The Tripawd Times of Nova the Great Dane

Yep, you heard me right.  Just a little over 2 weeks ago Mom brought home a new Great Dane sister for Emmy and me.  Hey, I know what you are thinking… “Queen Nova, are you okay with this?”  My answer is YES.  In fact, I was the one who told Mom to bring her home.

Actually this all came about way back in late June with my Dane Drama.  Don’t tell Mom I said this, but she was an absolute basket case.  She was worried about me every minute of every day and was crying a lot. Frankly, it was making me a little crazy, and Mom’s sadness really made me feel worse.  I really wished that Mom would just be more “dog”, you know?  Like cherish every day, and wag her tail all the time, like us dogs!   One night while we lay on the couch together in the middle of the night, we had a heart-to-heart conversation.  I am sure you humans know what those conversations are like.  When you look into your pups eyes and you can communicate without speaking a word.  She told me how much she loved me and how much she wanted to make me happy.  I told her I would be happiest if she was doing things that brought joy to her life, rather than sitting there crying with me and being sad.  Mom has done so much for me, and I really wanted her to share this love so that other pups can have a life as wonderful as mine.

She decided then that she would begin to help other Danes in need through our local Great Dane Rescue in Michigan.  NOW we’re talkin’!  She immediately applied as both a volunteer and as an adoptive pawrent.  Not a foster pawrent, she’s not quite ready for that yet.  She says she would definitely be a foster failure, and want to adopt every Dane out there.  She made the decision that her next Dane would be a rescue.  Anyway, she started channelling some of the energy she spent crying and being depressed into helping other Danes in need, and helping some friends who were struggling with their pups illnesses be more pawsitive.  Isn’t that pawesome?

Well you know how that stuff works. A beautiful Harlequin Dane named Lady Darla came into rescue and Mom fell in love with her immediately.  She was only 2 years old, but had primary Addison’s disease, which requires daily medication and monthly injections. After years of administering all of Emmy and my medications, this did not faze her in the least.  Mom told them she was interested in Darla, but after the application process was complete she found out that she was 3rd in line to adopt her. By some miracle, the first two families opted not to adopt her.  She knew that this meant that Darla was meant to join our family.

Mom’s intention was never to have a 3rd Dane, but to be able to adopt soon after losing one (both Emmy and I are old and each have our health issues, so it really could be either of us).  She was worried that one of us would be lonely if we lost the other.  In a way she was right.  While I would really miss not having my seeing eye dog Emmy with me any more, I think that bringing in a new sister would be just as good for Mom as it would for me or Emmy.  When they offered Darla to Mom, she quickly justified it, saying that it would be a good transition, so that neither of us would be alone if one of us left this earth. Dad amazingly bought into her logic, especially after she showed him a picture of how beautiful Darla was.  She really is a beautiful girl.  Sure, I can’t see her, but I can feel her pawsitive energy and she makes me feel really good.  I think she is a great addition to our pack. It feels nice to not have Mom being sad and worried about me all the time. And whaddaya know… I have been feeling great.  I have not had any health crises, episodes of confusion, and I no longer wake Mom in the middle of the night. It feels so warm and peaceful when we are all together.  Darla has made me excited to get up and moving around more often.  Emmy too.  We never really were interested in going for walks since we’ve been old ladies, but Darla makes it fun.  Now all 3 of us go for walks with Mom after she gets home from work, and all of our tails are wagging (if Mom had one you’d see it wagging).  And Darla is learning to help me find my way on walks too, just like Mom and Emmy.  Life is so very good!

Here are some pictures of me and the new addition: