Brace Yourself

Jake is not a candidate for surgery right now because his blood work is off and there would be a higher risk of infection. One option for dogs in that situation, or even older dogs, is to do a brace instead. We found a great company called OrthoPets. It’s based right here in Colorado. They do custom braces and prosthetic limbs. Jake went in for his fitting today. They wrapped his leg in plastic wrap then put on a fiberglass wrap which hardens immediately. They cut it off and will pour a cast. It takes about a week to fabricate the brace. When his tumor was growing, we covered it in colored bandages. Those days are gone thankfully. But now we’ve traded them for a bionic leg. He’s always got to be the center of attention.

Numbers Don't Count (On Me)

More blood tests. Unfortunately, his ALT count (liver enzymes) is still high due to the chemo, and probably the Rimadyl. Dr. Hedlin was out on Monday when we came in for his leg but when she saw him yesterday, she agreed that it’s probably a CCL injury. The oncologists at CSU want to delay his second dose of Lomustine (CCNU) until the numbers improve. He’s not a good candidate for surgery to repair the CCL while his blood work is off. Dr. Hedlin suggested a leg brace in the interim to help provide stability.

Knee Deep in the Blues

Yesterday, I took Jake on his morning walk. He was doing his typical route, stopping to check messages and marking everything. At one point, he fell behind and I called his name to hurry him along. He trotted over to me. In the middle of a yard, he yelped like he stepped on something and started limping. I figured there was just something stuck in his pad but when we got home, I couldn’t find it. He wouldn’t put any weight on it the rest of the day and stuck to his bed. I took him to Aspenwood Animal Hospital when they opened this morning for an exam. They’re pretty sure he tore his ACL. Technically it’s called a CCL (Cranial Cruciate Ligament) in a dog but you get the idea. (And did you know a dog’s knee is called a stifle?) It’s apparently a common injury in Labs his age. They sent us home with more Tramadol for pain and started him on another medication called Rimadyl. Surgery is usually recommended to repair the tear. They also said that when one leg goes, the other follows within a few months. What a drag it is getting old, huh? Hey, but the tumor is completely gone. If I have to choose between an aggressive cancer and a bum leg, I’ll pick #2 any day.

Always Remember to Respect and Honour Your Mother

You don’t see pics of me here much. The rare ones feature me and Jake. So this is a quick break to say hi to my mom, Jean. I always liked this picture of her on the water at Fort Walton Beach, Florida. She’s responsible for my love of all things water-based…oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, seas, bayous, ports, streams. Our skin was so brown in those summers. Did “SPF” even exist back then?

Eight years ago, Dad suddenly called us all home. Mom had reached the final days of her long illness. My plane landed in Florida and I went straight to the house. It was filled with family and friends and boiled shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. I talked to her for awhile the night I arrived and loved her sharp sense of humor, even through the morphine haze. She soon went to sleep that night and I thought we would continue the conversation in the morning. For the next three days, she slept but we never talked again. I just sat on the bed with my dad, sister and brother, playing games, watching TV, and waiting. On the morning of August 16th, I watched her take her last breath, much like she watched me take my first. Jake came home from the breeders a few weeks later and everything hurt just a tiny bit less.

On vacations now, when I step onto a beach for that first moment, I feel the sand against my feet and I swear I if I turned around just then, I might see her behind me on a lounge chair, auburn hair and olive skin, peering over a book and smiling. If our Mother’s Day post wasn’t enough to make you stop and call YOUR mom, do you think you might go do it now?

Numbers With Wings

Jake started a different chemo drug called Lomustine (CCNU) on July 24th. Although it appears to be working, there are also many possible side effects and regular blood tests are required. We took him to Aspenwood Animal Hospital on July 31st for a follow-up blood test with Dr. Hedlin. Unfortunately, his neutrophils (white blood cells) were low and his ALT count (liver enzymes) was high. We waited a week and retested on August 12th. As you can see in this report, almost everything is back in the normal range with the exception of the ALT. Lomustine can cause chronic irreversible liver failure in dogs so we really want to be careful. He was scheduled to take his second dose tomorrow but the oncologists up at the CSU Animal Cancer Center want to delay it until his numbers get back to normal. We’ll retest again on August 20th.

Lunch Break

Late lunch today so we could try something different. We went downtown to the Pooch Power Hour at Panzano’s. It’s an upscale Italian restaurant located in the Hotel Monaco (another pet-friendly hotel). The promotion runs every Sunday from 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm until further notice. The patio is right on 17th Avenue and I think every table had a least one dog sitting by it. We talked to everyone sitting around us. People are so chatty with complete strangers when there's a dog at their side. We ordered sausage sliders from the outdoor grill and a couple Stella’s on draft. Jake enjoyed his house-made Peanut Butter Pupcakes.

Home and Dry

I closed on my house two years ago today. It was a long, complicated search, like most of them are I suppose. The first day I saw it, I thought the landscaping was perfect. No work needed there. But the interior? Oh, my. You don’t even want to know. It took a lot of time, money and labor to get it turned around but I love it now. I was fortunate to have help from several good friends. When I walk around the house, I see their input in every detail…large and small. It occurred to me today that Jake is the main reason I bought this place instead of a loft or a condo. He spent the day outside with Danny and me, lounging on the grass while we worked in the yard. Later, we cooked brats on the grill in the backyard. Oh, and by the way, I start my new job on Monday. How much better can things be? As Spalding Gray said, a perfect moment.

Promised You a Miracle

OK, something is working. Jake’s leg has improved dramatically. The bump has virtually disappeared and the wound has healed. Look at this posting or this one if you want to see the difference. Is it the Liposomal Clodronate or Lomustine? Antibiotics or anti-inflammatories? Positive thinking or prayer? Ah, does it really matter? It’s all about living in the moment, don’t you think? No more bandages for now. But you might see them pop up again when we need to accessorize. Everything looks good on a white background.

Denver Parks #23

Here’s Jake at the Gates Tennis Center. It’s actually open to the public, something I did not know. It was renovated last year and now features 20 courts. They’re also hosting the Colorado State Open from September 11th – 20th. I’ve driven by this one hundreds of times but never stood here until today. That’s one of the things I enjoy about this process. Stopping the car, getting out and just absorbing the environment for a moment instead of rushing by at 40 mph.

Greatest Hits

Welcome to our 100th post. Last week, someone asked me to name some of my favorite entries. It dawned on me that I rarely look back at them. There will be plenty of moments for reminiscing someday. Right now, it’s all about real time. Back when we started this, I wasn’t sure how long it would last. Now we’ve hit the 3-month anniversary and we’ve packed some really memorable experiences into a short timeframe. So how do I pick one? I always liked the simplicity of our first post. And the origin of the name, That Soft Dog. The recent shoots at the Denver Broncos home field and the 9News Backyard were definitely unique. But I like them all in different ways. If you want a couple more ideas, try this Top 10 list:

Mother’s Day – Jake and his mom, Sentara
Every Day is Halloween – Jake dressed up
Bring on the Dancing Horses – the Mustang at DIA
Coat of Many Colors – Jake at the peak of Nuggets-mania
Who is He (And What Is He to You?) – one of my favorite posts
Blue Monday – Big Blue Bear at the Convention Center
American Boy – Incredibly fun 4th of July weekend in the mountains
Aliens vs. Predator – Dancing Aliens
Red Dirt Girl – Red Rocks
Come See About Me – Jake’s birthday party invitation

Ride a White Horse

Back in May, Jake and I were taking photos around the Children’s Museum and I spotted the sign nearby for Gates Crescent Park. Of course we needed to snag a shot for our collection of Denver Parks. I noted that Invesco Field was in the background across the highway and that it would be fun to try to get Jake on the turf somehow. So here you go. Jake down on the Bronco’s home field. This one was an awesome experience. I’ve been to plenty of games both here and at the old Mile High Stadium but I’ve never had an opportunity to stand on the actual turf. Sometimes Jake helps me do something new, too. Training camp starts today…Go Broncos!

