Gemini’s Story...

This is the story about my Gemini. With lots of research from different breeders in the back of a Dog Fancy magazine, I found him. I purchased him in 1997 from a Boxer breeder located in Springfield, Ohio. It was a long trip from Pennsylvania to pick this little guy up because I refused to fly him. I drove 19hrs for him, and it was the best trip I ever made. That warm spring day when the breeder handed 7 week old Gemini to me, I looked into his little eyes and it was the start of a wonderful journey he and I would take together.

My life changed and I made a best friend that was like no other, and he became my constant companion, and when I mean constant, I mean constant. Gemini traveled to work with me everyday seat belted in my convertible with the top down wearing his little sun glasses. I was a vet tech at the time and a dog groomer so he was able to be with me always. Gemini has made so many friends along the way, from fury ones to human ones. Everyone just loved him where ever we went. He was always so calm and well behaved, sometimes you never even new he was there. I would groom dogs on a busy day with him sleeping by my side on his bed, and so many people were amazed that he would just sleep while dogs were barking and so much was going on in there. He went everywhere with me, family gatherings, parties, wherever I was invited, he was too.

Did I mention he is very smart too, one time I was locked in the kennel at work, and I was looking at him on the other side of the locked door through a little window, and I said Gemini I’m locked in go get someone or bark, I was telling him to speak so they would hear him and come down to let me out. But instead Gemini had his own plans, he jumped up on the door and hit the handle and opened the door and let me out. I was amazed how he would think to do that. I praised him so much for that. When the girls came down I told them what happened and I tried it again to show them. I went back in there and closed the door, and he immediately jumped on the door handle and opened it again. Everyone at work was no longer afraid of getting locked back there anymore as long as Gemini was around.

During Halloween Gemini would always dress up, he was a number a different things throughout the years, from Howard Stern, to a silly clown, and a bumble bee to name a few. He loves Christmas time and his birthday which is March 21st because I always buy him lots of toys & cookies to unwrap himself.

About a year later we adopted a little kitten named Yoshi, and he became Gemini’s new little fuzzy friend. They played a lot and slept together at times.

When Gemini was 2 yrs old my husband and I decided to buy him a brother. Of course it was another Boxer and we called him Jagar and he happened to share the same birthday as Gemini, March 21st. Gemini fell in love with his new little friend, they played so much, but Gemini never forgot about me. He would play with Jagar and then run to me when he was done for his snuggle time and kisses. No matter where we were or what we were doing, Gemini would always have me in sight. He could be in the middle of playing with another dog and if I walked out of the room he was right after me. At the time I also had 2 little pigmy goats that loved to play with Gemini. They would chase each other around and Sidney the tiny goat would try to balance her self on his back.

Gemini has given me a few scares through the years that really opened my eyes to dangerous things that can happen with pets. My family had a party outdoors in my parents back yard, and when it was over I went out back to get Gemini so we can leave and he was lying like he was sleeping with his head between his paws, but I knew something wasn’t right, when I called him, he did not move. I ran to him and he rolled to his side when I touched him, and his face was a purple color and his eyes were rolled back, that was it, I freaked out, and thought of everything that I knew from working for a vet for 11 years, I put my hand down his throat thinking something was lodged back there and it stopped his breathing, and there was nothing, I gave him mouth to mouth and pumped him chest, he had a heart beat but it was very faint, I did this the whole way to the emergency clinic crying hysterically thinking Oh my god, I cant loose him, what would I do, why did I leave him in the yard, why was I not with him out there when he was playing with the other dogs, I blamed myself and just couldn’t deal with his motionless body in my arms not breathing and his heart barely beating. We got to the vet and they immediately took Gemini into the back and they allowed me to be with him since I was a tech. They put a trach tube in him, and put him on oxygen, and also put him on IV’s and did everything else they could in this situation to save his life. His eyes rolled back to normal and he began to look at me after some time. They said he was in anaphylactic shock from a possible bee sting in his throat. His throat was so swollen it cut off his air supply. We found the bees when we got home, the bag was full of them from the soda cans, and he loved to chase bugs. Gemini most likely swallowed the bee. He spent 2 days in the hospital and I finally brought him home. That was a huge scare, and it made me so aware of just everything now, my family thinks I’m crazy when it comes to different things with my dogs. I’m a worry wart! But I’ve learned so much and experienced some devastating things working for the vet, and I sure don’t want any of it happening to my pets. After all that we discovered Gemini clearly had a bad allergy with bugs. He blew up like a balloon all over his body numerous times from just fly bites. I had to keep benadryl and steroids on hand all the time just in case. Then one summer while visiting my sister, Gemini decided to give me another huge scare. While playing with his brother Jagar and his cousin Tara, my sisters dog, he passed out in the grass, and then got back up, but he was not right, he was really weak and not with it, and OH my Goodness, I freaked out again, and rushed him to the emergency clinic because I knew that Boxer dogs can have heart problems and the first sign could be passing out while at a hard play. When I got him to the emergency clinic, his pulses were weak and they detected a very quiet arrhythmia. He was sent home the next day to be taken with me to my vet which was my job at the time, and they did further testing on him. They said he had a slight heart murmur, but not to worry, it was not bad. And at times they could not even hear it. But that is all I had to hear, from that day on, I was so afraid of this, but I had to let him be a dog and enjoy himself like they told me too. They said he did not need medication, and I had him checked often throughout the years and they could not hear it again. Gemini’s vet records are as fat as a bible. I became so paranoid something was wrong with him and kept my veterinarian friends always checking him. I love him so much and I guard his health like a knight in shinning armor.

