Oh Karen...Izzy is amazing and this story brought a very hard to swallow lump in my throat. The lo is fabulous but your story is what really got to me!!! You are such an amazing person and I am blessed to have you as a friend. There is nothing on this planet that can compare to the unconditional love, support, loyalty and friendship we receive from our four-legged friends. I love this!! Bless you Izzy!!xx
Sweet story and lovely page! I know I'm supposed to be commenting on the lo but really, I love you're writing! You make me feel like I'm stretched out reading a good book, rather than a lo description. TFS!
Karen, you never cease to amaze me with your pages. FIRST and foremeost, Jon's photographs speak VOLUMES!!! I needed nothing more than the photo to understand something of this special canine companion. Then, I saw the title and instantly had to swallow a lump in my throat. You have highlighted Izzy's close-up~ and the tender touching photo~ brilliantly! Love the blue, taupe and off white, with touches of red. It serves to feature the photos, but not overwhelm. The punched edges echo the toes in the pawprint. Lovely and heartwarming. xx
You have brought tears to my eyes, reading the story here. I am such a pushover for dogs and all my dogs have been other people's throw-aways. Boy - they don't know what they are missing! The journaling is fabulous and I hope that you attach it on a tag or something before the auction.... it's beautiful and touching and the page is outstanding!!
What a beautiful and heartwarming story....and I think Izzy would melt any heart, the photo is just precious!!! Beautiful lo and all the best with the fundraising!!
Wow, LOVED the story, Karen - thanks for sharing. Sometimes I wonder if it's possible to make my cat, Daphne, a "therapy cat", but I think she's a little too high-strung. I think it's fabulous that Izzy's true potential was brought out by someone who knew he had it in him and to think of all the good he is doing people now. Thanks for sharing the story and the layout - both warmed my heart!
FABULOUS thing you're doing here to raise money for the cause...bravo!!! Issy looks so sweet and at home in his role as comfort giver and I just love how this page turned out!!! Good luck at the auction~~~
lol When I read your last paragraph I thought it said you were "DOGumenting"! This is such a neat story. I love how dogs can cheer up even the most hard to reach people. They are such a neat animal!
This is a really amazing project that you're working on and I can't wait to see the rest of it. You've done a beautiful job so far!!
oh, I love your story, such fantastic journaling a gorgeous dog and a gorgeous lo! So glad Izzy could give such comfort and found his calling and a loving home...amazing!! Good luck with the fundraising!
A really heartwarming, almost tearjerking story that touched me. Bless you and the dogs that work at the hospice. These are fantastic photos and a wonderful LO.
Oh my gosh ,the story you wrote is just wonderful and so sweet. Izzy is a hero for sure. Abandoned dogs and cats are angels waiting for us to figure it out. Great job on this LO and telling Izzy's story!
Well, dagnabbit, Karen! You just made me cry. One, the pictures are FABULOUS and you showecased them so well. I love the little details, like the tiny doghouse near the title. Two, the story of Izzy and Jon and the impact that they have on the hospice patients...well, I'm tearing up over here.
oh my Karen! How do you do it every time? Every stinking little detail on this is perfect: the choice of detail and the placement, like the little doghouse and the negative of the paw punch and the twine on the journaling. The color scheme is lovely and the photo and story so heartwarming and inspiring. Wonderful wonderful wonderful
As always, K, you're amazing! Beautiful LO! I wouldn't have thought of a Border Collie for hospice--I can see them trying to herd a flock of rolling walkers!! LOL!!! I love that you are going to be auctioning of your LO series! Good luck and I KNOW they will provide a great amount of donations to the Care Program!
I so enjoyed reading your wonderful story, Karen! I am always amazed at how articulate you are; geez!!!!! Wonderful and sweet photos! Outstanding work, as always!
