Well it has been a while since I have posted on this blog. Time has just escaped me for some reason.
My Harry just had his third birthday in October, he is growing up to be such a big boy, still afraid of his own shadow, and I caught him actually barking at the moon the other day. Goofball.
Had our first sighting of our urban coyotes today in a long time. A young one, maybe this years pups was cruising down the back alley around late morning. With all the snow and cold I am sure they are having trouble finding food, and he missed the garbage men by one day:) He was pretty healthy looking with a huge bushy tail and neck ruff. Just trotting down the street like he owned the place. Good thing that Harry wasn't out, he would still be chasing it. As it was when we went out for our walk a bit latter, he kept his nose to the ground most of the way. "Mum those are my people!" We always call him our coyote boy....
I will try to post more often, but it might be hit and miss.
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Friday, 11 October 2013
Urban Chickens
These are my neighbors girls, or at least were. After five years and three roosters, someone squealed like a pig on her and along came not the big bad wolf, but someone far worse, BYLAW!
She has had numerous hens and from time to time a rooster. It is a 50/50 chance that there will be at least one boy in the mix of chicks, and at that stage, being fluffy and yellow they all look alike. She never kept the boys for long and found them a good home. We did have this one rooster that apparently needed a lesson in time telling and crowing. He would crow at any time except dawn and it always sounded like he had sore throat. It was quite pathetic and strangely amusing at the same time.
Now for those naysayers out there, the girls were not messy, loud or smelly. They were just chickens going about their day to day routine of scratching, routing, and eating everything in sight, including my neighbours garden. During any other season then summer, they were completely free range, much to the chagrin of Harry, who upon seeing them didn't quite know what they were but somehow how to get a closer look. He did actually get a mouth full of tail feathers once. I don't know who was more startled, the dog or the hens. No one was worse for wear! During gardening season the hens were confined to a rather palatial spot in the middle of the garden.
Now having urban chickens has it advantages, fresh eggs (more on that later), a source of kitchen scrap removal and the pleasant cooing and clucking when working outside. The eggs are wonderful, a yolk that practically glows in the dark, a good thing really, compared to the wimpy yolks of store bought battery hens. There is nothing that compares to the taste of fresh still warm from hatching eggs. In the winter I don't compose, but bring my kitchen scraps over to the girls and they love every morsel of them. I once started a hen war with a few over ripe strawberries, it was not pretty!
And what about those that are opposed to urban chickens saying that they bring predators around, we live in coyote alley and never have I've seen a coyote in the yard going after the girls, or an hawk or owl. We do have coyotes in the back alleys but it is the garbage that my other nieghbours have left out and not properly done up. Don't get me started on that.
So after all this time some big wig in bylaw after a complaint from a neighbor and we have had no new people move in, so I really don't know where that came from, no more urban chickens, no more laughable antics from them ( they loved to take dust baths in abandoned pots on the deck) and worst of all no fresh eggs. City Hall get you head out of your you know what and wake up to the joys of urban animals!
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
May 22, 2013
There has been a weird amount of dead animals in the off leash area that we go to lately. I know of one dead bunny, Harry ate it, or tried too. And about 5 dead muskrats, two of which Harry found and if you think it is fun running through the bush chasing a dog with a mission you haven't tried it. Memo to file, dead rodents stink to high heaven. The up side is that he hasn't had a run in with the porcupine that apparently lives in the off leash, but then again we don't go down at dusk, for a good reason. Harry would be poking it with a stick and shouting at the poor thing to play with him! The joys of puppy hood. At least he isn't rolling in the dead things.
Friday, 12 April 2013
April 12, 2013
So here we sit waiting for the 25 cm of snow that is supposed to fall....springtime in Alberta! Got to love it, at least Harry and all his dog friends like the snow.
The Irrelevant Show (http://www.cbc.ca/irrelevantshow/) did a great skit on dog parks last week. The main point of it being that us, as owners have no names, just Harry's Mom or Dad. No one knows your name but everyone knows your dog, how true that is. I can name on one hand, well maybe two the people I know on a first name basis not just someone's mom or dad. The rest of the off leash we only know the dogs names. And Lord help you if you run into these people outside of the dog park. You do a double take and wonder where on earth have you seen them before, and they are doing the same thing. If someone does recognize you, then you are stuck, and have to make it up as you go along hoping that their dog's name suddenly appears in your mind.
And then there are the people that still walk in the off leash when their dogs are no longer able to make the long stairs and walk to and from.....you are afraid to approach them just in case. When Oliver got too old and couldn't walk very far, we would do our little around the block walk and then I would head off to meet up with friends in the off leash. The first couple of times people are talking to you and sort of looking over your shoulder waiting for the dog to appear, you suddenly realize what they are doing and you have to quickly say that Oliver is at home. You know they want to ask but are afraid of the answer!
Hopefully spring is on her way after this last snow fall!
The Irrelevant Show (http://www.cbc.ca/irrelevantshow/) did a great skit on dog parks last week. The main point of it being that us, as owners have no names, just Harry's Mom or Dad. No one knows your name but everyone knows your dog, how true that is. I can name on one hand, well maybe two the people I know on a first name basis not just someone's mom or dad. The rest of the off leash we only know the dogs names. And Lord help you if you run into these people outside of the dog park. You do a double take and wonder where on earth have you seen them before, and they are doing the same thing. If someone does recognize you, then you are stuck, and have to make it up as you go along hoping that their dog's name suddenly appears in your mind.
And then there are the people that still walk in the off leash when their dogs are no longer able to make the long stairs and walk to and from.....you are afraid to approach them just in case. When Oliver got too old and couldn't walk very far, we would do our little around the block walk and then I would head off to meet up with friends in the off leash. The first couple of times people are talking to you and sort of looking over your shoulder waiting for the dog to appear, you suddenly realize what they are doing and you have to quickly say that Oliver is at home. You know they want to ask but are afraid of the answer!
Hopefully spring is on her way after this last snow fall!
Sunday, 17 March 2013
March 17, 2013
Happy St Patrick's Day to everyone!
The weather here has done a complete 380, we have been shoveling snow for three days, and not just a skiff, at least 5-6 inches a day. Harry is loving the snow, but not too sure about the shovel.
The one good thing about all the snow, the fair weather dog walkers are at home, the off leash is empty except for a few brave souls and their dogs, the cranky people that won't let their dogs play in the off leash are probably the same people that are at home. How could their dogs possibly be out in this snow and cold.
As Harry and I were enjoying a nice quite uneventful walk, I was thinking about things that make you go mmmmmmm!
-people who bring toys into the off leash and then are flabbergasted that another dog might actually want to play with the ball/frisbe/etc. When the dog gives up the toy it is fair game to any passing dog, don't want another dog playing don't bring the toy!
-people that won't let their dogs play with other dogs or for that matter any other two dogs that are playing which nether of them are theirs. I have had people step into Harry and other dogs playing and try to break them apart, saying that they are fighting. Both dogs being quite vocal, but would me and the owner just be standing around watching this if it was a fight! Well maybe if it were Micheal Vick and pals.
- people who have the dog off leash but don't want another dog coming near them and the yelling at the other owner to keep their dog away "my dog doesn't like....."Why are you down here in the first place. Put you dog on a leash and go up on the bike path.
- and then there are the people that have no dogs but are deathly afraid of all dogs who walk in the off leash and just about have a heart attack when a dog approaches them. They are right up there with the people with kids, no dogs, just kids, with food. The whole meal deal spread out on the strollers just at, guess what, dog nose height,and get mad at the dog for stealing food or licking the baby.
But having said that there are wonderful people in our off leash that make the walk a bright spot in the day for both me and Harry.
Just some things that make you go mmmmmmmmm!
The weather here has done a complete 380, we have been shoveling snow for three days, and not just a skiff, at least 5-6 inches a day. Harry is loving the snow, but not too sure about the shovel.
The one good thing about all the snow, the fair weather dog walkers are at home, the off leash is empty except for a few brave souls and their dogs, the cranky people that won't let their dogs play in the off leash are probably the same people that are at home. How could their dogs possibly be out in this snow and cold.
As Harry and I were enjoying a nice quite uneventful walk, I was thinking about things that make you go mmmmmmm!
-people who bring toys into the off leash and then are flabbergasted that another dog might actually want to play with the ball/frisbe/etc. When the dog gives up the toy it is fair game to any passing dog, don't want another dog playing don't bring the toy!
-people that won't let their dogs play with other dogs or for that matter any other two dogs that are playing which nether of them are theirs. I have had people step into Harry and other dogs playing and try to break them apart, saying that they are fighting. Both dogs being quite vocal, but would me and the owner just be standing around watching this if it was a fight! Well maybe if it were Micheal Vick and pals.
- people who have the dog off leash but don't want another dog coming near them and the yelling at the other owner to keep their dog away "my dog doesn't like....."Why are you down here in the first place. Put you dog on a leash and go up on the bike path.
- and then there are the people that have no dogs but are deathly afraid of all dogs who walk in the off leash and just about have a heart attack when a dog approaches them. They are right up there with the people with kids, no dogs, just kids, with food. The whole meal deal spread out on the strollers just at, guess what, dog nose height,and get mad at the dog for stealing food or licking the baby.
But having said that there are wonderful people in our off leash that make the walk a bright spot in the day for both me and Harry.
Just some things that make you go mmmmmmmmm!
Thursday, 21 February 2013
February 21, 2013
I have been rattling this blog around in my head for a couple of days now and it is time to put it to paper so to speak.
In a couple of days it will a year of my Oliver passing over the rainbow bridge. Some days it seems like just yesterday and some days it seems forever and I am forgetting what he looked like. Which is almost impossible as he is my wallpaper on my computer and I have countless pictures of him around the house. He was my perfect big lump of lab. And yes he was perfect, before we got him someone loved and trained him well. I know everyone says that their dog is perfect, but Ollie truly was. He was named after the British Actor Oliver Reed, which not too many people know of. His last movie was Gladiator, he was the top selling actor in Britain in the 60's and played Bill Sykes in "Oliver!" When he wasn't being the bad guy and drinking his face off in the pubs he was the perfect gentle-man, and that was my Oliver.
Oliver had lots of adventures the short time he was with me, he got to stay at Jasper Park Lodge twice, which not too many people can brag about. He got to go to Blue River and hang out at a hippy dippy pizza joint where he could even sit with mine on the patio while I had my lunch. He went to Tofino and as much as I had visions of him swimming in the ocean, he had his own ideas about that. I will remember this to the end of my time - he ran up to the water's edge all excited and proceeded to take a big gulp of water. If you don't think a dog can make a face, boy are you wrong. He steered clear of the ocean after that. It wasn't until we got to Powell River about a week later that he ventured to take another drink in a creek! He was the star of his off leash area and everyone loved him and when something happened they always responded with "that wasn't OUR Oliver" was it! He was notorious for stealing mitts, sometimes right off your hand, and in a way that you didn't even notice until you saw him running down the path with it in his mouth.
When I lost him I thought that my world would end! I would actually hear him in the house and would go looking for him. But things happen in mysterious ways. In April I went to a SCARS adoption event and met Harry. What attracted him to me was his little pink nose, which Oliver had. He didn't have a black nose like more yellow labs, except in the summer when it was tanned. In fact Harry looked a little like a miniature Oliver. I went home and cried the whole weekend. My other half on Monday said go and get him, the house is way to quiet without a dog and I can't stand that you crying all the time. Thinking that it was way too early to get another dog I went to his fantastic Foster Parents and fell in love all over with him, and he came home with me. He hated getting into the car, most SCARS dogs are petrified of cars, that lasted about a week, now he jumps in even if I getting groceries out of the car, he always want to go for a car ride.
Tattoo of Oliver`s actual foot print I got a week before he left us - it is on my left foot which the side your heart is one and now he walks with me forever
We tell Harry about his big brother all the time - "why can't you be more like Oliver", "Oliver never did this". Well he isn't Oliver he is Harry and and puppy, he was 6 months when we got him and Ollie was 5 years when he found me. I am also convinced that Oliver found Harry for us. There are pictures that I have that people have to ask whether that is Oliver or Harry. But we also tell him the good things that he has in common with his big brother - loves to lick the pot of left over mashed potatoes, loves to swim in the creek on a hot summers day, loves his walks (although we are still working on not pulling) and love to have company come over.
And this is my Harry, hanging out in his favorite place,on the couch with his momma
The one big difference is that Harry plays hard and rough and sometimes has a little booboo or a nick, if that was Oliver off to the vet I would go, but having a second dog is like having a second child, the arm has to be hanging off before we go to the doctor!
I miss my Ollie everyday, but Harry adds so much laughter to our lives that I am sure that Oliver approves because he picked him out for us!
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
February 6, 2013
Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful early February weather, although we can do without the snow that keeps falling every time it warms up!
Now that the warm weather is here for a while, the off leash is busier then ever. When it was -30 often it was just Harry and I out and about. I swear this dog has Teflon paws, he is never cold, and we are home from our walks he just wants to stay outside some more, CRAZY!
Anyway back to the off leash, for the most part everyone in our off leash is great and all the dogs get along just fine. Then there are those people and some dogs for that matter that just have to be the "hall monitor", you know the type, the dog ones bark at all the dogs that run past them or go up and bark while they are playing....it is quite funny, it is like,,,,you there no running or shouting in the halls! Then there are the people hall monitors, that not only don't let their dog have any fun what so ever, don't like to see others having fun. We were down on Saturday and Harry and his best girl Maybelle were playing, she is the best dog, a cute basset hound that just loves Harry. And they play hard! Harry will roll her, she will grab him and try to role him, they bark and growl at each other, grabbing fur and whatever else they can find. Well up comes this woman who seems to be appalled at this. Now bear in mind that Maybelle's Dad and I are watching this and laughing so hard we are practically falling down, she dives in the middle of it and tries to separate the two dogs, not matter how much we are telling her it is alright. Mind your own business, do you think we would intentionally let our dogs at each other if they were hurting each other. This is the exact same woman who will not let her dog play with the other dogs and if she tries a stop is put to it , not now but right now!
Then there are the people that just love to watch their dogs play with all the others, it is nothing but harmless fun and for the most part everyone comes away in one piece. Thank goodness Harry has almost grown out of running up to small dogs and puppies and rolling them, great fun for him and the puppy not so much for me and the other owners. But then the puppies just love it and for the most part come running back for more!
And don't even get me started on those people that bring toys to the off leash and stomp off in a huff when another dog, who shall rename nameless but first name begins with Harry tries to steal the toy. This is why God invented sticks in the off leash, they belong to no one and everyone is happy playing with them!
Now that the warm weather is here for a while, the off leash is busier then ever. When it was -30 often it was just Harry and I out and about. I swear this dog has Teflon paws, he is never cold, and we are home from our walks he just wants to stay outside some more, CRAZY!
Anyway back to the off leash, for the most part everyone in our off leash is great and all the dogs get along just fine. Then there are those people and some dogs for that matter that just have to be the "hall monitor", you know the type, the dog ones bark at all the dogs that run past them or go up and bark while they are playing....it is quite funny, it is like,,,,you there no running or shouting in the halls! Then there are the people hall monitors, that not only don't let their dog have any fun what so ever, don't like to see others having fun. We were down on Saturday and Harry and his best girl Maybelle were playing, she is the best dog, a cute basset hound that just loves Harry. And they play hard! Harry will roll her, she will grab him and try to role him, they bark and growl at each other, grabbing fur and whatever else they can find. Well up comes this woman who seems to be appalled at this. Now bear in mind that Maybelle's Dad and I are watching this and laughing so hard we are practically falling down, she dives in the middle of it and tries to separate the two dogs, not matter how much we are telling her it is alright. Mind your own business, do you think we would intentionally let our dogs at each other if they were hurting each other. This is the exact same woman who will not let her dog play with the other dogs and if she tries a stop is put to it , not now but right now!
Then there are the people that just love to watch their dogs play with all the others, it is nothing but harmless fun and for the most part everyone comes away in one piece. Thank goodness Harry has almost grown out of running up to small dogs and puppies and rolling them, great fun for him and the puppy not so much for me and the other owners. But then the puppies just love it and for the most part come running back for more!
And don't even get me started on those people that bring toys to the off leash and stomp off in a huff when another dog, who shall rename nameless but first name begins with Harry tries to steal the toy. This is why God invented sticks in the off leash, they belong to no one and everyone is happy playing with them!
