Everyone at the DogDaz Zoo had a wonderful holiday. There were lots of treats and cuddles and toys and wrapping paper to chew.
Have a wonderful rest of the year
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Category Archives: Animals
DogDaz Zoo: Sofie Bear Turns 9
What a long strange trip it has been to get to 9 years old with this bundle of fluff. Sofie Bear continues to be a silly mess that we love with all our hearts.
Gotcha Day, Sofie
I remember Gotcha day so well. I meet Sofie’s foster in a parking lot outside his work. I had no car kennel so I put her in a giant rubber tube. She was so smart and precocious even at 3 months. They thought she was a collie/shepard mix. Well, she fooled them. I think she is a sheltie/chow/mischief mix.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SOFIE BEAR (aka SODA POP)
You have been my hardest dog lesson to date, but I would not trade you for a ton of non -anxious, door eating, carpet ripping, cat chasing, quiet puppies in the world.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo: Louise is 10!
It is amazing how fast the years go. How a black dog’s muzzle starts to gray. How her eyes have that haze and can’t find cookies as easily. How she knows that if she gives me her paw that a treat may follow.
She sure has come a long way from that puppy we rescued in April 2010, covered with dry mange and with a collar embedded in her neck. Louise has always been a good girl with the family. I am so happy that she trusts me enough to enjoy her life. The last year or so, I have noticed that she is following me a little closer and has developed thunder anxiety; oh, the things that come with age. She gives me no trouble taking her medicine, she is always up for a walk, even if it is raining. And, she knows just when to come to bother me so that I get up and take a break (which I am sure she learned from Squash E. Bear before he left us).
Louise’s favorite thing is to go get a squeaky toy when she wants my attention and start to make as much noise as possible until she either gets a snack, a walk, or whatever she is wanting at the moment. She sure does have me trained. Her fav one right now is this large Jax like thing, which has sprung a stuffing leak but is still very squeakable (if you know what I mean).
Happy 10th Birthday, Big Girl! You are Mommy’s Special Princess.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Monday Mischief: Big Tree – Background To My Life
Lulu under Big Tree
(Original post from Feb. 27, 2012 with updates)
The dominating feature on one side of our back yard is a big maple tree. I call it ‘Big Tree.’ Last year we lost a companion big maple tree on the side yard (lightning hit and then bugs ate it from the inside). It used to mingle its leaves with Big Tree but now we only have the canopy of ‘Big Tree’ to shelter that area in summer. And of course, we have the pines, but, those are different.
Sofie under Big tree
The Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Cooper’s Hawk and all the yard birds love that tree. We keep the suet there (you can see in the picture), especially for the peckers. The feeders are in more protected areas because of the osprey and hawks. Every dog likes to lie and play around Big Tree and so did the children. We had a safety cable put in it several years ago to keep it from falling onto the house in a big storm. I did not realize until I went to look for pictures, how much Big Tree has been the background for our lives in this house. We actually bought this house because we felt like we are in a treehouse when looking out the living room window. The kid’s swing-set/treehouse used to live under it (now long gone donated to some deserving other kids). There used to be grass in that area but now there is only sand. The gardens have changed and paths have worn, but Big Tree still is there for us.
Squash & Lulu under Big Tree January 2011
My stepdaughter, K8, is an amazing photographer, and I thank her for the close-up shots of the hawk, spider, and yard birds. We are blessed with this amazing gathering of birds all year long. We have our common friends: Carolina Chickadees, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Carolina Wrens, Song Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, European Starling, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, American Crow & Raven, and Northern Cardinal. Oh yes, and our occasional: Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Bluebird, Barred Owl. We also have the ducks that lie under the tree: Teal, Mallard, American Black Duck, American Wigeon.
A spider on the window overlooking Big Tree
The water birds tend to visit but don’t stay long (except the ducks). The Osprey live less than a 1,000 feet away but don’t seem to land on the tree, they circle and watch the action always making their high-pitched squawk as they fly overhead.
Hawk in Big Tree
Locals in Big Tree
Trees are an amazing part of the landscape and really form the background of our lives. If you stay in one place for a certain amount of time or visit the same spot year after year, you get to know the trees. Over the years we have lost many trees to their age, and the bugs, and the weather. We had this incredible Tortured Willow that was half dead when we moved in and we nursed that beauty for several years before I was willing to let her go. When you lose a tree, so many things change; the garden pattern, the landscape flow, the shadows, and the sun. The environment changes all around you minute by minute. About 5 years ago (now 12), the people across the street took out over 40 large pines so they could build a second driveway and a shed (that I now have to look out my office window every day at, instead of the wonderful natural forest I loved). All the squirrels and rabbits had to find other homes (of course in my yard). I wish people would stop cutting away the landscape and start caring more what happens when they get rid of all the natural cover just so they could park an extra car. Hey, I just thought about the fact that maybe that is why the wind and runoff pattern has eroded my property around Big Tree much more in the last few years. I think I am going to call a tree expert to make sure the Big Tree is OK. I want it to be here for a really long time if possible because it is the background to my life.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo: Peanut Is Leaving The Nest
Peanut is moving out into her own place today. No more living with the parents. Though she has come and gone to college, and her year in Isreal, this is different. After 25 years, this time, she is finally fledging from the nest for good. She is doing a lot of cat hugging and dog cuddling, She mostly says she will miss Noel and her morning ritual with Mini Cooper.