Denver Parks #22

We’ve been so busy with vet appointments and the more complicated photo shoots lately. I just realized it’s been awhile since I’ve taken Jake to a new park. Here’s another one on the sister city world tour, right on the bike path next to Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Milk Cow Blues

Best piece of outdoor artwork at the Denver Art Museum, hands down. It’s called “Scottish Angus Cow & Calf” by Dan Ostermiller. A lot of people must like it too because someone is always hovering around, waiting to have their photo taken in front of it. Especially kids. Today was Jake’s turn. I worked at the DAM for several years during the expansion. BTW, best office location I ever had. Right inside the new Hamilton Building. Whenever I needed a mental health break, I just walked upstairs and strolled through a few galleries. How cool is that?

Two things stick in my mind about these bronze sculptures:

First, I remember the day they installed them. The pieces pulled up on a flatbed truck. I walked out of the museum to the surreal sight of the calf sailing through the air at the end of a crane.

Second, it wasn’t even part of the initial plan for the artwork outside the new building (like the Big Sweep or Denver Monoliths). Someone wanted to donate it to us. We found an empty spot on the south end of the site. It was one of those serendipitous events where the single best thing is always the one that you didn’t anticipate. Unscripted. Unplanned. Unexpected. Just like Jake’s current journey.

Weird Science

The UPS truck dropped off Jake’s chemotherapy drugs this week. We were going to the CSU Animal Cancer Center today for his final biopsy of the clinical trial so I just took the medication up there. I figured that they are experts at giving pills to reluctant dogs. I’m so happy that we were able to participate in the liposomal clodronate study. I really do believe it slowed (or stopped?) the growth of his tumor. The ulceration is almost gone, too. And I’m also proud that we were part of a research study that may help other dogs, and possibly even humans, in the future. His next drug is called Lomustine (CCNU). They gave him 4 pills today and he’ll do this every 3 weeks indefinitely. He’ll also need to have his blood checked within 10 days after each dose to monitor side effects. But that will give us a good excuse to go visit his regular vet, Dr. Hedlin.

A Different Kind of Weather

If you live in Colorado, you know the weather has been unpredictable this year. Turn on your TV and there’s a good chance you’ll see a severe thunderstorm watch or a tornado warning. We were watching the late news one night and I had one of those “what if?” moments. It took a couple weeks to pull this one off but here you go: Jake in the 9News Backyard. We did it at 1pm to work around the newscasts so we didn’t get to say “hi” to the meteorologists. Too late for Becky Ditchfield. Too early for Kathy Sabine. Since it was a weekday, we missed Ashton Altieri and Marty Coniglio, too. But we got bonus points for meeting one of the anchors, Kirk Montgomery.

Lunch Break

After a flurry of doctors’ appointments, Jake and I were ready for a proper lunch break. It’s great to see his usual routines restored. He seems mostly unconcerned about the bump on his leg. Sometimes he tries to get the bandage off but it’s not having an impact on his quality of life yet. And amazingly the ulceration is healing up quite a bit, probably due to the clinical trial treatment. I was pleasantly surprised to see its condition yesterday when I changed his dressing. Maybe the bandages will be able to come off occasionally? We headed downtown, with no particular destination in mind. On 17th Avenue, I noticed the patio at Steuben’s was almost empty. We snagged Doris Day parking right in front. It’s a fun throwback 50’s style diner with comfort food. I love the location in a converted auto-body repair shop. Like many table-service spots, you officially can’t have a dog on the patio but Jake’s good about sitting on the other side of the fence when you ask him. They brought him a bowl of water, too. Always appreciated. I ordered the cheesesteak and Jake helped me with the fries. Soon we were home, where Jake headed immediately for the oasis of the bathroom floor.

Chance Meeting

Although it’s been blisteringly hot lately, it was so mild this morning. Jake and I haven’t been on many trips lately due to his treatments & appointments, and my work commitments. Right now, his attitude is upbeat and his energy level has returned. You would never know anything was wrong except for his brightly-colored bandage. We were overdue for some fun so I thought I’d take him to the VERY dog-friendly Farmers Market in Cherry Creek and support some Colorado-based growers. I was buying fresh tomatoes and basil from a stand when I bumped into our friends, Jeff & Ryan. They missed Jake’s birthday party since they were out of town. We bought some steaks from a natural beef vendor there and quickly made plans for a last minute cookout at our house tonight. I’ve said it before but this dog is a canine version of Facebook when it comes to reconnecting old friends. So many unexpected connections happen when we go out.

