Meet Little Romeo

The adoption went super-well. We brought my dogs into the bedroom, kept Romeo on his leash, and had George off his leash in the living room, where Romeo was, since he does better that way when meeting new dogs.

The initial meeting when very well. Romeo was suitably deferential to the other three dogs (who are all rescues).  I took my dogs out of the bedroom and into the living room, on their leashes, and did the close-but-not too close thing for about a half hour. There were no big skirmishes until late in the evening and at that point it was Romeo who lunged at George, who walked too close to Romeo while he slept in his bed (or actually, one of the other dogs' beds). George is a bit like Oscar the Grouch but he's easier with other dogs than he used to be. Romeo started the argument and George pinned him to the ground. Feisty yorkie! I bet Romeo will be more careful going forward.

Overnight he slept in his bed (again, another dog's bed) and stayed there all night till I walked them at 6:30am. We're walking them about every three hours right now till he gets used to his routine. When he first got here, my Mom kept his leash on him and walked him throughout the house. He peed on everything. It took us a few hours to realize he thought he was being walked! Since being off-leash in the house, he has only marked one area - not again since - and no pooping inside (even though he had slight diarrhea, which happens when dogs are nervous at being switched from one situation to another). It's already cleared up and now he's on a regular walking, pooping, eating schedule.

All is well. Here are some pictures of the adventure yesterday.  Mom is so glad she got George a companion, and I am so glad this guy got out of the shelter. He was NIPPY there because he was afraid and I was afraid for his life because he couldn't get placed. One rescue already said no to him. And here he is, now, a bundle of happy joy and good nature.

In the car, happy he's out of jail. He and Mom match.

One of the trees in my lobby provided facination.

Wow, this place is nice and much bigger than my shelter digs!

I know what I'm doing. (They sure do learn fast!)

Mom learned, too, how to provide a comfy place to sit!

Smiling shyly for the camera.

Everyone is so happy!! Shelter dogs are the best!!


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Transport Sunday and Shelter Day

Happily, my entire day yesterday Sunday was spent doing stuff for dogs.

The morning began taking my little guys on their Daily Constitutional 1.3 mile walk (later in the day they get another Constitutional 3/4 mile walk, plus three quickies).

Here they are at "Grandma's House" last weekend.

Then I left to provide one leg of a transport of three little ones needing to be driven to their new homes. They were impossibly cute. Bentley is on the left (he was thrown from a moving car and that owner was turned in by her son and grandson!), Diamond, and Little Margot.

Bentley leaving his old life behind!

Diamond in between ear scratching.

This little one (Miss Margot) nibbled on my ear the entire time! If she was quiet and I got worried she was into something, so looked her way, she took that to mean it was time to start nibbling again.

Both Bentley and Diamond are with their new people and Little Margot is being fostered for a week first.

Then it was off to Yonkers Animal Shelter where I volunteer. It was a beautiful day, all the dogs got out, and one got adopted (Bonnie, who went with such nice people).  We've had some good adoptions lately. Spot went home a few weeks ago. He's doing well, I hear. Love that boy.

Sadly, a shady threesome cast another dog out their car window in front of our shelter. If a dog's face could personify worry, this little one's could. She has big soulful eyes that are kind of close set and between the totally wrinkled-up brow at being thrown from the car, we all rushed over to love her. She was afraid but we did out best to make her at home.

 She'll have a name and a picture soon.

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Mr. Wiggins's One Year Anniversary

At this exact hour last year I was on a plane going to Louisiana to get Mr. Wiggins from a couple who had rescued him from the gas chamber.  I saw a picture of him on Facebook and thought he looked just like my other little guy, Renaldo, and after a few days and a few frantic attempts at sending some money for him to be fostered, I was on the phone looking to adopt.

Here, here, and  here is the whole tale tail.

We got up fifteen minutes early today so the day wouldn't be so rushed and took our time during their 1.3 mile walk. He dutifully barks at all the squirrels and birds, though at this time of year it's dark so that gives me a break is sort of nice.

Little guy got a new $16 dollar collar his sucker super duper Mom bought to mark the occasion!

Here are some pics over the past year.

4th of July

Wiggins has helped Renaldo not feel so alone during the day (Renaldo is deaf), so that keeps him from scratching on the door or breaking out of the house to look for me (yes, he did that once).

Wiggins at Mommie's computer. She thought he was so clever standing on the chair she uses while at the computer, because she thought he was saying "hey, give me attention," but all he wanted was his ball.

Asleep during vacation.

On alert...

Wiggins settling for the back seat while his older brother was on Mommie's lap in the front seat.

Two peas in a pod.

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I'm Off To Get The Wiggins, The Most Wonderful Wiggins Of All...

