Has it been 5 years already?

Our first header

Well, it 5 years ago today that we started the 24 Paws of Love blog.  I can not believe it has been that long ago.  So much has changed.  So much has remained the same.  There is not a day that goes by when I don't feel the love that I felt right from the beginning.  The love that we have with the 24 Paws of Love just keeps getting stronger and more real and I am so grateful for our family of paws.  I know they were all sent from heave above.  There is no doubt about it.  

We decided to repost our first post (below), at this time it is the thing to do.  With Daddy Dog Brut passing away in the last two weeks, I am still beside myself and words don't come easy.

Life after Brut

By Patty

Sitting here, wondering if anything will transform from my thoughts to feelings that I can write down.  I've been having a hard time, but I will try.

Since Brut passing, I have struggled just to journal my feelings.  They just seem frozen in my head.  My body and mind are still going through shock at his loss.  Last night after everyone went to bed, I sat in my chair thinking about him.  I dozed on and off for about an hour before it became eerie being in the room without him.  The vastness and emptiness were overpowering and scary.

Being a highly visual person, Brut's spirit isn't far when I can envision him next to me or at my feet.  His peaceful spirit is strong, like he always was, and I find myself comforted in a way I can't explain.  It just is.

There have been many times I thought Brut was just "in the bedroom," or "outside," with his presence being so strong at times.

I cried at his grave a few nights ago, because I didn't know how to talk to him now.  We always spoke with little words, mostly with body language and eyes.  We knew each other inside and out.  And now it feels like our communication has been cut off except when I am able to envision him.  And it isn't the same.

The week anniversary of Brut's death, was one of the most difficult.  That's when I felt and began to realize, Brut was gone and wasn't coming back.

The rest of the 24 Paws are struggling as we are.  They are all mourning, sad, sleepy.  We are taking walks every day and I'm playing treat games with them.  But they are still quiet and don't quite know what to do with their leader being gone.  We are trying to get through it one day at a time and together.

And so the last 10 days have been a blur or tears, sorrow, sadness, peace, anger, and love.

So while this gives you a run down of what has happened since Brut died, I don't think I express any feelings out of it.  Maybe it is just too fresh and hurts so deep it will be a while until I reach them.

Thank you so much for all of your comments and prayers.  It has truly helped us going through this difficult time.       

P.S My Wife Patty does most of the writing on our Blog.

A Brut Thank You

Hello to all our friends out there.  It has been a really long, long week for us since we laid Daddy Dog Brut to rest last Thursday evening.  We want to really thank you for all the comments that everyone has shared with us.  We want to thank you from the bottom of our heart and soul.  You will never ever know what your thoughts and prayers of love have meant to us.  Each and everyone has helped us make it through another day without our  Bruter Boy by my side.  It still feels so unreal that he is really gone.  I really can not say much at this time.  It just seems our whole world has been turned upside down.  It is not just us that it has effected, it has really effected Brut's kids.  Most of the time they just seem lost and without their leader around anyomore.  We have walked them almost every day when I get home from work, but I can really tell it is not just the same thing.  Hopefully in time.  Well my eyes are starting to rain again.  Before I stop I have to let you all know that I found a video of Daddy Dog and his kids playing when the puppies were only weeks old.  I wanted to post it on Father's Day but it was too early.  But I will post it for this Sunday on FB.  I have this idea that all dogs that are fathers should have their own Father's Day.  It is a really good video of why I called him Daddy Dog Brut.

God bless you  all and thank you again for being our friends.

Love, Mark, Patty and the Paws

P.S.  Please say a special pryer for our puppies, Zappa, Fiona, Chance and Blaze and Momma Dog Silver.

Brut: Oct. 11 2006- June 18, 2015

Until we meet again...

Daddy Dog Brut passed away in our arms last Thursday night.  He was laid to rest next to Alex and across from Luigi (our duck).
We made cast of his paw prints and snipped the tip of his tail.
Heaven has a new warrior in town.  :)