Sunday, 20 January 2013
January 20, 2013
First Blog of the new year, and it has been a start of a year of firsts! The first one being that after a short Christmas break I go back to my part time job and find that I am being laid off! Through no ones fault, just working for a not for profit organization is touch and go with the monies, and we had none. That was a depressing day, but I muddled through it, and it was off set by an awesome home check for the rescue group I volunteer for, that re-homes pit bulls. This home check wanted to foster dogs until their forever home was found, it was a young couple with a wonderful pit bull and a very cute one year old. Any dog would be lucky to be placed into foster care at this home.
Then the caca hit the fan, literally! We are out on one of our walks and Harry suddenly discovers that frozen coyote poo is the best treat EVER! He has always sort of liked scarfing up bunny buttons and I didn't worry too much about, because bunnies eat their own poop once and then eliminate it the second time. But with coyote poo it is a completely different story.....worms...not just any worms but tapeworms. Not only is Harry munching down on it he has taken to rolling in it. All summer we would come upon it and he would just sniff it and maybe pee on it. Come winter and there are just tons of frozen treats awaiting him. And living by a ravine with a healthy population of coyotes you do the math! After doing some research I called my vet with the news, apparently I have a perfectly normal dog. A round of de-worming medicine and we are good to go, that is until he finds more to eat. I am with holding kisses temporary until he grows out of this phase. I long for the days when he would roll puppies, at least I could control that and get him under control and lead him off with the phrase "he is just a puppy" trailing after me. I am hoping this is a phrase...
But all in all my Harry is growing up fast, not quite the dog his big brother Oliver was, those are some mighty big paws to fill, but he is growing into his own and in a year or ten he will be the perfect dog. But then having said that who really wants the perfect dog...we just want our dog! And there are no bad dogs just challenging ones!
Then the caca hit the fan, literally! We are out on one of our walks and Harry suddenly discovers that frozen coyote poo is the best treat EVER! He has always sort of liked scarfing up bunny buttons and I didn't worry too much about, because bunnies eat their own poop once and then eliminate it the second time. But with coyote poo it is a completely different story.....worms...not just any worms but tapeworms. Not only is Harry munching down on it he has taken to rolling in it. All summer we would come upon it and he would just sniff it and maybe pee on it. Come winter and there are just tons of frozen treats awaiting him. And living by a ravine with a healthy population of coyotes you do the math! After doing some research I called my vet with the news, apparently I have a perfectly normal dog. A round of de-worming medicine and we are good to go, that is until he finds more to eat. I am with holding kisses temporary until he grows out of this phase. I long for the days when he would roll puppies, at least I could control that and get him under control and lead him off with the phrase "he is just a puppy" trailing after me. I am hoping this is a phrase...
But all in all my Harry is growing up fast, not quite the dog his big brother Oliver was, those are some mighty big paws to fill, but he is growing into his own and in a year or ten he will be the perfect dog. But then having said that who really wants the perfect dog...we just want our dog! And there are no bad dogs just challenging ones!
Monday, 24 December 2012
December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! This will be my Harry's very first Christmas and the first Christmas without Oliver...
In the paper the other day they were talking about Christmas presents that we just had to have for Christmas or we would jussssst die. the writer mentioned when he was a child there was a "Johnny Reb Canon" that he had to have. He did get one, and of course it went the way of all the favorite toys of our childhood, gone and no one seems to know where. He went on line and found one for a horridly high price. This got me thinking about the toy I always wanted, a Chatty Cathy doll. When I was growing up we didn't have a lot of money, not that I knew it back then. Of all the things I asked for and was lucky enough to get, Chatty Cathy always eluded me, that and an Easy Bake Oven. Credit to my Mom through she always let me bake with her and I even had my own little set of kids baking pans and what not, who needed a teenie tiny oven when I had the real one to use. And I turned out the best cakes ever, there were even little boxes of icing that you could get.
Anyway back to Cathy, no matter how many times I asked for one the answer was always the same, we can't afford it,or it is too much money, which I am sure back in the early sixties it had a dear price tag. But I did get a Chatty Cathy coloring book and I was almost in seventh heaven. I loved my coloring books.
Well this article got me thinking about the doll, so I went on Ebay to have a look see if they were still around, and low and behold there was Miss Cathy in all her Chatty glory! What was I thinking, it is the most ugliest doll I have ever seen, she wasn't even cute, let alone pretty. Was the charm that she could talk by pulling a string.....had to be. Were our standards of good looking low when we where children, or didn't we care. I suspect we didn't care. But wasn't Barbie the most beautiful of all... Don't get me started on an Easy Bake Oven, not even looking that one up.
Harry is getting a stocking tomorrow full of goodies, he doesn't suspect a thing, even through he was born in October, he spent the first four months of his little life on the streets, so this is truly his very first Christmas somewhere warm and loved.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
In the paper the other day they were talking about Christmas presents that we just had to have for Christmas or we would jussssst die. the writer mentioned when he was a child there was a "Johnny Reb Canon" that he had to have. He did get one, and of course it went the way of all the favorite toys of our childhood, gone and no one seems to know where. He went on line and found one for a horridly high price. This got me thinking about the toy I always wanted, a Chatty Cathy doll. When I was growing up we didn't have a lot of money, not that I knew it back then. Of all the things I asked for and was lucky enough to get, Chatty Cathy always eluded me, that and an Easy Bake Oven. Credit to my Mom through she always let me bake with her and I even had my own little set of kids baking pans and what not, who needed a teenie tiny oven when I had the real one to use. And I turned out the best cakes ever, there were even little boxes of icing that you could get.
Anyway back to Cathy, no matter how many times I asked for one the answer was always the same, we can't afford it,or it is too much money, which I am sure back in the early sixties it had a dear price tag. But I did get a Chatty Cathy coloring book and I was almost in seventh heaven. I loved my coloring books.