His flight bag is all ready with cushion, water bowl, two chew bones, a nylabone, a marrowbone, and don't you know Renaldo is poking his head in there to see what he's missing. I can just see it now.  I have his leash, collar with new tag, sweatshirt, and his foster Mom has his papers all ready to go. I rolled up all the smaller area rugs in the house and will see how he does before they go back down. The wee-wee pad is already stretched out waiting for him.

I'm going to spray the house with Nature's Miracle (another great product!!) to neutralize any Renaldo scents, thereby thwarting any soon-to-be Wiggins scents. He'll sleep in a crate the first couple of nights; I dug it out from the basement, cleaned it, and put a pillow in there with a fresh pillowcase.  He can be confident in his space and not pestered by his older brother.

It'll be fine. I'm meeting some soldier friends at the New Orleans airport for lunch and then getting Wiggins in the afternoon. We'll be home by 11:00pm, and I'll report in Wednesday morning before he goes to the vet.

Wish us luck!!


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xoxo

Guess Who's Going To Be A New Mom?

So about two weeks ago I was on Facebook and I see a picture of a dog in Louisiana needing to be fostered. Virtually fostered. Had not seen that before but that doesn't mean anything. So I click the requisite clicks to get a bowl of food, or a blanket, etc. Turns out that for just $13 bucks you can buy the little guy a bed. I went to do that and though the links were not working, I learned that he was in a shelter that does not adopt out to the public, and he only had four days to live! They have such a problem with the number of unwanted pets down there that he was basically in a euthanization site, where either his owner or a rescue group can get him out, but that's it. And, they use the gas chamber to euthanize them, to boot. Yuck. Very sad.

Some Southern states still use the gas chamber and it's barbaric. Alaska - or at least some parts of it (like Dillingham) - allows the dogs to be shot in the head at the garbage dump. I like most other areas of the country and while I'm different than a lot of New Yorkers in this way (the snobbery in NYC about other areas has always annoyed me), I'm glad I do live in a place where this method is not the norm. Not that the city shelters give them more than a week, but the death is a needle given and while they don't give the valium-like drugs I insist my own dogs get when the time comes, it is quick (the gas chamber usually takes 20 minutes). We live in an imperfect world.

Anyway, so between calling to make a contribution (I give at least something to most special cases I list here), getting fixated on the dog because he looks just like my little guy, Renaldo, and finding out he needs a home desperately, I ended up applying to adopt him. Now, to some degree, I do think he was already in a foster when I clicked to get him the bowl of food. But it doesn't matter. A rescue group took him and put them in one of their homes, and he is sleeping in a bed, and not going in the gas chamber.

My application was approved (after a vet check), and I began to look into calling upon one of the newly developed non-profits whose specialty is to transport dogs from the south to the north, where people are ready to take them in. This, in some dog rescue circles, is an apostasy. Why take in a dog from another area when you can get one near you? Well, it's a fair question, I guess, though the gas chamber thing does weigh on a person. Plus, he's the same mix as my dog (who I thought was a chihuahua-dachshund mix and now I realize he's a minipin-chihuahua mix, though I'm not yet telling him that since he likes to burrow like a dachshund). He needs a home and I have been wanting a second dog as a companion to Renaldo. It's perfect that they are the same size, color, and look so darn alike I think Renaldo will have shock when I bring -- Mr. Wiggins -- home.

Wiggins

Renaldo













So I began to look into the rescues that transport. They are very useful (and a Godsend!) but I honestly didn't have the time to keep watch on their message boards to grab a time slot and road-trip-leg that was available (made possible by their angel volunteers), and piece together a trip from Louisiana all the way to New York City. I'm off next week from work and wanted to do the transport then, getting Wiggins acclimated to me, my apartment, Renaldo (and Renaldo to him!). So I instead booked a flight with Jet Blue to New Orleans, and the wonderful rescue woman is driving two hours each way to bring the new other little guy to me. I'll bring my pet carrier and off we'll go, after lunch in a nearby park. We'll have a day at home to get settled (and make sure we know to poop and pee outside), and then Thursday is vet day. Friday we'll do more lounging and getting Wiggins and Renaldo used to each other.

I'll keep you posted on the meeting of the minds. Yes, it's risky to not have had them meet before, but Renaldo likes other dogs, Mr. Wiggins likes other dogs, and everyone is going to have to share. There are dogs to be saved, and I have the room.

Of course, after I found out I was able to definately adopt him, and I made the flight and confirmed the rescue lady dropping him off, I went to the pet stores and had fun. Mr. Wiggins does not know it yet but his signature color is blue. A muted blue, though I did have some angst choosing between the royal blue harness and leash I also bought but will be returning, and the more subte blue that is a good companion color to Renaldo's signature color of hunter green. I also got Renaldo a new set because I can't play favorites, you know!  So they both ended up getting a new bed (there are now a total of six in the house for two dogs, plus The Big Bed, which no doubt they will both hog), new leashes, new bowls, toys, bones, giant size wee-wee pads, and one got a baby-carry-bag but since Renaldo doesn't fit in it (it looked like the doggie version of the glove with O.J. Simpson's attorney -- "if you don't fit you must acquit"), I doubt Wiggins will since he's only a pound less than Renaldo, so that will be going back to the store too.

