Fossil Creek Adventure

So after Monty went home, Mum and Dad took me on a special adventure.

I tried to be patient waiting for them to put all the camping stuff in the car...

And then we were off. I kept a keen eye on the road to make sure Dad took all the right turns.

Finally, after hours and hours in the car and lots of twisting and turning down a bumpety road, I spotted THE CREEK!

In case you don't know already, I love the creek!

I tried stalking some creek critters, but no matter how long I waited, those fish stayed under the water.
I tried staring them down, and willing them to jump out.

Next, I tried some of my duck hunting tactics. I bet you can't see where I'm hiding!

When I was thoroughly muddy and covered in burrs, it was time to rest for a while on the fresh bed Mum had made in the tent. Mum said she loves camping with a wet, muddy dog and spending hours picking out all the burrs and foxtails from my fur. Well, I think that was the gist of it, anyway.

Catching Up

I've had a really busy week since I last wrote. I've been wanting to tell you all about it, but Mum has been a bit under the weather after our camping trip to the far away creek (the one with the blue-green water) and hasn't had her computer open for me to use. She got bitten by a lot of no-see-ums and her face looks all funny and lumpy. That's funny-peculiar, not funny-haha, although me and Dad did have a bit of a laugh. 

I'll tell you all about my creek adventures soon, but first of all I have to tell you about the award I got from Jack.

“This award is presented to those dog bloggers out there who know the meaning of GREATNESS. Their blogs are consistently interesting, funny, or informative. Their KINDNESS is extended to others without expectation of it’s return, and their FRIENDSHIP inspires others to do EXTRAORDINARY things. These are the blogs you can’t wait to read everyday.

In short, they are AWE-INSPIRING, full of wonder, and simply PAWsome! Pass this award on to 4 others who you feel exemplify a “Paw”some Blog, and leave a note saying why you think they deserve the Pawsome Award!”

Well, I'm not surprised that Jack got the award too, because I always make Mum read his blog to me so I can see what he's been up to. He's still got a lot to learn, but he's a young pup still. I was happy to hear he's been getting a place staked out on his dad's bed recently. Good work, Jack!

We're supposed to pass this on to 4 other pups with blogs that we really enjoy, but I want to give it to every one of the blogs my mum reads to me. 

As you all know by now, Monty is my best friend in the whole world. 

He can be a bit of a goofball at times, but he's always up for a game or two and never says a cross word - even when Mum is flashing that bright light from the camera in his eyes.

When he arrives, he goes to the toy corner and picks one out. Sometimes he just likes to use it as a pillow. Here he is with my lion that I got for Christmas. Mum and Dad are very proud of me letting Monty play with my toys. I didn't complain once.

I tore the lion's head off today, so he won't be playing with that one again.

Hanging out with Dad

Me and Dad were hanging out the other night, seeing who could make the silliest face. I won, of course.

No time to write much now as Monty is on his way over to spend the weekend with us. I've been missing my goofy pal. I'll ask Mum to take some photos of us for you.

Spirits in Transition

Mum has asked me to do her a favor and do a post that's not about me at all. She wants me to tell you all about her holistic veterinarian friend, Ella. Since I'm still a bit in the doghouse from scaring the socks off Mum and Dad the other night, I agreed to do it. But after this, it's back to ME, ME ME, right?

Momo and Ella (Momo lived to age 17)

Ella's teaches people how to do hospice with their pets, and especially how to prepare for when it's time for us animal companions to leave. She offers a seminar called Spirits in Transition that teaches people all about it. If you get a chance to go to one, please do, because I know this is such a hard thing for humans to go through. Anyway, at least go to her website and have a look around.

This is a message Ella just sent out to everyone.

Hi, dear all-

As statistics can be helpful in creating a clearer image of the current situation, I would like to create a questionnaire to pass out and poll veterinarians at conferences by asking specific questions about their experience with euthanasia and hospice, how they feel their veterinary training prepared them for their jobs, what they feel the needs of their clients may be, what they would like to see happen in terms of education in the field of animal hospice, how important they feel the topic is overall, etc.

You may have a question or more that you may wonder about and wish you could ask to a whole group of veterinarians.
If so, please let me know what it is and I would gladly try integrating it into the poll. We will send out the results after evaluation, please be aware the entire project may take several months.

I am interested in including both, questions veterinary professionals as well as lay people may have to veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Please feel free to forward this invitation.

Namaste,
Ella

Minnie-Moo's Challenge

Thanks, Minnie-Moo. Don't I look grand?

A Walk on the Wild Side

(Photo: Lamb, A. & Johnson, L. (2004). Coyote Walking. Naturescapes Starters.)

It's almost full moon and the coyotes in our neighborhood have been particularly vocal the past few nights. It *really* bothers me when they come so close to our house. They mock me from the street and dare to run across our land right by the living room windows.

Last night, when Dad was taking me for my bedtime walk, I saw a really cocky fellow waiting for me at the bottom of the driveway and managed to slip my collar to take up the chase. I could smell him as soon as Dad opened the front door and it made me so mad! This coyote always has a good laugh at me when I'm on the leash, and taunts me something rotten. 

Well, last night I'd had enough. I chased him down the driveway, then back up the side of the hill and around behind the house. I really let rip with my barking, and we were almost on the other side of the hill near the wolf-dogs' house - they were howling like crazy - when out of nowhere I heard Mum's blood-curdling yell down on the street and a light a thousand times brighter than the moon shone right in my eyes. 

If you've never heard my mum yell, consider yourselves very fortunate. There was nothing for it but to admit defeat. She had a flashlight trained on me and there was no getting away, so I slunk down the side of the hill to the street and Dad snapped my collar and leash back on me.There was a lot of talk when we got home about how naughty I'd been, and how dangerous it was to go chasing after coyotes at night. And coming so soon after my escapade the other day when I tried to chase a snake swimming across the creek, I think Mum and Dad are going to be keeping a very close eye on me from now on.

The worst of it is, I've got to wear this stupid contraption now when I go for the nighttime walks.

I feel suck a dork! I'll never live it down if word gets out, and those coyotes are such gossip mongers. Grrrr!

On a much happier note, The Woof Gang has given me this lovely award for my services to the greater dog community, and for generally being the swankiest dog around. Okay, I may have embellished a bit there, but it is a pretty cool award, don't you think?