Patrick Potpourri

REDBONE COONHOUND/HUSKY

 About Patrick

He has webbed feet. Red eyelashes. Two different color eyes.  One hazel, one turquoise blue. He howls, yelps, whimpers and whines.  A few barks here and there..

redbone coonhound DNA 52%

In the early 19th century Scottish immigrants brought red colored foxhounds to Georgia and these would later become stock., Add in an Irish foxhound and you have it.

more about Patrick 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbone_Coonhound 

from Chewy

The spectacularly-singular song stylings of the Redbone Coonhound (the baying! the howling!) and a “let’s be friends” invitation for everyone they meet (along with a sometimes just a bit naughty need to pursue whatever scent they catch in the air) make this handsome hound a special sort of companion. They run, they hunt, they love their peeps with unmatched devotion—they are a multi-hyphenate who is a scene-stealer when you are out and about. If you are up for the challenge of a speed-racer with a big, loud personality who is also an unapologetic oversized lap dog, and you can hang tough when faced with that famous pleading, hangdog expression, this hound can be your ideal pooch. 

 husky too 42%

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_Husky 

The Siberian Husky is a breed of medium-sized working sled dog. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its thickly furred double coat, erect triangular ears, and distinctive markings, and is smaller than the similar-looking Alaskan Malamute.

Siberian Huskies originated in Northeast Asia where they are bred by the Chukchi people as well as the Koryak, Yukaghir and Kamchadal people of Siberia for sled pulling and companionship.^[2][4] It is an active, energetic, resilient breed, whose ancestors lived in the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic. 

and that adds up to 52+42= 94

others are Alaskan malamute 3%, Alaskan Eskimo dog 2% and  German shepherd 1% 

 Patrick is a biter and a sneak attacker and an escape artist 

BITING 

high level, not nips 

We are working at it with our trainer. Two products and calming beds all over. Many chew toys, stuffed Kong bones and lots of time outside without me. Does Patrick see me as prey? like an opossum, raccoon or fox?  I vote for fox...

PATRICK SCOPING OUT PREY

The injuries

 see collage sample,,,arms, legs, wrists

and remedies

 

 

 

going clockwise below

two top products on first photo are the Patrick fixes

pheromone collar and calming beds

the next illustration -the Solliquin chew 

 

the bottom group we are still in the first pic

my first aid 

hydrogen peroxide, band-aids, cotton balls, Arnicare

 

next two photos are the calming beds

 

He is wearing the Thunder-ease Anti Anxiety pheromone collar and taking the chewy Solliquin meds 

esacp

see ollae sample,

ar 

Escape Artist

AI generated 

He is a puppy or adolescent (under three years old) and doesn't have other outlets for his energy. He is a particularly active type of dog (like the herding or sporting breeds) who needs an active “job” in order to be happy. He visits places after each escape that provide him with interaction and fun things to do.

 

6/12

Got a call from North Shore

Saying someone has our dog

We were at Starbucks 

I say 

Impossible 

He is safely locked in

Okay says David from North Shore 

will check further 

He calls back 

It is your dog, matches everything 

We are home now

Gives us neighbor’s number 

Patrick has eaten through the front screen window 

He is out

Neighbor on Ashland 

next block up has him

We call neighbor 

Gabriel

He meets Paul halfway 

Patrick still had part of the screen in his mouth 

I am shaking still 

David from North Shore calls back

I tell him Patrick is home 

He reassures me things happen 

I live in fear we will be declared incompetent parents 

I tell him Billie (that was his Animal League name) is now Patrick Shea McNiff-Nikol

We end cordially 

I text handyman Jack about the screen 

Paul turns on 

the Mets

 

see the series below 

 

 

swimming-webbed feet

 sleeping through thunderstorm

the first boom alerted him see first frame

then he settled in 

July 4th hotdogs

Patrick tried to compete with Joey Chestnut, the Nathan's hot dog eating champion

he fell asleep

Joey ate 70,5

if you dont know Joey Chestnut

here is a link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Chestnut

 

 Not afraid of fireworks

we found out July 4th 

he insisted on going out to the side porch and howling at them 

WHAT FIREWORKS?

scroll down for last week's if you need a refresher or a first read

aroooo 

Patrick takes over LiamLicks

Patrick Shea McNiff-Nikol

adopted from North Shore Animal League on Sunday May 4, 2025

born 11/16/24 in Louisiana

DNA 

shows  

52% Redbone Coonhound

42% Siberian Husky

3% Alaskan Malamute

2% American Eskimo Dog

1% German Shepherd Dog

35

 Why keep the name LiamLicks?

several IT techs advised me to keep the name

it's brand recognition they told me

highly ranked in search engines

a known brand

meaning you type a few letters it comes up; people pay for level of easiness of access I am told

also it is 

evocative of Liam 

a tribute

 

Why is he Patrick?

many ancestors named Patrick

in fact the name is rampant on my Ancestry tree

 and never Patty...he is a boy..Paddy is the male...Patty the female

so people... Happy St Patty's Day...no good 

It is Happy St Paddy's Day

oh and of course my boy toy, the Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes 

maybe that's the first reason

AND WHY

the middle name Shea?

birthday 11/16 same as grand niece 

Samantha Shea whose

middle name is for Shea Stadium

dad Adam (my nephew) a Met fan

and

add in that 

I worked the Mets and Jets at Shea  

sold hot dogs behind the counter

Patrick's hot dog toys gifted by his Godmother Joanie-my Shea coworker

who was he at the shelter?  

BILLIE

that's Liam in Irish

synchronicity?

Kismet?

Bashert?

PATRICK PERCHING

Patrick immediately made himself at home. The first night he followed Paul upstairs jumped on the bed and slept in the lovable puppy position on the back with feet in the air

kind of the yoga pose Happy Baby 

Here are some around the house Patrick positions

 

PATRICK'S POSES

and then we have the expected puppy curiosity often resulting in destruction

The NYTimes Sunday Weekend Edition

My dire-wolf Ghost's nose

Jen Psaki (library Book) 

The lamp cord multiple shreddings

Paul's dress shoe 

my left croc

one backyard mum (dug up and tossed) 

thumb of oven mitt 

my readers (glasses)

a robin 

•  

most of these fun activities could have been prevented by puppy parent awareness.  

You dont leave a book on the couch.   

The New York Times no longer should reside on the cocktail table on weekends.

Lamp cords, wires, UBS cords must be secured or sprayed with Puppy proofing product 

 stuffed animal populations have found a nook in which to hide and on the right Patrick's toys spread out and available for play

some of the already gone 

 

Puppies need sleep 

and here he is Patrick puppy up close and personal

 

Hi all

It's me Patrick

I am taking over

 

I have stories to tell already

I am an escape artist

5X

My parents have gates and shut doors and chain loops 

 

so look forward sharing everyday life around here 

 those episodes and more about my unique Ancestry

 

AROOOOO

(sound a hound makes) 

Liam Lives on in a Different Way

 

 walk with Me...It's not physical anymore

but we can do it

spiritually

Liam taught me in his death

there is another world of grief and loss and love and understanding and shared pet parent stories

and I am in it 

and totally moved by the expressions of sympathy and solidarity through the condolence gifts and cards we have received

see collages below

gifts and cards

and generous donations in Liam's name to Animal League and to Greater Good

and the hundreds of Social Media messages on Insta, FB and Twitter (X) as well texts and emails

AND

I received Liam's paw prints and Paw impression from our Vet through Pet Meadow

Unexpected...my first time...I did not know...New Year's Eve 12/31/24 

Liam came back

I was 

VERKLEMPT

I created a thank You collage

my thank you collage to Garden City Vet whose staff and Doctor Buscemi

signed personal notes see top left

 oh and the house

the mess at the end

Home Hospice is a commitment and a gift and a full out cleaning job

rugs and floor and couch

Liam had bleeding lipomas and half the time could not make it outside to do his business

we will rip up the rug, get new furniture and have the floors cleaned: all of it doable 

 the furniture is very old

thank you Liam for propelling us to get rid of this stuff that Stanley Steemer refused to clean

 

the last night and day and minute of Liam's life

Liam had a bleeding lipoma on his face

 

people shared their coping mechanisms and what they did to memorialize

special tribute walls

garden stones and flowers

tabletops with ashes and photos

I liked these ideas

I made a

 Liam tribute nook and populated it with Liam themed memorabilia 

 

I like touching his collar

I took it off his neck immediately before his death and was surprised to see a bald neck ring

of course no hair grew there 

wow

never knew 

I put my fingers in his paw print  and smile at his inked paw prints

"Liam, you got inked!"

 

I gaze on the shells, rocks, pothos plant in a gifted vase

all collected and meaningful items

 some of you will recognize your contributions  

thank you

I talk to Liam

yep

I do 

My first born

My  first dog

Liam

who made me a 

MOM

 scroll up for more stories

woof, woof

Liam Leaves

 

Liam

8/1/2007-12/19/24

 

  

 

• You made me a Mom.
  
