Kali was a full bred Black Labrador. She was born at the very southern most part of New Jersey on September 20, 1998. Her mom was a beautiful black lab, her dad a yellow lab. She was one of nine black pups in the litter. There are so many words to describe her but sweet is the best word. She was only 7 weeks old when we picked her up from Cow Town, New Jersey. Our dear friends, Diane and Jimmy took me down to meet her. I had lost my yellow lab, Kelly on September 8, 1998. As much as I adored Kelly, I didn't want a dog that was similar. I didn't feel it right to compare them in any way. My Kelly was a wonderful dog and dear friend, I wanted Kali to be her own dog, and had hoped any differences would be just as wonderful. Over the next 12 years I knew she was different, but just as wonderful as my Kelly.
Different they were. Kelly was ill when we first got her, Kali was as healthy as can be. She had been one of the last pups in the litter to go, only her mom and one sibling remained. As my friend Jimmy drove us home, Diane and I got to know Kali. She slept a bit in my arms and found the tie on my sweatshirt a comfort as a chew toy. More enjoyable than the toys we had brought to keep her busy.
My mom and I decided on the name together, before Kali was even home. My mom always wanted a black dog so she could name it Midnight. I liked the name, but also liked Velvet, so we combined them. Well mom and I were very close, and together, were so very close to our yellow lab, Kelly. Kelly had been a little princess, she loved baths with sweet smelling perfume. One day we used a Connie Stevens' product called Kali shampoo. Kelly loved that perfume and would get all excited when bath time came and she could smell pretty like the shampoo. So Kali's name came from the three of us. Midnight Velvet Kali. She also got the name Diane put on the end of it, in honor of her godmother and my friend Diane.
Kali seemed to be right at home almost immediately. She slept in a crate that she loved, just like Kelly she felt it was her safe spot. Someplace she could go to when she didn't want to be bothered. Her first night she went out with me at midnight, cried around 3 to go out and each night got better and longer sleep. She never once soiled her bedding or the house. She was only 7 weeks old and already housebroken.
Over the first few weeks, all I saw was a different dog than my Kelly. Kali was a good dog too, don't get me wrong. Just had different likes and dislikes. Kelly had so many toys, all rubber, that's what she liked, but Kali liked stuffed toys, ones that made noise. She loved hearing all the different sounds her dollies made. On in particular was a yellow duck, that quacked. My mom would play with her with this duck. Kali loved that, and the fact my mom would quack and dance around thrilled Kali. She loved watching her grammy make a fool of herself. My mom loved to see the joy on Kali's face, so they had a lot of fun playing together. Kali, much like Kelly knew her toys. You could say go get Quackie, and she would come back with the duck. She also had a whole band in her toys. A piano, a trumpet, a drum, a guitar, a violin, all sorts of musical instruments, and when asked to go fetch one, would bring back the correct toy. Over the first several years she would destroy her toys ever so often and we would have extras for her. She also had a lion she loved, and loved the wooly like animals in particular her Ellie the elephant and Mr. Lamb, her lamb. She cared for them, but once there was a tear in one, she seemed to feel as if it was damaged and she wanted new. She got new.
Kali was growing and becoming one of the family, just like her sister Kelly. She wasn't as easy as Kelly in some ways. Kelly would never put just anything into her mouth. She wasn't the typical dog in that way, she only wanted clean things in her mouth. Kali though loved to go out in the yard and fine things to get into. One evening I got home from work. My mom was making dinner and I took Kali out into the yard to play a bit before dinner. It was about 10 after 6 and my mom called us into dinner. As she called I see Kali pick up something in her mouth. I tried to get her to give it up, but instead I hear a clink against her teeth and a hard swallow on her part. I wasn't sure what it was but feared it may have been a nail. We had had a new roof put on months before and the roofer assured us he was careful, but who knew. I yelled to my mom, she said get her to the vet. Our vet was on the next block, but they closed at 6pm. She tried them, but they had gone. A recording on the line said if it's an emergency to take the animal to the emergency vet about 20 minutes away. My mom called them to see if there was something we could do right away. They said time was important to get her to the hospital as soon as we could. I grabbed my purse, her leash and took off as fast as I could. On the way I discovered that Kali could be as big of a flirt as her sister could be. I had her sitting on the front seat with me, I felt so bad she was making faces, uncomfortable faces. I turned on the radio in the car hoping that would settle her a bit. Dean Martin singing Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime. Kali loved it, she was still making these faces and I look over at her and she's making eyes at a man in the next car as we sat at a light. The man was blowing kisses as her. As soon as the light changed I took off, I had to get her to the doctor. We got there and they brought her right into xray. It was just over 20 minutes, I drove as fast as I could, but we just couldn't get there any quicker. They xrayed her and sure enough she swallowed a 3 inch bent nail. She was so young, and I was so afraid we would lose her. The doctor said the nail had already passed through her stomach and was in the intestines. We had two options. Wait and see or operate. They felt she may pass it, but if it punctured anything, emergency surgery would be needed. I could bring her home, but if it did puncture something, we could lose her in the car on the way back. I called my mom and decided it would be best to have her there all night under doctor's watch. I hated coming home alone. I went to work the next day only because it was a few miles from the animal hospital. We waited and waited and at 3pm the following day the vet called my mom to say the nail had passed through her. She was fine and wanted to come home. I picked her up on the way home and she was happy and crazy as she was before. Scaring her mom and grammy to no end, but fine as could be.
A few months late we took her to her vet, he said she was doing good, except that she was shaking her head and scratching at her ears a great deal. The vet said she had an ear infection and also that she had the tiniest of ear openings, the size of a pin head for her big ears. The vet told us she would have to be knocked out to have them cleaned, and that she would have to have them done every six months. Kelly went through the same, but her ears had big openings that I could clean without a problem. Kali wasn't so lucky. Our vet had learned a new procedure to modify dog ears, allowing for bigger openings to allow dirt and wax to escape, air to get in, and with gentle care the owner could clean the ears without causing pain to the dog. Again we had a choice. Pay 2 to 3 hundred every six months or so to have Kali knocked out and her ears cleaned or have this operation for a few thousand. We didn't want to do it, but in the long run over 12 years, it saved us a lot of money. She had the operation on both ears and I was happy that every time Kali had a checkup or went for shots she got a nice clean ear report.
I felt bad for her because he she is less than a year old and she's already been in the hospital 3 times in her young life, to be spayed, her nail incident, and now her ears. She was a good patient though, throughout her life she enjoyed going to see her friends at the vet. She would walk in and go up to the reception desk and put her front paws up on the counter letting them know Kali's here for her appointment. You have to love a dog that is so sociable. While she was in the hospital for her ears a neighbor asked if I would feed a cat, that she was caring for, the woman was going to go to Florida and was hoping if she left me food I would feed it. I agreed thinking it wouldn't take any time and Kali wouldn't even know it. Each day this cat came to my house to get me. The cat had adopted me. Well I would feed it, but never pet it because I didn't want Kali feeling left out. The day Kali came home from the hospital with her ears done, she had the lampshade collar on to protect her ears from her scratching. I took her for a walk and that darn cat followed us. The cat would sneak up to Kali, slap her in the rear and run, by the time poor Kali could turn around to see what swatted at her, the cat was far enough away to be safe. Kali knew this animal was the one doing it, but she continued on her walk and again, the cat would sneak up from behind and whack at Kali's butt. This kept happening three or four times, until I got mad and yelled at the cat, she ran off and never wanted anything to do with either of us again. I felt bad, but Kali was my concern. I wanted to take care of her.
When we got Kali, I was still so upset over the loss of my beloved Kelly. As much as I wanted Kelly back, I didn't want any dog to replace her. I wanted something entirely different. Kali came next, and although she was a lab, that was about all Kelly and Kali had in common. Both sweet and loving, but totally different personalities. They were both my little girls and I loved them both. Please stop by and visit my Kelly.
Kelly
Different they were. Kelly was ill when we first got her, Kali was as healthy as can be. She had been one of the last pups in the litter to go, only her mom and one sibling remained. As my friend Jimmy drove us home, Diane and I got to know Kali. She slept a bit in my arms and found the tie on my sweatshirt a comfort as a chew toy. More enjoyable than the toys we had brought to keep her busy.
My mom and I decided on the name together, before Kali was even home. My mom always wanted a black dog so she could name it Midnight. I liked the name, but also liked Velvet, so we combined them. Well mom and I were very close, and together, were so very close to our yellow lab, Kelly. Kelly had been a little princess, she loved baths with sweet smelling perfume. One day we used a Connie Stevens' product called Kali shampoo. Kelly loved that perfume and would get all excited when bath time came and she could smell pretty like the shampoo. So Kali's name came from the three of us. Midnight Velvet Kali. She also got the name Diane put on the end of it, in honor of her godmother and my friend Diane.
Kali seemed to be right at home almost immediately. She slept in a crate that she loved, just like Kelly she felt it was her safe spot. Someplace she could go to when she didn't want to be bothered. Her first night she went out with me at midnight, cried around 3 to go out and each night got better and longer sleep. She never once soiled her bedding or the house. She was only 7 weeks old and already housebroken.
Over the first few weeks, all I saw was a different dog than my Kelly. Kali was a good dog too, don't get me wrong. Just had different likes and dislikes. Kelly had so many toys, all rubber, that's what she liked, but Kali liked stuffed toys, ones that made noise. She loved hearing all the different sounds her dollies made. On in particular was a yellow duck, that quacked. My mom would play with her with this duck. Kali loved that, and the fact my mom would quack and dance around thrilled Kali. She loved watching her grammy make a fool of herself. My mom loved to see the joy on Kali's face, so they had a lot of fun playing together. Kali, much like Kelly knew her toys. You could say go get Quackie, and she would come back with the duck. She also had a whole band in her toys. A piano, a trumpet, a drum, a guitar, a violin, all sorts of musical instruments, and when asked to go fetch one, would bring back the correct toy. Over the first several years she would destroy her toys ever so often and we would have extras for her. She also had a lion she loved, and loved the wooly like animals in particular her Ellie the elephant and Mr. Lamb, her lamb. She cared for them, but once there was a tear in one, she seemed to feel as if it was damaged and she wanted new. She got new.
Kali was growing and becoming one of the family, just like her sister Kelly. She wasn't as easy as Kelly in some ways. Kelly would never put just anything into her mouth. She wasn't the typical dog in that way, she only wanted clean things in her mouth. Kali though loved to go out in the yard and fine things to get into. One evening I got home from work. My mom was making dinner and I took Kali out into the yard to play a bit before dinner. It was about 10 after 6 and my mom called us into dinner. As she called I see Kali pick up something in her mouth. I tried to get her to give it up, but instead I hear a clink against her teeth and a hard swallow on her part. I wasn't sure what it was but feared it may have been a nail. We had had a new roof put on months before and the roofer assured us he was careful, but who knew. I yelled to my mom, she said get her to the vet. Our vet was on the next block, but they closed at 6pm. She tried them, but they had gone. A recording on the line said if it's an emergency to take the animal to the emergency vet about 20 minutes away. My mom called them to see if there was something we could do right away. They said time was important to get her to the hospital as soon as we could. I grabbed my purse, her leash and took off as fast as I could. On the way I discovered that Kali could be as big of a flirt as her sister could be. I had her sitting on the front seat with me, I felt so bad she was making faces, uncomfortable faces. I turned on the radio in the car hoping that would settle her a bit. Dean Martin singing Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime. Kali loved it, she was still making these faces and I look over at her and she's making eyes at a man in the next car as we sat at a light. The man was blowing kisses as her. As soon as the light changed I took off, I had to get her to the doctor. We got there and they brought her right into xray. It was just over 20 minutes, I drove as fast as I could, but we just couldn't get there any quicker. They xrayed her and sure enough she swallowed a 3 inch bent nail. She was so young, and I was so afraid we would lose her. The doctor said the nail had already passed through her stomach and was in the intestines. We had two options. Wait and see or operate. They felt she may pass it, but if it punctured anything, emergency surgery would be needed. I could bring her home, but if it did puncture something, we could lose her in the car on the way back. I called my mom and decided it would be best to have her there all night under doctor's watch. I hated coming home alone. I went to work the next day only because it was a few miles from the animal hospital. We waited and waited and at 3pm the following day the vet called my mom to say the nail had passed through her. She was fine and wanted to come home. I picked her up on the way home and she was happy and crazy as she was before. Scaring her mom and grammy to no end, but fine as could be.
