A few people mentioned that they haven't been posting because their dogs were doing well while so many other dogs were having problems. And they also said how sad it was to see so many dogs having trouble. I thought it might be nice to encourage people to share their little bits of good or routine news in a thread since we all like to hear that (nope, I'm not going to start a blog, Jerry, no way. And you ain't gonna see my pretty face on twitter or facebook either!)

Tazzie has always had an issue getting into food or garbage when I leave the house. I have to hide everything in high cabinets (he opens low cabinets even when they have child proof locks) or in a different room. I'm not sure where he found the trash today, but I came home at lunch to find a kitchen size garbage bag ripped to shreds in the living room, with the contents strewn about. He obviously had a feast – I don't want to know what was in it but he seems to be okay. He has stolen a few small things in the last month, like an empty cat food can from the sink. But since he started to feel sick before the surgery, he has not stolen anything quite so grand as today's big mess, and I know he has had lots of opportunities. Sometimes, a badly behaving dog can make you really happy (as long as they don't bloat of course!). But Shh. Don't tell Tazzie I said this!

A friend is coming all the way from Alberta just to see Tazzie this weekend. Two weeks ago, I was starting to worry that the decline had begun – shaking legs, stumbling, not quite himself. What a turnaround. The met lumps are still growing on his leg and abdomen, but that cancer world seems to be a completely different world than the one in which he is living right now. I think I'll stick by my recommendation of the power mushrooms. He is now on 2 per day and I cannot believe the change in the last 9 days. I sure hope some of the others – Emily and Jake – find some benefit from it.