Tag Archives: Animal welfare
3.19.12 Smilin’ Dogs!
Sunshine and happiness! There is nothing like a smiling dog on a sunny day. The dogs and I took a great walk in the woods and went exploring. We had a great muddy time.
It is so much fun to romp through the leaves and jump over branches and through trees. The dogs help me remember what is important! It is the simple things: the smiles, the smells, and the sense of adventure that keeps my heart pounding. What did you do just for you today? I went walking with my girls and smiled.
Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
3.17.12 Sleeping With The Toys
My toy
I think I am noticing a pattern with Louise. She likes to sleep on her toys,
This is mine!
She seems to always have her paw on something or it is under her, Sometimes, multiple toys are under her at the same time, Is this a ‘This is mine so leave it alone’ thing, or is it just that she feels secure touching something when she goes to sleep. I never had a dog that actually lied on the toys this way. I originally thought that it was to keep Sofie away from them (which it could be), but, as you can see in the first shot, she even likes to just stretch out and touch a toy and then fall asleep.
My Toy - Do Not Touch
This week Louise was really in love with this frog that I got at the grocery store for St. Patrick’s Day, but tonight Sofie got it from her and they ripped it in half. The usual stuffing everywhere, quick find the squeaker before they swallow it,,,, you know the drill kind of toy. Well it did last almost 3 days, which is kind of a record around here. It was funny because Lulu was squeaking the frog during business calls this week and I had to apologize to people because I did not want to stop her she was having so much fun. We did not even have him long enough for me to get him in a picture.
Mine, mine, mine
I do think that animals like to cuddle with their toys like we humans do (well some of us). Sofie always carries around Beaver (her lovey), so maybe, Lulu finds comfort in knowing that one of her many play things is near by.
Just another dogdaz morning at our house ❤
3.16.12 I Love A Parade!
This is Lulu Belle and I wanted to discuss 3 special days in March with you.
Yesterday was the Ides of March. That is the name of the 15th day of March in the Roman calendar. The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. Caesar was stabbed (23 times) to death in the Roman Senate by a group of conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. The group included 60 other co-conspirators according to Plutarch. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ides_of_March)
In neo-modern times, it is also known as ‘the day before Mommy’s birthday’ which is today, 16 March. We think Mommy was born later than 44 B.C. (Before Cats?) but we are not sure. Mommy tends to celebrate her birthday for a month since it falls in the middle. We have noticed that humans have parades in the streets of many towns and cities on 17 March (aka St. Patrick’s Day**) to also celebrate Mommy. We wonder why the parades are not held on her actual birthday but humans can be weird? And we also wondered why people wear green and they call her Patrick, which is not her name? Mommy does not like green, she says it matches her skin color.
(** Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is probably the most widely celebrated saint’s day in the world. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day))
Around our house we like the celebration idea much better than the killing of Caesar, so we are going to have a pre-birthday parade and then a post-birthday parade for Mommy. I can’t wait until she sees what we made for her in the yard.
I love a parade ! – Lulu Belle
Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo…..
3.13.12 The Cat Dance
Sofie on the floor & Kitty in the dog bed
Sofie & Kitty
I do not know who decided that dogs and cats could not be friends. Miss Constance Kitty has always loved the dogs. She was wild about Squash and now she sticks to Sofie like glue. Sofie and Nine, the kitten, have become really good friends too since he joined us (Little Stella kitten is somewhat shy and gives the dogs a good scratch and hiss still on occasion). Louise tolerates the cats but doesn’t really want to play with them. They tolerate her too.
The only dogs that my cats know are the residents. None of my cats go outside, so they do not know ‘outside’ dogs, and it is rare we have a guest dog inside because of…. well… having 5 cats. We have a strict, “dogs not chasing cats” rule around here, which works 90% of the time, but it doesn’t work at all with strange dogs.
I find it interesting that Louise & Sofie meet many a neighborhood cat when we are walking but that they clearly do not relate the fact that their friends at home are the same species as these furry things behind the trees. I think they think they are just another kind of squirrel.
Sofie & Nine playing
(Just an aside: As I am sitting her blogging this with Sofie and Louise under the desk, Muffin just came in the office and Sofie started to charge him. Noel was already on my desk so there was a little fur flying for a moment… so we still do get a little tet-a-tet here at the zoo from time to time.) Anyway…. they all (sort of) know their place and they all seem to work it out. I know that many a dog would kill a cat if it had the chance and we have had some trouble fostering dogs because of that . You just can’t allow the dogs to chase or get aggressive from the start with the cats or it won’t work. Around here it does work and I really enjoy seeing the dance that the cats do with the dogs. I remember years ago my Alice cat doing that with Nikki dog, Kitty did the dance with Squash E Bear, and now both Kitty and Nine do the dance with Sofie. A long tradition of Cats loving dogs and doing that rub in the dog’s face dance thing that cats do. Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo. ❤
Tuesday’s Peek-a-boo!
Peek-a-boo! A young grey seal peaks it’s head above the slushie-like water inside its enclosure at the Grey Seal Breeding Station on Feb. 9 in Germany.
3.12.12 I will return! I promise.
Waiting
Dear Louise & Sofie,
I am sorry but I can not always take the two of you with me every place that I go. I can not take you to the grocery store – they do not allow dogs in places where there is food. I can not take you to the cafe – no dogs are allowed in those types of places. I have tried to take you over to the college, but I got yelled at for having you in the building. I do not like leaving you home but sometimes I do not have a choice. The world outside our house is not always dog friendly, and they will not let me bring you in with me. I don’t like to leave you in the car because I worry that you will get to hot and die. I have a strict rule that it must be under 70 degrees (F) for you to wait in the car for me. I am sorry puppies, but sometimes you just have to be home without me. I know it is not easy to wait, but you are getting to be big girls now and you can handle it. I love you very much and will always return. – Mom
Just another dogdaz morning at our house ❤
