Saturday, August 25, 2007

Rest in peace Kimi (QQ)

,Mum broke down today as she was cleaning me after our walk. She was trying so hard to control her emotions all day when she learned that Kimi (QQ) died on the way to the hospital this morning. QQ was named Kimi, by his new owner, Joyce. He was fine last night, but suddenly went into fits at 5am this morning. He died in Joyce's arms in the car. Mum felt so sorry for Joyce as she had him for only 2 days. Thank you so much Joyce, for loving him, making him comfortable and giving him a home, please find comfort that Kimi is now in a better place where he is running and playing like all puppies do.

Here is a video in memory of the brave boy who fought so hard to live, he will live on in our hearts forever. We love you, Kimi!



The Rainbow Bridge (Author unknown)

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Friday, August 24, 2007

Watch "Hearty Paws" (人狗奇缘)




Hearty Paws (人狗奇缘)
Also Known As: “Maumy” and “Heart Is”
Starring: Yoo Seung-ho (as the brother), Kim Hyeong-ki (as the sister), Dali (as Maumy)
Director: Park Eun-Hyeong, Oh Dal-Gyun
Genre: Drama, Animal, Kids
Duration: 97 minutes
Production: SBS, Find Production
Distribution: ShowBox
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea
Year: 2006

Dino's Rating: 10/10 (Mum cried from beginning till the end of the movie, it is a wonderful story of a dog's courage, loyalty and the love between siblings)

Synopsis
“Maumy,” set to open in theaters on October 26, is a movie about a deep friendship between a dog named Maumy and a brother (Yoo Seung-ho) and sister (Kim Hyang-ki). Not surprisingly, one of the main characters is a four-year-old female Labrador Retriever named “Dari,” the first “acting dog” in Chungmuro. Labrador Retrievers are known for gentle and faithful natures and used as guide dogs for the blind or as drug sniffing dogs. (Source: hancinema.net)



Scenes from the movie:


About Dari
In the movie, Dari shows a variety of face expressions and excellent acting. The movie studio was enthusiastic about making Dari a star in the news conference.

Dari won several dog training contests and Dari’s owner Kim Jong-gwon brought Dari to the audition when he happened to find the news about making a movie with a dog as a main character.

The secret to Dari’s acting is its voracity. In the scene Maumy runs after a train on which Chani (the brother character) is, Kim was on the train with a fried chicken leg. Other scenes were also shot with the help of sausages and squid ice cream.

In the scene Dari covers with newspaper Chani who is sleeping on the streets as a homeless, Kim had to divide the move and train Dari for each part: bringing newspaper, crouching, and lowering its head.

The care for Dari, a “lead actress,” was the top grade. On a break, Dari rested in a Starex van with a carpet and curtained windows. It cost 5 million won to remodel the van. After a day with lots of shootings, Dari was allowed to rest the next day. Dari’s son Jjangi played the part of Dari in the scene of fighting with a Shepherd. An imitation was used for the scene Dari is bitten by the Shepherd.

Dari is a fine dog worth 100 million won. Kim received 50 million won for Dari’s acting in the movie. It may seem too much. But a consideration was given to the fact that Kim had to give up on his job as a business manager and concentrate on the movie. (Source: hancinema.net)

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Update on QQ

lJohnny and mum has been frantically looking for a home for QQ, Olive was not able to help look after QQ for the last two nights as her flatmate had some visitors at home. Mum had no choice but to leave QQ at Vet Huang's and told her that she will bear the boarding fees until they find someone to adopt QQ.

QQ has started coughing abit and is also passing out undigested food. Vet Huang says QQ may have digestive problems for the rest of his life. Looking at skinny QQ, mum thought to herself if it was wise to save QQ's life in the first place and let him live on with some health problems. Whatever it is, they can now only hope for the best and this is the best arrangement so far and so they all decided to help QQ find a home fast to avoid further exposure to other viruses at the vet's.

