Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Tuesday February 3, 2026 #2

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Older Blog: https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/

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Tuesday February 3, 2026 #2

Sorry but, if I don't keep busy, I will keep breaking down over losing our dearest Princesa. She was such a special happy dog that will be missed and remembered forever.

Cristina got her ex Carlos to come over, with his girlfriend Franci, to handle the interment of Princesa. I could not do all the bending required and I am an emotional wreck today.

Thank you Carlos for the help.

RIP dear Princesa

He also helped us unhook Guiliermo's welder and cables. They were such an eyesore in our yard. Cristina is holding those as ransom until we get a refund for shoddy work and advance payment.

While the digging was happening, I took pictures of the paragliders overhead as the competition started in Roldanillo.

We have yet to hear when vet John is available, so we may be renting a car from niece Ana's boyfriend German on Friday to go ourselves. I hope John steps up to the plate soon because I don't really want to drive up there myself. I will send him this schedule... in Spanish...

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

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NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

High in the sky

with the buzzards

Tuesday February 3, 2026 Total Sadness

PLEASE bookmark this page and check daily.

Older Blog: https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/

Please see my best artworks for sale at my websites:

http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/

or https://pixels.com/profiles/al-bourassa

******

Tuesday February 3, 2026

Last night, we got a call form the vet that did the home visit that Princesa's bloodwork was real bad and needed to go to emergency right away.

We took her into the 24-hour vet hospital in Tulua with very heavy hearts because we have seen dying dogs before and she had every sign. The hospital redid the bloodwork and confirmed that she needed a transfusion quickly to survive.

This morning, we desperately canvassed to find a female dog in good health, over 22 kilos and under 6 years old for an emergency transfusion.

We found one quickly and then we were rushing to confirm her health when we got a call from the hospital that Princesa's breathing was weak and would not survive a transfusion. An hour later we got the call that she had indeed passed away.

Even though we were expecting the worst, it was an enormous shock to lose this important family member. We haven't cried this much since the loss of our father.

Princesa was indeed special. She was our second rescue in Ecuador behind Turi, smart as a whip, an enthusiastic leader in our walks, our first and fiercest protector on the streets, and incredibly perceptive to our moods. It is hard to imagine more from a faithful companion.

We are so much in shock. This home will feel so much emptier without our happy Princesa who always seemed to be smiling. She was never far from us in the home, always one of the privileged few in our personal space and in our bedroom. This is a huge personal loss that overtakes all emotion.