westiemum

Mac's visit to the park on his last day...

And a last morning cuddle with grandma on his last day...

Thank you everyone very much - really appreciated. We're all doing better but its quite an adjustment. I find I can get through the day at work no problems - but then I get home and think of him and get quite weepy again... Anyway I thought I might share some photos of his last days... starting with one of his last bone on Sunday 14 November... And one of his last snoozes in front of the fire on 17 November...

Happy Gotcha Day Scottie Hope there are many new tennis balls in it for you!

My westies were really suffering in the heat in the house-sit year before last so I bought a cool mat - and Mac commandeered it - he loved it. The brand is 'Chill-Out'. But none of mine are chewers so I was confident I could leave it with them and it would sty intact - and its still intact two years later.

Thanks DD and TDX - Mac comes home tonight and I know it will sound weird but one part of me is really looking forward to having my little man home with me again, even if it is in a box. And here's an interesting story. I chose these pet cremation people as they guaranteed they cremated individually and I would get Mac and only Mac back and they were recommended by Mac's Godparents. I had an email yesterday saying he was coming home with his plate in a separate bag. Plate?? Then it dawned on me - it was the plate inserted in his back leg to repair his ACL back in 2007 which I had completely forgotten about and neglected to tell them about - it honestly never occurred to me. But the added bonus is I now know for certain it's Mac coming home and only Mac. How cool is that?

Oh phew! You lot are making me feel so much better!!

You lot are too enabling and naughty!! An now with my back turned Sarah has just eaten my ice-cream!! So its time for bed here!! 'Nite all!

Cute patterns? What cute patterns??!! My vet bed is plain grey!! Scootaloo you are naughty!! I've spent enough money on bedding in the last few days without you tempting me to look at patterned vet bed!!

Great - thanks denali - thats exactly what I want to hear. Yes I was super impressed with Michelle today - it was such a pleasure to be able to talk with someone who understood the vagaries of sizing to fit difficult laundries! The truth is that my old laundry beds are a true embarrassment - but Mac loved them and he could get in and out of them as the sides had collapsed years ago - and his incontinence wasn't such a problem on such old beds. But it now its definitely tine for new beds for Sarah and Andy to have some new, good quality beds - particularly as they get older.

About the equivalent of three westies - but I suspect yours do the "I need to stretch out across the whole of the bed including your side' much more effectively than my lot!!

Yes but Thistle how many dogs for this haul??? 1 very lucky dog XD at least the bed I'm slowly building seems to be her favourite! Next you'll want a toy tally ;) Way you go!!!

Yes but Thistle how many dogs for this haul???

Huski I think you clearly need to lift your game!!

Thats respectable I think ness!!

Hmm... from a ratio perspective thats a pretty big haul SC!!

Oh you make me feel so much better Rebanne!! I forgot to add my queen size bed, the cushions on the lounge the Sarah has commandeered and the snuggle safe heated pads!!

Its interesting LG - I haven't noticed any change in Andy - but then he and Mac weren't very close. But Sarah and Mac spent every night on my bed and on Saturday night Sarah appeared to jump off the bed twice to look for him. (I thought she wanted a wee outside but she didn't go out through the doggie door as she usually does). But it seemed to settle down last night and we seem to be rapidly becoming a family of three instead of four. I did really well at work today - but then I got the email saying Mac was cremated today and I got weepy again. I suppose it will take some time before I can think of him without getting teary.

Yep and I'm embarrassed to say I've ordered two HH beds for the laundry! One 'small' and one a little smaller custom sized to fit a certain spot in the laundry. Michelle at HH was great and I'm justifying it as a little retail therapy after Mac went to God last Friday (well thats my excuse anyway! ). And I am going to throw out two of the putrid old ones!!!

Thanks all - the packet from BM Animals arrived today - and the medallions went down well as an after dinner treat. Will try the tripe powder tomorrow and see how we go. I'm really hopeful that it will help Sarah's and possibly Andy's dicky tummies.

As a follow on from my thread on dog beds for seniors, I was wondering how many dogs v dog beds v dog mats, blankets, towels and toppers do you have? I was a bit shocked when I actually counted mine - all my actual dog beds are many years old. I have two old raised dog beds, three small faux sheepskin doughnut type beds (but I can't find one I've just realised), and two very old falling apart soft side dog beds for three (now two) westies. The two old soft sided ones are gong in the rubbish in the next week. And I've just bought four new good quality dog beds - two for the laundry and two for the lounge (In my defence, the lounge beds were a bit of retail therapy after Mac went to God). But its the mats and rugs where it gets really interesting - I have three large pieces of vet bed, four small mats (two types), two small pieces of faux fleece, a pink 'hairy' mat for Sarah, two or three sets of pet Connis, multiple old dog towels, three old mohair rugs for their beds for winter, two old pillows and at least 6 or 8 Ikea acrylic blankets (which they love!). So how many do you have? Who else has a bit of an addiction to dog beds, mats and blankets? How many do you think is too many?

Beautiful photo of you both DD - he looks absolutely amazing for a 17 year old! You've obviously done an amazing job caring for him, bless him!

Westie, that's the kind of bed my tibbie girls like.... same reason as Andy's. But they like the addition of a pillow on top as they love having their heads elevated as they sleep. Only variation is 16 yr old Nina Zena's habit of sleeping with her body up on the bed & her head down on the floor. Other tibbie owners have told me their dogs do that, too. I can't understand how it can be comfortable! My girls with their short legs & long backs don't like trampoline beds.... but our shelties loved them. Yep pretty much the same here too Mita - interestingly Mac seemed to be the only one who used the old trampoline bed on the back verandah - almost to the day he died. Sarebear just LOVES her creature comforts - lounges, cushions and pillows - so I've christened her the 'Pillow Princess' or the 'Cushion Queen'! Andy is a really different sleeper - he likes to start the night on my bed for an hour or so but then he likes to get into the round thin faux sheepskin doughnut type bed which is on vet bed on an old trampoline bed in my bedroom. And then some nights he simply prefers to sleep in an old arm chair near the door or simply on the floor - maybe a remnant of the puppy farm. He seems to prefer flat, harder surfaces and I can't understand how that can be comfortable either!

Neither am I! So I've sent them a note to see if they can do a custom size one that will fit in the spot in the laundry and still be big enough for Sarah (my bigger westie) - fingers and paws crosssed!

Thank you all so much for your kindness and support - it means so much. While I'm still weepy when I think about Mac, I have two other gorgeous westies here who need me so life does go on. We went to the park for lunch today and Sarah came home a smelly girl who now needs a bath! They were such a hit at the park - and people were very interested in Andy's story as a puppy farm rescue... so he continues to be a great rescue ambassador in the Mac tradition - and now we are all off for an early night. Talk tomorrow.