Cody

Cody is 15 years old this year. I guess he is. He was found on the banks of the Ohio River one January in 1994. I estimated by his teeth that he was not quite a year old. He was unaltered, his foot pads were all mangled and his toenails were worn to nubs from living on river rip rap. But all he wanted to do was play fetch. In the river. In January.

My dad is a veterinarian (retired) and I am quite able to allow foundling dogs to come and go, to take them to the shelters without flinching. But this dog was special. I could tell. There was something about him.

We've been friends for fourteen years. He got to live the first half in Makanda, Illinois, on a farm before he began his city phase. He loves people, thinks skateboarding is a crime, goes berserk with leash aggression for other dogs, but loves all kitties.

This is Cody playing fetch on the beach in May of 2007.



He had a health crisis in April 2007 (hence the little shaved part of his front leg), and collapsed. He went to the emergency vet, and as I was preparing to have a paralyzed and incontinent dog, the next morning the vet called and said, "Guess who walked out of their kennel this morning?"

Holistic veterinary care has given him a new lease. At least another few quality years. We have gone so west coast. He gets homeopathy and acupuncture. At least we know there is no placebo effect. This stuff works!!!

Every day with Cody is a gift.