Update November 29, 2009

  

Hello Joy and Cindy.

Attached are some endearing shots of George, long overdue. There’s a lot of character in that face and his intelligence shines through too, I think. He has adapted totally to life in NC—I think he realized early on that although fate had been unkind in San Antonio, his luck had suddenly turned in a big way. He had gained two personal valets to dress him in just the right jacket for wind, rain or cold, a chef mindful of his preferences, (He really is SPOILED ROTTEN!) and a bossy shaggy sister who serves as his guide star now. Annie has a raucous, ear-splitting bark, but it’s the one sound George can easily hear (Yes, we still have our shooting range earphones in the car and he’s very watchful and keys on her every move. Surprisingly, he seems to have become the dominant one.  They’re the odd couple, but they’re developed a pretty good relationship.

  

He’s such a very good dog! It’s hard to believe he’s now entered his 14th year. He’s still indefatigable and just amazingly durable. I hope he doesn’t start to fail on us because I’m not sure what the three of us would do without him.

     

We’ve given up on the shaggy dog look—he really didn’t like my having to constantly brush him, and he’s a lot more beautiful without all that cover-up fur—actually I think all sheepdog look better without their fur! George has gained some weight, mostly muscle though, and he looks very sleek and "sculptural," don’t you think? These pictures were taken when he had grown out a bit from his summer grooming and just before his October grooming. He sometimes drools a little and that makes for a messy jaw line, so off it goes! (He has a kind and accomplished groomer who’s about to enter vet school at NC State—he likes her!

Happy Thanksgiving! Will send Christmas shots soon!
Carolyn and Tom

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Update November 2008

Hello All,

George thoroughly enjoyed his Thanksgiving. For him, life is one big progressive dinner, a true moveable feast, and he scored big time on turkey and baked apples. 

The summer like photo was taken in early autumn, and with hard freezes coming just as the leaves were nearing peak, we had to rush to get some documentary shots before the frozen leaves dropped off. 

He's beginning to look like a poodle, so a minor trim is obviously in order.

He has a light but warm gray flannel jacket which he seems to love getting into--it keeps the wind off him on his walks and the floor drafts in his bedroom off him during the night. It's piped in red Velcro--very photogenic--will send with his Christmas shots.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

PS A shot of bossy "sister" Annie included, too.

Carolyn and Tom

 


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Update October 22, 2008
George is Twelve!
 

