Eulogy

Magic Priest came into our lives January 13, 2008, and proceeded to completely change everything. We had met a few greyhounds in Edmonton, but none had quite been the right fit for us. Since we’d first started looking at hounds on the Chinook Winds website, we’d been drawn to Priest, if only for his completely awesome name. So we talked it over with the adoption reps, and made arrangements to drive to Red Deer to meet two hounds, one of them being Priest, on that January weekend.

I don’t truly need to explain what happened. He was Priest. Everyone loved Priest the moment they met him, and we were no exception.

It took Priest some time to settle in with us, but once he figured out that it was permanent, he started to blossom. We knew he’d really settled in when he started to cockroach when we were nearby, instead of just when he thought we weren’t looking. He loved us both, but was definitely a Mama’s boy. It was only a short time before we couldn’t imagine life without him, and he gave us boundless love, snuggles, and kisses in return.

Priest loved everyone, and was one of the best greyhound ambassadors. We started doing meet and greets for Chinook Winds, and Priest enamoured everyone. If someone slowed down to look, he’d be right there asking for pets, and as soon as he’d suckered them into that, he’d be leaning right up against their legs asking for more. No one who met him forgot him, and his nature and personality convinced more than one person to consider making a greyhound their next pet. Priest exemplified the greyhound as a companion animal, and we were the lucky ones who got to take him home.

Priest was not a good racer. His statistics on the database show three races, where he didn’t perform too well. And while he wouldn’t run by himself, when there were other hounds about, he loved it. Fun runs were one of his favourite things, and when we discovered that he liked to chase Mike’s r/c truck, well… he slept a lot afterwards! Priest had speed, but he was a chaser, a follower, not a runner.

Priest was a social boy, and loved to hang out with other hounds, but he loved people more. Sitting next to him on the couch was just invitation for him to get closer to you (slowly, of course, just to make sure it was okay). He was always excited to travel places, because it usually meant there’d be people there to fawn all over him. He was a dog that loved going to the vet! He especially enjoyed going into the back room, and sometimes was hard pressed to leave there until he saw one of us waiting for him.

Priest wasn’t an angel, but even when he’d chewed up a hardwood stair, or had an accident in the house, or was stalking a cat outside on a walk, he was still just Priest. An loving, loveable, lazy, couch-hogging, routine-driven, walk-loving, squeaker-killing, slightly neurotic, all-leg hound with a heart of gold.

At the Chinook Winds picnic in 2010, an animal communicator donated her services. We were able to ask one question, and at the picnic get the answer for a donation to the rescue. We asked Priest: What do you want? His answer:

More peace around me. Less noise.
A softer bed. Some cereal for a snack.
I love you.

Priest spent his last few months with soft beds, Life cereal, as much peace and quiet as we could give him, and as much love as he gave to us returned. We had no idea they would be his last few months, and he deteriorated so quickly that we hardly had time to prepare, to say our goodbyes. But we knew that he loved us, and he knew that we loved him, so much so that when he came home from the vet in agony and afraid, we didn’t make him wait until morning. Letting him go was the hardest thing we ever did, but it was the only thing we could do, because we loved him so much.

We said goodbye to our sweet boy, but we will never forget him.

Worst! Morning! Ever!

I just had the most worstest morning EVER!

Mummy and I got up at 5:40 like normal for our morning walk, but Mummy was looking outside and looking outside and saying things like, "You're not going to like it," and "It's raining," but I wanted to go on my walk. We got downstairs and she put on her sweater like normal, but then she put on another jacket too. And put on my collar and leash, but then! Then! THEN! She took this THING out of the closet! It was long and pointy, and didn't look too bad, then. But then she opened the door. And it was RAINING! And I wasn't sure about that, but darn it, it's my walk. So I went outside, and Mummy followed me. And then the THING! The THING! Mummy did something to it, and it wasn't long and pointy anymore, it was BIG and ROUND, and Mummy put it over her head, and it started to make noise, and I thought it was going to eat her HEAD! I was scared! Mummy said everything was okay, that it was just an "um-ber-ell-a," and she tried to put it over my head, but I was NOT going to have any of eating my head stuff. And I was getting wet! So we started walking, but I kept checking to make sure Mummy still had her head, and sometimes the THING would make a loud noise and I figured it would just be easier to walk behind Mummy to make sure it wasn't eating her. And I was getting wet, because it was raining, and it wasn't a nice walk AT ALL. We only did one of the shorter routes, but between the wet and making sure the THING didn't eat Mummy, I was happy to get back to the house. Mummy let me in and dried me off good, and I went upstairs to cuddle with Daddy, but when Mummy up to lay down for a bit, I got mad at her for such a crummy walk, so I didn't give her any room.

