Years ago my Peggy H. and her husband thought maybe what they wanted was “a Corgi who was calm and quiet. Low-key. Un-demanding. Petfinder said, “Yeah, right.”
“Meanwhile, in deep East Texas there was a diligent little Pem named Gillie who worked hard as a show dog and foundation of the kennel’s breeding program. After her last litter the breeder retired (fired) her, dutiful, sweet Gillie needed a home!”
“Her friends mounted a search for someone who wanted a low-key Corgi, and soon enough I was off to east Texas to buy a dog I’d never met.”
Gillie at the park, after her first week at her new home.
“For the next six months I said “Who could give up a dog like this?” to anyone who would listen. She’s just so cute, and loves meeting people and other dogs. She knew that wonderful command, “Go potty!” She loves air conditioning. She loves sleeping on the bed. She looooooves jumping on and off of the bed (don’t let your Corgi do this, kids).”
“Oddly, it took more than a year for us to connect. Gillie was a very serious little dog. No smiles, no FRAPs, no idea what to do with a toy, no playing at all. However, she needed two abdominal surgeries in the first year I had her. Maybe that helped her realize I wasn’t just a handler, and she was here for keeps. She began to blossom into a loving, cheerful and happy little girl.”
Gillie, or Hobbes? You decide.
“We got eight inches of snow last year. You Northerners may laugh, but here in North Texas snow is a big deal. We went nuts – and so did Gillie! She played in the snow! I have never seen her play before or since, but that day she completely wore herself (and me) out!”
“Soon after snow day, Gillie’s chiropractic adjustments became painful and we had to stop them. Stairs became increasingly difficult. Her hind feet became pigeon toed, and now her hind legs are becoming unstable, like a top slowing down.”
“At first all of this was very subtle, and as soon as I was sure I wasn’t imagining things I took Gillie to the vet. She sent me to the veterinary neurologist, where we had an MRI and sent off for the DM (degenerative myelopathy) genetic test. She has far too many bad disks and oh yeah, is affected/at risk for DM, which we kinda already knew.”
Gillie was one of the faces of DM during The Daily Corgi’s Drive for Five to fight DM in February:
“And so it goes. DM will take Gillie’s strength and coordination from her back legs forward. If I’m very lucky she’ll retain control of her bladder and bowels; I’ve been told sometimes this happens with female corgis. How long will it take? I’ve corresponded with someone whose dog lived 4½ years. I’m taking my cue from my Gillie, for whom every day is a wonderful chance to just hang out. She’s a pretty good teacher that way.”
RUN, GILLIE, RUN!
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Welcome back to The Daily Corgi, lovely Gillie!
Could you be any more charming?
(Nope).
I am a bit confused about the dog jumping on the bed thing…DM is genetic..right?
Another great post! Thanks to Peggy and her husband for providing a loving home to an awesome dog. May Gillie stay healthy as long as possible.
Judy & Max
Gillie has her forever home, that is ALL that counts..she is a beautiful girl, she sparkles, and she is loved to bits.
In response to Danielle's question: DM is genetic. Bad disks are something she has a tendency to because she's a long-backed dog; she carried several litters; and most of all, was allowed to jump because she loves it so. On the bed and sofa, off the bed and sofa, down five stair steps at one time … Gillie was a great jumper, but her spine couldn't take it. She has at least two bad cervical disks and five bad thoracolumbar disks. To this day she will not use doggy stairs. "Mamas, don't let your corgis grow up to be jumpers!"
Gilliesmom
OMG Laurie this post got me all teary eyed. She's such a pretty corgi and always looks so chillaxed in her photos.
Go Gillie go!
-CA