The new stuff has been on a chair in the living room for a week and I keep adding to it. I feel like I've been "working on the baby's room."

More to follow....


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xoxo

Some Funny Pics

I'm thrilled, Mom.

He has an amazing way of looking sideways when I am trying to take a picture.

I did not pose this!

Look who found the four inch hole in his bed!

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Two Funny Dachshund Moments

The first is via Rolling Dog Ranch (in Beautiful Montana):

Daisy the Dachshund looks all nice, doesn't she? Sharing her chair with the blind and deaf dog, Spinner.

http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/rolling_dog_ranch_animal_/2009/12/what-is-she-doing-on-my-chair.html

Read the story; it's worth it.


The second dachshund moment is my own dog, Renaldo the Red, who found the four inch hole in his bed (under three blankets and another floppy bed, mind you) and decided to climb in to keep warm.  Doxies are known for their burrowing and mine is no exception.

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xoxo (gotta love 'em)

News Round Up

via ASPCA:

Please call Governor Paterson to thank him for signing
A. 999B into law. By thanking our elected officials for directing their attention to animal welfare, we help make it more likely that they’ll do so again in the future.

Recently signed into law by Governor Paterson, this measure will, among other things:

• -prohibit the inhumane destruction of stray and shelter animals (e.g., gassing)
• -require that the euthanasia of stray and shelter animals be performed by injection
• -require that such euthanasia be performed by a certified euthanasia technician, licensed veterinarian,  or licensed veterinary technician

Governor David Paterson: (518) 474-8390

Full story:
http://www2.aspca.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=63904.0


via Paw Nation:

Nora the Piano-Playing Cat Honored by ASPCA

 
The ASPCA will be handing out 10 Humane Awards on October 29, reports USA Today. Among the recipients are law-enforcement agents involved in the largest dog-fighting raid ever; a couple whose ranch is now a sanctuary to about 70 animals (a.k.a Rolling Dog Ranch in Beautiful Montana!); and, of course, Nora the Piano-Playing Cat, the ASPCA's 2009 Cat of the Year.
Full story and video:
http://www.pawnation.com/2009/10/21/nora-the-piano-playing-cat-honored-by-aspca/


via a good friend of mine who knew I would like this:

I actually don't know if this next story is true, but it doesn't matter; it's funny as is.

This is a true story of a Garage Owner in the Southwest. ( New Mexico )

He was sick and tired of thugs breaking into his garage shop to steal tools etc. So he came up with this idea. He put the word out that he had a new Mexican Lion that would attack anyone that would break in or climb his fence.. Would-be thieves saw the "Lion" from a distance and fled the scene.

HA!

 
 
via Dogs in the News: (a somewhat old story)
 

Pit Bull Dies Saving Family from Cobra

 

Full story and pics (warning: dog who died):

http://dogsinthenews.com/stories/070301a.php
 
 
Also via Dogs in the News: (an old story but I like it)
 

Pit Bull Leads Man to £3.4 Million

Full Story:
http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0206/articles/020609a.htm
 
 
Another good one, via Daily Dachshund and Dog News:
 

Fierce Dachshund saves terrier buddy from eagles

 

http://www.dailydachshundanddognews.com/2009/09/fierce-dachshund-saves-terrier-buddy.html
 
 
Also via Daily Dachshund and Dog News:
 

Is the Hot Dog Look Over?

 

http://www.dailydachshundanddognews.com/2007/11/hot-dog.html

 

I hope not!

 

 

 



xoxo

I'm sitting working on the blog and look who gets up on the chair next to me? Time for pettin'.

The Little Guy

Here is my own little guy. Renaldo the Red (like Robert the Bruce). Hey, a little guy's gotta have some heritage and when they are pound puppies, you gotta make it up for them!

I got him from Elmsford Animal Shelter (http://www.elmsfordanimalshelter.com/about.htm) in January '07, two months almost to the day after I lost my beloved Miss Maddie, another rescue from Elmsford. Pics on her another time.

Notice in the background is the daschund his "grandmother" bought him for Christmas last year. It sings "Low Rider," and moves even lower than it is normally as the music plays. Renaldo torpedoed it with his pointy nose, knocking it over when I first played the song.


Don't be fooled by his sitting on the floor either. Feh. It's a big act is what it is.

Actually, if you go to the "Happy Endings" section of Elmford's website and go in about three pages, you'll see the bit I wrote about him. It's a really cute picture of him with his favorite bone and it looks like he has a cigar in his mouth and he's smiling. He loves his bully sticks.

(This is a picture off the internet. That's about the size of it, too!)

xoxo