Parting is such sweet sorrow

I remember the day we adopted Tiggs like it was yesterday. Earlier in the week, I’d been surfing the net (as we said in those days) while I was at work...oops. There was this stripey, five month old puppy at the Larimer Humane Society in Ft. Collins. They had his breed listed as a “pit bull/whippet.” He actually was neither of those things, and I’m sure if they could have listed hyena as a breed, they surely would have.

At the time, we’d just gotten married and we were about one month away from putting everything we owned in storage to travel around North America and climb full time. Not exactly a great time to get a puppy. Never mind that fact that our 8 year old dog, Winnie, also from that same shelter, was not a fan of other dogs (read: dog aggressive). It really wasn’t the time to bring in another dog, but instinctively, I called Adam and told him we should go meet this little pup that day after work - miraculously, he agreed. We arrived, and immediately found the lurpy, goofy looking guy. We had him out in the yard and fell in love instantly. Trying to be sensible, I told Adam we should go home and sleep on it before committing to adopting him. In that moment, Adam picked him up and held him and said, “I think we need him tonight.” This was rather unlike Adam, but after seeing the family next to us we called them The Farkle’s)  sizing him up and filling out the adoption paperwork for him, we decided right then and there we were taking him. We couldn’t let him go with a family that would probably never give him the kind of mountain adventures that  we would. They put him on hold while we ran home to get Winnie. We didn’t know then what we know now, and that could have been dangerous to introduce them the way we did. But by some miracle, Winnie actually loved him. Instantly. That was it, he was ours.

The next month, he pooped all over the house and was as wild and wily as could be. Crate training? What is that? We didn’t have a clue. But in a few weeks, we packed up the truck to hit the road, guessing that his training would be worked out on America’s open roads, in the woods, and at the crags.

For 13 months, Tiggs ran and romped from Ontario, Canada, to the Dirty South, Vegas to Vancouver and everything in between. He made human and dog friends wherever he went and would run for 8 hours a day straight. He rolled in dead things, ate poop and had a blast. We never once worried about him. He was a spaz, our spaz. An eventful stop in New Jersey resulted in him eating a pound of my freshly acquired Mortadella, which he promptly burped back up into my face. That same stop, he chewed through a live extension cord (I don’t know how he didn’t die then). That was the start of Tiggs’ nine lives (maybe more!). At the Red River Gorge, Adam hit a bump on the dirt road out of the Motherlode. We didn't’ realize that our backpacks, along with Tiggs, flew out of the back of the camper until we were at the top of the road. We turned around to find him sitting in the middle of the road waiting for us with a shit-eating grin.

He has eaten gravel, battled two deadly auto-immune blood diseases that nearly killed him many times, smiling through it all. Tiggs always had a zest for life - a true joie de vivre. At Joe’s Valley he’d roam the hillsides for hours, setting off an avalanche of rocks when he’d come bombing back down steep embankments.

He has always been at our side during adventures, never one to pass up a car ride or a hike up the hill with Adam behind our house. He’s really the only “real” dog we’ve had. Honey, Ollie and Cappy have all been cartoon characters in dog suits who’d never last a minute in the wild. Tiggs is a true mountain beast - he’d follow us anywhere, happy to be part of it all. Tough, happy and true. Never one for the camera or too much attention, Tiggs often faded to the back of family photos while the other pushy dogs stole the spotlight - that was ok by him. Always a noble, zen-like creature, he was content to howl at the moon outside at night and seek affection on his own independent terms.

When we found out a year and a half ago that Tiggs had polycystic kidneys and was in kidney failure, we couldn’t believe it. He was still such a crazy puppy at the age of 10. We vowed to do what we always have with him - enjoy each day with him to the fullest, just as he always did. These last two months, we’ve homecooked anything he’ll eat - beef, chicken, gravy, bacon, pureed veggies, whatever he wanted was his. We’ve given him IV fluids here at home every other night to keep him hydrated and help his failing kidneys flush out toxins. But in the last two weeks, his body has failed. He no longer wants food of any kind. His kidneys became so large they pressed into his tummy, causing pain. He has grown weary and thin. And though he is still our wild and crazy Tiggs, his body can no longer carry on. It’s time for one last great adventure...the one up in the sky, where all dogs go to heaven and romp at the rainbow bridge.

