I don’t know what I would have done without his companionship. He was the youngest of the dogs that terrible day so at least he had the longest life to live, statistically. He’s an amazing dog and is carrying the spirit of his lost siblings. He has his own trauma that I’ve been observing. It’s a terrible way to bond, but we have it nonetheless.

My sister and brother-in-law came to visit with their dog Ricki, who Snoopy had a wonderful time with. Panda joins in for a moment as well. This is the first time Snoopy has played with a dog since the fire, since he lost all his playmates in minutes. It’s difficult to think about this period since I was still in a fog and barely sleeping, but I appreciated the emotional support visit at my friends’ home nearby.

It took me a moment to register the sweetness and thought that went into this gift yesterday during this very dark time, which was not just of a random stuffed animal.

I was visited by my amazing friend, with a hot tub I will have to indulge in this year since mine is inaccessible, Peter Herman. He and Jack Morris got me a SNOOPY to go with my Snoopy, after I told him that my grandfather was a huge Peanuts fan and had so named his dog (the one I remember him having when I was growing up).

My Snoopy reminded me of that family animal from the 1970s, so that name stuck when he came to us after being found on the streets just walking up to someone’s doorstep trying to meet the large dogs inside. I really didn’t like my dear Snoopy at first because he was an escape artist. However, I thought he was unadoptably old because of his white whiskers. It turned out he was a young adult, but with a tail that constantly wags. By the time it was determined he was not a senior (I should have known better to check the gums), I could not imagine this dog being placed elsewhere, even though I really try to only permanently home seniors. I fell so in love with his eyes while he stands there daily and melts me with the tail wag. Hence the foster “failed.” I’m glad that my miracle survivor is also named in homage to grandpa and his beloved pet.

I will cherish this gift and it will serve as a reminder that I have to get my butt to the Charles Schultz Museum in Santa Rosa.

Can one’s tear ducts dry up with enough crying and wailing?

Snoopy is not the same, and you can only imagine the fear we had when the smoke detector went off last night at our friends’ house where we’re staying. I ran out back and strongly smelled smoke, but then I realized it was the sooty computer equipment from my house airing out in their backyard. Ultimately it was a false alarm with their detector battery, but the timing was more than nerve-wracking. Snoopy agrees!

Miracle survivor Snoopy snuggled up in a sweater my mother knitted years ago before she died. My dear friend Steve washed it with some vinegar concoction and it’s good as new:

Peaches had started out as a dog-sitting dog. The family loved her but had some challenges in keeping her and disagreements on where to home her among the family members. When I became single with seven dogs I hoped to have them reach a detente, so I offered to let Peaches (a very well behaved dog) go back to the family to ease my own burden. Fortunately, those plans were underway before the fire and more fortunately Peaches somehow survived. I was later told that she had a natural fear of fire, which may have helped her (and possibly Snoopy) hide out and not get trapped by the smoke, like several other dogs, including the two blind ones, were trapped inside on a cold morning. Both Peaches and Snoopy were found in the lookout area of my backyard which wasn’t searched until after five dog bodiess were brought out to me. I’m so glad all seven did not die, but to keep my sanity I had to contemplate even that possibility. Here are pictures of Peaches back with her family who now live in San Diego.