Dog Mamma FAILURE!!

Well not much to report here. We've been so lazy lately as you'll see by the photos below. The weather here has been gray and sort of cold and kind of rainy-- basically coma inducing weather. The animals are happy cuddled up with me on the couch quite honestly. Dog Mamma Failure!! 

Lucy: I've got a question. Can we be lazy some more?

McIver came to visit around Thanksgiving for about 10 days.  We did take a run but mostly snuggles. 

Calhoun was anxiously awaiting our arrival at my parents house for Thanksgiving. Kind of creepy. We were at a stop light.

Lilly giving a neck massage to my boyfriend!

Lilly loving the remote control and Lucy loving her bone!

Calhoun: Dude, Harry, you are in my space. Harry: This is my mamma and I WILL lay on her.

So THAT is our exciting life and interactions...

We just wanted to wish all of our lovely Blogville furiends a very 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We love all of you very much.

Husky needs a home!

My dear friend, Julie, rescued this guy the other day. He is living in our Dogs for Autism kennels with several German Shepherds. Julie has years of training under her belt and really likes this guy but he really needs a proper forever home. Below is her description and some pictures. 

Neutered male, under 1 year old. Red and white. Has been very gentle with all people and all animals so far. No microchip. I found him on the road trying to get killed in traffic. He had a ratty collar on and apparently had been tied up with a wad of hay twine that he'd broken loose from and gotten away. He was skin & bones--and very worried that somebody was going to be mean to him--submissive crouching, etc. I would guess his age at about 10 months, based on the incomplete state of his molars.
We have been calling him Juneau.

Please share with anyone you can think of. This boy needs a home!

EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!!

This little lady needs a home. She is 4 years old. Her Daddy passed away last night. 

She has AMAZING manners. She sits, shakes and takes treats VERY gently. NO jumping. 

She is literally a doll. They say she is full Aussie but I see a lot of Golden in her as well. 

I also think she would be very successful with agility. 

We are in the Greenville SC area. 

Most of us have maxed out on pets in our homes. If my life were a little different right now, I would take her in a skinny minute!

Our Recent Shenanigans

So you wanna know what we've been doing?

We've been sitting on Mamma watching TV. Poor Mamma can't see through me!!

We've been watching TV together & resting.

Lucy hurt her paw so that's why we are resting so much.  Mamma says she's a very good patient though.

She keeps her pink bootie on when necessary. And yes- that is DUCT TAPE keeping it on.

In an effort to cheer Lucy up, Mamma invited some friends over. Lucy forgets her manners but they don't care.

In fact, the Mamma's best friend just takes off her glasses to allow Lucy maximum licking.



So that's what we've been doing!! 

Mamma's Gift

I know the suspense is killing you so here we go...

I cannot believe we kept this surprise a secret for like almost a whole day. Lucy & I knew just what Mamma wanted- her being from backwoods SC anyway. We kept it in the backyard until she went out to collect our toys. We watched out the door as it came into her view. She was so excited she about jumped out of her skin! She hollered and danced. We just know Puddles heard her across the 'hood.

And this is what Mamma saw...

OMD OMD OMD!!! Can you believe it?!? WE got us a possum!! Puddles, are you proud? We do our part for neighborhood watch!!

I'm just thinking about some possum pizza. Yummy!! Or maybe we should get the crock pot out? We could have a tailgate party this weekend?

Mamma did you like your pressie?

Mamma Heartbeat here. My little precious perfect angels were just exhausted after their mighty hunt. I can't tell if it got rained on or if they tried to lick it back alive for another play session. 

While I didn't use salad tongs, I did pick the damn thing up with shovel and sling it over the fence. What should I do with this thing seriously? Do I need to bury it? I'm hoping it was just playing possum and will wake up and walk away!

OMD, OMD!!!

Mamma just returned home from Atlanta & you'll never guess what pressie we got her while she was gone!!!!

We'll post ALL about it tomorrow because Mamma says she needs time to process the whole thing!

She is THAT excited about it. Oh boy! I can't wait to tell you all about it!!

Wiggles,

Calhoun

Missing Mango

Mamma, Lucy and I are so very sad. Though we'd never met, I always felt a kindred spirit with my slobbery, jowl-y, relentlessly huge friend. We share crazy mamma's, silly siblings and the same general outlook on life. We were super good with the ladies, too. Lucy liked his studly ways. And Mamma? Well Mamma has a big heart for the big, lovable guys which is why she loves me so much. Mamma is terribly heartbroken for Mango Mamma. She is very leaky in her eyes. 

