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DOGS
Bringing Up Lola
My unexpected journey to rescue dog number four…
Lola came to me in a very funny way, almost as if the decision was entirely out of my hands. But after three weeks of TLC, Lola has gradually evolved from a hyper-active and hyper-vigilant lick monster into a big, squishy marshmallow, and I’m never giving her back.
Three weeks ago today, I was in the midst of shooting author photos in Albuquerque’s Old Town, when a ferocious windstorm blew up and triggered a massive asthma attack. I hadn’t brought my inhaler with me, and by the time I got home, I was a wheezy, frightened mess. I used my inhaler, and when that didn’t work, I bit the bullet and took 20 mg of prednisone to help counteract the swelling in my airways, and went to bed.
I should mention, here, that I’m one of those people who is extremely sensitive to oral steroids. In the morning, I woke up breathing much better, full of energy, and suddenly committed to the bright idea of adopting another dog as a companion for my rescue pup, Birdie. She’d been a little lonely since the death of rescue pup number two, Rillo, who sadly passed away at the beginning of July. If you’re so inclined, read this and weep…
