| Earlier Blogs: 2008 & 2007 |
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Blog by Carol |
| 1/04/09: Sahara is being so weird. She comes in and puts her paw on my leg and indicates she wants me to follow her. It took several guesses before I got it right. She wanted me to brush her. As long as I don't brush her tail, she lays down and lets me brush her everywhere else. If I get up and quit, she comes back and gets me. This has happened 3 times this evening. She is also letting me know it is time for us to go to bed. She likes to guard us when the sun goes down. Anyway, I guess it was her way for attention. Everyone else got a walk, but she turns from the leash. Too cold to insist so she wanted brushed instead. I do wish she'd let me brush her tail. It is such a beautiful plume but starting to cluster. She is back again. It's not even 6:00 p.m. Yes, the dogs do run our life. I'm sure she is wanting us to go to bed. She wins. We have a lot of HBO movies recorded. Bound to find one we like. |
| 1/03/09: Several updates on Shaggy. He is doing great. He looks so happy. Here he was content, but now with Nita, he looks much more then that, he looks happy. Tommy is staying with his family. He was adopted to them to be a care giver and moral booster to a terminally ill man. As I suspected, things have gone down hill with his health. I am sure Tommy understands and just needed to be allowed to give the love he has for his friend. Sometimes we all just need to know we have options where our dogs are concerned so we can take a deep breath, relax and let them love us in their sometimes quirky little ways. |
| 1/01/09: I knew someone would bring in the New Year with a bang. I was sleeping pretty good, too. Sahara is keeping me company. She is my Velcro dog. We are sure going to miss Shaggy. He will be leaving on a home visit in about 11 hours. It gets harder and harder to let go. I just want the very best for everyone of them, but some are extra special. Shaggy is one of those. I don't worry as much about the puppies as they are adaptive, but the adult dogs have already seen heartache. Shaggy has had too many. I pray there will be no more and that everything from here on out will bring him happiness and contentment. And if he comes back again, he will just stay here til death do us part. I just wish Bush hadn't of screwed up the world. The news just has failed to address what it has done to our dog population. I placed or helped place near 100 dogs in both 2006 and 2007. I think the count is about 30 (counting the Oklahoma pups) for 2008 and Shaggy and Tommy both came back. Tommy might even come back again. Coming back through no fault of their own. Shaggy just came in to say "Hi" and check on me. The dogs just want to know where we are at night. Makes them a little uneasy when Loren and I are not together because they pace from one room to another and back checking on us. Frank was the most diligent at that. He's been 'gone' right at 2 years. Some dogs you just never get over and his death will hurt forever, right up there with my Grandmas'. So Happy New Year to all and especially the dogs of the world. May you all find loving homes that can afford to feed and keep you. |
| 12/31/08: Kept hoping for an email saying they would work it out with Tommy. But maybe no news is good news as have not heard when they are bringing him back either. I am sure he is just needing more attention; that he is feeling lonely and being a typical Pyr, expanding his territory. This is why I stress that people understand the breed. Pyrs are not Labs. Pyrs are independent thinkers. Loyal but following commands is not necessarily high on their list since that is not what they were bred to do. Well, the great weather went away. Temps dropped again. My roses are totally confused. Dogs did more barking from inside the house last night then venturing out. What a bunch of woosies. |
| 12/30/08: It's been a long day. Took a few hours 'off' and went to see "Marley & Me". They could have made the ending happy. Anyway, made us come home and be grateful we have a pack to welcome us. Have applications to go over for Shaggy. Tommy is most likely coming back. My confidence in picking people is wavering. I know I'm atleast 85% right, but even 1% not working out is more then I can bear. It is just so hard on these sweet souls. The economy has just sabotaged good adoptions. Tommy is just going to be so depressed. He took to the man so quickly. He just knew it was where he was meant to be. This will be his third rejection and he is just 2 years old. I sure hope they will all get along. 10 dogs in the house all together is an awful lot when they are all 70 to 115 pounds. Shaggy and Tommy don't know each other so crossing my fingers. Both should do fine if Zelda does not decide to play alpha and start directing. Annie has settled in completely. Still a little skittish through doorways, but has taken over Shaggy's bed...which was Sissy's bed first anyway. Shaggy doe not seem to mind. I do need to find several more crib mattresses though. They all really like laying on them. I'll just stack them in the day and spread them out at night. Sis has already settled in her spot on our bed. Guess I'll join her before Sweetness takes her place and I have to become a contortionist to find space for me. |