Well this article got me thinking about the doll, so I went on Ebay to have a look see if they were still around, and low and behold there was Miss Cathy in all her Chatty glory! What was I thinking, it is the most ugliest doll I have ever seen, she wasn't even cute, let alone pretty. Was the charm that she could talk by pulling a string.....had to be. Were our standards of good looking low when we where children, or didn't we care. I suspect we didn't care. But wasn't Barbie the most beautiful of all... Don't get me started on an Easy Bake Oven, not even looking that one up.
Harry is getting a stocking tomorrow full of goodies, he doesn't suspect a thing, even through he was born in October, he spent the first four months of his little life on the streets, so this is truly his very first Christmas somewhere warm and loved.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
November 27, 2012
Harry and I were out and about this afternoon, just minding our own business when something caught my eye to the left, in the Victoria Golf Course on River Road, a coyote. Mind you this wasn't dusk or dawn this was 12:30 in the afternoon! He dashed in front of may car, and thank goodness I was a ways from him, however the SUV on the other side of the road was closer, this is what was racing through my mind... OK I will pullover, put on my flashers, I have a scarf that I can use as a muzzle, but no blanket. There used to be a wonderful Campers Village blanket in my car, but now it is in pieces scattered through out the back seat, thanks to a certain puppy who shall remain nameless, anyway back to my brain going a hundred miles an hour. Ok muzzle done, I am wearing a faux shearling fleece, I can wrap the coyote in that, (fashion goes out the window when it comes to animals in distress) I have a cage in the back of my car along with heavy work gloves....don't ask, I volunteer for Wildlife Rehab...all I have to worry about is not getting run over...and then I can go to the emergency vet, oh rats what about Harry, he can ride up front with me for the length of time it takes to get to the vet. There I have a plan in action. The coyote thankfully made it across both lanes of traffic without losing a hair, but I was ready.
My spouse says I can't save every animal in the world, my answer to him is "yes I can or at least try!"
I just saw the some idiot left a 10 month old puppy in a car for three days, no food no water and it has been -17 at night these past couple of nights. When police responded he came out and said he didn't do anything wrong, the dog had shelter! All I can say is he is lucky I didn't find the poor puppy.....thankfully he is now some where warm and safe, the puppy, not the piece of scum that left him there, he can rot in hell with Michael Vick. What are you thinking, oh pardon me, you weren't. Would you leave your child in a car for three days, yes you probably would....... These are the same people that turn out pets because they are "too old". However Karma is a wonderful thing and it will find you eventually.
Thus ends my rant for the day. As I am writing this Harry is curled up safe and sound on my bed snoring his little heart out, just where he should be!
My spouse says I can't save every animal in the world, my answer to him is "yes I can or at least try!"
I just saw the some idiot left a 10 month old puppy in a car for three days, no food no water and it has been -17 at night these past couple of nights. When police responded he came out and said he didn't do anything wrong, the dog had shelter! All I can say is he is lucky I didn't find the poor puppy.....thankfully he is now some where warm and safe, the puppy, not the piece of scum that left him there, he can rot in hell with Michael Vick. What are you thinking, oh pardon me, you weren't. Would you leave your child in a car for three days, yes you probably would....... These are the same people that turn out pets because they are "too old". However Karma is a wonderful thing and it will find you eventually.
Thus ends my rant for the day. As I am writing this Harry is curled up safe and sound on my bed snoring his little heart out, just where he should be!
Monday, 19 November 2012
November 19, 2012
I can't believe my last post was in October. When I started this blog I wanted it be a weekly thing, funny how stuff gets in the way.
So Harry and I are enjoying a nice off leash walk the other day and we run into a family, probably grandparents enjoying their grandchild. Keep in mind we are in the off leash area, so this little family out for a nice walk, is pulling their grandchild in a sled, remember still off leash, well Harry does what every dog presented with a eye level child, but runs up, nicely, and wants to get to know the child, perhaps a little kiss! Well the grandfather is trying to push Harry away, puppy vs old man, you can guess who might of won. He is looking at me like I am the wicked witch of the north east west and south. Memo to file, this is an off leash park, full of, of I don't know DOGS!
These people fall into the same category as people on bikes, runners and young parents with strollers ( with the Happy Meal on the tray) that come down to the off leash and are more then upset that there are dogs, but worst yet dogs off leash that seem to like to run after moving objects, or in the case of the full meal deal lick off the residue of those chubby little cheeks at just the right level....what are you thinking. Don't want dogs around go up on the people path. Then there are the exceptions, the wonderful cyclists that stop and pet all the dogs they encounter, the runners that run with their dogs and stop so the dogs can say hello and maybe have a bit of a run themselves, and the children that giggle like Tickle Me Elmo when anything on four legs approach them, big or small. Then there is the young family that actually let the dogs actually come right up the the dogs and encourage interaction with them, and if they get knocked down they just get right back up and do it all again!
And then there are the dog owners that get really miffed when my dog wants to play with their dog and maybe gets rolled but keeps coming back for more. Those that don't know dog language, rolled is when your dog is so happy to see the other dog, he actually rolls the dog on its back, nine time out of ten the dog gets up and wants more, but the humans are mortified that happened to sweet little "Muffin". Harry plays with a select few dogs including a Basset Hound, who by the way can give as good as she gets. If you didn't know these dogs you would think that they were mortal enemies they way they bare their teeth and grab fur. So thanks to Edith, Max, Lexi, Watson, Jaz and Maebell for playing with Harry and for their parents that encourage the play!
