A Story of a Dog Rescue (from 2014)

A STORY OF A DOG RESCUE

         
Originally written and blog published in August, 2014.

When I moved to Costa Rica in 2008 I brought my animal family consisting of four parrots and two dogs. The four parrots lived together in an aviary attached to my house and readily open to my office. My two dogs, Livvie and Seurat were best pals. A year after our arrival, Livvie died at a respectable age of 12 for a German Shepherd and Seurat was alone, which he seemed to manage. After Frank and I got together, we often talked about getting another dog pal for Seurat. At different times there were puppies made available to us – but Seurat would have nothing to do with them. When Frank brought one of his dogs to my house, Seurat was incensed. It seemed he was pretty particular about who he would share his family with.

Two days before the end of 2013, Frank and I decided to stop by a local dog shelter owned by a Tica Veterinarian, Dr. Milena Elizondo. This compassionate woman rescues dogs abandoned in San Isidro de El General. We decided to try again.

Dr. Milena was excited and said she knew just the dog - and a man was taking care of her but would bring her over immediately. Randall soon arrived with a sweet, starving german shepherd mix who had recently given birth but was without puppies. He had noticed her wandering the streets in a nearby town and took her to his friend, Milena. Wasted and starved to her bones, there was something in her lovely eyes that implored Frank and me to return the next day, New Year's eve - with Seurat. We hoped he would let us know how he felt about her.

The meeting of the two dogs began on Dr. Milena's porch. I immediately called the quiet dog Frida - for Frida Kahlo who also suffered a painful early life. And her name would be in keeping with the artist nomenclature I'd adopted with Seurat. I would often reply, 'Pointilist' when someone asked about Seurat's breed. Though only artists 'got it', it always made me smile. 

Seurat was immediately just fine with Frida as we walked them together to see how they interacted. It was almost as if they both knew they belonged together. We just shrugged our shoulders and went home with Frida and Seurat. When I put Livvie's old collar on her, Seurat actually jumped for joy!

We fell into a routine of 4 meals a day for Frida and Seurat began training his new pal - when to bark, how early to wake up the humans, taking her out each morning to walk the road and check out all the new smells - and he even brought her back! Frida was very mellow, and slept a lot. We understood she was still weak and recovering from her starvation on the streets.

After about two weeks of steady improvement, Frida one day began walking unsteadily and appeared disoriented. One eye was filled with blood. We immediately took her to see Dr. Milena who diagnosed her with Erlichiosis or Canine Hemorrhagic Fever.  A terrible blow. This is a most often fatal blood parasitic disease carried by the brown tick. Frida, unfortunately was in the chronic phase with includes retinal hemorrhage. Dogs can often live with the parasite and show no visible evidence until it reaches the chronic stage, as with Frida. Dr. Milena armed us with antibiotics, blood and immune building capsules and we decided to do the best we could and not give up on this sweet girl who wanted only to live. Seurat watched her carefully, too and was nearly always by her side.

Frida fought back! After a week+ on antibiotics (which I was only able to get her to eat through extreme trickery), she started acting more upbeat, gaining a little weight and the retinal bleeding happening not as often, permitting her to see and enjoy her surroundings. Her pal, Seurat stayed right there for her. He seemed to understand.

And one morning they began their serious business of playing! It is often just a blur of growls and occasional yelps. 

They are best friends forever, after all!

Frank loved Frida, reminding him of his first shepherd, Osa a long long time ago. It was lovely to see the bond these two developed.

After Frank passed in early March, Frida and Seurat seemed to miss him so and I began to take them on the walks they had so enjoyed with Frank. It has become a regular treat for them and exercise for me.

By August, Frida appears to be completely healthy and sooooo rambunctious! She is best friends with Seurat and they share bones, food and anything else, including me. 

What a lovely family! And this family of dogs helped to get me through losing Frank.  But last I heard from him, he told me that my old sweet Shepherd, Livvie and his shepherd Osa are with him – as well as Flash, the parrot he also loved.

BFFs forever.

The 2019 Intensives That Were!

Here in Costa Rica we are moving out of Summer or the Dry Season and into the Winter or Green Season. The rains are on their way. It's a great time to look back at the Watercolor Intensive highlights of 2019. What an inspiring season it was!

I'm remembering that the morning after 2019 rang in, I walked out my nearly always open front door to sit in my rocking chair and watch the tropical morning unfold. My view was like a softly glowing watercolor wash of colors - blues to soft oranges.


I thought about the two Watercolor Intensives scheduled for January and February with a possibility in March. Would I be ready?

My morning view

I looked around to see that my surroundings were certainly looking good. The yard was finished and blooming. It had been just over a year since the Tropical Storm Nate destruction. (See Writings about Nate)  With the help of Billy and my neighbors, the gavione retaining wall of 400+ tons of stacked rocks in wire cages was in place and would surely prevent any landslide re-occurrence. Landscaping followed and many flowering plants were already showing their promise in colors and perfume. It wouldn’t be long until the top of the gavione wall would be obscured by flowering vines of orange flames and blue trumpets.

