I’ve been pet sitting for the last two weeks for my neighbors and good friends, Tom and Terry, while they are vacationing in Puerto Rico. I have been watching their 3 cats: Peanut, Butter and Tank, and their elderly dog, Solomon. I’ve also been caring for two Pomeranians in my home for the past week that belong to my daughter, Christy, and her boyfriend, Brian, while they are on vacation in Disney World. This evening all owners return and my pet sitting stint is over… for now.
The most difficult part of pet sitting was taking care of Solomon. I’m not quite sure how old he is, but he’s somewhere between 13 and 16, which is pretty old for a chocolate Lab, which is what I think Solomon is. Figuring that the age of a dog Solomon’s size translates into 10.5 dog years per human year for the first 2 years and after that about 4 dog years per human year, Solomon is somewhere between 65 and 77 in human years. He is a super sweet dog, but his back legs are very weak and he has an extremely difficult time walking, not to mention getting up from a lying down position. He also has trouble controlling his bowels, so my neighbors banished him to the garage over the summer, where he seems perfectly happy to be with his big, soft beds to lie on. The only time he is allowed in the house is to eat.
Tom’s grown daughter, Hailey, and I are jointly taking care of Solomon. I am in charge of his evening feeding, so at 7 p.m., I go next door to give him his food. When I open the garage door, I first try to get him up so that he can walk out into the yard to do his business. However, he either doesn’t have the strength or else he is being extremely obstinate (not being a doggy psychologist, I don’t know which it is), but he will not – I repeat, WILL NOT – get up for me. I have even tried picking him up – and he is VERY heavy – to lift him onto his feet, but he just collapses back down. At this point, this dog – with what must be the biggest bladder ever – almost always pees all over himself and his bed. So, I prepare his food and bring his bowl to him in the garage. After he gobbles it down (he definitely likes his kibble!), I give him his joint chew and a pain pill (if it’s Monday, Wednesday or Friday). I feel so bad for Solomon as he must be extremely uncomfortable being wet, sticky and stinky covered in his own urine, unable to get up. (I know, however, that he is moving around, because the water level in his large water bowl is lower every time I go to see him and he is never in the same spot (he has two beds on which to lie). One day last week, I attempted to give him a bath, but he would not get up so I had to drag him out of the garage and all I could do was spray him with the hose. Hailey has also given him two baths, but she has the same problems with him as I do. I am so glad that Terry and Tom are coming home tonight because Solomon listens to Tom and I am hoping Solomon will get back to “normal” once they return.
Solomon
This is either Peanut or Butter, not sure which one!
Again, not sure if this is Peanut or Butter. 
Peanut and Butter look so much alike, I can't tell which is which! 
Pretty green eyes! 
Tank's beautiful face. 
Tank with his new hair cut. If he only knew how funny he looks! 
No comment needed!
Watching Zoey and Onyx has been a lot of fun! They are super cute Poms with tons of personality. Onyx, who is almost 2, is a male; Zoey is a female and just turned a year last month. Onyx is super hyper and always on the go. He will not sit still for a minute, until he “crashes,” then he will rest. Zoey, on the other hand, is very laid back and follows me everywhere. She loves to sit on my lap or snuggle under my bed covers. When I take them for walks, they love to chase acorns, which are falling like crazy from the trees, and carry them around in their mouths. Too cute… What has not been so cute is when they get hold of something they shouldn’t. Yesterday, they both ate a pencil and today Zoey chewed up an old Bluetooth phone accessory. Zoey also found a bra of mine that I am throwing away and was carrying it around. I took it away from her, but 15 minutes later she had it again!
Zoey and Onyx
Taking a walk. 
Struttin' their stuff! They love their walks.
It was hard getting a photo of Onyx. He never stays still long enough to get a good shot!
Onyx 
Onyx
Sweet, sweet Zoey.
Zoey took a break from chewing her bone to get her picture taken.
Update: I am sad to report that Solomon was euthanized in early December 2010. He had been eating very little since the Thanksgiving holiday. He also was having an extremely difficult time getting up and walking, and most of the time he was unable to move. When my friends took Solomon to the vet to have him checked, the vet was shocked to see how quickly he had deteriorated. The vet told Tom and Terry that Solomon was suffering and it was time. I hope dogs go to Heaven and that Solomon is there now running through the clouds and chewing on a big juicy bone...