Best of luck, Baby. The zoo will be here when you need cat and dog fur on your clothes.
Peanut with Aunt Judi’s Service Dog 2004
23 hours old and why she is my Peanut
If I sit on Peanut, maybe she can’t go back to college – 2013
Peanut & Squash – Halloween 2006
Peanut driving Sofie 2013
Oh, did I tell you she is only moving 5 miles away? I miss her already.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo: Kitty Has Gone Over the Bridge
Sadly, last Friday morning, my Grandcat, Mr. Kitty, suffered a sudden onset of Saddle Thrombus and passed away.
Saddle thrombus (or saddle thrombosis) is a blood clot that starts off in the left atrium of the heart and then moves out into the aorta (aortic thromboembolism). Once there, the clot travels to the junction of the aorta and into the iliac arteries where it gets stuck. Since the iliac arteries feed into the femoral arteries, which serve the back legs, the clot prevents blood flow to the back legs and is an extremely serious condition.
90% of the time, saddle thrombus is related to an underlying heart condition such as dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (types of congestive heart failure).
The main symptom is weakness or paralysis of the hind legs, which will be colder than other parts of the body and may even be bluish in color. The cat will be in a lot of pain, often vocalizing his discomfort loudly. Go to your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately if your cat has these symptoms.
He was a wonderful cat and the family is heartbroken by his sudden passing. Kitty was an 11-year old Maine Coon mix. He will be greatly missed. Travel safe little man over the rainbow bridge to the big meadow in the sky.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz News: The Truth About The Easter Rabbit
5 Facts about Rabbits from Smithsonian: Giant Rabbits
In celebration of the annual spring appearance of the Easter bunny on Sunday, Smithsonian Science offers these facts from Rabbits: The Animal Answer Guide, a new book by John Seidensticker, conservation scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and Susan Lumpkin, freelance writer.
🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐰🐰🐰
1
Rabbits are not rodents, but lagomorphs (lag–uh-mawrf), a scientific term which means “hare-shaped.” Hares and pikas also are lagomorphs.
2
Image: A reconstruction of a giant Minorcan rabbit is shown next to a modern European rabbit. (Image by Meike Köhler)
Scientists studying the bones of an extinct giant rabbit found on the Mediterranean island of Minorca estimate this prehistoric animal weighed as much as 31 pounds! The largest rabbits alive today– domestic breeds such as the Flemish giant–weigh 22 pounds at most.
3
Thanks to human introductions the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is found throughout Western Europe, Australia, parts of South America, North Africa and on more than 800 islands around the world. Today in Iberia, Spain, the European rabbit’s sole home for many thousands of years, it is threatened.
4
Archaeologists have evidence of people hunting rabbits in the south of France some 120,000 years ago. Scientists suspect even Neanderthals lived on diets made up largely of rabbits
5
A “never fail” Kansas folk remedy for reducing fever recommends making a strong tea from the dung of the wild jackrabbit and drinking it every half-hour.
(via: Smithsonian Insider)
Wishing sunshine to all who celebrate this weekend, be it Passover, Easter, or Earthday.
Your friends at DogDaz Zoo.
DogDaz Zoo: Happy Whistle-Pig Day
Google images
These Ground Hogs are such funny weather predicting creatures. They have names like woodchuck, land-beaver, and whistle-pig. Our regional prognosticator is named Punxsutawney Phil. Phil is known as the “Seer of Seers,” the “Prognosticator of Prognosticators” and the “Most Photographed Pennsylvanian.” People in Pennsylvania dress up in top hats and tails and have this whole big event each year to see if we are going to have an early spring or late winter. Leave it to a rodent to let us know.
– http://www.flickr.com/photos/quintanomedia/8437241711/ target=”blank”
Whether Phil sees his shadow or not today, this has been a roller coaster cold winter in the mid-Atlantic already. I plan on staying inside until summer comes.
Update 2019 at 7 am. Phil did not see his shadow. We will have an early spring!!
Just another DogDaz morning at the Zoo 
DogDaz Zoo: Sofie is 8!
It is amazing to me how time flies when it comes to age. Sofie Bear turns 8 years old today. My silly girl has been on a roller coaster of emotional/health issues for most of her years, but underneath it all, she is still my silly fluff ball who loves to roll in leaves and chase squirrels.
Happy Birthday, Sofie Bear! We would not be DogDaz Zoo without you!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo: Happy 7th Birthday, Stella
Though you don’t grace the blog as much as others, you are always on our mind and in our hearts.
We love you Stella and you are a super special girl.
Happy 7th Birthday!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
