Yaz climbed into bed with me around midnight and curled up, as she has in the past – but not since her accident.  I woke up immediately, as I’m a fairly light sleeper anyway.  She seemed fine, but wanted comfort, as she lay down pressed up against my side.

I lay there in the dark, thinking events through, and realized how damn lucky I am to have such loving and compassionate beings around me…and I don’t mean just the dogs, but everyone who has contacted me and offered their well-wishes.  I thought about the facility that erred most reprehensibly, yet still did what was needed to save her life.  I thought of Yaz lying on that street, the panicked look in her eyes, and quickly pushed that out of my thoughts.  This was not a time to dwell on that.  It was time to look forward to her full recovery.

She shifted beside me, in obvious discomfort, though her breathing was much better than it had been even 24 hours before.  I scratched behind her ears, and she rolled over and offered me the lengthy expanse of her belly, something she hadn’t done in awhile.

She went in to the vet’s yesterday, and they’re removing smaller and smaller amounts of air from her chest cavity.  An encouraging sign.  She limps on her left side, with good reason (she was struck along the full length of her left side), and favors her front left foot.  We’re not sure why at this point.  It’s not swollen, but she won’t stand on it fully.

Some of the scrapes that gouged furrows in her skin are beginning to heal.  She’s developed a kind of cough that might just be damage to her trachea, but we’ll continue to monitor in case it’s a sign of pneumonia.  Her energy level has been high.  In fact, she wanted to chase the neighbor’s cat yesterday.  Thank goodness she was leashed, for she obviously forgets the trauma she’s been through and tries to be the puppy again.

We visited the dog park for a few minutes so she could greet her many dog and human friends, but we left before she decided she felt well enough to engage in play.  She remained on-leash the whole time, so I could monitor her actions.

My other pups, Ozzie and Malai, are finally approaching her again without hesitation.  The first few days, they avoided her, sensing that she’d been injured or was ill.  Last evening, Malai gave Yaz’s head and face a good licking.  And Yaz allowed it.

So…slowly we resume our lives, though our routines are different for the time being.  Yaz can’t do the 1-1/2 hour morning walk, but must be okay with the twenty minute walk she gets before I leave for the office.  She seems to be all right with that.  For now.

Surely, my Thanksgiving came early this year.  To see her doing this well is amazing.  I’m thankful that she chose to stay with us, for there’s surely so much more I can learn from her.