I spent the day trying to tidy up our summer garden where the weeds don’t seem to realise there’s a drought. They just keep on growing regardless.
We had already celebrated on Sunday, with Moo’s traditional Australia Day party (and march).
Moo’s table setting was spectacular.
The food brought by everyone was mouth-watering.
And the march was more fun than ever with more instruments added this year, and Moo leading the parade!
Last Wednesday, while 2 people held down our exuberant 7 month old pup, Chester, who just wanted to lick everyone in sight because he was so happy, vet nurse Alyssa took out his stitches.
This means there is no great necessity for our patient to wear his rather fetching Elizabethan collar any more. He must continue to be a good boy and resist the impulse to have a good scratch at the scar (and we all know how strong that urge can be, don’t we?), but so far so good.
Dr David watched him as he was walked on a lead a little way along the street, and was very happy with what he saw.
Good boy, Chester!
No more bumping against the sides of the cage every time you turn around. Eating dinner will be much easier too – though we noticed you didn’t let that cumbersome collar affect your ability to lick up every last drop!
I’ve been working on these amiable looking little fellows over the last couple of nights - eight of them in fact. I’ll show you more very soon.
Last Wednesday, while Chester was undergoing surgery, and I was feeling particularly anxious about what lay ahead, I spent some time Googling canine hip replacements (as you do).
I came upon this heartwarming story. Lacey is a beautiful golden retriever who was rescued from a neglectful home by Wendy Donohue and Trisha Jarvis of the Golden Retriever Rescue Society here in Sydney. I know, you’re probably wondering, as we all do, why anybody would mistreat one of these gentlest of dogs (or any dog, for that matter).
She had the worst case of hip dysplasia (in both hips) that the examining vet had ever seen, and had been compensating by taking all her weight on her knees. Poor Lacey needed two new hips as well as a new knee! And guess who performed this life-changing surgery for her – Chester’s specialist veterinary surgeon, Dr David Lidbetter!
Of course it couldn’t all happen at once. She had her first hip replacement on 23rd September last year, and Lacey is now 6 weeks post-surgery on her second hip. What an inspiration!
But it gets better. Who should we meet, when we were at Dr David’s surgery this week with Chester, but Trisha (L) and Wendy (R) – with Lacey!
Please take a look at the Golden Retriever Rescue Inc website and marvel at the caring work these wonderful ladies, and a huge team of volunteers including my dear friend Di - 
- do to help link these beautiful dogs up with suitable owners. They aim to find them “forever homes”.
I’ll be following Lacey’s progress, as she is just 5 weeks ahead of Chester. Wendy and Trisha had more exciting news, too, of an upcoming TV story to be filmed about their star patient. Stay tuned for more!
Chester was very excited this morning when we clicked his lead on, and even more excited when we slipped on his car harness and slowly walked him outside into the garden, past the big tree where we usually stop for the necessary sniffs, and all the way to the garage. There we carefully lifted him into the back seat of the car and slipped his seat belt through his car harness. Something was afoot!
Yes, today was Chester’s one week check-up, and we’re delighted to say he’s doing really well. His hip prosthesis is sitting firmly where it ought to be, thanks to Dr David’s skillful handiwork. All our careful management is paying off so far too.
With Dr David’s agreement our local vet Dr Gwilym has given us slightly stronger sedatives for Chester. In his words, Chester had only been started on the “schooner of beer” strength.
In our words, he’s now on “a couple of stiff scotches” every few hours!
Is he more settled and mellow? Oh yeah…
With our Australian summer hotting up it’s been good to have this little cross-stitch pincushion to work on lately while I sit in front of the fan.
It’s a gift for my friend Averil, for her 80th birthday in a couple of days. She has always done the most exquisite heirloom embroidery, but was adventurous enough to join our Stitchin’ Mission last year. Now I think she’s caught the quilting bug!
(No, Averil doesn’t read my blog)
That’s what poor Chester seems to be telling us today.
He’s been a bit restless, like a little kid after a few days in bed. Only it’s harder to keep a puppy amused and stimulated.
No amount of sitting and paw-holding would calm him for long.
Dr David had said we could increase his sedative, and I think it’s time.