I will miss my adventure buddy and all of his wild ways. Who will keep me safe from the postman and the UPS deliveries? Godspeed, Tiggs. We will meet again.

The End of an Era

Tuesday afternoon, Winnie peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She was at home, on her dog bed, lying in the sun, surrounded by love and her mom and dad. It was as gentle, and beautiful as it could be, and she passed quickly, and pain free. There was a gentle breeze, and dappling sunlight as she left us, and she is forever at peace.

Our hearts are broken, and the grief is almost unbearable, but we are reflecting on the long and wonderful life that Winnie had. She was 14 and a half years old.

Winnie loved her brother Tiggs, and he was with her before and after she passed.

I adopted Winnie when she was 12 weeks old from the Humane Society of Ft. Collins. She was the last dog in the back row, and she stole my heart. She used to carry my purse around Ft. Collins, and loved to chase the prairie dogs at Pineridge. She loved in her younger years, jumping for the branch in our backyard. One day after a snow storm, she actually caught it. She was very proud. She loved car rides, and sticking her head out the window to bite the air. She really loved playing the "hose game" where she would chase the spray from the hose all over the yard. Winnie loved going on climbing trips, even though she didn't always behave. She and Tiggs accompanied us on our year long road trip all over N. America. She was a well traveled girl.

During the last year, Winn had grown more and more anxious, her body started to grow weary, and there were starting to be more difficult days than good ones. We want to remember the Winnie that loved all of her favorite things and the Winnie who had a strong body and strong mind.

She had many good friends over the years, stretching from NY, to Colorado, to all across the country. Everyone loved Winnie, and she loved their belly rubs.

We prefer not to have phone calls right now, but if you have any memories to share, please email us, we'd love to hear your favorite Winnie stories.

I've created an album of some of my favorite pictures of Winnie, and I also went through my albums to find prints (Winnie was old enough that there were no digital camera's for the first half of her life!). I intend to scan those in to post her pictures from when she was a young girl.

http://picasaweb.google.com/woofslc/Winnie?authkey=Gv1sRgCNyAxoDPjor_Gw#

With heavy hearts and much love,

Adam and Melissa

Thank you to all of our good friends who have sent memories and emails, your kind thoughts mean the world to us.

Spring Zanyness

OK, ok, for my good friend Mike D, whom I miss very much by the way!

I wish I could say that I've been off jetsetting to Cabo, or Font, or surfing in Costa Rica, but alas, I haven't been doing any of those things. I have, however been working a lot of weekends and evenings doing special events, event planning, and working hard. I love my job. Working in animal welfare is an avocation, as well as a vocation. Sometimes it's hard to turn it off. There is always one desperate phone call or email to return, and when it's an innocent pup that's at stake, you just do it, doesn't matter the time or place.

The next month doesn't show signs of slowing. I'll be at Strut Your Mutt with some adoptables on May 22, then I'm planning my first ever large event, Pet Bull Palooza, which will vaccinate and microchip 100 dogs free of charge, as well as provide 60 free spay/neuter vouchers, free dog food, leashes, collars, and dog toys too. I hope it's a huge success, but I haven't slept in weeks. The weekend after that, I head to NYC to help with the first ever Tri State Super Adoption, then off to the Animal Farm Foundation for an internship working with what else? More shelter pit bulls! WooHoo. June will be a crazy month, but I'm excited.

I am also trying to train for climbing alot, mostly in the gym, it's all I can really fit in, plus, WTF, the weather is awful! So, Mike D, if you are reading this, come climb with me, even if it's only on plastic!

Lastly, I'm helping take care of my mom, who became gravely ill with bacterial meningitis while driving from NY to SLC this past week, so I've been at the ICU alot with her. She is doing really well, and her prognosis is very good at this point, so thanks for all of our friends and family who have sent emails and phone calls checking in.

So, that's the Spring Zanyness Report. What are all of your Spring Zany Plans?

Winnie Van Gogh

My Laundry Room is Famous

Which I find slightly ironic since Adam and I despise laundry and it is currently piled higher than the North Face of the Eiger (great movie by the way, highly recommend it, but dress warmly as it will make you slightly chilly).