A few months late we took her to her vet, he said she was doing good, except that she was shaking her head and scratching at her ears a great deal. The vet said she had an ear infection and also that she had the tiniest of ear openings, the size of a pin head for her big ears. The vet told us she would have to be knocked out to have them cleaned, and that she would have to have them done every six months. Kelly went through the same, but her ears had big openings that I could clean without a problem. Kali wasn't so lucky. Our vet had learned a new procedure to modify dog ears, allowing for bigger openings to allow dirt and wax to escape, air to get in, and with gentle care the owner could clean the ears without causing pain to the dog. Again we had a choice. Pay 2 to 3 hundred every six months or so to have Kali knocked out and her ears cleaned or have this operation for a few thousand. We didn't want to do it, but in the long run over 12 years, it saved us a lot of money. She had the operation on both ears and I was happy that every time Kali had a checkup or went for shots she got a nice clean ear report.
I felt bad for her because he she is less than a year old and she's already been in the hospital 3 times in her young life, to be spayed, her nail incident, and now her ears. She was a good patient though, throughout her life she enjoyed going to see her friends at the vet. She would walk in and go up to the reception desk and put her front paws up on the counter letting them know Kali's here for her appointment. You have to love a dog that is so sociable. While she was in the hospital for her ears a neighbor asked if I would feed a cat, that she was caring for, the woman was going to go to Florida and was hoping if she left me food I would feed it. I agreed thinking it wouldn't take any time and Kali wouldn't even know it. Each day this cat came to my house to get me. The cat had adopted me. Well I would feed it, but never pet it because I didn't want Kali feeling left out. The day Kali came home from the hospital with her ears done, she had the lampshade collar on to protect her ears from her scratching. I took her for a walk and that darn cat followed us. The cat would sneak up to Kali, slap her in the rear and run, by the time poor Kali could turn around to see what swatted at her, the cat was far enough away to be safe. Kali knew this animal was the one doing it, but she continued on her walk and again, the cat would sneak up from behind and whack at Kali's butt. This kept happening three or four times, until I got mad and yelled at the cat, she ran off and never wanted anything to do with either of us again. I felt bad, but Kali was my concern. I wanted to take care of her.
When we got Kali, I was still so upset over the loss of my beloved Kelly. As much as I wanted Kelly back, I didn't want any dog to replace her. I wanted something entirely different. Kali came next, and although she was a lab, that was about all Kelly and Kali had in common. Both sweet and loving, but totally different personalities. They were both my little girls and I loved them both. Please stop by and visit my Kelly.
Kelly
Kali was a full bred Black Labrador. She was born at the very southern most part of New Jersey on September 20, 1998. Her mom was a beautiful black lab, her dad a yellow lab. She was one of nine black pups in the litter. There are so many words to describe her but sweet is the best word. She was only 7 weeks old when we picked her up from Cow Town, New Jersey. Our dear friends, Diane and Jimmy took me down to meet her. I had lost my yellow lab, Kelly on September 8, 1998. As much as I adored Kelly, I didn't want a dog that was similar. I didn't feel it right to compare them in any way. My Kelly was a wonderful dog and dear friend, I wanted Kali to be her own dog, and had hoped any differences would be just as wonderful. Over the next 12 years I knew she was different, but just as wonderful as my Kelly.
Different they were. Kelly was ill when we first got her, Kali was as healthy as can be. She had been one of the last pups in the litter to go, only her mom and one sibling remained. As my friend Jimmy drove us home, Diane and I got to know Kali. She slept a bit in my arms and found the tie on my sweatshirt a comfort as a chew toy. More enjoyable than the toys we had brought to keep her busy.
My mom and I decided on the name together, before Kali was even home. My mom always wanted a black dog so she could name it Midnight. I liked the name, but also liked Velvet, so we combined them. Well mom and I were very close, and together, were so very close to our yellow lab, Kelly. Kelly had been a little princess, she loved baths with sweet smelling perfume. One day we used a Connie Stevens' product called Kali shampoo. Kelly loved that perfume and would get all excited when bath time came and she could smell pretty like the shampoo. So Kali's name came from the three of us. Midnight Velvet Kali. She also got the name Diane put on the end of it, in honor of her godmother and my friend Diane.
Kali seemed to be right at home almost immediately. She slept in a crate that she loved, just like Kelly she felt it was her safe spot. Someplace she could go to when she didn't want to be bothered. Her first night she went out with me at midnight, cried around 3 to go out and each night got better and longer sleep. She never once soiled her bedding or the house. She was only 7 weeks old and already housebroken.
Over the first few weeks, all I saw was a different dog than my Kelly. Kali was a good dog too, don't get me wrong. Just had different likes and dislikes. Kelly had so many toys, all rubber, that's what she liked, but Kali liked stuffed toys, ones that made noise. She loved hearing all the different sounds her dollies made. On in particular was a yellow duck, that quacked. My mom would play with her with this duck. Kali loved that, and the fact my mom would quack and dance around thrilled Kali. She loved watching her grammy make a fool of herself. My mom loved to see the joy on Kali's face, so they had a lot of fun playing together. Kali, much like Kelly knew her toys. You could say go get Quackie, and she would come back with the duck. She also had a whole band in her toys. A piano, a trumpet, a drum, a guitar, a violin, all sorts of musical instruments, and when asked to go fetch one, would bring back the correct toy. Over the first several years she would destroy her toys ever so often and we would have extras for her. She also had a lion she loved, and loved the wooly like animals in particular her Ellie the elephant and Mr. Lamb, her lamb. She cared for them, but once there was a tear in one, she seemed to feel as if it was damaged and she wanted new. She got new.
Kali was growing and becoming one of the family, just like her sister Kelly. She wasn't as easy as Kelly in some ways. Kelly would never put just anything into her mouth. She wasn't the typical dog in that way, she only wanted clean things in her mouth. Kali though loved to go out in the yard and fine things to get into. One evening I got home from work. My mom was making dinner and I took Kali out into the yard to play a bit before dinner. It was about 10 after 6 and my mom called us into dinner. As she called I see Kali pick up something in her mouth. I tried to get her to give it up, but instead I hear a clink against her teeth and a hard swallow on her part. I wasn't sure what it was but feared it may have been a nail. We had had a new roof put on months before and the roofer assured us he was careful, but who knew. I yelled to my mom, she said get her to the vet. Our vet was on the next block, but they closed at 6pm. She tried them, but they had gone. A recording on the line said if it's an emergency to take the animal to the emergency vet about 20 minutes away. My mom called them to see if there was something we could do right away. They said time was important to get her to the hospital as soon as we could. I grabbed my purse, her leash and took off as fast as I could. On the way I discovered that Kali could be as big of a flirt as her sister could be. I had her sitting on the front seat with me, I felt so bad she was making faces, uncomfortable faces. I turned on the radio in the car hoping that would settle her a bit. Dean Martin singing Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime. Kali loved it, she was still making these faces and I look over at her and she's making eyes at a man in the next car as we sat at a light. The man was blowing kisses as her. As soon as the light changed I took off, I had to get her to the doctor. We got there and they brought her right into xray. It was just over 20 minutes, I drove as fast as I could, but we just couldn't get there any quicker. They xrayed her and sure enough she swallowed a 3 inch bent nail. She was so young, and I was so afraid we would lose her. The doctor said the nail had already passed through her stomach and was in the intestines. We had two options. Wait and see or operate. They felt she may pass it, but if it punctured anything, emergency surgery would be needed. I could bring her home, but if it did puncture something, we could lose her in the car on the way back. I called my mom and decided it would be best to have her there all night under doctor's watch. I hated coming home alone. I went to work the next day only because it was a few miles from the animal hospital. We waited and waited and at 3pm the following day the vet called my mom to say the nail had passed through her. She was fine and wanted to come home. I picked her up on the way home and she was happy and crazy as she was before. Scaring her mom and grammy to no end, but fine as could be.
A few months late we took her to her vet, he said she was doing good, except that she was shaking her head and scratching at her ears a great deal. The vet said she had an ear infection and also that she had the tiniest of ear openings, the size of a pin head for her big ears. The vet told us she would have to be knocked out to have them cleaned, and that she would have to have them done every six months. Kelly went through the same, but her ears had big openings that I could clean without a problem. Kali wasn't so lucky. Our vet had learned a new procedure to modify dog ears, allowing for bigger openings to allow dirt and wax to escape, air to get in, and with gentle care the owner could clean the ears without causing pain to the dog. Again we had a choice. Pay 2 to 3 hundred every six months or so to have Kali knocked out and her ears cleaned or have this operation for a few thousand. We didn't want to do it, but in the long run over 12 years, it saved us a lot of money. She had the operation on both ears and I was happy that every time Kali had a checkup or went for shots she got a nice clean ear report.
