God's Little Creatures

I was watching an add by the ASPCA.  Of course they featured animals that were in real trouble.  I wanted to save them all.  I looked over at my two rescues, Duncan and Jock.  Both were curled up asleep on my leather couch on a blanket I keep there for them.  Both had been bathed and had toe nails cut today.  I marveled at how they had survived and what a lousy early life they must have had, Duncan especially.  He had to spend more years in his misery than did Jock.  I give carrots everyday as treats.  Jock eagerly snatches his and runs off to one of his beds to eat it.  Abby takes hers and heads for the couch.  Duncan will not take his from my hand.  I have to lay it down on the floor.  Then he takes it and eats it there.  Tonight I gave out dental sticks.  Duncan had apparently never had anything like this.  Instead of waiting for me to put it down, he took it from my hand, ran to his favorite bed and proceeded to devour it.  I do not understand how anyone could ever mistreat an animal.  They are defenseless. That goes for children also.  The more I see of mankind, the more I think we are the bottom feeders on this planet.  I don't think we deserved to evolve.

I'm nuts!!

I have spent my day listening to Bella demand attention, Kenny sleeping on the back of the couch, Jock being jealous of Kenny and Joey, Abby being jealous of Bella and Duncan being jealous of all the little dogs.  Added to this, Daisy has gone in and out all day.  She wants it to be warm and the sunshine makes her think it is warm. Not! So we go out.  Five minutes later, we bark to come in.  I am exhausted.  Oh, and we bark at every one who walks down the street.  Every few minutes, Jock sees someone on the street and then he sets everyone off.  At least they will sleep tonight.  At least I hope so. 

Pretty weather

We had two days of rain.  Just slow, steady rain.  Unless you have lived through a summer like we had in Texas, it is hard to understand how enjoyable this was.  As soon as it started and I was watching the water run down my driveway, I just wanted to grab every drop and put it on the ground.  I didn't want to see even one drop go down the storm drain.  Now it has cleared and the sun is out.  It is beautiful.  Of course, I love all weather. Except a tornado.  That weather is really scary.  Anyway, the sun is shining and my little friends are enjoying it.  Daisy likes to lay on the patio in the sun.  So does Kenny.  Joey gets cold and all he wants is to be inside in his bed.  Oh, yeah, and to eat.  I have the drapes open so Kenny can lay in the sun since it is pretty cold outside. He is loving it.  Bella is bullying Joey like she always does.  She is guarding all three food bowls so Joey can't eat.  Each animal has his or her own personality.  Love it

Merry Christmas

It may not be politically correct to say Merry Christmas, but really it is about Christ.  So instead of Merry Christmas I want to say Happy Birthday, Jesus.  If I could have one wish, I would wish for peace and that mankind would treat his home and every creature on this planet with more respect and give dignity to every living creature for I think that is what life is all about.  Live your life so you have no regrets and a clear conscience.  You also want to live your life so that when you wake up each morning and put your feet on the floor, the Devil says," Oh hell, she is awake.  Run!"  As my son-in-law put it, be good for the sake of being good, not because you may get a reward.  Live your life so that when you meet your maker, you can look him in the eye and say,"I have done my very best and I have used everything you gave me.  I am tired now.  Thank you for bringing me home."

Christmas with my friends.

Sometimes I get strange looks when I say that if animals don't go to Heaven, then I don't want to either.  But I do believe that they go to Heaven. I plan to have a wonderful Christmas.  I will have my grandchildren and my son with me along with all my four legged friends.  I finished shopping for the family.  Tomorrow I go to Petsmart and shop for my friends.  They need new stuffies and some treats.  Maybe new beds.  However, I think I will make their beds.  Those pillows are easy to make with fleece, cotton batting, and eggcrate foam.  My friends love these pillows.  It has gotten cold here in Texas.  I filled all the bird feeders and set out food for Esmerelda.  My doves love to eat on the ground so I put the feed under the holly bushes for them.  That way, hawks can't get them while they are feeding.  I have all kinds of birds in my yard. The cardinals are especially beautiful.   

My circus

I came home today after a full day at work.  I let everyone out, fed everyone, then tried to settle down on the couch.  No such luck.  I had little dogs all over me demanding attention.  Then the cats joined the circus.  There is not enough of me to go around.  Bella, Kenny, and Joey will be going home soon.  I will miss them.  Kenny is Mr. Cool.  He is like "Yeah, whatever."  He and Jock get along well.  Bella and Abby sometimes get along.  And everyone chases the cats.  I really love my life with my friends. Even Duncan has settled in.  He now demands to be put on the couch when I am there.  He still won't sleep on the bed.  He is still a little afraid of being so high up.  He'll come around. 

My pretties

My granddogs are really getting home sick.  They are missing their master, or should I say they are missing their slave.  Now I have 6 little dogs demanding my attention all the time.  There is not enough of me to go around.  Big Kenny, Bella, and Joey get groomed next week.  I may take Jock and Abby to Jane.  I will for sure take Duncan.  I have no idea how to clip a Maltese.  Anyway, it is getting colder and Abby hates cold.  She has to be carried outside.  Then she just wants to sit and look at me.  She is really high maintenance, just like her mistress. 