Oh, Karen!!!! What a BEAUTIFUL STORY....so TOUCHING and INSPIRATIONAL!!! This is just AMAZING to me.....that you have also taken on this cause. CUDOS TO YOU, girlfriend!!!!
what a beautiful dog. I am SO partial to any and all of the herding breeds, but border collies have a very special place in my heart. They are such workaholics, that without a job, they really do go almost insane with fretting. I'm so glad that this dog has found a job that he excels at and is obviously so well loved by so many. His soul is tender and soft. It's obvious from his expression. What a beautiful tribute to him and his courage to overcome his issues. Lovely layout.
What a beautiful page, love that blue and all the elements which are so perfect, and the story...well, how heartwarming is that, what an absolutely adorable dog, love what you are doing with these pics Karen, amazing.
OMG! I am teary eyed. What a beautiful story, dog & lo! As a nurse who works closely with hospice services, I know first hand how important therapy dogs are to the patients, TFS
Your story sent chills through my body! Thank you so much for sharing his heartwarming and sweet story with us! I can tell he is a special dog just looking at his photo! What a special layout.
Beautiful layout and what a story and how special you are for doing this. Reading about Izzy brought tears to my eyes and to think also of the happiness she brings to those older people in nursing homes, etc. Thanks so much for sharing!!!! :>)
Oh Karen, this is so wonderful! What a special lady you are to make sure this wonderful story reaches even more people. I am so glad you shared this with us. The page is so great on its own, then you add the story and WOW! Love the flowers and the paw prints and the punch around the page! TFS!!!
what a tender poignant story. i can hardly see thru the tears. thanks so much for sharing Izzy's touching story. she's truly a special dog and deserves this SPECIAL WONDERFUL lo you have created in her honor.
You don't even want to know how many pictures I snapped of this LO! It is still wonky looking, but everything is straight in real life.
I am pleased to introduce you to Izzy. He is one of four dogs that grace the home of author Jon Katz and his wife Maria. Izzy was abandoned on a farm in upstate NY. Though the farm's caretaker watched over him, the conditions were less than favorable. Izzy had seen a vet only once, as a puppy. His coat was matted, his nails curled talons, and he was nearly feral. Izzy's behavior had reached a manic state, as he obsessively patrolled the perimeter of the fenced property, literally wearing a deep trench in the dirt where he ran the fenceline.
Rescue workers asked Jon to consider taking Izzy. He reluctantly agreed (he already had three dogs) and his instincts were right; Izzy was a difficult case and his issues were not minor. Even the car ride to Jon's farm was disastrous, but with a great deal of training and love, Izzy's true self emerged in the safety and serenity of his new home. Jon can pinpoint the exact moment when Izzy became "my dog" and recounts the story poignantly in his book, Izzy and Lenore - Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me.
Izzy has grown into an amazing dog and companion. Everyone loves Izzy and Izzy loves everyone - especially women. Jon says he is partial to blondes!
When Jon became interested in the hospice program, he believed that Izzy had both the temperament and intuitive skills to do that kind of work. As you can see from the photos, Izzy excels in his role as a hospice volunteer. The stories of how he is able to reach people on the edge of life melt my heart. Izzy didn't need any training to do his job; he's a natural. Jon tells how he navigates around wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen tanks, and miscellaneous wires to comfort those who need his reassuring presence. Many of the the people they see had dogs at some point in their life, and just to touch Izzy's fur or feel him nudge their hand sends them into a peaceful, relaxed state.
In the book I mentioned above, Jon shares wonderful stories of Izzy's success as a hospice volunteer. Lenore, the black Lab, is also a hospice dog.
With Jon's permission, I am using his amazing photographs to document his four wonderful dogs. Jon took this photo of Izzy with a dear soul named Marion. She was an Alzheimer patient who had lived most of her life on a farm. Her caretakers at the nursing home said she never smiled and rarely spoke -- until the day Izzy came to visit. To Izzy, Marion told her life story and confided her most intimate thoughts; how hard it is to grow old and be alone. Marion became quite fond of Jon also and "nagged" him about brushing Izzy's coat. Needless to say, Izzy brightened Marion's last days as only he could. Izzy is one of my heroes.
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