• My first born
• My first dog

 

 

 

An equal mix of Beagle, Doxie, Dalmatian and Irish setter 

 Wow, what goes on in Tennessee! 

North Shore Animal League rescued you

We gotcha on 1/1/2008 my first official day of retirement from SSA

 

You were the last dog left at North Shore on New Year’s Day 2008

You were your own person as my mom Ruth would say

You were not trainable

Not by me nor professionals

When a ball was thrown you stared at it

You were a Leo

The strongest 

boldest

Fastest runner

My two black eyes and torn rotator cuff attest to that

 

 

You taught me from the beginning

How to be present. 

Live in the moment

See what is in front

Not what is behind

You

expanded my world

people

neighborhood

Social media 

We wrote a blog

We have many followers 

You were diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2022

Hyperthyroidism 

Rare in dogs

We decided no chemo

We did

Home hospice

We adjusted 

I became an expert in all sorts of cleaning 

As you tried and often lost your journey to do your business 

And your lipomas squirted blood at various times 

turning the house into a Crime scene 

reminiscent of a Dateline or 48 Hours episode 

You taught me

Care giving

Acceptance 

Forgiveness 

Patience 

Commitment 

 

You made things larger

My heart

My mind 

My network 

My knowledge 

 

You tried so hard to be a good dog

And you were the bravest dog 

You wanted to stay with us 

even on the last day when you cried in discomfort

People told me your death would be terrible 

I prepared for it from the day we brought you home

I told myself you were on loan to me

You rescued me

They were right 

it is terrible 

Love you forever Liam 

Liam makes it to the Holiday card

Who imagined  2 years ago when Liam was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and its accompanying thyroid cancer that this intrepid dog would be alive at 17 and a quarter attained...November 1, 2024

and that he would make the Holiday card in 2024

 

I wanted to order the cards early to ensure he would live

If he is featured on the card he has to survive, right?

He is an amazingly fierce and strong and loving doggo

see him in various moods and poses

 

showing affection....oddly much more than when he was in his prime 

and still eyeing the kitties but no longer chasing

 I must point out all the feral  tabbies have moved on and are only occasional visitors

the one regular is Tabby Red...mutual respect exists

featured below on the collage

he eats our food, his dog food and the feral cat food on the porch

on Election night we decided to have sort of a feast

nachos and tacos: our go to pig -out meal

he tried nachos

now a fan

his meds , gabapentin and denamarin 

and elective supplement dasuquin have kept him okay

no pain

 Took him to the vet 9/12/24

not for the overdue vaccines, blood tests, poop samples, or any invasive procedure but to get an overview on the current status

are we doing everything that we can for him?

YES!

the vet says if a cough forms it's a cause of worry

so far

nothing

and he still rings his poochie bells to go out

makes it half the time to the porch top

at times he tumbles down the side steps and wanders into the yard

we retrieve him, carry him back in, then sit him up, or lay him down

woof, woof

At Seventeen

 Liam attains 17 on August 1, 2024. I began writing this blog story on July 1, 2024. I superstitiously felt that if I state in writing that Liam is 17, he will be.

and all that is playing in my head is Janis Ian's iconic song, At Seventeen. I found it haunting when it came out and still do.  The lyrics have nothing to do with Liam turning 17.  The only commonality is the number.  However it gives me a chance to share the beginning.  There are more verses. It does not get any more upbeat.

"AT SEVENTEEN"

By Janis Ian

I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth...

more on the song

 https://www.songfacts.com/facts/janis-ian/at-seventeen

 

BTW Janis grew up. All is fine. Why did I think she is still seventeen?  No.  More in my age group. 

"AT SEVENTEEN"

By Liam 

Hi all, this is Liam. I am almost seventeen  I was born on August 1, 2007.   I am a rescue from Tennessee. I was adopted from Animal League on January 1, 2008 by Carol McNiff and Paul Nikol. I was 5 months old.

DNA testing showed me to be one quarter equal parts Beagle, Dalmatian, Irish Setter and Dachshund. 

I have written a blog entitled LiamLicks with My Mom for most of my life. 

There are now 384 LiamLicks blog stories.

Current situation

see collage illustration

 

I am in Home Hospice

I mostly poop, pee in the house. sometimes I ring my poochie bells on the side porch door and make it to the top of the porch. Then I stay and enjoy the sights and fresh air. I bark when I want to come back in.

 

I am housebound. No more walks, 

 I keep busy by reading.

 I do light reading lately .