THEN! THEN! After breakfast, Mummy let me outside and it had stopped raining, which was good, but it still wasn't too nice out there, so I did my business and came to the door. But Mummy didn't come to let me in. So I wandered around again, and came to the door. And Mummy STILL didn't come to let me in! She didn't come to let me in for a LONG TIME! All this after the crummy walk and the THING too! Finally she did, and I was pretty mad by this point, and she said she was sorry, that she'd got busy in the kitchen and stuff, and I LET her wipe my paws, but then I ran STRAIGHT upstairs to Daddy. Daddy loves me...



I tell you. Mummy had better make this up to me. She'd better give me a popsicle today. Yum, popsicle.

I *am* comfortable, TYVM

Umm... Why are you asking?

And I'm not copying Terri! It just... kind of seems like it...

My sweater!

My sweater is done!


It fits too!


But it feels kind of funny. Not like what I'm used to...


But I got used to it pretty quick! It was comfy to walk in. Not too warm and not too cold either! I like it! And it's yarn!

Sweater

Mummy's almost done my sweater!





I can't wait until she finishes it! She promises to have it done by the next greyhound walk!

I'm sorry, Mummy and Daddy

I'm a little stressed out right now...

Darwin

Last week Darwin came to stay with us.



He's a pretty nice guy, but I think we're on different wavelengths. Like, when he got here last week, he was sure that my round bed was his! And he wasn't taking no for an answer. And he barks a lot, and even howls, and when I come to see what he's making noise at, it's just someone in the field, or something. And then, like today, I think he wants to play, but he doesn't play any way that I know how to play, and I get scared. Then Mummy or Daddy opens the door, and that means it's time to go in. He likes Mummy and Daddy a lot, and is always going to them for cuddles and hugs. I'm not jealous, really I'm not (but I am sleeping in their bed with them at night, so there!).

Not fair

Mummy gets in these moods sometimes. When she gets in these moods, she takes away places for me to lie down. She takes the blankets off the couch and then for some weird reason I'm not allowed to be on it until she puts them back, and she doesn't put them back for hours! She takes them downstairs and does something with them, and I'm not allowed to lie on the couch. And then she'll put them back on the couch, but then I'm not allowed to lie on my bed upstairs because the cover is off and downstairs like the blankets were! And then sometimes, she'll even take my bed and all my carefully arranged toys and pillow and blanket and mess them all up and put them on Mummy and Daddy's bed, and then use the scary loud carpet sucker thing! And then when she puts my bed back, the cover still isn't on it, and nothing's the way I had it! It's not fair! But I showed her...




So there.

And then Daddy steals one of my toys. Seriously.

A couple weekends ago, just after Banner left, Mummy and Daddy took me in the not-Priestmobile to this neat place. They called it the "Pet Expo." There were greyhounds there! And lots and lots of people!


I had on my dress collar and my red leash, and I wanted to go exploring! We did a little, but mostly we hung out with the greyhounds.


Lots of people stopped by to talk to our people about us! They said we were elegant and pretty, and asked lots of questions and gave us lots of love. Lots and lots of love...


There got to be so many people that Cloudy had had enough and hid under the table!


It even got to be enough for me. There was so much petting and loving and things to see and do that I didn't even want to explore any more. I just stood next to Mummy and Daddy, and I even didn't want to go meet more new people. Finally Mummy and Daddy took me home. It was a lot of fun, but exhausting! I slept for two days!

Mummy says this winter has been really weird. I'll agree with that. It's slippery out there right now! Mummy says she doesn't want to take me for walks in the dark, because she says her two feet slip more easily than my four, and the dark won't help. My four slip a lot too! We did walk to the dog park yesterday afternoon, and we were almost home when we met a German Shepherd. Apparently I scared him by standing there, because one second he was happy to meet me, and the next he wasn't! It was strange, and then I didn't get to meet the other dog. Maybe the weird weather is affecting everyone.

Mummy says she's knitting me a sweater. She tried it on me the other day, and that was exciting, because it was yarn! But it only came over my head and across my chest, so I don't think she's done.

Mummy and Daddy also say I've been acting a little weird. Well, maybe I miss Banner, and maybe the weather hasn't been helping, and maybe the trip to Calgary last weekend made me really tired because I don't sleep as much. I think I'll just keep it to myself, though, whatever it is, and make them keep guessing.

