20 replies to this topic

[Carolyn]

Hello -
We're "sorta" new here -- I did register some time ago but have not been active. I'm Carolyn and Maggie is my "Belize Havanese." My husband and I are biologists who have been living and working in Belize for the past 25 years. Ten years ago, we adopted a little dog, our sweet Maggie. I came across HRI and sent her photo. I was told she was more than likely a hav or hav-mix!

Maggie has been the light of our lives for the past 10 years but is now suffering from congestive heart failure. So we are nursing her through her last months and are grateful for every good day with her. She has been a fabulous member of the family and is much loved.

Still, we are beginning to look to the future and "the next one." I check out HRI regularly for rescues and also have begun investigating breeders. Those searches led me back to Havanese Talk, and I plan to spend some time here and learn as much as I can about selecting a breeder.

I'll keep this short for now, but if you'd like to read more about Maggie, who has had a very exciting life in Belize, here are links to BARk Magazine highlighting her adoption and her adventures:

A Change of Heart
Seriously Ticked Off
Big Jungle Little Dog

I'm looking forward to finding my way around the Forums, meeting all of you, and learning more about this fabulous breed.

Carolyn

[Christy]

Welcome Carolyn! How wonderful to have had Maggie and be looking to the future of a new Havanese. I'm sorry to hear she has congestive heart problems. I'm sure it's very difficult for you to see her going through this. I hope these next few months go easy on you both, it's so hard to let go. Please enjoy yourself looking around the forum. There's a lot of information here and lean onus when you need support. Many of us have been through the loss of a pet already and eventually we will all go through it. Hugs to you and Maggie.

[SOX' MOM]

Welcome Carolyn and I'm sorry about Maggie's health. You'll find many friends here

[Amanda]

I am sorry to hear about her health but welcome to HT! What an amazing area to live and for a Havanese to be adventurous! How old was Maggie when you added her to your family?

[Missy]

I am sorry about Maggie's health. Thank you for sharing those stories. Welcome to you both.

[Ann]

Welcome to you and Maggie. So sorry to hear of her illness but I do hope you'll find this a friendly and informative place. Please share some photos of Maggie with us, we're a bit crazy begging for pics!

[JoAnn]

Carolyn and Maggie! I really enjoyed reading your articles on how Maggie came to live with you and life in the jungle. It sounds like she's had several adventures in Belize. I'm sorry to hear of Maggie's illness. Like the others have said before me - pictures please!

[Marj R.C.]

Hello Carolyn and Maggie and welcome to HT! I know you via the HRI quilt yahoo list and have really loved seeing your blocks for the fund-raising quilts they've made. I just read your 'Big Jungle, Little Dog' blog and had to gasp! My gosh, but there must be quite a few adventures in your life down in Belize. I am glad Maggie seems to take it all in stride.

I hope you enjoy your time browsing our forum. There are so many great tales of everyone's Havs and beautiful pictures and we hope you share many of your own so we can all enjoy them.

[Carolyn]

Thanks everyone, for the really warm welcome (hi Marj -- I love the quilt group!). And thanks for the sympathetic remarks about Maggie ... it is a really tough time as they get older. Maggie was adopted when she was "2 or 3 years old" from the streets of Belize City. She had a heart murmur, heartworm, flea allergy dermatitis, missing teeth, and was scared and half starved. A Change of Heart tells her adoption story. But, I tell myself that we have had a great life together and she is much loved and I can't do better than that. I'm new here and I'll try to figure out how to post pictures. Here goes with 3 of my favorites ...

[Ann]

Love the photos, that is one happy girl!

[Huckleberry]

Hi Carolyn, Love the photo of her soaring over the flowers! Thank you for sharing your touching stories of Maggie. My heart goes out to you with her illness. We had to let one of my border collies go a year ago (cancer) and I am now venturing into the world of Havanese and anxiously awaiting next Friday when little Lucy gets to come home. So glad for you and Maggie that you came into each other's lives.
April

[Carolyn]

Huckleberry, on 23 February 2012 - 12:38 PM, said:

We had to let one of my border collies go a year ago (cancer) and I am now venturing into the world of Havanese and anxiously awaiting next Friday when little Lucy gets to come home.

