SweetPea & BullyBoy

Cowboy here. It's been a year of ups, downs. Have a bit of an adjustment to make; it's a hard one. SweetPea, Sar's Rott nudged her out of bed a few weeks ago. This is mighty unusual because the dogs sleep outside our bedroom door. Sar got up, insisted on sleeping on the sofa in the upstairs hallway. The Rott climbed up next to her, his head in her lap. BullyBoy joined them. SweetPea didn't wake up the next morning. BullyBoy died the following day. Both dogs were a little over 9 years – old for both breeds. History repeats itself; our first Rott and Mastiff died within 2 weeks of each other. My wife mourns deeply. These dogs were Sar's constant companions since they were born. She trained them, loved them. In return they were completely devoted to her. The emptiness in our house is loud. Our cats remain silent, eat little. The big male tomcat shadows Sar, grooms her face, neck, mews. That feline seems lost without the dogs. It wasn't so long ago we lost Panda, then Tank. All the dogs were close in age, our fault I guess for not taking that into consideration when we got them.

After some time goes by I'll talk to Sar about rescue work again. Right now she's not interested in getting pups for pets, starting that routine again. My wife's a damned good dog trainer; would be a shame if those skills weren't put to use.

Bull gets stronger every day. The man walks fairly well. Docs insist he continue to use a cane for now; that works ok. Once in a while, he gets flashbacks – war does that to a vet. I talk him through it. David talks him through it. Sar makes lasagna for him.

Halloween is upon us. The imp has been a bit listless lately, not too enthused about the holiday this year. I hid a bunch of tootsie rolls, chocolate candy corn – favorites – hoping that will revive her.

Have an errand to take care of in London first of November. Going to take the imp along. Will be there a couple of days, enough time to visit our young friend Patrick before returning home. David might come along as well.

Cowboy