Dog Blog

Saturday, October 30, 2010


HAPPY HOWLOWEEN!

Dogs in Disguise














Sunday, October 24, 2010

Autumn, where have you gone?


We delayed the dog walk as long as we could get away with it, but these hounds just won't let us off the leash, not even when the rain is pouring in buckets like it is today. I wouldn't take anything for my dogs, but I confess there are days, like this one, when I would be content not to set a foot out the door. But that's the penance of the dog lover. I suppose I'm lucky that my dogs are older and not an active breed. They are content with one or two (preferably three) walks a day, generously interspersed with snore fests on the sofa or chair, or wherever the heck they want to sleep. I don't often have to refer to my own book of bored dog activities, 150 Activities for Bored Dogs. Forgive that bit of shameless self-promotion, but what else can you expect from a writer?

What we'd all like to know is what happened to Autumn? Do we only have two seasons now, Winter and Summer? What has happened to the others? The delights of spring and fall are practically nonexistent these days. I didn't even make it up to Apple Hill before the bad weather set in. I always like to go before Halloween, so I can appreciate the fall colors and choose a pumpkin out in the country like people used to do. Well, a store bought Jack will have to do, I suppose.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010







Today is Beau's "Gotcha" day.  He's been with us a year, and he's the best dog ever.  Of course, everyone thinks that about their own dog, but really, he is!  I still remember the first time I saw him with his happy face in that miserable place he ended up and would have remained because his former owners wouldn't bail him out.  I'll never be sorry I did.  Their loss was our gain.  I believe he went astray twice because he was looking for a better home with people who love him as much as we do.  Happy Gotcha Day, Beau! 



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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Beau got this really cool Sloppy Kiss Card today from his vet at Arden Animal Hospital. This is the first time any of my dogs have ever received a birthday card from their veterinarian.

What a great idea! What a great dog!

Beau's actual Gotcha Day is October 20. I'm sure glad I gotcha, Beau.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Here's a real Halloween horror story about South Fork Kennels, breeder of Basset Hounds and Cavalier King Charles puppies. I wonder if Peaches came from there? She's the most fearful dog I've ever adopted. Must be a reason.

Please don't keep people like this in business. Adopt, don't purchase, your next dog.

Sunday, October 03, 2010

The following is dedicated to the 11-year-old, arthritic lab who was shot three (count 'em, three!) times and killed by police as it was trying to protect its owner during a response to a false burglary report and also to the sick old dog in Davis that was tossed in a dumpster to die:

A Tribute to the Dog

One of the most beautiful tributes ever paid an animal came from the lips of the late Senator George Graham Vest. The occasion was a trial over the killing of a dog which was held in a Missouri town when he was a young lawyer.

Senator Vest appeared for the plaintiff, while Senator Francis M Cockrell, then a country practitioner, represented the defendant.

Young Vest took no interest in the testimony and made no notes, but at the close of the case arose, and, in a soft voice, made the following address:

“Gentlemen of the Jury--The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way; there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death."

When he concluded his remarks there were but few dry eyes in the audience. The case was submitted without further argument, and the jury promptly returned a verdict for the plaintiff.

We took Peaches and Beau together to their yearly vet exams Saturday.  This was Beau's first checkup since I adopted him.  He was also due for his rabies booster.  I have never before had a dog that enjoys going to the veterinarian and even goes right up to the vet to make friends. He went right up to the doc and greeted her in his happy-go-lucky way. He did the same thing for her that he did when I first saw him in the Stockton shelter.  He lay right down on the floor and seemed completely content as long as someone was paying attention to him.  He would have just lain there the whole time she was examining him.  The trick was to get him to stand up so she could palpate his abdomen.  He never complained about anything done to him, not even when they expressed his anal glands, which were quite full, I was told.  A two-glover.  I guess we'll be doing that more regularly from now on at home, since they charged $35 to do it there.  It's a rather stinky, unpleasant task, though, so maybe it's worth it.  

Peaches, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck the whole time.  The instant she realized we were not at the park but the vet's office, she tried every way she could to drag me in the opposite direction.  Then when we got inside, she did the shiver-shakes and tried to hide in the corner of the examining room.  I had to drag her out from under the bench for her exam.  Not even yummy treats worked.  

This time I had my husband go along so we could take both dogs and it wouldn't be such an ordeal for me alone.  I thought having Beau along would calm Peaches, plus he gets upset if she's not around.  Taking them both at once worked out well, except for the cost, over $500 for just routine stuff, and that's with a senior discount.  At least we shot two bassets (hypodermically speaking) with one trip to the vet instead of two separate trips.  The good news is they are both in good health but need to drop a few pounds.  We've put them on diet dog food.  I don't think they like it, but who does like dieting?  

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