I miss those big polar bear paws. Gibson was not only an amazing boy and Epi-warrior, he was quite the character! There are so many things I miss about him, and even with four other Huskies, his presence is greatly missed. I feel as though he is just out in the backyard, lounging on the deck until I call him in. And to hear so many of you tell me you miss seeing him, too, well, it just warms my heart to know of how many lives he touched. Since I'm a shutterbug by trade, suffice it to say I have a lifetime of photos of my FiveSibes, so Gibson will be popping in every now and again to share a memory and a smile with us all. Gibson was a very special boy. He was so in tune with me. He listened. He understood. He responded. I sorely miss our two-way conversations, his understanding, and his playfulness. He was just so much fun to be around. And when he was feeling good, he felt goooood! And on those days I was even more prouder of him, if that's even possible, because I was a...

Good morning! Wolf's surgery went well! The two masses removed and all looks good. They appear to be fatty, non-invasive tumors. They are being sent out to be certain. The tiny ones in his mouth turned out to be bone, and are all A-OK! He is home resting (under the watchful eye of his sis, Chloe) and a little out of it from the anesthesia and meds. But, he is home! Wolf had a good night. He slept well. (Waaaay better than Mom!)  He is such a good boy; a bit woozy, but comfy, not fussing with surgical areas, and happy to be home. I thank God and my angel Mom for keeping him safe, and I know furangel Gibson's strong fighting spirit is right alongside his little bro.  Harley, the Pupster's surrogate momma, and our alpha queen, checked on Wolf and sniffed him all over before relaxing. An alpha queen Momma's job is never done! Wolf goes back to the vet in a week for a follow-up visit, but we are all feeling very positive. Now...onward to healing!  We ...

"Thank woo for the prayers & positive thoughts." Well, dear readers, thi s will be a bit wordy of a Wordless Wednesday. I t's been a long night. While echoes of "Happy Birthday" are still ringing in the air from our Pupsters Wolf, Chloe, and Bandit turning "8" yesterday , today my boy goes into the vet hospital for surgery. So, once again, I am on that wild emotional roller coaster ride. I want off this crazy ride. Before my mother's health decline and passing in November, and before Gibson so suddenly fell ill  with Hemangiosarcoma and had to be set free during surgery nine days before Christmas, Gib's younger brother, my baby, Wolf, had been checked for some lumps I had found on him, too. He has two on his body - one on his side and one on his belly, and two tiny ones inside his mouth in the fold of the gums. While the aspiration shows the external ones as fatty, our vet does not like the location of it as the fear that it may bec...

Our Pupsters turn eight today! I can't believe it! I always love their birthday because this trio was able to grow up together! Watching them play and interact with each other from puppy stage to now 8-year-old puppy stage, has just been an amazing experience. They have such an amazing bond. They each have their own special traits and quirks, and yes, they have a bossy older sister (Bandit), just like siblings do, but they all love each other and eat, play, and sleep with each other with so much trust and love, it just warms my heart. They always loved their big brother, Gibson, and Harley immediately took on the role of surrogate mother when we brought these babies home!  I recently read somewhere that someone was looking for help raising two littermates, and one of the comments suggested she quick rehome one as it is never a good idea to welcome two puppies from the same litter into one's home. Ha! Rubbish, I say! My three are so wonderful, and truly bonded. Do they ...

--> #LiveGibStrong * #LiveGibStrongForever Today is Blog the Change for Animals and Flashback Friday and I’m talking about the upcoming Purple Day® for Epilepsy . In just 70 days, it will be March 26 - Purple Day! My Flashback is this photo of my boy, Gibson, with his poster for awareness that I take when I'm on the road talking about Canine Epilepsy, fundraising, or signing books, not just on March 26, but all year long . Many of you know by now that my beautiful Epi-Husky, Gibson, earned his wings and journeyed North of the Rainbow Bridge shortly before Christmas this past December. It was so sudden, I still can not believe he is gone. I feel, see, and hear him everywhere. He was my very special boy. My canine super hero. My heart dog. He was my inspiration and partner behind our #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness Campaign to let others know that dogs can – and DO – live full, happy lives with Canine Epilepsy. And in the end, it was not Canine Epile...

Bandit and Wolf: "Maybe if we stare long enough, a slice will jump right out of the box into our mouths! "

Kings River Life Magazine Part Two of my two-part series on the magnificent breed of the Siberian Husky is now out in Kings River Life Magazine is out! You can check out the full article in their January 9 issue HERE,  where I talk to other Husky experts on the subjects of dryland and snow mushing, therapy work, special needs, and rescue. In case you missed the first installment, please visit HERE , where I touch on the history of the Siberian Husky, urban mushing, and training tips specifically for this highly intelligent, sometimes stubborn, but always fun, breed! "If you know people who are contemplating adding a Husky to their family, please share my series with them to help in educating them on this...beautiful breed of dogs so the commitment they make to having a Siberian Husky will be a forever one." ~Dorothy Wills-Raftery A Siberian Husky parent for the past almost 11 years, this is an outstanding and wonderful breed. With their stunning beauty, ...

Today, my trip down Memory Lane is of my wooly boy, Gibson. Flashing back to April of 2006, when my sweet baby boy was just an adorable, already sweet, four month old puppy, and the second Siberian Husky to join our family! As soon as I saw him and picked him up, I couldn't put him down, and he didn't want me to! He had such captivating, soulful eyes, and I only had eyes for him! We snuggled and slept together on my recliner, with him on my lap (at four months he was already a good size and took up the length of me!) for the whole night. I was SO in love with this boy, a special love that has captured my heart for eternity. It was love at fluffy, wooly first sight! When I saw him come bounding out, doing a puppy version of what was to become his famous Gibbie Hip-Hop dance, I knew my Husky had just chosen me! He was so happy, something he would be always be throughout his too-short life...a very happy Husky! I honestly believe he was born that way! That day when we first me...

FiveSibes "Gibson" Les Paul of Mystic Mountain January 6, 2006 ~ December 16, 2015  Happy 10th Birthday to my sweet FurAngel Gibson on his first birthday in Heaven. If you were to ask me a month ago, I'd tell you this certainly was not how I was planning on spending today. But then again, we never do plan for these days, do we? While we know the day is inevitable, we secretly hope it never comes, that maybe it will be forgotten by fate... I spent most of today reminiscing...looking at photos and videos of Gibson with me and his pack family. I had hoped today would be similar to birthdays of the past - a day of celebrating with Gibson and the FiveSibes, complete with new toys, a singing toy "cake," Husky games, and a special bone-shaped ice cream cake proudly sporting those double digits 1-0, seven of them beating Canine Epilepsy and the seizure "monster."  Let's eat cake! January 6, 2012 I can see so clearly all those birthdays pas...