Nightmare time

It's really unusual/weird seeing Pan in a depressing/serious image isn't it? PREPARE FOR STORY TIME

So this whole summer I've been home in Norway, where I have a dog named Gina (she looks like this: www.dropbox.com/s/8kkijn3egrhe… - she's SOO patriotic) This summer though we've been noticing that she's showing more symptoms for syringomyelia, which is a really bad genetic disease which is sadly very common in that breed. Basically, because of a deformation of the head, the brainstem and neckbones are compressed, causing discomfort and eventually extreme fits of pain, maybe even paralyzation. It's nearly impossible to cure. She's been showing a few symptoms for a long time, but I noticed them more this summer. She doesn't seem to be in pain at all but, I'm really worried that it might develop further.
The sad thing is, I've seen this whole thing happen with another dog before, in 2010, when my cousins dog had to be euthenised because of the same disease (I wrote about it in the description of this: BHL Moonclaw
So, beacuse of these symptoms becoming more obvious now, it was extra difficult to leave Norway - I doubt she will suddenly get worse, but if it does.. Maybe she won't be there when I get back for christmas. 

Anyways, in the dream it was really early, before dawn, sort of foggy and cold, as per usual. I let Gina out, and she's barking at something (she often just goes out and barks at nothing in particular), so I go out to shut her up so she wont wake up the whole neighbourhood. Then I hear a gunshot and a yelp. I hear a door across the street slam, and just behind the fence is Gina, just shaking. She's got a small bullet hole in her neck and exit wound in her side, but she's not bleeding much. So I pick her up - and take her inside, puts a scarf around her wounds and do what I can - I try to think of somewhere to take her - there's no vet on the island, the nearest one is three hours away by boat. Maybe the doctor? So I just run around, sort of panicky, carrying my dog around and knocking on people's doors asking for help.

And that's it pretty much. I woke up briefly, really relieved that it wasn't real, but I was still kinda worried. I go back to sleep briefly and I go back to that same dream, and Gina is now sleeping in her little doggybed by the fire, her wounds healed. So it turned out just fine. 

So why did I draw Pan? Well after that dream I realized that Pan has pretty much the exact personality as Gina. They're really lazy and sleep a lot, but are still playful whenever they're awake. They love chasing and taunting other animals like cats and seagulls, and they're DESPERATE for food and snacks, especially fish jerky. They're also both really silly and sort of dumb, but still clever and curious (Gina knows a lot of tricks but if her leash gets tangled around a single dandelion she has NO idea what to do). Only difference is Gina strongly dislike baths and can't play the whistle. 

So I figured, since I'm drawing Pan instead of my dog I will draw myself as viking-lady. Because why the bum not. It makes more sense as I imagine the universe Pan exists in to be in the middle-ages viking-era.

If this story just made you sad - let me tell you that even though Gina might have the disease, it's very possible that it won't develop further after she's turned 6 years old (Gina turns 6 next march). In some cases dogs with that disease are still able to live full, happy lives, so there's still hope. 

Lesson of the day: If you're thinking of getting a purebred dog, you better do your research well. I won't ever get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel again after I've seen two dogs suffer from this horrible disease. They're two amazing and kind dogs, and seeing them suffer because humans like to breed dogs for their looks, genetic diseases and all, is - in my opinion - animal cruelty. Don't go for a dog because you think it's pretty, chances are they are suffering in some way because of their looks (squashed snouts preventing proper breathing, eyes bulging so much they might pop out, deformed spines and pelivises causing difficulty moving properly, etc.). Get a healthy breed instead - or even better, a mixed breed. And bonus-points if you get it from a pound, there are so many pets who need new homes. 


On a completely different note: Submissions for my contest are starting to come in, go look at them! And don't forget to enter, if you want to!  [OC CONTEST] Together Whichever Weather!I'm hosting a BIG oc-contest! 8000 points+more than 20 art prizes to be given away - anyone can join!
Theme
The seasons are changing, and with it comes all sorts of friendly and ferocious weather, it can be beautiful or frightful, but always unpredictable. It's probably the most common basis for conversation globally - but that's because it affects our lives like nothing else. So that's the simple yet huge theme for this contest: Weather.
Which weather is completely and utterly up to you - it can be happy sunny beach-weather, put-on-your-boots-rainy-weather or a raging winter-blizzard. Or maybe some sort of weather phenomenon you find interesting, like the mysterious aurora borealis, fantabulous double-rainbows, golfball-size hail, devastating tornados, intense lightning-storms, whatever grabs your attention (and the judges')! Whatever you do, challenge yourself, have fun, be creative!
Rules
The rules are pretty straight forward