In Memory of Zipper

Zipper
February 2001 – 13 July 2009

Remembering today 
and always

You have a special place Dear Lord

that I know you'll always keep

a special place reserved for dogs

when they quietly fall asleep

rest in peace little one

"Zipper"

7 Feb 2001 - 13 July 2009

God saw you getting tired

When cure was not to be,

So closed His arms around you,

And said, "I'll set you free."

You didn't deserve what you went through

and so He gave you rest,

To us gave strength and comfort,

And helped endure the test.

So when we saw you sleeping

Peaceful and free from pain,

We could not wish you back with us

To suffer that again.

~poem adapted author unknown

Our Beloved Zipper

"ZIPPER"

February 7, 2001 - July 13, 2009

Our precious boy lost his fight with epilepsy at 6.45pm on Monday, 13th July. Zipper had severe cluster-type epilepsy not responding to anti-convulsant medication and alternative treatments. Zipper's condition declined rapidly and thankfully he did not suffer long. Zipper was sedated, comfortable and with his daddy when put to sleep by our vet.

We loved him so much.

May our little angel rest in peace.

We miss him so much.

***

__________________________________________________

Saying Goodbye

If it should be that I grow frail and weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then will you do what must be done,

For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

***

You will be sad I understand,

But don't let grief then stay your hand,

For on this day, more than the rest,

Your love and friendship must stand the test.

***

We have had so many happy years,

You wouldn't want me to suffer so

When the time comes, please, let me go.

***

Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,

Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see.

***

I know in time you will agree

It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I have been saved.

***

Don't grieve that it must be you

Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we four -- these years,

Don't let your hearts hold any tears.

~author unknown
________________________________________________

Zipper's last car ride

Zipper's bed secured in a sturdy box

On Tuesday we travelled to Orbost to pick up Zipper's body from the Snowy River Veterinary clinic. We greatly appreciated the care our Vet took in preparing Zipper for his journey to the crematorium.

Zipper's condition had declined so fast we didn't have much time to prepare for his passing. When we arrived in Orbost we didn't have a box in which to place his body on back seat of our car. Zipper had loved car rides so much. We wanted to transport him this way. So we prayed for a special box. Within minutes we found a box that was dry, clean, sturdy and just the right size for Zipper's bed. It was perfect.

Our Vet had carefully wrapped Zipper in his own woollen blanket. David had done a beautiful job. He had shut Zipper's eyes and carefully folded his little paws one over the other. Zipper's mouth was closed with just the tip of his little pink tongue showing. His ears carefully flapped back. He looked so peaceful.

Zipper resting in peace

Zipper's last car ride was to Traralgon where he will be cremated. We spent the journey talking about his life and the precious times spent together and the Blessed Hope when people and doggies will suffer no more.

"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither sorrow and mourning, nor grief, nor pain any more, for the former order of things have passed away. And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine)".

~Revelation 21: 4, 5 (AMP)

Remembering Zipper

"Our Beloved Zipper"

{Originally published Jan 2007}

Zipper will be 6 years old this month. Zippy's temperament is friendly and outgoing. Very little bothers him, he is an easy-going happy boy. However....should he feel he has not been given adequate attention he may show his annoyance by spreading the contents of the kitchen bin around the house! Very naughty. Fortunately this does not happen often.

Zipper's favorite activities include eating, sniffing, meeting people and other dogs, roaming off leash, swimming, car rides, kangaroo spotting, playing ball, walkies, protecting our yard from feline invaders, tummy rubs and sleeping. Zipper is very gentle with little children and smaller animals.

Zippy doesn't like bath time, taking medicine, hot weather or mum and dad leaving for work in the morning.

Sooty (left) and Zipper (right)

Sooty and Zipper love to run in the wide open spaces. This photo was taken in at an oval near our home. The small black streak on the left is Sooty. Both photos were taken early in 2006. At this time we didn't realise that Sooty had hip dysplasia.

Sooty has just turned 8 years old and is also male. He is very affectionate with a joyful, sweet disposition. Sooty loves food, sleeping, being cuddled, playing ball, rides in the car, swimming, kangaroo spotting and walkies. Sooty doesn't like visiting the vet, staying at kennels or being parted, for any length of time, from his family pack.

This post links to A Lark in the Park!

Rules for Dog Owners

(approved by Sooty & Zipper)

Sooty as nature intended

I will not bathe my dog after he bathes himself in the mud puddle.

Zipper begging for a game

I will not push my dog away when he wants a hug after playing in a mud puddle.

Who could say no?

I will drop what ever I am doing and take my dog out whenever he asks me to.

Sooty engaged in his favorite sport

I will not complain "My arm is tired" after only throwing the stick 20 times.


I will not drag my dog away from the interesting sniffing spots.

Zipper on another incredible scent trail

I will not tell my dog to hurry up already when he's looking for just the right spot to take care of business.

I will not stare while my dog is doing his business.

I will never eat until my dog has tasted what I have and approved it for me.

Sooty and Zipper on a picnic

I will share everything I eat with my dog.

Sooty and Mummy

I will allow my dog on the couch.

Sooty and Zipper's Car

I will not leave my dog at home any time I go in the car.

Zipper with his new green ball

I will not hide my dog's ball in a place where I know he couldn't possibly retrieve it from and then ask him to go get it.

Sooty with Zipper's old yellow ball

I will not take soggy, yummy balls away from my dog.

Author Unknown

Literary Dog

(Zipper)

DOGGIE DICTIONARY

LEASH:
A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your mum and dad where you want him/her to go.

DOG BED:
any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

DROOL:
Is what you do when your mum and dad have food and you don't. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor, or better yet, on their laps.

SNIFF:
A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.

GARBAGE CAN:
A container where mum and dad put food they don't want to test your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef bones to consume and dry crusts of bread.

DEAFNESS:
This is an affliction which affects dogs when their mum or dad want them out and they want to stay in. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, then running in the opposite direction, or lying down.

WASTEBASKET:
This is a dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old candy wrapper. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your mum and dad comes home.

BATH:
This is a process by which mum and dad drench the floor, walls and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.

BUMP:
The best way to get your mum and dad's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

LOVE:
Is a feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. The best way you can show your love is to wag your tail. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return.

-Author unknown

Big Day Out

Are your humans stressed? Work too much? Forgotten how to play? Why not treat them to a big day out?

8.00am: Morning run at the local park!

Here's Mummy doing on-leash training with Sooty....or is Sooty training Mummy? I'm not sure, anyway...

....here's Sooty distracting Mummy as I head for the...


....closest mud puddle. Ah yes, the therapeutic benefits of a mud bath...

...see how the mud is drawing 'fluid' from my thighs... slimming don't you think?888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88
8.30am It's a Dog's breakfast:


Mmm....chicken sausages, free-range egg, home-made gravy and bio-dynamic yogurt served with Swedish sour-dough bread! Swallowed whole of course!
88
10.00am Car ride to the Hall markets:


The Hall Market is a haven of scents...not to mention the many wonderful posts requiring our special doggy attention!

12.30pm Lunch at the Yarralumla Nursery:


Yaralumla Nursery has a great menu for dogs, they even let you eat under the table (and the wait staff are friendly too).

Sooty and I had Poochy Chicken Pasta for lunch.

2.00pm Afternoon swim at Lake Burley Griffin!

Ok Sooty, I admit it was a good catch.


Let's bring the stick back together this time

...Sooty demonstrating the dog paddle.

3.00pm Visit the pet shop at Belconnen:

Oooo, I love shopping! We got to pick a toy each.


4.00pm Time for a nanny nap!



We all take an afternoon siesta...before it's time to eat again! Yey!!

6.30pm Picnic dinner at the park:



Mmm....doggy anti-pasto platter of cold barbeque chicken, roast beef, goat cheese and rocket!


Mummy's in a playful mood this evening! Must have been the nanny nap? I reckon human's should nap more often, then they'd be happy all the time like us dogs!


8.00pm Movie and munchies:


From the moment Lassie saved the fox from the hunters, we were hooked!


I think our humans were better and more relaxed by the end of the day!

Zipper

dogs dog blog english cocker spaniels

Wonderful world of smells

Cocker spaniels love to sniff! Their sense of smell tells them a lot about the world around them, especially the all important social goings-on.

Here are a few souvenirs we bought home from our trip to the forest this weekend. The boys slept with this box of pine forest memorabilia by their beds for extra special sweet dreams!

Jaunt in the woods

Could there be any greater joy than jumping in the car with your favorite people for a trip to the woods?


Slideshow captions:
Slide 1 - Molongo Gorge play ground! Way to go!
Slide 2 - Look at me! I can fly!
Slide 3 - Sooty and I have lots of energy to burn
Slide 4 - This sure is a relaxing place Sooty
Slide 5 - Mmm...pine cones...suprisingly delicious
Slide 6 - May I take this one home please Mummy?
Slide 7 - Time to go home now Sooty

Zipper

The Home Spa Book for Dogs

The stresses and strains of modern life not only affect us but our doggy companions too! Canine expert Dr Jennifer Cermak contends that our busy schedules can affect the wellbeing of our beloved furry friends. In The Home Spa Book for Dogs, Dr Cermak provides a wealth of ideas for pampering and building rewarding relationships with our canine companions.

Home Day Spa for your Special Friend!
Dr Cermak contends that life has changed for both people and dogs. She explains that only a few generations ago, when we lived in a more agricultural society, our dogs probably enjoyed a more balanced life. They had jobs to keep them occupied, a farm to roam around; they ate a variety healthy unprocessed foods and enjoyed the constant companionship of family, other dogs and farm animals. This is not the case for the majority of dogs today. Dr Cermak explains that many dogs these days are inactive, overfed and at the same time live highly regulated, often isolated lives and are banned from most public places. They often have no other animal companions, get very little exercise, and have neither a sport nor a job to keep them stimulated and in partnership with their human companions.

Dr Cermak believes that dogs, like people experience stress, loneliness and boredom. They can also experience physical ailments such as sleeplessness, lack of energy, not to mention dry brittle skin, poor hair condition and wear and tear on their paws and nails. These problems can affect their overall health, appearance and happiness, and can contribute to a positive or difficult ageing process. With our increasingly busy lives it can be easy to overlook the many needs of our little friends.

Unfortunately it has become increasingly challenging for dog owners to especially provide for the social and recreational needs of their pets. Areas for dogs to freely run around in towns and cities are getting harder to find. Many time-poor pet owners resort to paying for thirty-minute dog walks and purchasing expensive toys to occupy their pets. But are our options so limited? Dr Cermak believes that most of our dog's needs can be provided in the home quite simply and provides a wealth of ideas to try. That's what makes this book a real gem.

The Home Spa Book for Dogs, is one of the best Dog books I've purchased. Already I've taken a different approach to bath time with Sooty and Zipper. What was once an exhausting experience (for me) and stressful experience (for Sooty and Zipper) has become an event we look forward too - a special time for me and my boys. I cannot praise this book enough. It is packed with thoughtful and inspirational ideas that can help to build a better relationship with our dogs. It covers the fundamentals of grooming, fitness, nutrition, play and sport, training and communication and shows how to thoughtfully care for, teach and pamper our dogs. Fun to read (and follow), I highly recommended this book to dedicated dog owners searching for ways to pamper and bond with their pets.

Photograph: by Daniel Montesinos at Flickr

Related Tags: dogs, dog fanciers, dog lovers, bath time, pampering, bonding

Dog Property Laws

Sooty & Zipper on holiday at Jervis Bay, New South Wales Australia. 2006


1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it just looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down,

it automatically becomes mine.

10. If its broken, it's yours.

-Author unknown

Related Tags: dogs dog fanciers, dog lovers, cocker spaniels, english cocker spaniels, dog humor, dog humour

A Lark in the Park

Slideshow Captions:

Slide 1 - Zipper loves to play ball at the park.
Slide 2 - Sooty & Zipper - see them run!
Slide 3 - Zipper strutting his stuff.
Slide 4 - "My flapping ears give me extra leverage!"
Slide 5 - "Watch me! I can stand on two legs just like you!"

These photos were taken early in 2006. Thank you for viewing them!

Related Tags: dog blog

Welcome Friends!

English Cocker Spaniels are an active breed and appreciate a good run at least once a day. Zipper (above), will be turning 6 years old this month. Zippy's temperament is friendly and outgoing. Very little bothers him, he is an easy-going happy boy. However....should he feel he has not been given adequate attention he may show his annoyance by spreading the contents of the kitchen bin around the house! Very naughty. Fortunately this does not happen often.

Zipper's favorite activities include eating, sniffing, meeting people and other dogs, roaming off leash, swimming, car rides, kangaroo spotting, playing ball, walkies, protecting our yard from feline invaders, tummy rubs and sleeping. Zipper is very gentle with little children and smaller animals.

Zippy doesn't like bath time, taking medicine, hot weather or mum and dad leaving for work in the morning.

Sooty and Zipper love to run in the wide open spaces. This photo was taken in at an oval near our home. The small black streak at the top left hand corner is Sooty. Both photos were taken early in 2006. At this time we didn't realise that Sooty had hip dysplasia (Sooty was diagnosed with hip dysplasia this week and mummy cried for a whole hour after leaving the vet).

Sooty has just turned 8 years old and is also male. He is very affectionate with a joyful, sweet disposition. Sooty loves food, sleeping, being cuddled, playing ball, rides in the car, swimming, kangaroo spotting and walkies. Sooty doesn't like visiting the vet, staying at kennels or being parted, for any length of time, from his family pack.

Related Tags: dog blog