So Harry and I are enjoying a nice off leash walk the other day and we run into a family, probably grandparents enjoying their grandchild. Keep in mind we are in the off leash area, so this little family out for a nice walk, is pulling their grandchild in a sled, remember still off leash, well Harry does what every dog presented with a eye level child, but runs up, nicely, and wants to get to know the child, perhaps a little kiss! Well the grandfather is trying to push Harry away, puppy vs old man, you can guess who might of won. He is looking at me like I am the wicked witch of the north east west and south. Memo to file, this is an off leash park, full of, of I don't know DOGS!
These people fall into the same category as people on bikes, runners and young parents with strollers ( with the Happy Meal on the tray) that come down to the off leash and are more then upset that there are dogs, but worst yet dogs off leash that seem to like to run after moving objects, or in the case of the full meal deal lick off the residue of those chubby little cheeks at just the right level....what are you thinking. Don't want dogs around go up on the people path. Then there are the exceptions, the wonderful cyclists that stop and pet all the dogs they encounter, the runners that run with their dogs and stop so the dogs can say hello and maybe have a bit of a run themselves, and the children that giggle like Tickle Me Elmo when anything on four legs approach them, big or small. Then there is the young family that actually let the dogs actually come right up the the dogs and encourage interaction with them, and if they get knocked down they just get right back up and do it all again!
And then there are the dog owners that get really miffed when my dog wants to play with their dog and maybe gets rolled but keeps coming back for more. Those that don't know dog language, rolled is when your dog is so happy to see the other dog, he actually rolls the dog on its back, nine time out of ten the dog gets up and wants more, but the humans are mortified that happened to sweet little "Muffin". Harry plays with a select few dogs including a Basset Hound, who by the way can give as good as she gets. If you didn't know these dogs you would think that they were mortal enemies they way they bare their teeth and grab fur. So thanks to Edith, Max, Lexi, Watson, Jaz and Maebell for playing with Harry and for their parents that encourage the play!
Monday, 29 October 2012
October 29, 2012
Yesterday was my Harry's birthday and he celebrated in style. First came the gift bag, except he really didn't know what to do with it at first, which is bizarre because he is the first the have his little pink nose into any bag that comes into the house, from my purse, grocery bags (which I totally get) to my library books. however this one sort of stumped him. I had to pull out the first toy, which is now just a shadow of it's former self, he wasn't interested in the bags of treats at all, which again can smell and hear the opening of a treat bag in another country! Then he got to finish off the drops of milk left in Dad's cereal bowl! Big treat!
Then we were off for walkies. He managed to tell everyone he met that it was his birthday and badgered them into giving him treats if they had any. The non-treat people, he settled for a pat and a kiss.
And speaking of walkies, the other day we are in the off leash park and this beautiful Staffie comes up and wants to play so bad, however he had a Saskatchewan Rough Riders hoodie on, so far so good. Harry immediately grabs the hood part and flips the poor thing on his back. The dog got up shook it off and again ran toward Harry, and Harry of course grabbed the hood. This only made the owner more mad, after I got Harry under control, and bare in mind the dogs are still playing, having the time of their lives, she picks up her dog in a huff and storms off. Not easy to do with a Staffie, they are heavy. I just laughed, memo to file if you going to dress up your dog don't supply handles! Comments heard were, Oh he mustn't be a Rough riders fan!
Then we were off for walkies. He managed to tell everyone he met that it was his birthday and badgered them into giving him treats if they had any. The non-treat people, he settled for a pat and a kiss.
And speaking of walkies, the other day we are in the off leash park and this beautiful Staffie comes up and wants to play so bad, however he had a Saskatchewan Rough Riders hoodie on, so far so good. Harry immediately grabs the hood part and flips the poor thing on his back. The dog got up shook it off and again ran toward Harry, and Harry of course grabbed the hood. This only made the owner more mad, after I got Harry under control, and bare in mind the dogs are still playing, having the time of their lives, she picks up her dog in a huff and storms off. Not easy to do with a Staffie, they are heavy. I just laughed, memo to file if you going to dress up your dog don't supply handles! Comments heard were, Oh he mustn't be a Rough riders fan!
Happy Birthday my baby boy!
And check out the newest Pet Rescue Magazine, my Harry is in it!
Sunday, 23 September 2012
September 23, 2012
So this past Friday I get an email saying Harry's results have been posted. I quickly go the the website and this is what I found.
Great Grandparents - Saint Bernard, Collie - Alaskan Malamute on one side and Rottweiller, Cocker Spaniel on the other side of the family. Down it all trickles to Harry's parents.....St. Bernard, Collie, Alaskan Malamute Crossed with Rottweiller Cocker Spaniel. Not a lab or chow in the mix, not even an Akita. Ok I do kind of get the Malamute, his back legs have that look and of course there is his curly tail. but don't get the rest, especially one set of grandparents being Rottie/Cocker cross. So much for his spotted tongue and webbed feet. Apparently Chow's aren't the only dogs with a black tongue, and lots breeds have spotted tongues.
A friend of mine is convinced that these are a bunch of guys, drunk or high, with darts and lots of pictures of animals...and you do the math. If I was a betting person, I might consider using another company, there are a ton of them out there, who knew. this company was supposed to be the best with the greatest number of different breeds. Maybe too many breeds. I still might do another test and see what comes up.
But for now my sweet baby boy is a lab/chow X with definitely a little coyote thrown into the mix.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
August 22,2012
It has been a while since I have posted. I have the month of August off from my part time job and have been enjoying the weather, most of my days are deciding whether to read in the sun or the shade and getting up once in a while to do a little weeding. All this hot weather and the rain has made the garden come to live. If I see another bean or zucchini.....The tomatoes are coming fast and furious, I planted Zebra tomatoes this year, when they are ripe they are a bright green with lighter stripes and really tasty, might make a very bizarre pasta sauce however.
