Bionic Boy-14 3/4 Today May 1, 2022

Liam  now

drinking and licking  my Starbucks drink

 

as seen on IG and Facebook

but a year ago

Liam chased one of our ferals and incurred a serious injury

 the injury happened 3/19/21

 https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2021_03_28_archive.html

Liam ran after Tabby White Foot making a right angle turn into the backyard a full speed 

the turn was so fierce and sudden I knew an injury had to have resulted

his back legs were bent in a unnatural position, the left leg being the pivot leg ripped

 

 

 https://gardencityvet.com/

our regular Vet Dr Polley saw Liam on  Wednesday and Thursday March 24th and 25th

He did blood work to make sure Liam is okay for surgery 

sedated him for X rays

blood work okay

took two days because Liam was traumatized by the attempts at X rays

It seems like surgery is the way to go

Injury severe yet common and easily fixable 

it is a cranial cruciate ligament CCL tear like the ACL in humans

here is some info

https://familyvetcare.com/cranial-cruciate-ligament-ccl-repairs-faq/ 

 

If not fixed arthritis may set in and really hobble Liam

The kneecap no longer anchored 

Like 

Bone on bone

leg will wobble as he walks 

Will exacerbate further if he runs 

then transfer to right leg as he puts weight on that to relieve his left leg discomfort

and totally incapacitate him

and so it happened 

 

the surgery 4/20/21

 

 

 a refresher link to original story

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2021_05_16_archive.html

 and in the year since Liam is still running and the tabbies are still escaping

 

The tabbies

                                                                                                       

  Tabby White Foot                                                                                         Tabby Red

  Tabby Bold                                                                                                    Tabby Pink Nose

  Colin                                                                                                              Tabby Bent Ear

                                                                                      

               

                         an anonymous animal activist had 5 of them neutered,,,we did Colin,,,one or two would disappear for a few days and then return with tipped ears...the sign to the world that a cat has been fixed. 

 Thank you to whomever did that.

they have evolved in their coexistence

the kittens have given him a new found love of exploring the yard and using his hound sniffing talents and they have worked out their own early warning system for when Liam propels out of the side door. He actually is slowed down in propelling by me.his warning is that he banged his head, they hear it and scatter in several directions

front fence, backyard, side

Next photos

1-Liam looking for the tabbies figuring if he waits by their bowls he will eventually catch one 

has not happened 

in fact Tabby Pink nose has refused to move from her perch on the backyard bench and Liam has approached then turned away

I think if everyone stops running there will be a calm accepting coalition

2-Liam trying to stick his hard head in the newly acquired tabby cabin  he cannot and they know it

we have my creation out front and this prefab Amazon special on the side

Liam waiting by the tabby bowls

Liam looking in the tabby cabin

 

I know the tabby presence joy enhances his day and adds quality time to his senior life as the search is part of it

some Liam current life photos

he now watches TV through the lower ledge of the living room table

we include in his food whatever we have are having and mix with his dog food 

he also occasionally get special lamb treats from our Fridays at Crabtree's

here he is with a lamb shank

Lamb shank from Crabtree's

 

March and April 2022 photos

    

 

 

 Liam outside

mistaken for a puppy again this week

 Liam, RBG and his wolfie

howling with joy of life

celebrating being 14 /34

being a TPLO poster boy

"The lone wolf dies

but the pack survives"

Game of Thrones

Woof woof

Half Birthday

Liam has had them for 14 years...birthdays...

they have been announced, documented, celebrated

his birth date is August 1, 2007

and

when I attended school those with summer birthdays observed what were called half birthdays...those who had birthdays during the school year were feted with cakes, singing, corsages from classmates... those with summer birthdays were left out...an event device was introduced to fix that...

The half birthday-

mine is February 9th

wrote about it before...3 years ago in 2019

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/birthday%20half%20feb%202019

skipped 2020 because we tributed his cousin Buddy who had passed away in January 2020 

 https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2020_02_02_archive.html

we got back in during the midst of the pandemic last year 2021

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2021_01_31_archive.html

 

and here we are in 2022 at 14 1/2

 

the pack joins in

RBG

the direwolves

and our new painting on top left

from our friend 

https://leannelainefineart.com/

 there is no reason for this trio...other than I liked the photo and played with it

Liam is quintessential Liam in this pose

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate"

Oprah Winfrey

woof woof

And Just Like That...

JANUARY 16, 2008...TWO WEEKS AFTER ADOPTION

It has been 14 years since we made the trip to North Shore Animal League and found a muscular black puppy no one wanted; the light colors and spotted and white being the preferred canine colors.  I was not aware of the black dog syndrome. The black dogs are the last to be selected in shelters and average a much longer stay. I did not know I was supposed to prefer other dog colors. 

If my dog were a male, I knew his name would be Liam ...after actor Liam Neeson.  Not Liam Hemsworth. We are baby boomers here. 

From the beginning Liam was his own person, as my mother Ruth said. On the ride home from Animal League he sat in my lap and looked out the window. He did not snuggle, lick my face or get cozy. He sat erectly and curiously watching the passing scenery..

Liam would not sit, roll over or fetch a ball. NSAL instructors came and tried.  We had a 9 week training course at Best In Show Pet Resort. Liam failed. In fact, the last week the instructor said "lets be like Liam and do what we want.'

Liam is my first dog. I knew little about dog world.

What I should do or expect.

As an illustration of my ignorance, have a look at this vignette.

I thought dogs pooped only in the yard and that was it.  Liam and I went out on a late winter's afternoon in 2008, a month after his adoption, and walked a lot... as we neared our house on the return walk, Liam crouched down.  I thought he was sitting and I stopped with him...we then crossed the street to our house and entered our side door...a few minutes later my neighbor knocked. He said "your dog pooped in front of my house." "No, my dog would not do that." I indignantly replied.  I walked back across the street with my neighbor to prove him wrong. Sure enough there was a poop where Liam had sat. I came back with a bag and retrieved it. 

People later explained to me that one always must expect pooping to occur on the walk. That's the point of the walk. Oh, did not know. I had only had turtles, fish and parakeets. They don't go for walks.

 

Liam was 5 months old when we adopted him. His birthday is August 1, 2007. So he is approaching 14 1/2 on February 1, 2022.. DNA has shown he is equal parts Irish Setter, Doxie, Beagle, Dalmatian. A rescue from Tennessee.

 BABY YEARS

 chews on everything

 hides under the bed

terrified of storms and of fireworks

licks

 MIDDLE YEARS

Chases squirrels and birds

 

loves Starbucks

 

does not play with dog toys 

 

licks

 CURRENT YEAR 2021

chases kitties

 

 grooms his wolf plushies

 

runs incredibly fast

 

licks

 

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY ANNIVERSARY LIAM

JANUARY 1, 2022

Liam

does not fetch

does not cuddle

does not wear sweaters or neckties

  

does like rolling in the grass

does like sniffing on walks

does like to snuggle

licks

 "He is his own person"-Ruth McNiff

WE LOVE HIM

woof, woof

yogurt choices

 Liam loves yogurt

I had not bought any in a while

a yoga friend had been encouraged to incorporate Greek yogurt into her diet...another yoga friend is an expert on Greek and was asked

suggestions were made of Greek brands

Liam and I decided to join in ...so there were 4 of us

 an-initial purchase included two Icelandic whose claims seemed to put them on par with the Greek...but an intruder made its way in...a flavored Oikos had to be discounted not only because we are are doing plain but because it contained stevios a plant based sugar sub that I find leaves an aftertaste reminiscent of saccharine

and our impressions on consistency and feel

        Chobani creamy fluffy

oikos tangy chunky

fage  smooth pudding

  Icelandic Provisions  buratta cheese

siggi's  dense rich

first three Greek

second two Icelandic

 these were tried because of their high protein, calcium, nutritional values and no additives 

Liam licking and 

collage of his choices following

 

What Is Greek Yogurt?

 Greek yogurt is essentially regular yogurt (made from milk that’s been cultured and then fermented) that’s been strained. Through this straining process, whey (the watery part of milk that remains after curds form) is very slowly drained, resulting in a much thicker consistency than regular yogurt. It also means it is higher in protein concentration and lower in sugar than most standard American yogurts. You can find full-fat versions, as well as low-fat and non-fat varieties out there.

I have been to Greece 

and 

want to go to Iceland

What Is Skyr?

Icelandic skyr (pronounced skeer) might be newer to you, but it’s been an important part of Icelandic food culture for over 1,000 years and has started to crop up in the States in a big way in recent years (popular brands include Siggi's, Sky.is, and Icelandic Provisions). It is an Icelandic-style strained yogurt that’s even thicker and more densely concentrated than Greek yogurt. Icelanders will tell you that true, Icelandic skyr is not actually yogurt at all but instead, it’s categorized as a cheese. Traditionally, skyr involves heating skim milk and then adding old skyr cultures. Curds will form and then the whey is drained for many hours until there’s a thick, sour skyr.

and link

https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/greek-yogurt-skyr

Bring it

 

woof woof

A new reason to live

TONGUE OUT READY TO GRAB A KITTY

 

Liam loves the 6 tabbies 

Loves to chase

To dream 

To hunt 

If you need any refreshers about what 's been happening

here is the recent blog story link

easy peasy to skim and catch up

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Birthday%202021

 portrait of the Pack

 

 

and the gathering

 

 

 

the  hunt

 

 

 

 

 

for meals

see the 6 gathering top photo

 

