Go back to the Gallery of Companions and click on Rose's name. Up will come her pedigree. Now, go back to the Gallery and click on her face. I won't say anything more until I hear from you.

{{{{{{ Debby }}}}}}  (cyber hugs)

 Beautiful pictures / collages / sentiments. But I’m sorry you’re regretting past choices. However, I’m the queen of regret, “should have / could have,” and what ifs, so you can’t have that job J  I’m learning to become the princess of “it was meant to be” and “there’s a reason for everything.” Children / animals provide great lessons!! However, I’m still learning, and much too pragmatic and questioning.

 Hair:  You mentioned at the Nationals that you might add humidity to the dog home in case that had helped Rose’s hair here. But what you don’t know (or maybe I told you) is that Rose has been battling yeast infections between her toes since springtime, and the vet partially blames the difference in humidity from her first home. I’m hoping for colder weather soon so I can run the pellet stove more and dry at least the air inside. Unless Tibet is more humid than Colorado, perhaps not breeding Rose because of her hair was right.

 Allergies: Rose has also had trouble adjusting to the higher level of airborne allergens here. Eugene is the center of Oregon’s grass-seed growing area, and surrounded by farms, fields, and mountains with various plants and trees that produce tremendous amounts of pollen from March through September / October. When she first became itchy, I thought it might be dry skin (pellet stove or shampoo). My next thought was food, but the vet pointed out the itching seemed confined to her feet and face, so that indicates airborne allergens. (Switched her to Timberwolf Organics anyway.)  Rose has taken a prescription antihistamine since mid-May, and we’re just tapering off again to see if she can get by without it for the winter months. She also had to have a short course of Temaril – an antihistamine / prednisone combination. I HATE to give any family member prednisone, but it helped get Rose through a particularly itchy time. This climate is definitely not like Tibet, and while I expected some difference from Colorado, had not considered these possibilities.

 Another reason not to breed? Who knows? How could you know? Would you send every dog off to a different part of the world to test their reaction to different climates / living arrangements? Feed every dog every type of food available to man / beast? Try every possible grooming product available? All very hard to do in order to check all possibilities, and would doing that give you a dog that would survive in Tibet? Who knows? Maybe Rose knew.

 (Breeding) Potential / Seed: Perhaps Rose’s potential / seed is not related to breeding or progeny. Maybe she has something else to give or teach us. She WAS the seed beneath the snow, and bloomed into The Rose. She continues to bloom, in ways we could never have anticipated, and I learn from her each day. She IS curious, happy and rosy. Loves to go places and meet new and old friends with two or four legs. Periodically cuddles with her big red sister. And fills her forever home with smiles and laughter. We will never be able to thank you enough for this gift.

 So, no regrets. Maybe a few “should haves / could haves” ;-) but I think Rose’s message is still in the works.

 Peace and furry kisses,

 Kathy and The Rose