Remy

Saturday, May 4 was a day of glory for Orb, Joel Rosario, Shug McGaughey, the Phipps and Janney families, and Claiborne Farms.  I found out yesterday that the first Saturday in May also heralded the deaths of two racing thoroughbreds - Nehro, who ran second in the Kentucky Derby (behind Animal Kingdom) in 2011, and Live Lively, a three-year-old filly, who won the Davona Dale earlier this year. Nehro died from colic while he was being transported to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.  Live Lively was euthanized at Belmont Park after breaking her left fore sesamoids at the end of her morning workout.   Horses die every day, in every country.  I've lost several of my own.  I only mention this to make the point, once again, that I love the spectacle and the glory of horse racing - but I am also aware of the pain, disappointment, and deaths that happen without much publicity.  A winning race horse is glorious - a broken-down youngster is disgraceful.
  I'm also is a somewhat "sour" mood today because of the death of one of the red kids that I've worked with, almost daily, for the last 6 years.  Remy, the male, and elder, of the Rs, the Irish kids, was also euthanized over the weekend.  He had a wonderful life, once he had been rescued and adopted out.  Originally, his first owner purchased the puppy and kept him in a basement, going out only three times a day. He was kept in a very small kennel area, and if he had to use the bathroom, or vomit, he was forced to lay in it for a week before the owner would clean the pen.  He was beaten if he barked.
  Remy, thankfully, was rescued - and adopted by my friends.  He was such a nervous and distraught boy that they got a female Irish Setter to help him "settle" and calm down.  That was Rosie.  Rosie's companionship helped Remy a lot, but he was a very nervous dog, and, if he'd been human, would have been diagnosed as an Obsessive Compulsive type.  He didn't like changes in his schedule, and when I was ill between Christmas and March, and couldn't walk him, he became very depressed.  For the most part, he was very spry and loved to run and hunt; this past year he was troubled by pinched nerves in his lower back, and a gradual loss of feeling in his hind legs.
  I did walk him on Friday...  Nancy, his owner, said he wasn't doing well, and to decide how far to walk and how long by Remy's own actions.  Remy was eager to go out.  He had trouble going down the three steps at the front of the porch, and then again, the one step down at the curb.  Once we were on the grassy verge, he picked up speed and didn't stumble, and was eager to walk to the Snow yard.  He did sit down as I opened the gate, but got up and walked beside me into the yard.  I threw Rosie's bone, greeted Boo, and set up my chair in the sunshine.  Remy laid down beside me...  I threw the toy for Rosie and petted and praised both her and Boo, and Remy.  He sat up three times when Boo and Rosie took off, chasing squirrels across the yard, but settled back down.  He walked almost all the way back without a problem, but took a moment to sit and gather himself before going up the front steps and into the house.  I unharnessed both of them, and gave them each about 10 pieces of kibble as a "treat."  When I left, they were both standing, looking at me, and wagging their red, plumed tails. That is my last memory of Remy....

Remy and General Things

Rachel Alexandra is doing very well after having an abscess drained yesterday. She is still surprising the vets at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital with her fighting spirit and drive to survive. One indication she's feeling better - she's started nipping her groom again. .... Jockey Calvin Borel won his 5,000th race yesterday at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. .... Mine that Bird, who won the 2009 Kentucky Derby, will be at the Kentucky Horse Park to greet all visitors during this year's Derby Week in Lexington.

  It's cloudy outside today - and the weather folks say that we'll be in the mid-50s around noon, but getting cooler later in the day. Possible rain or sleet tonight, turning to snow tomorrow. The current weather models show Boulder getting about 10 inches of snow tomorrow, but the broad view says 6 to 16 inches are possible. After I walk the Rs this morning, I'll visit the grocery store to get eggs and kitty crunchies - those are the only things I'm low on at the moment. If it's really cold and nasty out, I'll just stay inside and not go out at all tomorrow - other than to put nuts and cookies out for the birds and squirrels on the patio.

  Remy's health is still declining, but he was much better than I expected him to be on Wednesday - yesterday he had acupuncture while I walked Rosie. The nerves in Remy's spinal column have been severed by growths on his vertebrae - he feels no pain, but at times he can't control his hind legs. And we've found that if he thinks about doing something, he usually can't - but if you just ask him to come with you, he can easily climb stairs and jump up onto the bed, etc. I was warned that while I had ill and on bed rest, that Remy's ability to walk had greatly declined. I was, therefore, ecstatic when he was able to walk the three blocks to the Snow house without any problems. He also walked home without problems; and while in the back yard, he ran across a half-acre chasing a squirrel. I'm hoping that he will improve a bit with me, or at least continue at this level without further decline for a while. He's such a sweet dog - he's willing and wants to please, and if he trips or falls over his hind feet, he looks incredibly embarrassed. He's a sweetie!

  Frozen Dead Guy Days start the celebrations in Nederland at 3 this afternoon, with the opening of the ReAnimate Yourself Beer Tent at Chipeta Park. These festivities include:

Microbrew beer from Avery and Left Hand Breweries

Specialty Corpse Reviver and Grandpa’s Spirit drinks

Live Music

Grandpa’s Gift Shop & food vendors

And the Opening Ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. at the traffic circle - make sure you see the Dancing Skeletons!

My Usual Canine Companions

Rosie and her favorite blue bone

 

Remy in his "Help 'Em Up" harness

 

Boo

 

Mona, the Catahoula Leopard dog - She's wearing the cone because she was just spayed...

Remy

The ravens are having a good time chasing Nedi around the back yard this morning, talking away while they do so. Lovey is sitting between me and the monitor, as usual - and typing around a warm, moving body doesn't really get easier; she likes to plant either a foot or the base of her tail on a key, or on the mouse, which wreaks havoc on my text. It feels chilly out, as it's 40 degrees and we have 38% humidity. I've got a load of laundry in the washing machine, and I've been to the grocery store and purchased what the kitties need for the weekend. Monday afternoon I get to meet my new psychiatrist; and I'm nervous. I've had Dr. Shapiro for 9 years of care, and I'm so used to his easy smile, fuzzy beard, and laid-back attitude. I have no idea what this new doc will be like. All I know is her name is Cindy....

  We are still suffering from the drought, and we have a high winds watch posted for today through Sunday - officials are worried about wild fires. Several small wildfires have broken out in the past few weeks, and have been brought under control quickly. However, the Fern Lake fire in Rocky Mountain National Park is still burning, and has now burned over 2 square miles within the Park.

Poor Remy. The nerve-disconnect in his lower spine seems to be worsening each day. He doesn't appear to be in any pain, but his hind legs just don't support him very well, and he is having trouble going up and down the stairs in his home. Recently, I've only been walking him about one block, over to Kathy and Jim's house, where I release him in the back yard, and then play toss and chase with Rosie (and Mona and Boo) for 45 minutes before we walk back. Remy usually lies down for half of the visit in the Snow yard; the other half, he walks and trots, and even runs around. On the way home, though, his hind legs usually can't support him at all, and my left arm becomes his lift and support mechanism, using the Blue Dog "Help 'Em Up" harness. Holding up, or supporting, Remy's hind end in a padded sling, he can walk all the way home on his own 4 feet. He is so sad-looking when his legs give way - he knows something isn't right, and he looks at you with such a silent, deep embarrassment and apology in his eyes, that it's heart-breaking.

  The main problem is that Rosie isn't having any physical problems. She is full of energy and continuously wants to be on the move. And they have always been together. It's very difficult to walk Rosie without Remy. I was able to do so yesterday because he was having acupuncture - and Rosie and I flew around the neighborhood at a good jog. When Remy is with us, we are relegated to his much slower pace - and Rosie loses her patience and pulls like mad. Remy's family is thinking about getting a large wagon, so he can roll alongside Rosie - but he won't be able to sniff the scents on the ground, so I don't know if that will work. The other option is the doggie wheelchair - but I think the family is trying to avoid that right now.

  The main thing, though, is that Remy is bright-eyed and eager to go out for his walks with me every morning - he eats and drinks well, he is cognizant of his surroundings - but his hind end just doesn't work correctly. We'll keep working with him as long as possible, trying to keep him up on his own feet. I promise.