December is upon us. With November ending, and bringing a close to my month-long #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month) #Epi-Star stories about amazing dogs living life with Canine Epilepsy, I thought it only fitting to give a look back on how my advocacy and ambassadorship began - with a 2013 feature on our journey in AmericanPet Magazine, when my beloved Gibson was the cover model!  To read the article, visit HERE, and our story begins on page 22. My dearest Gibson, you always inspired me with you beauty, pure joy, silliness, and zest for life. You will forever inspire me, as well as so many other Epi-dogs who are now on the same journey. You are truly my forever K9 Hero.    "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." ~Christopher Reeve    💜  Memories Are Visits For My Heart  💜     ***NOTE: If you have to post Anonymously, be sure to add your name/blog ...

  " No longer by my side, but forever in my heart." S o hard to believe my baby boy of my FiveSibes ~ "pupster" Wolfgang, a/ka/ Wolfie or Wolf or Baby Boy ~ joined my others north of the Rainbow Bridge four years ago today. He always looked and acted like a puppy, that even at 13.5 years of age, it was hard to tell by looking at him that he was a senior dog. His beautiful fluffy white coat hid any telltale age signs like gray fur. I think maybe that made it even more difficult when it was his time...because he just always looked like my fuzzy blue-eyed puppy.  Wolfie missed his pack family. He wasn't built for life without them. Thankfully, he and my grandson bonded, and us three wrote the book Wolfie, What Is The Rainbow Bridge? while my baby boy was still here with us. Waking up to this beautiful sweet face was always a wonderful routine... Wolfie was my "teenager"...he just loved to sleep in! The holidays are still an emotionally difficult time. I l...

W ith November now in our rear view, I want to say a heartfelt * Thank You * to all for reading, commenting, and sharing our #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong stories about amazing Epidogs for November's Epilepsy Awareness Month ( #NEAM ). If you haven't had the opportunity to read about these amazing dogs, you can by visiting HERE .    The journey with epilepsy has many trials and tribulations, but the loving bond between caregivers and dogs runs deep, and these amazing, resilient dogs show how living with Canine Epilepsy does not stop them from enjoying life, the same as any non-Epi-dog.  While some stories require more tissues than others, that is the nature of epilepsy; some stories are bright, while some others leave you reaching for more than one tissue. The sad reality is that not every Epi-dog's family gets a happy ending. However, there are therapies, medications, supplements, dietary and environmental changes, etc., that could help them live their best life while...

Epi-Star, "Tanner"        by Dorothy Wills-Raftery       Today, wraps up November's  National Epilepsy Awareness Month (#NEAM) where each year I'm pleased to highlight amazing dogs living with epilepsy (Epi-dogs) as part of my Annual #LiveGibStrong #Epi-Star Features!    All of these stories are also listed on my Special Series page HERE so you can read about all of our featured fabulous canine Epi-stars!   A little recap: for those new to my blog, I was inspired by my beloved Gibson, who was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy in 2009 shortly after his third birthday.   I began the #LiveGibStrong Canine Epilepsy  Awareness and Education Initiative, and also authored the What's Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy children's book and the  multi-award winning    EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Life With Canine Epilepsy  book that inspired this series...