In the afternoon, Mum got a call from Vet Huang saying that a potential adopter has arrived! Yay!!!! Mum rushed down and found out that it is a colleague of Johnny's friend, her name is Joyce. The team of five came during their office lunch time to pick QQ up. Joyce is camera shy so mum only took two pictures of QQ in her arms. Mum also took one last photo with QQ before he goes home, she is so happy for QQ! At last he has a home, Mum is also delighted to find out that not only QQ has a mum now, he also has two god mothers! Mum has a good feeling that Joyce will make a good owner for QQ and thanked her for taking QQ in. Mum also told her not to desert QQ and she must contact anyone of us if she finds him not suitable for her. Mum is happy that she can always check with Johnny's friend about QQ's wellbeing and we must also not forget Johnny who had been fabulous in looking for a home for QQ. Mum and Vet Huang toasted the end of the horrible chapter of QQ's life with some iced lemon tea. We are all quite sure QQ will recover better under the Joyce's love and care. Goodbye QQ, have fun in your new home and get well soon! We missed you already!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

I have a new metal leash



Mum is intent on mastering the walk with me and heeding the advice of her cyber friends, she got me a metal leash. I did not try and bite on the metal chain, but I did attempt to reach for the canvas strap at the top of the leash this morning when I got excited after seeing Honey, the five month old golden retriever, I think he is one cute guy! Mum says she is not giving up on me and said we are going to give it a try again later in the day.



Mum is running a slight fever, so after we finished our afternoon walk, we went to the pharmacy to pick up some medicine and cooling pads. When we reached home, Mum told Dad that I was amazingly good during the walk and the trip to the pharmacy. Mum is wondering to herself if I know that she is feeling a little under the weather.
Here's a new video clip of yours truly mastering the walk with Mum. I will try to be a good boy, Mum!

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Buddy Avilyn got me a Tigger!






My Buddy, Avilyn made pasta for mum today, she is really sweet and even got me a new toy. Mum says Avilyn is a good cook, the pasta, soup and salad were excellent, unfortunately I was not allowed to have any of it. Oh well....at least I have a new toy Tigger!




Update on QQ:
QQ is recovering well and will be going to his foster home tomorrow night. Here are two photos of QQ taken at tonight. His appetite is good, but he still has some watery stools.


Saturday, August 18, 2007

Project QQ - Day Five

lThings are finally looking up! QQ has started to eat some food and he is eating with gusto. Everyone is rejoicing! He still has a little diarrhea, but Vet Huang says his condition is under control and if he stays that way, he should be able to go home tomorrow. Yay!!! I look forward to playing with him! Thank you everyone for your support!!!

Friday, August 17, 2007

Project QQ - Day Four

QQ is going strong on the fourth day. He still had diarrhea today, but he looked much better than yesterday. He is a very quiet little puppy and mum heard him bark for the very first time today. Vet Huang made a yummy lunch box for mum today and she was pleasantly moved.



That made her day as Dad and Johnny are both not around to share what she is going through. Mum was also glad that she could share her worries with the nice people at The Gold Post. They were all very supportive and that also helped mum to stay strong for QQ.

Get well soon, QQ!



Vet Huang rescued two other puppies yesterday, sigh....what's the matter with all these people? Here is Puppy A, the owner brought him to Vet Huang and said that he does not have time for it and do not want to keep him anymore. Having said that, he left the puppy behind, turned around and ran!!!??? I am happy to report that when mum visited QQ again at night, Puppy A has been adopted. He is one lucky guy!

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Then there is Puppy B, who was less fortunate. The owner threw him out of a 4th floor window and he was rescued by a passerby. Puppy B had his tail snipped off and it was badly infected, sadly Vet Huang had to put him to sleep to end his suffering. Goodbye Puppy B, see you at the Rainbow Bridge.

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Project QQ - Day Three

Mum had another emotional day as QQ had to be rushed for an emergency surgery today. Vet felt his abdomen and said there was something wrong with his intestines, a blockage or something and have to be operated immediately. QQ was put under anesthesia and then onto the surgery table for about 45 minutes. Mum was crying the whole time he was in there. Mum was so worried that he may not wake up, but luckily the little one came out of the operating room conscious. Vet removed about a third of his intestine and also removed a hernia on his abdomen. QQ lost quite a lot of blood and vet had to gave him a blood transfusion.

