Walkin' Tails

MWBTR on The Morning Show

2010-02-16T20:46:00.001-08:00

One Love

2010-01-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

Today's video stars put on a great performance - running, sniffing, chasing and bouncing.

Thank you to the Cast:

Godiva...the Pitbull/Terrier pup

Nova.....the Pug/Beagle

Hayley....the Boston Terrier

Mika....the Bull Mastiff

AND

Princess....the sweet Shepard/Husky

Gone Video

2009-12-28T19:06:00.000-08:00

This is a video of my pup Cookie, taken from last summer. She goes bonkers for plastic milk jugs. In case you are wondering...no, the speed of the video was NOT increased - she really is just spazzy.

Souls

2009-11-23T20:20:00.000-08:00

Have been away from the shelter for several months. This look is the reason why I am back.

Dog Days of Summer

2009-07-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Summer goes fast. Work goes slow. Time is only the moment. The lack of posts is a subtle reminder of that. The format of this blog will be changing. To what? No idea. Probably will consist of thoughts, dreams - and of course the wonderful dogs that I meet.

cookie the drunken sailor

Carry on,

Katie

its not easy being green

2009-05-18T20:18:00.001-07:00

Green. Everything is green -- like a leprechaun's dream. Thinking that these dogs also dream in green. They laid, rolled and sniffed the green grass. Enjoyed spending time with them.

Oreo. This dog is so affectionate. Underneath all that fur and fluff is a big heart - a sweet heart.

Lacey the coonhound. Awesome hound with a swell sniffer and good set of ears.

Some dogs simply crack me up. Bronson is on the top of the list. He has so much energy! Runs and runs. Chases the ball while barking at it. Jumps and swivels in the air. Its all too funny.

Keep on Keepin on...

Dog Shelter 101

2009-05-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

Wow my grade school teachers were right - basic arithmetic IS useful in everyday life.

Ranger Love

2009-04-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

Not exactly sure what happened with Ranger from the first time I met him and today. Either way, he found a good home at a place I pray to be some day.

posted january 25

Ranger to the rescue. Before we reached the door to go outside, Ranger gently jumped up to me and gave me a big ol kiss on the face. At that point, I knew I would love this dog. We went straight to the run area. Ranger is super friendly and playful. His run is much like a Wolf's - very graceful. On our walk he was in tune with me and his surroundings. Rejected my treats, but still I will say Ranger is quite the awesome dog.

R N R

2009-04-22T21:49:00.000-07:00

When you haven't been feeling the best, nothing helps better than a McDonald's ice cream cone and long naps. Can't wait to get back on my feet fully and meet those dogs.

Signs of Spring

2009-04-12T21:31:00.001-07:00

Guilty. I fell asleep watching the Masters on Sunday and was late to volunteer. Trekked through the woods with Mallory (a dog) and sniffed some trails with Justin (a dog). Found some GIANT clam shells along the river and a tree that some deer chewed on for a snack. Thinking Mallory wanted to swim, so I had a tight grip on her leash. Anyways here are some snapshots.

T'was one peaceful Easter.

A mIGHTY wIND

2009-04-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you baby Jesus for the ball thrower.

Falling for this Corona.

Guess what's in Suzie's mouth.

banana peel.

See ya next time!

Art Inspiration

2009-04-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

Need art inspiration? I do.

Cookie Goes Acrylic

2009-03-29T20:24:00.001-07:00

My camera ran out of juice today, so not one picture was taken. Instead here is a painting I did this weekend. Much easier to take a picture of a dog that paint one.

He was an Afghan Hound name Kabul. Since him I have had other Afghan Hounds.... Perhaps I am looking for his ghost. He is the only one that I sometimes think about. Often, if he comes in to my mind when I am working, it alters what I do. The nose on the face I am drawing gets longer and sharper. The hair of the woman I am sketching gets longer and fluffy, resting against her cheeks like his ears rested against his head. -Pablo Picasso

"Super Size Me"

2009-03-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

If my dog Cookie got her everyday wish to be magicaly super-sized into a larger dog, Vincent would be the end product. Both Vincent and Cookie look similar and act similar. Although I never heard Vincent bark. Vincent managed to run in huge circles in a rectangle run area, never stopped moving. Great Spirit.

Felt guilty about spending time with a dog so similar to my own, that I decided to take Cookie out on some walking trails. Now I have a stinky dog and a clear conscience.

Happy Weekend!

