Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Thelma Lou, Lucy, and Barney Fife

Dear Friends,

I have an extra special Remembering Special Pets feature today.  My Momma is visiting to share memories of special Dachshunds in our family. 

Abby:  Momma, thanks for visiting on my blogging day!   Would you please tell my readers about the family pets you want to remember?

Thelma Lou and Barney Fife

Trish:  I am here to share memories of Thelma Lou, a miniature longhair black and tan dachshund (1991 - 1999);  Lucy Ricardo, a red small standard dachshund (1999 - 2010);  and your special friend Barney Fife, a red standard dachshund (1997 - 2014).

Thelma Lou

Abby:  What are some happy memories of Thelma Lou, Lucy, and Barney Fife?   I loved Barney Fife, and have heard lots of nice things about Thelma Lou and Lucy, who were here before I was born.

Lucy Ricardo and Barney Fife

Trish:  Thelma Lou was a sweet girl, but also very sassy.  She would be walking outdoors and then decide she had walked enough, and would just stop until she was picked up!  Lucy was another sweet and sassy girl.  She had very soft fur, like velvet, and a musical voice.  When she was excited it sounded like she was singing scales.   Barney, as you know, was the sweetest, cuddliest dog in the world.  Barney had three sisters in his lifetime: Thelma Lou, Lucy, and you.  He loved you all!

Lucy Ricardo and one her many pink toys!

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes?

A young Barney Fife

Trish:   I have lots of great stories!  Thelma Lou loved food.  She stole my dinner a couple of times.  Once I had a veggie sub sandwich and I went into the other room for some iced tea.  When I got back, the bread was there but the cheese and lettuce were missing ... except for one little bit of lettuce at the corner of her mouth.

Lucy was a princess.  She loved attention, loved pink toys, sweaters, dressing up ... and when I got out the camera, she was always ready to pose.  I have lots and lots of pictures of her for that reason!

Barney Fife was the sweetest boy in the world, but he was also stubborn.  When he didn't want to do something he would make a noise that sounded just like, "uh-uh, uh-uh."   Barney loved toys!  He never tired of playing ball and playing with plush squeaky toys.  He also loved meeting other little dogs, and when we went to dachshund picnics, he would position himself near the entrance so he could greet every other dachshund that he saw.

Barney Fife

Abby:  I really enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else you would like to share?

Trish:  I am so blessed that I had these special pups in my life.  Thelma Lou and Lucy Ricardo were both puppy mill rescues, and because of them I developed a passion for rescue and strong feelings about puppy mills.  They both had health issues and shortened lifespans as a result of their puppy mill breeding.  Barney Fife was truly the perfect dog.  He was devoted to his sisters and to me.  Abby, he really loved you, and was so happy when you came to be a very special member of our family.

Barney Fife and Abby, just days after their first meeting.

Abby:  That makes me so happy and a little sad at all once!  Thank you for sharing their memories here today.

Friends, if you would like to leave a message, I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Thank you so much for visiting today!

Love,
Abby

Dear Abby - Celebrating Special Pets: Miguel Luis

Dear Friends,

My good friend Dianne is visiting again today from Mexico.  Today she has is sharing the story of her wonderful 14 year old dachshund, Miguel Luis.  I have known Miguel for years online through a dachshund group, and I think you will enjoy getting to know him better here today too.  Dianne has visited before, to remember her dachshund Lili Marie and to share the story of Miguel and Lili's life together.  

Abby:  Thanks for stopping by!  What pet would you like to introduce at my blog today?  

Dianne:  Miguel Luis is a standard (22 pound) black and tan dachshund who is a native Mexican – born in Ensenada where we live on January 13, 2003.  Naturally he’s bilingual!  Actually the day I picked him up at 8 weeks old I went with a friend and as we were driving home I could feel he was frightened  Then it occurred to me we were speaking English and all he’d heard in his little life was Spanish.  So I put on a Spanish language radio station and he calmed down 

Abby:  What are some happy memories of Miguel?

Dianne:  He has been the best dog I’ve ever had…ever.  He is sweet, loves people, goes along with whatever I want him to do.  He is by far the perfect dog!  Everybody loves him and loves his name (He was named for my favorite Mexican singer, Luis Miguel!) 

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes?

Dianne:  One evening we were having an incredible sunset so I grabbed my camera and walked outside to get a picture, not knowing that he walked out behind me.  I took my picture, went inside and locked the door.  About ½ hour later, I realized I hadn’t seen him in awhile and it finally occurred to me that he may have followed me out.  I opened the door and there he was, sitting right in front of the door, waiting for his dumb mama to come for him.

Abby:  I enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else about Miguel Luis you would like to share? 

Dianne:  Miguel’s 14 years old and I know he won’t be with me forever so I’m treasuring the time I get to have this great guy around.

Abby:   Dianne, thank you so much for visiting!  I'm so glad you have Miguel, and I am delighted to know him too.  I love it that he is bilingual!  And I'm so glad he followed you home after you went out to photograph the sunset!

Friends, you can leave comments for Dianne and Miguel in the comment section below.  If you want to feature a beloved pet here, please let me know with your email.  Thanks!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Lili Marie

Dear Friends,

I have a special guest today.  Dianne is a great friend from a wonderful dachshund maillist.  Momma and I have known her for years.  She visited before to talk about Lili Marie and Miguel Luis.  Today she has returned to remember sweet Lili.

Abby:  Thanks for stopping by!  What pet would you like to remember at my blog today?   

Dianne: My sweet Lili Marie, a red smooth dachshund who was born on March 1, 2000 and went to the Rainbow Bridge on January 3, 2017. 

Abby:  What are some happy memories of your Lili Marie? 

Dianne: Lili made me happy all the time.  She was the sweetest dog but also a diva and it was clear she ruled the household.  Her brother Miguel Luis (black and tan standard dachshund) deferred to her in all things, as did I.  She always made me smile. 

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes? 

Dianne:  She loved to dress up in her variety of girlie harnesses.  It was clear she loved pink (I tried to pass off a purple coat once, didn’t work) and when she got a new harness she would pose and strut around like she was modeling it.  I hated to see her arthritis advance to where I knew she was in pain most of the time. 

Abby:  I enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else about your Lili you would like to share? 

Dianne:  Lili gave me almost 17 years of love, joy and devotion and finally it was time to let her go.  I miss her so much.

Abby:  Dianne, thank you so much for visiting and sharing memories of Lili Marie here today.  She was a very special girl, and Momma and I loved hearing about her over the years in our online dachshund community.

Friends, you can leave messages for Dianne in the "comments" section below.   If you would like to visit and remember a special pet, please let me know, and also include your email.

Wishing you a good weekend!

Love,
Abby  xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Princess Poo

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a wonderful week!  I think spring is coming early here.  I love that, because it means longer walks outside.  

My good friend Angela is visiting today.  Angela is a great dachshund friend.  She runs the Doxieposse on Facebook and Twitter.  She has visited before, to introduce my buddy Gizmo and his family, and also to mourn the loss of Gizmo's brother Teddy.

Abby:  Thanks for stopping by!  What pet would you like to remember at my blog today? 

Angela:  The pet I want to mention is Princess Poo. She was around from April/May 2002 until June 2010. She was Gizmo's mom, she was half JRT and half dachshund. 

Abby:  What are some happy memories of Princess Poo? 

Angela:  Princess was full of spunk and energy. She always loved to do zoomies around the yard and house. She was Gizmo's best friend for the 4 years they spent together before her passing. When she was just a puppy, I would lay on the floor on my stomach and she would get in the nook between my legs and fall asleep. I felt bad when I needed to move, but that was her favorite spot. She also loved jumping on our trampoline. I would  put her on the trampoline and she would do zoomies on that and grab hold of my pants and bounce. Sometimes we would just lay on the trampoline and stare at the sky. She was always by my side. 

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes? 

Angela:  This one may be a little bad, but it still makes me laugh to this day. My brother was living at home while Princess was around. He didn't like her climbing in the bed with him and would make her leave his room. One morning, I was standing in the doorway talking to my brother while he was at his closet. Princess had ran past me and hopped in his bed. She proceeded to climb on top of his pillow and take a poo. I couldn't stop laughing. She was glaring at my brother the entire time. She had got her revenge on him. I will never forget the look on her face, it was priceless. That would teach my brother to kick her out of his bedroom. It should be noted, they became really close years later and the poo incident was forgiven. 

Abby:  I enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else about Princess Poo you would like to share? 

Angela:  Princess was a special girl. I loved her dearly. I missed her while I was at college. She was one of the main reasons I would come back home to visit. Though she is no longer around, part of her lives on in her boy Gizmo. He reminds me of her everyday. The short time I had with her was some of the happiest times. She could make you laugh and was a great cuddle buddy. She ran the house and is still talked about almost daily, even 7 years after her passing. 

Abby:  Angela, thank you so much for visiting and sharing your memories of Princess Poo.  I loved the description of her playing on the trampoline.  I can just picture that!  She sounded so sweet and cuddly too.

Friends, if you would like to leave a comment for Angela, you can do that in the comments below.

If you would like to remember a special pet here, please leave a note with your email in the comments too.  Thanks!