It truly is a very sad day in Blogville. 

Run free sweet Mango.

Mango Relentlessly Huge

May 4th 2005 - September 26, 2012

POTP is working in an amazing way

On this September 11, my city is praying for one of our own. As detailed in the previous post, one of our longtime firemen had a stroke while on vacation in Mexico. I reached out yesterday and asked all of you for the POTP since he loves dogs, especially our city fire dog, Lola. He is her daddy actually. Together they provide fire prevention & safety education to our youngest citizens.

As usual, the POTP is working. Originally we heard that it might be a month before he came out of the medically induced coma. Well guess what, he's opened his eyes and is making amazing strides.

He still has a long way to go but his family is feeling so much hope.

He has a caring bridge site so if you'd care to read the story, it will make you realize what an amazing  country we have.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gordonmcdonald

Feel free to leave a comment and tell them Lola sent you... :-)

POTP Needed

 This is really about a fireman who works for the same city that I work for. He was on a cruise in Mexico with his family and had a stroke. The POTP qualifier is that he was our firedog handler. He and Lola have been together a long time. 

Explaining fire & safety prevention to children. Oct 2011

The stroke was in the front part of his brain that impacts speech and motor skills. He is in a drug-induced coma. He returned back to our area Friday while many members of the fire department waited at the municipal airport. He is a much loved employee. Recently, he and Lola have been running and have both lost weight! 

Lola is having a very hard time. She used to crawl in bed with her mom & dad and wake up together. Now she crawls in bed with her mom and puts her head under her daddy's pillow and cried. As soon as he is moved out of ICU, Lola's official title will no longer be firedog but therapy dog. She will be able to be with her daddy everyday until he gets better. 

We need POTP for Mr. G, Lola and their family. 

Weekend Summary

We had a fairly uneventful weekend. After cooking a nice dinner with McIver snoopervising, we watched some TV and kicked back. 

McIver Stole My Seat

The next day we went to see my nephew, Liam, and his new chickens...

Egg laying hens plus one rooster- oops!

and his new big boy bike...

and his little sister, Piper with her hand-me-down tricycle... 

and those precious pink shoes!!

Careful she's in the biting stage- sugar & spice but mostly spice!!

L- R: Mamma Heartbeat, Piper (niece), Jason (boyfriend), & Liam (nephew)

We wrapped up the weekend with a movie on the couch with the kitties.

Lilly Grooming Harry

How was your weekend?

Back to Normal...Sorta

Lucy watching Wheel of Fortune

We are kinda back to normal around here. Shawn proved to be a LIVELY addition. He's in that really mouthy adolescent stage. He likes to bite everything including my hands, arms, LUCY! And he is incredibly vocal as some of the dogs in his line tend to be. A squawking GSD at 6AM is just not appealing!

Anyway, he went to Furman University on Monday night. Apparently, he didn't geehaw with his new person, a Furman student intern. In fact, he is having similar issues with the trainer that trained the Furman student intern. He only does it with the two of them- both female and very nice people. So he was pulled from campus on Tuesday night for further evaluation. 

While I am no expert on the subject, I think he must be fairly sensitive. Some dogs need less correction than others. He is very smart and capable of determining right from wrong if you give him the opportunity. I certainly feel he can overcome this. In a week or so, he will go to board and train full time with one of our contracted trainers (READ: SHE DEALS WITH THE NUTS THAT ARE TOUGH TO CRACK! LOL). 

In the meantime, the kennel is short-staffed for a week or so. As a result, McIver is staying with us. Have I told y'all how much I ADORE this dog? He just gets better with age. First of all, he has little gray hairs on his chin which saddens me. Secondly, he is HUGE- like 115 lbs. And gorgeous. I can't wait to jog around the 'hood with him and scare all the crazies (mwahhahahaha)!

I just picked him up last night but I'll get some pics and share them with you. 

Things will be a bit wonky around here since I've got to be really careful with Calhoun and McIver in the same house. No indication that there will be a problem but I have the scars to remind me that there COULD be a problem. They're both good loving boys who love me so there's nothing wrong with that! 

Mamma Heartbeat

100th Post & Mamma Did IT AGAIN!!!

Hi everyone! Calhoun here and I realize it's the Olympics and all but I gotta get this off my chest! 

You wouldn't believe what my Mamma has gone and done!! 

She got suckered into another PUPPY!!! 

I mean, yes- it's another Dogs for Autism puppy and he's really nice but GEEZE woman! 

His name is Shawn and he only needed a home for about a month. He's gonna live with a DFA intern while she is living in a dorm at nearby Furman University. I am kinda jealous that he will be living with a bunch of girls that will probably oohh and ahhh over him. Anyway he is bonkers and has so much energy. He even got by Mamma and STUCK HIS HEAD IN MY BOWL WHILE I WAS ENJOYING MY DINNER!! WTF!?! 

I just looked at Mamma like WTF!?! At that moment I knew he was crazy! But I let him get away with it- just this time... Take a gander at this crazy beast...

Shawn- almost 6 months

Shawn at work with Mamma

Harry has also realized that Mamma is outta her gourd...

So what do you think? He looks awful right? Can you believe he can go to work with Mamma? I think I need to go to work with her too. I can stand guard at her door and keep people outta her office!

OH yeah and this is our 100th post. I am so sure y'all have enjoyed our AMAZING blog for 100 episodes- right? 

Mourning K- Run Free Gorgeous Girl

I have no words right now. My heart is truly thoroughly broken for KB.  

Mamma Heartbeat

Really, Really HOT!!

It's really super hot today as in like 106!!! We don't do much over 90 here so we've spent some days inside and this is what happens when we spend days inside... Mamma takes our pictures. See my indignant expression in the first one? Then I just gave up... Lucy wanted to know if she could see inside the flashy box thing.

Distinguished Calhoun

Sleepy Squishy-faced Calhoun

Inquisitive Lucy

Way Too Hot Outside

Calhoun sitting on the arm of the couch!?!

Harry watching the world go by in the front yard.

Y'all don't forget about us! We will be away from Blogville next week. We hope everyone has an amazing and very safe July 4th! Please stay cool and drink plenty of water!

Hi everyone! It's been raining like crazy here the last few days. Mamma makes us stay inside when it rains... something about muddy paw prints and stuff. Anyway, I got attacked by the blanket monster and Lucy says she was trying to help me but I'd like to know what you think?

Calhoun's Birfday

Well for Calhoun's 6th birthday, he got..... an ear infection! Actually, I'm not sure what we are dealing with but it's not good.

My precious baby Calhoun celebrated his 6th birthday yesterday. We were very lazy but took a trip around the block and ate some cheese.

The day I brought him home!

The day I brought him home!

Sleepy puppy.

Bitey puppy.

Crazy puppy.

4 weeks old!

Lucy and Calhoun: Best Friends

Whatcha doing Ma?

Post Hiking Trip

Riding in the neighborhood with Mamma

So after a great day, I awoke at 2AM to the sound of tags rattling over and over again. I got out of bed and found both dogs freaking out. Calhoun was clearly distressed and Lucy was distressed because he was upset. She was trying to lick him. So sweet but he had heavy breathing, panting and drinking water. I walked up to him and put his head in my hands. I felt it immediately. His ear was red hot, swollen and he was clearly in pain. 

He's never had an ear infection before so I'm still not convinced that is what it is. Nonetheless, I always get a Cephalexin Rx when I go to the vet- just in case! I do the same thing for myself... just to have it for emergencies. I hate taking medicine unless it's absolutely necessary. So I dosed Calhoun up with that and put some Neosporin & Cortizone cream on the ear- not in it. Then I realized I had no Benedryl!! 

So I tossed Calhoun in the back seat and I go to Walmart in my pajamas at 2:30AM and get the last bottle of it off the shelf. I pretty much maxed that dose out too. I called work and told them I'd be late. He got two big doses of medicine before I needed to get to work. So hopefully he'll be feeling a little better when I get home. I'm still leaning towards a bug bite because it came on so suddenly and we've never had ear issues before. But alas, there's always a first! 

I worked in a doctor's office during graduate school and came to the conclusion that we as a society use the doctor WAY too much and overmedicate too much so we can't fight things off. I adhere to this philosophy for myself and my dogs. BUT I cannot stand to see my babies in pain like that!! 

We may need some ear drops but I will wait to see when I get home. Any advice- Do's or Don't's??