Mum felt so sorry for QQ. He is so skinny that his ribs shows and he is starting to have mucous from his nose. He also had diarrhea today and was coughing a bit. The signs are all not looking good. Vet says we will have to start the 3 day window period all over again to see if QQ will survive.

Thank you everyone for rooting for QQ, please continue to pray for him.

QQ, you have to be strong!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Project QQ - Day Two

Johnny and mum sent QQ to the vet again for his drips this morning. Olive said that QQ vomited last night, but otherwise he was active and looking good. Olive was afraid that QQ was bored last night and turned on the musical box for him. How sweet of her!

Vet said he looked better today, but Johnny and mum got a good scare when QQ shot out some bloody stools. It was really shocking and both of them started to get worried about him again.

QQ is a really sweet puppy, we all just cannot believe what his owner did to him by just throwing him away like a piece of garbage.

Please continue to pray for him, if he is able to pull through the third day tomorrow, then chances are good that he will not succumb to the virus.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Project QQ :(







Mum had a really bad day today. On her way to the supermarket, she saw a puppy who looks like a retriever loitering around the garbage collection center. She thought the puppy probably belongs to someone so she continued her grocery shopping. On her way back home, she saw the puppy again and told herself, it must be someone's puppy, it looks so sweet. She walked on and turned back to look at the puppy, sighed and asked herself, why is it roaming around the garbage?

When she entered the lift, she saw three dog owner aunties and they asked her if she saw the puppy outside? Mum said yes and asked if it belongs to someone? The aunties told her that the owner has thrown him away and the aunties pitied him and got him a sausage which he ate.

Mum was upset and didn't know what to do so she called her friend, Johnny and told him about the poor little puppy. Johnny immediately said he wanted to take a look, so mum met him downstairs.

The people at the garbage center told mum that the poor puppy was put into a carton box and thrown into the rubbish bin. Who could possibly do this to a small puppy? :( The guy at the garbage center even bought a bag of dog food for him and let him stay there. He said the puppy has diarrhea, so Johnny and Mum brought it to the vet.

The vet took his temperature, said it's a little high, but nothing to worry about. Next, she did the test for parvo virus, it came out negative and both Johnny and Mum were relieved! Lastly, she did the test for the distemper virus and unfortunately it turned out positive, Johnny and Mum were both dumbfounded! How could that be? He looks perfectly fine. What can they do now? Vet said the puppy is a baby labrador and is about 7 weeks old and suggested that they put him to sleep. Mum started to cry, her heart went out to the little one whom she named QQ, after Quill, the labrador guide dog in the famous Japanese movie.

Vet told them to discuss about it, face reality and not to let their emotions override their decisions, both of them already have their own dogs and are not able to take in another one, they pondered for a while about the future of this fragile little soul. Mum decided to call Dad, Dad is worried about the virus spreading to me and told mum to take extra precaution. Dad said he would bring him home with us if not for the fact that we are relocating. Mum cried her eyes out when she told Dad about the fate of QQ.

Mum dried her tears and asked vet about the treatment cost and Johnny and Mum decided to seek treatment for him. Putting him to sleep is not an option even if it costs next to nothing, they decided to give him medical attention and hope for the best. Vet said there will be a 50% chance of survival, if he responds to treatment for three days then chances will be good.

Vet started the drip on QQ and gave him some injections. QQ continued to have diarrhea and even vomited. He spent the night at Johnny's friend, Olive's house. Hope he recovers soon. If you are reading this, please say a little prayer for him. Get well soon, little QQ.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Send Birthday Greetings to Heather, a lovely lady in France

Friday was Heather's birthday, she is one of our cyber friends on The Gold Post, a great golden retriever resource website and a private forum for golden retriever owners, the administrator invited us to send our birthday wishes to Heather and a few of us sprang into action. See what we made specially for Heather that moved her to tears. The photos are all so fabulous and precious, I just have to rave about it here! Woof!!!

From Dino:
From Augie:
From Zazoo and Cosmo:
From Rocky:

From Dottie, Barrington and Olivia:
From Bailey:

From Moose:

From another Bailey:
From Molly:
From Tiberius: