I was living in San Diego, CA when I published the book during 2000, and I had three dogs. In early 2002, my 8 year old german shorthaired pointer named Terra died of a hemangiosarcoma, a cancer that was found in her heart, liver, and spleen. This cancer is known as the "silent killer". I was devastated. She was three when I met her, she was a bit neurotic, quite the backyard hunter, and her social skills weren't great. She became my project, and quickly became my shadow and protector. But she needed a job. Therapy dog work wasn't it. So, I found a job for her in front of the camera. A model with style and grace, her precision and patience were admirable. With the stillness of a point, she would hold a pose loaded with props (hats, masks, costumes) during several rolls of film. She loved her job and the attention, but more importantly, she loved to please.
I thought Terra's sudden death was this master plan to prepare me for the day I dreaded most of all, the death of my chocolate lab, Zoey, the same year. I did everything possible to keep my peanut with me just one more day, and I'm convinced that I did. I dodged lumps and bumps that weren't always benign, seizures of the worst kind, and whatever medical emergency there was I conquered them all, but I couldn't win the battle against a failing heart. She died in my arms of congestive heart failure the day before Thanksgiving 2002 at 12 years old. My father's words comfort me in that I was chosen to be with her. She was truly a gift, and I was very dependent on her. She was always being photographed, and after one release of the shutter, she would walk off the set dragging props with her. She appears on the cover of a book I published and was truly a testament of the therapeutic value a dog can give a person. Her exuberence for life amazed me. Now I am blessed with the spirit of her memory.
Our third dog Moro, also a chocolate lab, died a few months later, probably of cancer as she was also 13. But I imagine she was lonely.
We bought a female goat, a pygmy cross named Bean to be a sort of companion for our only pet, a thoroughbred ex-racehorse named Ground Effect, "G" for short. G was quite the star during his successful but brief stint at the track. Turns out Bean needs G more than he needs her.
During the second half of 2003, I surprisingly got a call one day that a sweet little liver-colored german shorthaired puppy was available. I was hoping this breeder would call with me in mind some day, and he did. Needless to say Cookie's arrival brought joy back into our home. A few months later another puppy we had anticipated on for a while, but with much delay to the point I wasn't sure she would, had finally arrived. Her name is Cali, short for the state we lived in and had our first shorthair. Imagine two shorthairs in one house...never a dull moment.
In 2002 I volunteered in the therapeutic riding program at Helen Wooward Animal Center in San Diego, CA helping special-needs kids and adults ride horses.
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