Wishing you a good weekend.

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

  

Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Maggie

Dear Friends, 

I hope you are having a good week!  It is starting to feel like Spring already here, and I am loving that.  I hope the cold weather has already gone for the year.

Today one of Momma's blogging friends, Kaitlin, has stopped by for a visit.  Kaitlin blogs at kedgotwed.com, a lifestyle and newlywed blog.

Kaitlin has shared a very cute childhood photo of herself with Duffy, another beloved family dog.

Abby:  Thanks for stopping by!  What pet would you like to remember at my blog today? 

Kaitlin:  Maggie - an adorable, black lab with the biggest heart! She was in my family for about 10 years!  

Abby:  What are some happy memories of your pet?  

Kaitlin:  When we first brought Maggie home, she was a puppy and I was in 4th grade. Her crate was in the laundry room, which was all the way across the house from my bedroom. However, her first few nights with us, I would wake up to her crying in the middle of the night. It absolutely broke my heart to hear her crying! One night, I took my pillow and blanket into the laundry room with her and fell asleep on the floor next to her crate. When my parents woke up, they found Maggie and me fast asleep!!  

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes?  

Kaitlin:  Maggie was a HUGE goofball!! Every time we let her into the backyard, she would get so excited and run in circles! Sometimes, she would even try to climb the big pine tree (literally)!!  

Abby:  I enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else about Molly you would like to share? 

Kaitlin:  I give Maggie all of the credit for my love of dogs! She taught me that dogs fill a place in your heart that humans can't...and that there's nothing wrong with that! I know that Maggie is up in doggy heaven climbing all of the pine trees! Haha!

Abby:  Kaitlin, thank you so much for visiting!  I loved hearing about Maggie.  I can just picture her trying to climb a big pine tree!

Friends, if you would like to leave a comment for Kaitlin you can do so in the messages below.   If you are interested in sharing pet memories here, I would love to hear from you, too.  (Please be sure to leave your email.)

Thanks for your visit, and have a wonderful weekend!

Love,
Abby

 

Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Dachshunds Auggie and Billy

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good week!  Today my dear friend Barbara has stopped by to visit.  You may remember her from visits she's made in the past - telling the rescue story of Zeus the cat, and introducing her pet family: Oz the dachshund, Zeus the cat, and guinea pigs Radar and Magenta.  Today Barbara is back to remember two very special dachshunds. 

Abby:  Thanks for stopping by!  What pets would you like to remember at my blog today?  

Barbara:  I would like to remember: 

Auggie - Red, smooth standard dachshund. November 8, 1994 - January 28, 2005

Billy - Red, smooth standard dachshund. August 9, 2002 - January 8, 2014. 

Abby:  What are some happy memories of your pet? 

Senior Auggie, just before his 10th birthday.

Barbara: Auggie was our first dog and our love (some call it obsession) of dachshunds started with him. He loved to walk when HE wanted to do so. But when he didn't, my husband said it was like taking the family brick for a walk. Auggie had the best singing voice. We would do our aroooos and he would join in, only ten times louder. He would throw his head back and sing to the skies. Auggie was very much the family protector and never fell asleep at night until he went room to room and made sure the family was safe and sound. Auggie was a special dog and he touched my heart in such an incredible way.

Billy at the beach.

Billy came to us at age 2 1/2. He had been a former show dog/breeding dog that was looking for his forever family. Billy was the best traveller. We took him with us all over southern Ontario while our son participated in martial arts training and tournaments. Billy loved the beach, but hated the water. He loved to walk in the sand, but always stayed at least a foot or more from the water's edge. He was incredibly loyal and loving and I miss him every day.   

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes?

Barbara:  Auggie did not like it when I talked on the telephone. He often took the opportunity to get into mischief in order to get the attention away from my phone call. One day I was talking on the kitchen phone and he came into the room with this long piece of foam in his mouth. My first thought was that we didn't own anything like that. I ended my call, took the foam from him and went to investigate. Sure enough, there was a long tear in the base of the sofa and Auggie had managed to remove the foam and bring the evidence right to me.

Puppy Auggie standing in front of the very sofa from which he removed the foam in the story.

Auggie suffered from a serious bout of IVDD when he was about six years old. He gained back about 85 % of his mobility, but was no longer able to jump or support his weight on just his back legs. One day, in a hurry and running late as usual, I set some grocery bags on the chair in the living room. I went back out to the car to get the remainder of the shopping. When I came back in the door, I heard some commotion from the living room. I rounded the corner to find Auggie shaking a bag of kielbasa sausage from the deli and eating it as it flew into the air. One would never guess that this dog had an disability. And, he clearly had managed to find a way to hoist his body onto the chair to get the wonderfully smelling sandwich meat!

Billy in the bathtub.

Billy was our most athletic dachshund. When we first brought him home, he actually jumped a child gate that we had blocking off the bedroom area. We realized then that Billy was likely to get into things that we were not anticipating. His first Christmas with us we were hosting the family for dinner. We had a small house and the extra table brought it into the living room. I had set it with all of the non perishable food items and condiments. I went to get something else from the kitchen and I heard some noise coming from the dining area. At the same time our guests we staring to arrive. I went to check on the noise and found Billy happily investigating the pickle platter on the dining room table. I am not sure how he jumped up on the table, but I managed to remove the disgruntled dog just before the family entered the room.

Billy enjoying a walk.

Billy had an obsession with pinecones. Our neighbourhood had many trees that gave him plenty to choose from. There was one in particular that dropped long, skinny pinecones onto the sidewalk. Every time we walked by that house, Billy spent a few minutes choosing one. He carried it home with him and held it in his mouth until we traded it for a biscuit. Whenever I see a pinecone on the ground I am reminded of my beloved Billy.

Billy

Abby:  I enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else about your pet you would like to share?

Barbara:  Auggie was our very first dog, and he taught me so much about love and the human-animal bond. When we lost him, I feared I could never love another dog. But, then Billy bounded into our lives and brought with him this amazing energy and spirit. He was looking for and needed a family. He taught me that my heart is large and can hold a place for many pets Our bond was different than the one I had with Auggie, but both are special and the memories of each are to be treasured.

Auggie as part of a mural at Banks Animal Hospital in Toronto. During the time I worked there an artist was commissioned to paint the mural. She asked all staff to bring photos of pets, past & present. Auggie had already left us, so I chose this photo as a remembrance of him.

Abby: Barbara, thank you so much for visiting!  I really loved hearing more about Auggie and Billy.  I can just imagine Auggie and his sofa adventure ... and Billy and the pickle platter!  I also loved hearing about Billy and his pinecones.  Those are some great stories.  Their photos are beautiful too.   Friends, if you would like to leave a comment or question for Barbara, you can do so in the comments section, below.

Also, if you would like to feature memories of your special pets here, please let me know.  (Be sure to leave your email so I can reach you!) 

Thanks for visiting - and hoping you have a good upcoming week. 

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Bitsy, Punkin, Maxie, and Talley

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a wonderful week!  Today my friend Jennifer has stopped by to visit and to remember some special dachshunds.  Jennifer is a friend of my Momma from a wonderful dachshund group, and she has some very special doxie memories.  She visited before with her dachshund Stevie May Allen:  click here to read Stevie's story.

Abby:  Thanks for stopping by!  What pets would you like to remember at my blog today?  

Jennifer:  Hi, Abby!  It's always wonderful to talk with you.  Today, I'd like to remember four very special dachshunds, Bitsy, Punkin, Maxie and Talley.

Bitsy

Bitsy -- 1987-1997

Bitsy was a fiesty, wonderful little girl, whose health problems took an early toll on her life.  She was a diabetic and was absolutely inseparable with my mother.  They truly were soulmates.  I always wondered why Bitsy left us so early in her life, but just a year or so later, my mother unexpectedly and suddenly passed away.  I believe Bitsy knew and chose to leave us early so that she would be there to greet my mother when that fatal day arrived.  We got Bitsy and Punkin (who shared the same birthday) at the same time, and there always was an uneasy peace between the two.  Punkin loved to devil Bitsy, who was a very prim and proper lady and who always perked up noticeably whenever French was being spoken on television.  Mother always called Bitsy her "little mademoiselle."

Punkin

Punkin -- 1987-2002

Punkin was a live wire whose favorite thing was to go to Sonic and have a root beer float.  She would plunge her head into the cup and not come up until at least half of the treat was gone.  Her face would be covered in foam, her eyes literally were almost crossed with culinary ecstasy and she would only pause a moment to take a breath before diving her head back in to gulp down the rest of the root beer float.

Maxie

Maxie -- 1997-2010

Maxie came to me as a rescue and had been terribly mistreated -- so mistreated that as her body was shutting down to die, she lost almost all her hair.  In spite of treatment from medical professionals in Georgia and Ohio, she never fully recovered or regained her hair, but she was as healthy and happy as good veterinary care and I could make her.  She was 7 when I adopted her, and I promised her I would give her at least as many good years as she had endured with her abuser.  Thankfully, Miss Maxie lived almost 8 years and was able to know real love and care.  She and Talley had an uneasy peace, but near the end of their lives, they came to at least appreciate each other.

