Stars .. the stars are calling

I went in for my 3 month cancer check up ... I gave mom a scare by eating LOTS of food (the all you can eat nung-nung buffet). She immediately took me to the vet and they got xrays done and it showed by very full belly with food and gas. They also saw an enlarged spleen which then led me to get an ultrasound the next day. But all is well .. I just have a big spleen ... yes, a big spleen for my big heart :)

Anyway, mom's been busy rescuing my friends up at Leech Lake Reservation with my auntie Jenny and lots of other cool volunteers. She decided it was time to turn Leech Lake Legacy into a non-profit/501(c)3 ... but she's always telling me that yes, it's about the animals and my friends but it's about so much more .. it's about people, it's about our relationships, how we connect, it's about community ... she's got big dreams of what Leech Lake Legacy will do with the help of the community. She's been reading of lot of books by Margaret Wheatley so I thought I'd share a Margaret Wheatley poem titled 'Stars' since Ahnung means star in ojibway and it talks so much about what she's trying to create through Leech Lake Legacy.

Stars

In places where air still offers clarity,

stars sing a siren song from space

in the bright night.

Lying on soft earth,

carried into sky by longing,

humans respond to stars

with questions. Why is the Universe

so vast? Why are we so small?

Call and response through the night.

My whole life I have sent

these questions into space. And

listened for response.

Then sky wakens and star song fades.

Humans forget mystery and get on with living.

But the stars, the stars

keep calling. No response.

Why is it that we call to 

stars with science and insignificance?

On the next bright night,

find the clear air and ask again.

Humans, ask again. Who are we?

What is our place in mystery?

Perhaps you will hear what I

have heard, a song of inner

radiance.

For the stars

the stars are calling

saying we must

turn to one another

turn to one another and see

finally see

the stars everywhere.

~ Margaret Wheatley

Surviving Cancer ....

But not so sure about surviving my baby brother Legacy's idea of dragging nung-nung around like a stuffed animal :)

Legacy wants my collar!!

"Mom!!! Help me!!!!"

"Wait!!!!!"

Fine ... he can have my collar .. i didn't want it anyway!

"I let my brother think he's king"

Celebration of Life Party!

Getting prepped for
surgery!

Last July I got diagnosed with breast cancer ... mom was quick to find the lump and within a couple days was in surgery to remove that nasty tumor!!! Mom and I went to see an oncologist after my lumpectomy and they said I didn't need any more treatment because it looked like all the cancer was taken out!! Nung-nung was very happy to not have to go through any treatments!!

Well, last Tuesday, mom found out I have cancer again. I had surgery last Friday to remove the lump and lots of nung-nung body parts around the tumor (mom mumbled something to me about 'deep margins') ... so I have a BIG owie. The pathology report comes back on Wednesday or Thursday of this week, but meanwhile I told mom we need to have a big party ... Yes, a Celebration of Life Party for nung-nung!!! I beat this Cancer thing once and I plan to beat it a second time!!

My big party is going to be on Sunday, April 22 and will be held at the Animal Humane Society (Golden Valley, MN) site .. in their multi-purpose room (park in the back of AHS and enter through their Boarding .. my party will be on the second floor) .... party starts at 2:30 PM.

I hope you can join me for my party! Instead of presents, I'm asking that you give a donation (any amount will help) to help fund a spay/neuter clinic up at Leech Lake Reservation ... being a rez dog I really want to help my friends, PLUS my brother Legacy came from Leech Lake Reservation. My friends at Kindest Cut are also organizing a garage sale to raise money for a spay/neuter clinic up at Leech Lake Reservation so you can also bring your donated items to my big bash on 4/22!

If you would like give nung-nung a birthday/celebration of Life present, click here ;-)

Here I am with my surgeon before
he went crazy cutting out my big tumor!

My big owie!

I've had to get my stitches replaced TWICE already ...
they say I have so much and ripples around my neck
that the stitches won't stay ... hmmm,
I think they are getting carried away here!! :)

Rez Dog Play

Rez dog pile:
Zuzu, Nung-nung and Legacy pile!

After Zuzu came for an overnight mom was then asked if she would consider fostering him till he got adopted ... hmmm, I could've told her that was coming!!! :) Well, Zuzu needed to spend some time in our home so that she could learn some dog rules and boundaries and mom was told that I would be a good teacher and role model for her and that she really needed socialization and play time with Legacy. If there's a pup that can teach another pup about the art of playing it's my brother Legacy!! He taught me how much fun it is to play ... every morning we play. I just have to share him with our foster sister Zuzu and that's okay. Zuzu has been with us for a couple weeks now in what mom is now calling the Pack Style Puppy Rehabilitation program. Zuzu had to learn not to be protective of her food and that when mom puts her hand in her food bowl it's a good thing; she also had to learn that she can't make a mad dash for the food bowl at dinner time ... like the rest of us, she has to sit and wait till mom tells her it's okay to eat. She's a smart little girl and she's learned quickly. Mom has also been taking her for lots of puppy outings (like she did with Legacy and the other two pups she fostered) ... she's no longer scared or skittish and is much more confident. She loves going to Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet and over the weekend she even got a bath at Bubbly Paws! She got a great application in from a young couple and tomorrow night they are going to meet her ... so, it's possible the sweet little pup is going to be adopted soon and will have her own forever home! :)

For now, we keep teaching her and I keep playing ... well, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my brother Legacy and we play so hard together and we snuggle up and sleep together a lot.  Here's a video of us playing chase. Mom is amazed that I can run so fast ... and the little squirt, well ... he still can't catch me!!

and here's one of the 3 of us playing .. 

Zuzu comes for a visit ...

Halloween --- Zuzu style!

A few days ago mom tells me that we are having an overnight visitor ... this little puppy, Zuzu, who was rescued also from Red Lake reservation. She's up for adoption through Act V Rescue & Rehabilitation. Mom was asked to keep her for the night. Yes, this little pup needs some needed socialization and to learn how to interact and play with other dogs and to not be afraid. Hmmm .... there isn't a better place than our home with our pack of 4! Mom is told ... she's a little snarly and protective of her food (no problem, nung and mom can work with her on that!); she runs around like a nervous puppy and doesn't stop (we can fix that too!); and she's afraid of big dogs, especially big black dogs (ahh ... nung-nung can fix that too! We have lots of big black dogs here and nung-nung can be the first to show her that we're very nice dogs and won't hurt her).

We loved having her stay and she was like a new puppy after just 24 hours. When she first met me she just came right up to me and sniffed me. Mom tells me all the time that I am such a calm dog and that I have such an influence on other animals and also people. What do i think??? Well, i'm just nung-nung :) Legacy and Zuzu loved each other and played so hard. It was good for both of them. Zuzu also got to meet Mister who is so good with puppies. You should've seen Mister when mom was crazy and brought 13 puppies to the house to foster!!! Mister just knows to take things slowly with Zuzu. Zuzu got to watch Legacy and Mister playing and also saw how Legacy and I play. Mom says it's important for her to have good role models. Zuzu didn't get to meet Missy yet ... but something tells me Zuzu will be coming back. I think our home is a perfect home for rehabilitation and socialization for the puppies.

Here's a video 12 hours after Zuzu arrived!!!

Zuzu arrives ... the Rez Dogs!

Legacy and Zuzu .. a kiss???

On WCCO Morning News!

With Matt Brickman of WCCO
oh .. the cute girl is Gigi, and she's up for adoption
through Pet Haven!

So mom made me get up really early this morning because we had to be down at the WCCO studio by 7:30. She told me I had to wear a cute outfit provided by Lulu & Luigi to help promote the Pet Haven Fall Benefit which is on Saturday, 10/29 (it's their big fundraiser to raise money so more of my friends can be helped!).

On the way into the studio this morning mom was a party pooper ... I took a dive into the bushes on the walkway in and yanked out a dead possum --- okay, it was just the skin of the possum!!! Mom yelled at me to 'drop it'. I looked at her, debated on whether i should listen ... she looked at me with 'those' eyes so I dropped the possum. Hmmm ... for being on TV I think I should get a prize but mom didn't think so ... anyway, off we went into the studio and I got to put out my cute coat from Lulu & Luigi and wear a purple hemp collar and leash. It was so nice and soft. At first I wasn't sure about it but then I decided I really liked it ... and my pal Gigi got to wear a cute outfit too :)

In the 'green room' getting ready for the show

Checking out the studio landscape
in nung-nung style

Waiting patiently

Our two minutes of fame! :)

Mom tells me that everyone at the studio kept asking her 'is she always this calm??' ... she said I was such a good girl and I did a great job laying perfectly still and facing the camera :) I hope mom told everyone that I have to be calm and conserve my energy so that I can chase rabbits, squirrels and even dead possums (just wish she'd let me keep them when I catch them or find them!). I also need to conserve my energy so I can play with little brother Legacy. He's now almost 12 weeks old and is 15 pounds!!!

Ahnung and Legacy ... best of friends!

Welcome Legacy to our family!

With my new brother Legacy!

At the end of August mom fostered 13 puppies (yes, that's THIRTEEN puppies) for 5 days. All the puppies came from Leech Lake Indian Reservation (three hours north of here ... the same place my buddy Jake came from). There were quite a few of them that were pretty sick and weak. After 5 days she was able to take 10 of them to the Animal Humane Society where they were placed into foster homes then later placed up for adoption. Well, 3 of the puppies were not doing so well: Legacy, Lenny and Lazarus ... so mom decided to hang onto them and fostered them through Act V Rescue.

I know this shouldn't come as a surprise .... she fell in love with one of them (actually, she fell in love with all 3 of them) and I also fell in love with one special boy ... his name is Legacy. You can read more about Legacy and how he came to be a part of our family on mom's blog: http://mariloureflects.blogspot.com/2011/10/legacy.html.

Lenny and Lazarus (now Rez) have found new homes. Mom took them to their new adoptive homes about a week ago and they are both doing great! And Legacy, well ... this sweet boy has become quite my buddy (and my shadow ... he's follows me all around the back yard). He's also been teaching me how to really play. Here's just one of a million videos mom  has of us playing :)

and here's a video of the 13 puppies mom took in for a short time ... I was very glad they left!!! :)