A conversation on Facebook early this morning with an old friend (from my days in T.A.G. at Maybeury Elementary School) prompted a run to Krispy Kreme—a nice end to one hell of a morning.

3:45AM

I’m awakened by a small voice next to my head. “Daddy, I can’t sleep. My cough is keeping me up.” I head downstairs, let Porter out to pee, round up some guaifenesin for Teagan, head back upstairs to give meds and then tuck her back in.

4:08AM

Back downstairs to let Porter in. Greeted by a profusely bleeding eye. Blood running down face and nose. Fabulous! The blood is dark though—almost brown which means it’s definitely not fresh. That rules out her hitting her face on a bush while she was outside this morning. Maybe it’s just all swelling/pooled blood finally leaking. Still, the kitchen is a huge, bloody mess. Seriously. If a forensics team came into the kitchen right now, they’d think someone was butchered.

4:10AM

Making coffee. I need caffeine before I can deal with this mess. oh my fucking god. look at all the blood!

[Note to self: we’re out of paper towels now. Add that to the shopping list.]

4:20AM

Coffee made. Cup #1 of many to follow ingested. Holy crap today is going to be a long day.

5:01AM

Most of the blood is cleaned up. Porter’s eye has stopped leaking. In fact, she’s sound asleep on her bed, probably dreaming about bacon or something. I’m wide awake but will need a nap by 10:00AM

6:22AM

Talking to Amy Mays Tolley on Facebook about being woken up early by her kids, old dogs, and Krispy Kreme. She prompts a doughnut run.

Damn her…but OMG these are good doughnuts. I needed something a little sweet this morning.

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enucleate
verb [trans.]
To surgically remove a tumor, gland, or the eyeball from its surrounding capsule.

My 12 year-old girl, Porter, the last of a line of dogs that’s been in my family for 6 generations, has cancer of the eye, most likely choroidal melanoma. The tumor has gotten very aggressive with its growth and as a result has become increasingly vascular, leaving us with a lot of blood to clean up on an almost nightly basis.

Tomorrow, she’s going to Quioccasin Veterinary Hospital, where I used to work, for enucleation—the removal of her eyeball (or more likely, exenteration, since we’ll also remove all the tissues within the eye socket, including muscles and any other tissues affected by the cancer).

At 12, we’re not expecting to have much more time with her but the prognosis for recovery is good and she’s in good health otherwise. As an added bonus, she’ll get to sport a pirate eye-patch, which is pretty cool.

Wish my girl some luck tomorrow and send good puppy vibes our way.

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Happy birthday, old girl. I’m sorry the others aren’t around to celebrate with you this year…but you’re the last of the line.

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Several years ago, while working as the Gentle Leader Product Manager at Premier Pet Products, I had the good fortune of visiting San Francisco to tour the then new and state of the art San Francisco SPCA. At the time, there was no other facility like it in the world and to top things off, Jean Donaldson, author of The Culture Clash and Dogs are from Neptune, was there putting together her widely respected Academy for Dog Trainers.

After touring the facility, I hit a few stores, looking for dog-related gifts to take home. I ended up in a little shop called The Loft where I found some note cards by an artist named R. Nichols.

His work was simple, playful, and clean. I loved his work so much that I bought every box of cards they had.

Almost 10 years later, I found myself down to the last card and ran a few searches online to find more. It seems Mr. Nichols has been busy. He’s expanded his line while keeping the same playful feeling in his work.

I ordered a few boxes of cards and shared my story of how I’d originally found out about his work.

My package of cards arrived a few days later and upon opening the box, I was surprised to find a nice note inside, along with a copy of French Women For All Seasons, A Calendar of Secrets, Recipes, & Pleasure, based on the bestselling books by Mireille Guiliano and illustrated by R. Nichols.

The spiral bound calendar is of high-quality paper, beautifully illustrated, and full of wonderful advice, insight, and recipes.

And if you want it, it’s yours.

Simply let me know you’re interested in the comments below and I’ll make arrangements to get it to you either in person or by mail.

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Porter and I sure were happy to see the box of PHD dog food on the front porch when we arrived home tonight.

In light of the recent pet food recalls, it’s nice to know my girl is getting some of the very best.

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This issue is finally starting to get the attention it needs.

Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Marie Cantwell, (D-WA) demanded in hearings today that the FDA release the names of all companies that received contaminated rice protein from China and identify and inspect all suspect pet food ingredients imported from all countries.

Three of the five companies are known publicly, the other two are known by the FDA but by law, they are not allowed to be released. The companies must come forward voluntarily. Furthermore, the FDA is not authorized to order a food recall, even if it knows of a problem. By law, the manufacturer or distributor must voluntarily recall the tainted products.

Andrew von Eschenbach, FDA commissioner (“You’re doing a heck of a job, Andy”) has yet to respond to the demands from the House.

Today’s hearings today show that the FDA is underfunded and/or unprepared to actually secure the food supply for pets and humans alike.

As more and more pets die from the gross negligence of the FDA’s inaction and the greedy multinational companies that claim to offer high quality products while serving up poison, the voices of pet owners are starting to come together.

If you’re a pet owner and you’re not following this story, please take a few minutes to read up on the issue and contact your state representatives, asking them to get the FDA to fully disclose the extent of the problem.

Links:

FDA’s Pet Food Recall page
The Pet Connection’s Recall Basics
Do-It-Yourself Dog Foods

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Following the death of her cat, Timber,  Jen Hoeflein, of Bastrop, Texas formed a group called Pets Need a Voice Too.

The group is organizing a nationwide memorial march on April 28, 2007 to memorialize pets who died in the wake of the Menu Foods tragedy and call attention to what she sees as an outrageous situation in the pet food industry.

For more information, visit VirginiaDogs.com and the Pets Need A Voice Too web site.

If you’re not able to organize or attend any local events, I would at least encourage you to read up on the issue and blog about it on the 28th (13 days from today).

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