Ziggy Elf Corgi

02/24/2024

Bob Snead, Executive Director of the Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber in Barnwell, S.C., has laser cutting and other equipment at his disposal (and that local/regional entrepreneurs can inquire about potentially using). Mr. Snead graciously and very recently volunteered his time and equipment to laser cut everything shown, including a scan of the late Ziggy Elf Corgi's true paw print, on Ziggy's cremains box. I cannot thank him enough for his compassion and hard work. Overall, the box looks gorgeous, and I just about broke down crying in a good way when I saw it and held it in my hands.

Also, Dogwood Animal Hospital in Barnwell, S.C. gave me the box as part of the cremation process after Ziggy had to be put down a number of weeks ago. They also gave me a lovely, signed card and rainbow bridge certificate. I thank them again for their compassion during a difficult process.

The "ANXIETY" and "VALOR" on the dog tag came from a concept in Ziggy Zig-Zags the Light and Dark Fantastic. Those who know me and my work as well as what Ziggy meant to me know what all of this is about. The dog tag was made at Williams Feed and Seed in Barnwell, S.C.

Ziggy will always be in my heart, and what Mr. Snead, the staff at Dogwood Animal Hospital, and the folks at the feed and seed have done will always be remembered.

(Not only that, but those who helped me obtain Moochie and their kindness will not ever be forgotten.)

I will keep this in the newsfeed and in my groups forever. But I will also make this profile pic for the weekend. Thanks again.

02/14/2024

I thought I had placed this here as well. -My apologies. I think I did do one right after Ziggy passed. Ziggy was memorialized in a journey. A little over two weeks after his 11-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi's death, Ron Baxley Jr. took Ziggy Elf Corgi's cremains in the wooden box created for them and took other items related to his cremation on his way to pick up a new Corgi puppy, Moochie, in North Carolina.

(Moochie's acquisition and funds for his shots happened because of a GoFundMe started by Amanda Burke and James Krych upon reading about the death of Ziggy. A group of Ron's friends and family contributed to the GoFundMe.)

Flash back to over two weeks ago... Ziggy's final spinal issue happened so suddenly that Ron had to rush him to vet care, and Ron had to make the difficult decision to put Ziggy down as his back legs/entire back half essentially were not working and had no feeling according to tests. (The expensive surgery it would have taken would also not have given him a good quality of life and may not have been successful.) In other words, there was no time for one of Ziggy's and Ron's usual trips together. After all of this, Ron wanted Ziggy to have one last journey. The memorial items and card, including Ziggy's pawprint, were placed in the bag they were given to Ron by Dogwood Animal Hospital in Barnwell, S.C. Ron also placed Ziggy's collar and tags in the bag. Ron adopted Ziggy a little before age 1 from a shelter in Newberry, S.C. when Ron was living in nearby Prosperity. For approximately two years, he was taken to a vet in Laurens area. But from 2015 to early 2024, Dogwood Animal Hospital provided excellent care for Ziggy. Ziggy was an emotional support dog for Ron and served as an inspiration for many characters in his books. He was a constant companion, a best friend, and a fur-angel/gift from God. Whoever met him loved him, and he met and greeted people at many stores and Ron's author events. Ziggy will never be forgotten, and Ron hopes Ziggy will be a part of his spiritual journey in the afterlife.

In fact, Ron wants this to be Ziggy's online memorial. He is keeping this on his page and will make it his profile pic for a while for closure. Then, he will transition to a profile pic with Moochie for a while. Ron thanks the very compassionate vets and staff of Dogwood Animal Hospital, close friends, and family who have reached out during this difficult time. He also thanks the aforementioned individuals and donors who empathized so much regarding the loss of Ziggy and worked together to help him acquire Moochie. Ron says, "God bless all of you. Praise God for the time I had with Ziggy, and praise God for allowing me to obtain Moochie."