Corona for Breakfast

2009-03-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Corona. Played some quick fetch -- Corona loved to chomp on the ball to make it squeak. Squeak squeak squeak over and over again. Simply loved the attention and treats. First time with this dog and I can conclude that this Corona es Especial.

As long as Alfie is around, he will make the posts.

No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. -Christopher Morley

Iditarod 2009

2009-03-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

Thinking there are some tired dogs out in Alaska. Today, the first sled dog team has crossed the finish line for the 2009 Iditarod. Lance Mackey has won for the third straight year and has turned into a mushing legend. The Iditarod covers 1,161 miles through the wonderful weather elements of Alaska. The Iditarod is amazing to me as my dog struggles to pee outside when it is below 30 degrees.

If we honor the first musher to cross the finish line, we must also honor the last. A red lantern is awarded to the last musher to finish. The longest time for a Red Lantern was 32 days, 15 hours, nine minutes and one second by John Schultz in 1973. Not sure what takes more guts - to finish first or to simply finish?

Irish Blessing

2009-03-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your belly

May the rains fall soft in your bowl

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palms of his hands

Buddha Dogs

2009-03-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ike the hound. Ike should be on the show CSI -- he is a master sniffer and would be awesome at tracking the bad guy. Strange noises startled Ike and he was pretty timid overall. Sweet dog that needs patience and oh yes a crime scene to investigate.

Ginger the giant. Great dog that loved the walk. Ginger found out what frozen puddles are all about. And no I did not reward her with dirt treats, Ginger's tongue is really that color.

Alfie is still a pup. Now that Alfie is a bit older, he can go outside for his walks - yeah! So everything was fun and games when we were outside. A leaf that would blow across our path was pretty much the greatest thing for Alfie. And I never did realize how much litter there is until Alfie pointed it out by picking up each piece. I am beginning to fall for this pup.

A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.

-Buddha

Confused

2009-03-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

Although the exact circumstances of this case is unknown to me, I feel that I know enough to write a post. It is the principle of what happened rather than the exact details.

Violet, a puppy mill survivor dog, was brought into EBHS back in November. With time she shelled out into a happy, trusting dog. Violet was eventually adopted out to a seemingly sane new home until it was recently discovered that she had endured some severe abuse - robbed again. Thankfully, Violet was brought back into EBHS and is now being cared for by a loving responsible family.

Underneath all the feelings I have towards this situation, is confusion. Simple confusion. So if anyone is able explain to me why people act like they do, I would love to hear from you. At this point, my only answer is that abusers must wake up each morning, yawn, stretch, look themselves in the mirror while combing through their greasy hair and confidently say to themselves, "I am going to fuck shit up today. I am going to fuck shit up real good."

Until I have more of an explanation I can only hope. Hope that people will begin to learn more from their dogs rather than beat them down. Dogs have a lot to teach us. I promise.

as it is

2009-03-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

~keeping thoughts to myself this week~

Ruby Newton

2009-02-25T19:08:00.000-08:00

Vibrant. Soulful. Imaginative. Spiritual. Amazing. There you have it - Ruby Newton Pet Masterpieces. Two entrepreneurial artists whose "humble goal is to make people smile". Each unique painting brings out a feeling from the perspective of YOUR dog or cat or whatever pet you may love.

When I first saw these paintings, the colors and angles drew me in. Many of the models were at one time cared for at EBHS. When speaking with one of the artists, Jennifer commented, "Do you recognize her? That's Georgia." Amazing - there was Georgia. To think, as these animals patiently waited for a family to meet them at EBHS, they were being beautifully portrayed on canvas.

Not only do I love these paintings for their unique artistry - but Ruby Newton artwork is truly affordable and part of the proceeds go directly to EBHS. Who can argue with that?

Disclaimer: I was in no way bribed to write this. I simply wish good for people who do good.

http://www.rubynewton.com/

Fresh Tracks

2009-02-22T16:39:00.001-08:00

The white stuff has arrived. Happy day for some snow loving dogs.

Ace thought he was working the runway on our walk. All about just walking and looking good. Never stopped to sniff or never paused to listen to an unknown sound - kept the same speed the entire time. Ace was out for a walk and meant it.

Moxie loved to run in the snow and actually is quite a good jumper. Got some good air with the football I must say. For her strength, walked fantastically on the leash.

Mallory again in glory. I found a trail that led to a river. It was so pretty we decided to make some fresh tracks. This dog also LOVED the fresh white stuff - would just hop around and give herself face washes. I truly must say this dog is GREAT. Her high spirit is contagious.

