Back to Blog Sad News

Our ape screwed up again.  She vowed to blog more often because a) we only blogged when sad things happened and b) we are awesome and c) obvis the world is craving more US. But she did not.  And then she could not bring herself to help us blog our really sad news.  So I (Ed) am going to help her stop up and do her job because we need to share our news--and we have good and bad news--and get back in the bloggy game!

The very, very sad news is that just before the new year we lost our heart and soul, Mr. Otis T. Potus.   He started feeling a bit poorly in mid-December and we learned he had prostate cancer (ma ape wants to blog about that later because she would like to share all the info she learned).  He got very poorly quickly and we had to say goodbye. Look at these handsome devils together!

I was especially sad because he was my best friend and I enjoyed accommodating his many requests for regular humpty dances.

Much to his delight!

 I wanted to share with you what a very special guy he was.

OtP came to live with the sheppys in March of 2010 after their buddy Wally died.  You can read about his arrival here!  He had been a long-timer at the SPCA as a part of a cruelty investigation and had been there for almost 6 months when he was adopted in January of 2010 but then he was brought back on a day ma ape happened to stop by the SPCA and the rest is history! Here he is on his first day home when the sheppys were concerned ma ape had come home with a particularly stinky boar!



He was an older chap who had lived a harrrrd life but he didn't hold a grudge.  He never met a stranger, human or doggy, especially his FAVORITE brudder.

He was a busy dog with many hobbies that included gardening (eating hostas), being a gourmand (nomming everything, especially wallymelon), power nappping (snores not optional), and was an inveterate fashionista, singlehandedly redeeming the sweatervest from Rick Santorum (see above). And he was the best ambassadog for pitties he could possibly be.

He was a dog for the ages and we can't believe he wasn't even with us for 3 years.  It seemed like he was always here and it is hard to believe he is gone. We miss our favorite time together, relaxing coffee with milks on Sunday mornings.

We stopped blogging because we couldn't bear to say goodbye to our Otis but one of the best things about blogging is being able to have a record of our memories and share them with others.  And it is not fair of us to not share our magnificent selves with the Internets!  Otis would want us to carry on, just like he always did.  So vests on, tongues out, we have more blogging to do!

And more news.  Last month we lost our bestie Sophie. She was one of our first bloggy friends AND our only friend we met in real life!  We wanted to remember her and Otis together when he was a PERFECT GENTLEMAN.  *cough* Can you EVEN imagine such rude humping?  We like to think of you guys chillaxing with Mr. Wally.

Goodnight, sweet Otis and Sophie.  

And next time we will have some happy news for you.  Preview:

DERP! Stay tuned...

WILD AT HEART!

It was a very exciting weekend and I have many things to tell you about including:

1) An Ape Burpday!
2) A Pawliday Party and subsequent abandonment
3) A Cold Day at the Dog Park for Oscar Bean, Stinky Teen
4) BIG SALE at the pet store

But first I wanted to give an update on my ticker. As some of you may remember, I collapsed last Thursday and my ticker was RACING. Here is a re-creation:

And here is what my ma ape looked like:

I maxed and relaxed all weekend and spent time watching the Britney Spears Documentary/Hour Long Ad "For the Record" and I could totally relate because I think my stress is caused by the Pooperazzi always chasing me, trying to catch me with greens in my teeths:

Today it was time for my triumphant return to the vet's office where I am always plied with snacks and attention.

They did a chest x-ray and confirmed that I have dilated cardiomyopathy. This will come as a surprise to no one but I have a BIG HEART.


This is not my actual heart but it gives you the idea, though because I am long my heart has actually shifted position and is lying on its side! The vet said that my valves are leaky which makes my heart work really hard so it has gotten BIG and MUSCULAR. and totally STUDLY. So all this time my ma ape has been in the basement lifting those hunks of metal I've been pumping iron WITH MY TICKER. The GOOD news, though is that I don't have any fluid in my chest or lungs so I'm still in pretty good shape. I'm going to start a drug called Pimobendan (which is very fun to say) for the ole ticker. It should help manage the symptoms and keep my muscular heart under control. I may have to love everyone just a little bit less to keep my heart from getting TOO big! I'm starting with loving Oscar less (though my ma ape says maybe I should take a break from lovin' ON Oscar so much. If you know what I mean.)

I owe big thanks to Charlie and Brooke because they gave me some advice and support over at The Bone Zone.

Paging Dr. Pippa

A few weeks ago my friend Pippa had a poorly tum and suggested a pizza cure. Apply one pizza directly to the mouth. Well, we have needed such a thing.

On Monday my baby brudder Oscar had a poorly tum and it was coming out of both ends. My ma ape spent a lot of time scrubbing on the carpet.


Today it was my turn to be poorly, though I was not nearly as bad as the baby brudder. Just one wee barf. And at least I don't try to eat it like someone I know. Just thinking about his grossness makes me do this.


I am trying to convince my ma ape that we need the Pippa Pizza Cure. And maybe some TastyCakes for good measure to turn our sour tums into solid smiles: