This was a photo I took last week when our small animal vet, Dr. Brenda Culver, was here at the ranch for her annual check-up visit. She was doing a physical exam of our old girl blind Kenai, who had come to us many years ago from an animal control shelter in California. Kenai has definitely been showing the signs of her advanced aging in the past couple of years, but I hadn't realized until I uploaded this photo onto my computer just how gray her face had become. It's funny how you don't always notice the gradual changes of the aging process until one day, bang, the cumulative effect is suddenly very apparent. In this case, I was struck by all the gray she now has. She looks different, I thought ... very, very old! Bless her heart, Kenai is still holding her own. She gets a bunch of daily meds like any elderly lady, continues to have impeccable potty habits, and has a hearty appetite.
Besides her grayness, the only real physical signs of her aging are creaky hips that we are treating her for. We are beginning to see some odd behavior that we attribute to aging, though. For example, she sometimes gets confused when she comes into the house and gets "lost" trying to find her favorite cot next to the living room windows, so we have to take her by the collar and lead her over to it. Other times she will lie on her cot and start barking for no apparent reason ... she's had dinner, been out to potty, had water, etc., so her physical needs have all been taken care of. We don't know why she's barking and we don't think she knows why she's barking, but a gentle tap on her head usually brings it to an end. Sometimes she will mill around on her cot, get down and mill around on the floor, then get back on the cot and do it again. We know what this means: She needs to go outside to potty, so we lead her to the door.
We don't know how old she really is, but we figure somewhere north of ancient. She already had a gray muzzle when she came to us, and that was at least five years ago. It can be both sad and endearing to watch a dog getting old, and heartbreaking knowing the day is coming. But right now Kenai is still enjoying her life here, and this afternoon she is snoozing happily on her cot as the fall sunshine streams through the window.
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Note on the 'America's Favorite Animal Shelter' contest: Some of our international friends said they couldn't cast votes, and so I looked up the official contest rules and found they are limiting participation to residents of the United States only. Sorry!
Your website is so uplifting to me in my time of incredible stress and sorrow brought on by my one month fight to help save the life of my 12.5 yr old Dane/Lab mix-furry best friend,Zack, whom I rescued 12.3 yrs ago...Zack was recently diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He is a fighter and I am his advocate. He has survived emergency splenectomy and first round of chemo.
I know the prognosis is poor for dogs with hemangiosarcoma-- and one way for me to cope with life now --and in the future is to keep a running list of things I will do after his demise in his honor (weird i know).
The anticipation of losing your best friend is a heartbreaking time. My list so far is :(1) travel to Europe (I haven't wanted to leave my Zack for more than a few hours in the last couple of years), (2) run a marathon...because i feel like I could cry for the entire 26 miles...and I think I will and (3) I think I would like to visit your ranch and volunteer my time as a vacation alternative to #1...Thank you for dedicating your lives to so many lives that are often left to die...There is a special place in heaven for people like the two of you....and one day I hope to have the honor to meet the two of you and shake your hands...and clean as many stalls or crates as you have for me to clean...peace and love to all at the ranch..heather damron
p.s. my stepmother's maiden name is Marker and she is from Ohio originally..any relation?
Posted by: heather damron | October 04, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I have an old girl, too, with a gray face that gets grayer every day. Dear sweet Kenai found a soft spot to land in her graying years! We all need that. Thanks for the loving care of Kenai, along with the patience and understanding! I have such a soft spot for old gray faces, I love them to pieces!
Posted by: Yvette | October 02, 2008 at 09:51 AM
What a precious face! Sending lots of hugs to Kenai and wishes for many more sunny warm days lazing around at the ranch!
Posted by: Nina | September 29, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Kenai is beautiful. I hope I age that gracefully.
It's so nice to have power again to see what's going on at the RDR. Hurricane Ike left me without power from the 12th of Sept until yesterday.
Big hugs to sweet Kenai,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: Ginger Young | September 29, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Sorry about the two posts, the website sure said something went wrong the first time! Greetings to everybody with an older companion, aren't they special in their graceful years...
Posted by: Jessica, NL | September 29, 2008 at 01:52 PM
Kenai's picture and "sweet old lady" actions bring back bittersweet memories of my dear little black dog, Vader. As it is sad to see abilities decline, but as hou well know, it is ultra special to see their pure heart and devotion shine through it all. Hugs to Kenai.
Posted by: Margaret | September 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Watching a pet age is always filled with emotion. I had a cat for 15yrs. Sasha always amazed me in her later years when she acted just like she was a kitten. Tearing through the house or playing with a toy or surprising me around a corner. My sister's lab, Cinder, lived for 13 years. My sister had the same thing happen to her that you did with Kenai. Her & my vet attributed their longevity to the good care & love they received. But, the main thing that struck me with both our animals is how they aged with so much grace. It is hearttouching! Kenai has without a doubt been given many extra years & more to come because of the wonderful care & love she is receiving at RDR.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin - San Antonio TX | September 29, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Wow! Sounds like you were describing ME!!! LOL!!
Posted by: Leila | September 29, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Hugs, love and blessings to sweet Kenai; wishes for lots of warm naps on her cot and many days of feeling good. She deserves it all!
Posted by: Boundforglory | September 29, 2008 at 09:31 AM
There could definitely be some doggy dementia going on. It happens, just like it happens to humans. But this old girl is in the best possible place to receive the care and courtesy she deserves. May you have many more years with her.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | September 29, 2008 at 09:01 AM
This post has really hit home! Our Camilla is getting pretty "ancient", too, and my heart trembles every time I think we could lose her sooner than later. But, just like Kenai, she's still enjoying her meals and loves napping in the early autumn sun!:-))
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | September 29, 2008 at 08:36 AM
I noticed that my old girl, Sophia, has gone quite grey in the past year also....I don't remember getting any older, LOL! How wonderful that she is with you in her sunset years..
Posted by: Debbie | September 29, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Just a month ago we adopted the cutest little boy who turned 15 in his first week with us. He has the sweetest grey face, just like Kenai and people are cooing all over him when we go for a walk. But then when I say he was recently adopted (to share with others the idea that it IS possible to adopt -way- beyond puppyhood) they stare at me in disbelief when moments earlier they mentioned him to be the cutest dog in the world! Then they'll tell me he will die soon *thank you* and won't I be heartbroken? Sure, but I don't have any garantees about the others ones AND I would be more sad when his final year was spent without a home of his own...right? We are the lucky ones to get to know him at all!
Oh well, people are funny creatures sometimes ;-), a big hug for Kenai and I hope she stays bright for some time to come...
Posted by: Jessica, NL | September 29, 2008 at 04:55 AM
Just a month ago we adopted the cutest little boy who turned 15 in his first week with us. He has the sweetest grey face, just like Kenai and people are cooing all over him when we go for a walk. But then when I say he was recently adopted (to share with others the idea that it IS possible to adopt -way- beyond puppyhood) they stare at me in disbelief when moments earlier they mentioned him to be the cutest dog in the world! Then they'll tell me he will die soon *thank you* and won't I be heartbroken? Sure, but I don't have any garantees about the others ones AND I would be more sad when his final year was spent without a home of his own...right? We are the lucky ones to get to know him at all!
Oh well, people are funny creatures sometimes ;-), a big hug for Kenai and I hope she stays bright for some time to come...
Posted by: Jessica, NL | September 29, 2008 at 04:43 AM
The old ones do tug at my heart strings - I have 2 in my life. My sister's 15yr old Maltese also shows signs of mental aging (separation anxiety, barking, looking lost), and full speed is not what it used to be! My own 10yr old Doxi/Corgi mix has a white face now. She was dark brown when I got her! And she also has the hip thing (ouch). It is a bittersweet feeling, but every extra day is a gift I cherish.
Give Kenai a hug for me - it is comforting to know she will spend her days with you guys :)
Posted by: bregda (South Africa) | September 29, 2008 at 03:37 AM
Aw, what a sweetheart. Here's to more happy days to come.
It's funny how animals show their age... our dog's had white on her muzzle her entire life, but she's definitely going greyer with age.
Posted by: Rebecca M. | September 29, 2008 at 12:54 AM
Thanks for the update regarding Kenai. She is such a wonderful girl, and thank goodness she continues to be holding her own at the Ranch!
Posted by: maggie | September 28, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Kenai has aged but very gracefully. It's so odd because there is always that day when you look and say to yourself: "Wow, you got old overnight." It's not an easy thing to accept. I'm happy that Kenai is doing pretty darn good in her elderly years!!! Thanks to RDR and you two!
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | September 28, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Bless dear old Kenai. It's such a comfort to know that her golden years will be as spent in your care. I wonder now if my vote will count - being from Canada, I obviously don't have a zip code so I asked a friend in Minnesota if I could use hers and my vote went through when I did. Good luck with the contest!
Posted by: chris from toronto | September 28, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Few things combine the concepts of "sweet" and "noble" quite like the white face of an old dog.
Posted by: Jerry Stemnock | September 28, 2008 at 07:01 PM
About the contest...I just put in the only American Zip Code I know - 90210 - to work around the system!
Posted by: Wendy and Marlin | September 28, 2008 at 06:20 PM