Very Cold, but LETS Find CHIPPIES!

The temps have been sub-zero towards the end of most evenings.  Our oldest Corgi, Sissy, loves the winter snows with all her Corgi Heart!  Her favorite thing to do, when I will let her, is to go DRILLING for CHIPMUNKS!  These aren't the best photos, but taken out the window in our "Observation Room", it was the best I could do for now!  I don't want to be brave and freeze my fingers off!

She looked so satisfied at the end of "the chase"!  Nothing better than a Corgi Fulfilled!
Have a great day -

Welsh Corgi Dogs - a Wonderfully Adaptive Breed of Dog

Right now there are a couple of us Corgi loving dog owners going through the same thing. A friend of mine has a dog that's a "look-alike" for my Sissy dog, and heart breaking enough for the both of us, we have each discovered our little look-alike has tumors.

Coincidentally enough (during this time as we await our appointments to see if there are any options available for our dogs), this video has been circulating Lakeshore Pembroke Welsh Corgi Rescue, which you know I support with sales from my etsy shops. The dog, Cindy, had surgery to remove tumors which resulted in an amputation of her front leg. Look closely as you watch it - her left front leg is missing, but she is getting along just fine! It is nothing spectacular in it's production, but I thought I would share it, to show that ordinary dogs can get through an ordinary day despite their disabilities.


Ever Hopeful -

My Favorite Funny

Have a great day!

Tuesdays' Show and Tail

It's time for Tuesdays' Show & Tail'! Please visit our host, Angela, at West Virginia Treasures! If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!
As many of you know, I've owned many unforgettable animals throughout my life. One of them was "Target". The dog pictured above is a "reasonable facsimile" of Target - I don't have a picture of her in my collection. My X-husband brought her home, the runt of a litter, and no one wanted her. We soon discovered why.

I do not recall her actual "given" name, but Target is the name I called her by. She had a large circular spot on her side, just begging to be utilized. She had no 'sense' at all - when out for walks, she would run right under foot and trip you...no interest in the sights and scents of nature. My X always thought he "needed" a dog to hunt with, and our past was littered with the rejected canines of REAL huntsmen. Target was one of the many.

She was very petite and cute, but I soon began to dislike her immensely. She could not be housebroken - she was a very dirty dog. I've had great success housebreaking many a dog with several methods and combination of methods I use. But as much as I tried, nothing worked with Target. As she grew, she only seemed interested in becoming a lap dog of sorts - she did not want to work birds or go out on her own, which proved dangerous for anyone carrying a loaded gun - ya ain't gunna wanna trip on yer dawg!

I finally succeeded in talking my X into rehoming Target. I often wondered if she was oxygen deprived before birth.But whatever the reason, with my frayed nerves every time I looked at her, it wasn't in her best interest to keep on with her training. We sent her "down the road", Godspeed!

Have a Dandy Day!

Animal Abuse

Yesterday I posted an article that was passed on through Lakeshore Welsh Corgi Rescue - about an overweight dog frozen to the ground. A portion of a follow-up email concerning the dog can be read below:

If I remember the story correctly the poor guy went outside on one of those days when it was raining/wet and above freezing and the temp was falling like a rock. The owner, an older woman could not get him up or even move the poor guy and he was outside until very late at night or I think it was the next morning. The vet on the news said the fat probably saved the guy as the overnight temps were in something like the single digits.

As you are probably aware, as an animal lover I have posted about animal abuse before, be it the hens in the chicken battery confines or the Raccoon Dogs being raised in China for fur. In the USA, we may be guilty of treating our animals TOO well sometimes, and unthinkingly causing their health issues, such as the Border Collie mix reported on by the news article.

We don't really know why the dog was removed from the home. Perhaps the owner was elderly, wheel chair bound or otherwise impaired, and may have needed care taking herself. I feel badly that the dog had to be removed, but there are so many possible circumstances that are not mentioned. We can only guess, and hope the owner has handled the situation with grace and that she is doing well herself.
Each culture in our world has its own views and perceptions in care-taking of the animal kingdom. Some value all living creatures and treat them with the dignity they deserve. Others follow religious culture, such as the Sacred Cows that are held in such high esteem that even though families are starving, they refuse to slaughter a cow for food. I do not pretend to understand what drives people to do what they do as far as treatment of animals is concerned.

