IONA: Queen of 880




Quick post, I have to go to work. And more later on the Valentine's weekend.
Iona is my parent's dog. She is 12+ years young and has been a trooper. She is one of many Golden's we have had. Penny. Mocha. Candy. Iona. All lived nice long lives, other than Mocha who was epileptic and drown at our cabin up north. I cant think of a more heart wrenching way to lose a pup. So the fact that Iona " HI-H0-Iona!"or "I-own-a- dog" or "BABY!!!" or "the Worm,"
or one of many of her names she has acquired over the last decade plus..is now failing isnt a bad thing. She seems comfortable for the most part and my parents diligently empty her Glucosamine Chondroiton tablet into her food each morning.
She still hops to attention when you come in ( but since she cant get up too easily she really does hop) and since my parents have wood floors she does the splits alot bc her back legs cant hold her up ..not unlike the seniors i work with she has trouble on the ice and she has trouble going up and down stairs and needs to rest mid flight. Getting in and out of her "Chair" is tough.
I wish i could train her to do what i train my seniors to do and encourage her to use her core and her glutes to get out of bed. But i think the best thing I can do is to visit her, to love her and to tell her that it is ok and she doesnt need to please us anymore. She isnt gone yet but I just hate the thought of her being in pain. So this post is a tribute to Iona and all the squirrels, rabbits and birds she has caught and subsequently killed ( sorry) in the backyard. And for all the joy she still gives us bc it really is true that Golden's love unconditionally.