Red/Raz 03-323

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Red was renamed last night to Raz (Raz-a-mataz). She had her nails tipped at Jane's and rode comfortably in the back seat of the car, only getting up once to make sure I was still in the front seat and wanting some pets. She was introduced to my dog and found him irrelevant. She wasn't hungry until we put some peanut butter and a cookie in the Kong. She ate the peanut butter was didn't know how to deal with getting the insides out. She had a bath and was brushed. She loves to be brushed.

She took an immediate liking to my husband and shared the couch with him as long as he was touching her. She slept across the pillows on the king size bed with her muzzle in my ear all night. No crying, no barks. She's very spry and took me on a vigorous walk this morning, doing her duty in the tall grass. She knows sit, and appears to know wait and down. She likes to ride in the car, but has a hard time getting her butt up in the car, on the couch and the bed. She craves attention and just wants you to pet her or let her lay by your feet. She takes treats very sweetly from your hand and appears to be food motivated, although she didn't like the kibble unless it had some canned dog food with it. Her teeth are in bad shape and it could be she's been on soft food in the past. Raz is a sweetie, very gentle and calm. She's looking for a forever home once we get her vet checked and figure out how old she really is - 6, 7, 8? Her behavior is younger than the 8 years old the rescue group puts her at.

At a Glance #03-323

Golden Retriever Born: October 1995
Female Weight not specified

Status: Deceased

Profile

Red was renamed last night to Raz (Raz-a-mataz). She had her nails tipped at Jane's and rode comfortably in the back seat of the car, only getting up once to make sure I was still in the front seat and wanting some pets. She was introduced to my dog and found him irrelevant. She wasn't hungry until we put some peanut butter and a cookie in the Kong. She ate the peanut butter was didn't know how to deal with getting the insides out. She had a bath and was brushed. She loves to be brushed.

She took an immediate liking to my husband and shared the couch with him as long as he was touching her. She slept across the pillows on the king size bed with her muzzle in my ear all night. No crying, no barks. She's very spry and took me on a vigorous walk this morning, doing her duty in the tall grass. She knows sit, and appears to know wait and down. She likes to ride in the car, but has a hard time getting her butt up in the car, on the couch and the bed. She craves attention and just wants you to pet her or let her lay by your feet. She takes treats very sweetly from your hand and appears to be food motivated, although she didn't like the kibble unless it had some canned dog food with it. Her teeth are in bad shape and it could be she's been on soft food in the past. Raz is a sweetie, very gentle and calm. She's looking for a forever home once we get her vet checked and figure out how old she really is - 6, 7, 8? Her behavior is younger than the 8 years old the rescue group puts her at.

Updates

Sunday, May 17, 2009

 

Oh, it has been such an awful week. Our sweet, beloved Razzie left to wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge this past Tuesday, May 12th, 2009. Her health had been declining, but we had no idea she would be taken from us so soon. Razzie was diagnosed with masticatory muscle myosotis, an immune disorder that attacks the muscles of the face and neck. She was on meds and doing very well... but... we woke up Tuesday AM and she couldn't get up. Lately we (the vet and I) thought she might have some sort of neurological thing going on too, as she would shake when she woke up or when she was falling asleep --sort of a tremor like Katherine Hepburn -- so "something" had probably happened. Maybe a little stroke, maybe a tumor, maybe cancer.... there just aren't many treatment options on a dog that is 13-16 years old and in fragile health. She went downhill very fast over a 48 hour period, and told us it was time to go.

Anyway, we spent the day with her holding her and telling her we loved her. She stayed until we had said all of our goodbyes in as many ways as we could think of. We got her soft ice cream and fed her Ritz crackers (those were her FAVORITE, even over a steak!) We sat outside, under the lilac bush, and enjoyed the sunshine and all the smells. We carried her out to potty, as she could only stand and walk for about 10'-15' before she had to lay down with labored breathing. Our vet, sweet woman that she is, came to the house at 8PM Tuesday night and helped her to the Bridge...

I've never known such love from an animal in my life. Razzie was our heart, our healer, our love dog. She was my “million dollar dog”, a medical marvel, as she healed herself from several health problems, one being lung cancer. She was given 30 days to live over 5 years ago. Our vet was constantly amazed by her, and called her 'one of the great ones'. She filled the house with her warm soft energy, and was always right there if you were sad. She would press herself against you and you could physically feel her filling you with love. Razzie gave her whole life. She gave to everyone she met. I feel honored and blessed to have known her and shared her life. We love you Boo Boo, oh so much, and still feel you here.