Last January a young fella living in our great state of Michigan was caught for animal abuse when a woman heard noises coming from a woods behind her house - she walked out and discovered a black lab, hanging by its neck from a tree, beaten badly about the body and head. She released the dog and followed the owner, reported him to the police, and he was given a 'slap on the wrist'. The owner said his dog had incurable cancer and putting the dog to sleep cost more than he could afford at the time. A bald faced lie! The public was outraged, and emails went flying! The news media was alerted and the story was well publicized. The slap on the wrist turned to a felony, and the public still believes that owners punishment should have been much stronger.

You can read about it by clicking HERE - but know that Chance survived beating, hanging, and antifreeze poisoning, and now has a loving home.

When we choose to be a caretaker, it is our job to do the best we can for the creatures we own by first becoming informed about their breed and type, their health needs and requirements, and to love them within limits set by the knowledge we have acquired. If they become too much of a burdeon to our budget, our lifestyle and way of life, then the animal should be re-homed to someone who will be a better owner and provide it with what it needs to finish its life story in dignity.

Love Your Dog - keep 'em slim!

Obese dog found frozen to a sidewalk slims down

Story user rating:

Published: Jan 25, 2010

SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. (AP) - A year after a "morbidly obese" dog froze to a Wisconsin sidewalk, the border collie mix has lost 40 pounds and is slowly returning to an active lifestyle. Jiffy is still portly, but his owner said he's finally moving "like a regular dog." The dog weighed about 120 pounds when he froze to the sidewalk in December 2008 in single-digit temperatures. His dense layers of fat probably helped him survive.

Afterward a court ordered Jiffy's owner to give him up.

Patty and Peter Geise of Sheboygan Falls said when they adopted Jiffy, he could barely step over a 4-inch-high pipe. Even then he had to rest afterward.

The Sheboygan Press reported that now he walks a mile at a normal pace.

Patty Geise said it's rewarding to see how much Jiffy has improved.

___

Information from: The Sheboygan Press, http://www.sheboygan-press.com

© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Button Up Your Overcoat!

There's been a change in the weather...I went outside this morning and my fingers were cold and numb within seconds of starting chores!!! With the 30 degree weather we've been having, it was downright balmy out, and I could go outside without having to wear a heavy coat for brief chores or to check the mail. I removed Suzy's red coat last weekend, and she rolled and rolled in the deep snow to banish the itchies! She's been coat-less for a week now, but, guess what???
It's "BLANKIE" time again! The weather reports tell us that rain is on the way...time to batten hatches, button overcoats, and heat up the critter water!

When it gets so cold out, I have to check for eggs a few times a day, ensuring they don't freeze. Once I found an egg that had frozen, and it had a large crack from stem to stern - the entire egg inside had frozen solid, and with not enought "head space", it had burst the shell! What a waste of a beautifully formed egg - and the hen had decorated it with little speckles, too! So sad.... I believe we've had what we call "the January Thaw", but it's back to the The Deep Freeze till spring!

Taking a Few Days Off for Christmas

I'll be taking the rest of the week off from blogging, and will be back Monday. That means: GET R DONE FRIDAY will return next week, as I have a lot to get done in the next few days; I'm sure you do too! I'll leave you with some pictures of the recent happenings at our place - enjoy!!! And, to each and every one of you, have a Blessed and Joyous Christmas!"What's going on TODAY....??? WHAZZZ-ZAT?!?"
"GOOD GRIEF!!!"

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

Pardon me, but I just HAVE to show this off! Lookie at what I won!!! And just in time for CHRISTMAS!!! It is an ACEO - an original miniature piece of art, created by Linda Brock, of her famous Corgi, "OC"! It is titled "Thanks, Santa!", and I just fell in love with it! (Go to OC and the gang's blog by clicking HERE!)When it arrived in the mail, there was no mistaking what it could be! Just LOOK at these STAMPS!!! They are pictures of none other than Linda's Corgis - and OC, especially! Aren't they just beautiful???The ACEO came packaged in this pretty and stylish tin, protected by plastic...It is signed and dated, and I did ask that she have "OC" place her Original Paw Print of Approval on the back, which she did! Isn't it just the sweetest thing???