Presenting Ace. We walked for a short bit outside until Ace wanted to head back in - he was freezing his ace off. After walking around inside, we found ourselves in the cat room for some time. Sweet sweet dog.

Alfie the pup. At 5 months, Alfie wasn't able to get outside, so I stepped inside his kennel area. This puppy is getting bigger each week. Which reminds me - why is this dog still here?

Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative.

-Mordecai Siegal

a good dog day

2009-02-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

Today was a good day. Was able to leave work early and meet these dogs on a busy Friday. The sun was shining and it was all good.

Moxie. Loved to eat snow - so I let Moxie know there should be some fresh white stuff arriving as soon as tomorrow. She was pleased with the news. Walked Awesomely on the leash.

Kisses the dog. I say that because she is now acting like a dog. Playing, taking treats, waggin her tail, chasing tennis balls, yadda yadda yadda. This all took me by surprise and I am happy that Kisses is becoming herself.

Mallory in all her glory. This dog's coat has got it going on. Her tail is like a big sail. And her coat is tan in color near the roots. Difficult to describe. Much like a Beautiful, Soft, Large Guinea Pig.

Roo needs to be smoking a pipe with circle glasses like Sherlock Holmes as this dog is smart enough to solve mysteries. At 5 months, Roo showed me how she is able to sit patiently and shake.

Thanks to everyone who reads my blog - which may not be many. I appreciate the opportunity to meet these dogs every week. Until next time, keep on keepin on.

Signs

2009-02-17T18:11:00.001-08:00

These are some dog signs I came across while looking around in flickr.com. To quote a big hair band, sign sign everywhere a sign. blocking out the scenery breaking my mind....
Well put Tesla, well put.

Peace People.

If a dog were your teacher

2009-02-17T17:27:00.000-08:00

If a dog were your teacher you would learn:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride

When it's in your best interest: practice obedience

Stretch before rising

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass

On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree

Never pretend to be something you are not

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk

- wise author unknown

Action in the Sky

2009-02-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

Beautiful day. Geese were flockin and we were walkin. Spotted a hawk, who also spotted us. Circled us for a bit and disappeared.

Moxie the Rottie. Sweet dog that was curious about everything. Headed off the road so Moxie could sniff around more.

Kisses finally came around to take a treat from me. Not sure if she was simply too stressed before to even think about it. Soft as a little lamb. I loved seeing her tail up today when we walked - a good sign of things to come.

Alfie the pup. Yup he is a puppy. Loved to tackle me with kisses. It's all about play time with this guy. Dropped my sunglasses and of course Alfie tried to bring them back to me -- that didn't go so well. When the treats were brought out, Alfie sat patiently like a Prince. Great temperament.

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.

-Phil Pastoret

Tennis Ball Graveyard

2009-02-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

Mix a little sun with some warm-ER temps and its time to harvest the tennis ball crop.

TEN-HUT! Attention please for Sarge the puppy. All you need to entertain Sarge is a shoe lace, pair of beat up pants and a leash to chase.

Rhylynn and her ears. Tiny pup with big ears. It would be like duct taping two satellite dishes on a five year old's head. And yes on our walk we did stop frequently to listen to the sounds on Enterprise Road. Very affectionate. LOVED to be held.

Benson. What a teddy bear. Benson is a dog that seems to be taken out of a children's book. Walked great on the leash - needs some mud flaps though. We would sprint at times. Benson is smart. Knew when it was time to slow down. One volunteer said he is Majestic. I will have to agree to that. Majestic indeed.

I did it again. Forgot a dog's name. For the sake of this post, I will name him Chug - he is a Chihuahua Pug mix of some sort. The name suits him though. On our walk he pulled like a train. chug-a-chug-a. Super HAPPY dog.

Belinda the beautiful. On our walk Belinda was always aware of where I was. In fact, in the beginning, she would not walk ahead of me. Towards the end though she became more comfortable to race ahead. When I would stop, Melinda would do some sort of army crawl towards me. Great dog - very friendly.

I've said it before and I will say it again. Big hearts pull together to ensure that these good dogs find loving homes. In the short time that I have been volunteering here, I have such more of an appreciation of what these people do day in and day out. These dogs are on their way thanks to the endless devotion of EBHS.

Embrasse le Chien

2009-02-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

Kisses the Dog. She's a bit stressed out I feel. Needs hugs more than kisses. Didn't mind me brushing her super soft coat. Affectionate dog that is saving her kisses for another day.

