Rest in Peace Milo

I adopted Milo as a 6 month old rescue when I was living in Brooklyn. He was my first dog ever and I loved him to pieces. When I left Brooklyn, he went to live with my parents because my school/work schedule didn't leave much time for him. Once my schedule had died down a bit, they were so smitten with him that I was forbidden from taking him back.

We found out a little over a month ago that our 8 year old Japanese Chin, Milo, was suffering from Congestive Heart Failure. He was placed on medication and perked right up. We thought that thanks to the meds he would be around for at least a few more months, maybe years. We never expected it would be mere weeks. He was doing great on the medicine until Thursday morning when my Mom got up for work. She sat down and gave him a little pep talk before she left, but when she got home from work she found that he was already gone.

Not to get on my soapbox, but Milo was a perfect example of why you should NEVER EVER consider buying a puppy from a pet store. Milo was a pet store puppy born in a puppy mill in Arkansas. He was purchased in a pet shop by a lady who bought a male and female Japanese Chin at the pet shop with the intention to breed them, then changed her mind. Thankfully, at 6 months old he ended up at a rescue group. Companies who breed puppies for profit with no regard for their future health or the parents' current health are purely evil. The average life span of a Japanese Chin is 9.25 - 20 years. Because of careless breeding not testing for diseases that could be passed on and disregard for the future health of the puppies, Milo only got to live 8 years. He should be here for years to come. But we knew going in that is wasn't realistic to expect a long healthy life from a puppy mill pup.

My mom put it best:

"He is barking at every UPS man in heaven :)"

You can take a look at all of the Milo related posts here.

Blogging Buddies: Milo and Me

When I was living in Brooklyn I really, really, REALLY wanted to get my first dog. I spent hours researching breeds online to find the right match for me. One day I came across an online quiz that asked you what traits you wanted in a dog, and matched you with breeds that fit your descriptions. My number one match was Japanese Chin. I had NEVER heard of the breed before that quiz, but started looking into Rescue groups and learning more about them. Eventually, I found a rescue group who needed a home for a 6 month old Japanese Chin pup they were calling "Higgins." I took one look at his photo and knew he was the pup for me.

This photo was taken the day he came home. I had to drive from Brookyn to Pennsylvania to pick him up. He had been a pet store puppy that a woman purchased, intending to breed him to another pet store purchased female. She changed her mind and gave him to the rescue, and I'm so glad she did!

Milo is the best dog I've ever met. I would take him Upstate to my parents' house for visits, and he love running around their yard! When it came time for me to leave Brooklyn, I knew the only place Milo would be happy would be my parents' house. They took both of us in for a few months, and eventually I went back to school and got an apartment. He stayed behind, and has lived with them for the past 5 years. 

Japanese Chin are very cat-like dogs. They like to be clean, they like to lay on the back of the couch and look out the window. They are very mellow, in a cat-like way about 90% of the time. They are very smart and love their families very much, though with strangers they can be aloof. They are a long coated dog, but are often referred to as "wash and wear" because their coats rarely matt, and they require minimal grooming. If you're looking for a real "doggy" dog who chews, barks, likes to roughhouse, the Japanese Chin isn't for you. If you're looking for a quiet, calm, funny companion, you've found the breed for you!

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We are currently seeking submissions for the Blogging Buddies series, and we would love to hear all about your pet or pets, please email us!

windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

relaxing sunday

 Taking pictures of the horses in the field behind my parents' house.

Sitting outside in the swing with Milo.

Much needed relaxing Sunday afternoon.

a day in the life of milo

(wait for it....)

milo

 My little Milo is turning SIX this week! I can't believe it! 

Milo doesn't live with us, he lives with my parents in the country so that he never has to spend the day alone and is always surrounded by people and love.

 This is when he was still a youngin'!

 My little goofball

 Milo's first Halloween costume.

Milo playing with his buddy. He's the one running like a cheetah!

visiting my parents' house

One of my favorite things about visiting my parents' house is getting to hang out with my favorite buddy, Milo!

I went out in the yard to read through my google reader...

...and Milo sat right next to be the whole time. Enjoying the afternoon sun and warm breeze.

<3

poor milo

this is my beautiful boy milo. he went to live with my parents when i went back to school, and had such a great time there that i couldn't bear to take him away once school was over. look at his long, beautiful flowing silky coat. gorgeous!

that is, until my mom decided he needed a haircut. she told the groomer she didn't want him shaved. which she thought would translate as "don't use your clippers on him." but apparently the groomer didn't get the message, because she butchered my poor little boy.

he looks ridiculous! i'm so sad.