Honey Nut Nut - It's Bath time!

I can't believe I've already been with my new mummy for two weeks! We are having so much fun together! Everyday is an adventure!

This week I discovered water and had my first bath followed by a blow dry which made me look like a total fluff ball!

I also got to hang out with two of my mum's favourite pack! I really love the small one - Ollie! He's my size and we played races! 

Next week I'm going back to the vets which means I can go out and play! First stop will be the beach!

Honey Nut Nut - My New World

Let me introduce myself because I want to tell you a story!

My name is Honey, and I am a Cavachon. I was born on the 1st April, but I am no one's fool! The minute my new mum walked in to the dirty barn I was living in with with my brothers and sisters, I knew she was the one for me! I didn't want an ordinary home because I am no ordinary dog!

I had to wait a whole week for her to come back and get me and it was the longest week EVER! She walked back in to the barn picked me up and off we went! We travelled in style on the way back to my new home - my mum's friend had a sporty black car and we raced all the other cars back! I looked out the window all the way!

My new place is a million doggy lifetimes away from where I was born! There is loads of space, loads of toys and my food is YUMMY! I have a den to sleep in, but I prefer sleeping with my mum and like to curl up on the pillow as close to my mum as I can!

I am not allowed out properly yet as I need to be given medicine to stop me getting poorly but that hasn't stopped my mum taking me out with her to see the sights and sounds! I also had my first bath this week, which has made me look like a powder puff!

I met my Grandma and Grandad this week. They both love me! I hope I get to stay with them!

Height: 21cm
Weight: 2.0 kg
This weeks achievements: First time in a car, first injection, first bath, first visit to the pub!!

My first Car Ride

My first day in my new home

My favourite toy

Hanging out on my mums bed

Having a pint at the View

Pub Life

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The Biggest High - The Biggest Low ...

It never ceases to amaze me the twists and turns that life can throw at you. And no more so than the last seven days.

Having turned forty on May 15th, I finally made the decision to realise a life time dream - to get a dog. I've never wanted children. I have known that all my life. Tried to convince myself that if one came along, the maternal instinct would kick in, but I knew it wouldn't. My love has been and always will be for animals and I had promised myself that when I hit "The Milestone" - my gift to life would be to finally commit to bringing a puppy in to my World. 

They say - it chooses you, you don't choose it and sure enough, I walked in to a barn two weeks ago and my eyes met with a little bundle of fluff, with the most adorable (and naughty) face I've ever seen. She stood aside from the others, was smaller than the others and seemed to take her time in considering walking over to me - unlike the others. And when she did, she calmly laid down on my lap - like she knew that she belonged to me.

And it was as simple as that. I committed to buy her the next day and agreed to pick her up the following weekend - I knew it would be the longest seven days ever! 

And thats when the longest week of my life, turned in to the most terrifying week of my life. While sitting having a civil drink with my best friend, I touched my neck as I do on a frequent basis and recoiled in shock as I felt a lump the size of a golf ball above my collar bone. Double taking - I asked my friend to look - hoping to confirm that I was over reacting, but knew from his face I wasn't. 

Waking up the next day, I knew that I had no option other than to get a professional opinion as over night my neck has swollen to twice the size it was the day before. Blood tests and a chest Xray were the next stop - followed by a wait to see a specialist. And three days later I found myself sat in front of a consultant, as the words "I believe you have Lymphoma and need to confirm the diagnosis so we can begin urgent treatment" came out of his mouth.

You listen to stories and see commercials of how people feel when they are told they have cancer, and it did and still does feel like I am watching someones else's story. The one overwhelming feeling I do have is that my little dog is here for a reason and that reason is to give me hope. 

I am yet to find out the final diagnosis and have no idea what is in store. But I have found over the last couple of years that writing has been a massive therapy for me, when things have gotten tough. So that is what I will do! I will write away the fear, and the uncertainty, and keep a log of my feelings, so when things are better, I can look back and truly appreciate everything that I have and be a stronger, better person for it! 

And as for my new baby - I will introduce her to the World separately! 

Let the battle begin :)

Underwater Dogs - How one picture can save a life!

Ever since photographs of dogs, flinging themselves into water - without a second thought - first caught my attention some three or four years ago, I have been totally fascinated! Being the curious type, I wanted to know more! The man behind the idea is talented American super snapper Seth Casteel. His work has been published in National Geographic Magazine, The New York Times Magazine and numerous other printed publications. 

He has also become a TV celebrity, appearing on the UK's This Morning, as well as numerous interviews on American programs such as CBS, Good Morning America, NBC NIGHTLY NEWS with Brian Williams, The Meredith Vieria Show, NPR Morning Edition, The Insider and Inside Edition. 

Back in 2007, Seth began volunteering at a homeless pets shelter, taking pictures of cats and dogs, in a bid to find them loving homes. His work resulted in a huge increase in adoptions, as he was able to capture their unique personalities.

As his reputation grew, he developed his career as a "Lifestyle Pet Photographer". One day Buster - a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was brought to him for his pet portrait. It soon became apparent that things were not going to go according to plan, as Buster was more interested in jumping in and out of the pool, chasing his favourite tennis ball than posing for the camera! It got Seth thinking, which resulted in the purchase of an underwater camera and the beginning of the journey that is "Underwater Dogs"!

The latest in the series is Underwater Puppies - and as cute as the pictures are, they come with a serious message. Not necessarily something that most of us in the UK have to worry about, Seth is determined to educate American pet owners that dogs need to be taught that if they fall in to a pool, they know exactly where to do go to get out. 1000's of dogs drown each year, because they don't have the know how.

He has traveled the world in pursuit of his passion, working with animals across the Globe. Seth's non-profit campaign, One Picture Saves a Life, inspires, empowers and educates animal ambassadors around the world to improve the image of rescue and adoption through positive photography. 

CBS INTERVIEW SEPTEMBER 2014