Today my big boy is one year old!! My leprechaun, my personal pot ‘o’ gold was born on St. Patrick’s Day 2022. My sunshine, the light of my life, was born in the midst of what turned out to be the worst year of my life. And he remains my sunshine boy.
Zen’s mama, Sunny, is also celebrating her birthday today! She is a sweet girl! What a present to give yourself on your birthday! Nine beautiful, healthy puppies! She is a wonderful mother to her puppies!
Zen was my little Smudge Muzzle at 4 weeks; and he still has a bit of the smudge around that precious muzzle.
We brought him home on May 14th, when he was just past eight weeks old. I chose the 14th because I needed a happy event to balance the awful monthly anniversary of Bogie’s accident.
Zen spent a great deal of time of the first five months of his life at his Grandpa’s house with his mama Sunny, Aunt Bailey, and cousins Stormy, Charlie, and Skye because of Sam’s dementia. It broke my heart to not have him here with me; but Sam’s dementia demons were taking over more frequently and making poor Zen very nervous. It was better for the poor little guy to be in a stable environment. Two weeks after Sam went into the hospital last July my sweet little Zen puppy came home. He’s been with me ever since, healing my broken heart one day at a time.
I can’t believe how fast and BIG he’s grown over the past year! When Sam and I first brought him home he weighed about 12 pounds. Just ten days ago, when I had to get a weight check for his heartworm preventive, he weighed in at 81.5 pounds!! And it’s all muscle!! This boy is strong!!
This boy is such a love! He gives me hugs that are as much from Sam as from himself; he gives me kisses “just because” and when my memories are leaking from my eyes; and he adores his little sister, Zoey (who will be six months old tomorrow).
Happy First Birthday my Smudge Muzzle/Leprechaun/Sunshine Boy!! Mama loves you more than I could ever put into words!! I hope I will always be deserving of your unconditional love!! 💚💚🐾🐾🍀🍀🎂🎂🎈🎈☀️☀️🦴🦴🎾🎾🎁🎉
in my heart 4ever 
Happy Belated Birthday Zen! Love the picture of the two angels sleeping together! So sweet!
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Zen says thank you for the birthday wishes. They do look like angels (with paws) when they’re asleep, don’t they? 😍 But when they’re awake, they are both 100% (angelic) hooligan! 🤣
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Sorry we missed this wonderful occasion…I was out of town, and am now catching up.
Happy Belated Birthday to YOU, Zen!
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Zen says thank you, and no worries – we understand about catching up.
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Happy Birthday to you sweet Zen and bless you for all the joy you bring along with you. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of us!
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Zen says “thank you!”
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A very Happy Birthday to a special boy. I am so glad that he is healing your heart. The photographs were lovely. Benji will be 11 this year but – oddly enough – he is not slowing down any- at least not at the moment.
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Zen says “thank you!” and so do I. There were so many photos to choose from, but I wanted to include at least one showing Sam’s gentle nature before the dementia took complete control. He was at times very excited about getting another, especially after Ducky got her wings (and our “nest” was empty). Poor Zen didn’t have much of a chance to know his real human daddy, and that makes me sad. But I know that whether Zen knows it or not, he often channels Sam when I have my tearful times.
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Happy Barkday Zen and Mama ! And many more !
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Zen – and Sunny – says “thank you!”
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this was a beautiful post! OF COURSE you are deserving!! That’s why you have him! Happiest of Birthdays Zen! Pisces woofies are particularly sensitive and intuitive. My Dakota was a Pisces too. Extremely sweet dogs. Hope you are having a pawesome day Zen!! xoxo
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Aw, thanks Caren!! You are so right about the sensitive and intuitive part!! And my sweet big boy says “thank you” too!!
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Oh my gosh, such ‘wagnificent’ pics. Happy Barkday, Zen. You are one handsome (and big) boy. Sending digital 🦴🎉🦴 treats and best wishes.
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Zen says “thank you!” to you all!!
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💙🍀💙
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♪♫Happy Birthday to you,♪♫
♪♫Happy Birthday to you,♪♫
♪♫Happy Birthday Dear Zen,♪♫
♪♫Happy Birthday to you.♪♫
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Zen says “thank you Miss Sandee!”
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Happy, Happy Birthday, Zen!! I’m so glad he came into your life when you needed him so much. ♥♥
Max will turn one year old in about 3 weeks, and he also weighs 81 pounds! Love our big sweet boys!
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Max will be a year old already too??! Where did the year go?? I, too, love our big sweet boys!!
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happy birthday dear zenand a happy st paddy day
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Thank you!!
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