| Updated Dec. 2009
We had been wanting to adopt again for a long
time, after all, three is a sacred number. ~;) But finances wouldn't
allow, when I (Kym) got a new job we decided that we could soon get
both a new horse (soon) and a new hound. And I just had a feeling that
a black female would be at GPS
when we were ready. There were several, the question was were any of them right?
Then I checked and there was yet another, Hi Tech Lollypop, this one
without "New" on her profile...I figured she was a return. Sure enough
she was "life style changes and separation anxiety." She showed the
crooked ear that Irony has. She turns out to be another Dutch Bahama
granddaughter on her paternal side. And it turns out both ears do that!
Scolaighe's
pedigree
 We changed her name to "Scolaighe," as we
just couldn't live with "Lollypop" or even "Lolly" as she apparently
was called at the kennel. This took a bit of work a friend had
suggested "Sgeolan" ("Sceolain") to go with the name "Bran" which we
considered, but then thought might be too pretentious. Besides, we
thought maybe something ending in an "lly" sound would be easier for
her to learn. And, no, "Molly" is a bit too "commonly Irish" for our
tastes. So we discussed naming her "Sgeolan" and just calling her
"Sgeoli. Well, the pronunciation didn't quite work and we ended up with
something that sounded more like, er, "Scolaighe." We were hesitant at
first as we don't like to give our hounds "pop culture" names (and I'm
assuming those of you who have a bit of Irish or even Scottish Gaelic
can figure out how the name is pronounced). But it was too quickly
ingrained on us.
"Scolaighe" is an Irish name derived from the
word for "scholar." And yes, it is a male given name. However, we
figure it's fine for a female as today the Anglicized surname is mostly
associated with a female television character (sadly, of the past now).
 Got it yet?
Scolaighe, who will turn 5 this summer, is
settling in well and quickly. Irony has established her dominant
position without much question. Scolaighe does gently dominate Bran,
much as Irony does but without as much growling...she just cuddles on
top of him a lot. She is very cuddly. She did display some separation
anxiety, but mostly the "for show" stuff, you know, when we're leaving
or returning. In fact, at first she followed us when we moved through
the house and couldn't stand to have us out of site. We  believe she was fussed on whenever
she showed anxiety and developed it through "training" as it were. So
we ignore her when she behaves this way and it is quickly fading. There
apparently is no problem once we're out of earshot..no drooling,
tearing bedding, tearing up her legs.... When she's not displaying
anxiety, she is actually very mellow, especially compared to Irony and Bran who are
both rather intense. She is fitting in perfectly.
Finally updating Dec.
2009
When we got Gleann she
was very intensely interested in him, wanting to play. As he got bigger
we allowed them to go at it.  She
might not be soft mouthed, but he had a lot of hair and he is soft
mouthed so never broke her thin Greyhound skin once. Sometimes it
looked a bit scary though.
Life with Scolaighe got a bit more
interesting in the fall of 2006, as she started to behave oddly. It
started with whining, a lot, without clear indication of what was
needed. She started to "get lost" its seemed, in the house. Finally
early in 2007, we got a diagnosis that either she had brain tumors or
her brain was swelling. Rather than putting her through increasingly
invasive tests, we just had her put on Predinisone, as it was the
treatment for either. The difference would be that it would only work
for a short time on the tumors.
The drug made her very sick, she
stopped eating and we kept trying to find things she would eat. Finally
in May of 2007 it  seemed there was no hope, she lost too much
weight, she had both bacterial and fungal infections and the weightloss
meant the vet didn't feel they could treat the infections. We made
arrangements. And then, on the "smelly food is enticing" theory, gave
her some canned salmon. She ate it up. She started showing improvement.
We cancelled her appointment. She kept eating the salmon, she started
eating her kibble again, she gained weight and after several courses of
treatments we got the infections beaten down.
She was still rather crazy, but no
longer having the "brain pain" just the damage. She was snugglier than
ever, it was her life's purpose. She might seem odd to others, many
might have given up on her, but as long as she seemed happy, we'd work
around her unique issues.
Towards the end of the summer of
2009 she got an infection again and lost a lot of weight during
treatment. She had a bad spell early that fall, we thought it was the
end again. But again she rallied. Perhaps a bit more brain damaged, a
bit odder, but still loving and happy. As long as she responded to
snuggling and wants to eat and other wise seems happy, she'd have a
home.
We had hoped that she and Òrlaith would have more time together, but early
in December Scolaighe got another infection. This time it was clear
that she just couldn't fight it again. Her body was still too weak from
the last bout, the antibiotics made her sick, she couldn't hold down
food. We spent time snuggling her, helping her eat what little she
could, until December 12, when we took her down to the vet. She still
loved to snuggle, but was uncomfortable by this time when she did try
to eat, her body no longer functioning enough to digest food properly.
It seemed the only thing still working in her body was her might,
Greyhound heart and it was keeping her anchored to this world too long.
She's now reunited with Irony and
Bran, chasing bunnies in the afterlife...and I bet there are couches
there too. Gleann, who is the wonderful dog he is because of her
upbringing, is one sad little dog so we comfort each other. Òrlaith
didn't get as much chance to bond with her, but is clearly saddened
too. Our lives seem a bit emptier now, but we're glad she's not
suffering as she was beginning to. We just happy we were able to give
her several more years than we though we could when she first got sick.
She was a very special, extra loving, hound.
Contents and design, except
where noted otherwise below , copyright © 2003-2009 Kym Lambert
and Aaron Miller
Background modified from a
graphic from the World of Celtic
Art
Clipart from Clipart Castle
Second and third pictures of Scolaighe from Greyhound
Placement Service Web Page
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