Talley

Talley -- 1997-2012

Talley was a very special girl, who was with me during some of the darkest times of my life.  She truly was my lifeline, the only reason I got up each morning and was the rock of my existence.  When Punkin passed away, Talley became an "only child" for a year or two, and she quickly became the supportive, patient, loving soul that I needed.  I always told her that she really wasn't a dachshund, but was a psychotherapist.  I will always be grateful to her for bringing me back to the daylight from a dark time.

There were two other special dog friends in my early life.  My father gave Miss Petey, a miniature pinscher, to me for my ninth birthday.  A month to the day later, he passed away.  Petey was always a reminder that his spirit would always be with me.  She lived to be almost 19.  Several years later, my mother and I adopted Pepper, our first dachshund.  She was a wonderful girl and lived to be almost 11 years old. 

Abby:  I enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else about your doxies you would like to share? 

Jennifer:  Today, I have Tookie, Miss Stevie and Trixie, all dachshunds, who are creating their own special memories with me.  I am so very, very thankful for my canine friends as they are the only family I have (my mother was my last living human relative).  Dogs truly are gifts from heaven. 

Abby:  Jennifer, thank you for visiting and sharing Bitsy, Punkin, Maxie, and Talley's stories.  I loved reading about them and seeing their beautiful pictures!   I especially loved reading about Punkin drinking root beer floats!  Those sound delicious.   My Momma agrees with you that dogs are gifts from heaven.  I like that sentiment as well.

Friends, if you would like to leave a message for Jennifer, you can do so in the comments below.   Please also let me know if you would like to visit to remember your special dogs or cats in a future blog post here.

Thank you for visiting!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

 





 

Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Sophie

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good week!  Thanks for stopping.  Today one of my dachshund friends, Don, has stopped by.  His beautiful rescue dachshund, Lulu Belle visited the blog last year.  Click here to read her story:  Meet Lulu Belle (A Rescue Spotlight).  Don has a very special dachshund to remember here today.
 
Abby:  Thanks for stopping by!  What pet would you like to remember at my blog today?   

Don:  Today I would like to remember Sophie. She was born in 1966, died in 1977, and was our first dachshund after we were married. Sophie was a dachshund blueblood, being a von Marienlust dachshund, and a direct descendant of Baron von Marienlust, who won an award for his service with the US Army in World War II as a bomb-sniffing dog. It was estimated that he had saved hundreds of lives through the bombs he detected.
 
Abby:  What are some happy memories of Sophie?

Don: Sophie loved to play ball. She would invent new games to play, and always greeted me at home with her trademark red ball in her mouth. Any time I went down into our basement was a treat for her, as she would bounce her ball down the stairs to me, and wait for me to throw it up into main floor of the house for her to retrieve. Then she would bring it back and bounce it down to me again, and on and on. She never tired of her ball-playing games, and in fact we used to call her Sophie Ballgame.

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes? 

Don:  Sophie loved to come fishing with me. I would put a cushion on the front strut of my 14' fishing boat, and she would sit there by the hour, watching the tip of the fishing rod to see if I caught a fish. When the rod bent down, she would get all excited and come closer for me to show her the fish. Then one day, we were on a family vacation on one of the New York Finger Lakes, which are very big lakes. Sophie and I were out fishing, I caught a fish, and I showed it to her. But this time, as I put the fish back in the water, she got too excited and dove in after it! And she was disoriented, and was swimming out into the middle of this very big, very deep, half-mile wide lake. I figured I did not have time to get the boat going and catch her that way, but fortunately I was a very strong swimmer. So I threw my wallet into the bottom of the boat and dove in after her! I caught up with her quickly, and turned her around, but then I could not get us both back into the boat without tipping it over. So we swam to shore together, which was only about 50 yards distant. After we got to shore, both dripping wet of course, I persuaded my brother-in-law to take the other fishing boat that was there and take me back out to get my boat and wallet. After that Sophie was only allowed to fish with me when I was on shore, and not in a boat. 

Abby:  I enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else about Sophie you would like to share?

Don:  She was really my first child, I loved her very much, and almost 40 years after she died I still miss her. Somewhere she is chasing her red rubber ball and I know I will see her again. 

Abby:  Thank you, Don!  I appreciate you stopping by.  I loved hearing about Sophie.   Her game of playing ball by bouncing it down the stairs sounds like fun to me!  And she was a brave dog with her fishing adventure.  I can tell how much she was loved from the way you speak of her.

Friends, you can leave comments for Don in the comment section below.  If you would like to visit and share your special memories, I would love to hear from you.  Please leave your email in the comments so I can be in touch.

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo