Thank you.

I don't think that I have ever seen such gratitude as when I look down into Callie's eyes.  I don't know if dogs exactly know what it is to be thankful, but I do know that what she feels toward us is unmistakably that, in it's purest form.  For every meal, for every pet, for every time I say her name, she thanks me.  Just one more of the many reasons I love dogs, especially rescue dogs.  They have such an appreciation for life and for those they love.

Speaking of being thankful, I would like to say a huge thank you to a couple of people who have sent donations to help with Callie's medical expenses.  It was so unexpected, and so very appreciated.   Know that you have made a difference for her and also for me. 

As for an update on her condition, medically, I'm afraid that little has changed.  Although she is stronger, mentally and physically, she just isn't keeping weight on.  You can still see every rib, every vertebrae.  There are still the unanswered questions.

She has certainly become part of our pack though and has made herself completely at home here.  She loves to face wrestle with Dixie on the couch and to run and chase with them in the yard.  I struggle to keep a healthy balance for her.  I do believe that her happiness is critical to her rehabilitation, and she is at her happiest when she is running with them, but she knows nothing of her limitations.  I constantly fear that she will get injured.  Saturday night, we were sitting by the fire (yes. fall has finally arrived in Little Rock) and the dogs were doing laps around the yard.  Callie made a bad landing after a jump and we could see that it hurt.  I put her in the house for her own good, but when I saw the look on her face, it was obvious that being isolated from the rest of us hurt her a lot more than her leg did.  I guess I feel like she needs to enjoy being a dog to have a good quality of life.  It would be different if this was something that she was recovering from, but it's chronic.  Her hip will never be any better, so I may as well let her make the most of what she has.  Dogs are really great at doing that.

Here is how Callie has been spending her time...