THE KINGDOM OF DOGWOOD

Good Queen Lucy and Prince Charlie

Once upon a time, far up in the nether reaches of Curtis Hollow, lay the sprawling, unspoiled lands of the Kingdom of Dogwood.
In this Kingdom, there was peace, harmony, and much love. This land of good tidings existed mostly because of it's matriarch, the wise and noble Queen Lucy. 
Queen Lucy ruled the Kingdom of Dogwood and the House of L with a gentle heart, and a firm hand.
Through out her reign as glorious Queen, she had created not only a kingdom, but a loyal and loving court of subjects and consorts.
The first two souls to fall under her magic were the serfs that had raised her and catered to her every whim. It was from the bond of affection and love that the Queen's heart was shaped and molded to be the ruler she is today. She would always remember her own humble origin, and never forget that, in the Kingdom of Dogwood, these glorious tender things were to be shared with others who had not been as fortunate as she.
Through out the years of her reign, the good and noble Queen had offered sanctuary and refuge to several waifs that had crossed the plains and fields of her land.
First there was Prince Charlie, the humble and submissive creature who was her constant companion.

Princess of the Feline Fields: Pearl

Then the lost princess without a kingdom, Pearl, who was granted full stature in the House of L as the Princess of the Feline Fields.

                                         The Conquistador of Dogwood: Hines

The grounds of the kingdom shook the day that the little conquistador Hines arrived. But the strong and determined Queen soon had this little warrior under her sway and he too became part of her court.

                                                                             Duchess Daisy

The Duchess Daisy bounced into their lives quite by accident. She was young and beautiful, but lacked the graces required to become part of Queen Lucy's fold. But with time, Daisy too found refuge among the other adopted loves of the Queens entourage.
Tragedy struck the House of L, when Princess Pearl was taken by illness. No longer would she wander the Feline Fields, or sit at the Queens right hand. Princess Pearl now walked the Fields of the Lord, and Dogwood mourned that loss.

                                           Jester of the Court of the House of L : Bart

As a depression blotted the land, another small feline waif entered into the kingdom. He was a tiny little fellow, but filled with mischief and wide eyed wonder. The one who would be called Bart brought with him a new joy and happiness to the Kingdom of Dogwood. Queen Lucy and her court selected him to assume the role of Jester in their midst. It is a role Bart has played well.

                                                          Sir Sebastian the Water Wizard

Dogwood has always been a magical place. But that was never more true than when the great water wizard, Sir Sebastian, arrived in a splash of glory. Sir Sebastian was also of the feline persuasion, and found instant camaraderie with the little jester Bart.
Queen Lucy found this pleasing, as she remembered that Princess Pearl had never known such friendship with her own kind.
Therefore, it was decreed that Sir Sebastian would become the official consort of magical happenings of the House of L.
Several years passed.  The Kingdom grew larger as the Royal family acquired new lands and castles in other parts of the country.  The six members of the House of L and their two benevolent serfs lived in happiness and harmony.

Linus the Lion Heart

In the fifth month of the ninth year of Queen Lucy's rule of the Kingdom of Dogwood, a young crippled waif was brought before her by her serfs.  This small innocent had been harmed by the hand of man, and suffered the loss of the use of one paw. The little one was frightened and hurt, and this concerned the Queen greatly.  She instructed the serfs to do what they could for the small one, and granted this small bundle of humbleness the rights of oasis within the kingdom.
The Queen watched from her high perch as the small waif struggled to heal and to learn to use his paw again. She was deeply touched by his courage and the nobility of his efforts.
Therefore, the small waif was named Linus the Lion Heart of Dogwood, and granted full and forever status as a member of the House of L .
So now they are seven within the kingdom, living a happy and loved existence under the eternal care of the two serfs that cherish every moment of this existence with them.
The Kingdom of Dogwood and the rule of good Queen Lucy are now things of legend and of tales told across the land.  The House of L stands seven strong, bound together by their respect and their love for one another.  Long live the House of L.
And in the Kingdom of Dogwood, they all lived happily ever after.

LITTLE LINUS AND HIS NEW SHOE!

A while ago, I told you about a sweet little foster dog that came to Dogwood from the Waverly Animal Shelter named Tippy. Better Half changed his name to LINUS soon after his arrival.

Linus had suffered a gunshot wound that left him with nerve damage in his right hind leg. He could not feel or operate his paw, and walked on his “knuckles” or dragged it along.  This caused it to become quite a bloody mess.

Little Linus stole my heart in a photo posted on the Waverly Shelter Facebook page, and I felt that we could help this little man learn how to walk on his paw again.

For the past month, Better Half and I have nursed his little foot back to health.  Every morning and every evening, we would slather his little toes with antibiotic ointment, wrap the foot tenderly with gauze, and then slip a baby sock over the whole project. We would then place a couple of pieces of tape around his foot to hold it all in place.

Slowly, Linus began to heal. But he still wanted to drag the little foot behind him.

Everyone was ready to simply chop his little leg off. But in my soul, I really felt that this dog was not ready for amputation.  We consulted with Dr. Holly Ramey, who tested Linus’s limb to show that the leg was completely “alive” with feeling from the hip to the “ankle”. She also showed us neurological reports that show where animals with severed nerves have had regeneration where the nerve reconnects.

The nerve grows about an inch per month. It might take a few years, but there is hope!
Why cut off a healthy leg just because of a bum foot? Why not keep the leg and help the foot along?
With God’s help, a little patience, and really good catalog, we ordered a “boot” thru our beloved Dr. Ramey. It’s a simple little tennis shoe with a Velcro strip to secure it to his ankle.

Linus has made great progress.   With the form and weigh of the little shoe, he has learned to pick the foot up, place it correctly (pads down) on the floor, and step. 

We have had only one small set back. Linus had the little “floppy-flappy” dew claws on his back legs. The bandaging and the process of introducing the shoe to his little paw had cause it to rub itself raw.  But thanks to the loving folks at the Waverly Animal Shelter and the Humphreys County Humane Society, the dew claw has been removed so that it will no longer impair his stride.

So for a few more days, poor Linus is back in mummy form with a big bandage on his foot. On Saturday we have the stitches taken out, and with God’s love on his side, my little guy will have a clean slate, a new shoe, and a whole new outlook.  

I’m so proud of this little man, and so grateful that God has given him the intelligence to catch on so fast.
 I ask that all of the friends of Dogwood continue to remember little Linus in your prayers. He still has a bit of work to do, and he still needs a forever home with someone who will love him, and have the patience to put the shoe on when he is headed outside, and take it off when he comes back in.

It’s a tall order, I admit. But the Lord moves in mysterious ways, and I have faith that the outcome will be right for Linus, and that this sweet, adorable little dog will have his happily ever after.