Mr. Harry is growing leaps and bounds, I think he might top the scale at least 60 lbs. For a dog that loves to swim he is so afraid of a bath. After swimming in Mill Creek all summer let's just say he isn't the best sleeping companion. We tried once to give him a bath in the yard with a big bucket of warm water and a small bucket to wet him with. You would of thought that we were killing him. He took off and hide in the garage for at least an hour. The other day we tried the hose, very low, like his wonderful foster mom suggested. That didn't fare any better, but he did stand still enough, (after a little WWF) to get a little cleaner then what he was. Or at least he doesn't smell as bad!
One night for our last walk he discovered the neightbour's chickens were nesting in the grapevine on the fence that divides the two yards, he thought he had died and gone to heaven, wow Mom I don't know really want these are, but I am sure that I really want them. They have since picked a different spot, but every night before we begin our walk and when we end it, he has to check that maybe they might be there, he is way too smart for his own good. Everyday is a laugh a minute with him.
Harry is truly a gift from my Oliver, but really Ollie couldn't you have picked an older dog for us. Old people young dog don't really work! I tell Harry all the time about his big brother and so do most of the people we meet in the off leash park.....and most of them see the resemblance, just a little smaller head, the chow don't you know, or maybe the Akita:)
Mr. Harry is growing leaps and bounds, I think he might top the scale at least 60 lbs. For a dog that loves to swim he is so afraid of a bath. After swimming in Mill Creek all summer let's just say he isn't the best sleeping companion. We tried once to give him a bath in the yard with a big bucket of warm water and a small bucket to wet him with. You would of thought that we were killing him. He took off and hide in the garage for at least an hour. The other day we tried the hose, very low, like his wonderful foster mom suggested. That didn't fare any better, but he did stand still enough, (after a little WWF) to get a little cleaner then what he was. Or at least he doesn't smell as bad!
One night for our last walk he discovered the neightbour's chickens were nesting in the grapevine on the fence that divides the two yards, he thought he had died and gone to heaven, wow Mom I don't know really want these are, but I am sure that I really want them. They have since picked a different spot, but every night before we begin our walk and when we end it, he has to check that maybe they might be there, he is way too smart for his own good. Everyday is a laugh a minute with him.
Harry is truly a gift from my Oliver, but really Ollie couldn't you have picked an older dog for us. Old people young dog don't really work! I tell Harry all the time about his big brother and so do most of the people we meet in the off leash park.....and most of them see the resemblance, just a little smaller head, the chow don't you know, or maybe the Akita:)
Sunday, 1 July 2012
July 1, 2012
Happy Canada Day everyone!
Why is it that people have no problem asking stupid questions about your dog, that they wouldn't dare ask a person. I remember walking with Oliver one day and we ran into a guy and he actually said this to me "well he's an old timer, how long do you think he will live" WTF!!! I shot back to him without missing a beat " how long do you think you will live asking stupid questions like that!"
The other big thing is everyone seems to know the breed of your dog. I was always asked about Oliver, because being a pure bred English Lab he was quite a bit stockier and bigger then most field labs. I got everything from Rottweiler to pit bull!
And then there is Mr. Harry, he is supposed to be a lab/chow X but being a SCARS rescue he could be almost anything, from lab/chow to coyote, wolf, badger........coming from Athabasca and the surround reserves. I have had people come up to me and ask if he is a Shiba Inu, no I explain he is a lab/chow cross. Then they look at you and say are you sure. Shiba Inu's are little, with very pointed faces, they look a little like a fox. The best so far is one person asked if Harry had Akita in him, and I said no lab/chow X , she actually looked straight in my eyes and said, "Well if he is a reserve dog, where would the Chow come from?" Well where would the Akita come from!! and then said, "well you know they are all part coyote" My friends and I that have SCARS dogs joke about this all the time and deep down inside wish they were part coyote, but really!
What would all these people that ask these questions do if we asked the same questions about them or their children....um pardon me, but is your blonde hair blue eye child part African American.......
Just saying!
Why is it that people have no problem asking stupid questions about your dog, that they wouldn't dare ask a person. I remember walking with Oliver one day and we ran into a guy and he actually said this to me "well he's an old timer, how long do you think he will live" WTF!!! I shot back to him without missing a beat " how long do you think you will live asking stupid questions like that!"
The other big thing is everyone seems to know the breed of your dog. I was always asked about Oliver, because being a pure bred English Lab he was quite a bit stockier and bigger then most field labs. I got everything from Rottweiler to pit bull!
And then there is Mr. Harry, he is supposed to be a lab/chow X but being a SCARS rescue he could be almost anything, from lab/chow to coyote, wolf, badger........coming from Athabasca and the surround reserves. I have had people come up to me and ask if he is a Shiba Inu, no I explain he is a lab/chow cross. Then they look at you and say are you sure. Shiba Inu's are little, with very pointed faces, they look a little like a fox. The best so far is one person asked if Harry had Akita in him, and I said no lab/chow X , she actually looked straight in my eyes and said, "Well if he is a reserve dog, where would the Chow come from?" Well where would the Akita come from!! and then said, "well you know they are all part coyote" My friends and I that have SCARS dogs joke about this all the time and deep down inside wish they were part coyote, but really!
What would all these people that ask these questions do if we asked the same questions about them or their children....um pardon me, but is your blonde hair blue eye child part African American.......
Just saying!
Sunday, 10 June 2012
June 10, 2012 part two
Friday, 1 June 2012
June 1, 2012
First off all, where the heck did May go?
