Traveling Dog Lady: 52 Snapshots Challenge, Week 1: New #PGSG #52Snapshots

Friday, January 2, 2015

52 Snapshots Challenge, Week 1: New #PGSG #52Snapshots

Blogging to you from our NEW room in a NEW year, it's me... and my faithful sidekick, Hobie, who turns 15 years old in just a couple of days!!  We're taking part in the photo challenge 52 Snapshots of Life, led by our friend Christina at The Lazy PitBull.

Dude! FIFTEEN?
Over the spring and summer, I not only injured both of my shoulders carrying Hobie up and down the stairs, and also realized he was living in a 5-foot world which seemed mightily unfair.  The poor guy was using our gorgeous deck as his bathroom, and basically had no activity other than to pace around in circles between our very small living room, our not-dining room (ha ha, that's a joke), and kitchen. Everyone in the household was becoming increasingly sad about this, most especially the Hobester himself.

I was not happy living in a five-foot world :(
I hear tell that the next big thing is "Tiny Houses".  Well, lemme tell you, I am an expert at living in small spaces.  We've had a tiny house for a long time -- a few of them, actually.  A couple years ago, we had begun renovating portions of our basement because the floor was falling apart.  The further we went along, the more it became clear that the remainder of the basement just looked yucky in comparison to the new parts, and quite honestly -- we needed more space!

This is what the laundry room used to look like.
It also became increasingly clear that I was never going to sleep again unless I started living on the same level of the house as Hobie, since I had been up half the night, nightly, carrying him up and down stairs each time he had to relieve himself.  Old dogs can't hold it in like they could in their younger years, you know; and besides, I'd do anything for my dog... anything.

On October 17th, I saw (and met, and got my picture taken with) Cesar Millan "The Dog Whisperer" for the third time.  Such a thrill -- he is such a nice man and he puts on a terrific and very funny show onstage!  The next day, the room was finished and the new bed was delivered.  I carried Hobie down the stairs one last time and into our NEW room on October 18th!!

Charlie "claiming" the bed!

Ma! I like my raised bowls in my NEW apartment!

This pic is blurry, but... Look, Ma!  No stairs!!

I've been sleeping down there every night since, with Hobie, the other two dogs, and sometimes a cat or two.  Hobie once again has full access to the back yard, and we feel it has added significantly to his quality of life.  He now goes out for "walks" around the yard as often as he wants (yeah, sometimes in the middle of the night!).

As a matter of fact, I've gotta go let him out now.... he's doing the Ol' Dog Pace.

Until next week!  Happy NEW year!!





19 comments:

  1. Charlie claims the prime position in our house too - but he's a cat!

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    1. Our Charlie defers to the cat when she's on the bed. I say the cat (Cali) is definitely the leader of our pack! LOL! We had a previous Charlie many years ago... he was a cat!

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  2. Wow! 15 is awesome! Looking forward to the next 51 weeks of photos!

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    1. We've been lucky to enjoy many years with quite a few senior pets -- 15 years went by in a flash! This will be a fun project and I hope my photos get better!

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  3. I bet everyone is happier. 15 is a nice old age for any dog, good job!

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  4. Happy birthday to Hobie! :)

    So glad you were able to set up a nice new room for both you and Hobie. We've got an almost 16 year old Dachshund, and I've been carrying her up and down the stairs for a year now. That's fine when you're talking about a 12 pound dog, but I've told my husband that by the time Nike is a senior (she's only 4 now), we've got to be in a different house. At 65 pounds, she's way too big for me to lug around!

    Thanks for joining us for #52Snapshots! Can't wait to see what you come up with this year!

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    1. Hobie lost weight when he was sick last year, so he's down to about 65 now... he used to weigh 80! Carrying him down the front steps, and into and out of the car if I needed to bring him anywhere, really did a number on my shoulders! I'm astonished I could lift 65 lbs!

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  5. Concats on the NEW apartment. Looking good for his age.

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  6. It sounds like you found a great solution. I'm sure that everyone is happier. I understand wanting to do everything that your dog needs. You know they'd do it for you. ♥

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  7. That is a fabulous new space for a beautiful old dog. Congratulations! I have had a couple of dogs live beyond 15 and it is just so wonderful... they are so wise and fun! Keep on enjoying and snapping those special photos. And Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks!!! His predecessor lived to be 18, she lived in the same basement towards the end, but it was all gross and cold and yucky (not damp though). I vowed never to put a best friend through that again :)

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  8. What a great space for Hobie, and you! Happy birthday to the big guy, its so nice to meet him! Love Dollyl

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  9. I adore the 'claiming' attitude of Charlie's on the bed in the new space, so sweet!

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  10. That's fantastic! Enjoy your new room!

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  11. Oh, what a sweet post. He's lucky to have such a great momma, and he looks so cute and happy in his new apartment! I hope he gets to enjoy his new bachelor pad for a long time to come!

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