| 12/27/08: Did the doggie shuffle last night so I could get some sleep. I can only go without for several days or I get really grumpy. It was possible because it has been crazy warm for 2 days. Last night it stayed around 60. It was warmer outside then inside. Had dogs in 5 different places and it worked. I could barely hear the 'barkers'. Poured down rain at 4:30 a.m. so hard it woke me up. Then I worried that Sahara would not take shelter in the garage so got up, got soaked, only to find all 3 sound asleep in the garage. That is, asleep until my presence woke them up. Feeling guilty, I let them in the house. We were all soaked in just the 10 yard long trip from the garage to the house. Dried everybody off and convinced Shaggy it was NOT time to play. He is such a goof ball. I went back to sleep and next thing I knew it was 7:45! Poor Bear had been closed in the shop since about 10:00 p.m. I ran down in my night shirt to bring him up. Bet his poor bladder was about to burst. Still warm but thunder showers are coming this way. Think I have everybody with shelter available as long as Sahara lets Annie in the dog room. Wind is really whipping. Sure glad we had the 2 'threatening' trees removed a few months ago. |
| 12/25/08: Christmas was a non-holiday. We did have a little Christmas miracle. Annie spent the day with everybody but Bear. I tried to get her with Bear yesterday but just not going to happen. Gave 'the girls' a good lecture about being nice to company then turned her into the yard. No blood! Not even much of a growl out of anybody. Last time there was blood. She's in the shop for the night, but I think our days are going to go well. This will make the month go by so much easier. |
| 12/21/08: My how times slips away! Since Brooks has gone to his new home, I have been working real hard on getting everybody together. Can't make the transition complete until Shaggy finds a home but at least the dogs are being prepared. When I put Sahara over on Bears side to play with Chipi, Bear hides in his crate. If Bear is in the house and Sahara comes to close, he goes into warning mode. I guess either he wants to protect his place with us or feels we are his security. When Zelda and Sahara have spent several hours apart, it is a re-acquaintance all over. If Zelda is in the house first, she is 'top dog'. If Sahara is in first, she is top dog. Shaggy just goes with the flow. He is so good. Same goes when Chipi is in the mix. Zelda is afraid of Chipi and goes off into the yard or into the garage. Sahara and Chipi do the intro dance every time they com together, yet they love laying together. Shaggy and Zelda make every morning complete. Some times I stay in bed extra long because they are having such a great time running in and out and wrestling. If I get up the play stops in anticipation for breakfast. It is interesting to try to figure out the dynamics that goes on with each situation. Annie is coming tomorrow for a month. Two weeks earlier then usual. UGH! She has an attitude and if I put her in the mix, she gets beat up so she has to stay in the shop. I hate that. Feel so sorry for her. She dos come up a few hours a day, but most of them have to go out when she is in. Not worth trying to make it work because she is just not hear that much and I'd be starting over every time. Keeton enjoys her company. I might try her with Bear. They were accidently in the shop together one day last time and there was no blood! Sure would make the month easier. |
| 12/13/08: Brooks is laying right beside me. Michelle should be here in a few hours to get him. It is cold and windy so I hope all goes well both directions. All the dogs are asleep as well they should be after barking most of the night. Took Bear down at about 1:30. The others wanted to get in the upper yard so I just let them go. It was warmer last night then today. I finally got to sleep about 4:00 and up at 7:15. They were certainly wanting in. Think they had spent the night in the garage keeping warm and eventually quiet. Changing routine is always upsetting but I just got to sleep some. If the weather stays cold and overcast, they might be quiet tonight. Last night the moon was full when we went to bed and still full when we got up. It was like it was stuck in one spot spinning on a long tether as the earth spun. I thought I had left the outside lights on, it was so bright. No sun today. Just grey clouds and lots of wind. Going to make some homemade chicken soup for lunch to warm up.. |
| 12/12/08: Dogs went ballistic about 1:30 a.m. I can always tell if the barking is because of an animal in the yard or other dogs around or just barking to bark. This was important. Luckily I always close the gate to the upper yard that backs up to the main road. Someone was driving real slow, turning around, driving back again and again. I called 911. Being a nice small community, it's ok. I asked if they had an officer in my vicinity looking for someone because there was a car going back and forth. There had been a helicopter over head just an hour before so I thought they could be looking for someone dangerous. Apparently not a cop car as one showed up a few minutes later. Of course my 'drive by' person had gone. I witnessed 8 passes by and know there were more before I got up to look. There really is no where to turn around without great inconvenience so something was up. Guess I'll never know. My dog killer is still in jail and probably will be for 30 years so know it wasn't him. (unless he escaped last night). Before I let the dogs up there, I walked the area by the road just to be sure nothing had been thrown over the fence. It was really cold out! All is safe. They are happy. Evening: Keeton actually went poop outside all on his own. Didn't make it off the deck, but hey, I'm pleased. I don't think he knew it since he doesn't usually know. Is the last night here for Brooks. I am sure he will settle right in with Michelle and his new canine sister Maddie. He's grown up here so it is a bitter sweet parting. I'm really happy for him. I wish I could be happy for Chipi to find a great home. She is just in limbo here. Bear picks on her sometimes and so do Sahara and Zelda. She has no 'place' she can be comfortable except semi alone with us. She needs a slow moving retired man that she can protect, sit next to and be loved on. |
| 12/11/08: I feel privileged! Early this morning I went down to the shop and let Bear out to pee. When I came back up, I checked my e-mail. I hear tap, tap, tap on the door in the kitchen. Zelda was wanting me. Once I came into the kitchen, she was happy. Gave me a kiss when I reached down to pet her (first Zelda kiss ever) and then went and laid next to the bed. She missed me! |
| 12/08/08: OK, I failed! Night before last, Bear barked all night and refused to come off the hill. Last night I finally, at 1:00 a.m., had to traipse out and take him to the shop. Everybody barked last night, all night. Bark collars attached only helped for a few minutes and then the temptation was too great. It was overcast, but the full moon kept peeking out. Seems we just had a full moon a week ago. What is it with the darn thing? I was hoping for rain. They are quiet when it rains. I can live with mud easier then no sleep. Might rain today. I don't need daytime rain. |
| 12/06/08: I was so proud of Bear last night. It's taking a lot of work and attention, but he is coming in when I tell him and only having to be reminded a few times not to bark. He does not like being banished to the shop for the night, so he was ignoring me night before last. Barked all night. Before bed time, I sat down with him and had a long discussion. I don't care what people think or say, dogs DO understand what people tell them. (To bad we humans don't work hard enough to return the favor). Anyway, I let him bark until we were ready to go to sleep, I called him in, rewarded him with a treat and he went in his crate. Barked again once and I got up and reminded him. He was good the rest of the night. Of course all day yesterday he was in the house with us. That always helps in respect for night time behavior. Does not help with the "I am King" behavior, but offensive behavior towards the others is improving. When Bear is quiet, they are all quiet. When Bear barks, they all want to join in. A few nights ago, I kept Chipi in the house at night with all the others. Bear was in the shop. Interestingly, Chipi and Zelda are afraid of each other! Chipi shakes and Zelda runs and hides! Eventually it will work out. I just need Brooks and Shaggy to go to their new homes so I can begin the Bear movement, and get all 8 (that are here forever) together without fights. I know it's a dream, but I can wish! Something strange is going on. It's like 'pick on Sweetness' time. Don't know what she does but seemingly for no reason one of them will turn on her and pin her down. Not a fight, because she is totally submissive unless ordered by Zelda to do something bad. I feel sorry for her. Wish I could figure it out. Of course she is my poop eater and can really let em' rip night and day. Don't think it has anything to do with that, though, since dogs seem drawn to things that stink. Will be taking Sissy in for a thyroid test Monday. She just keeps gaining weight and I am feeding her only 3 1/2 cups of kibble a day. No treats or people food. Just supplements and green beans. She weighs 125 pounds and should be about 90. She can hardly walk her arthritis is so painful. She is almost 8 years old, so approaching seriorhood for an ASD. |