LIAM AT SIDE DOOR, TABBIES ON THE OTHER SIDE

Liam is inches away on the other side of the door

when they hear his hard head hit the door they scoot off into different directions

i check that they are safely out of reach and open the door

Liam darts off at full speed on his new bionic leg

does his investigations

sometimes finds a hidden tabby

gives chase and  misses

then happily gallops around the yard in ecstatic exuberant joy

These siblings have given Liam a reason to gallop, sniff, explore, and enjoy new cuisine, now mixed with his own and ours...

he adores cat food, our food

his food and cheese

we believe all these new activities enhance and extend his life

MOM, WHERE ARE THEY? i SAW THEM JUMP RIGHT HERE

and in his 15th year around the sun, Liam has the best life

an indoor cushy home and an outdoor adventure land

woof, woof

Liam is14

and he made it through

Covid

TPLO surgery

feral cats

lipomas

and 

celebrated

with

his first joyful rollie

in case you missed the story of his injury or would be interested in a refresher 

here is the blog story about it

  https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2021/03/liam-is-injured.html

and the next blog story has his surgery and recovery

 https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4302462737248030380/680207438361533307

both quick easy reads

lots of photos for those time-stressed folks 

and now Liam can do his regular activities

one of which is illustrated in the captioned photostitch following

  "The Lone wolf dies

 but the pack survives"

Game of Thrones

OUR PACK

LIAM AND THE NEUTERED OUTDOOR KITTIES

 

and we are a community now

they are no longer ferals

they permit petting, stroking . holding of their heads and eating from my hand.

Liam, Colin, Tabby Bold, Tabby Bent Ear, Tabby Pink Nose, Tabby Red and Tabby White Foot

I adopted Colin last July. His mother delivered him.  Had him neutered.

Then to my shock during a December 2020 snowstorm kittens tumbled out of Colin's outdoor house I had built. Colin had taken them in.,,I tried not feeding the kitties but Colin brought them every day. Then an anonymous animal activist had them neutered,,,one or two would disappear for a few days and then return with tipped ears...the sign to the world that a cat has been fixed. 

 Thank you to whomever did that.

Liam remains the Leo Lion King

rules the yard and its surroundings

the kittens have given him a new found love of exploring the yard and using his hound sniffing talents

I know this joy enhances his day and adds quality time to his senior life

 

I hope that one day he will love his kitty siblings

until then though

 it is quite a show

Liam sniffs for the kitties

the kitties stalk the birds

and the birds 

peck and dislodge

one another

squirrels scoop up the birdseed

all drink out of the birdbath

Happy 14th Liam

woof. woof

surgery happened

 

ABOVE LIAM WAITS FOR HIS SURGERY

and the TPLO surgery happened 4/20/2021 after a month long wait for our traveling surgeon Tony Kahn

Injury occurred on Friday March 19, 2021

here is an explanation of what Liam had

https://www.animalsurgical.com/tplo-surgery-what-to-expect/ 

I did not realize how common and how serious this surgery and surgery is until Liam had to do it.

refresher for those who did not see the injury story and who want a refresher

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2021_03_28_archive.html

Liam severely injured himself chasing our feral kitten Tabby White Foot ripping his ccl and meniscus 

see the tapestry of IG posts from GCVC and our exchanges while Loam rehabbed there 

 

 

 

 

Paul has slept downstairs since March 20 to be close to Liam

I am already down here so both parents are here

 

 

 FIRST DAY HOME SATURDAY  WITH GIFTS FROM FRIENDS

 

we have blockades on all the furniture 

for two weeks

we did not leave the house together in order to monitor Liam

this even involved missing an in person Friday Night at Crabtrees on his first week home 

Friday April 30 we did Crabtrees's Curbside

A stitched montage of Liam's recuperating

Good Vet report 5/4

Liam hears it

Paul got up from his couch seat and went into the kitchen  

Liam saw an opening and jumped up next to the pile of books that had just been covering the spot

First two photos are Liam's sneaky jumps up

we then waited until he slid down the couch and reinstalled more obstacles

note RBG pillow glaring down third photo

the current situation

a few more weeks

no, not a few more weeks

we succumb

Liam is way too wily 

RBG did NOT do her job..

.Liam embraced her...was mot intimidated...

UPDATE

May 18, 2021

Liam's final checkup...He is a super dog...Doctor Polley GCVC founder and head doctor escorted Liam back out of the office personally and greeted us with our bouncing 13 3/4 year old TPLO surgery survivor and thriver. Liam is doing remarkably well...we are instructed to keep doing what we are doing, Which of course involves undoing the reinstated permissions of couch surfing and long walks and cat chasing.  "Take it slow, don't go crazy. a quote."  says Dr Polley

proud of our quick healing boy. The DNA mix of Doxie, beagle, Irish setter and dalmatian must have propelled his body and mind to get it done

Thank you to all for your support during this unexpected blip in Liam's life

You shared your stories

 sent your love

empathized 

got us through

All of you

woof, woof