Being in a forever home is the most important part of a rescue dogs life. Once there, they become secure, happy, and being to live the way a dog should live. As I was getting rid of things in preparation for the bicycle journey, Antigone became nervous. Finally she, calmed down and said: "If the Companion is here, and I am with him, I am home."

An excerpt from Antigone's book

This excerpt is taken from Antigone's book. I thought it would be nice to share a photo with a meme (something you can share with your friends) with quotes from her book, and to give a short excerpt. A taste of her work. Please feel free to comment and to share with your friends. In this eexcerpt Antigone is trying to communicate with me (The Companion) telepathically. (Her diolague is marked with a dash). Communicating with me is one of our struggles as we crossed the country.

--Keep going. You are doing great. It’s hard to do what you are doing with my Lady Wind working this way, I said to him. Even though I kept giving him positive reinforcement, I was unsure he heard me.

I don’t understand why he doesn’t hear me all the time. He hears me I’m sure from time to time because he does what I want him to do. Sometimes I like to sit on the sofa in the corner that he has warmed up for me, and it has his scent strongly. I’ll walk up to him, sit and look at him and say,
--I’d like to sit in that corner please.

He’ll look up from his work and stare at me for a second. There is a delay when talking to humans. “You want your corner don’t you?” Then he gets up and moves.

Antigone Puppluepagus Passes Away

It is with Great sadness that I announce Antigone's passing. She died in June of Cancer. In November, she was diagnoised with malignant oral melanoma. The vet found it rather early, but he was unsure if removal would help as he didn't know how big the tumor really was. I, the Companion, did research on this cancer and found that there was no cure, only treatments. The treatments could extend her life a few months; unfortunately, extending is all the treatments would do. After watching her recover from teeth cleaning and removal, I decided to do palliative care instead. So, If she wanted to eat, I fed her. If she wanted to walk, we walked. I would pet her for as long as she wanted. Palliative care was rewarding, and she was in good spirits up until the last few da


She died on Friday morning between 4:30am--6am. I suspected that she ahd started the dying process that Tuesday, as she stopped eating that day. She had breakfast but nothing else, and no snacks. When I came home from work that night, Antigone got up and greeted me and went outside to releave herself. However, on Wednesday, I knew for sure she was in the dying process. however, she came to me to greet me, but she was having trouble standing. She still did not eat, and she was having trouble standing up. Once up she could still walk. She and I lay in the hallway for over an hour that night. She had her head on my arm, and I watched her breathing become labored. I talked to her, told her she had done great things, and she would still do great things once I found a publisher for her book. I told her that I loved her, and appreciated her being in my life. I also told her that it was ok, all she had to do was to relax and go to sleep and that was all. Her cancer tumor was bleeding and the blood ran down my arm. I didn't want to disturb her, so I didn't move it.

After an hour, she woke up and sat up and saw my arm. She began to clean it for me. She rarely cleaned me like this, so I allowed her. She then stood up and walked to my father's room to sleep. I let her.

The next morning she was in the same. I came home between classes to spend more time with her and make sure I was there when she passed. That night, I put her in the bed with me, and layed with her the same as the night before. I tried to stay awake but eventually, I fell asleep. Antigone was laying by my side, with her head on my arm, and my hand petting her stomach. After I fell asleep, she passed away.

Friends have told me that Antigone waited until I was asleep before she let go. I don't know if it is true, but it does make me feel good. She died next to me, I was there: she was not alone.

Thank all of you for reading her blog, and following our adventures. Her book is finished: I just need an agent or a publisher.

Antigone Puppleupagus was an adventurer, advocate for basset rescues and suicide provention, author, and companion, but mostly she was a life saver.

Revising the Book: Talking of the Puppy Mill

I've not blogged in so long, I realize. The Adventure completed a year ago leaves me with out much to say, and leaves the Companion back to worries of finding a job. He has done so well with creating a job out of my book. Much to my nervousness.

We started writing the book last year, and he did really well taking dictation. You know communication with a human is always difficult, there are delays, and lots of misunderstandings. But through our travels and our love he has finally gotten to where he hears me. So I channeled the words to him. He typed it all, and looked at it over and over again to make sure it was ok. Then he sent it to a friend and she looked it over and over and over and made sure it was ok. then he started what he called the "Revision process." I said well that's fine with me, you are on your own there buddy. I've said it, I've told it, I don't need to do this all over again. Then he joined what he called a "writer's group." I have no idea what this is because i do not go. But I do know that he comes back every week, all excited about what they've said.

I don't know if they said it, or if he said it: but suddenly the stories I've told of being in the puppy mill aren't good enough. He wants more. More stories of being in the puppy mill. He says it's important. He says, that it will help put an end to the.

I've agreed with the understanding that I will never be asked to talk about it again.

Here we are working on the book. The thoughts of the puppy mill are really taxing on me so I lay near him and keep my head down in a restful pose.

Remembering Thanksgivings of the Past

It has been nearly a Moon since I’ve blog. I must admit that I am a bit on the lazy side at times, but in this case I blame the Companion. He is working on my book making sure things like Themes and motifs and symbols are “all running through the book nicely.” His words not mine. For me it was enough to tell my story, our story that is. It was enough for me to bicycle across the country and relive the moments of my life that I had chosen to forget. Reliving my life in the puppy mill was bad and dictating that to the Companion were both enough for me. Reliving watching the Companion plan his death and dictating to him how I felt during that was enough for me.

But he says, we need to pull some things out more blah blah blah. If it makes him happy, then ok.

It has been a week since Thanksgiving and I feel like remembering this a bit. I feel like remember the Thanksgivings of my life.

There was no such thing as Thanksgiving at the puppy mill. It was a day like any other day, no cause for celebration. There was no energy of happiness or joy anywhere there. These Thanksgivings, as I look back, were times of sorrow and pain. Times of having puppies and watching them taken from me too soon and feeling that sorrow. Wondering who their companions were, and what had happen to them. Hoping that my next litter would be allowed to stay until their humans came and got them. But knowing it wouldn’t happen.

There are two Thanksgivings that stand out as wonderful times for me. The first one that he Companion and I went to visit his family. This is the last time he has seen them. We went down to see them by car, that his mom rented for us. This was in the middle of the depression, while his suicidal thoughts were less, they would come back from time to time. But I think the visit home was good for him. It did help if only to be away and surrounded by people who whould miss him if he did die by suicide. This is something he sees now, but at the time the depression clouded his thoughts.

For me that Thanksgiving was about realizing I had a family. The Companion’s family all loved me, and gave me lots of attention. The kids played with me a lot. Grandma wouldn’t let me on the sofa, so when she left the room I would sit in her chair. Dogs like to be on the sofa because it is soft, but your smells are there and we feel so close to you when we can lay with those smells near us. It is comforting to have the feeling that family is near by.

I got to eat so much food too. I remember that ham bone! Yummm! This is the family, except for granddad. He had gotten tired and left while we stayed on the beach and played with the camera some more.

Last year’s Thanksgiving was memorable too. We stayed with Jennifer for ten days! I got to rest as much as I wanted too. And had company with me when the Companion and Jennifer went out. Jennifer had a dog, who since then has gone to the bridge. What a wonderful life Jennifer gave her! Dogs need humans!

That Thanksgiving was in the middle of the journey! It was so wonderful to be out doing something to help others. I will never forget my feelings of victory, my feelings of joy that I had that Thanksgiving. I will never forget the smells of the Companion! The scent of the depression was gone and he was smelling like he’s old self again. This picture is of the newspaper article done about us. You can see Jennifer in the background. So much of the journey was about the Companion finding old friends, lost by time space. I think this helped him become grounded again, and has helped now while he continues to search for a job. He knows and feels deeply he has people to turn too, people who want him to stay around for a while.

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday! I hope you all celebrated it!

The Companion asked me to keep the details out of this blog today, because I give the details in the book. I’m thankful that I have written, and I hope we find an agent soon and get it published.

What We Are Doing

We are still working on my book, but it is really finished. Sometimes the Companion pulls it out and reads in it, and finds something that isn't clear, and we work it out.

I noticed how he looks so proud reading it. I like it too.

We are looking for an agent to help us get the book published. This means the Companion has to do a lot of work. He is looking on line at similar books. Thee more he looks the more he finds. Who know so many humans had been touched by a dog? I'm not surprised.

So the Companion finds books that look similar, and then tries to find the agent for that book. Sometimes he finds it, sometimes not. But anyway. He's finding books and other authors with such beautiful stories. Right now we are reading two of them _Amazing Gracie_ and _The Art of Racing in the Rain_. Gracie he reads to me, but Racing he doesn't. He started reading it to me but I wasn't sure I agreed with Enzo on a few points. I don't need thumbs, nor care that I do not have any. Why so I can type. That's why I got a typist!

So we are looking for an agent, and the Companion says it should be a literary agent. Let us know if you have any leads for us to track down.

With the recent attention to suicides, I'd like to get the book published so others can know that hope is there.

Blogger Award from Pets Direct UK

Today the Companion checked my email, and that I had won an award! I don't know much about it, but it seems that someone named John nominated me. This is why he awarded us the award.

# A Unique Blog From a Whole New And Interesting Perspective.
# A Useful and Unique Blogger Resource
# Great Literature and/or Informational Quality
# Helping the Preservation and General Well Being of A Specific Breed Type.
# Showing a True Love For a Specific Breed or Pet Type.


It is nice to get these kinds of things. I know that the Companion feels good when we get compliments or comments.

Aids Walk Portland 2010

Today we did the Aids Walk Portland. Lots of fun!

First we biked downtown in a misty rain. It wasn’t so bad, we’ve been in worse. But I could tell the Companion wasn’t pleased. He always feels guilty about such things. There was little traffic today and we were alone on the roads most of the time.

I don’t like being in the rain, but a misty air can clean up the air. A misty air helps scents stay put and not travel away from a place. So I wasn’t really bothered by the mist as we were biking. Once we got to the meeting point, the mist stopped and it was fine.

There were lots of people and I was so excited to be there and give them all a sniff. The Aids Walk helps to support prevention, education and other things with HIV here locally. The Companion was happy about that. He wants to support organizations locally.

Would you be surprised to hear that his obsession with roadside attractions isn’t over? He saw this thing and couldn’t wait to get a picture of me in front of it. This was a big dog fetching a paper for his companion. I don’t care for fetching myself, but if other dogs like it, that’s ok.

We then started walking with a drum line leading the way. It was so loud, and I could feel the vibrations of the drums all over my body. This just got me so excited and I ran head of the Companion. I’d run to the left and right and back and forth. It was so fun.

But it was a lot of walking for a hound to do at once, 2.5 miles! At once! I was done! done! at then end. But so much fun! The Companion would giggle every time I ran in a different direction. I heard him say once, “I knew you’d have fun, but this much fun I didn’t foresee.”

Well it makes a body feel good when you do positive things!

This is me after the walk! So tired! So happy!

Pier Park, Oregon the Right Choice!

Today the Companion and I got on the bike and went for a short bike ride to Pier Park. This little park is very close to us and i don't know why we've not gone before now. The Companion clams it is because I have to stay on the leash, but I think it is because he didn't know about it.

Well it is beautiful. We parked the bike and walked for nearly an hour through the park. It is so full of huge trees, I thought we were back on the Katy Trial. There is some kind of game that the humans play in the park, and many had their dogs walking with them. The Companion called the game Frisbee Golf. It looked fun to the Companion, and he said we would come back with some friends and play. For me this means walking around the park more slowly and getting a chance to stop and sniff.

We walked slowly today and I just loved it. there are several kinds of animals living there Mostly squirrels and birds, but some others too. I felt sure that rabbits had infiltrated the park, and my mission this light was to find out as much as I could. I'll do a few more of these missions, before planning a rabbit clearing.

One of the things I noticed from the Companion is a mixture of fear and thankfulness. Coming to Oregon the way we didn't was more adventure than hardship, more fun than stress. Oh we had some difficulty but in the end, I think we both miss the work we were doing. The Companion is still struggling to find a job, and the scent of fear was around him today. But as we walked through this incredible park, I could smell the thankfulness that we are in Oregon, and that we have found a new Forever Home. Everyone has been nice to us, and welcomed us, and make us both feel apart of the world. But for the Companion, this connection to others has helped him fight away depression. Oregon was the right Choice!

I am thankful too!

Meeting Local Artist

So the Companion’s interest in Roadside Attractions doesn’t stop after he’s had a few Margaritas. No the definition of a roadside attraction is broaden.

On Sunday, after the car wash, the companion and I sat with some of the guys and had some food, and he had some margaritas. Then when we left to come home. We passed by this man, painting on the wall. It is a canvass and it is being used for a commercial. He had a deadline of the next day, and would be painting most of the night and morning.

Does this prevent the Companion from stopping and getting a photograph of me with the artist while he was working and have to finish the work quickly. Oh no, the Companion treated it like a roadside attraction.

I found it slightly rude. And I kept telling the Companion he was being rude, but he wasn’t listening. I think the Artist heard me and thought I was talking about him because he apologized for being rude and ignoring the Companion. Why apologize? He was working! The Companion was rude.

Still, I thought it was fun to meet a local artist. The Companion loves art and loves to go to museums. For his birthday one year he had a painting of his family done. But I wasn’t in it. He had commissioned it before I was adopted.

So I think he is always looking for an artist to do a portrait of us to memorialize our journey across the country. Which I never say this, but I am so proud of what we did. Reaching out and helping the others really helped the Companion get himself up and going again.

Now all we need is a job and he can find an artist to memorialize our journey.

To find out more about this artist go to: eatcho.com. I think I’ll start a new section called: My favorite artists!

Adidas, Veterans, Suds

On Sunday the Companion and I went for a short bicycle ride down town. Now that he has taken me across a bridge, he is no longer afraid or nervous about doing it. He's a pro now. Well we went down a beautiful and not to busy road. In the middle of the down hill was this place called Adidas. With this huge shoes in front. Of course we had to stop and get a photo.

I wish he hadn't. Not that it was a bad statue, no I liked it. But it was on the down hill, and the wind was feeling so good!

So we were going to a fundraiser for the Veterans for Human Rights. This is a group that the Companion wanted to join. Although he's not sure what they do. What it is for him is meeting more people, being apart of a group that is doing something for others, and they are veterans. He is too. And I think this is good.

how different would it have been in Chicago, if he had these connections? How different would is life have been if he had volunteer from time to time. Now in Portland, I've been telling him, he has to be more involved in the community. And now that the book is at a place that he feels ok with it. He is doing that, he is volunteering. Since going down yesterday to meet the veterans, he has gotten some encouragement. One of the men works at the VA. They talked and he suggested to the Companion to volunteer at the VA.

This would be a great idea. He could get some references and he could meet some people and maybe get a job. There! Good idea!

The Fundraiser was a car wash done by shirtless men in sailor hots. The event was called Studs 'N Suds. I'm not for water, so i stayed in the back ground. There was a DJ and lots of people getting their car washed! Great time!

We then went to have some food at the restaurant who was allowing their parking lot to be used for the car wash. The Companion had a burger and got me some bacon!

Bacon!

St. Johns Brige, Dove Lewis

Today was another great day! So sunny in Portland and so lovely. The Companion and I did something we have not done before. We went to Dove Lewis Animal Hospital to do some volunteer work. It was so fun.

First we had to cross the St Johns Bridge. We live in north Portland, but more correctly, St Johns. St. Johns was once its own town. We go for walks in town and sit and have coffee at the Starbucks. But I've never crossed the bridge before. Today we did. So fun. And after you get to the top of it you fly down the hill!

There are lots of bridges all over Portland. The Companion has biked across them a few times, but he has not taken me across them.

We went to Dove Lewis to volunteer. I don't have the right kind of digits, so I couldn't help. I just oversaw what was going on. Everyone in the office stopped and said hello to me and was really kind. We are going to go back on Monday.
Dove Lewis is Portland's Emergency Hospital doing critical care. They do things that very few are certified to do. The are open 24 hours, and the help people who can't pay with assistance.

But they do much more. They train dogs and cats and their humans to volunteer as therapy pets. Something the Companion things is not for me, because I don't do basic obedience. Well I don't care for obedience commands. At Dove Lewis you can go to group sessions to help you when your companion goes to the bridge.

Dove Lewis has a blood bank. Several dogs in the area come to donate blood just like a human might do. But I'm not heavy enough to donate, and I've had puppies before. So I'm not qualified. The criteria for cats is even harder, so when the find cats that meet it, they live in the hospital! How about that!

We will be going back on Monday. But I think we should go do some of the community programs so I can blog about them!

July 4th Celebrating Freedom!

This weekend was July 4th! I went to a BBQ to celebrate! I had so much fun! I love human holidays, I always get lots of food. And food I don't normally get. I got ice cream and a hamburger, and some hot dogs! and not just small bites either. I got lots of food.

Why?

Cause the Companion said, "It's a holiday, its a celebration, and food is one of the best ways to celebrate. But not when someone tells you you can't have it, or you shouldn't. Today is a day celebrating Freedom."

That's what the Companion said we are celebrating Freedom.

In my book, I talk a bit about Freedom, it is a new word for me. Because I was born and lived in a puppy mill for my early life. And Freedom isn't something we enjoyed.

I am happy now that I am a house dog, with a sofa, and a Companion and I enjoy many freedoms that I never dreamed of when I was in the puppy mill. I want to remind and ask that as we move into this week and this Moon, that we think about all the animals that are not free, that do not enjoy the freedoms I'm enjoying and we support bring an end to puppy mills.

Please remember that rescues are helping this battle by taking in the dogs and giving them foster homes. This is how I found my companion. So you can help rescues too. As the economy continues to be bad, rescues are having problems. Their biggest problem is that we do not have enough foster homes and many dogs are being turned away. Please consider becoming a foster parent for your local rescues.

But to celebrate freedom I want to list the things I have the freedom to do now, that I didn't have in the puppy mill

I am free to sleep inside.
I am free to sleep on the sofa
I am free to get loving from the Companion.
I am free to feel the sunshine.
I am free to go on walks.
I am free to be alone.
I am free to sleep next to the Companion.
I am free to have good healthy food.
I am free to write my book.
I am free to ride across the country on a bicycle.
I am free to go to BBQs.
I am free to go to the vet (don't really like it, but I can do it).
I am free to know that life isn't supposed to be what it was in the puppy mill.

Happy 4th!

Here I am looking at the Companion wondering why he's not giving me more food. I knew there was more food in that house. But he sat and took a picture of me instead.

Sleeping

That's what I'm doing! That's why I've not been blogging. I've been sleeping and the Companion has been working on my book!

Me and Paul

Sunny Day in Portland, and that means a bit of bicycling for the companion and me. WE didn't start off without trouble though.

The Companion is convinced that the tires need inflating, so he did. A bit too much. We started out and with in two blocks--BAM!--big explosion. Back tire blew out. So we walked back to the house. And walked over to the bike shop and got new tires. For the front too. Seeing how we've been on these tires from day one, and have biked over 3000 miles on them. I think it is time for a change.

The we went for a bike ride. To see this "Life size statue of Paul Bunyan." Yes he told me we were going to see a "life size" statue of Paul.

I don't believe it. I do not believe that he was that tall.

But this is another one of the companions roadside attractions that he loves so much. Its a statue of a guy with an ax. Wow! But the companion was all excited. He said that since it was such an important person in American History it made up for it not having a sign that says 'roadside attraction'.

Well how about that.

here I am up close next to the feet. They are as big as the companion. Life size. Who does he think he's kidding.

I do like my new flag!

My Tooth, The Puppy Mill Legacy

I've said many times that I put the puppy mill behind me and only thing back to when the Companion came to get me and take me to my forever home. As we work on my book, I have to think about those times some more. But, I also put them back in the past and move on from it.

Today, I remembers going to the vet for the first time with the Companion. The question that the vet asked the companion about my age. That's unknown. So the vet examined my teeth, and said, "her teeth are too bad, I can't determine her age."

in the puppy mill, we were not given good food, or any vet care. No vet care at all. And my teeth were really bad. The Companion's vet said, "She is going to have to have surgery on her teeth. The gums are receding." It wasn't something that we had to do right away, but would have to be done in a few years."

Today one of my teeth fell out. It was a back one. I'm not in pain. I feel good. it had been hurting me some over the past few weeks. Sometimes when the companion would hit it I would yelp. He thought I had an infection in my ears.

My tooth is because we are not important when we live in a puppy mill.

Something New!

The Companion left for several hours today and said the was going to the store. He came back with some new shirts, and a big box. Then after he talked with Brian the roommate, he went into garaged. But he left me in the house. Brian would come in and out saying, it's still a surprise, you have to wait.

A surprise? It's not Christmas.

So I waited.

When the Companion came back in, he went up stairs to get a few things. Then he put my seat belt on me, and my bonnet. The bonnet and seat belt mean, that we are going on the bike. But we don't have a Contraption anymore.

Well now we do! the Companion has bought a brand new Contraption. It is yellow. I love the yellow, it matches my bonnet. It even came with a flag! I love the flag, but I think we need to get one that is white and has my picture on it! Here we are in my new Contraption.

But now he is of course talking about taking a bike tour around Oregon, or going to Seattle, or crossing Wyoming. I say we go home and visit is poor old mother and father. It has been three years nearly, since he has seen them. But he says, that might be too far.

oh its 3000 miles. Really that's too far. I'm going to push for a visit to see his family. Now that it is summer he can bike longer than 50 miles in a day, he can do 70 miles!

I say we go to visit his mom and dad!
Here we are on a bike trail in Portland! Look how pretty the grass is! I can't wait to smell the rest of Portland and Oregon!

Meeting Up with Bassets

Coming out west has been a great adventure for us. But the trip here is just the start. The real adventure for the Companion is to find a new life. He wants to change himself. This means doing more socially in the community. The Light before this light was the start of this in Portland.

We went to a basset meet up group. There is a group of people who discuss parks in portland, and meet at the same time so their bassets can meet each other. I liked it but some of those bassets were too rambunctious for me. They were very active and very playful. I enjoyed seeing the companion talking with the other humans, and getting and making new connections. Seeing the Companion looking for ways for us to do things together with others makes me feel great. It makes me think that he is really working on not being depressed.

Another thing that makes me really happy to see is that he is again writing. When we first met each other, he would write every day. But that ended when he was depressed. And Thanks to me and my book, he is back at it, and feeling wonderful.

When we were at the basset meet up, I met this handsome boxer bull dog.

Writing about the Desert

In the desert, it is senseless to look outward to be engaged, the sky, the brush, the land are completely washed into one another leaving you no choice but to look inward to troubling and forgotten memories.

Tracking Warmed-up Hot Dogs

This morning is not so rainy, so the Companion thought it would be fun for us to go tracking. This is me waiting on him to finish laying the trail so I can find that sock. He always wants me to find a sock.

Tracking is possibility the most fun ever! I get so excited when we do it. But I also get tired. It takes a lot of energy to follow a path. But about me finding and following the trail to the prize. I've got to sniff and follow the one trail that will lead to the sock, and a pile of warmed up hot dog. I love warmed up hot dog.

This is a game that uses my natural nose, and is fun. We play in the house to but not with warmed up hot dog, and not like this. Here he lays the trial, I find and follow. And along the way I get a bit of warmed up hot dog. Yuummmm. In the house, he tosses the treat and I have to find it. Some times its in the hallway, sometimes on the stairs, some times on the sofa. In the house I have to focus my nose on the treat, and find it. But since there no trail leading to it, I have to search all the areas and find it.

Here I am tracking. You can tell I'm tracking and not just walking because I've got my red Guardian Angel Basset Rescue leash on. You know how he is with the signals.

Today we did something new with our game. Today he turned a corner. I'm following the trail along the way going forward, suddenly it turned to the right, and went in a new direction. I handled it like a pro.

This is Assumption Catholic Church, at Assumption Village. It is two blocks from my house, and here is were we did our tracking, and I turned the corner like a pro. I'm so glad the Companion insisted I be in the picture. Aren't you?