Golden Years

Even though his leg has improved so much, I’m wary about leaving Jake alone too long until it’s fully healed. He’s pretty sneaky. He pretends not to notice the brightly-colored bandage when you’re in the same room. Give him an hour alone and it will be shredded like confetti. Susan and Larry live a few doors down so I asked if they’d watch him while I went to a job interview. Whenever Jake goes on a walk by their house, he makes a beeline to their front door. It’s made of glass so he can see their two Golden Retrievers, Marni and Montana. You’d think he was just greeting the dogs but he knows if he stands there long enough, Susan magically appears with a couple treats. She’s done that since he was a puppy.

Perfect Skin

Jake spent the day at the CSU Animal Cancer Clinic for tests and restaging. Officially, his diagnosis is a Malignant Histiocytosis of the right forelimb and right prescapular lymph node. We met with his oncologists, Dr. Lana and Dr. Carlsten today. His chest x-rays are clear and showed no evidence of metastasis. Nice. The x-rays of the tumor on his leg did not show any effect on the bone which is also good. However, during the abdominal ultrasound, they noticed a possible mass on his spleen. It could be related to the cancer but it might also just be an “infarct” (Google it if you really want to know). We’ll go back to CSU next month for another ultrasound to recheck that. No surgery or radiation at this point, but we decided to start a chemo drug next week. It’s called Lomustine (CCNU). Luckily it’s in pill form and we can give it to him at home. He’ll take 2 pills every 3 weeks indefinitely. He’ll need occasional blood work which we can do at his vet’s office. They’ll send the results to his oncologists for review so it will save us a road trip. His belly was shaved for the ultrasound and his skin looks so funny. Like a baby mouse. Although I bet he likes the way it feels on the bathroom tile.

Dress You Up

Jake’s bandage gets changed daily now. The ulceration on his leg is looking much better. It’s not nearly as “wet” as it was a couple weeks ago. I doubt it will ever be completely back to normal but I think it is healing somewhat. My day was booked with meetings and I was worried about leaving him alone. He's not in pain but he wants that bandage off. If he’s unsupervised for too long, he shreds it. I definitely don’t want it to get infected. I called Aspenwood Animal Hospital to see if they could watch him. Jake stayed in Dr. Laura’s office the whole day, hanging out with her dogs on the cool floor. He’s always liked going to see her and I’m really glad that we have reasons to go back. It was also nice to drop him off at a vet and NOT have any procedures done on him for a change. When I picked him up, he had this cool bandana around his neck.

I Want a New Drug (Final Week)

Today was the last of the 6 treatments in the CSU clinical trial. Mondays are always the same but now we know what to expect. Around 3pm, he throws up everything and has diarrhea. He always run a fever but tonight it’s actually not too bad. Only 103.7 degrees. He sleeps most of the day but by Tuesday morning he’s up early and ready to fetch the newspaper. We’ll see the oncologist soon for restaging. We are still considering chemo and surgery but we’ll know more soon.

Just Like a Pill

Jake is taking a few medications right now. He’s on an antibiotic (Cephalexin) three times a day to prevent infection on his leg. He also gets an occasional pain medication (Tramadol) on Mondays. He’s taken heartworm pills for years and has always eaten them like they were treats. But there must be something about the antibiotic that he doesn’t like. Maybe the smell. Or maybe it bugs his stomach. I try to hide it in different foods. It only works a couple times before we have to move onto something else. At first I could wrap it in a piece of salami. Now’s he onto that trick and won’t touch it. Then I switched to a peanut butter on a cracker. That worked a few times. After that, a tortilla chip with spinach dip. I’m running out of pill delivery system ideas. He is so darn smart.

I Want a New Drug (Week 5)

Jake went up to the CSU Animal Cancer Center for his weekly treatment. He has one more on July 13th and then we’re done with the clinical trial. After that, we do a new round of x-rays and an ultrasound so we can discuss the future options for him. He had the usual side effects tonight. Upset stomach and fever but they’re always gone by Tuesday.

