Hey everyone! I bet you're wondering why I haven't updated Slobberspace in a while. After Venus's death and Slidell's surgery I didn't want to post any more sad news, and it seemed like sad news was all I had. But I have some great news now. Slidell has completely recovered from surgery and he's like a brand new dog again. He even has his own kitten! These photos were taken with my iPhone, and you can see more of them if you follow me on Instagram. (Instagram is a very addictive social photo app for the iPhone. My handle is Kuperberg.)
The other great news is that I'm rebranding Slobberspace and it's going to be bigger, better, and more slobberful. So stay tuned, and if you sign up on my e-mail list you'll get a notice when the new site goes live! (Click "get e-mails" up at the top.)
Slidell's surgery
Mon
Aug 1, 2011
Hi everyone, I apologize for not updating sooner but it's been a rough spring and summer animalwise in our household. Three weeks after Venus died we lost our dear cat Vashti, and that same week we found out that Slidell needed back surgery. On top of all that, the pre-surgery bloodwork led our vet to discover a tumor on his parathyroid which had to be removed. Both surgeries were done the same day. I was going to post this sooner but first I had to make sure the surgeries went well because I don't want this blog to turn into Sadspace with so much drama. Now I can report some happy news... 6 weeks later Slidell is recovering very well. He is still not allowed to run or jump until October but when that time comes he will be a happy, active dog again.
Slidell recently got a new kitten who is keeping him very entertained in his convalescence.
Slidell wants to thank Dr Gieger at San Francisco Vet Specialists for doing such an outstanding job on his spinal surgery and all the follow up visits. He also made the stitches look nice and neat, so as not to interfere with Slidell's modelling career.
Our lives are measured in dogs. I would like this one to last a few more years. Thanks to Dr Geiger, I think he will.
Venus's coat gets a new owner
Sun
Jun 12, 2011
Last week I donated a bunch of Venus's old stuff like her bed and her medicine to Vet SOS a wonderful organization that provides veterinary services and pet supplies to homeless people.
I also donated her warm and fashionable orange raincoat. I was thrilled to see that her coat got a new owner, another Great Dane named Pepsi Cola who belongs to a homeless woman.
Here is a photo of Venus last Halloween with her coat (we temporarily put a Giants logo on it with electrical tape because it was during the world series).
And Ilana at Vet SOS just sent this photo of Pepsi looking fabulous!
Goldendoodle runs a half marathon... by himself!
Mon
May 23, 2011
From ESPN: "Unbeknownst to them, Dozer escaped his invisible fence and joined the 2,000-plus runners competing in the Maryland Half Marathon... and he crossed the finish line at the 2:14:24 mark."
Venus passed yesterday in the most peaceful and graceful way. She was 12 years old. Great Danes only live to be 8 on average, so Carla likes to say "she lived 150%". She had been slowly declining with arthritis, dementia, and general old age stuff. We wanted her last day to be a good day, so she had a hamburger for dinner and a final walk around the block (a slow walk), and we painted her toenails pink.
Our vet, Sandy Hazanow from 7 Hills, was kind enough to come to the house and put Venus down while we petted her and held her head in our hands. She didn't even seem to feel the needle. (Her back legs had gotten numb, which was part of her problem with walking). She went straight to sleep right in her bed, just as she would at night time.
Venus lived a long and happy life. She was loved by everyone and she loved everyone. We will never forget her big goofy smile. She was a great friend to Slidell and respected the cats like royalty. We loved her very much and we are honored to have spent the last four years with such an angel.
About Venus's Life:
The first 8 years of Venus's life were with a wonderful and loving woman from Oregon. We only know her as Linda and we know that she moved to Berkeley some time in 2006 and had some financial problems. She was evicted from her apartment and then living in her car with Venus and 3 cats. She loved Venus very much and did not want to give her up but eventually she had to move to a homeless shelter and gave Venus to the Milo Foundation.
Venus was 8 then, a sweet and gentle old dog. For a month no one wanted to adopt her because she was so old. She howled every night. We came along and thought she was perfect. We were prepared for the fact that she might only live another year, or maybe just a few months. We never thought she'd live another four years.
We know that her first mom did everything she could for her, and we could tell from Venus's personality that all she ever knew was love. We never met her first mom and have no way of getting in touch with her, so I'm kind of hoping, on some far off chance, that she might read this and know that Venus had another four wonderful years.
We plan to take Venus's ashes back to Oregon to scatter them.
Four Miniature Pinschers MOVIE
Sat
Apr 16, 2011
It's best if you watch it full screen :)
My Aunt's Dachshund
Mon
Apr 4, 2011
Lude belongs to my Aunt Rosa in Malmo, Sweden.
Four Monsters, I mean Miniature Pinschers
Sun
Apr 3, 2011
These are my cousin's four Miniature Pinchers (one is a mix). My cousin is also named Anna but in the family she is called Hanka and I am called Ania. She is a psychiatrist in Sweden, and the dogs are named: Freud, Sigmund, Ego, and Prozac.
Last Days with Oden
Mon
Mar 7, 2011
Oh my, this short documentary is so beautiful and real. You will cry so make sure you sit down in a quiet place and get a tissue before watching this.
Slobber Dogs
Thu
Feb 10, 2011
My babies, Venus and Slidell. Shot on some old expired film.
Designer Dogs is a hard cover coffee table book about new hybrid dog breeds. I photographed over 60 dogs for this book and it's chock full of cuteness. You can get it at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, and just about anywhere. If you click the icon to buy from Amazon, I will get a small percentage of the sale. It's my first book!