Linda is one of the increasing number of artists creating ACEO's and offering them for sale on ebay. It is a great place to shop, and also to (perhaps!) WIN a unique artist original. ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Original - and they are 3.5 x 2.5 inch pieces of art work becoming so popular and very collectible.

Linda also wrote a book called "Little Dott Finds a Home" - a heart warming story for children (and adults as well!) which tells the story of Little Dott, but also reflects the love of God towards us and his creatures. I was fortunate enough to win my copy from a drawing she held a few months ago, so I can personally attest to the fact it is wonderful in every way! Details of how to purchase her book and other pieces of art can be found on her blog, and you can find Linda's contact information there as well! Her artwork and the story of Little Dott would make great gifts this Christmas season, and ANY time of the year, for that matter! Think: Birthdays...Valentines Day....or, "just because"!!! Thanks, Linda!!!

Have a great Monday!

Amazing New Career for a Service Dog Failure

No, this is not a Corgi, but it is awesome to watch. The song added to this short video is worth the listen as well!

Disposable Pets

Potbelly Pigs had become the rage several years ago, and people just had to have them! They were small (35 - 50 pound average) and they were introduced as house pets, were said to be very trainable to litter boxes, and were a novelty pet - not owned by everyone - and people were out to amaze their friends and neighbors! What FUN! - - - UNTIL - - - they they owned it for a short while. These pigs GREW, because people did not do their homework! Potbelly pigs will retain their smaller size only if fed small rations - 1 cup of "complete feed" per day, and perhaps a small treat here and there. They are so fun to feed! They can get up to 300 pounds in the blink of an eye!

Another problem folks ran into was how to train them. The pig is highly intelligent, but does not typically respond like a dog. Owners tended to give up in a short time. And piggies will run rampant! Eventually, the pig would get evicted to the yard, and ads would be posted for a free pig - and then, Potbelly Pig Adoption Centers came about.

When we lived in Illinois, my youngest son wanted one for his 4-H project. They had an Exotic Animal classification in the show book, and it seemed that would be a fun learning experience for him. He had previously won a Hampshire Hog in a "Greased Pig" catching contest, raising her up to 250 lbs for Fair Day - only to discover we had not looked at the rules thoroughly - Suzaleen was required to be entered in a CARCASS CLASS!!! That meant - - well - - you know....the funeral march would be played. We were saddened. But, an exotic animal would not have to be entered in such a morbid themed class, so we bought him a cute little piggy which he named "Johann".

Johann was spoiled, but was only allowed in the house for brief periods of supervised play, then it was back in the barn with him! He had a lovely clean pen filled with wood shavings, a corner for his feed, a corner for his sleep (with a heat lamp on cold nights), and his Poo Corner! We got him a harness, and tried to train him to walk on a leash. It was easier to housebreak him, let me tell you! But, I love animals and was determined to figure out what made that little boy tick! It finally came to me - Pigs do the opposite of what you want them to do! So, when I pulled forward on the leash, Johann would back up! Hmmmm...I tried my theory, and whatdoyouknow??? Pulling back on the leash and harness made Johann go FORWARD! PROGRESS!!! The rest was so very simple - pull right to go left, pull left to go right - I was ON TO SOMETHING!!!

Johann learned any new trick within 10 minutes or less. It was wonderful! We had him hoofing it down the road in his "Hog Togs" that my mom made for him - a lovely Green and White tee shirt with "the Fighting Irish" logo on it, and it fit perfectly! I sent her the sizes in the mail, and kind of traced his outline so she could see what shape it needed to be (Pigs have no neck, by the way!), and mom even added a button hole for the harness Dee to fit through for his walks! We even had that little guy trained to come when called, and to jump little hurdles we set up in the barn!