Looking up to the studio from below

And oh the Reina de la Noche (Queen of the Night) flowering bushes that cascaded like floral waterfalls over the gavione wall.  

My larger concern was personal–the state of my energy and endurance. Two serious medical emergencies had sidelined me in 2018 from May through November: the biopsy diagnosis of a lung disease and the surgical repair of my ruptured Achilles tendon. I had only been walking again since November. Just 2 months. I silently wondered if I would have the needed stamina for the Intensives.  As a precaution, I accepted reservations only from those I knew or who were recommended by a trusted source. I also arranged for more help from Anita as well as my friend, Brenda who would participate in both sessions. (Reference articles about Jan's Recovery)

Brenda and Pepper at breakfast

January’s Intensive #1 began with the arrival of Pepper and Brenda (who was also a sometimes neighbor in the village and had volunteered to help me).  This session was to be especially focused on beginning watercolor techniques, paints and color. And what a time we had! Brenda and Pepper were eager, enthusiastic and very productive!  Take a look!

Our first critique - and WOW!  Off to a great start!

February’s Intensive #2 was also filled with enthusiasm, hard work and a lot of laughter. Two dear friends from years ago came separately and were joined again by Brenda who was now ready for some more advanced work. I met Dee in 2005 when I offered my first workshop in Costa Rica. And Que had been coming at least once a year since I met her in 2009. 

   

(left), Que and Anita who have become close over the years; (right) Brenda watching as Dee works on her painting

Then we made a group decision to dive into painting the Reina de La Noches trumpet vines - in the day light and as if it was moonlight.  

  

To my delight and relief I found that I was able to immerse myself into teaching and painting. Again I found the elation in the unexpected surprises of this often unpredictable medium.  My trusted experience returned to prove that there is always a way forward in watercolor whether it is another glaze, some additions to a path of light or dark, a new emphasis or some emotional distance before serious critique. Often it is all of them!

We spent one day painting and eating fresh tuna at the beach
and an afternoon enjoying the food and bountiful
painting subject matter at Papas de Paramo restaurant.

Now I’m eager for the 2020 Intensives and the schedule is on my website. I’m still preferring to hear from people I already know OR who are referred by someone I know and trust. After all, I'm still in healing mode though I'm gaining strength daily.

Take a look!  I prefer 3 students each session – for better sharing and learning!  Send me an email if you'd like to sign up!  Inside an Intensive with Jan at Casa de Corazon.

Anita made sure our toenails were also works of art!

December Water Colors!

December Water Colors!

Summer in the tropics!. There is a subtle shift in the feel of the air. Drier breezes and increasing sunshine bathe the rain drenched land. The Green/Winter/Wet season gently ends in early December – and it was right on time. 

I spent the last days of November with my good artist friend, Marie as we relaxed while finding time to also paint.  She came over to do more experimenting with watercolor. And she jumped in masterfully!  That got me started!

I began work on my new Reflections series…beginning with a study of the window reflections in Frank’s house.   I was still working on it when Billy "like my son" called.

He had several guests now visiting him at La Princesa hotel and asked if I wanted to join them for a day at the beach. I thought about it. My Achilles tendon surgery and other medical events had kept me off my feet and mostly confined to my home for the past six months. And nine months had passed since my last glimpse of the Pacific. It was time. 

I said yes. There is nothing quite like the Pacific southern zone of Costa Rica.  

We headed for Playa Ventanas.  This jewel of a southern Pacific beach is a well kept secret and named for its two ‘window’ like caves through the peninsula on its northern edge. It is always exhilarating to watch the frothy surf surge through the caves.  

  

 

Playa Ventanas was actually the first beach I visited over ten years ago, when I found and bought my house. I visited it again with my sons and daughters in law when they helped me move here Christmas Eve, 2008. Most importantly, it was the beach where Frank and I had our first date – and where I first found myself falling in love with him. Ah the special kept memories from Playa Ventanas. 

While everyone was enjoying the water and sun I took out my sketchbook and looked around for something to paint. The coconut palm tree right above was perfect. Using just four paints in my sketch palette, I relaxed into the simple pleasure of playing with my brush. It felt soooo good.

Ventanas Palm Sketch, jan hart

A few days later, I found myself heading for the beach once again – to celebrate my 76^th birthday at another  favorite spot called Villa Leonor, just south of Uvita. This time my friend Brenda came with me to enjoy the Sunday barbeque and the peerless seared tuna. While Brenda swam and played in the 78 degree surf, I selected a stand of Bijahua blue leaved plants set against the jungle background.  I smiled remembering so many times I had painted this subject over the past years. Even from this very spot. Still, no two are the same.  I really saw the yellows on this, my birth day.

Beach Birthday Sketch, jan hart

The two December watercolor sketches sit beside the almost finished Reflection painting in my studio. There, whenever I walk in or out the front door, I can glance over to them and kind of catch them by surprise. Often it is during  one of these brief visual encounters that the normally silent right brain or Artist’s brain points out the one stroke that is needed for finish.

Frank's Window Reflections, jan hart

Seurat - My Life Hero

Seurat loved the tortillas Frank made for him.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. And some even have feathers, fins or fur and four legs.  Seurat is my four-legged hero.