Yes, it is a really tough time when they get old and ill. I'm sorry about your bc -- my brother just lost his bc (one of Maggie's best friends), 3 weeks ago, to old age and kidney failure. I'm glad to hear you have Lucy to look forward to -- I'm sure that helps!

I'm starting to investigate breeders and have actually located a hav breeder that seems really promising. Trouble is, I feel guilty about it -- I contacted Maggie's vet today and she thinks it is likely that Maggie will need to be euthanized over the next 6 weeks or so. My stomach immediately knots up and tears come ... I feel so disloyal ... but having said that, I really feel I'd like a puppy to look forward to later this year. In the meantime, we're going to love Maggie like mad, spoil her even more than she is already spoiled and enjoy every last minute with her. And I keep telling myself, she has had the best possible life we could give her.

Will look forward to Lucy's pictures when she finally arrives!

[Carolyn]

Ann, on 21 February 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:

Love the photos, that is one happy girl!

Thanks Ann! She's had her issues, lots of fear and weird behavior, I guess based on being a rescued stray. But she sure loved to jump that hedge, over and over. Had we been in a place where we could do agility, I think she had some aptitude (no dog sports in Belize).

[Marj R.C.]

I'm so sorry to hear about the vet's latest prognosis. You are right that she is still a very happy dog and that she's had a great life with you. She was in terrible shape when you found her and I know that she (as all dogs do) lives in the moment of joy. It's a great lesson to us all and I'm sure she wouldn't think anything wrong with looking into the near future and imagining getting another sweet Havanese. She's taught you how much these dogs get into our hearts and never leave.

[Carolyn]

"I'm sure she wouldn't think anything wrong with looking into the near future and imagining getting another sweet Havanese. She's taught you how much these dogs get into our hearts and never leave..."

That's a nice way to look at it. You can imagine how emotional we are these days. Here is a recent photo of Maggie -- I made her this little patchwork quilt with a plastic liner so she can still sleep on our bed. And yes, she is wearing incontinence panties.

[apololaceymom]

Hello Carolyn, welcome. I too have a rescue from the streets, Puerto Rico streets, his name is Keeto. He had a rough start in life also, and has a leg injury to show for it. He is a love and is also elderly now. We adore him. We have lost 2 or our dogs over the last 3 years, a golden and a mix breed, 12 and 14 years old. I have 2 havs now, Apolo is 2 and Lacey is 7 months. It's wonderful that you have given this beautiful girl such a wonderful home for all these years. She is so lucky. I hope you find a wonderful puppy, and keep i touch. I enjoyed reading the stories, I have to say, I would freak out with all those ticks!!! Yuck!!!

[Carolyn]

Thanks Kathy. Is Keeto the brown dog pictured there in your beautiful pack there? I've heard about the "Save the Sato" Puerto Rican rescue. My friend runs the Belize Humane Society and she's found someone who regularly visits Belize and always takes back 3 adoptable dogs to be placed in San Francisco. It can be hard to find adopters in Belize.

Thanks for reading Maggie's stories -- she's been a wonderful companion.

[Barbara]

A Change of Heart is such a beautifully written and heartwarming story, Carolyn. Welcome to HT. I'm looking forward to more of your stories.

I know exactly how emotional this time is for you, having gone through it myself. You have given Maggie so much love and taken such great care of her. I'm sorry you are losing her, but she will always be in your heart.

I am happy that you are already looking forward to bringing another little puppy into your heart! There's plenty of room. Every dog I've ever had is still in mine! We humans can learn so much from them.

[apololaceymom]

Carolyn, on 28 February 2012 - 02:46 PM, said:

Thanks Kathy. Is Keeto the brown dog pictured there in your beautiful pack there? I've heard about the "Save the Sato" Puerto Rican rescue. My friend runs the Belize Humane Society and she's found someone who regularly visits Belize and always takes back 3 adoptable dogs to be placed in San Francisco. It can be hard to find adopters in Belize.

Thanks for reading Maggie's stories -- she's been a wonderful companion.

Yes, that is Keeto, he has been such a wonderful pet considering his rough start. He has a broken leg that healed itself before he came to us, so he has a slight limp. He is so swee, and kind with my other dogs, and with everyone he meets. He is around 12 years old now, we have had him for almost 9 years.

[SOX' MOM]

Love the pics of Maggie, love the moments you have left with her.