It's always an honor when one of my house photos ends up on the design blogs I love so much. I was just thinking how bad my laundry room needed a spruce up...I was thinking of marmoleum or epoxy flooring, a sparkly white coat of paint and some brighter lighting.

Maybe one of the fans of my laundry room would like to come an help me do my laundry, that'd be swell.

Thanks Desire to Inspire!

Skiing and Coffee and Animals, Oh My!

Well, it's no secret that I'm not the biggest fan of skiing, 4.5 years of staring at fungal toenails in a ski boot shop and the person attached telling you what a big deal they are will do that to you. However, I am an athlete, and as such, I can certainly appreciate the coolness of the sport at the Olympic level. I for one have watched just about every Olympic sport playing on my new flat screen 42" high def TV nightly from Vancouver. I'm hooked.

Of all things, I think I enjoyed the mogul skiing almost the best. I was blown away at the springy-ness of the competitors legs and the cool tricks they throw down in the middle of their ski run. Wow. And, I was super psyched for the genuine good energy that Shannon Bahrke had after her bronze medal win. I loved her free spirit, her pink hair, and her family cheering her on. Then I found out she is living here in Salt Lake City. How cool is that?! Then, on top of all of that, I learned that Shannon is a huge supporter of Best Friends! Not only that, but she has her own coffee company- AND, that she has several bags of Best Friends Blend. With each bag, Shannon donates $5 to the Sanctuary. A rippin' skier, a coffee connoisseur, and an animal lover and philanthropist? That's my kinda girl.

Shannon also supports other athletes by having different Athlete Blends that feature the them and they all designate their favorite charities. Shannon then donates $1 to their charity of choice, then a dollar goes towards helping the athletes fund their Olympic dreams. Rad sauce.

Thank you Shannon for supporting the animals and your community!

Coffee Covet

Want this, based solely on shape and color...love.

A Little Video Starring My Friend Andy and Me

Andy is still looking for his forever peeps! Is that you? Contact me if you are interested! He requires no medications or special treatments for his heart, he just briefly will stumble, then get right back up. He's a young boy, 1.5-2 years old, and he loves everyone and every dog he meets. He's a big, happy, loveable lug.

Worst...blogger...ever

But, finally got that new sofa! Yay to becoming a couch potato. We are currently on the hunt for the TV that will be mounted across from the chaise.

I was really psyched on the service we got at Copenhagen West. In addition to being really nice people, Diana, our sales person even came to the house to help me...'envision'....I need that, believe me! I'm such a visual person, and it was a huge purchase, I wanted to be happy, and I was fully prepared to send it back if it didn't work.

So, enjoy the pics, can't wait to host some movie nights, but be forewarned, if you spill anything on my couch, I will kill you! Break out the Granma plastic!

And, thank you to my fabulous friend Cerre, for coming over and helping me through this anxiety ridden decision process!

Updates

Wow, I have been really busy, which means blogging is suffering. My trip to Kanab was productive yet brief. I enjoyed three wonderful nights with my Tina Louise(y) Wheezy, and met a ton of my new coworkers. The one thing I can say about working for Best Friends is that everyone is so passionate, and loves what they do, including me. Everyone works so hard, and it's evident in the creativity and programs that we have. It's very inspiring.

I wasn't in Kanab but two days, when I was called to help with a heartbreaking rescue project out of state. I'm still really not at liberty to discuss the details of this rescue. I can say that Arkansas, and Missouri (well, and a lot of places), have notoriously weak animal cruelty laws. I will enlighten my faithful readers more when the details of this rescue come out for the public. I learned alot, I was glad to go, I would go again, though the outcomes were disappointing. It strengthens our resolve to do more and get tougher laws to protect animals from abuse and neglect. We had a very good team and a wonderful volunteer network in place and seeing that come together was very inspiring.

In other news, Honey started her hydrotherapy. It was so cool, and she loved her hydro tech Wilma. We will go weekly and I think this will help Honey's recovery tremendously.

For my out of state readers, have you heard that Salt Lake City is the most polluted in the nation right now? We have all been breathing a brown soupy cloud for weeks now. Nothing was more evident that flying through the brown cloud on my way home last week. Inversion sucks! There will be a critical mass transit this week in the City to protest our terrible air quality. Uck.

Hope you are all well.

