The Reese Report

Last evening Reese slept between the two of us for a short while. It wasn't something he did - he never understood that a bed was for sleeping, he thought it was for wandering around in, fighting with blankets in and once settled down in having your tummy rubbed non-stop - forget this sleep thing.

But last night he was tired, as he has been for the past few months. Tired of the constant itch from skin problems, tired of the pain of arthritis that made walking a chore, tired of not seeing things clearly, tired of being poked and prodded at the vets - just tired. He slept almost all of the time and it was becoming more difficult to wake him up. He wasn't interested in food beyond his treats of poached chicken and yesterday even that had lost its appeal. We think he may have had a small stroke on Christmas morning - he seemed disoriented, his back legs were not fully supporting him and he would bark in a panic if you weren't in direct sight.

This morning, at the Vet's, Laurent and I did the only thing we felt we could do for our Reeser Man (Mister Reese, the Reeser, Baby Reesie, Budfordshire, Buddy - he had quite a few nicknames.) He went to sleep on his blanket as we stroked him, rubbing his tummy telling him it was okay to go "doodoo" and finally he did.

28 decembre - San Giovanni Evangelista

GPV* - Not To Be Confused With GPP**

Realized I hadn't posted a Gratuitous Puppy Video* (not be be confused with a Gratuitous Puppy Picture**) in a while. So here we have our Reese being bathed last Sunday.

His skin condition has returned with a vengeance so for the past few days we've been walking over to the Vets - well I've been walking, he's been carried. Tuesday I met a charming older couple who were in with their dog. The lady - faded blonde but with a elegance that was unforced and a wonderful smile when she talked about her dog - had found her wandering on the street two years ago. The dog was going to be operated on that afternoon for a tumor that they hoped was benign. We talked about our pets and them being what she called "a loving responsibility," which I thought was a great phrase. I checked with Dr. Benvenuti yesterday and it was benign - I would have loved to see the smile on her face when he told her that.

13 decembre - Santa Lucia

The Reese Report

Most of his adult life Reese has lived with this strange skin condition that keeps returning - its never been properly diagnosed just treat so its under control. When it flares up - as it did last week - and there's a spot he can reach he'll chew or scratch it until it bleeds and of course spreads. He really did a number on his right flank in the past two days - so this morning off to Dr Benvenuti we went. I carried Mr Reese the 8 blocks to the vet's with a stop along the way to be petted by two older women - that's Reese they petted not me. A few shots, three pills - that now makes 5 pills he's taking each day, I tell you it is like looking after an old relative - and an Elizabethan collar things should get better.



The shots he tolerates and since the pills are served in a piece of poached chicken they are fine but the collar.... what the hell is that about? The look he gave poor Walter, the vet's assistant, as he put it on him was enough to damn the poor man for eternity. He is now walking around the house bumping into things and most upset that he can't burrow into his blankets the way he normally does. I, of course, feel like the absolute worst dog owner in the world and picking up on this he is doing everything he can to make me feel worse. No kisses for me tonight!


21 novembre - Presentazione di B. V.

The Reese Report - Video at 11

Saturday evening when we went to our friends Walter and Robert the first greeting was not "How are you?" but "How's Reese?" Then when Larry and Vin joined us again it was "How's Reese doing?" I guess we know who's the most important creature in our household.



I'm not sure what was in the homeopathic treatment Dr Benvenuti gave him but I'm happy to say that the Reeserman has returned to good if not perfect health. He's eating a variation of my minestrone, walking, demanding belly rubs and most important back to delivering kisses.

07 november - San Eroclano