I felt bad for her because he she is less than a year old and she's already been in the hospital 3 times in her young life, to be spayed, her nail incident, and now her ears. She was a good patient though, throughout her life she enjoyed going to see her friends at the vet. She would walk in and go up to the reception desk and put her front paws up on the counter letting them know Kali's here for her appointment. You have to love a dog that is so sociable. While she was in the hospital for her ears a neighbor asked if I would feed a cat, that she was caring for, the woman was going to go to Florida and was hoping if she left me food I would feed it. I agreed thinking it wouldn't take any time and Kali wouldn't even know it. Each day this cat came to my house to get me. The cat had adopted me. Well I would feed it, but never pet it because I didn't want Kali feeling left out. The day Kali came home from the hospital with her ears done, she had the lampshade collar on to protect her ears from her scratching. I took her for a walk and that darn cat followed us. The cat would sneak up to Kali, slap her in the rear and run, by the time poor Kali could turn around to see what swatted at her, the cat was far enough away to be safe. Kali knew this animal was the one doing it, but she continued on her walk and again, the cat would sneak up from behind and whack at Kali's butt. This kept happening three or four times, until I got mad and yelled at the cat, she ran off and never wanted anything to do with either of us again. I felt bad, but Kali was my concern. I wanted to take care of her.
When we got Kali, I was still so upset over the loss of my beloved Kelly. As much as I wanted Kelly back, I didn't want any dog to replace her. I wanted something entirely different. Kali came next, and although she was a lab, that was about all Kelly and Kali had in common. Both sweet and loving, but totally different personalities. They were both my little girls and I loved them both. Please stop by and visit my Kelly.
Kelly
Different they were. Kelly was ill when we first got her, Kali was as healthy as can be. She had been one of the last pups in the litter to go, only her mom and one sibling remained. As my friend Jimmy drove us home, Diane and I got to know Kali. She slept a bit in my arms and found the tie on my sweatshirt a comfort as a chew toy. More enjoyable than the toys we had brought to keep her busy.
My mom and I decided on the name together, before Kali was even home. My mom always wanted a black dog so she could name it Midnight. I liked the name, but also liked Velvet, so we combined them. Well mom and I were very close, and together, were so very close to our yellow lab, Kelly. Kelly had been a little princess, she loved baths with sweet smelling perfume. One day we used a Connie Stevens' product called Kali shampoo. Kelly loved that perfume and would get all excited when bath time came and she could smell pretty like the shampoo. So Kali's name came from the three of us. Midnight Velvet Kali. She also got the name Diane put on the end of it, in honor of her godmother and my friend Diane.
Kali seemed to be right at home almost immediately. She slept in a crate that she loved, just like Kelly she felt it was her safe spot. Someplace she could go to when she didn't want to be bothered. Her first night she went out with me at midnight, cried around 3 to go out and each night got better and longer sleep. She never once soiled her bedding or the house. She was only 7 weeks old and already housebroken.
Over the first few weeks, all I saw was a different dog than my Kelly. Kali was a good dog too, don't get me wrong. Just had different likes and dislikes. Kelly had so many toys, all rubber, that's what she liked, but Kali liked stuffed toys, ones that made noise. She loved hearing all the different sounds her dollies made. On in particular was a yellow duck, that quacked. My mom would play with her with this duck. Kali loved that, and the fact my mom would quack and dance around thrilled Kali. She loved watching her grammy make a fool of herself. My mom loved to see the joy on Kali's face, so they had a lot of fun playing together. Kali, much like Kelly knew her toys. You could say go get Quackie, and she would come back with the duck. She also had a whole band in her toys. A piano, a trumpet, a drum, a guitar, a violin, all sorts of musical instruments, and when asked to go fetch one, would bring back the correct toy. Over the first several years she would destroy her toys ever so often and we would have extras for her. She also had a lion she loved, and loved the wooly like animals in particular her Ellie the elephant and Mr. Lamb, her lamb. She cared for them, but once there was a tear in one, she seemed to feel as if it was damaged and she wanted new. She got new.
