Mar 17, 2011

Meet Da Pack -- Day Six

GOOD MORNING
BLOGVILLE

TODAY'S I IS GONNA INTRODUCE Y'ALL TO DA
BALD ONE
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BUTT FURST WE ALL WANTED TO WISH
Y'ALL A VERY
HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY
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REMEMBER...
THINK GREEN TODAY!

OK's Mom....You's can takes over dis Postee now!
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Thank you, my little weenie dog...
Today's pack member is
APRIL.
April will turn 10 years old on April 18.  She is not one of the rescues as her reason for existing was very much planned for.  For many years I was facinated by the Chinese Crested breed.  At the time they weren't readily available but finally in 1997 I located a reputable breeder in Sarasota, Florida.  After many emails and finally a phone call, we drove to Sarasota to meet DeeDee, who was about 4 months old.  It was love at first sight.  DeeDee came home with us and from that day on was such a very important member of our family.  She went to work with me many times and sat in her own chair in my office and greeted everyone who came in.  She went shopping with us and enjoyed visits to the local flea market where we would always sit and have an ice cream cone.  Sadly, DeeDee had to cross the Bridge at the age of 12 after her minor heart murmur turned major from the excitement and over-exertion of barking at a stray dog walking past the house.  We rushed her to the vet but she died a few hours later at the vet's home where he had taken her to be able to watch her more closely.

In 2001 we decided to breed DeeDee once before getting her spayed.  We contacted the breeder where DeeDee came from and chose a small AKC Champion by the name of Timothy to become the father to DeeDee's pups.  On April 18, 2001, April and Angel were born.
April is the puppy on the top.

Angel was born with a cleft palate and couldn't nurse.  We were sure we would lose her the day she was born but our wonderful vet told us if we were able to tube feed (threading a tube down her throat to her stomach) her until she was about 3 or 4 months old, he would be able to surgically repair the cleft.  Of course we would do anything to save our Little Angel, so that's what we did.  Angel survived, the surgery was successful, and she tasted food for the first time when she was almost 6 months old.
Chinese Cresteds come in two varieties.....Hairless and Powderpuff.  April is Hairless like her mother and father and Angel was a beautiful Powderpuff.
In October of 2009 after a frantic trip to the ER, we found out that Angel also had a bad heart that was leaking in two places.  She was only given about two months to live.  Her personality didn't change at all.  She was always so happy and loving and was the Alpha of the pack.  All the other dogs respected Angel for who she was, and knowing we were losing her was very difficult for us.  Of course Angel had to do things HER way.  She was able to give us three more months and crossed the Bridge on my birthday in January.  Knowing Angel as I did, I'm sure she planned it that way so I would always remember her on my birthday.
Her life was cut short - only 8 1/2 years.  But I will never, ever forget my Little Angel.
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THE THREE MUSKETEERS
April, Angel, and DeeDee
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DeeDee never formed a close bond with Angel since she really didn't take care of her seeing as Angel had to be tube fed.  But DeeDee and April were always very close.  We would rarely see one without the other.  Shortly after DeeDee departed for Rainbow Bridge, it would almost seem that her spirit would occasionally take over April's body.  Many strange things started happening but I'll only give you one example.  DeeDee was terrified of thunder and would always try to hide in the pantry.
DeeDee

April was NEVER afraid of anything.  But after DeeDee was gone, every once in a great while when it would thunder, this is where we would find April.
April

Same spot, trying to face the wall.  This doesn't happen every time it thunders.  Most of the time April just ignores the thunder completely.  But sometimes I think DeeDee is just trying to let us know she's still here with us even though we can't see her and shows us that through her daughter.
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This photo was taken just hours before DeeDee left us.  April always shared that bed with her mother and wouldn't go near it for months after her mother's death.

April is using her mother as a pillow

April is very precious to us.   Over the last few years she has developed a few physical problems.  She has Epilepsy and also suffers from Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  She is taking Phenobarbital for seizures and we are very fortunate that she hasn't experienced a seizure in almost 2 years now.  Her seizures when she did have them were very mild with the exception of one where she had to be taken to the vet at 6 am one morning.  She has occasional flareups of her IBD but we usually just let it run its course unless it's severe enough for intervention.  In 2009 six inches of her intestines had to be removed.

I would like to share a few pictures of April with you now.
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I still don't know where April got her gigantic size.  DeeDee was a very petite 9 pounds and April's father was even smaller than that.  Angel was also very tiny at 9 pounds, even with all that fur.  April weighs in at 16 pounds.  (Whew, girl!)



Bad Hair Day....Ok, bad day all around!

Now...back to our weenie host!
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Tanks, Mom
I didn't tink you was ever gonna gets done.
I protests!

Anyways.....everybuddy don't forgets..
Have a fun GREEN
St. Patricks's Day
and
Don't drinks too much of da
GREEN BEER!

(LIKE I DID'S)

39 comments:

Amber-Mae said...

Wow! What a post. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story with us. April sure is beautiful, she is indeed a very big Chinese Crested! And very juicy too. Sorry about her health problems & seizures tho.

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

What a lovely and loving post. SIGH

Thank you for sharing it with us.

I LOVE the UNICORN Song!!! BUTT now my mom will be HOWLING it all day. hehehehe

Pepsi the Lazy Bum said...

That was a furry sweet, and lovely post by your Mom, Amber Daweenie. & April sure is a big Chinese Crested, but she looks furry sweet.

& dang, girl, I hope the green comes off soon, BOL.

Woofs,
Pepsi

sprinkles said...

I love that unicorn song! Never heard it before but it's stuck in my head now so I'll be singing it all day long.

April is a big Chinese Crested and very pretty too. Sorry about her health problems and seizures.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

It was so nice learning about Angel and April. They are a very different but beautiful breed. We hope April has many more good years. Amber - you are looking a bit green today:)

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!!!

Woos ~ O'Phantom, O'Thunder, and O'Ciara

Just Jess for now said...

First of all, very good song choice. :)
Secondly, I'm glad we got to meet a few more family members. It wasa very good post.
Happy St Patty's Day :) :) :)

Scooter said...

Very nice
Have a happy St patricks day!!

wags
Jazzi and Addy

My Mind's Eye said...

What an absolutely beautiful heart warming love story of very lucky puppies and peoples!! Oh mom is trying not to let her eyes leak.
Chinese Crested are very pretty dogs.
All of yours were perfect specimens too.

My daughter's Cornish Rex Cat, Harley, has IBD also. Prednisone is about the only thing that helps with inflammation of the bowels too. Now he is battling Diabetes from prolong Pred. Since he started the insulin he has perked up and is eating much better and playing. It is a delicate balance for sure.
Thank you for the lovely post.
Hugs Madi and Mom

Remington said...

What a touching post.... I hope you have a great St. Patty's Day, my friends!

3 doxies said...

Oh yeeeeeees, it's my mum's girl April...her just loves dat doggie (traitor). I has to say hers is so beautifuls!
I think it's so sad DeeDee nevers developed a bond but I can understand why.

Fabulous post girls!

Puddles

Brian's Home Blog said...

That was a very beautiful story about sweet April.

Anonymous said...

Aww, sounds like April is a very special dog to your mom and that Angel and DeeDee were too.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you too!! LOVE the after effects of the green beer on you...hehe!

Elyse and Riley

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! Golden Thanks for sharing this story. LOL on your blog music. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Anonymous said...

We loves all those pictures. What special little sweeties. Happy St. Patrick's Day! We smiled when we saw your green picture. Hugs and nose kisses

Scooter said...

Hey Amber!
Wow, thanks for showing us more great pack pix! You got a great group there. Happy St Pat's day!
Grr and O'Woof,
Sarge, COP

Unknown said...

ahhhhhh Amber does your sister know that she is NAKED? What a nice story about her and her Mom and how you all worked so hard to keep her sister alive.

Happy St. Paddy's to you all

Asta said...

Ambew
I had a big long answew fow you and bloggie dumped it booo hoo.
Thank you fow telling us about pwecious DeeDee ,Angel and Apwil. I hope Apwil gets to stay fow a long while still.she is adowable I like hew "bad haiw day"
I hope the gween weaws off, but yummm, wasn't oit good?
Happy St Paddy's day
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Maggie Mae and Max said...

OoH I luvs meetin' all of your pack, past and present! Tank yous fur sharin' dems wif us!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae

Yas said...

Very nice post! Thanks for sharing your furiends with us!
Happy St Patrick's Day to all of you!!