First trip to the Vet yesterday for Harry, well actually second if you count the meet and greet when I first got him. He is a perfectly happy, healthy puppy. The one draw back was they put us in the same room that Oliver and I were in on February 28th :( It brought back a lot of sad memories, but now the room has happy ones again. Of course being in a strange place, Harry had to explore every inch of the room, including the little space between the door and the floor. There's my boy flatter then a pancake trying all his might to get his little pink nose all the way under the door, I have visions of the door suddenly opening, but of course the Vets there know this happens. When Dr. Gina, came in the do the exam Harry was just about beside himself with pure joy, up on the table, down, up, down, up....it is a wonder that the exam went as well as it did. Ever tried looking into the ears, eyes, and mouth of a bouncing puppy, it is a miracle someone didn't lose an eye, humans included.
All the Vets and staff at Edmonton Holistic Vet Clinic are the best, and it even rains liver treats from the sky as Harry found out. He just didn't want to leave, Momma I am getting way too much lovin' here, why would I ever what to leave!
And I discovered one of the benefits of having a healthy young dog, the bill was considerably less expensive. And the deductible on the insurance is only $100.00 instead of $500.00, life is good.
A big thanks to everyone at the Holistic Clinic for making this a wonderful experience for my Harry!
First trip to the Vet yesterday for Harry, well actually second if you count the meet and greet when I first got him. He is a perfectly happy, healthy puppy. The one draw back was they put us in the same room that Oliver and I were in on February 28th :( It brought back a lot of sad memories, but now the room has happy ones again. Of course being in a strange place, Harry had to explore every inch of the room, including the little space between the door and the floor. There's my boy flatter then a pancake trying all his might to get his little pink nose all the way under the door, I have visions of the door suddenly opening, but of course the Vets there know this happens. When Dr. Gina, came in the do the exam Harry was just about beside himself with pure joy, up on the table, down, up, down, up....it is a wonder that the exam went as well as it did. Ever tried looking into the ears, eyes, and mouth of a bouncing puppy, it is a miracle someone didn't lose an eye, humans included.
All the Vets and staff at Edmonton Holistic Vet Clinic are the best, and it even rains liver treats from the sky as Harry found out. He just didn't want to leave, Momma I am getting way too much lovin' here, why would I ever what to leave!
And I discovered one of the benefits of having a healthy young dog, the bill was considerably less expensive. And the deductible on the insurance is only $100.00 instead of $500.00, life is good.
A big thanks to everyone at the Holistic Clinic for making this a wonderful experience for my Harry!
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
May 22, 2012
Why is it the biggest dog wants to be a lap dog? Harry at 8 months and almost 50 lbs, wants nothing better then to sit on your lap, and it doesn't matter what you are doing. Of course the most favored spot is just when you have poured your first cup of coffee, turn on The Nate Berkus Show and settle in with the paper. It now becomes a juggling act, the paper the hot coffee and one heavy dog, or did I mention there is always a couple of stuffies that have to be there also. It very seldom is a gentle front paws up then back paws, it is a full fledged running start, jump on the lap! Harry does the same thing first thing in the morning when he has to go out. You are sound asleep and then all of a sudden this dog launches himself at in bed, never the full body slam but as much of it that can possibly be without actually getting all fours up on the bed. Such a huge change from Oliver, who just got up and slumped his way into the bedroom and stared at your back until you turned over, big kiss then slumped back to his bed. HA HA fooled you!
We are finding out a lot of firsts with Harry, Being born in October and up north in Athabasca, he has never (we are guessing) seem a weed whacker or a lawn mower. The weed whacker is just a big game to him and wants to chase it, the lawn mower not so much, he must save his humans from it at all costs! I can hardly wait for his first thunderstorm. He has two stuffies that make actual animal sounds, or did, the first time he grabbed them and hit the right spot, he dropped it like a hot potato and barked at it, from a safe distance of course. He won't go near it again for hours, then it would start all over again, I now know what the insides look like of quite a few of these things, and the stuffing goes everywhere. But I would not change it for the world. Harry makes me laugh and cry (too much like his big brother) and is just full of pure joy. Rescued dogs are the best.
We are finding out a lot of firsts with Harry, Being born in October and up north in Athabasca, he has never (we are guessing) seem a weed whacker or a lawn mower. The weed whacker is just a big game to him and wants to chase it, the lawn mower not so much, he must save his humans from it at all costs! I can hardly wait for his first thunderstorm. He has two stuffies that make actual animal sounds, or did, the first time he grabbed them and hit the right spot, he dropped it like a hot potato and barked at it, from a safe distance of course. He won't go near it again for hours, then it would start all over again, I now know what the insides look like of quite a few of these things, and the stuffing goes everywhere. But I would not change it for the world. Harry makes me laugh and cry (too much like his big brother) and is just full of pure joy. Rescued dogs are the best.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
May 10, 2012
I just can't believe how much energy this little dog has!
Harry is settling in pretty good,with the exception of a few things, chewing! And I just read that puppies teeth up to and beyond12 months old, eh gads! Oliver had a big basket of almost perfect toys, well not anymore, have of them are missing stuffing and actual body pieces, it is incredible, and there is two toys that scare him to death, they make growling sounds. He will pick them out and play with them until he hits the magic button and then the rodeo is on. It is too funny.
And can he sleep, not just a catnap here and there, but real red eye sleep. But then if he is sleeping he isn't chewing. So far he has chewed through my picnic blanket in the car, TV cable ( just the outside one going to the garage), my very prized GUND teddybear, totally my fault, it was on the floor by his bed, all the pine cones in the back yard, grass clipping from the neighbours, arms, legs, chins etc.
Oh the fun of a puppy and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thank you Oliver for bring Harry into our lives.
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