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Oscar was born January 23rd 1995 to a family in Murrietta, California. I answered an Ad in a newspaper, and the woman told me that they had 2 puppies left, one black and white, one brown and white, and the brown and white one didn’t have a tail. My first thoughts were “I don’t want that one!” but when I met the puppies, I knew that Oscar, the brown and white cutie, was the one for me. They gave me a discount on the quoted price, I don’t know if it was for the lack of a tail, or the fact that I was a graduate student. The woman (who I liked, but lost touch with) told me that he likes to play in grass, and this is true, even today, he loves to root around in grass. I was living in Riverside at the time, and Oscar was my present to myself for my 27th birthday. I was living with another grad student, Anna Maria, and she had a cat named Felix, so the name Oscar was an obvious choice, making them the “Odd Couple.”

Oscar had a rough time the first few months–turns out he had some sort of ailment that caused congestive heart problems. I thought I was going to lose him before his 90 day warranty was up! But we got through it. We had a good time in Riverside–we had a big yard, and Oscar and Felix liked to play together.

In 1997, we moved to San Diego. We lived in a “two on one” house in Normal Heights, which means there are two small houses on one lot. It was here that I really started to walk Oscar daily, since we didn’t have a yard, and found that he liked it so much that I really should keep it up. A few years later, we moved down the street (long story, two houses on one lot can be a bad idea) to an apartment on the second floor on a busy corner. Oscar loved to look out the window at this place–my Mom called it “four corners.” He tries to look out the window at my current place, but there is usually not as much going on.

In 2001, we moved to our current house. Again, Oscar had health problems–this time it was his back. He had a slipped disc, or something similar (it is hard to diagnose) and had to stay at the vet at the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) for 4-5 days. I thought I was going to lose him again, or that he would become paralyzed. But we got through it, and we just learned that we had to be careful with jumping or overexertion. Also, it was at this point that I got involved at HWAC, and still volunteer there from time to time. The people there, especially Chris Purkiss, love him.

So, now, he is 12, and he has this cancer. I’m a bit less optimistic, but we’ll try hard to beat it. After he had his illness in 2001, we really tried to “carpe diem” it, and I try to walk him even if I’m tired (but my laziness sometimes wins out). I’m sure walking was always good for both of us. I have read about “anti-cancer” diets for dogs, and I will certainly try to feed him along these lines.

Oscar has a lot of friends. Dawn and Sally Marshall have been there for us so many times to watch him and share their holidays with him–Sally’s place is his 2nd home. Sally always cooks him something special–and he enjoys this a lot because he doesn’t get much meat at my house! (I’ve decided to give him chicken or salmon every day from now on) Dawn loves Oscar a lot, calling him the “Little Man.” Keith, Jennifer, and Kirby have always welcomed Oscar at their house–although Kirby and Oscar can never determine who is dominant (Kirby provokes Oscar, if you ask me ;). Shannon loves Oscar and has also taken good care of him.

Stacy and Snook (may he rest in peace) are two of Oscar’s longtime friends, and Stacy drew an incredibly lifelike drawing of Oscar, which I will always treasure (it’s insured by Lloyd’s of London). Nobuko and Paul, my good friends in Boston, have only met Oscar once, but they know and love him through our frequent updates on our dogs.Unfortunately, their dog Lobo, whom I knew since puppyhood, died about six months ago. Paul was very devoted to Lobo–he once came back from a trip to Japan to be with him! I visit Nobuko and Paul almost every summer, and Lobo would always remember me. Nobuko told me about Lobo’s “hamburger diet,” meant to spoil him when he was sick, I think I’ll try that. My neighbors, Bill, Jackie, Sam, and Nomie, have all taken superb care of Oscar. Bill is battling emphysema right now, we’re hoping for the best. My parents love Oscar and my Dad loves to walk him while he is here. We do trade jabs about our respective dogs (his dog Spike about twice the size of Oscar, even though they’re the same breed), but it is all with affection. My sister Suzy has always been a “kindred spirit” in loving the shih tzu breed–we all have them as pets, which started from our childhood dog Edith. She was a remarkable dog. My late Aunt Barbara and my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Rich were/are also kindred spirit dog lovers, and we have enjoyed talking about our dogs often. Joey, Rich and Nancy’s dog, was recently attacked by big dog, but he is doing better, and should be OK.

Oscar’s favorite place is Maddox Park, which we usually walk to on the weekends. Sometimes we go into the leash-free area (depending on how many big dogs are in there–remember Oscar’s back problem), sometimes we just enjoy the grass. I have decided to take him there every night from now on. If you live in the area and would like to meet us there some night(s), please let me know.

Here is a very short video we did to cheer up a friend:

Here are my favorite things about Oscar:

1. Of course, being a dog, he has a good heart and never means any harm, greets me at the door, cuddles with me when I want, ignores my bad moods.

2. He does like to be independent–I blame the upbringing with the cat. But it’s OK, everyone needs their space.

3. He gets an enormous amount of joy from the simple things, like walks.

4. He is a championship beggar–he really means business. If you try to pet him when he’s begging, he’ll cringe.

5. Sometimes, when I yawn or sigh, Oscar does it too.

6. Sometimes, he can’t find me in the house, but I can see him, going from to room looking for me (sometimes I’m mean, yes, but don’t ever let it go on for too long). I’m sure he catches me looking for him, too.

7. Oscar knows that I’m a klutz and that I drop things often. He scampers at any hint that I’m handling something that could be dropped . . .

8. When I’m sitting at the dinner table, he often (not so subtly) bumps against my legs to tell me “hey I’m down here!”

9. Oscar has a knack for finding good spots to curl up in–I always say that he likes to find “the coziest spot in the house.” I like it when he’s decided that spot is right next to me . . .