About A Dog (Part 6)

Yes she is accurately and affectionately known as Houdini. There were more escapes, more destruction and more frustrations, but time and growing love made every problem seem smaller and every success more rewarding. We went back to underground fencing, several different variations, but we succeeded in keeping her safe from harm, with a little luck on the few escapes which occurred later.

Now, Sydney is a senior. At fourteen plus years, who knows how much more time she has with us. I'll never be prepared for that day, but I believe that she has had a great life, and will go knowing she was loved. Some time back, her behavior was totally bizarre, more bizarre than normal. She was up at all hours of the night, restless, and seemed frightened. We didn't know what to do, and didn't seek veterinarian advice. In fact, I don't honestly believe that the vet. always has the right answers. Sydney has had a problem with fatty deposits and some growths for several years now. The vet. has been less than helpful in this, other than confirming that they were almost surely benign, and this has almost surely been true as she has survived for this long. Being a sight hound (again our best guess, Whippet), she doesn't tolerate anesthesia well, so even when young and healthy it is a risk, but at her age, any surgery involving anesthesia could be a death sentence, so I have ruled that out as an option. We will never know for sure, but believe that Sydney's odd behavior was brought on because she was losing her hearing. What, if anything she hears now, is questionably. She is easy to startle, can't roam freely because she doesn't respond when called, but she is now a much more settled dog. For the last year or more, Sydney has been left inside all day. She sleeps much, but often she can be found looking out of the window, apparently content just viewing the world without as much interaction. The fear of thunder has apparently left with the ability to hear it, and other than the increased barking, there is nothing to complain of, other than the inevitable which approaches too fast.