Taking care of your pets

 Ok, I have said it before.  Feed your pets the best food you can afford.  Dogs have the pretty much the same nutritional needs that we do.  They need more than fillers and corn.  Read that food label.  If your first ingredient is corn, then you are feeding corn.  Would you be able to live on corn?  Did you know that the only nutrition in corn is the white stuff left on the cobb when you cut the corn off?  Then, no fillers.  Make sure you are feeding meat and not meat by-products.  If it is by-products, what is it?  It could be beaks, feet, feathers, intestines.  Not good.  So do some research and get a good food.  I use Nutro Natural Choice.  Royal Canin is another good one.  If cash is an issue, look at Purina Selects or Purina ProPlan.  Nutro also makes a holistic food called Ultra.  This is a great food.  Why don't I use it?  Abby sets the tone for the food and she will only eat Natural Choice Chicken and Oatmeal formula.  So everyone eats this.  But, really, for your pet's sake, check out and feed a good food. 

Caretaker

Ok, I am officially exhausted.  As much as I love them, I will be glad when Kenny, Joey, and Bella go home.  Unfortunately that won't happen until the middle of February.  The upside is that I don't have to drive to Denver to take them home.  They are so sweet, but they have been away from my son for over 2 months and they are feeling abandoned.  Naturally they want to become mine.  So they are demanding more attention.  Giving attention to 8 dogs and cleaning up after them and feeding them is really exhausting.  I did finally track down the groomer I want to use.  She is the groomer that Kelsey took Duncan to when she found him.  He is due a trip back to see her as I have no idea how to groom a Maltese.  Jock could also use the professional attention of a groomer as could Abby.  Jock and Duncan as well as KJ's guys and girl will be no problem.  Abby is another story.  I have never before seen a little dog so intimidate grown people, but she does.  I think it is because she is so small that they are afraid they will hurt her. 

Update on Duncan

Ok, so we treated Duncan about a month ago for whipworms.  The vet did not tell me I had to treat him again for it.  Saturday morning I was awakend around 2am.  Duncan was pooping blood again.  Pure blood.  So I waited until 9 when Petsmart opened and went to get some worm medicine.  I called my vet to make sure it would work.  This was the vet I always use and not the one I had previously talked to.  Well Don told me that yes the medicine would work, but I needed to treat him again in three weeks, then again in 3 months.  Also, he needs to be on antibiotics.  Well, problem.  My car is on the blink.  I had no way to get to his office to get the antibiotics.  I had amoxicillin for Bella.  Could I give him that until I could get there on Tuesday?  Yes, I could and he told me how much to give him.  He also told me that when I came to get more amoxicillin, he would send me home with some antibiotics to keep on hand.  So it looks like I will be going through this treatment every three months.  I felt so sorry for Duncan.  He was so sick.  I forced Pepto into him and it helped with the upset stomach.  At least  he is drinking lots of water and I do not have to force gatoraid down him.  That little guy has had a really rough life.  It won't be rough any more.  He has a home where he is loved now. 

Cooler weather and Daisy

It rained! Yea!!! You have to understand that in Texas for the last couple of years, rain is a novelty.  So much so that my dogs were not sure what it was.  Daisy came to a dead stop at the door and refused to go out.  I had to push her out.  Same with all the others except Abby and Bella.  They just zoomed right on  out the door, did their business and ran back in.  They are the smallest of all the dogs. Anyway, it turned really cool with wind.  All day Sunday, Daisy was a brat.  If I turned my back, she was stealing stuff off the kitchen counter.  She would bark to go out and before I could get back in the living room, she would bark to come back in.  This went on all day.  By the late afternoon when I was ready to kill her, she settled down.  I seriously considered running away from home.  She drove me nuts!

Exhausted dogs

My grandchildren were here this weekend.  The house was a madhouse.  The dogs thoroughly enjoyed it.  However, all dogs were asleep by 8pm, slept through the night and I had to wake them up this morning.  Nothing like children to wear everyone out.

Demolition Daisy

I came home today at lunch.  Daisy had pushed down the pet gates,  trashed the house, and terrorized the little dogs.  She knew as soon as I walked in that she was in trouble.  So, I put her and Missy out.  Cleaned up the mess.  Reassured the little dogs.  Then I brought Daisy in and put her in her crate and locked it.  I did not raise my voice.  To my credit, I did not kill her.  Then I took all the little dogs outside.  I calmly left the house before I changed my mind and did kill her.  Time for training class for her.  She is going to learn some hard lessons.  It seems to be a battle of wills.  Seems she is determined to cause as much calamity as possible.  I am determined to stop her.  I will win. 

Update on Duncan

I cannot get over the difference in Duncan.  He demands to be held and cuddled now.  If I am sitting on the couch, he demands to be up there with me.  He doesn't cringe much anymore.  He does not like loud noises and he does not like the chaos of all the little dogs.  He has developed a sweet personality.  He is making up for lost time.  I cut his toenails last night and bathed him.  At first he was scared, but he soon settled down. 