DADDYDOG BRUT UPDATE

DADDYDOG BRUT UPDATE
The Last time I Updated was written on thursday and posted Friday morning.That day was Bruts worst day so far.I did not go to work until late morning cus I did'nt know if I should.
He had a hard time walking,he would not eat or drink any water.I knew i would have to be at work late because of my late start.Patty kept very close watch on him,and stayed by his side all day.We talked on the phone,it seeed like hour on the hour,her giving me updates.We thought this could be the end.but we kept on Praying and doing everything we could to helped brut.Before I forget Thank You Theresa in Arizona for your sugg,
I read the comments that I got before I went to Work,which helped me get going.So the whole day was just one hour at a time.I decided that I would get all my work that night,So I would not have to leave the whole week-end.So I would be able to spend the Whole week-end with Brut.At 10 that night Patty said for me to get some Pedialyle for Brut(Thanks again Theresa in Arizona)and get some Gatorade.
Shortly before I got Home,He started to Perk up and he drank some water and he eat a little bit.First thing I did when I got home was went to see Brut and I gave him ( a bowl of Pedislye )and he dranked it all up.So I gave him almost all the rest of It.I also got his water bowl and put half water and half Gatorade in it.That night I walked with him outdoors to go pee pee,and we came back in and I slept with him in the Living Room.
On Sat morning he was more like himself,He drank his water and he ate has food in the morning and he was walking around like nothing happed the day before.I was able to spend the whole day at home and Brut was his old self for the most part.One thing I forget during all this is,My Vet,tolds us before that he would have his good days and his bad days,and Friday was really one of his Bad Days.
So I did sleep with Brut in the living room Sat night and we both slept in,with no alarm clocks.Thanks be to God.I will be spending another day,ALL day,Except for 3 hours that I have to finish my Job from last week.
THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU to all my Friends on Facebook,who have sent all their Prayers to DADDY DOG BRUT and Us.It has really made a differents,for everything we have been going Through,It Is really a GREAT FEELING to know that we are not alone and to know we are not the only ones who love their Dogs like we love ours.Thank You All Again mt Friends.
Mark,Patty and DADDY DOG BRUT
P.S.Thank You Again Theresa for the Pedialye.

One Day At A Time

UPDATE ON DADDY DOG BRUT

             STABLE
Don't know how else to say it.My Bruter Boy is still alive.He is eating,drinking water and eating his nightly treats each night.As you can tell,I am having a hard time,writing this Update.A big part of me inside,just can not believe this past 3 months,has been happening.A nightmare that goes on,24 hours a day.
OK I will get to the point.X-rays show Brut has alot of his blood in his abdomen,some spots on his liver and they can not see the spleen because of all the blood.His one eye is getting worst.Putting drops in the bad eye 3 times a day,and once a day putting one drop in the good eye so it will not get bad.Specialist says because of the blood,eye and the up and down with the blood pressure,an operation would be a bad Idea.
So,sorry I did not update a couple days ago,We are just trying to make Bruter,as comfortable as we can.And even I have not giving up hope,it seems that it is only a matter of time,before Daddy Dog Brut will be with us.So far he doesn't seem to be in any pain,but I do not know what I will do,when I see he IS in pain.
I can not write no more,sorry,I just want to Thank You all for all your Prayers and Thoughts that you have giving us.This is getting really hard,my Friends.I still have not Given Up,All I can do,is put it in Gods hands and Pray that we do the right think.I am praying that Brut makes it another day.Thank You again for all the love that everyone has shown.
Mark

Sleepless

As I lay next to Brut on the dirt of his kingdom,

I think of the many sleepless nights I have spent with just him and I,

Out here in the silent night.

Where I would sit and let the stars comfort my thoughts,

with my guardian protector to keep me safe.
Our spirits connected in the scent of the wind.

How many nights have we shared?

And how many more do we have left?

How are the other dogs doing with Brut?

I don't know how dogs interpret illness and death, but I know that they do mourn.  And as I watch the process it saddens me greatly.  None of the dogs have any direct contact with Brut, they stay on the outskirts of him.  Some days it seems normal enough and on other days it just breaks your heart.

Update on DADDYDOG BRUT

Update on Daddy Dog Brut: Took Brut for x-rays at the vet yesterday. Without going into details, it doesn't look good. The vet is going to send x-rays to the specialist. We are waiting to hear from him. Our vet says he has about a month to live. But we are still going to talk to specialist. It was a rough day for Brut, but he did better than I thought he would. He acted like his old self when Fiona was digging a hole, he went over and took it over. Later he then went after a chipmunk with Zapppa and Fiona, with no luck, although they tried. So between going to the vet and the action in the backyard Brut had a full day. This morning we had a scare when he got up and had a hard time walking and he was slow. I took the day off from work, but now I think it was because of all the movement he had from yesterday. So we are going to keep our fingers crossed and pray, spending as much time with him as possible. Thank you all so much for all your pryaers and thoughts and your donations. You do not know how much they mean to us. One day at a time.

Simple Moments

UPDATE ON DADDYDOG BRUT

This is where Brut hangs out most of  the Time.

UPDATE ON DADDY DOG BRUT.It has been a long 2 days for Brut and us.It has been 4 weeks since we brung Brut back from the specialist from downstate.and we did not know how long he had left.Well since that time,he has had his ups and downs.The last down time was last week.and he seemed to be coming out of it.Last monday we gave him some meds from our Vet for his leaking Bladder he had the last two weeks.it helped but after that he seemed to get weaker.and on weds we stopped giving it to him when one of the side effects was higher blood pressure,his one eye was starting to get worst,his blood pressure was going up again.He also stopped eating for a couple days.Now he is eating slowly but surely.