Intensive care

It's been a really busy week (as always I guess) but seemed more so this time. It is the season for Parvo puppies at work. I work in at a clinic that serves a lot of rural clients and the incidence of parvo is much higher than other places I've worked. People who choose to treat their dogs pay a lot of money and my job is a lot of intensive care to support their bodies in the struggle to fight off this virus. It's a lot of work and it's hard not to get attached to these little guys for the time they are with us. A few weeks ago someone brought in a bin of 5 pups about 8 weeks old they found on the road, all 5 parvo positive. One died while we examined them and another had no blink reflex left and was euthanized. I put so much hope in to those remaining little guys, I put IV catheters into all 3, gave meds, cleaned up and wrapped in blankets with warm water bottles and left for the night. Anyway- long story short they all slowly drifted away over the next few days despite my best efforts. I know there was nothing more we could do but give supportive care but I still felt so useless and angry too, that someone left them, that they didn't vaccinate the mother, that the only one to care they were gone was me. Really this blog has nothing to do with kung fu, just needed to empty my head somewhere. I know all you SRKF guys are responsible pet owners but pass on the education- spay and neuter your animals, and for heavens sake VACCINATE! If you can't afford at a vet clinic go to G&E pharmacy and do it yourself. Sorry, needed to get that out!

Before and After

I'm late! I forgot to post before we left on vacation! It was good to get out of the city and go to the mountains with the kids. The highlight of the trip was definitely Mud Heroes, we had a blast. Watching some team mates come through the final obstacle looking like a bog monster (Sifu Prince, Sihing Csillag and Mr. Donahue especially!) was something I will never forget.  It was challenging but really fun, especially if you like to get dirty, which I happen to love. We had a great group and I would love to see even more students from SRKF go next year. I'm pretty sure we have a 100% yes from everyone who went this time. Congrats to Sifu Darcy Regier and Brandon Regier for placing 126th and 128th (or somewhere very close to there) out of roughly nine thousand participants, and Brandon is 15! It was great to hang out with everyone casually as well, we really have a great group of people at Silent River.
      Back to school is right around the corner and I'm back to work Monday. It feels like I haven't been at the kwoon forever. I apologize for the missed practices, but I'm excited to get going on Dragon Dance again. Summer can be tough when everyone comes and goes, trying to take advantage of such a short season, when we need every team member to fulfill the dream of 2 dragons. I know that we will get back into our routine and pull together as a team as we always do... how can we not with such a great group.