I am not crazy about salads - so what really got my attention was the dessert!!

I watched Mom work hard on it - beating yolks and then whites and doing all sorts of things that needed 3 different bowls and many measurements and chocolate too. When it finally went into the oven, the smells were overwhelmingly tantalizing. I stood guard outside the oven door willing it to open so I could free the cakes from their pans. When they finally came out - wow, they looked good! I tried to jump on the counters to get them. I tried jumping on the dining room table when Mom moved them there. But I gave up when Mom put them on the overturned washbasket on top of the dryer. I mean look at this cake - would you not have tried to eat it!!???

This my friends, is called a Chocolate Blitz Torte. Not sure the picture does it justice. The bottom is choc cake with a layer of merangue. It has chocolate cream in the middle and then another layer of cake and merangue that is decorated with flaked almonds and cinnamon. Oh it is simple delicious. I know 'cos I did get a wee taste - but pig that Mom is (yeah, you wouldn't know it to look at her skinny frame), she ate half the cake!

My consolation prize for being a good boy all evening while the guests were there (Ok, I did get locked behind my puppy gate for part of the evening when I was quote, "being a pest") - was a marrow bone this morning, which I enjoyed almost as much as the blitz torte!



Remember. I said ALMOST.

AGC

Scenes from a Dog Show

Remember I told you about little Rosalina, the ginger wire girl from Italy I met at the show yesterday? Well, it turns out that Dad captured her on video, so you can all see for yourself how gorgeous she is. Sorry Miss Amelia, Asta, Koobus -- I have a new love. Quel bella doga (my Italian is not great, I admit!)



Also, I know many of you have never had the pleasure of going to Montgomery or seeing Wires in the ring. So Dad made a video just for you of some beautiful wires competing in the ring. Enjoy!



And in late breaking news...you won't believe this!!
Ricky Pepper has a NEW BROTHER. That brings the Doxie tally to FOUR! A family of 5 dogs including Chloe the Beagle. Welcome Teddy - you sure lucked out with your new family!!

AGC

My Day at the Montgomery Terrier Show

Today Mom, Dad and me went to the annual terrier show at Montgomery. It was in the high 80's so I got very hot and bothered! Mom was in her usual state of rapture to see so many terriers and to meet new and old friends she'd met online. Dad raced around with his video camera. I mainly snoozed and tried to get comfy on Mom's tiny lap. I saw my breeder but was disappointed that my mom and sister were withdrawn from the competition cos Mom is pregnant and sis wasn't groomed well enough. I was so looking forward to seeing them!

We did get to see Bebe and her folks; Finnegan and his folks, Claudia and her smoothie Sydney, Suzanne and her little Folli and some other wirey folks. Sitting in front of us was a tiny ginger wire from Italy called Rosalina...Mom couldn't take her eyes off of her and I started getting worried that Mom was going to kidnap her!

Click on the image below to see our 23 photos from the show! Note: if you click View Slideshow - you will not see Mom's photo descriptions. Mom recommendes clicking on the DETAIL link so you can see all the photos with their descriptions on one page.




AGC

New Movie!

Well Mom and Dad are getting better and creating and editing video...I am proud to present my second video to you all entitled, Axel and Dad Have Fun at the Park.

Click on the link below to watch the 1:32 minute video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yL35RyoUFJE

Viewer discretion advised. You may suffer a heart attack if you have never seen a wire running off leash in an unfenced park ringed by heavy traffic. I am an unusual wire in that I am happiest off leash and never stray far from my parents. I have grown up playing in this park from 12 weeks old, so I know the lay of the land very well, as do most of the dogs there.

Before I leave, I want to wish my pal Butchy a very happy 7th birthday!! Sorry I couldn't make the party dude, I heard you needed a passport to travel to Iowa now, and I left it too late!

AGC

Mom's Special Visit to New York City

Yesterday morning Dad and I dropped Mom off at the 30th Street train station. I heard her tell Dad she was going to New York City to visit her cousin Annette from Australia who was in NY visiting her son. I pleaded to go with, but Mom said dogs weren't allowed on trains. How unfair is that!! So off she went after blowing me a kiss. At the time, I didn't know she was keeping a BIG secret from me!

And now over to Mom. I am generously relinquishing the blog to her...just this one time.

I arrived in NY and met Annette and her hubby at Columbus Circle. We lunched in Central Park in the beautiful weather. Annette is my first cousin and I met her for the first time when she came to my wedding last year all the way from Sydney! (There is a long sordid story...but yadda yadda, her Mom and my Dad didn't speak for 40 years which is why I never met Annette or her family. But then one fine day I thought, enough bullshit - I want to meet my cousin! So I went online, searched and found her in Sydney, wrote and yadda yadda yadda - a wonderful friendship was born and many family reunions ensued. It's been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life!! Healing broken family relations!)Here is Annette and Me and Annette and her hubby Jeff.