02/13/2024

Everyone
Follow O.Z. Diggs VII soon on his relatively NEW Tiktok account (the "if-ever-there-was-a-rizz-he-was" page for the storytelling descendant of the Wizard of Oz). Follow especially for an amazing, heartwarming announcement and video which will premiere around the evening of Feb. 12th or the morning of Feb. 13th. (Plus, there is a link in the bio. to a FREE satirical fantasy Oz game if you have advanced ChatGPT. Don't be mid-ling... [Help! A Gen X'er is attempting to use modern vernacular!] Play it today!)

Come join the "staffs" of the Society of the Walking Cane at the O.Z. Diggs VII page! Yes, there will be Dad jokes and puns as you can tell! Don't keep yourself in red stitches like the evil society thereof. Wonder what all this is about? Well, some of it has to do with the Southern satirical O.Z. Diggs VII fantasy series from YBR Publishing, LLC in Ridgeland, S.C. Other parts have to do agent Benjamin Wilkison and author Ron Baxley Jr. Follow! Find out!

.z.diggsvii 10 Followers, 17 Following, 12 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by O.Z.DiggsVII

02/12/2024

Ziggy was memorialized in a journey. A little over two weeks after his 11-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi's death, Ron Baxley Jr. took Ziggy Elf Corgi's cremains in the wooden box created for them and took other items related to his cremation on his way to pick up a new Corgi puppy, Moochie, in North Carolina.

(Moochie's acquisition and funds for his shots happened because of a GoFundMe started by Amanda Burke and James Krych upon reading about the death of Ziggy. A group of Ron's friends and family contributed to the GoFundMe.)

Flash back to over two weeks ago... Ziggy's final spinal issue happened so suddenly that Ron had to rush him to vet care, and Ron had to make the difficult decision to put Ziggy down as his back legs/entire back half essentially were not working and had no feeling according to tests. (The expensive surgery it would have taken would also not have given him a good quality of life and may not have been successful.) In other words, there was no time for one of Ziggy's and Ron's usual trips together. After all of this, Ron wanted Ziggy to have one last journey. The memorial items and card, including Ziggy's pawprint, were placed in the bag they were given to Ron by Dogwood Animal Hospital in Barnwell, S.C. Ron also placed Ziggy's collar and tags in the bag. Ron adopted Ziggy a little before age 1 from a shelter in Newberry, S.C. when Ron was living in nearby Prosperity. For approximately two years, he was taken to a vet in Laurens area. But from 2015 to early 2024, Dogwood Animal Hospital provided excellent care for Ziggy. Ziggy was an emotional support dog for Ron and served as an inspiration for many characters in his books. He was a constant companion, a best friend, and a fur-angel/gift from God. Whoever met him loved him, and he met and greeted people at many stores and Ron's author events. Ziggy will never be forgotten, and Ron hopes Ziggy will be a part of his spiritual journey in the afterlife.

In fact, Ron wants this to be Ziggy's online memorial. He is keeping this on his page and will make it his profile pic for a while for closure. Then, he will transition to a profile pic with Moochie for a while. Ron thanks the very compassionate vets and staff of Dogwood Animal Hospital, close friends, and family who have reached out during this difficult time. He also thanks the aforementioned individuals and donors who empathized so much regarding the loss of Ziggy and worked together to help him acquire Moochie. Ron says, "God bless all of you. Praise God for the time I had with Ziggy, and praise God for allowing me to obtain Moochie."

01/28/2024

Thank you to all who have written such kind words to me recently.
Yet Another Impromptu Poem:
By: Ron Baxley, Jr.

You weren't here
to lick the salty tears away.
You weren't here
for me to command to stay.
You weren't here
when I opened the door.
You weren't here to listen
to a cute song for you with score.
You weren't here
to fetch a toy as best you could in old age.
You weren't here
to give brown-eyed looks cute and sage.
You weren't here
for walks in nature and adventures away.
Oh... How I wish you could have stayed.
I grasped air as if to hug you tonight,
My pillow was more wet than sweat of fright.
But then I realized...
You'll be there
across the rainbow Bridge.
You'll stay there
in my heart more than a smidge.
You'll be there
to run and play when I am a kid again.
You'll be there
Where we both will be without sin.
You'll be there
with eternal Corgi smile.
You'll be there
Down that golden mile
You'll be there
in the wonders beyond ceasing.
You'll be there
And no longer will this be tragic...
You'll be there with me...
Tripping the light fantastic.

01/26/2024

During the past couple of years, Ziggy, my Corgi, had vibrating back paws and haunches. The vet told me (even during October's checkup) that it was due to his 10 years of age. She also did a spinal check on him then, and he seemed fine. On occassion, they still vibrated. I was called in to help at work with logistics today. This afternoon, when I arrived home, Ziggy was dragging his hind legs behind him
I comforted him and called the vet immediately. I picked him up and put him in the car. Upon arrival, after the exam, I was told it was a spinal issue. He turned 11 in December, btw. Given his age and the low quality of life he would have and secondarily that we could not afford the expensive surgery, I made the hard decision to put him under. I stayed with all during sedation and right up until the final shot when he was already completely sedated. I bawled during this and after. I suffered a major loss in December and just found out the other day that I have a good friend in hospice. I greatly miss the relative I lost and my furchild as well. And I am so sad about my friend. Highly visible holés are in my life as they were in 2013 and a few years ago, too. I know those I lost are in another place. And I know God and Yeshua are there for comfort. Right now, I am deep in grief but am keeping busy. I even plan to go to a mini-reunion tomorrow. Please do not message me (I messaged a small group of friends and family). But feel free to reply or put emoticons here.

01/15/2024

Pre-signed used books by Ron Baxley Jr. for sale (some were personalized to late relatives, and I have acquired them). $5 apiece OBO. Can send up to 3 for $5 apiece OBO plus additional $8 for Priority Mailing. Titles are shown. O.Z. Diggs VII series is for older young adults and adults. The rest are for most ages with "Goldey Goosey of Oz" being specifically for ages 4-9 and/or Oz fans. Message Ron Baxley, Jr. or email [email protected] . Can accept PayPal payment at [email protected] . CashApp is $RonBaxley (listed under my legal name of Ronnie Baxley). Thanks.

01/13/2024

-Looking for birthday or other gift ideas for the New Year? Maybe Valentine's Day ideas for readers -- particularly those of fantasy/science fiction and Oz books? Please go to this link to look through my pre-signed books from YBR Publishing and purchase them (find the books under my, Ron Baxley Jr.'s, name and click the left and right errors to go through them): https://www.ybrpub.com/shop . (Note: The O.Z. Diggs VII series is for older young adults and adults. The others are for most ages.) Also, go to http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/eetatcocispress for my truly self-published, older books. -Want to help out the All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango, NY? Buy my presigned books from their gift shop here as well as Oz items: https://www.shopallthingsoz.org/s/search?q=ron%20baxley (do new searches for other items). Finally, find my pre-signed books at Little Red Barn in Barnwell, S.C., The Caroline Collection Antiques in Denmark, S.C., The Book Tavern in Augusta, GA, ABX / Augusta Book Exchange in Martinez, GA, Galactic Comics and Games in Statesboro, GA, Odin and Sons Comics in Savannah, Georgia, the Frampton Plantation Gift Shop in Yemassee, S.C., McIntosh Books in Beaufort, S.C., Zen Den in Port Royal, S.C., and the All Things Oz Museum gift shop in Chittenango, N.Y. Unsigned copies are also available wherever books are sold online and at many independent bookstores everywhere. THANKS!

09/11/2023

Patriot Day honors the memory of the nearly 3,000 innocent victims who died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Each year Americans dedicate this day to remembering those who died and the first responders who risked their own lives to save others.
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/patriot-day-and-national-day-of-service-and-remberance-september-11/