At fifteen, he is showing the signs of a life well lived with cataracts, some difficulty hearing and a desire to sleep a lot. Still – he has not lost his zest for life.  Which is why he is my life hero.

I met Seurat when he was about 2 years old and living in the Española New Mexico Animal Shelter. I was looking for a companion for my aging sweet German Shepherd, Livvie.  I describe the meeting in my Chapter 4 of my book,  “A Woman Awakens:Life, AfterLife” 
.


 

Seurat's first free days in Española

“Seurat’s fur was dotted black on white, thus named after the artist Georges Seurat, a nineteenth century pointillist. I’d hoped to find a Welsh Corgi, but discovered something almost as rare in northern New Mexico, that being a dog that wasn’t a mix of area favorites: Pit Bull, Mastiff, Rottweiler or Chow Chow. When I asked about the dog sitting off in the corner of the fenced kennel that contained smallish dogs, the attendant explained, “He’s not very sociable; been on the street a few years. Gets along with other dogs, but doesn’t like people. He is scheduled to be ‘put down’ tomorrow.”

I looked at all the noses and wagging tails on the other side of the chain-linked gate and then returned my gaze to the dog in the corner. Such a sad sight. Suddenly he lifted his head and focused on me, then uttered a long eerie howl. I replied to the attendant, ‘I want to see that one more closely.’

Seurat with Livvie, 2006

Once Livvie had approved the choice—after meeting and visiting him—Seurat was neutered and Livvie and I brought him home a few days later. It took two months to fully convince him that I was Alpha and he could not go out a door in front of me. Or growl at me.”

During the first two months of my relationship with Seurat I discovered that he was very bright and even seemed to understand my thoughts as well as my words. He was also stubborn – but merely a match for my own stubborn streak.

He came within a day of being taken back to the shelter because I didn’t think I could trust him not to bite me. His growls were sufficiently intimidating to make me wary. In desperation I ttold him that though I really cared for him I would have to take him back to the shelter because I was afraid he would bite. He seemed to listen intently. And from that day, that talk, he did not growl at me again. He got it.

2009. Sitting and looking out over the Costa Rican hills

When I moved to Costa Rica on Christmas Eve, 2008 Seurat and Livvie came with me to my new place. Seurat seemed to love all the new smells and scents – but often sat at the edge of the yard looking out over the valley. It seemed that he was thinking as well as watching. 

Livvie passed away in 2010 and Seurat became my sole canine companion. He took his job of watching over me quite seriously. His protectiveness was severely challenged when Frank and I got together. Though Seurat liked Frank, he didn’t like us spending private time together. Frank, another dog lover was able to change their

dynamic by sitting next to Seurat on the couch and talking softly and directly. “Seurat, the trouble we are having is because we both love the same woman…”  Seurat listened and there was never again a problem.  And he listened again when we asked him to accept into our family a starving shepherd mix female rescued from the streets of San Isidro . He accepted her completely on the day we took him to meet her.  He had objected strongly to another dog and a puppy in the months before. Seurat was definitely opinionated about both people and other dogs.

Though I admired Seurat’s obvious intelligence and ability to understand, it was the example he set for me during illness that put him up on the hero-worthy pedestal.

Seurat, constantly attentive

When my Achilles tendon ruptured in mid-May, 2018, I had emergency surgery to repair it. I was to be in a fiberglass cast from my knee to my toes for four weeks. It was a difficult time and I was cared for by friends and my neighbor/like a daughter Anita since I could not walk. Seurat became even more attentive to me. He was never more than a few feet away from me whether I was resting with my casted foot elevated or moving to another room on a knee scooter. He followed me to the bathroom and watched me while I slept from his bed in the corner of my room.  After the cast came off, I developed a wound infection that kept me off my feet for an additional four weeks – and Seurat kept his vigil. I felt constantly comforted by his watchful presence.

Suddenly one morning Seurat collapsed and was having difficulty getting up off the floor and to walk. His head was cocked severly to one side. I was terrified at the possibility that I was losing my dearest friend to some kind of neurological demise. He was after all 15 years old - or 105 in dog years. Fortunately, a friend arrived who could take Seurat to the Vet,

who gave him 3 weeks worth of medicine (prednisone) and the diagnosis of either a middle ear inflammation or my worst fear, neurological decline. I took over his 4 feedings per day, which at first meant feeding him by hand since he couldn’t move his mouth well.  Slowly he improved. While sick, he still continued his job of watching over me from room to room. A month later – just about when I was allowed to again put weight on my healing foot, he was acting pretty normal except for a slightly cocked head and some persistent weakness. 

The thing that impressed me most, however, was his heart. He just never gave up.  While he was still stumbling and walking wobbly, he would follow Frida out the back door and try to run up the road. Of course he only got a few feet the first time or two – but he didn’t stop trying. 

Such an inspiring attitude about life. I took to my own heart his example of persistence and courage. It was Seurat, this little dog with the big presence who helped me to endure the 89 days until I was able to take my first tentative steps, aided by a cane. I celebrated silently, with my eye on Seurat.

Seurat showed me how to keep going. 

He is my hero.