Clone me, Please!

I have 8 dogs demanding attention.  Six are under 10 pounds.  All six want to sit in my lap and be my only friend.  Snarl, snap, spank.  This is my time sitting down.  Right now, Jock has all 6 of them barking.  He sits in the front window and protects the cul-de-sac.  He starts barking so all the others join in and Joey has a really loud bark.  Bella is taking this opportunity to eat all the dry food while Joey and Kenny bark.  Duncan is just fed up.  Abby is asleep.  She could care less what goes on as long as a) no one touches her and b)no one tried to get on her pillow.  I am going nuts!

Demolition derby at my house

Daisy and Missy.  Doberman mix and pit mix.  Need I say more.  Daisy even managed to escape from her crate while I was at work yesterday.  I came in at noon and Daisy was on the couch.  Missy was on Jock's quilt.  Daisy's crate was still locked.  She had pushed on the side so hard she had managed to pop the clips holding it together.  Then she wiggled out.  When I blew up and started yelling, she tried to hide in her crate and could not get in.  So she ran to Missy's crate.  I was so angry.  Needless to say, I was late getting back to work and I expended a good chunk of a roll of wire fixing her crate so she cannot escape.  I'm going nuts!

My menagerie

I still have my three granddogs.  They are really missing Daddy and demanding more and more attention.  I need at least two more of me.  Abby is jealous.  Jock is jealous.  Bella wants constant attention.  Joey wants someone to just sit and hold him, and Kenny, well Kenny demands attention.  Duncan gets frightened by all the cacophony.  They are loud.  So Duncan goes to one of his many beds in the back hall away from all those his size.  For a little guy that never had a bed in his life, he sure is enjoying having them all over the house now.  He takes turns with them and when I am on the couch, he has to be on the couch with me.  I have also made small quilts for all of them.  They really look cute curled up in their quilts.

My friends

I've been pretty busy lately.  Jock developed impacted anal glands and had to go to the vet.  He was miserable.  When he got home, he needed extra cuddling.  Poor baby.  He is doing much better now.  This came on without any warning.  I actually discovered it around 4am.  I called a friend to take him in at 8am.  He's happy now.  He owns the couch.  Well, along with Abby and they even share with Bella, Kenny, and Joey.  Seems Bella, Kenny and Joey will be with us for a few months as their Daddy will be in training.  When he finishes his training, I will take them to him.  He will be flying here to see them, though.  He can't go without seeing them on a regular basis. 

Part of my heard

This is Abby and Bella.  Bella has had her surgery and she is doing fine.  I had her spayed while she was visiting me. 

This is Doctor Kenneth Noisewater.  I got his name wrong in an earlier post.  He thinks he owns the world and that whatever he gets into, there will be someone there to save him..








This is Duncan.  Notice he does not appear afraid of everything.  He actually goes out in the back yard and chases Essie.  He also "hunts" in the yard.  He is so much better than when he came to me.  I see improvement every day.  He may have had a miserable first half of his life, but the remainder of his life will be great. 







                                                                                  
                                                                                This is Kenny and Bella.  They love my yard.  They don't have a yard and have to go out on leases.  No leashes here.  Just yard.

New one on me

I had to take Duncan to the vet on Monday.  He had started with passing blood, some not much, and graduated to really a lot of blood.  So I called the doc on call.  Twice.  First he told me he probably had a stomach bacterial infection.  Ok, I'll bring him in tomorrow.  About 2 hours later, I was calling him again.  Hey, doc, he is now passing pure blood.  Shall I panic?  Nope.  Just give him some Pepto Bismol.  It will be hard to get in him, but it will help.  Yeah.  I am an expert on getting dogs to take Pepto.  Just mix it with the worst smelling cat food you can find and they will scarf it right down.  So I got the pepto in him.  It helped.  On Monday, a friend took him for me.  The doc was surprise to discover that he did not have a bacterial infection.  Instead he has whip worms.  I had never even heard of this parasite.  Needless to say this followed three days of a circus.  Ever try deworming 8 dogs at the same time?  It was a nightmare, but I did it.  Duncan must have brought this parasite with him.  There is no telling what this little dog has suffered in his lifetime.  I was told to bring him back in three days if he was not better.  He is doing great.  The other dogs loved it because they all got canned dog food while taking the meds. 

Princess Isabella

Princess Isabella is my son's little Yorkie.  She, along with Kenny and Joey, are staying with me for awhile.  I took her today to have her spayed.  I felt so sorry for her.  She thought she was being thrown away.  She was so scared.  I pick her up tomorrow.  She will get some really good Ultra canned food.  She deserves it.  Poor baby.  By the way, she is named for a Brazilian princess.  Don't ask me to tell the story because I don't know it. 

Essie

I have this  Burr Oak in the back yard.  This type of oak tree has huge acorns.  It is covered this year, probably because of the hot, dry summer.  Anyway, it is dropping acorns like crazy.  I picked up about 10 or so and just dropped them in a hanging basket in my Bradford Pear tree.  I intended to prepare pots and plant them.  That was last weekend.  Well, I have been occupied with making Halloween costumes and had not gotten back to the acorns.  This afternoon I was out in back with my "heard" of little dogs.  I happened to glance in the basket.  All those acorns were gone!  Essie had helped herself.  Guess I'll start over providing she leaves me any acorns.