What I didn't tell Axel, was that before I left, I emailed Asta's Mom and asked her if she was willing to meet up while I was in NY. I try to make a habit of meeting other wires and their families when I travel about. Last time I was in NY, I met up with Jeeves and his Mom who live on the Upper East Side. I didn't have Asta's Mom's phone number, so I gave her my cell. And, she called!! So after bidding Annette goodbye, off I went on the subway to the "Meat Packing District" - a fine place for a wire to reside.

How wonderful it was to meet Asta and her Mom and Dad! Asta ran out to meet me and disappeared down the passage. When she came back, so pranced about, played with her toys and gave lots of kisses. (Note to Ax: You could learn from Asta "no kisses ever" guy!)

After we had a good shmooze (I felt like I'd known them for years), I went with Asta's Daddy to their Doggie Run and checked out Asta at play with her friends. What a joy it was, Asta is just a delight - she never stops moving and loves her friends:

Before I bid them goodbye, Asta gave me a cute orange squeaky turtle to give to Ax. When I got home, I regaled Ax with stories about the delightful Asta and he was thrilled with his gift:

A wonderful day in New York City! Just wish Ax could have come along! I'll give him the final word:

Thanks Mom. I do so wish I could have met Asta and played with her friends - but at least I got the turtle! And for the record, I just don't like to KISS! Get over it.

AGC

My First Day

Koobuss tagged me and asked me to regale you all with how I came to live with Mom and Dad in Philadelphia. It began thus...

Oh, before I begin, a shout out to Di, Mom of Gracie - if you are reading this please email Mom cos she emailed you and your address bounced. Thank you.

And now back to my story. As you know, Mom grew up with a wire in South Africa named Georgie. In her honor, G is my second name. Axel G Chocholoza. Mom loved Georgie with all her heart and soul for the wonderful 15 years she graced her life. The year she died, Mom left home to live in Israel and then 6.5 years after that, she came to America. She knew her life was not stable enough in all those years to get another wire, so she held off until she met my dad in 2002 and they moved in together a year before they got married (shhh, don't tell anyone), to a little rented house next to a very big park. At that point, Mom said to Dad. We are ready for a dog! Dad was into it too, but he had NO choice in the decision of what breed of dog to get. Mom had her heart set on another wire fox terrier.

But how to find one? Mom, being a web person, went online first and located what seemed like a decent breeder in Mass. She even paid the deposit. Around the same time, Mom joined the Fox Terrier Network and leart from them that this breeder was not "Kosher" if you get my drift. So taking their advice, Mom bailed on the deal and yadda yadda yadda, found a good breeder named Bob, through the Fox Terrier Association of America. Bob told them that in about 2 months there would be a litter, and there was a good chance we could get one of the pups. Mom was overjoyed. I do believe she did a jig that day.

Fast forward to July 16, 2005 - a day before Mom's birthday. The happy parents-to-be drove to Valley Forge to meet me. I was one of four pups, the only boy. My Mom's name is Pompi and my Dad is Sir Walter Raleigh. Here I am with my sisters - I am the one on the far right, I was always bigger than my sisters:

Of course it was love at first sight for Mom and Dad. But it was touch and go whether Bob would part with his only boy - but I think he liked Mom and Dad so much, that he relented. Before leaving, Bob stripped me on the grooming table.

One thing I do remember, that when Dad was holding me on the way to the car to go to my new home, I wiggled and he dropped me...on concrete, on my head. The parents were beside themselves, though I was absolutely fine! From then on, Mom and Dad held me very tight!


So that dear friends are my humble beginnings. Not that exciting I know, I was lucky, I was never a rescue and I've always had a safe and loving home. Hey, in that photo above, see my tail, it's straight...yet somehow within 6 months, it had curled and noone can explain it! Maybe it's the same curious thing that gives me skin allergies...something in the air here makes me itch and my tail curl? Hmmm.

AGC

Handsome Dude (with beard)

Finally. Finally. I actually look like a wire fox terrier for the first time in a long long time. Yesterday morning, Mom and Dad dropped me off at Pooches Choice salon for a much needed haircut. When they collected me at 3pm, they were so relieved and delighted to see what a great job was done upon me. I don't look like a shnauzer. I don't look like a poodle. I look like a handsome young wire fox terrier, which ladies and gentlemen, is precisely what I am!

As you can tell, my coat is far from perfect, but we are on our way. My colored parts were stripped, the rest of me was hand scissored. After a few more of these groomings, I'm sure my coat will be wirey and my colors will be vivid. It just takes time to undo the damage wrought upon my dogness by PetStupid. I must say, I do love my beard - I look like my dad now!

But best of all, without all that superfluous hair, I actually look THIN! Mom called me skinny butt!! Woohoo. Do you agree?


After my long day, I was dead tired. I just curled up in my favorite positions on the couch and went to sleep, a very happy dog at last.

AGC

Farewell Mr. Scuffy

Tomorrow is a big day! I am getting a long overdue haircut! I'm sure you all remember the ghastly haircut I got the last time when PetStupid Grooming lied to Mom that the lady-who-knows-handstripping groomed me, when in fact I was given to a hopeless apprentice who didn't know what the heck he was doing. As you recall, I looked bloody awful...here is a reminder:

Thank God hair grows and grows! That last haircut was on July 10 - so my hair has grown really long and Mom calls me Mr. Scruffy. Of course, we are not going back to PetStupid - instead we are going to a highly recommended (Thank you Bebe) salon called Pooches Choice here in Center City Philadelphia. The groomer there, Lee, has several hand-stripping awards, so hopefully when you see photos of me tomorrow - I will look truly wonderful! (Mom says I better given what this little exercise is going to cost!) While I am away, a company is coming to steam clean our carpets just in case there is something in them making me itch!

In the meantime, here are the BEFORE pictures so you can see how I look now:

I can barely see out my eyes I'm so shaggy. I don't know if you can tell, but good news! My allergies are a bit better - my skin is less red (Thank you to all my friends for your wonderful, caring comments left on this blog). I think that cortisone shot finally kicked in. It must be that 'cos the weather has not cooled down, if anything it's been MORE humid! I still bite my paws and legs, but I don't itch as much as I did last week. Mom is a tad nervy the stripping/scissoring (only my back is being stripped to get my black back) will somehow irritate my skin, but I think I'll be okay. My appointment is for 10am and I don't expect to get out of there before 4pm. Keep paws crossed. If I come out looking hideous again, I may have to run away to New York City and hide out in Asta's apartment (no-one knows me in NYC and it's quite near by for me to hitch a ride). Is that okay Asta? If you like I could help you eat all your birthday presents! Tee hee.

Finally, I want you to meet some of my pals. As you know, I prefer to hang with the big dogs - but I have some little dog pals too. When P my dogwalker picks me up every day, I often get to walk with these buddies - Basil who you have met before (a Cairn Terror) and the two Pugs, Maggie (tan) and Sam (black). Sadly, Maggie left our neighborhood today to live in another state 'cos her parents had a baby and couldn't cope with two dogs anymore. Poor Sam, he must feel sad, he's never been apart from Maggie. Me and Basil will have to be extra kind to him in the coming days...In the photo, we are all waiting for our treats, it's the only time we calm down!

And lastly, I have a new niece - Daddy's sister had a wee baby girl on Tuesday - Devon Delaney - I haven't seen her yet, but hope to when she is a little older. I like little humans.

See you all tomorrow - hopefully I will look like a handsome daredevil!

AGC

Itchies Update

Well Mom was so worried about my red splotchies, that her and Dad shlepped me to the vet man yesterday, eventhough it was Yom Kippur. Mom reckoned God would understand. Interestingly, the vet who owns the clinic is Jewish and he was working too! Maybe people who help animals are holy enough already?

So he examined me and told me I had hives. He said he recalls being in vet school in 1978 and being told that absolutely anything could cause hives. Luckily by the time I got to the vet, the worst of the hives were gone. I got a cortisone shot in my bum as the vet assured Mom and Dad I needed it and it was safe. So I'm keeping paws crossed. So far I am still itchy but no hives. I have had a shot before a year ago, but none of us can remember how long it took to "kick in".

Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes. And thanks to Ricky Pepper for offering me a health sabbatical in their home.

AGC

Could I be allergic to HOME?

While I was staying with Ricky Pepper, my allergies did not flare up and I was fine. No itchies! Now that I am back home, they are back with a vengeance and worse than ever. Mom is so upset - we can't figure out what is making me sick like this!

Today Mom was horrified to notice red welts all over my chest and legs. My whole body is red and blotchy and my eyes are very red. I am so uncomfortable. Look at my skin!!



Mom hasn't used a new shampoo or laundry detergent. She doesn't shampoo the carpets, only vaccuums. I am eating the same food. So what could make me suffer from allergies here but not at Ricky Pepper's place? Am I allergic to the city?

Despite it being Yom Kippur, Mom went to the store at 10PM after synagogue to buy me Benedryl as suggested by a wirey friend. I took one but no improvement yet. Mom also changed all the bedding and turned on the aircon to cool me down because my body feels hot. Mom thinks I may have to go to the vet again tomorrow...today I took my last Temaril P pill...

Please pray for me and ask the Rainbow Bridge Gods to take away my horrid red blotchies and itchies. I'm a good boy, I don't deserve to suffer so.

AGC