I am still in shock. Don't quite have my mind around it. It happened so quickly, yet she had not really been herself for a while... it is just so heart wrenchingly sad. She was SO special and so loving, it is hard to bear the days without her.

Please see below for some of the things we learned from Razzie……thanks to our dear, sweet girl we are better humans.

Things I’ve Learned from Razzie:
  1. You should forgive everyone who has ever done you wrong, no matter what.
  2. Heal the ones around you by giving them love and attention every minute of every day.
  3. If you think someone is sad, they probably are, so reach out to them.
  4. You can heal yourself if you concentrate hard enough.
  5. Love strangers, and pay attention to them even if they are busy going about their day.
  6. Lean into life, and be grateful for each moment of each day.
  7. Food is to be savored and enjoyed, especially rare treats and high calorie items.
  8. Eating naughty things is sometimes worth the risk of getting in trouble.
  9. Our broken parts are what make us more beautiful.
  10. We were born to run with no boundaries, so exercise this blessing each chance you get.
  11. Bad experiences from our past don’t have to hinder who we are at the present moment.
  12. Shade feels the nicest right after a moment in the sun.
  13. Sometimes wading is better than jumping in all at once.
  14. Other people can always see your glow, even if you don’t feel that good.
  15. Your loved ones will always take care of you if you have a bad day.
  16. If someone barks at you, you can just wag your tail and walk away.
  17. If you exude calm energy, others are bound to be affected by it in some way.
  18. Sometimes pressing against someone is the only way to get the point across.
  19. If you put your nose in someone’s hand, they are bound to notice.
  20. A case of the sniffles can actually be quite cute.
  21. Anticipating the good things in life can be as exciting as the actual event.
  22. Even if you can’t see or hear, someone will always show you the way.
  23. If you can’t walk, someone will carry you.
  24. Someone will wipe your tears and caress your face right up to your last breath.
  25. The last thing you will feel on planet Earth is LOVE.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thursday, October 16, 2003

Raz has settled in nicely, although she's got a little cold in her nose and is on antibiotics. She is scheduled for her spay tomorrow and will be ready for her forever home next week. The vet will also take care of her overgrown toenails. She is 8 eight years old, according to the vet and the humane society, but she has a lot of stamina for being middle aged.

I wish I knew more about her than just that she came from a Missouri Humane Society. Obviously someone got her a summer haircut- a "field cut" where she has a little bit of light blonde feathers along her belly, but the best of her fur was cut closer to her body. It really does cut down on the amount of burrs she picks up in the woods compared to our dog. She loves to go for walks in the woods, and her nose is terrific! She picks up on trails and if I'm not paying attention, the two of us go off, flexi-leash attached, up hill or down hill, around bushes and saplings. After three days here, today we worked on our "stay on the path" skills. She was very good (see, I'm educable!) She's really fun to walk with- she will "prance" down the trail on a trot. (Did I tell you she had stamina? Yes- more than me.) But she will walk slowly if you tell her to walk nice. She likes to drink out of the river, but isn't at all interested in going swimming, and has ignored the geese on the lake. I mentioned "birdies" to her and she perked up, so who knows all the words in her vocabulary and what they mean to her?

Raz loves to be with her people. She likes to sit on the couch and watch us make supper, read the paper, fold laundry. If you leave the room, she will come searching for her people. If my husband sits on the couch with his feet across the cushions, she's decided she needs to lay next to him (or on him). At 67 pounds, "next to" is easier to deal with.

Raz loves to ride in the car. She makes a bed out of the quilt, circling and pawing, then she crashes and sleeps. We went to visit some dogs the other day, and she was polite. She had to tell one guy off (by showing him her big teeth) when he tried to jump her. Other than that one very appropriate response, she's been sweetness and light. She does not guard her food from people or dogs. She does not counter surf. She hasn't tried to take anything out of the bathroom garbage can or carry around dirty clothes. She barked when I left her leash in the door and came inside for 2 minutes between the first and second half of our walk, but by the time I came back to the door she was laying on the stoop, quiet, glad to see me come back. I think she's still dealing with abandonment/separation issues. She hasn't been playful with our dog, although she indicated once she might like to play with his stick, but then thought the better of it and walked away. He's not aggressive, so it's not him that made her decide otherwise.

Raz is still coming out of her shell and we need to give her a little time to feel safe, secure, loved. She's sweet, quiet, and wants more than anything to have her own people/person who will be devoted to her. I know that a perfect home is out there for her. If you're interested in Raz (Razzie, Razmataz), please let RAGOM know that your heart is big enough to love this sweet girl forever.