Duncan

Duncan is doing much better.  He has finally gained almost all the weight he needed to gain.  He is bolder now.  He sits in front of the window and defends the cul de sac with Jock.  He also loves to explore the back yard.  Still not housebroken yet, but I'm working on it.  He asks to be snuggled now.  And he loves it.  So, he is going to be ok. 

Texas rain

We had rain the other night.  When I took the little guys out in the morning, my little dogs did not like it.  It has been so long since they have seen rain here in Texas, they weren't sure what it was.  When it started thundering, we spent at least an hour barking at the thunder because they did not know what it was.  Unless you have been in a drought like the one we have now in Texas, you simply cannot understand how very excited we get about rain.  It just cheers everyone up.  I went out Sunday to get new wiper blades and everyone in Wal Mart had a big smile on their faces and were talking to everyone.  No one and I mean no one was carrying an umbrella.  We were all just walking in the rain.  The new wiper blades were because the ones I bought in March were completely destroyed and I did not realize this until I was driving through Oklahoma in the rain.  The intense heat this summer had destroyed those wiper blades.  I talked to several other people who had the same experiences.  I am now trying the ones put out by Rain X.  My son asked me why when they would not last but a couple of months in the heat.

My small heard

My son's little guys and girl get along great with my small creatures.  They do not, however, get along as well with the cats.  Bella especially likes to try and chase them.  She is insulted when they won't run from her.  Big Kenny just wants to get to their food.  Joey is afraid of Daisy and Daisy just wants to play with him.  Joey is very timid.  Not Kenny.  That dog is so laid back. 

Adding to my small heard

I picked up my son's little dogs Saturday.  They will be with us for 3 weeks.  We have Dr. Kenneth Noisewiger aka Big Kenny.  We have Joseph P. Wadsworth ll aka Joey, and we have Queen Isabella aka Bella.  Big Kenny is a Pekingese.  He is so laid back.  Joey is a toy Rat Terrier and he is not laid back.  He is very timid.  Bella is a Yorkshire Terrier and she is a bully.  Of the three, Big Kenny has the attitude of "I'm in charge."  When I picked them up and we drove off, Joey and Bella were in the back window watching my son.  Kenny climbed into the front, flipped on his back and looked at me like "Ok, now scratch my tummy."  As soon as I got out of sight of my son, I stopped and got the pet carriers out of the trunk and they rode back to my house in pet carriers strapped into the back seat.  And they will go back that way. 

Dogs in general

I hope all of y'all have you dogs on heartworm meds.  Jock was so infested with heartworms when he came to me.  I did not let them do the treatment to kill them.  It is a horrible treatment and you stand a 50-50 chance of losing the animal.  After refusing to let the vet do this procedure, I was told that I could put him on Heartguard.  From what I was told, you can treat them with the Heartguard, but it takes 2 years to completely get rid of the heartworms.  The Heartguard keeps the larva from developing.  It does not kill the adult worms.  The life cycle of a heart worm is 2 years, so your dog should be heartworm free in 2 years. As explained to me, you stand the chance of one of the heartworms dislodging and getting into the pulmonary artery and, of course, killing the dog.  I chose Heartguard.  Jock had been through enough.  He has been on Heartguard Plus for 2 1/2 years.  He is still with me.  I had to sign a waiver before the vet would let me just give him Heartguard, but I am happy with my decision.  This is one parasite that is really wide spread especially in the South. 

Honeybees

Here in Texas, we have had very little rain in the last year.  I'm sure you have heard about our wildfires this summer.  Well, they are still happening.  This lack of rain and record heat has killed all the flowers.  There are no flowers for the bees.  There are no crops for them to feed on.  I have morning glories blooming, but that is all.  This weekend, I noticed the bees all around my hummingbird feeders.  I was shocked that I had not realized the lack of food for them.  So I made more simple syrup, sliced some oranges and put them in a shallow bowl and poured simple syrup over them.  I sat that shallow bowl in a larger bowl of water.  I put these bowls (3 of them) around under the trees.  Within minutes, all three were covered with honeybees.  So I replenished the bowls today before I left for work and again this afternoon.  I'll keep it up as long as the bees come. 

A very angry Esmerelda

This is a very angry Esmerelda.  She had had enough of  Daisy, enough of Missy, and definitely enough of me and the camera.  She was coming after me.  I scooted out from under her tree and went to check the garden, or what was left of it.  She moved over on a limb that I would walk under when I came back in the yard.  I walked around the tree and left her completely alone.  She was so miserable she did not even eat the corn I put out for her.  For the first time this summer, I saw her and several other squirrels in the bird baths I had on the ground.  Since it has cooled down to the low 90's, she is much more agreeable.  She is stealing the bird seed again.  And she is eating her corn.

This is Esmerelda

Who is Esmerelda

Esmerelda is the squirrel that lives in my trees.  She has a nest high in the tree in the back yard.  She loves to come down just far enough that Missy and Daisy are convinced they can either reach her or she will just fall into their mouths. She knows she owns the yard.  This summer when the temps were 108-110, she was hot and angry.  She came out of the Crepe Myrtle tree, hit the ground and hightailed it up the Bradford Pear tree with Daisy and Missy on her heels.  She was angry.  She sat in the tree and fussed at them.  I went inside to get my camera, hoping she would not leave.  She didn't.  I got under her to take a picture.  This is the picture I got.  The second one that is blurred is her getting ready to jump me.  I scooted out from under that tree.  I was not about to argue with her.

Company's coming!

I am going to pick up my son's little dogs next week.. We will have company and playmates for 3 weeks.  He has three cuties.  I will be posting pics of them .  Update on Duncan.  He is settling in.  He wants to be cuddled now.  When I am sitting on the couch, he comes up to the couch and just looks up at me.  I pick him up and put him on the couch beside me.  He curls up just like he has always been there.  Then Jock gets a little jealous and gets in my lap.  So I have Duncan on one side, Abby on the other and Jock in my lap and just when everyone has settled down, Daisy barks to 1) go outside 2) tell on Missy 3) tell on Sally.  Daisy is afraid of Sally.  Sally just walks over and stares at Daisy.  Daisy leaves her crate and Sally takes it over.  Then Daisy tells on Sally.  Sally got her bluff in on Daisy as soon as she got here.  Daisy was also afraid of Marie. 

Some of my roommates

Esmeralda

Essie has decided to tease Daisy again.  Daisy spent over half an hour barking at her this afternoon.  Even I was tired of the barking.  So I brought her inside.  I have returned to work and my four-legged roommates do not like it at all.  I keep explaining that I need to work to pay for their expensive food.  They don't buy it. 

Duncan again

We had a thunder storm  last night.  I found it delightful because we have had so  little rain in Texas.  Duncan, however, was terrified.  For the first time since he came to me, he would not sleep in his bed.  I had to sleep on the daybed because my bed is too high for him and it scares him.  But last night he needed to be close.  He lay on my arm and did not close his eyes until it stopped thundering and raining.  When the storm was over, he got down and got on his bed.  I can only imagine how horrible his life has been.  I cannot imagine someone treating any living creature in that manner.  How can someone live with themselves? It is so foreign to me.

Duncan again

Ok, so I am a sucker.  I can't give Duncan up.  He has a home and he loves it here.  He and Jock are fast friends and even Abby is kinda tolerating him.  Even the cats like him. So, yeah, I guess I knew all along I was gonna let him stay.  He even sits in the window and helps Jock guard the cul de sac. 

Duncan

Ok, since I posted last, I have talked with the lady from the Maltese rescue in Austin.  I really hate to give Duncan up.  He is leaving Abby alone now.  He loves his bed.  He loves the food.  I had to cook for them tonight.  I ran out of food and don't have any money till payday, so they will get home cooking until then.  I gave him his bowl of food and he kinda sneaked up on it and was really shy of it.  Then he tried it.  He loved it.  He ate everything including the apples even though it was difficult for him to chew them.  If he stays, I'll have to get the money together to have his teeth worked on.  He is settling in.  However, I am having no luck house breaking him.  He will go outside and sniff around but will not do his business outside.  Good thing I don't have carpets.

Daisy

Daisy has been with me now for about 1 1/2 years.  She was about 7 months old when I got her.  She had been dumped and found my son's house. Being broke, he brought her to me.  He gave me the money to have her spayed and get her shots.  When I took her to be spayed, my vet discovered she had been born with severe hip dysplasia.  Well, David gave me the choice of putting her down or fixing the hip.  Of course we scraped the money together to fix the hip.  She is fine now and really enjoys life.  She was in pain for the first year of her life so now it is "Look out life, I'm here."  She has such enthusiasm now. 

Duncan

I don't know if I will be able to keep Duncan.  He has gotten really aggressive toward Abby.  Abby is 12 and this is her home.  I can't allow her to be intimidated.  Duncan jumped her this afternoon and would not stop.  I had to pull him off her.  She was so scared.  This can't be allowed.  If I find that I cannot keep him, I will find him a good home with someone who will  love him dearly.  He really is sweet and he has lost a lot of his fear.  I'm having trouble housebreaking him though.  He goes outside with Abby and Jock, but comes back in to do his business. He has no socialization at all.  He must have led a miserable life.  He has gained weight, but his backbone and hip bones are still prominent.  I would estimate that he would not have lasted a week if Kelsey had not found him.  We'll see if I can socialize him.  Wish me luck.  I really do love the little guy. 

Essie

I was getting concerned about Essie.  I hadn't seen her in several days.  Apparently she was just lying low.  She was in the front yard when I came home for lunch today in the bird feeders.  I put food out for her, but she prefers the bird feeders.  I have to keep feeders full and several containers for the birds to bathe in.  I also Essie in the ones on the ground.  Large trash can lids work great for this.  So do pie plates for the really small birds.  I put out hummingbird feeders today.  They are so hungry.  There are no flowers for the bees and butterflies and no food for the birds.  The squirrels will have fun though.  The oak trees are  loaded with acorns. 

Update on Duncan

Duncan is putting on a little weight.  He is still scared of everything but he is doing better.  We have to go to the vet on payday and get his tooth taken care of.  He is even playing with his toys now.  He sleeps with two stuffies.  I have him on Nutro Ultra food.  I will have him in shape in no time. 

My Escape basket

Got my disaster supplies in last night.  I have three cases of canned dog food, two cases of canned cat food, bottled water, snacks, flashlights, cash, one credit card, a bag of clothes and items I will need and my pictures.  I can load all this in a heartbeat.  See, I really do need a van.  I'll call the bank today and start looking.  I'll have a suitable one within the week.  I'll be ready if my friends and I have to evacuate.  Scary stuff.  I have never been afraid before.  I am not afraid of hurricanes, do not like tornadoes at all, but fire really scares me.  We are so dry, the grass in my back yard crunches when you walk across it. 

Texas Fires

Well, the fires are burning on all sides of us now.  Last Sunday night we had one spark about a mile from us.  We had high winds from Hurricane Lee.  They were gusting to around 50 miles per hour and took down a power line. This started a fire.  We are so dry that all it takes is one spark.  That one burned until well into the night, but the firefighters did get it out.  Bastrop has not been so lucky.  Over 600 homes have burned over there and it is still not under control.  All this has convinced me that I am buying a van or an SUV as a getaway car just in case.  I want to be able to get my animals out.  They are totally dependent on me.  I don't want to ever have to make a choice of whether to leave them or take them because I would not leave without them.

I'm Back

Got back last night.  Everyone met me at the door.  Abby, Jock, and Duncan were so happy to see me.  Daisy was going nuts.  You would have thought I had been gone for ages. Found a flea on Duncan today and saw where one had been biting on Abby's head so I bathed all of them and sprayed the big dogs. I hate using poison on them, so I am trying a natural flea treatment.  Sure hope it works.  Also, Duncan has an abscessed tooth.  Yahoo! More money for my vet.  Oh well, I did invite him to live with us. 

Gone

I have to be gone for 3 days.  Not liking leaving my friends.  My son will be here, but I still don't like being away, especially from Duncan.  I'm afraid he is going to think I have deserted him.  I'll have to be extra nice to him when I get back.  He loves his little bed under my sewing table.  I took the first one up to wash and put a new one down.  When I started picking up the old one, he looked like I was going to hit him.  I put him on the new bed and patted him.  He curled up and went to sleep.  He must have had a hellava life.  Well, he'll have a good one now. 

Duncan went to the vet

I took Duncan to see the vet this afternoon.  Vet said he is healthy, just a little malnourished.  He agreed with me that Duncan had probably been used in a puppy mill.  He guessed his age at 6-8 years.  He said he could tell better when we do the teeth cleaning.  That will be done when he is neutered and that won't happen until he is comfortable in his new home.  When I put him in the pet carrier this afternoon,  he got really depressed.  I am assuming he thought I was going to throw him away again.  Not gonna happen.  Anyway, we got shots and put him on Heartguard Plus.  We're covered.

Duncan's new life

I got a return call from the Maltese rescue in Austin last night.  I have already decided to let Duncan live with me and the rest of my friends.  I can maybe make his life easier.  He sure looks like he has had a hard life to this point.  He is settling in.  He has his own bed under my sewing table.  And he defends it.  He won't let Jock or Abby near it.  Guess he has never had a bed before.  He has calmed down a lot.  But when I take him out front he seems to think I am putting him out because he will immediately run back to the door.  He is fine with going in the back yard.  He seems to like having the fence.  Maybe I don't want to know what kind of life he had before.  Anyway, he is getting good food, a soft bed and no fear of being hurt.  My friends are Nuto-Natural Choice animals. 

This is Duncan

This is Duncan.  He has had a hard life.  He is suffering from malnutrition, possibly heart worms, sunburn, and sores from the matted fur.  I tried to place him with an animal rescue today.  No one would take him.  They were all full up.  My only option is to give him to the animal shelter and I can't do that.  Looks like Duncan will live with me and my other 4 legged friends.  He is such a sad little dog.  He acts as if he expects me to kick him.  All he wants is to be loved.  Looks like some of my bills won't get paid this month.  He is going to the vet. 

Duncan

Duncan came this weekend.  He is a Maltese, skinny, needing dental work and most important, needing neutering.  He was disposed of out in Leon County.  He came down the dirt road to a farm house on Saturday.  Kelsey was visiting her grandfather at that farm.  She told me when he showed up, he had long hair and it was so matted with burs that when her cousin, who is a groomer, shaved him the mats were causing sores on his body.  I am looking for a rescue for him now.  I can't keep him because I can't afford the vet bills.  But I will find him a good place.  I cannot understand people who view animals as something to just throw away when they get tired of them.  Or they fail to spay the female and get mad when she gets pregnant and usually throws away the puppies or kittens.  Ghandi, "The measure of a nation is the way it treats it's animals."  America is in sad, sad shape. 

Essie

I saw Essie crossing the street this morning.  I sure hope she does not get run over.  She is a feisty squirrel.  She has no fear of the dogs.  And she views the bird feeders as her own deli. 

Abby again

This is also Abby.  She is on her pillow on top of the cedar chest.  It is cold (last winter) and she is wearing her new sweater.  She will only wear the sweater when it is cold, really cold.  I can tell if she is cold because she will not let me put her sweater on her otherwise. If I try and she is not cold, then we have the growling and snapping.  
She also does not go to the groomer.  This is because she curls up in a fur ball and growls and snaps.  Granted she can't do much damage, but I worry about her being hurt.  She goes to see Dr. Don to get her toenails clipped and Grandma uses the scissors to clip her.  She is my sweetie, one of them. 

Abby

Abby is my daughter's toy poodle.  She is 12 years old, cute as a button.  She is apricot in color.  She is spoiled.  She rules the house.  Daisy uses Jock as a chew toy when she can get to him.  All he does is cry and try to get away.  Abby just walks by Daisy.  Early on, Daisy tried to use her as a chew toy.  This little bundle of fur and teeth emitting growls and snaps charged Daisy.  Keep in mind Abby weighs in at 6 pounds compared to Daisy's 50 pounds.  Didn't take Daisy but a couple of minutes to back off.  As I said, Abby rules.  She also know how to manipulate.  When I am leaving the house, she gets on the back of the couch and looks so depressed.  I actually feel bad about just going to the grocery store!

Texas Heat

We finally got rain Wednesday night and Thursday morning.  Not enough, but we are not complaining.  I opened the door Thursday morning to let my 4-legged friends out.  It was raining.  Daisy took one look at it and ran back inside.  It had been so long since she has seen rain, it scared her.  When I finally got her out in it, she loved it. 

Hammie

My son lost Hammie last Saturday night.  He got up to feed her and she was so eager to eat.  He loaded the syringe with her formula, she grasped it with her hands, went into a convulsion and died.  We are all heartbroken.  She was a sweetie.

Hotspots

Everyone needs to keep an eye out for hotspots on the dogs with this heat.  They suffer too.  I use a product called Sulfodene.  If you have long haired dogs, they are prone to hotspots and moist dermatitis.  This really drives the dogs nuts and can be taken care of easily.  Just soak a cotton ball in the Sulfodene and put it on the hotspot.  Your four legged friend will thank you for it. 

Wildlife

I feel like a complete idiot.  It had not dawned on me that the birds and squirrels were not finding anything to eat in this dry and hot weather.  I realized this yesterday evening.  I saw birds under the shrubs that would never normally eat on the ground.  I always feed the doves on the ground under the shrubs.  Now I saw mockingbirds and cardinals there.  So I filled the feeders and broadcast seed on the ground.  A little later, I took Jock out front and Essie was there munching the bird seed and she refused to leave even when Jock charged at her.  So, yeah, I feel like a complete idiot. 

I have been filling the birdbaths twice a day with fresh water but never even thought about food.  I will now.  I will feed twice a day along with the fresh water.  I'm also going to the co-op and get some suet cakes for the birds.  I have peanuts and cracked corn for the squirrels.  I gotta take care of Daisy's squirrel.  

Fun with Essie

We just had a good half hour with Essie.  When I went out back with Missy and Daisy, they headed for the Crepe Myrtle tree.  Yep.  Essie was there waiting for them.  The barking started.  Then Essie jumped to the ground, ran for the bigger tree, and scooted up the trunk just ahead of the dogs.  But she was really angry this time.  She sat just high enough that they couldn't get her and fussed at them.  Daisy sat on the ground just waiting for her to drop down for her.

I went for the camera hoping Essie would stay put while I got it. She did.  But when I was standing under her to take the picture, she took exception to that.  She was coming after me!  I scooted out from under the tree asap.  She was hot and miserable and she wanted to be left alone.  I left her alone.  I brought the dogs inside. 

She was draped over the trunk of the tree, trying to stay cool and she was in no mood to mess with me or the dogs.  She was angry. 

Hammie

This is Hammie.  A couple of months ago, my son was sitting on his patio late in the evening.  Something fell out of the sky.  He thought rabid bat and his hound thought snack.  He jumped for it at the same time Cassie, the hound, did.  He reached it first and discovered a 2 week old squirrel.  So he hit the internet to see what to do.  He kept it warm overnight and put it back out for the mother while he came to town to get formula for it just in case Mama did not return.  She didn't.  So now he has a squirrel to raise.  He's doing a good job.  His biggest problem is keeping the kids from making a pet of her because she  has to be returned to the wild. Her eyes are open and she  has fur now.  He still have to feed her every 2 hours, but she is doing great.  We are a family of suckers. 

Kittens

This is Candy and Tiger.  Candy is the Siamese with the beautiful blue eyes and Tiger has orange eyes.  They are about 5 months old.  I have been promised that they will go home this weekend.  I am ready.  So are they.

I just started down the hall where the door to my utility room is located. Jock was in front of me and stopped and just stared.  I looked and Tiger ambled out of the utility.  I had not gotten the door latched and she had let herself out. I wouldn't mind but the older cats are not receptive.  But they are really cute and lively. 

Sally staking her claim

I'm new at this so my picture of Sally is not with the post I intended. Anyway, Sally is a foundling from 2000. When I got her, she was about 5 months old and pregnant. She presented me with 5 male kittens. I still have three of them. She is in Daisy's crate and Daisy is having a fit because she wants Sally to get out. Sally, as you can see, is ignoring her. Daisy is barking for me to make Sally get out. Sally rules the house and let Daisy know right away who was in charge.

This is Sally

Esmerelda

Daisy

This is Daisy.  Daisy is so spoiled.  She is making up for her miserable first year of life.  As much as I did not want another pet, she is really sweet.  She loves carrots, tomatoes, apples, squash, and watermelon.  She and Missy.  I have never seen a creature as enthusiastic for life as this dog.  After they took the pins out of her hip, it was like "look out life, here I come!"

Esmerelda

Esmerelda, Essie for short, is Daisy's and Missy's squirrel.  She has been coming out during the morning to tease them.  She comes down the Crepe Myrtle just enough that they can see her.  They go nuts.  Then she goes to the bigger tree.  They think if they sit there long enough, she will just jump into their mouths. 

Bath time

Missy and Daisy had been scratching like crazy.  I know they don't have fleas.  I check them all the time. However, they were dirty.  So last night, I had a brain storm.  I usually bathe them outside because, well, Missy is around 70 pounds and Daisy is around 50 pounds.  So I decided to put them in the bathtub.  That was a trip.  Missy had never been in the bathtub and kept trying to get out.  By the time I had her bathed, I was soaked, the floor looked like a pipe had burst and I had three towels in the floor.  But she was clean.

Next I hauled Daisy into the bathroom.  Out came more towels.  I figured why clean up until I finished with both dogs.  Daisy was a little better than Missy.  She didn't try as hard to get out.  I got Daisy bathed, hauled her out and dried her off.  Now I just had to clean the bathtub, bathroom floor, vanity sides and front, walls, and door.  Both dogs shook the excess water off that I  could not get with the towels. So, 6 towels down, an hour of cleaning, and I'm done till tomorrow when I wash the towels.  Fast forward and it is tomorrow.  the dogs are really feeling good.  No scratching.  They are sleeping like babies.  Now all I have to do is wash the towels.  My solar clothes dryer works great in this Texas heat.  

My critters

Life is never dull around my house.  I opened the back door this morning to let the dogs out.  There was a baby mockingbird right outside the door.  Missy jumped for it.  I screamed at her.  She dropped it.  It flew right past Daisy's nose and Daisy kinda looked at it then at me.  It was like, "Do I dare grab it?" "Nah.  Better not."  Jock just looked at me.  The bird escaped with no harm done.  Abby was still inside waiting for me to force her outside.  Now I have to go out and check the yard before I let Missy and Daisy out.  And the kittens are still with me and destroying my laundry room.  They leave next weekend.  There is never a dull moment at my house and I love it!

Kittens

The kittens will be leaving this weekend.  I'll miss the little troublemakers.  One is named Tiger and she has the most unusual eyes.  They are orange.  The other one is named Candy and she really has  all the markings of a Siamese.  They and two siblings were dumped a few weeks ago.  One got run over. A friend of a friend took one of the Siamese and I have the last two.  I am fostering them.  They will be going to my grandchildren.  They have a home for life.  It takes a really cold person to just throw away animals. 

Sometimes life sucks

We are in day 37 of over 100 temps.  The yard is dead and has huge cracks in the soil.  No grass.  Not even any weeds.  Just brown.  At least the trees are still alive.  I haven't lost any trees yet.  I see them dying all over town.  Even my dogs do not want to go outside.  And everyone is just plain cranky.

Texas Heat

Ok, this heat is just too much.  Even Daisy's squirrel won't come out to tease her.  My critters and I have been holed up in the air conditioned house.  Heat index of 115 is just too freakin hot.  You know it is hot when your cats want to stay in in the air conditioning.

Texas Heat

Ok, no one likes this heat.  Abby has to be carried out.  She refuses to just go outside on her own.  Not even the cats try to get out in this heat.  Daisy tries, but she only stays out a few minutes.  I will just get back to what I am doing and she barks to come in. 

Jock

The picture in my profile is Jock.  He found me in 2009.  He came to me bloody, full of heartworms and covered with fleas.  He did not know that he could sleep on the pillows on the floor.  He did not know how to play.  Well, two years later, he is heartworm and flea free.  He still does not sleep on the pillows.  He sleeps on the couch or my bed instead.  He is just the sweetest little guy.  Of course he is always dirty.  He plays in the back yard with Daisy. 

Daisy

As usual, my alarm clock Daisy, woke me up at 5am.  She does this every day and her bark is so loud.  For a little dog that was destined to be dead before she was one, she is such a wonderful, happy friend.  Daisy suffers from hip dysplasia  and had to have surgery when she was 7 months old.  She is a throwaway dog, but she is mine now.