Going back to Indiana is always one of my favorite things to do, but this year was special because of the near misses we had but also because the deer were everywhere!  It was just amazing to see them right outside the front door, but then I don't live there.

They eat out of the bird feeders and drink from the bird baths.  Pretty amazing for a desert  dweller. 

I love seeing my mom with her greatgrandchildren but it is especially neat when she shows her great grandson how to make a sling shot!!

After we got back to Phoenix, our other grandson came to visit one evening. He and T-Bone are two peas on a pod and have a great time together.

This is the princess, Ms BG who has taken over our lives.  She is a rescue and after living with her for six months, it is easy to see why. BG just came roaring in to the house after having been outside for a good 40 minutes with three other giants.  She hit the living room rug and accordion folded it, made a right turn and just missed me as she came flying in the bedroom, jumped sideways up on our bed and raced off back to the living room.  I grabbed her and made her sit while Tom got Schultz and told him it was his turn to go out and run her ragged since the other three, Hank, Roger and Queenie, hadn't been able to do the job.  They were all panting when they came in.  As we closed the door, Tom commented that it was easy to see why no one ever claimed her when she ran away or else was let out and they threw a ball for her and they ran the other way.  They were probably breathing great sighs of relief that she didn't come back!  But we do love her and have her enrolled in agility classes.

Giants have been raining from the skies in rescue.  Valley of the Sun Giant Schnauzer Rescue will have taken in six giant schnauzers in ten days as of next Monday.  This poor guy is only ten months old and will recover from his trauma of being dumped in a county shelter in Los Angeles.

We will get him healthy and he will find a wonderful home.

]]> Julie B 2009-05-30T21:40:02-07:00 http://giantschnauzer.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/05/susan-boylei-love-this-lady.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ufds/~3/ySK5z3aJuUs/united-cerebral-palsy-of-central-arizona.html This is a shameless plug for UCP of Central Arizona. They are having several fund raising events to try and maintain programs due to funds lost through state budget cuts. My youngest daughter Erin is in the video and does... This is a shameless plug for UCP of Central Arizona. They are having several fund raising events to try and maintain programs due to funds lost through state budget cuts.  My youngest daughter Erin is in the video and does a wonderful job here.  As UCP says..........

"UCP is not just a place for children with disabilities. Adult programs and after school learning options are also available at the Laura Dozer Center. It has been described by parents and staff as "the best kept secret in Arizona."

After a lot of shampoo, Scruffy was clean.  He tolerated the blow dryer well and went immediately to the grooming table.  He is quasi groomed now and free of all of the mats and dirt that clogged his very being.  He walks funny and I think he is much older than his five years that he was supposed to be.  He teeth look awful but he is tottering less than he was and will almost play.   I think he is going to need a quiet home with lots of loving.  Luckily he is already neutered so he won't have to endure that surgery but he may have to have some other things checked out.

For now sad schnauzer Scruffy is beoming a happier camper and he will totter around the yard and get a little bit stronger day by day.  Then on Tuesday he will go in and be evaluated health wise to see what his condition actually is.

But he is as cute as he can be and a very mellow fellow who is happy where ever he is.

I quickly let the other dogs out and gave them cookies and put them all in their spots for when we leave the house.  T-Bone was pretty much out of it on the way there.  I had called Tom and he met us at the hospital.  While we were in the examining room, T-Bone started breathing funny, so we told the staff and they came and got him immediately.  They x-rayed him and saw no blockages.  The initial blood tests showed that his white count was almost nonexistent.  He was immediately given anitibotics and other meds and put on an IV.  He was a sad little puppy and way to young to be this sick.  He is only 13 months old. 

The blood tests came back almost normal except for his liver enzymes which said he was fighting something poisonous.  Some seeds were found in his feces.  After a thorough search of our yard, we found some lantana that the birds had planted.  It was behind a fenced area but one flower poked through the fence.  This must be the culprit. T-Bone was so sad in his kennel but he was in good hands and sadly we left him there.

T-Bone was there until the following Monday when he was judged well enough to come home.  He wouldn't have made it through that Thursday night if we hadn't taken him to the hospital.  As it is, he is now completely back to his old self.  While lantana poisoning can be fatal and almost was, there are no lasting effects.  So after surviving his brush with death, he now might have a normal mini life span and we are eternally grateful for that. He is now back to playing with his buddy Queenie. And we love watching them play.