Brand New Friend

As expected, the Westin Riverfront was phenomenal. The hotel was ready for Jake once again and treated him like a star. He met a lot of the staff who missed seeing him the first time but have been following his story ever since. One of them even brought her Golden Retriever, Stella, to hang out with Jake in the lobby for awhile. (Thanks, Courtney!) All in all, a very memorable weekend in a scenic location. I’m so glad we repeated this particular outing. And who knows…maybe we’ll be able to do it one more time?

Burning Down the House

We went to the Farmers Market in Vail and walked by the fire station on the way back. I know Dalmatians are usually known as the firehouse mascot but I think Jake would be a great substitute if they ever needed one. He even did a few of his tricks for the firemen.

American Boy

Jake was up at his usual time for breakfast. No wake-up calls needed when you travel with him. We headed over to Vail Village to watch their parade. Jake’s bump is pretty “meaty” right now so we’re changing his bandages daily. Today we decided to improvise a patriotic theme with red, white and blue stripes. Dan bought him a flag bandana last week so we added that to complete the look. Jake was definitely a hit. Lots of smiles from people. Kids running over to pet him. We were searching for a shady spot to watch the parade.

There was a sweet little restaurant, Marketplace on Meadow Drive, right on a busy corner. We stopped to buy a couple drinks on their patio and noticed one table was empty, but had a sign that said, “Reserved for Julie & Larry”. Not surprising considering the prime viewing location. However, the parade hadn’t started so we asked the hostess if we could sit there until they arrived. Normally I wouldn’t even try something like that but having Jake around always alters the process a bit, and now I’m finding it always improves the outcome. Like a lucky charm. Eventually the manager came over to us and told us he seated the group in another location and that we were welcome to have the table for the day. SCORE! We ended up with this incredible view of the passing parade as it rounded the corner right in front of us. We had a couple extra chairs and when we noticed a family standing nearby, we asked them to join us. A grandmother, her daughter and their brand new grandchild…”Nana”, Lisa and Cadence. Great parade. Perfect setting. New faces and conversation. Such a fun outing and so wonderful to share the unexpected good fortune with someone else, too.

Jake, Dan and I headed back to the Westin for an afternoon nap.

Turn on the Bright Lights

The town of Avon did their fireworks show tonight. The Westin is in such a perfect location to see them. We just walked out the front door and watched them from the lawn. Jake has never been afraid of loud noises like fireworks or thunder. I think he just loves to be in the middle of all the action.

History Repeating

This process has been about trying new things, mostly. But you know, some things in life are so good that maybe it’s OK to go back and try to recreate them. You might not duplicate the entire experience but it’s possible that you’ll get something just as good, but with a slightly different twist. Jake and I decided to head back to the mountains for the holiday weekend. Dan joined us this time at the Westin Riverfront.

Thank You For Being a Friend

Jake had an incredible birthday party! Susan gave Jake this dog biscuit from Three Dog Bakery! Thanks to everyone who stopped by: Susan, Matt, Paul, Jon, Barry, Sam, Mojo, Sophie, Jim, Tom, Scott, Dave, Jay, Jill, Dr. Laura, Beau, Chris, Michael B, Judy, Judy Ann, Peter, Gabe, Lisa and Monica.

Happy Birthday!

We made it! Jake is 8 years old today. So, what to give the dog that has everything? A few weeks back, I enrolled him in an amazing program at The Children’s Hospital called YAPS (Youth and Pet Survivors). They connect children and dogs that are both dealing with cancer and help them start a pen pal relationship. They share stories back and forth about their lives, families, interests and treatment. Jake got his first email this week from someone in the program. It was a cool e-birthday card, his first one of the week!

Come See About Me

Jake turns 8 on Thursday. His cancer was diagnosed on April 18th. I wasn’t sure that we’d make it this far. Party time and you're invited! No bone-shaped cake made of Alpo with a sparkler on top. We won’t sing "Happy Birthday” to a confused dog. Don’t bring gifts. He has enough toys. (If you must spend your hard-earned cash, just make a donation to CSU Animal Cancer Center where's he being treated.)


This is just an opportunity to get together with friends who have enjoyed Jake’s antics over the years. I’m not sending a formal invitation. No Evite. No mass emails. No RSVP’s necessary. Just swing by our house anytime from 7pm – 9pm on Thursday, July 2nd. The side gate will be open and we’ll have some cold beverages on the patio. If you don’t know the address, send an email to jakeygianni@gmail.com and we’ll give you directions.

If you can’t make it due to the holiday weekend, we understand. Just promise us you’ll do something with your own dog this weekend. Take them on a long walk someplace new. Or for a swim. Go find a shady patio for lunch or coffee. Give them a bath. Or if you’re really brave…think of some really ridiculous idea and do it. You’d be surprised how much fun it will be for both of you.

Close to the Bone

Thunderstorms, rain, hail, funnel clouds, flash floods, tornadoes. Ever heard of virga and graupel? Denver’s weather has been volatile this month. It was too wet today for an outing with Jake. I stumbled upon a fascinating photo to post instead. This is an x-ray that Dr. Hedlin took last month. You can really see the magnitude of the tumor on his leg. Every Monday during his treatment at CSU, the vets measure and photograph the bump. The good news is that it doesn’t appear to be growing anymore. And now that he’s had 3 treatments, we may actually start to see some reduction in the size.

Hairshirt

Jake is doing so much better today. He powered through the drug side effects last night like a champ. The fever is gone again. I had an 11am haircut appointment and wasn’t sure what to do. He seemed stable enough to leave alone but now I’m a little anxious on these post-treatment days. And besides, who brings a BIG dog to their salon? Hmm. I find myself asking “Why not?” about a lot of things these days. Tuesdays are usually slower at No 55 Salon so I called and asked if it would be OK to bring Jake. They said “sure!” and we were off. Karla and I realized this was the first time she has met Jake. He curled up on the cool concrete floor behind the barber chair. I could see him in the full-length mirror and watched him sleep.

“I am not the type of dog
That could keep you waiting
For no good reason”

“Hairshirt” by R.E.M.

I Want a New Drug (Week 3)

They actually let me watch Jake’s treatment this time, which was very cool. Here he is with the IV in his other leg. I sat by him, talking to him and petting him. It only took an hour. He was so cooperative. On the drive back, he slept in the back seat. We stopped to get some chicken for lunch back in Denver. He’s definitely showing some of the same side effects again but milder. Around 4pm, he threw up and has been lethargic all afternoon. He also has a slight case of the runs so you can tell his stomach is unsettled. His temp is on the high side at 104.8 degrees. But overall the side effects seem better than last Monday. Today was a vast improvement.

Happy Father's Day

Here’s a pair for you. The first one is Jake’s dad, Harvey Wallbanger. He looks like a negative image of Jake. On Mother’s Day, I posted a pic of me and my mom, so I figured I better give equal time to my dad, Bob. This is a shot from YMCA Indian Guides. Our names: Big Bison and Little Buffalo. Stop laughing and go call YOUR dad. Mine will probably be on the links somewhere.


Tomorrow Jake goes back to CSU for his 3rd cancer treatment. Monday night should be a little easier now that we know what side effects to expect, and that they’re mostly gone by Tuesday.

Lunch Break

The side effects from the cancer treatment were a little scary on Monday. High fever. Sad eyes. No appetite. Slept all day. However, by Tuesday he was almost back to normal. I decided to slow down the pace of these updates to give him a chance to recover. Today he was 100% so we went out for lunch. This is another local restaurant group, Noodles. We picked the Cherry Creek North location, which was their first store in 1995. They’ve redone their patio and it looks fantastic. Our server asked if she could bring Jake some water. She said technically they don’t allow dogs on the patio but as long as no one complained, we were OK.

I Want a New Drug (Week 2)

Jake went to Fort Collins for his second cancer treatment. He’s exhausted and he slept most of the day. His temp is 104.5 degrees which is about where the vet said he was last Monday. Last week he spent the night up at CSU so I didn’t get him to see him at this point. Hopefully this is just the typical reaction to the medication. He didn’t want his usual dinner but after Dan and I ate, Jake came into the kitchen and had a few pieces of leftover steak. No photo shoot today so here’s one from the vaults.

Lunch Break

Jake and I met Steph for lunch again. On the way downtown, I spotted a perfect patio at 17th Avenue and Franklin Street. It’s a great Vietnamese restaurant called Parallel 17. We staked out a shady corner table and I called to give directions. It’s fun to catch up with her. I ordered a Saigon Sandwich with pomme frites. Jake doesn’t care what they’re called…pomme frites, French fries or freedom fries. He even loves tater tots.

Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?

Someone called about Jake today. Two questions stumped me:

1) Are you doing this blog for Jake or yourself?

Well, “all of the above”, I guess. Early on, I had to update so many people about him. I thought it would be easier to do it this way. Then I started to take him to different places. Some that I always go to. Some that were brand new for both of us. Maybe he doesn’t care whether we go to a park or a restaurant or some landmark. But I can tell he enjoys going somewhere. And sure, it’s been a great experience for me, too. I really wanted a record of what we did during this time. There are so many great photos and stories. I’ve only shared a few on this site. So yeah, I guess we both get something out of it.

2) Do you think he knows he’s going to die?

Oh my. I don’t know. I guess the question should really be “Do you think he knows he’s going to die soon?” I wonder about that often. His days are always full and he sticks to the usual routine. He’s not in pain. He hasn’t changed much. He’s just Jake. I must say I’m pretty inspired by him. I’m more intrigued by the question “Why do we treat the ones we love differently when we find out we are going to lose them?”

I hung up the phone and took Jake for his usual 4pm walk. On the way back from the park, we bumped into Jed’s owner. Jed is the yellow Lab with cancer that we met the week I started this blog, back on May 5th.

He told me Jed passed away over Memorial Day weekend. I can't write anything else right now.

All About the Benjamins

I recently discovered this in my “Jake” file. It’s the receipt when we picked him up from the breeder. There’s a whole lotta coolness packed into that $500 furball. He was worth every Benjamin. Take a look at the date…9/10/01. Yep, we got him the night before the terrorist attacks. So in addition to having a new puppy in the house a few weeks after I lost my mom, we also had a welcome diversion from the sad images that dominated the media the next day. Jake has always managed to take the sting out of any bad situation.

Jake’s birthday is coming up quick on July 2nd. Honestly, when we first got his diagnosis, I didn’t think he would make it. Or that he wouldn't be in good shape. Now I think it’s time for a birthday BBQ to celebrate! More details to follow…

I Just Want to See the Boy Happy

Back to Fort Collins to pick him up. Jake went crazy when he spotted me in the waiting room. He was wearing one of those funny Elizabethan collars so he wouldn’t lick the biopsy site. Bumping into my legs and knocking over stuff. So happy to see me. The staff said he did well during the night. He had only a mild fever which is a good indication the drug is having an effect. It was gone by morning. He curled up on the back seat of the car and slept the entire drive back to Denver. It’s funny to see all these shaved patches on his legs for IV’s. We return on Monday for Week #2 of the study. No overnight stay necessary on future treatments so we’ll probably work in a few “Lunch Break” stops in Fort Collins.

I Want a New Drug

Jake and I drove up to Fort Collins this morning, which is an hour north of Denver. We had an appointment at the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University. There’s a clinical trial for canine soft tissue sarcomas that seems promising. It has helped shrink tumors in other dogs. I was really impressed with the entire experience the moment we walked in the door. The entire staff was incredible. Love the volunteers, too. After we met with the vets and they reviewed his case, he was accepted into the study. He received his first IV infusion of a cancer drug called liposomal clodronate. They had to keep him overnight to monitor any side effects, so I drove back to Denver. I just got a call from the vet and he says Jake is doing great. They’ll call in the morning when I can pick him up. I really love the idea of doing this study, and if we’re lucky, it will give us a little more time together. We might even end up helping others in the same situation in the future.

Bring on the Dancing Horses

If there’s one piece of public art in Denver that anyone has an opinion about, it’s probably this one. It’s called “Mustang/Mesteño” by Luiz Jiménez. You’ll find it on the drive out to Denver International Airport. I thought it was brilliant when it was unveiled. I love it even more after Jake and I got a rare opportunity to see it in person. The textures and colors are even more striking up close. Some people have called it “demonic” and “scary” and have campaigned to remove it. Hoo boy, you guys need to get out more if you’re that disturbed by a 32-foot piece of fiberglass. The horse stays. Now go find something more productive to do with your time.

(Muchas gracias to Jeff and Matt for setting this one up, and to Jenny for making the initial introduction.)