Kali was growing and becoming one of the family, just like her sister Kelly. She wasn't as easy as Kelly in some ways. Kelly would never put just anything into her mouth. She wasn't the typical dog in that way, she only wanted clean things in her mouth. Kali though loved to go out in the yard and fine things to get into. One evening I got home from work. My mom was making dinner and I took Kali out into the yard to play a bit before dinner. It was about 10 after 6 and my mom called us into dinner. As she called I see Kali pick up something in her mouth. I tried to get her to give it up, but instead I hear a clink against her teeth and a hard swallow on her part. I wasn't sure what it was but feared it may have been a nail. We had had a new roof put on months before and the roofer assured us he was careful, but who knew. I yelled to my mom, she said get her to the vet. Our vet was on the next block, but they closed at 6pm. She tried them, but they had gone. A recording on the line said if it's an emergency to take the animal to the emergency vet about 20 minutes away. My mom called them to see if there was something we could do right away. They said time was important to get her to the hospital as soon as we could. I grabbed my purse, her leash and took off as fast as I could. On the way I discovered that Kali could be as big of a flirt as her sister could be. I had her sitting on the front seat with me, I felt so bad she was making faces, uncomfortable faces. I turned on the radio in the car hoping that would settle her a bit. Dean Martin singing Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime. Kali loved it, she was still making these faces and I look over at her and she's making eyes at a man in the next car as we sat at a light. The man was blowing kisses as her. As soon as the light changed I took off, I had to get her to the doctor. We got there and they brought her right into xray. It was just over 20 minutes, I drove as fast as I could, but we just couldn't get there any quicker. They xrayed her and sure enough she swallowed a 3 inch bent nail. She was so young, and I was so afraid we would lose her. The doctor said the nail had already passed through her stomach and was in the intestines. We had two options. Wait and see or operate. They felt she may pass it, but if it punctured anything, emergency surgery would be needed. I could bring her home, but if it did puncture something, we could lose her in the car on the way back. I called my mom and decided it would be best to have her there all night under doctor's watch. I hated coming home alone. I went to work the next day only because it was a few miles from the animal hospital. We waited and waited and at 3pm the following day the vet called my mom to say the nail had passed through her. She was fine and wanted to come home. I picked her up on the way home and she was happy and crazy as she was before. Scaring her mom and grammy to no end, but fine as could be.
A few months late we took her to her vet, he said she was doing good, except that she was shaking her head and scratching at her ears a great deal. The vet said she had an ear infection and also that she had the tiniest of ear openings, the size of a pin head for her big ears. The vet told us she would have to be knocked out to have them cleaned, and that she would have to have them done every six months. Kelly went through the same, but her ears had big openings that I could clean without a problem. Kali wasn't so lucky. Our vet had learned a new procedure to modify dog ears, allowing for bigger openings to allow dirt and wax to escape, air to get in, and with gentle care the owner could clean the ears without causing pain to the dog. Again we had a choice. Pay 2 to 3 hundred every six months or so to have Kali knocked out and her ears cleaned or have this operation for a few thousand. We didn't want to do it, but in the long run over 12 years, it saved us a lot of money. She had the operation on both ears and I was happy that every time Kali had a checkup or went for shots she got a nice clean ear report.
I felt bad for her because he she is less than a year old and she's already been in the hospital 3 times in her young life, to be spayed, her nail incident, and now her ears. She was a good patient though, throughout her life she enjoyed going to see her friends at the vet. She would walk in and go up to the reception desk and put her front paws up on the counter letting them know Kali's here for her appointment. You have to love a dog that is so sociable. While she was in the hospital for her ears a neighbor asked if I would feed a cat, that she was caring for, the woman was going to go to Florida and was hoping if she left me food I would feed it. I agreed thinking it wouldn't take any time and Kali wouldn't even know it. Each day this cat came to my house to get me. The cat had adopted me. Well I would feed it, but never pet it because I didn't want Kali feeling left out. The day Kali came home from the hospital with her ears done, she had the lampshade collar on to protect her ears from her scratching. I took her for a walk and that darn cat followed us. The cat would sneak up to Kali, slap her in the rear and run, by the time poor Kali could turn around to see what swatted at her, the cat was far enough away to be safe. Kali knew this animal was the one doing it, but she continued on her walk and again, the cat would sneak up from behind and whack at Kali's butt. This kept happening three or four times, until I got mad and yelled at the cat, she ran off and never wanted anything to do with either of us again. I felt bad, but Kali was my concern. I wanted to take care of her.
When we got Kali, I was still so upset over the loss of my beloved Kelly. As much as I wanted Kelly back, I didn't want any dog to replace her. I wanted something entirely different. Kali came next, and although she was a lab, that was about all Kelly and Kali had in common. Both sweet and loving, but totally different personalities. They were both my little girls and I loved them both. Please stop by and visit my Kelly.
Kelly