Cheers,
Maxx

Brandon - The dog with a blog said...

What a wonderful post!
I just luv meeting all your friends!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Rudy

Road Dog Tales said...

This is so sweet! We loved meeting more of your pack! Good thing you live where it's warm seeing how those Crested don't have much to keep 'em warm :)

The Road Dogs

Oskar said...

What a moving post, they are so beautiful! I'm so glad you still have April.

Thanks for sending in your recipe, I've got it all set up in the cookbook.

Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar

the booker man said...

pssst! miss amber, did you get that green out of your furs yet? i made sure to drink the yellow beers yesterday so if i turned yellow, you wouldn't be able to tell cuz i'm yellow already! teeheehee.
anywho, it was very much nice to hear about miss deedee and miss angel and meet miss april. i think it's a good thingie that ya'll live in sunny 'n warm florida cuz it would be super easy like to get cold without hardly any furs!

*woof*
the booker man

Jans Funny Farm said...

What an interesting story. We're sorry you've lost DeeDee and Angel but glad you still have April.

You sure must have had a lot of green beer to turn that color. Don't pee on the carpet,w hatever you do! Green pee stains.

Asta said...

Ambew
Today is going to be a SUPEW MOON so it wil be pawfect fow you to sit outside and see the stawts and moon while you eat! I hope you all have a gweat time
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Lorenza said...

Thanks for sharing the story of DeeDee, Angel and April!
Green beer?? Oh-oh!
I hope you all had a great St. Patrick's Day and a great saturday too!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Unknown said...

What an amazing story.......we just loved reading bouts Angel DeeDee and Angel Angel, and of course, April!

Especially, how April has taken over some of her mom's personality......aren't da doggies amazing!

PeeS.......hopes you have laid off da green beers Amber. Green is not really a good color on you! heeeheeeee

bichonpawz said...

We loved reading about your friends....you have been through alot!!! Hope your not green anymore and that you had a fun day! xoxo Chloe and LadyBug

♥ Sallie said...

Great post!

Hugs,

Mickey's Musings said...

Goodness you are cute!!!!!
Thank you for your purrs for Mickey.
We really miss him and it will take
a while to get used to him not being here.
Purrs Tillie and Georgia

The Daily Pip said...

We mailed off your raffle prize package yesterday! Silly mama forgot to include the card - sorry! I had a special card from me to you, but she left it on the kitchen counter! Can you imagine!

Your pal, Pip

George The Lad said...

Well I enjoyed reading it Amber, hello April you are a looker, unlike Amber who seems to be a funny colour!!!
Have a good week
See Yea George xxx

Sunshade said...

I loved reading this Amber mom! DeeDee, Angel, and April are all very bootiful. I'm so sorry to hear about DeeDee and Angel, but they had the best home, and were so well loved!! It's amazing how different the powerpuffs look from the hairless. My friend had a hairless boy, he was very loving but got cold easily.

ps. Amber, you're bootiful too and so nice to share your spotlight!

Love nibbles,
Miss Sunshade

Bobbie said...

Beautiful story, and I love the pictures!! Hope you're having a good week.

Asta said...

Ambew
You'we so wight, all ouw loved ones, hewe ow in heaven awe safe in ouw heawts, and I'm so gwateful that I have so many new wondwful fwiends to make memowies wif
Smoochie kisses
ASTA

♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥ said...

Hi Amber DaWeenie,

We is back and I have really missed you. Mommy says we gotta go back tonight to the last post we read before Mommy got sick to catchup on all your family.

Big families are so much fun. Sissy loved it when she had 4 brothers but it's just me and Mona now and that's good enough for me.

Love song anbd you look good in green.

Love ya........Weenie

White Dog Blog said...

What beautiful Crested Girls are a part of your family! We are so enjoying getting to know you all!

♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥ said...

What wonderful memories. Thanks so much for sharing your girls. April is adorable. Love the last bad hair day picture.

Love & {{{huggies}}}...Mona & Weenie

the teacher's pets said...

When I went to your other website I noticed my name (April) right near one of my favorite dogs breeds (Chinese Crested) and then I went to this blog and just couldn't wait to read about my namesake and I am very pleased that she grew up with a caring mom who taught her as much as she could about life and that she still lives in April's life in spirit. What a touching and sad story that needed to be shared! Thanks for telling us all about Angle and April!