We took Fate’s bandages off today, she has been a trouper letting the vet staple her leg wound, staying crated for several days, letting us cut the bandage off her.

Like so many border collies, she is a true stoic, almost completely oblivious to the deep wound that tore up her lower right leg and caused such a huge amount of bleeding.

We expect her staples will come out on Friday, she needs five or six more days of reduced exercise, which means no running. But she can go outside in the back kennel for a while, and can now walk freely about the house.

To my surprise, Fate didn’t remove the bandage in minutes, as she often has in the past.

Fate is missed by the therapy care patients she has been seeing,  especially Billie in the Memory Care unit.

She’s made a deep and very loving impression in her short time as a therapy dog.

Next Tuesday, Zinnia, our new Yellow Lab puppy comes into the picture, we are set. We have her special Royal Canin puppy food (for Labs), crates, safe toys, and dog beds.

The socialization training starts the day after she arrives, I’m planning to take her to Bishop Maginn High School when I go to teach my Writing Workshop. The students in the school are eager to see her, so is her  Stepmom, Sue Silverstein.

Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting with school officials to talk about their requests for help for the students struggling with the newly cold weather. Please be patient, I think it’s much bettter to send them what they need rather than what we all have.

Wednesday, I’ll be linking to and supporting a new Bishop Maginn High School Wish List, which will detail the clothing and some other requests. I’m also meeting with the Spanish teacher to help her buy some textbooks for her Spanish class.

Thanks for your interest and support. I like the Wish List because people can choose what they wish to buy and the money doesn’t go through and middlemen or non-profit administrators.

If people have some of the items request, and they are in good condition, it is perfectly acceptable to send them directly to the school. I’ll be in touch tomorrow.

I also have been raising money for warm weather clothing support for several months now, I’ve been buying boots, sweaters, hats for the Mansion residents and for needy students at Bishop Maginn.

I’m told as the winter progresses, more and more families come forward, and the teachers can spot students to complain of being cold or who don’t have winter clothes. I’ll stay with this, of course, until the Spring.

(You can also contribute to my fund via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Clothing Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.)

I know that many of the refugee families cannot afford to pay for heating oil, they and their children sleep on blankets on the floor, usually in one room, living or dining room.

School officials and the families themselves – I know a number of them – will tell us exactly what they need and request. I’ll share that information, probably early Wednesday evening. Thanks much.

Several of the blog readers asked about sleeping bags, and school officials thought that would be a good idea. I’ve found good and inexpensive ones on Amazon, I’d like to get a sense of how many are needed before I link to them. Thanks.