I make the Littlest Angel Vest for blind dogs in memory of Scooter, my blind, diabetic Miniature Schnauzer. Six weeks before he left us, we lost his (and my) best friend Maggie, a Scottie the same age as Scooter -- 15½ years old. She was deaf and had Cushing's Disease since she was 7 years old. But I just couldn't think of what I could do to honor her memory. I've recently found the answer right under my nose -- or rather feet.
Long ago when she had to stay at the vet's I wanted to send something with her that smelled of home, but I didn't especially want to do the T-shirt thing. She really loved what was left of her Chew Man, so I got some of the same kind of fleece and made a bear-shaped toy. I didn't stuff it, but left an open flap in the back. When she had to be away from home, I stuffed a T-shirt into the bear and sent it with her. Most of the time Maggie's Bear was played with unstuffed by her and my current Scottie Ceili. If you know terriers, you know why it soon earned the name "Killabear". Old Killabear is still around, his yarn-stitched eyes and nose long gone, but still taking a pounding from Ceili.
Your Bear is made with kennel and hospital visits in mind.
* Made of natural cotton duck cloth, it has no dyes and is washable.
* It is double-stitched on the outside so that if a seam should start to come apart
it can be easily repaired.
* The midsection is big enough to slip in a T-shirt with your scent, or perhaps a
fabric pad with a few drops of lavender oil, and closes with a Velcro strip.
* The head, arms and legs are filled with polyester stuffing and provide a nice
invigorating thumping about the head when shaken. A wonderful alternative to
shaking the vet.
Even if your dog does not play with Your Bear, keeping it in the dog's bed or a favorite place will pick up smells of home.
I would suggest using a permanent marker and writing "[dog's name]'s Bear" somewhere on
Your Bear so that kennel attendants will know who it belongs to.
Also a good traveling companion and to take to a new home.
