Mischief Monday - No Diet For Me!

 Dear pals,

I mentioned last Thursday that I was on a diet. It wasn't a full diet, Lady and Man were just trying to feed me more inline with what the vet suggested. However, the amount of food the vet suggested left me hungry. Furthermore, when Lady and Man tried to switch me to just the food that should help my kidneys, it didn't make my tummy feel good. Since we are all about the quality of my life, I get to eat what I want, when I want, within reason (sometimes I would eat too much and make myself sick). I also get more table scraps now. 

Lady wonders if other people have crazy food spots like us. It is taking over the island!

Currently to feed me looks like:

• Some kangaroo (not pictured here as it is in my food bucket  (this makes up 1/3 of my food)
• Some of my kidney care food (another 1/3 of my food)
• 1/3 is some special food to help my tummy, and then my topper which is currently a rabbit fish mix.
• On top of that I get my probiotic and some of the Ultra beef topper that also help my tummy

If Phod's food is any different, we switch, so Lady is having to do about the same for his (just less Kidney Care). Gone are the days of one scoop of food and Lady and Man are done. Now there is measuring and mixing.

your pal, the less hungry, Hailey Bug

An Update - by Lee

 Dear pals,

Thank you for all your love and well wishes the past few weeks. It has meant a lot of me and my people. 

Thinking about throwing this toy

We are into the second week of my new reality and I am doing well. Lady and Man are not seeing as many seizures. I am hungry and trying to play. I still don't always know I have to poop until it is too late, and this is just something we live with.  I am having better nights. I rarely have to go out at all in the night, which means my people are less grumpy because they are getting sleep. I am having more restless days, which makes it harder for my people to work from home. 

Playing with the Man after dinner - mostly trying to tell him I want him to go downstairs

We take it day by day my friends. We are still in the much more good than not good.

your pal, Lee 

The Nerve - By Hailey

 Dear pals,

As I mentioned yesterday the vet has noticed I have level 1 kidney disease. While I know my peeps and I do take this seriously, I got the following from the vet. 

You don't have to speak or read French to see they have labelled me as obese. Now I am not saying I am in the shape I was in my youth. I am aware my curves are rounder, however, I am dealing with a lot right now and think the term obese is a little much. Are they trying to kick an old girl while she is down.

(Yes, Lady plans on picking up some of that food for me. She tried to on Saturday but due to some traffic issues, couldn't get to the store before it closed).

your curvy pal, Hailey Bug

Mischief Monday - Side Effects - by Lee

 Dear pals,

First I want to thank you all for your POTP, I know it is helping. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Thanks to Ann for making this for us and Madi's Lady for helping.

When I last shared we were waiting for Lady to catch my pee in a ladle, which she did well. She can add this to her many talents. The Man took it to the vet for analysis, and I have stage 1 kidney disease, which is not completely unexpected in a girl of my age (more on that tomorrow).

The vet and Lady picked an anti-inflammatory and anti-seizure meds that should be the easiest on my organs. That day after work, Lady drove to the vet to get my anti-inflammatory. It wasn't ready so she waited 25 minutes for it. Then she drove to the human pharmacy to get my anti-seizure meds, and waited 30 minutes for them to say they had to order it. You can imagine how happy she was to only get home from work at 7:45, needing to eat dinner, when she had left the house at 5:30am.

Anyway, the meds were ready the next day and she got them and it got shoved down my throat. The next morning, my friends, I was really, really not ok. I could barely walk. Lady said I was like Bambi walking on ice. I fell down a step. It was scary for my people and me. Lady stopped all medication and called my doctor.

The vet called later that day and said these side effects should be short lived and we had to ride them out. It would have been nice if they had warned us all first. So my people put me back on the drugs and every day since I have been better. I am a little off balance at times, but nothing like I was. And, already the seizures have decreased, especially the bad outside ones. 

Too busy to stop for a picture . . . 

Because I am seeming a bit better, and being a little crazy and trying to do things like play, my Lady knows I am feeling better. Again, thank you for all your POTP. 

your pal, the slightly tipsy Hailey Bug

Crazy New Year - by Lee

 Dear pals,

On New Year's Day, I made Lady laugh so hard. I had wind in my tail and felt like a young dog. It was just around freezing so not too cold. I had a great nap while Lady and Man went out for a New Year's breakfast to welcome 2025. I was pupping around the yard and Lady had to block me from running to the neighbours, then she had to get me off the road (don't worry, it is a private road with very little traffic in the winter), and then I got crazy and ran up the driveway, lept over a snow boulder and took off into the neighbour's yard. Lady says she hasn't seen me move like that in years.

Lady had to go and put boots on, grab her phone and a leash, and put Phod in the house and then she started to track me. Fortunately, there was just enough fresh snow that this wasn't too hard. 

Nature made it easy to follow me. 