On a happier note, Gemini has been a traveling pup as well. He has been to the Jersey Shore to the Chincoteague Island in VA, where he met and nuzzled the wild ponies that live there. Then after my husband and I divorced, I met Eric. Gemini and his brother Jagar now had a new dad and they love him. For Eric’s birthday I bought him a puppy, and of course, you know it, it was another Boxer, now we have 3 boys. We called him Pisces because he was born on Eric’s birthday March 3rd and they are both a Pisces. Gemini now shares his home and his mom with 2 other Boxers, and he loves them, but I’m still his favorite!!

Eric had to go back up to Maine where he was finishing college and he took Pisces with him. After a week I missed him and decided to pack my Gemini & Jagar up and join Eric & Pisces to live in Maine. What an adventure we had there. It was so cold and Gemini was not the type of dog for this condition, his brothers didn’t mind, but he is a girlie dog, he didn’t like getting his feet wet in the rain, now living in Maine he had to step outside in 4 foot of snow to go pee. We made the best out of it, bundling him up with his winter coat and scarf and his brothers by his side taking our winter walks at night under the stars. Gemini loved to carry a stick in his mouth the whole way while walked. He loved going for the chilly walks as long as he could carry his little stick.Gemini also visited the beautiful historical lighthouses in Maine, and enjoyed playing with the lobsters before we had them for dinner .

Gemini and his brothers spent 3 years in Maine until Eric was done school and our little family was on the road again, this time we are off to Louisville Kentucky. We packed Gemini and his brothers up in our Durango and rented a moving truck for our belongings and took a long trip to the South. We rented a nice big house with a big yard, and they loved it. While living in KY we took the dogs to a trainer mainly for Pisces, but Gemini really enjoyed it there on the farm. Gemini for fun would do search and rescue missions with a pack of other dogs. Eric would hold him and I would go into the woods and hide and he would come and find me, and he did real well, he found me every time. He was so excited when he found me. He would jump all over me like he was mad at me for hiding from him. It was a lot of fun! Gemini really enjoyed the fireplace we had in KY, he and his brother Jagar would lay there for hours in front of it. But now enough with the cold weather and cozying up in front of the fireplace it is now time to relocate again and we are on our way to beautiful warm sunny California where Gemini and his brothers can bask in the warm sun.

Gemini was on the move again, now to reside forever in California. If Gemini could sing, he would sing the song “I’ve been everywhere man, I’ve been everywhere” from Johnny Cash. Oh and that reminds me of Gemini’s talent that I have never mentioned yet in his story. Gemini can say I Love You! Yep that’s right, he can say I love you! People love to hear him say it. I say it first to him, then he says it right back to me. That’s true Love!!

We now live in Palm Springs CA. The desert gets pretty hot for Gemini & his brothers, so we made sure we rented a house with a nice big in ground pool. Gemini is not a swimmer, he is not too fond of the pool but it cools him off. We sometimes take weekend trips to Uncle Jimmy’s in Santa Monica where Gemini enjoys playing with his little cousins, Leo & JJ. One weekend Gemini played on the beach in Malibu, and was buried in the sand by Uncle Jimmy. He loves to be buried in the sand with only his head sticking out. He falls fast asleep and will lay there buried for hours if you let him. He stays nice and cool that way.

For Christmas this year we rented a log cabin up in the mountains of Idyllwild. Gemini spent his Christmas with lots of dogs and family. He received wonderful presents from his uncle Jimmy, including a fancy Coach collar and matching leash, so he can walk down Palm Canyon Dr. in style.

Gemini’s story could be a book, but I have to narrow it down a bit even though I would love to share our happiness together with all of you, because the stories just keep on going with me and Gemini. As I sit here and type his story, he lay’s beside me and listens to me whisper the words as I type. His presence always makes me smile, and I have to keep stopping to kiss him. I love him so much!

Now, unfortunately I’m at the hard part of Gemini’s story. Gemini will be 10 yrs in March. He has been on a long journey with me and now he is starting to get old and frail.
This part of Gemini’s story is very difficult for me as I start to cry while I type. Tonight I just gave the measurements to EddiesWheels.com for Gemini’s wheelchair. About 2 months ago, Gemini was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy. He started to scrape his back foot and was wearing his nails down. Then it just got worse, and with lots of veterinarian’s opinions, we started to do acupuncture for him. We did the acupuncture for 2 months and it didn’t do anything for him. The Dr. then told us what we are dealing with. It was devastating news that Gemini would be completely paralyzed in 12 months. He told me about lots of different supplements to put him on to help slow it down, but it does not cure it. There is no cure for this problem, but the good thing is my vet said it is not painful and Gemini can live with it for as long as I can deal with him being in this situation. I want Gemini to be happy, and if he shows me any sign that he is not, I will have to let him go. I tell him all the time, please Gemini tell me when its time. Don’t let me make you suffer because I want to be selfish and have you with me.’

His custom made wheel chair will be delivered in 3 weeks, and hopefully this helps him out so he can still go on walks with us and still play with his toys without falling all over and dragging his legs.

My world has been turned upside down for the past month. Everyday has been so hard and I can’t help tearing up when I look at him, just knowing that our journey together is coming to end. He went downhill too fast for me to handle. I tell him everyday that I wish I could sprinkle puppy powder on him and make him young and well again. My plans are to keep him happy and comfortable for as long as I can or of course until he tells me he’s had enough. This is our new journey together and we will make it work the best we can. Gemini’s will to live is very strong despite his weak legs, so I think Eddies’ wheels will help him.

So this is Gemini’s story and his story will live on. I will let everyone know how he is doing with his new set of wheels and share our new stories together. I’m giving Gemini all I’ve got to help him, there’s nothing more I can do, but keep him happy and comfortable, so it’s now up to him to fight.

Hopefully more people in this world are lucky enough to share their lives with such a wonderful pet like Gemini. In my eyes Gemini is truly the Best dog ever, and there will never be another one like him. I’m so glad he became a part of my life!

Gemini's update: Gemini's wheelchair arrived, the first couple days seemed very weird for him since he now had to adjust to this strange object we put him in.  Once he figured out that this steel object gave him his mobility back he was on his way with the other dogs running and playing.  He excepted the wheelchair within 2 days and his life became so exciting once again.  We were able to now take all the dogs to the park again to run and play.  Gemini was also able to go to Malibu and frolick on the beach and be buried in the sand which he really enjoyed to keep cool.

Gemini lived happy and comfortable for a year and a half.  He turned 11 on March 21 and after that he seemed to be getting weaker.  I felt that he was holding on for me because he didnt want to let me down.  He put down his food one day and refused to get up in his chair.  His front legs just had enough at the ripe old age of 11.  After a morning of laying with him crying I sadly made the decision to put Gemini to rest right away since I promised him that I would never make him suffer in any way.  I knew he would give me a sign when it was time, he would never let me down.  It was the hardest decision I ever had to make but it was the best for my long time friend for our years together have come to an end.