Reading about myself is fun. 

My godmother Aunt Joanie sent me this book for my recovery.. 

My parents take care of my physical wellness. I am okay.  Not in pain. I love to eat. Mom cuts up their food with scissors. I eat from her hands. I have turkey meatballs, hamburger, chicken, pork chops, filet Mignon and cheese and occasionally lamb chops or pork shank from Crabtree's..

some pork from Crabtree's

I vary it with my own kibble in my bowl and occasionally cat food on the side porch. I share a Greek yogurt with Mom in the morning and on the weekends I share a croissant with Daddy Paul. I drink a huge amount of water. A symptom of my disease. I take meds which help tremendously. Scroll up to see prior stories if you need a refresher.

I have hyperthyroidism. VERY rare in dogs. And a small cancerous nodule on my thyroid.

 It runs in the family. Daddy Paul has had half his thyroid removed 

Mommy Carol has a growth on hers that will be dealt with soon by a thyroid biopsy.

I  relax in front of the fan during the day and sleep next to Daddy at night. He sleeps here in the living room because of me.

I have lipomas all over. they are common in certain breeds. I have two of the breeds...Dachshund, and beagle

 A lipoma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor of fat in middle-aged or older dogs. Lipomas can grow anywhere on the dog's body, even inside their abdomen. But the most common growth is under their skin near the fat.

This condition is likely to happen more in overweight dogs as they age. Some lipomas are usually unnoticeable, while others can cause discomfort when your pet walks.

I have about 30,  A spaulding size one on my paw. Mom has been hoping one pops. They rarely pop but can get caught on things. She is an avid Dr Pimple Popper fan. In June she got her wish. I have two on my face and one got snagged on the side door as I banged to get out to do my business. Blood all over. Like a human, a lot of vessels on the face are near the surface.

Looked .Like a crime scene,  My parents have been cleaning it up ever since. So many cleaning products are used-Carpet and Upholstery Stain Remover, Windex, Clorox cleaner, Murphy's wood cleaner...looks like the lipoma explosion is leveling off. One more on the face to go. Mom follows me around with cotton balls, q tips and hydrogen peroxide. And after cleans with a assortment of liquid cleansers. I am fortunate to have a mama who loves growths and cleaning up after eruptions.

 

It continued into July. As I rub it on all surfaces. Blood all over. Rug is the worst hit.

I am healing but it is one step up and two steps back

Mommy Carol's version

Liam has lipomas

Many

There are two on his face

They grew into huge red growths because there was nowhere else to go

Only blood in them

One night in late June

Must have been during the night at a time we were sleeping 💤 

Since I rarely sleep 

He must have timed it

There was blood 🩸 everywhere 

The rug, the cabinets, the walls, the doors, the floor, his water bowl, the rungs of the fan, the couch, the top of the porch

It looked like a murder scene 

Call Keith Morrison...Dateline

I was initially happy thinking it would dry up

No

It leaks 

I applied my remedy hydrogen peroxide 

It helped 

Sealed and cleaned

 

Liam sleeping

I was so emboldened I squirted more on several times a day

Well

It dyed Liam’s face red

 

He is truly the one quarter Irish ☘️ setter now

I had forgotten I had used hydrogen peroxide as a teenager on my hair to get blonde highlights before going to Rockaway beach with my bestie Joanie 

It's a bleach

 

Paul says Liam looks like a bear 🐻 

 

Liam rubs against the surfaces and me for balance and also because the wound

itches and annoys him

I have had blood on my leg and thought I had cut myself 

 

Current Situation

 

healing 

and then reopening and then healing

NO MORE A LITTLE BLACK DOG

  Oh and before this hydrogen peroxide bleach on his face, one new development. Liam no longer seems to be a little black dog. Now a bit chestnut color in spots. His Irish setter DNA is blooming. Aging has its unexpected happy surprises. In the sun he shines a tad red.

Asides

By the way. I use Blur App to obscure Liam's left side of face lipomas.

 

I have updated, expanded and polished my cleaning knowledge and methods of application...included new products, wipes, mops,

brooms/dust pans, old toothbrushes, spatulas, towels, small knives, Brillo and wee wee pads

I owe my new cleaning prowess to Liam and his Home Hospice physical eliminations   

Thank You Liam for upgrading my skills

 

and I have lost control of my fonts

they enlarge and decrease on their own

go from one style to another

a sign of aging I suppose, mine

Liam does not type

and we made it

 Thank You for reading

 scroll up to see prior stories if you need refreshers or are new to the blog

Woof, Woof