I went into the neighbour's yard,  down the hill into the sugar bush, up a hill to the sugar shack, then around to their garage, down their driveway and Lady finally caught up with me at the lot of requirement (aka the lot that holds their firewood and other things beside their house).

Coming to meet Lady

I had to walk home on leash. Lady just kept laughing. She wasn't even mad. I guess when you are old you can get away with things you couldn't when you were young. It was worth it and I had a fantastic nap after.

Walking home

It was a fun way to start 2025. 

you pal, still got it some days, Hailey Bug

How We Spent The Holidays - by Lee

Dear pals,

We had a quiet holidays up in the hills. It was just Lady and Man  and us for Christmas this year. 

We spent time playing in the 5 inches of fresh snow we got. 

Man worked in the morning of Christmas Eve, and he made the whole turkey dinner for us that night. Lady and Man ate turkey for days and days and days. 

Lady's tacky table for 2!

Christmas day was spent by the fire and upstairs playing games. Lady and Man said the quiet Christmas was wonderful. 

The people also made pasta with the pasta maker Lady got. 

Things got a little more exciting on Boxing Day, when we all drove to Grammie and the Big Guy's for the family get together.  We had a little adventure as about 10 km from their place, I may have pooped on the back seat and Lady and Man had to pull over and try and clean the car as best they could. We had to wash the cover at Grammie's for the ride home (where no one pooped). 

Uncle Chris and Emma, Aunt, C and family were also there.  We got lots of pets, some treats, and I napped some. 

On the drive home, Lady said it was a holiday miracle, that with the new seat extender she got us, we actually shared the back seat for at least some of the drive. 

That was our quiet but good Christmas. We hope, that however you celebrate, it was a nice day.

your pal Lee, who generally hogs the whole backseat. 

Mischief Monday - Carried Away - by Lee

Dear pals,

On Friday I was super suspicious that Lady was up to no good. First, she didn't feed Phod breakfast and I had to wait until he went back to bed to get snuck mine.

Then after a little work, she started singing at us. She was singing "Dr. Feel Good." She took us outside and then opened the car doors.

With some help, because he is old, Phod cooperated with this.

Phod hogging the seat

I was not having it and I ran around the garage back up to the door to the house, where I hung onto the floor with all my might.

This did not save me dear friends. Lady bent down, scooped me up in her arms and carried me to the car. She said, I was getting my Librela shot if I liked it or not. 

Phod took up too much seat on the way there. I hogged it all on the way back.

I pooped all over the vet floor to show how unhappy I was. I complained through my shot. 

At any rate, I am not happy that I was carried away. Could Lady stop working out? I am over 40 lbs, she should not be able to scoop me up. 

your not happy to be carried pal, Hailey Bug who won't admit the Librela shot makes her feel better. 

The Service I Expect - by Lee

 Dear pals,

I always like to keep things fresh and keep my people on their toes. This past week I have added a new game.

We go out. I go on my perimeter patrol. Then I decide it is too much effort to walk up the hill or up the stairs to the front door and I demand to be let in the basement.

This door is only opened for me when there is another person inside, because it is locked.

your pal, Hailey Bug who is trying new things out

Mischief Monday - When Lady was Away and New Food - by Lee

 Dear pals,

Lady will tell you about her brief time away on Friday. While she was gone, Phod and I made sure to not make Man's life easy. We got up in the night, and needed to get up too early. We took ourselves for walks. Man also switched our food to a senior food and while we love it, it has turned me into a poop machine (Phod doesn't have the same problem). I have been having accidents and needing to go 6 times a day. My people are working on switching me to another food that may not have me make as much poop. Apparently they don't like cleaning up poop from the house 1-2 times per day and taking me out to poop every other minute. 

As soon as Lady got back, she took me out, and I ran away to show her my displeasure.

Don't worry, I didn't go far and I came back ready for a cookie.

So basically, it has just been a normal sort of week in our house.

You pal, who is celebrating her Gotcha Day tomorrow, Hailey Bug

Dear Vet

Dear Vet,

Lady says you are a nice person but I don't think I agree. You said my ears were filthy. They were so dirty, you had to test them to make sure they weren't infected. You told my people to clean my ears daily.

I have not made this chore easy.I have screamed, I have fought, I pulled. They kept doing it (but only every other day because I was bad enough I made it terrible for them). 

One of my ears is clean and the other is getting better. I have gotten slightly less resistant to this. 

I am not happy with this recommendation. 

I do not think we will be friends.

Not your pal, Hailey

Perimeter Patrol - by Lee

 Dear pals,

If I am honest, there is one really good thing about getting old. I get a lot more off leash time now. Lady says it is because I can't run and jump as fast. I got in the bush once this summer, and got stuck and didn't like it. I am likely only going to wander next door and the neighbours are happy to have me visit.

One of the things I want to do 1-2 times a day, is what Lady calls my perimeter check. I walk around the edge of the yard, checking things out. Lady usually follows me, just to be sure. She doesn't 100% trust me. I can't imagine why?

your pal, the patrol pup, Hailey Bug

Mischief Monday - Why Make It, if You Don't Want Me To Use It? By Lee

Dear pals,

About once a day, I try (sometimes successfully) to use the path through the bush between our house and Callie's. Mostly, I go over when I have to poop because I like to poop on Callie's lawn. Lady and Man say that is jerky. They also say the cut through is to visit and do things like run deskunk shampoo over after Callie gets sprayed, not just to wander through when we like. Apparently Callie's yard is not really part of ours. 

I ask, why did the people make it, if they don't want me to use it?

You pal, the adventurer Lee

Trouble on a Tuesday - Race - by Lee

Dear pals,

The other evening we were having a nice stroll around the field, when this old girl got a fun idea. Let's race!

Walking more or less with everyone

Without the starting pistol, I started to run. 

Can you spot me?

I am not as fast as I was, but Man couldn't keep up.

Phod and Lady didn't even try.

I ended the race in the neighbour's yard.

I won.

It was fun. I even checked in a few times to make sure Man was ok.

I may be old, but I still got some spunk.

your pal, Hailey Bug, Gold medalist in the Paradise field race

Mischief Monday - Grass Balls - by Lee

 Dear pals,

You know what the best part about the people mowing the lawn is? The riding mower leaves these little hard balls of grass that are super yummy.

This action really annoys the Lady and you spends most of our outside time trying to stop us, because these bits of grass upset our stomach.

Next time she goes to eat something too spicy or too much dairy, maybe I will do the same.

Your, pal, Hailey Bug who is part cow

Trouble on a Tuesday - Old Lady Life by Lee

 Dear pals,

it was a mixed bag week for this old gal. My Lady is in charge of me 6/7 nights (the Man does Saturday night) and I was up some of them. There was a storm Friday night, so that, then my upset tummy at 3:45, Lady was up a lot. We let her sleep until 10:30 am on Saturday. Lady is not at all frustrated that on Man's one night I only had to go out at 5:30 and not for a 3 am walk.  (Note, Man will not take me for a middle of the night walk, only Lady will).

This week saw this old gal, have a very upset stomach, wander into the bush and get stuck as I couldn't find a way out, up a lot in the night, one night I only told Lady I had to go after I had pooped all over the floor, having more trouble with my back end, and being very picky about the food I ate. Apparently taking out random pieces and leaving them on the floor is not loved by my people. 

Food all over the floor

Lady says I got really old really fast, but since I always lived faced, it makes sense. 

So that is where we are. Lady is exhausted with me and some crazy work stuff, but we are hanging in dear friends. To make it a bit easier for Lady, sometimes I let her have a little snuggle with me. Overall, I am happy enough. I am living my life on my terms.

We will see how this week goes.

your pal, Hailey Bug

People Are Weird - by Lee

 Deal Pals,

On Sunday, for an early celebration of Canada Day and friendship, Lady and Man invited 6 friends up. After dinner, things got weird.

I was sitting, letting a stranger pet me (I was very good), and suddenly 2 dinosaurs appeared.

I did not like these dinosaurs and may have barked and barked and barked until the Man had to quickly get me outside because I had to poop.

Phod heard the racket and came out of the closet, walked by, and went to a stranger to get pets too. He was not really bothered by dinosaurs. 

Would you react more like a Lee or a Phod if there were suddenly 2 dinosaurs in your house?

you pal Hailey Bug who thinks people are very weird

Mischief Monday - This and That - by Lee

 Dear pals,

It was a less eventful week here last week. Less mischief to be had.  Here are some of the things that have happened.

We had a terrible storm on Thursday and some dog may have had the poop scared out of her twice. 

Man and Lady have taken to going on long walks without us. Something about exercise and us not being able to walk as far, which although may be true is still rude. 

Phod has been responding well to his meds and isn't nearly as itchy.  He doesn't like all the medication and treatment and tries to run away.  So it is a procedure and sometimes I am a little jealous of all the attention. 

Lady was out all day Saturday and come home smelling like cat. 

The people have decided they love sitting on the back deck now, and we don't love it, even when they try and make it comfortable for us.

As you can see, just sort of a normal level of mischief right now. Hope all is well with you.

Your pal, Hailey Bug

I'll Do What I Want - by Lee

 Dear pals,

Lady and Man told me I shouldn't be climbing on the retaining wall that Callie's Man made us a number of years ago. They said, especially since I am more tippy it is not safe.

Well, I didn't listen to them and climbed on the retaining wall. Chipmunks live it it, so it always smells good. 

Looks totally safe to me

Besides I was a little ticked off with Lady at the time, because she had just got home smelling like cats! She went to celebrate cousin Troy and Aunt C's birthdays. 

Uber

Loopy

If Lady can do what she wants to, I can do what I want to.

you pal, the mountain goat Hailey Bug