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Monthly Archives: August 2012
8.11.12 Good Work, Girls; You Make Mommy Proud
I am so proud of the dogs. This week I have left them alone twice for increasing longer periods of time in the house, out of their kennels. First it was for about 2 hours. But today I had to go visiting and to dinner, and I knew that I would be gone a long time because I had to drive over an hour away. I locked the kittens and crazy Miss Kitty away so that they could not get into trouble; I gave everyone a really good snack (because I knew that I would be late for dinner); and I left (I don’t believe in making a fuss or they will fuss). I was gone 5 1/2 hours. This is a first for me 
and for the dogs. I have never left them unsupervised, out of their kennels for that long. On my way home I was envisioning shredded couch pillows, ala Wonderbutt, or chewed up pens with ink everywhere, or a dead cat (though Noel would more likely kill them before they would get her or Muffin). But, other than mauling me at the front door, they were great. This is so exciting. I hate to go out for more than maybe 3 hours when I have to leave them in the kennels, though I have left them as many as 6 hours. They probably just sleep, but I worry about stiffness and such, even though they can stand and turn around. I really want them to be able to be out, except at night, and that really is because they like to wake me up to play at weird times (which I attribute partially to the fact that they are not usually out at night when I am sleeping, but also because they are not allowed on the bed, so they need to get close to me somehow). This is a new phase at the zoo. Free roaming canines. I like it and I hope they keep up the good work.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
8.10.11 Get Off The Treadmill: Lessons From The Dogs
I don’t know about you, but some weeks it feels like no matter how far you think you are getting, you end up in the same place, This was suppose to be a quiet week at the zoo and I thought I could plow through work tasks, clean the house, take care of all the outside work, see some friends, but it has turned out to be anything but that. I know that I have been really busy, but I don’t think I am making any progress.
Everytime I finally get started with anything this week the dogs or cats are pestering me. I feel really bad because I wish the dogs would just settle down and not want to play and play and play. “Louise, Mommy has work to do, can’t you go play with Sofie in the back yard!” You know how well that works. I would think the dogs are over the we missed you so much thing already, but they are sooo needy. So it is up and down the stairs, inside and outside, snacks and treats. They are just wearing me out. And the cats, oh my goodness, I almost can not type this because Noel is in front of the screen chasing the cursor.
Maybe it is this head cold that I have and the animals want me to rest instead of work, I am not sure. But I really need to get something done. The truth is however that I should listen to the animals because they are wiser than me because they would never get stuck on life’s treadmill. They don’t worry about what they accomplished in the week, or the day, they just plain enjoy the moment. “OK, who has the TV remote? Enough with trying to get all this stuff done today. I am getting off the hamster wheel!”
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.9.12 Nine’s Adventure
Let me start by saying, he is fine. But I am very upset by the whole thing. OK, I will start from the beginning. Today was just one of those days that went from bad to worse. I am not going to get into all the human stuff that created a really bad day, but there is one piece that I will tell you. Friday, the Pest Control guy was suppose to come to do his yearly termite inspection but he never showed up. Today he was suppose to come at 3 pm and he showed up at 9 am. I hate when people do that, and if I did not have to have this inspection as part of my contract, I would have told him to go away until another day. Anyway, the same guy has been coming for years. He is a strange older dude and rambles on and on, and does not watch what he is doing (or where he tries to put his hands – but that is for a different blog). To do this inspection he mainly checks the garage and the outside of the house. When we went from the house to the garage, I told him to shut the door behind him, but I saw that he did not, so I came back and closed it. Around 9:30 am he finished his inspection after much to much chatter, yada yada yada, and then he went. I went back to work and at 11:00 am I got the dogs ready for their walk with Mojo. When I opened the front door, who is on the front steps but Nine! I never knew he was out and I never saw him exit. It was really hot out and he was panting terribly. On top of that, Mojo hates cats, so I was really worried that they were going to be rounding the corner any minute and all 90 lbs of Lab would see 9 lb Nine and go after him. I approached Nine cautiously but he ran (which I did not expect). Nine jumped the fence (it was a really nice jump actually) and scrambled into my back yard. I called Peanut and together we were finally able to wrangle him and get him in the house (before Mojo arrived or any other disasters befell him (like meeting a fox)). All the other animals in the zoo were very concerned about him and gathered around; they even let him eat a snack without trying to steal it from him (which is unheard of with this group). Panting cats are a very bad sign and he had me very scared for a few minutes. Ice cubes and paw washing cooled him down pretty quick and then he slept for the afternoon. You would think that taught him a lesson but noooooooo!!!! Not Nine the Adventurer. Whenever I am at the door now, guess who is trying to have another adventure.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.8.12 “In A Perfect World Every Dog Has A Home”
I stumbled upon this great animal pop artist, Dean Russo, on Facebook. Not only is his work incredible but the messages that he adds are just so on the mark. This piece, ” In a perfect world every dog has a home,” is such a wonderful battle cry. When I contacted DeanRussoArt, Megan told me that “amongst other ways he contributes to animal charities, Dean has a program of Affiliate Rescues that he closely works with and contributes to on a monthly basis since he has way too many requests to take on all of them.” Check out his colorful creativity and brilliant imagination.
Did you know that according to Angie’s List (Baltimore Edition August 2012), “5 million companion animals enter animal control facilities nationwide every year, and more than 60 percent die there.” At times, it seems like such an overwhelming problem, but I know that so many people and organizations are doing such good work to try and stop the tidal wave.
What do we do about the homeless, the abandoned, the abused? What can we do about the millions of dogs that are not properly taken care of, both pure breed and inter breed, that end up without someone loving them? This breaks my heart.
I guess you can see why the DogDaz zoo has 5 cats and 2 dogs currently (down from our high of 11 animals). I want to thank all the animal rescue organizations out there, all you tireless protectors, and voices for the voiceless. Thank you MJ’s Sanctuary for Louise, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue for Sofie, Last Chance Animals Rescue through the PetSmart Charities for Noel, Constance Kitty, Nine, and Stella, and thank you to the Anne Arundel County SPCA for The Muffin Man.
I wish I could snap my fingers and give every animal a home (actually I wish I could do that for humans too) Please remember that even $1 makes a difference. Really, it does. Ok, I will get off my soup box now. See what a picture like that can do to me.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo 