Wednesday, August 03, 2005

 
Foxy Kingsley, 1986-2005



by David J. Kingsley

We are sorry to have to tell you that Foxy died tonight, after a long wonderful life of at least 18 1/2 years.

As most of you know, we rescued Foxy from the Humane Society of Broward County, where she was on "death row" as unadoptable, and we like to think she had a wonderful life, getting as much pleasure as she gave to us.

She was able to overcome so many different problems over the years: Not only did she survive with only one eye for 13 years, but she somehow got over Sweet's Syndrome, which has never been reported in dogs... only in horses and humans. When she went into kidney failure, we were told that the normal life expectancy is 6 months; Foxy made it for 5 years! The last few years have meant a daily trip to the vet every morning for fluids for the kidney failure, and she would stand there willingly while the needle was put in and she was given the fluids.

She survived pancreatitis, an enlarged heart, a heart murmur, a chronic cough and lately chronic pulmonary obstruction as a result of her old age. We had her for 17 1/2 years, and the Humane Society said she was one year old when we got her. According to what we have found, depending on which source you use, 18 1/2 dog years makes her age in human years somewhere between 107 to 129 years.

Yesterday morning, Foxy would not eat, unusual for her unless she was very sick (she had lately been eating 1 1/2 cans of Mighty Dog each day). Yesterday at lunchtime when I went home, Foxy was breathing very rapidly, unable to get her breath, breathing from her abdomen. I took her to the vet immediately, where she was diagnosed as having congestive heart failure. Normally, this is treatable in a person or young dog, but Foxy was very old. She was given aggressive treatment, but she would not respond. We agreed with our vet to give it until today, to see if her breathing could be improved. Unfortunately, her breathing remained very difficult, and she also, for a second day, would not eat....even when we tried chopped liver, McDonald's hamburgers, roast beef and freshly cooked steak.

For the first time in all her illnesses, we could not say that she would "get over it", and we could see that she was, for the first time, actually suffering, since she could barely catch her breath. We had to make the painful decision, and in the end, I held her close, asleep with her head on my shoulder, as she was put to sleep.

We had 17 1/2 wonderful years with her, and have many many wonderful memories. She was the top dog in the house, and lived her life "her way". We will miss her, but know that she had a very happy life.
posted by Michael 4:05 PM

Saturday, October 16, 2004

 
I have been very busy lately and have not had time to post. Why have I been busy? I can now finally reveal the reason...



posted by Michael 11:20 AM

Friday, October 24, 2003

 
Go Marlins!

I have not updated lately because I have been very busy.

But I thought you might like to see this picture of me and my favorite baseball team.


posted by Michael 5:58 PM

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

 


I did some research (I am Motivated Foxy today) and here are some pictures of boomer balls. Also it says here that you can get ones with cereal, peanuts, mealworms and raisins hidden inside. If they made one with poop or decaying earthworms inside I could be a very happy and stinky chihuahua.
posted by Foxy 2:10 PM

 


I have decided to start updating my page again. I hope you will check it out if you are interested. If you are not interested I don't care because you are not worth my time.

Here is someone who has a life similar to mine I think. Her name is Rika and she will be 14 soon. She lives in New York and has to put up with younger tigers in her area. Here is a description of her:

Rika is a little shy. Rika loves to play with a small boomer ball - she bats it around, and then holds in her front paws as she rubs her face over it.

I also like this description of Sasha who is 6:

He’s bigger and more muscular than the females, but according to the keepers he can still be a bit of a "scaredy cat" when it comes to toys he’s never seen before. One of his favorite toys is an old tire that he carries around with him like a giant cat toy. Sasha also loves to eat - he gets so excited at dinnertime that he sometimes rolls around on the floor in anticipation of his meaty meals. He is friendly towards the keepers and the other tigers, often "chuffling" a morning hello.

You can read about the rest of the tigers and see pictures of them here.

Maybe I will go to New York and visit Rika and my brother and my sister. I also wonder what a boomer ball is. I think I need one and will not tell Ariel about it.

posted by Foxy 2:07 PM

Wednesday, June 04, 2003

 
Today I feel like updating.

I have been very busy lately so I have not felt like updating my site. I will update when I want and only when I want.

I just read this article about rescued dogs. I am a very cynical dog but this article is even more cynical. Who cares if every rescued dog was abused or why people rescue them. This article is dumb. But it is right that some dogs like Ariel need to be trained. Just like I have trained my mom and dad. [My brother says that "cynical dog" is redundant. I say he should get a life.]

I ate some salmon the other day but then my dad put medicine in it so I ate around the medicine. I guess they will never learn that I know!

Also my two-legged sister was in town so I kissed her. Then I went into my dad's closet because I thought it was my box for a second. If you think that's funny, let's see how you do when you are sixteen.

My sister Ariel had to go to the vet and we were worried it might be her liver but she is OK so I am happy. Or as happy as I get.

posted by Foxy 2:51 PM

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

 
I have not been online lately because I have been very busy visiting my private physicians. I am OK of course but I may write the details of how I am doing later.

Please visit this site and then click the purple button because each click provides food for an animal in a shelter or a sanctuary. Shelters are very important because that was where I lived for awhile. You can go back and click every day.
posted by Foxy 11:22 AM

Friday, May 09, 2003

 
You know how they say that if you gave 100 typewriters to 100 chihuahuas, they could solve all of the world's problems? Apparently there is a similar saying about monkeys and scientists have been testing it out. This is my favorite part of the article:

Give an infinite number of monkeys an infinite number of typewriters, the theory goes, and they will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare.

Researchers at Plymouth University in England reported this week that primates left alone with a computer attacked the machine and failed to produce a single word.

"Another thing they were interested in was in defecating and urinating all over the keyboard," added Phillips, who runs the university's Institute of Digital Arts and Technologies.

They must not have any geriatric dogs to care for in England if they have money to spend on experiments on monkeys typing. On the other paw, England is a place where monkeys get computers and cats own houses so I may have to go visit. I wonder how much further away England is than my other house across the street. Next time my mom and dad leave the door open I will see if I can find it.
posted by Foxy 12:02 PM

 
After writing about my medicine yesterday I thought about it and decided that I am on a medicine strike. My dad tried to give me some medicine in the evening, wrapped in turkey and butter, but I was onto him. When he put it in with my special meatballs that my mom makes for me, I just ate around the medicine.

I haven't decided how long my medicine strike will last. When I feel like it, I will start taking it again.
posted by Foxy 11:55 AM