It Is I, Kauffman, Snow Dog of Kansas

I heard on the news today that my birthplace, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., is going to get 20 inches of snow.  Well, we didn't get that much snow in Kansas today but I want my Maryland relatives to know that I, Kaufmann, am a true snow dog.

Since I wanted to play outside all day, my dad decided to make a snowman.  All three of us pups liked the snowman, particularly me.

Here I am trying my darndest to get that pineapple mouth.
 



I could see that Hanny had her eyes on the yummy pineapple.  I can jump really high.  But, I couldn't jump high enough to get it.  Luckily, dad didn't let Hanny eat it.

I also liked it when dad threw the snowballs.  I tried to jump high and catch them.  I am a real acrobat.  I think I would make a good frisbee dog.  You can see in the second picture that I caught it.  Wow, was it icy and cold!

I kept a close watch on that snowman after dad made us go into the house.  I was looking out the window after dinner and discovered that the pineapple mouth had fallen to the ground.  Just so you know, we Norfolk terriers are scavengers and never pass up food.  My ancestors used to be barn dogs and had to find their own meals, usually rats.  So....... my instincts took over.  I faked having to go potty, ran outside and gobbled the pineapple, as my mom (who has been using a cane, so couldn't come outside to get me) tried to call me in.  I know better and go DEAF when it's convenient.  She would have taken that tasty pineapple away from me.  Yum, it was good and I didn't share with Hanny or Fen.

Mom has been really sad she hasn't been able to get outside during the winter snows and foggy days to use her camera.  So, today, she took it with her on a short  ride and said she played around with slow shutter speeds as she sat in the moving car.  Kind of fun.

I hope all my relatives in Maryland have as much fun in the snow as I did, particularly my mom Geordie.

Signing off now....

Royal Chesapeake Kauffman Camden Brett

Our Hanny

We learned last week that our little girl Border terrier, age 10, has bladder cancer.  We are devastated.  She began her journey with the Fowler family, as our daughter Amy's dog.  However, when Amy moved to an apartment during Hanover's first year, she liked to "sing" when Amy was gone.  A Border terrier's singing is a cross between a yodel and a howl - and is LOUD.  After the Apartment manager asked a friend of Amy's to go into the apartment to check on Hanny, only to discover that all Hanny wanted was company, she moved to our house, where she became a member of the Fenway and Camden pack. 

We think the cancer is in early stages, being only 1 cm in size.  However, it is a metastatic cancer and will grow and spread.  She is on a medication that has helped some dogs' cancer slow.  We are hoping we have her for many more months but are showering her with even more love and affection than normal.

Both Fenway (age 13) and Kauffman (age 10 months)  sense something is wrong.  However, they like the home cooked meals they are getting to help Hanny's kidneys function better.

To have two dogs get two different types of cancer in less than 18 months is baffling.  Although we have always fed high quality prescription foods we got at the vets, they had lots of chemicals and preservatives.  We've switched to home cooked or all natural dog foods in the hope we can avoid having this happen again, particularly with the puppy.   

I just love this photo, taken a few nights ago.  Hanny is always cold in the winter, so wears sweaters.  Someone  visited in January and when he saw her in this pink and green glittery sweater, he exclaimed "Are you going out tonight" to Hanny.  What a cute, sweet little girl.  Of all our pups, she is the one who just wants to love and cuddle.  We can do that!

P.S. I am recovering from my knee surgery fine and will return to work next week after an 8 1/2 week absence.  We are working on long dormant quadriceps muscles in physical therapy.  The progress is slower than I had thought it would be but it was liberating graduating to a cane recently.