Huh? and Christmas

Huh? What's that?

Oh, whatever. It's boring.

But new hedgehogs aren't.

Aren't I handsome with Daddy's new camera?

And what's that? Christmas? (ignore the posting date... Mummy's slow)

Me and cousin Ghost! We got along good, but she doesn't know how to play, yet, really...

Mummy snuggling.

Snuggling with one of my Christmas presents!

This is Banner. He came on Saturday, and he's a foster. He and I get along good! He makes lots of noise by hitting the walls with his tail. He's pretty happy. Mummy says she thinks he'll get a forever home soon.

Mummy... Post!

Mummy needs to be less busy; even though I've been begging and whining, she hasn't had time to log on to let me do a new post! And I wanted to post!

It's been so cold! I ask everyone I see to make it warmer, but they aren't! Why aren't they? It's cold! And I don't really like my boots or my coat, but Mummy and Daddy won't take me for a walk without them, and sometimes they don't let me outside in the yard without at least my jacket, and sometimes they don't even take me for a walk it's so cold! Not that I want to go for a walk when it's so cold, but I do like walks. Why can't they make it warmer?

There are some nice things about the cold time. There's the snow, which for some reason makes it lighter when we go for walks in the morning, even though it's darker. And there's the funny people things on the lawns, which at first I was really not sure about, but now I know they just sorta stand there and make a blowy windy noise (at night) or kind of collapse flat (in the morning). And the snow is fun too! I like digging at it (which isn't quite as easy to do when you've got boots on).

We've been doing lots of things too! Two weekends ago, we went driving, and then we were in a place with lots of tall buildings, and we went inside, and there were greyhounds inside! Mummy said it was the Jingle On Parade, and we were bringing Santa to all the little kids! We were a little late, so I didn't get to be a reindog, but I was a jingle dog, and I led the way! I even wanted to pass the lady wearing the sign, but Mummy wouldn't let me.

Here we all are, getting ready to go!


Jingle dog!


Reindogs ready!


I met sooo many people! And they were all happy to meet me!


I met lots and lots of small people too!

There's lots of pictures here:

Jingle On Parade 2008

Last weekend, I also went for a sleepover with Auntie Sue! It was super cold out, and I was kind of worried about Mummy and Daddy, since they weren't there, but it was still fun! I hung out with Pharaoh and Caine and Maggie (Maggie liked me except when she was on the couch), and Auntie Sue's foster Gil, who was a great guy! I slept in until 9! Mummy and Daddy were shocked about that when they came to get me on Sunday morning, and they asked me why I could never sleep in at home. Duh! I can't sleep in at home because how else would Mummy and Daddy wake up in the morning!

After they picked me up, they drove me to a pet store place, and John and Deb were there! But I didn't recognize John at first, because he was all dressed funny! He was in a red suit and had a white thing that looked like a furry toy but didn't squeak on his face, and a hat! They put a jingle collar on me again and I thought maybe we were doing another parade, though it seemed an odd place to do a parade, but I just stood with John and had my picture taken. Then Mummy and Daddy shopped a bit and talked, and then we went home! I was so tired (and cold), so I slept for a long time after that.

Now Mummy says that next week we're going to Calgary, and I get to meet my new cousin! What's a cousin? Mummy says her name is Ghost, and we're spending Christmas Eve together. I hope she likes me...

What fun!

But I wonder why Mummy and Daddy were hiding such fun things under the bed... And what's this Christmas thing they're talking about? And why did they move all the fun things after this?

Visiting

Two weekends ago, we went visiting. Mummy and Daddy and I got in the Priestmobile, and we drove. We drove for a long time, and Mummy and Daddy kept talking about being lost, but I lay down in the back of the Priestmobile and looked out the window, and stood up when we went on the bumpy roads. Finally we got to where we were going, and there was another dog there named Aspen who didn't like me much, and another greyhound! His name was Tucker, and we got along really well! We hung out and traded beds, and followed each other around, and ate cookies, and went for a walk! Everyone said we looked really alike. Hmm... Maybe.

Mummy was away this weekend, but I was a good boy and I woke Daddy up so he could feed me, and we went and met Duchess and her family for a run! It was a good weekend, but I was happy to see Mummy again!

Hallowe'en Howleroo!

So for the last while, Mummy's been trying these clothes on me. They didn't seem terribly practical, and reminded me of that first coat that Mummy and Daddy used when I first came to them before I got my own coat. But Mummy kept wanting to put these clothes on me, and even though I really didn't like it, I let her. I had no idea what was going to happen!


I guess I wasn't the only one whose Mummy or Daddy was trying crazy clothes on them! Because when Mummy and I went to the greyhound walk on Sunday (Daddy stayed home; something about a cold and the cold. I guess they're two different things and they don't go together), everyone was wearing clothes! Hats and clothes and hats or clothes, and some of the older greyhounds said that the mummies and daddies do this every year!


There were prizes too, and I got one! Not the big one, that went to the dog in the middle dressed as Legolas (what's a Legolas?). But I got a treat bag filled with yummy things that I totally want! But Mummy and Daddy only gave me a little and then put it in my cupboard. Darn.


This is my outfit. Mummy dressed me up as a yarn ninja. I don't know what she's talking about. I only ever take yarn if it's left out!


There were knitting needles attached on one side, and...


...some yarn on the other! And a mask attached to my muzzle, and then the very impractical clothes.


Everyone walked in their costumes. It was a nice long walk, and even though it was chilly, we were warm in the clothes, so maybe they weren't so impractical...

Duchess is off at her forever home now, but I do want to leave you with one picture of us.

Study in Patience: Two Greyhounds Waiting for Walkies

Duchess watches TV

I'm brave

This morning when we were walking, there was a man without a dog and who wasn't running. He was walking on the other side of the field from us, but I still saw him and thought that it was weird. Then, when we came around the corner of the path, he was there in front of us! He was sitting on the path. Well, I knew this was definitely Not Right. People don't sit on the path. People walk on the path or run on the path or walk their dogs on the path or run with their dogs on the path. They don't sit on the path. So he was Not Right.

So I told him so. I growled and I barked and my tail was up but not wagging, and Mummy tried to make me quiet, but I had to bark and growl a little more. I told him that this was my Mummy and my friend Duchess, and he was Not Right, and he should just get up and start walking so he could be Right, because I was Priest and I knew he was Not Right and I would protect my Mummy and Duchess.

And he did! He got up and he picked up his shoes (that was weird too, the picking up the shoes thing) and he started walking before we got close to him. And I didn't have to bark or growl anymore, because he was still weird, but he was Right now, and he wasn't coming towards us.

Mummy says I'm very brave.

Mummy also says she'll upload a video of Duchess watching television as soon as Daddy brings her the card from the camera. I don't know what that means, but I guess it means there'll be a video here soon.

Feet, wet, girl

My foot is almost all better, thank you for asking! Boy, those were some good drugs. I lay on the couch all night, and then the next day, I barely limped! I still feel it every once in a while, but it's not bad at all anymore. But the laying on the couch was great. I'm finding more and more comfortable positions to lie in. Look!


Wind-tunnel ear position.


Companionable head position.

This past Saturday was a crazy day! Mummy and Daddy are crazy! First, they got me WET! And SOAPY! And SMELLY (but not normal smelly)! And it SUCKED!





I'm wet and in the bathtub and it sucks.


I'm wet and in the bathtub and soapy and it sucks.


I'm still wet and in the bathtub but I'm getting dried off, so it sucks less.


I'm so impressed, Mummy and Daddy. So very impressed.


Then I had to air myself even drier than the towels made me. You know, I used to be so self-conscious that if I even caught Mummy and Daddy looking at me when I was cockroached, I'd stop...

And then, at night on Saturday, Mummy and Daddy went out for a few minutes, and when they came back, they had a girl with them! Her name is Duchess and her forever Mummy works in the same building as Mummy, but she's never been in a house before, so we're teaching her a few things before she goes to her forever house. Things like going outside, and toys, and dog beds, and mealtimes, and walk times, and stairs. She really needs to learn how to go downstairs better, because she slipped coming downstairs on Sunday morning and tore off one of her nails! Mummy and Daddy were really sorry about that, especially since Duchess was bleeding. Duchess got so much attention on Sunday! John and Deb came over, and Duchess' forever Mummy, and we all hung out and Duchess got lots of attention from everyone because she was new and because of her nail. Okay, well, maybe I got lots of attention too, but Duchess got lots!


This is Duchess. She loves her water dish. Hee hee roo roo, that was funny!

There will be more pictures of Duchess outside her kennel later. Right now she really likes her kennel, but she's getting better. She and I shared my papasan for a bit this morning, and she figured out last night that dog beds are for lying on. She's really smart.