A New Chapter

Well, this morning I leave for Kanab to start the training for my new job with Best Friends, I'm really excited and nervous all at once. Good thing I'll have the best cuddle bug ever (Tina Louise) to help me relax tonight:

I've been putting all of my energy into getting my workspace ready, and I love the finished product. We sold our futon to make way, now the (WO)man room will be relocated downstairs. This is cool because we'll get a REAL couch and a TV! I've sworn off TV for the last 10-15 years, but screw it. I want a flat screen with Bose surround, High Def, and cable! I'm getting old and I want some serious American excess. Haha!

Here's the couch options, what do you all think?

Vinto Pizza

There's a new kid in town...Vinto Pizza.

If you love woodfired pizza, reasonable prices, and a hip but comfortable setting, go check out Vinto.

We enjoyed a proscuitto and apple pie with shaved parm and arugula, a baked mac and cheese with fontina, parm, cauliflower and crunchy baked breadcrumbs, and a delicious sorbetto and gelatto sampler.

The wine list is good and affordable, good beer selection, and great service. GO! NOW! What are you waiting for?

http://vinto.com/

418 East 200 South

Pits and Perception Art Show

Please join one of Best Friend's founding members and wonderful artist, Cyrus Mejia for a reception and art show entitled Pits and Perceptions running from 12/18-1/30/10.

This is an incredible collection of paintings featuring some of the Vic(k)tory Dogs and other pitties from the Sanctuary. You can visit Cyrus' website here:

http://cyrusmejia.com/art/pits-and-perception

This show has traveled the country and is finally stopping in Salt Lake! Please come to the reception and be sure to stop by while the exhibit is up!

I am truly honored to have a digital display of my photography featuring some of my favorite dogs at the Sanctuary that will be up during the exhibit. Please come to the opening and support the show, the dogs, and me!

The Secret to Happy Training

I have been psyched on training for climbing, and even though my beloved Rachel Orth, and my beloved Rachel Strate have both deserted me for greener pastures (sad, sad days for me), I have been getting amped with visiting, roadtripping Brit Steve Honeyman.

Having a fun, supportive, motivating person to train with makes all the difference, and I've been really amping to get into super shape and hopefully propel that onto some real rock in March (Bishop anyone?)...of course all of that hinges on all of our canine drama that we cannot seem to escape.

For me the secret to happy and productive training (well, really just climbing) is surrounding myself with good people with no egos, and people that realize climbing is fun! My other major secret, and perhaps I shouldn't divulge, lest the masses flood the gym, is going during the day with a few friends when the gym is empty....for me this is as much fun as it is productive.

I'm hoping to take a trip down South for some new bouldering areas- Duncan, if you are reading this, let's GO!

And this link probably won't work, but this pic is a hilarious oldie but a goody, me bouldering with a harness on and a huge ass chalk bag dangling behind me- good times!

Holidaze

Well, Adam and I enjoyed a very quiet T-giving. Jaima and John came over for drinks and appy's then Adam and I made a lovely dinner...though the turkey was not so good. I think Mr. Turkey lived a rough and tumble life on the streets, and was one...tough...bird.

Yesterday we got our tree up and decorated in preparation for Scotty and Mel's visit- the little nephews Reece and Trevor warrant getting a BIG tree, so we went with a 10 and a half footer! But, our space is limited, so it couldn't be more than 3 ft wide...good challenge!

Hope you like it:

In other news, we found Honey a stroller, but it was a bust- she HATED it, and sang the Honey Donkey Opera all the way down 45th South- people were coming out on their lawns to see what that donkey/manatee/operetta was coming from inside the stroller....then she wedged her head through the back pocket and clawed her way out- embarrassing. But, we did get some Ruff Wear booties, and they are a GREAT SUCCESS- in addition to climbing V10 now, she can also wander the first floor of the house with her booties on without slipping on the wood floors- as Mel Gibson in Braveheart would say- FREEEEEEEDOOOMMMMMMMM!!

Facebook is killing my blogging. Sorry for the lack of updates. Hope all of my readers are well.

Right About Now

We need THIS for Honey:

Her shit still is messed UP- limping, and the new freakish repair is still shifting a few degrees each week. We've been xraying her weekly, she is now radioactive. She lives in a pen. My poor dog. If I can come up with 250 bones, this baby will be hers! Then she could have some fun adventures. If any creative, handy friends want to try to make this out of a converted kid stroller, let me know, I'll pay ya!

Come to the Paws and Claws Adoption Event

Please come to this event, let's help get the University of Utah's Research dogs adopted and give them a happy ending they deserve. Come and meet the animals, show your support for the dedicated volunteers who see that they get walked daily, given treats, and love by caring people, and help find adopters and foster families.

I do not support the research on animals at the University of Utah. It's wrong, I hate it, and I want to take all of these animals home with me. I am sick that I live in one of the only two states that allows Pound Seizure- meaning shelters can be forced to turn over their animals to research laboratories. It's heartwrenching to think that if someone surrenders their family pet to a shelter (don't get me started on that), or a stray whose family cannot be located, that their once loved family dog or cat can end up a research subject in a laboratory.

Yes, there is controversy swirling around the University of Utah research on dogs, cats, and other animals, and PETA has infiltrated the labs with their expose that published in the Salt Lake Tribune today. The problem is (and let me preface by saying I hate PETA, they are only "ethical" if you support euthanasia of pit bulls and total breed discriminatory laws...um, yeah, PETA can suck it), they do not propose solutions or seem to support how the citizens of Utah can get involved to help the animals- like writing our State reps and congressman on overturning the inhumane and archaic laws supporting Pound Seizure.

But, I digress- alas, this post is NOT about PETA, or about the research, it's about supporting the animals that come out of those labs by fostering and adopting them, and coming to the Paws and Claws, which will be an awesome event highlighting some of the adoptable animals- there will be adoptable animals, crafts, food, etc.

For more on Pound Seizure and how you can help overturn this law here in Utah, check out this website.

GRRRL Power- Outdoor Inspiration- A Divine Line

My good friend Jaima has started a new website to help connect the female backcountry enthusiasts of the Wasatch. Her site is called A Divine Line and her aim is to have a forum, gear reviews, classifieds to buy and sell used gear, interviews, and great trail information for ski touring and climbing in Utah. Jaima is an amazing athlete, from snowboarding, to backcountry skiing, to climbing, she is pretty much a badass, and her website will no doubt be a fun, inspiring place to visit and a great way to connect with other women who enjoy the Wasatch backcountry. Stop by and join her forum today!

I'm Like David Hasslehoff

Not really, but this is a banner week for media. I must be big in Japan...or Germany, or somewhere!

Yesterday, my friend Chris pointed out that I am a centerfold in the new Urban Climber for an FFA I did in LCC about two years ago...oh well, better late than never, right? And, for those of you who have asked, Yes, it was scary. It's actually Ditch Witch low, or sit, or whatever it's called and was a fourth overall ascent, first female ascent. Back when I used to be strong, was motivated, and had balls. I remember the day well, I made Andy promise to stay on the ground and spot me with Justin, and he PROMISED he would and that he wouldn't take pics. When I topped out that boulder and looked over in the trees and saw Andy in a tree limb with his camera in hand, and only little ol' Justin on the ground, I was MAD. But, I was also so ecstatic, and I forgave Andy, as I was happy to have his amazing pics to remember it by.

Then today, again in design blog land, I have popped up again on Apartment Therapy, a republish of a shot that appeared about a year ago. This time, they have labled me as having an "Unstuffy Dining Room." Cool, I'll take it. I need to entertain soon in that Unstuffy Dining Room, because as of late I have been a total and complete shut in.

While we're on the topic of my status as a shut in, Honey is still struggling. I can't really write about it, because it's painful. She is still having problems on her leg that was re-operated on, and we go back in again on Thursday for another xray. At this point, I'm saying no more surgery...let's let this poor Honey heal and try again in a few months. And as if to tell me how over it she really is, she took a dump in my laundry room- a first, and hopefully a last.

That's the news for the day, and if you have any funny stories, I could use a laugh right about now.

Pic by Andy Burr

pic by yours truly

pic by yours truly

Honored- Desire to Inspire Shout Out

Well, off the topic of pooches, and on the topic of design. Very thrilled and honored to have on of my photos appear on one of my favorite design blogs Desire to Inspire. If you ever are stumped on a house project, or just need to be inspired for your space, this blog is a must read! Thank you so much Desire to Inspire!