4-H had a day when kids would demonstrate and talk about their projects in front of their group, and the Union Grove Sodbusters got together in a school gymnasium for this event. We loaded Johann in a large old plastic cooler for the ride in back of our little hatchback car. He traveled fine - no lid on the cooler, just him peeping over the top edges! He looked quite dapper in his tee shirt and red leash. We kept him outside for the other presentations because he kept screeching so loudly, it was ear splitting, and ECHOED in the confines of the gym!!!

Finally my son's turn came. Johann began screeching loudly and leaping at my son, attacking the dragging, dangling shoe laces on his high-top sneakers (all the rage in fashions back then)! His friend came down from the bleachers to take the leash while Sean talked about Johann and what he had learned from raising the pig so far. Johann tried to get to the shoelaces, but since he was being held away from them, he had a new plan.....Johann caught Jeremy off guard, and leaped up 3 bleachers high, to get to another boy who had the high-top shoestrings dangling, and proceeded to attack THOSE laces, screeching loudly as ever before, and becoming a detriment to the lives of the rest of the children! Needless to say, I escorted that piggy back out to the car!

What we later discovered was, that those long laces, and anything dangling or wagging (like a dog's tail) was 'turning on' our piggy! It, for some reason unknown to us, was sexually exciting, arousing Johann to unbelieveable proportions, making him clearly "out of control"! We "fixed" that, by having HIM "fixed" - a $3.00 fee and a farm call from the local vet, vs. sending him in the pet door at the clinic for a charge of $145.00. Johann lived a happy porker life, outside, like piggies were intended to live, and he was much loved! We kept him until he died many years later, never thinking of surrendering him to a shelter or - heaven forbid! - sending him to slaughter. He taught us much about pigs in the animal kingdom, and whenever I am puzzled as to how to train an animal, I remember to 'think outside the box' because of Johann!

Tuesday's Show and Tail - HOT DOG!

Come on now, it's time for Tuesdays' Show & Tail' over at Angela's West Virginia Treasures! If you have a cute pet to show off, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for hosting today!

My featured pet for Tuesday is another of my Corgi girls - Sassy! She has definitely earned her name, with her attitude, and the adorable little swagger when she enters a room!
Sassy loves excitement and can't get enough excitement - or CAUSE enough either!! I'm not always sure what goes on between those ears of hers, but she's typical CORGI - looking for fun and good times!
This little hellion came to our home because she was a 'stray', and no one claimed her, despite the many weeks of ads posted about a "Lost Dog". Hard to believe it, because of her loving nature. Her favorite thing to do is to cuddle - she will put both paws up on my chest with her head on her paws, and gaze into my eyes, longing for pats and strokes along her small little body. She adores being held in this fashion, and could do it all night, UNTIL - - - I grit my teeth and snap them sharply at her, clenching them so she can see the bright whites - and she will lunge forward and snap her teeth right up close to my nose! It is what we call "the GAME" - and she's darned good at it! Yes....Kind of dangerous, I know, but I've not lost a piece of my nose yet! She's never gone closer than close, and she quits the game instantly. After all, it's just a game!

Another thing she is extremely good at is catching popcorn! On popcorn night, she will leap into the air, zinging right, left, up, and down to catch the warm kernels well before they hit the floor! Just last night, Mr. Wonderful and I kept firing kernels repeatedly at her, to see if she could keep up. She was more agile than any dog we have ever owned, and didn't miss a beat! By the time we were finished, she was plum wore out and napped a good long while! I think that is one of her favorite forms of exercise - because it involves FOOD!

I started creating my Corgi note cards because of her - she has a never-ending variety of expressions I've been able to capture with my camera, and it's fun to share them with others. I've sold many of the note cards of Sassy and the other Corgis in my etsy shop, and privately as well. People are drawn to the expressions that they can't seem to capture when they photograph their own dogs, and I think that's what has made the cards so popular. When I think back on the day I decided to keep her as one of my own, that was one of the best things I could have done for her - and for our entire household!

Farewell to a Furry Friend

Little Miss Frenchy Frye came to me with a host of troubles. Such a sweet personality, so calm and relaxed, even when being treated for some horrible wounds that had become so infected, it was doubtful that they would ever heal. Old abscesses that had drained and were healing on their own looked like large scabs on her back and under-arms. One leg was so badly infected, it had swollen and pulled her lower leg up into her knee joint. An abscess beneath her ear needed to be lanced and drained, and the skin on her tail was starting to peel off. Very sad indeed! The new owner that found her in this condition was horrified, and we could only presume the best about the previous owner - they might have not known it was not a good idea to put 'Frenchy' in the same quarters as a Dwarf Hamster (they are very vicious to outsiders!) or perhaps another hamster that was not very sociable - so please, if you are getting a new pet, do the research on the Do's and Don'ts with each type of animal!

I notified her mistress that Miss Frye was ready to leave the hospital - and she could pick her up on Saturday! Frenchy was bathed and powdered and ready to go! She was a flurry of hustle and bustle, eating and drinking very well, playing with her new cardboard house and shredding papers that were in her isolation booth! I was so pleased she was doing so well! Truly amazing!

What sometimes occurs in humans on Hospice, and now for the first time I've observed in the animal kingdom as well, is the final 'rally' before the inevitable death. I can honestly say her wounds were healing extremely well - swelling had gone down for the most part, and the outsides of the sores were growing new pink skin. Unfortunately, the treatment didn't begin soon enough for Miss Frenchy - if we'd have known her when they first happened, the outcome might have been better for her. My dad had reported that a woman that had been blind for years had been able to see him as she lay on her deathbed - she had never seen him before, and could describe him perfectly - could see her surroundings, could see her husband's face! What a wonderful gift from the Creator! I've witnessed this same type of miracle when working in Long Term Care a few years back, and it never ceases to amaze me. And now, for the past few days of Frenchy's life, she was able to walk pain free, to hustle and bustle like healthy hammies should - and it was the Creator's gift to her, as well as to me.

Fail Dogs!

Where does the towel end and the dog begin? Check out FAILDOGS.com for a million more funny images! Happy Monday!

SO CUTE

Push the EASY Button!

Every year for me has seemed to get busier, with more time consuming tasks, and less time to complete them in! Even though we have so many modern conveniences, and so many new inventions to take the difficulties out of portions of our lives, sometimes there are glitches in our daily tasks that aggravate us, or keep us from moving to the next phase in our day-planner.
Take morning pet chores, for instance. When I wake up in the morning, I hear moanings and groanings coming from the corgi crates! They KNOW it's time to go potty, and they KNOW that when they return they will get their breakfast meal! But, for some mysterious reason, when I have an appointment or be somewhere else right away, I will let them out for their corgi constitutional, and they will take off into the woods, deciding it is time to display their independance and not return readily when I call out to them! Frustrating!

After a few times of that, I figured out a plan: When I'm in a big hurry, I let the dogs out in 'teams'. I have the Red Team, and the Black Team. Yep, my dogs are color-coded! The Red Team has one dog who is a zoomer (Dixie, red sable), and one who likes to eat worse than she likes to explore (Prairie, red and white)! The same with the Black Team! Once I discovered this, I let them out, Black Team first, because one of the Black Team members (Sassy, brown headed tri) has a smaller bladder than the other one (Sissy, black headed tri). When they return, they go in their own crates to enjoy their meal, and the Red Team is then launched! They return to their crates, and I can be on my way in a timely fashion! It's great! And of course, each team member gets their meal floating in fresh water, to be sure they have fluids to last for the brief time I am gone. I don't want them to be dehydrated! The floating food has been a great idea for my older gramma dog, who has had a history of bladder infections. It also has the added benefit of slowing the quick eaters.

When I'm in no particular hurry, I don't mind that the corgi girls go exploring on their own in our woods for a little while. They all sport brass bells, so I know which direction they are zooming in. And, if they don't come when I call them right away, or if I don't hear their bell, I activate my Ace in the Hole - Nitro, the Aussie Shepherd. He has his own title: Corgi Search/Rescue Patrol Dog! Once he is released, he picks them up and returns them after he leads them on a mad merry chase around the wetlands and over the hills! But, he is for the days when I'm not in a hurry, as sometimes even HE has trouble bringing the strays home again!

Maybe what I've shared with you might give you new ideas of what you can do to simplify things in your single or multiple dog household. I hope so! I also have a quick and tasty snack recipe that might be useful for packing lunches for kids (or husbands!). So, here you go - Read Below!

BAKED CARMEL CORN

1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 3 qts. popped corn
(pre-heat oven to 350 deg.)

In 1 1/2 qt. saucepan, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Reduce heat to medium, stir continuously for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, adding vanilla and soda. Gradually pour over popped corn which has been placed on a buttered baking sheet with sides. Bake 30 minutes, stir after 15 minutes.

This is yummy good, and I found that I don't need to bake it for the entire 30 minutes - I have had great results after 15 minutes of baking, stirring halfway through the bake time. I even bet you could add peanuts or some other crunchy things to the popcorn before you drizzle on the melted ingredients! Try it - hope you like it!

Humane Society Spay Day 2009

It's official - I have just finished entering Sassy, one of my corgi girls, in The Humane Society of the United States' and Humane Society International's Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest! If you would like to see her online photo or make a donation/vote for Sassy, copy and paste this link in your browser window and you should arrive there safely: http://photocontest.humanesociety.org/contest.html?page=viewInd&id=36106&contestId=1
If you would like to enter YOUR pet, official rules are on that site as well. They offer some great prizes, and there are 2 different categories to enter: The Judged category, and the Donations category. I entered Sassy in both of them. Check it out!

the TRAIN - the TRAIN!

The weatherman reports a warming trend for Michigan in the next few days. That would be nice, as I believe we are all tired of the big freeze and winter's blasts. I walked down to check the mail not long ago, and the sun is shining brightly, but it's still so cold!!! Wish I could have a job like the weatherman, where I could be so wrong all the time and still be employed! He still has an opportunity to be correct - till next Wednesday, I believe. Then it will start to turn colder again - or so he says right now!
The 'girls' have corgi trails plowed through the snow from the time we got 3 foot of flakes flopped down on us! One of the dogs was brave enough to make the first trail, and the others branched off from there. It's pretty handy for their 16 short little legs to follow the trails - they look like a mini train - the Corgi Express!

Painful Pooch

Yesterday evening, the dogs went out for 'Last Call' potty break. About 5 minutes later, our house was filled with prancy dancy excitement of canine critters ready for their bedtime snack! Upon counting to be sure all were in for the night, I noticed one of my corgi girls was shaking badly. Its been a bit colder out in the evenings, but it seemed the other 4 dogs were not as affected by the temperature as Sassy was.
As I thought about it for a moment, I remembered that trembling can be a sign of pain. I carefully observed Sassy, and in a flash I saw the problem - she must have twisted her foot while out romping with the 'wild bunch'. She clearly didn't want me to touch it, even as she offered it for my closer examination. Her bedtime treat was a little bit special last night - I rolled a small enteric coated asprin in a cheese slice for her, to help with the pain. This morning she was fine, but still walking with a slight gimp.
This incident brings with it a good reminder - know the 'norm' for your pet - normal activity level, normal eating habits, normal movement. When you have that knowledge, you will be aware when something might be wrong. If it isn't a simple fix, as it was for Sassy, don't hesitate to take your dog to the vet.

Making Friends

This afternoon, I introduced my Giant Chinchilla, "Herbie", to one of my corgi girls. Prairie was poised to herd the single rabbit - but took direction well and simply relaxed, trying her very best to share her favorite toys with Herbie! Sharing is hard for ANY dog to do, never mind the breed of dog! I was proud of her. In the months that we have parented Prairie, she has come along awesomely well. We didn't know how she would get along with other species of animals, so every introduction was carefully monitored to be sure that all creatures would be safe.
When working with animals, everything you do is training. Everything they get away with is training. But the good thing is, animals live in the moment, so most issues the owner comes up against can be corrected, and does not have to be 'put up with' forever more. You can create your own exercises to help the dog understand how he needs to be or react in different or difficult situations. That is the beauty of it.