Remember this guy? He’s filled out a bit and looks a little like a wooly mammoth now, but yes, it’s George!
Hard to believe, but George celebrated his 12^th birthday today. October 22^nd. His sign, (he’s a Libra) fits him perfectly, because he’s so gentle and balanced. We’ve been lucky to have all his medical records and it was actually the vet in San Antonio who gave us his exact birthday information. They’ve been very helpful, and interestingly, and unbeknownst to us, after I spoke with them this summer, they actually called his former owners to see if they could answer some additional health questions we had! Still can’t believe they did that. Apparently the owner was astonished that George was not only still 'above ground' as they say, but somehow had found his way out of Texas and all the way over to North Carolina. The vet’s office laughed when they told me that and said they couldn’t explain it to the former owner either! Well, as all of you know, it was a long story and an equally long journey across the miles! All you transporters racked up some serious miles for poor old 'throw-a-way George.' And just look at him now.
George has made many wonderful adjustments and we believe has moved beyond just about all his former bumps in the road. He still follows me around, Tom, too—can’t bear to be out of sight of us—he doesn’t even rest for very long without popping his head up to check to be certain he’s not alone. Apparently this was also detailed in the owner’s notes about him left at the shelter, so it’s been a life long thing. Until now, he has never been a dog allowed to be with his family but has been confined most of his life to a run, which actually because of his active nature and constant pacing, has kept him in exceptionally good physical shape for his age. The stiffness which you all probably noticed is in his front legs, not his rear hips and legs at all as is usually the case. I’ve spent some time studying his movements, and the way his elbows poke out and it looks like a case of elbow dysplasia which has probably afflicted him from birth, now aggravated by arthritis and aging. Still, he gets up in a flash and also collapses in a flash (and with a pretty loud resounding 'thunk!'—he’s a very large dog) when he wants to lie down, apparently he crashes in one movement because it lets him avoid flexing those sore front elbows. He had a six month physical in April, but when we take him in again in December we’ll see what Dr Bencuya has to say about this. We did try him on some Deramaxx last spring when it was cold and damp, and he seemed to tolerate it well so we will hold it in reserve in case he seems uncomfortable this winter. It seems he’s OK with his condition because he’s very avid about his morning hike which the 4 of us do between 6 and 7 AM and his afternoon walk too over at the state forest trails. He’s sure-footed over twists, turns, rocks and rills, and he can do a couple of miles at a time of fairly challenging hills and probably could do more, but we don’t overdo it.
Joy, I know you said he didn’t play with your two and that possibly Beemer had hurt feelings over this. He and Annie walk together and share their lives, but George does not actually play with her either. The age spread is a big part of the problem, but he’s always been an only dog, and beyond that, I suspect, pretty much isolated from other dogs and simply doesn’t understand playing. They’ve worked out a good 'modus vivendi' with George following along after her mad dashes, Annie eternally supervising him, and they have ear-shattering barkfests at times, especially, of course, in the car, Tom now has earphones on the dash, ready to grab at the first sound, and I’m going to get ear plugs, Annie is impervious, and of course, George can’t hear, so he REALLY enjoys the uproar!
George is a wonderfully happy dog and he has a way of making everyone smile at his 'avidity' and pure glee in simple things, namely eating (!), walking, car-car, and, again, EATING! Joy, I know you cooked for him, I’m certain Sandy prepared something Louisiana style for his sleep-over with her, and Roland said he plied him with roast beef sandwiches along the way. George arrived thoroughly ruined!
The apple grove which was such a summer problem because of his thievery has finally, yesterday, dropped the last wormy, buggy apples. He would race down to the trees and start gobbling them, yellow jackets and all. Now we’ve substituted Grannie Smiths for his treats and he and Annie both get quite a few fresh carrot sticks daily for their special treats. He eats a lot generally but seems to somehow vaporize the calories.
George is so like Gray –same age--George was 11 ¼ when Gray left us at 11 ¾ y/o and with his blue eyed beauty and his sweetness I almost believe he’s an extension of Gray somehow, sent to us to give us the extra years we should have had together. He’s so young at heart that it’s easy to imagine that he has many years to go, probably an illusion, but then, hope is a good thing. . I’ll tell you, his light has warmed us all and helped us through the sadness.
So, thank you, each one, again, for what you selflessly did for George.
Hope you enjoy these pictures, and please wish George at least a few more happy and healthy birthdays.
Thank you all again for delivering him safe and sound (and also pre-loved) to us last spring!
 

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Happy Tails 5-19-08

Hi Cindy,

We are totally in love with this sweet and loving dog!  Time flies when you're happy and we suddenly realized that we'll be coming up on six weeks together on Friday.  George passed his wellness exam with flying colors and he's apparently very sound.  I can't remember if I mentioned that he had been a little 'loose' no doubt due to some very good interstate 'road food' during his long trip.  Joy had him on Paul's Food made in Austin and unfortunately, it isn't available in Raleigh (although it is in DC and Atlanta.)  So we printed out the guaranteed analysis from the web and did a little research to discover that the closest approximation is Blue Buffalo Senior, which he loves.  I add just a little water and warm it just a little in the microwave before folding in about a tablespoon of basmati which I had used on him during his boiled chicken phase.  He's got a wonderful appetite--someone should come to our house to shoot a commercial of his antics as I walk toward him with his bowl!  He loves riding in the car and we're using the ramp to download him  which is working very well--if we had a normal vehicle (hate that dratted @**@! Explorer!) this would not be necessary, but the SUV is really high off the ground.  He was apprehensive about the ramp at first, but we had the idea to break up his treats and bait the ramp as we slowly guided him down.  He's so smart--it only took one time and he enjoys that little maneuver a lot now.

He's very vocal--he has more different sounds than any OES we've experienced, and it's so funny!  With the onset of heat and humidity, he's a little less avid about long long walks (like 3 miles at once!) but can easily toss off a one mile hike at the state forest which is nice and shady with soft, pine straw paths.  He gets two good walks a day, but is active during the day in the yard as well.

We need to shoot the rest of a roll (still not digital!) while our red climbing rose is in bloom--I shot two with George under it but I want to get a better one when the sun isn't in his eyes!

Check out the shot where George is sitting by the garden chair beside the Japanese maple--he was smiling in that shot and I love it!  He smiles a lot now and is getting so much love!  He is absolutely the best medicine for us, and amazingly he's a perfect cross in appearance and personality of the two wonderful ones we lost during the past year! This was destiny for sure. It doesn't get much better than that, really.


                                          

His fur is coming back slowly--we'll keep him close clipped since we're entering North Carolina's 'equatorial' summer.  I'm scissoring Annie down to about an inch--will try to get a good picture of the two of them with the next ones I send.

Hope all's well with rescue in your area-meaning not too much current business!

Carolyn.