XOXOXO Kisses

Ugh! I've been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs! Get hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some Iodine! -Lucy Van Pelt (Peanuts, 1965)

The Dude

2009-01-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

This moment is so special it deserves a post. Every week since I have been volunteering, The Dude has been there in his same kennel as other dogs have come and gone. Yesterday over the phone, I discovered that The Dude had found a family and would be going home that day. I nearly cried. I couldn't have been happier. Now I truly do believe that good dogs can find loving homes no matter how long it takes.
Ironically, the night prior I had just finished a book - The Dogs Who Found Me. It's about a young writer/teacher who helps find medical attention and homes to stray dogs who cross his path in life. He struggles with letting them go and will forever wonder how they are doing. Now I understand. The Dude is the last of the dogs that remain since I began volunteering at EBHS in early November. I am forever grateful for dogs like The Dude, for what they have taught me.

Peace Dude.

Numb Face

2009-01-25T16:46:00.001-08:00

Walked a young pup and two German Shepherd mixes. Now I can confidently say that there is not a breed of dog that I do not like.

My why what big ears you have Freida. All the better to hear with Katie. Does this face say it all? Sweet sweet dog. Walked great on the leash and just took everything in.

Pippen. Super soft young pup. Pippen's tail would be waggin waggin waggin while we were walkin. Strangely enough, her tail was always pointed to the sky. Maybe Pippen knew that she has been adopted and is going home. Hip Hip Hooray Pippen!

A dog can never tell you what she knows from the smells of the world, but you know, watching her, that you know almost nothing...

-From Her Grave by Mary Oliver

Scout Called It

2009-01-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

WHAT ITS THE WEEKEND? YES!

This dog clearly knew it was Friday. Good call Scout.

Thawed Out

2009-01-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

Today I was refreshed by spending time with dogs who are taking in this Arctic Blast with open arms, well maybe not arms, you get the point. These dogs couldn't have been happier to dig, roll, sniff, run, walk and head dunk in the snow.

Welcome to the blog Shadow. I know I say this most of the time, so I will say it again. This dog is awesome. Being a lab we headed for the run area. First thing she did was roll in the fresh snow. Just rollin' rollin' rollin'. On our walk, which she walked like an angel, Shadow would just stop, dig her head in the snow and roll. Frickin' Awesome!

Roscoe. Another friend of the snow. We worked on retrieving and he was quite successful on selective throws. Soon enough it will be second nature. Roscoe is a strong pup and walks nicely on the leash when he is away from all the distractions. Roscoe thinks the snow on the nose look is in. I agree.

Jack the Lab. Once Jack got outside, he was one happy dog. Jack is a mover and a shaker. Played some quick fetch. Enjoyed every minute. High spirited.

Prince did it. Puffy did it. Why can't The Dude? The Dude is now referred to as Duke. If that helps him get a home, more power to you Dude. Lets face it - The Dude needs a palace quick style. Yes I will still call him The Dude. More fitting in my mind. Help! I am falling for this dog.

I used to look at (my dog) Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter, you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to'

-Fred Jungclaus

Long Day = Short Story

2009-01-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

Short story: Had a wonderful day out with the dogs. Tired me out, so lets get right to it.

This is a bad introduction. I do not remember this dog's name. However he is in luck as he has the cutest face. With this cute face comes a bad genetic disorder. Non-photogenicism. Seriously this dog wants nothing to do with the camera. Awesome dog, just not a fan of the Canon.

Josie the Iditarod qualifier. Feather-light weight class division of course. Also would probably rule at King of the Mountain. Loved to climb up the mounds of snow and bolt.

Snow the German Shepherd. Seeing the massive size of this dog, we went straight to the run area. After a short while, I noticed that Snow was leaving little drops of blood. So we went inside and had it looked at. Snow had a tiny cut under her nail. We then had to spend some time indoors which pretty much meant that I handed over all my treats pronto. In case you were wondering like me, Snow is also a Canadian rapper with the 1993 one-hit The Informer. Which one would I rather throw a ball to? Tough question.

The Dude abides. Each week The Dude is getting better about his possessive behavior. Now when he retrieves the ball, he drops it and lets me pick it up. This may not seem like much, but it is a big step for The Dude and I am proud of him. Encouraged by The Dude's latest hurdle, I did a little research on dudeism and found a great site - http://www.dudesim.com/ - The Church of The Latter-Day Dude.

Dunkin with Oreo. Although, I have never had the pleasure of walking a fresh sheered sheep, I bet it would look much like my walk with Oreo today. Sweet dog. baaaaa.

Relcome Roscoe. Tons of energy. Roscoe loves to run after the ball - after being the key word. The ball never rolled back my way. Half way through our time in the run area today, Roscoe started to show signs of actual retrieving. With added encouragement Roscoe did it! He is now retrieving the ball. Either he learned this today or I was being played. I can be a sucker.

No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation -- Fran Lebowitz

Dog Poo Poetry Contest

2009-01-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

Aspen held a Dog Poo Poetry Contest back in July to gain awareness of their - um, dog poop problem. Below is one of many submissions to the contest. It wasn't a winner.

Dear citizens of Aspen...please gather around

I offer some suggestions for your star-studded town

We heard up in Jackson, the town of old trappers

That doggies down there aren't using their crappers

The owners it seems let their dogs dump on grass

And are fastidious as they clean Spotty's shit dripping ass

But the soft mushy waste that was dropped from his rear

Is left undisturbed for reasons unclear

Despite laws that define this infraction

The citizens continue their shit leaving crap action

So may I suggest a plan from our place

Just pick up the stinky and toss it in the face

Of the owner of the dog that left the brown roll

And tell them that's how they do it in the Hole

You'll find it's effective although somewhat rude

But no shit will be left behind once it starts to extrude

- Author unknown, however my sister lives in Jackson Hole...

Here is a link to view all the submissions:
http://www.aspenrecreation.com/media/pdf/DogWeb2.pdf

This reminds me,

Don't know what to do with all your plastic bags WITHOUT holes?

Bring them into the Elmbrook Humane Society. We use them and need them.

WinterTrax QVC Style

2009-01-04T16:21:00.001-08:00

A friend of mine, whom shall remain nameless, has a slight addiction to QVC and for that I am grateful. She hooked me up with WINTERTRAXs. They work AWEsomely. Just slap them on and you are ready to party. I never slipped once on the massive amounts of ice we have. Okay onto the dogs.

Musette the pup. Certain dogs simply make me laugh. Musette is one of them. Walked well on a leash and sometimes fought well with the leash -- that's the puppy in him. Definitely has the potential to reach high speeds. Despite his lack of coat, Musette handled the cold wind with the best of them.

Gunther the pup. Gunther TCB'd today - took care of business. Walked well on the leash, found the treats in my pocket, fetched the ball and pulled the drawstring out of my pants (pic#2).

The Dude cracks me up. When we were outside, out of nowhere he bolts to an area of snow and starts digging. digging. digging. digging. SHAZAAM! Another tennis ball. Then when we were inside, The Dude sneaks into a room and manages to grab two plush toys to take back to his kennel. All I can say is this Dude has got it going on.

Monson the dog. After a couple cracks through some puddles, we both figured out what thin ice means. Sweet dog that just wants to get out there.

On a side note - Tucker is back in Iso. He was unable to handle the stress. Tucker is a wonderfully spirited dog, I hope he finds comfort soon...

Cheers

2009-01-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

Like Cool & The Gang once said, Celebrate Good Times Come On. Its has been awhile since I have been in to volunteer and I was overcome with joy today. When I walked past the kennels, three were empty. These three dogs below have found their way. Not that others have not, its that these are ones that I got to know a bit. Raise your glass. Cheers to you Mystic. Cheers to you Buddy. Cheers to you Allegra.

Now with that being said, here are the dogs that I was able to spend some time with today.

Tucker! Tucker is out of ISO. Yea! I love this dog. His enthusiasm and curiosity is the best. Tucker was in an altercation with another dog and was in isolation for some time. Now he is able to be taken outside by the dog walkers.

The Dude. Dude, you might not be as lean as the others, but you are the best at fetch - like the Energizer Bunny. Found out today that The Dude loves to be chased when he has the tennis ball. Yup you guessed it, I will be sore tomorrow.

Roscoe. Roscoe has those floppy hound ears that bounced when he ran. After we took some time in the run area, he walked much better on the leash. Just needs to get out some energy. Not bashful to stick his nose in my treat pocket. Adorable. Affectionate.

Georgia the pup. Still upholding her soft puppy coat. This is another affectionate dog. Georgia was happy to be on a walk, but was also happy to have someone beside her. If I would stop, she would turn around and come straight towards me with her puppy prance. That never got old.

Josie. Yet again another great dog. Has a great tracking nose. Was following some serious scent trail for awhile with her nose to the ground. Pretty much went like this: go to the right. go back. wait. false alarm go forward. go back again. go left. dig. nope. go sideways. circle around me clockwise. go towards that tree. nope. go back in the street. go right. go back again. circle around me once more. go to the snowbank. dig. alas.

In this worldwide unrest that we so rightfully hear about every moment from the media, it is comforting to know that those who care about these animals have been staying true. These simple souls are finding their way. So with that, keep on keeping on people.

Peanut Butter Puppy Poppers

2008-12-26T23:25:00.000-08:00

Okay okay, I did it. I made homemade dog treats. To my surprise though they were quick to make, inexpensive and my dog LOVES them. Here is the recipe just in case... http://www.bullwrinkle.com/

Peanut Butter Puppy Poppers

2 cups whole-wheat flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)

1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375'F. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.

Hello Christmas Good-bye Christmas

2008-12-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

Spent time with some familiar faces today, besides the family. These are a couple of my favorite dogs at the Humane Society, The Dude and Buddy. Not quite certain why they continue to stay at the shelter. Not quite certain why they continue to make my day better each time I do see them.

Thought I would kiss Christmas good-bye with pictures of my pup Cookie and my sister's dogs, Ellie and Cowboy. All were rescued from local shelters.

Short post this time around. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Christmas Tree Sappy

2008-12-14T20:01:00.000-08:00

This particular blog had the potential to be very sappy, Christmas Tree Sappy, so I toned it down a bit. When I went for my walking session, the volunteers had Holiday Music playing. It was nice and I thought to myself - what would these dog's Christmas Wishes be? So with that in mind...

Name: Mystic
Christmas Wishes: Someone to walk with me through tall grasses and deep snow. I would love to be in the country where I can track new scents. My nose works good. I would also like to have anything stinky to roll around in.

Name: Sugar Plum

Christmas Wishes: I would like calm days, you see the wind blows my floppy ears around. Longer legs to romp around in the snow of course. And please conditioner to maintain my coat's softness. Oh yes and mostly I wish for a face to lick and kiss.

Name: Buddy

Christmas Wishes: Black fur coat, so I won't have the bother to clean up after playing in the mud. Another pink ball - just in case I lose my favorite one. Oh yes and a treadmill.

Name: Georgia

Christmas Wishes: I wish for someone to crouch down and talk to me. I am smart. I walk real well on a leash for my age, so I guess I would wish for someone to lead me and I can point since I am a Pointer mix of somesort, so they tell me.

Names: Orchid and Petunia

Christmas Wishes: Anything! We are puppies, look at US! Just look at us! We are AH-DORABLE! We want anything! Your coat! Your treats! Paper toweling! Plastic bags! Your camera! Your camera strap! Your coat zipper! Anything!

That wasn't so sappy, was it?

Rafter

2008-12-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

Came across a song writer/singer, Rafter. Video is above - or - link is below. The Illustrations were done by Dax Norman. The video has dogs in it, so as they say -- its all good neighbor.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGe_QVPAkmw&eurl=&feature=player_embedded

Where the frick are the tennis balls

2008-12-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

Popeye and B-I-N-G-O. They room together, so was able to take them both out at one time. Strange thing - they were more challenging to walk than the Weimaraners. One dog is frightened of the blue post office boxes and one dog wants to attack moving cars. Its all good until a car drives past at the same point you are walking past the post office boxes. Oh yes and Bingo also barks like crazy at geese that are flying in the air. I have come to notice that there are a lot of geese flying around these days. Hopefully Popeye and Bingo are resting up after our running around. I think they could place in the Iditarod.

Alright, I am a bad dog walker. This dog's name has totally escaped me. I will kindly name her Polar Bear, Polar for short. Polar left a big impression on me. She loved to play in the exercise area, even though all the tennis balls were buried in the snow. Loved to pet her - her coat is super duper soft. Probably was in one of those toilet paper commercials as a puppy. Did I mention she is totally photogenic? Polar would hear the beep of my camera and would hold still until the flash went off. When she would run her ears would go straight back, I think to listen for me as she never pulled on the leash. Polar has an adorable face that matches her personality.

Its a hard knock life for us. This is Annie. Sorry I just have the one picture of her. She was a mover and groover. Being part Chihuahua, the outside chill was not her favorite. We spent some time playing in a cat room, play mice are fun and Annie didn't mind - its all the same anyways. Loved to sit on my lap and relax. Super friendly dog that just loved to be by someone.

Alright so all the tennis balls are buried. I went inside to track down some more and with great success I found a big box full of toys. I grabbed the brightest colored one I could find - pink YES! Buddy loved to hit the ball with his paw to bury it and then dig it up again. He was happy as a clam and so was I - well maybe not a clam, but happy nonetheless.

On a side note. Every dog that I have met here is simply AWEsome and also everyone I have met here have been incredibly friendly. There are big hearts that work to ensure that these animals are on their way to finding loving homes, which they certainly deserve. If you know of anyone who is wanting to support pet adoption, please forward them this link. Spread the word like warm butter on bread.
Katie

Ice Ice Baby (da da da dadada)

2008-12-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

High of what? Who cares. The sides of the roads are now ice, which pretty much left me with walking down the middle of the road or in the snow. I have come to accept the fact that I will indeed slip and fall at some point walking these dogs.

So with that attitude I decided to run with the two Weimaraners, Eli and Miles, even after hearing a comment of my bravery. They are five years old and were raised together - hopefully that will remain the case. When I brought them together to be walked, they were so happy to see eachother. Like old pals, meeting at the bar. And yes they are really that shiny and yes they really do walk right next to one another. Miles is wider than Eli, but I reassured him that was okay with more treats.

O'Charlie boy. Charlie is high spirited and loves to give kisses. We had a few things on our agenda. Worked on the command sit. Combed the hair do. Learned how to self-rescue from deep snow.

Charlie spotting something in the snow.

Charlie about to stick his snout in the snow.

Charlie now walking with a snow mustache.

It was a short visit today, but I am grateful to have meet these new faces and play with some familar ones too. Keep on keepin on.

That would be snow

2008-11-30T19:39:00.000-08:00

Why didn't I listen to Bart Adrian and wear suitable clothes? The day started out nice, no snow. Then the afternoon hit and my jeans were slushy, my shoes were soaked and my hair was ratted. Next time Bart, next time. Met many new dogs today and actually was able to sneak in some puppy lovin'.

Muffin met some new friends. Two Weimaraners had recently been surrendered and are waiting to have their temperment tests completed in order to be placed on the adoption list. I slipped them some treats through the fence courtesy of Muffin.

Gotta love Buddy. He is just trying to do his part and pick up litter that he finds. Today he found a Coke bottle. Buddy carried it just about all the way back, but allowed me to pick up the dirty slimy bottle and finish up the job. I guess we are a team Buddy.

Meet Tommy B, don't ask what the B stands for. His litter mate had been adopted, so I was happy to spend some indoor time with Tommy B. Young puppies aren't allowed outside for health purposes. He was amazed by my coat zipper and never bit me once with those razor sharp puppy teeth. Props to you Tommy B props. Also please note - a puppy is quite difficult to photograph, especially when you are in the kennel.

Georgia is an older pup, so I was able to take her outside. She liked to chase me rather than tennis ball, maybe she is still too young for that kind of action. Anyways she still has her puppy belly and loved to have her jelly belly rubbed.

Libby the pup. Libby was very attentive to me and walked awesomely. In fact she prances much like a show dog or a horse. Her front legs lift up high and kind of flip. Its graceful to watch. Could care less about the snow and wanted to be by my side. Sweet puppy.

Can't forget about The Dude. What can I say? The Dude loves everything. I didn't expect him to not love the snow. His only discouragement was when he lost the tennis ball, as it would roll into a snowball. The Dude also attempted to make a Dude snow angel. It's okay Dude I totally saw the angel.

Welcome to the blog Princess. Princess loved to have her pictures taken. In fact I think she winked at me. We started out walking along and she was simply so happy. I thought as long as this dog's tail is a waggin', I'll keep on a walkin'. Well we ran out of time and eventually had to head back. First opportunity to spend time with her and she was a princess indeed.

Without question here are a couple snapshots of Stephan rhomping in the snow, which he loved. At the end of our short rhomp, he had snowballs latched onto his legs and belly. I didn't notice it at the time, but I think he tried to catch some flakes on his tongue. See it in the first picture?

Keep on keeping on,

Katie

In the world which we know, among the different and primitive geniuses that preside over the evolution of the several species, there exists not one, excepting that of the dog, that ever gave a thought to the presence of man. ~Maurice Maeterlinck

Gearing Up

2008-11-29T21:43:00.000-08:00

Alright I am ready to sport the long johns for tomorrow's walkin - Bart Adrian is calling for snow. Sorry photos of that fashion show will not be included. Here are a few dogs from my last visit. All runners might I add.

Muffin. Truly some awesome tennis ball work Muffin. You did well. This dog has the bluest eyes and soft soft ears. Could be a doggy model. Look out Queen Latifah.

Here is Misty. All around great dog, very sweet. When walking Misty, it reminded me of the Bob Marley song Misty Morning. Unfortunately I could only remember one line...Misty mornin, dont see no sun, I know you are out there somewhere having fun. Well anyways I had to look up the lyrics as that one line kept circling in my head. Here it is for anyone who is interested.

Misty mornin, dont see no sun;I know youre out there somewhere having fun.There is one mystery - yea-ea-eah - I just cant express:To give your more, to receive your less.One of my good friend said, in a reggae riddim,Dont jump in the water, if you cant swim.The power of philosophy - yea-ea-eah - floats through my headLight like a feather, heavy as lead;Light like a feather, heavy as lead, yeah.

Buddy making his blog debute again. Buddy shaked things up a little and opted to have me chase him with the tennis ball thrower rather than actually fetch up a tennis ball. Wise choice Buddy as I also got some exercise. Buddy is learning how to walk quite well on a leash, had a very nice time.

Stay true - one day at a time.

Katie

Little Foggy

2008-11-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

Good thing I took some trusty notes. These are dogs that I walked last week. Here they are in their true noted form.

Stephan

pretty dang smart

making progress on trusting people

loves to get outside and prance

gotta love him

Violet

piss off puppy mill

Violet has gone to a good home

The Dude

staying true

classic dog

loves everything

Muffin

name should be Frank as in Frank Sinatra as in ol' Blue Eyes

throw that tennis ball

please throw that tennis ball

seriously dont be lame, throw that tennis ball

Popeye

if Popeye could use a swiss army knife...

he would carve his name into the street

has something to tell the post office boxes

yo quero fiero hydrants

rub my belly rub my belly rub my belly

Allegra
tiny little pup who likes to sport the cardigan

her three good legs beat me on my two good legs

lap dog indoors, play dog outdoors

lookin forward to our race rematch

sweet heart sweet heart sweet heart

Lilly

part corgie part boston terrier part awesome

liked to carry street litter and also her leash

my pants ripped bending down to pet her, buy more duct tape

refused my treats, wtf Lilly?

soft as downy

Tucker

someone or something is still smuggling him Red Bull

his vertical jump has increased an inch or so

now has a harness, which is cramping his mohawk

stitches in foot is healing

amazed at how fast his little tails moves

happy happy happy

Till next time, peace people.

Puffy Coat Time

2008-11-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, I made a point to grab my camera in an attempt to capture the many personalities of these dogs. It was cold, so I wore my big puffy coat which thankfully the dog that loves stuffing didn't notice. If I was a dog, I would probably want to shred up my coat too. Here are the dogs I treked around with.

Sweet Stephan. He has a curled up tail like a Pug and a run like Forrest Gump. Stephan came from a puppy mill, so he is a bit shy to people. After some warming up though, we did some running. Stephan has a super cute face that warmed me up on that cold Sunday. I must admit though, I am biased as I had a Lhaso Apso growing up.

Welcome to the Blog Buddy. He loved to stretch out his long legs and make me run around in circles. Had some sort of gallop to his run, looked as though he was attempting to skip. Loved to chase tennis balls - torn up ones or brand new ones, doesn't matter. Cute face and enjoyed my short amount of time with Buddy.

The Dude. Again, holy tennis ball action. He loved the walk and loved chasing those dang tennis balls. He has beautiful eyes and a very playful personality. The Dude's favorite drink is a White Russian.

Violet. Sweet Violet. Loves to snuggle and lay on your lap. After running around outside, I brought her in for quiet time as she arrived from a puppy mill. In a couple minutes she was all snuggled in my lap and let out a big sigh of relief. We sat there for awhile just relaxing and enjoying the peace.

Meet Tucker. Very spring loaded. He never jumped on me, just goes straight up in the air. Maybe he is hopped up on Red Bull. Frisbee dog? Tucker has long hair along his back and didn't mind to have it styled in a mohawk. Sweet dog. Recently had his paw stitched up, so unable to take him on a long walk. We had some good play time though indoors.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Feel free to comment below.
-Katie