| 12/04/08: Took Keeton in for a bath today. I was as nervous as a mom leaving her 5 year old off at kindergarten the first day. He is just so old and feeble that I just wanted to stay there the whole time. Anyway, the Keeton adventure began at 5:30 a.m. The band went off about then. I got up to quiet everybody down and figured I'd bring Bear up from the shop since I was wide awake from the noise. It was cold! Got back and Keeton was up. Since the floor was clean ( no poop), decided to walk him. Because there is never much time between getting up and it dropping out, I didn't grab a coat. Just went in my sweats. At least I had socks on with my shoes. I should have grabbed gloves and a parka. Normally that early, he just walks to the end of the driveway and turns around and wants to go back to the house. Not this morning. He just kept walking and walking and walking. Finally I was so numb I turned him around. It was so dark, I didn't know if he had went or not. (sometimes he stops to go, other times it just falls out as he walks). Anyway, I was feeling good emotionally (although frost bite had set in physically) because Keeton was obviously having one of his good days. Loren took him for a 'successful' walk after breakfast. We had to lift him into the car, all 125 pounds. I had taken the plastic cover off the back seat several weeks ago and forgot to put it back. His nerves got the best of him so some seat scrubbing had to be done when we got there. He did not want to go inside. I never force him. Good thing because he had to go more. While turning around, he tripped off the curb and fell down. I just wanted to cry. I was almost ready to say, "never mind, he can just stay dirty." but I figured we'd gotten this far so better go ahead with it. Besides he was a worse mess then when he go in the car. He was all prettied up 2 1/2 hours later. He was very ready to go home. Carlita said they just moved him from the tub to the table so he didn't have to do steps. He laid down while they were trying to blow dry him and brush him out. They got down on the floor with him and when they were done with one side, they just rolled him over and did the other. He looks way better then I had hoped for. He is now sound asleep in the livingroom. I made everybody else stay outside so he could recover without all the 'investigating' they do when one comes home smelling different. P.S. 2 hours later: Keeton wanted out so reluctantly, I let him, hoping he would go potty in the yard like everybody else. He dug through a pile of leaves until he got to mud (it's rained here for several nights) and, yep.... you guessed it .... he rolled! |
| 12/03/08: Had a great conversation with Kamali's mom this morning. She had a bird in her house too and Kamali was going ballistic! What is it with these birds? We get them in the shop a lot but they come through big doors, not the normal size opening. We have moved up on the cat's scale of fondness. She use to bring us lizards. The other day it was a headless chipmunk. She makes the dogs crazy so I asked my neighbor if she wanted her. Not heard back. Dogs are tearing up the window sills and the front doors. Cat just sits there with a "ha ha, you can't get me' attitude. Loren said he does not think Keeton will care if she's gone. He hasn't been paying her much attention lately. Last few nights I have been putting Bear in the shop. Been able to actually sleep! I feel so guilty doing it, but he barks incessantly. I know it's his 'job' to ward off intruders, but he gets everybody going. Sahara and Sissy bark before they go outside. Since Sissy is on the bed with us and she really does not intend to get down, we sure can't sleep through the noise. Sahara just starts inside and continues on outside, non stop. The rest have all run out but chiming in. We don't get the choir or kindergarten band every time. Those are usually reserved for 4 or 5 a.m. Last night Bear caught on and when he saw the leash, he went straight to his crate and hid. I had to 'remind' him again about 9:00 p.m. Finally gave up at 10:30 and took him down to the shop. It was so peaceful until the band went off at 5:00. |