How is this possible?

I read this tragic story in the papers.  How is this possible?  It is obviously a tragic accident but dog owners know about dogs in cars.  Every dog owner does.  This makes me so mad.  We have had the coldest winter in decades and the first rays of sun come out and this is what happens.  Just think everybody out there.  Just think!  Be mindful.

“A school's 'therapy' dog has died after being left in a hot car for six hours because of a 'staff mix-up'. Ruby,  the Labrador was used to help lower-ability pupils at Sittingbourne Community College in Kent.

Owner Dave Carden, 53, a PE teacher, routinely took her in each day and left her in his car for another teacher to collect and take into class.
But on Tuesday - one of the hottest days of the year so far - she was not collected and remained in the car from 8am to 2.35pm.
Outside temperatures rose to the 20C mark and by the time Carden returned to his car, five year-old Ruby was dead.
He rushed her to the vets but there was nothing they could do to save her.”

RIP Ruby.

Lest we forget

The Animals in War Memorial is located in London on Park Lane on the eastern edge of Hyde Park. Unveiled on 24 November 2004 by the Princess Royal, it stands as a memorial to the countless animals that have served and died under British military command throughout history.

Beneath the main header "Animals in War" the memorial has two separate inscriptions:
the first and larger reading:
"This monument is dedicated to all the animals
that served and died alongside British and allied forces
in wars and campaigns throughout time"


The second - but to me the more poignant - smaller inscription simply reads:
"They had no choice"

Poor old Belle

Cancer is an unfortunately common disease in dogs as well. For dogs over 10 years of age, approximately 50% of deaths are cancer-related. Like humans, there are many types of cancers and many clinical signs.

• Any new lump or bump.
• A change in size, shape, or consistency of an existing lump.
• Runny nose, especially if bloody.
• Difficulty urinating, blood in urine (also very common with urinary tract infections).
• Vomiting, diarrhoea (common with many diseases).
• Limping, change in gait.
• Foul breath, excessive drooling, teeth that have "moved."
• Drainage and odour from ears (also very common with ear infections).
• Increased water intake and urination.
• Lethargy, lack of appetite.
• Loss of weight.

Any time your dog is not "himself or herself" it is the time to check in with your vet.

Belle's give away symptons were refusal to eat, loss of weight and lethargy.  A blood test followed by an echo sound confirmed she had liver cancer. She passed away on 4th October 2010.

RIP Belle

Sadly Belle is no longer with us.  After 14 years without a day's illness, she succombed to liver cancer and became only a shadow of her former self.  I learned everything I know about dogs from her.  She will be sorely missed by me and my family.

RIP Kookaï

My friend, EdN, lost her dog a few months ago.  I asked her to write a few words and this is what she wrote:  "Merci de penser à ma petite KOOKAI adorée que nous aimions tous beaucoup malgré sa mauvaise santé depuis le début et son air un peu simplet et ses tonnes de médicaments tous les jours !
En fait elle est retournée sur ses terres pour mourir !
Née dans les Carpates en Pologne chez un apiculteur le 30 janvier 2004 et morte à Krzeczyn Maly en Silésie le 16 mai 2010 !Snif ! snif !"
EdN lives in Brussels.