Wordless Wednesday: Keeping Cool

 Bless Rudy.  He stayed back so Rosie 

could explore her very first pile of ice cubes solo.
This is very loving of Rudy because he loves
 it when I clean out the ice cube bin!

  Ahhh...  pretty cool!

Can you see how curly her coat is becoming

 thanks to her Golden Retriever mother?

I love it!

Monday Mischief: Vole Hunting with Rudy and Rosie

The dynamic duo at more innocent pursuits.

Rudy and Rosie are quite a team... especially when they're hunting voles.  I managed to get some video footage of one of their vole expeditions a few weeks ago.

Please excuse the shaky camera work.  Not only was I trying not to laugh, I had Jeffie nudging me over and over.  He knew Rudy and Rosie were not supposed to be doing that!

In fact, what cracks me up the most in this video, is Rudy.  Both he and Rosie are aware of me and the camera.  However, Rudy also knows that messing around with critters and digging holes in the yard is a big no-no. 

In the end, good boy Rudy, can't bear it any longer and runs to mama!  Yes, they really did have a vole they were "playing" with.  Thankfully, they did not eat it.

Here's the latest addition to our YouTube channel.

We're joining the Monday Mischief pet blog hop today.  Hosted by Alfie's Blog, Luna Dogs Life, My Brown Newfies and Snoopy's Dog Blog, this is your chance to share your pets tales of mischief and wrap up the weekend.  Join us!

Follow-up Friday: Dog Treats Toys Tornadoes

I'm happy to be joining Heart Like a Dog in the follow-up Friday blog hop this week.  This is the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.  Hosted by FUF creator, Jodi at Heart Like a Dog and co-hosted this week by JoAnn from Sand Spring Cheseapeakes.


The really big excitement this week - well, for the dogs, anyway - was that their prizes arrived from Pooch Smooches giveaway.  Jeffie, Rudy, and Rosie received 3 package of KONG jerky treats.  Thanks, Jackie & Rita!
 

Rudy has very good manners.  Good boy, Rudy!

Rosie has no time for manners when mama is holding a KONG jerky treat!

Jeffie was especially thrilled because the KONG treats arrived via FedEx.  Jeffie becomes a raging madman when UPS and FedEx deliver packages.  I think he believes it is his mission in life to guard us from them.  Rita really turned Jeffie's head at his birthday party.  He was pretty sure she was flirting with him.  When I told him we'd won the giveaway, he confessed he had a thing for Rita.   When Rita sent Jeffie the FedEx man...  it was LOVE!

Rosie's new swimming pool toys arrived from Chewy.com.  They're very cool!  The KONG Wet Wubba is such a bright yellow!  And the ChuckIt duck really does bob in the water and stay upright.

Unfortunately, there are only two chances you'll ever see them in action:  slim and none.  There's no way I'm taking my camera anywhere near the pool.  Plus, Rosie is not actually swimming yet.  Wearing her new Kyjen life preserver for safety, she's only comfortable when she's in her mama's arms.   Hopefully, she'll mellow out with the whole thing and I'll be able to take some pictures later in the summer.

In the meantime, we have to keep dog towels near the doors.  Every time she goes out, she throws herself into her doggie pool!

Monday Mischief: Monkey Murder Follow Up
I should have repeated what I've said before... we call all dog toys at our house "monkeys."  Obviously, this was a football.  It has now gone to that place where dead monkeys go.  The trash.  Yes, we do have a monkey hospital.  I love being the surgeon because all the dogs gather around to watch the procedure.  They all dance with happiness when the surgery is successful.  Note:  our cat Skeeter would not be caught dead playing with any monkey.  Playing with toys is waaaaay beneath her!

Believe it or not, we have lots of "vintage" monkeys - some as old as 15 years.  They are well loved, but not torn up.  Our dogs single a few out, now and then, but for the most part they're soft mouthed.  It's a retriever thing.  It is always the puppies at our house who make sure that monkey heaven is populated.

Wordless Wednesday: Puppy Eyes Follow Up
Believe it or not, absolutely no treats of any kind were involved in this shot. When they update the dictionary this year, they'll be adding one word to the definition of Sweet:  Rosie

Oklahoma Tornado Pet Adoption Event  Follow Up 
When the big tornado hit nearby Joplin and I read Hanah's story (which I continue to follow), it scared the you-know-what out of me.

When the tornado warnings are issued, my dogs are with me when I take shelter.  My dogs are microchipped and when we go to the vet's office, I have them scan them just to make sure they're still easy to find.  My dogs wear their collars and tags at all times since then (Joplin.)  There is no doubt in my mind that - God forbid - if we were wiped out... among the immediate things I would do, is make sure I've got my dogs.   If we lived in a flood area, I would not evacuate without my dogs.

All that being said... if my house and everything in it, my car and everything else was gone... I don't know how long it would take for me to locate the emergency shelter to claim my dogs.  If I had no cell phone anymore, no computer, no nothing.   If someone near and dear to me were taken by the storm.  I don't know....    

I do know that there are millions of people who do not value their pets like I do.  (If they did, the shelters would be empty.)   Do I wish all the Oklahoma tornado victim pets had been claimed?  You betcha.   But I haven't "walked in their shoes" and I don't want to.  And I'm going to shut up now.

Except to say:  please spread the word about this event so that these pets can find new, loving homes. 


That's my follow-up for the week.  Join the hop and let us know what you've been up to!

Wordless Wednesday: Puppy Eyes

Our puppy, Rosie can melt a heart with one look.

Wordless Wednesday: Tasty Cat Toes

Skeeter does not belong to a witness protection program and she is not Amish.   She is not looking into the camera and posing nicely because, quite frankly, that is beneath her!  Clean toes are waaaay more important!

Wordless Wednesday: Wiener Dog?

Rosie - aided by tall grass - 

doing her best impression of a chubby Dachshund.  

(Please, Mother Nature, give us enough dry days so we can mow the grass!)

Wordless Wednesday: I See You

Rosie

Senior Dogs Available for Adoption: Tuesday Tails

Oran - Adoptable Senior Black Lab Mix at Stray Rescue of St Louis

 Oran is 12 1/2 year old, male black Lab mixed breed dogs available for adoption from Stray Rescue of St Louis.  According to shelter staff:

Oran is one of the most loved dogs ever rescued.  He's quite the character.  Very sweet and friendly.  He loves to do for long, leisurely strolls and is a perfect gentleman on a leash.  He would do best in a home where he is the only pet unless it is a dog like his girlfriend, Josephine.

Oran is eligible for Stray Rescue's Seniors For Seniors program. Senior citizens (preferably, but not limited to, those on a fixed income) who adopt an older dog are able to do so without paying the adoption fee.  If necessary, Stray Rescue will provide food and medical care for the life of the dog.

Josephine - Adoptable Senior Shepherd Dog at Stray Rescue of St Louis

 Josephine is a 9 1/2 year old female Shepherd mixed breed dog.  Here's what Stray Rescue shelter staff has to say:

Josephine is one of the sweetest dogs we've ever rescued.  She was found in a horrible area of town with her 3 little puppies.  She had a makeshift home for them underneath a dilapidated house.  She did a wonderful job keeping them safe and healthy. 

Josephine's puppies have already gone to their forever homes, but Josephine is still waiting.

She was a very, very sick girl and under strict orders from the vet that she was not to exert herself in any way.  It was touch and go for a few months, but now she is the picture of health.  She still has a slight cough that she'll probably alwasy have.  This is due to scarring of her trachea.  Since this is a pre-existing condition, Stray Rescue will cover the cost of her medicine.  It's just a pill she takes twice a day.  Put it in some braunschweiger and she'll gobble it right out of your hand.

She has the cutest little nub for a tail.  We've never seen it stop wagging.  You can even bring her home for a few days to see for yourself that she'll fit in perfectly at your house.  Just be prepared for lots of kisses.

For more information about Oran or Josephine, contact the Stray Rescue Pine Street Animal Shelter at 314-771-6121

Founded by Randy Grim, Stray Rescue of St Louis sold purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes.  Virtually all of the pets they save have been abused and neglected.  Stray Rescue is a no-kill organization that believes rescued animals often make the best pets.  Given a second lease on life and in return for a little affection and attention, these remarkable animals reward their new owners with a love and loyalty unmatched anywhere.


We're participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz.  This is the blog hop that features shelter pets.  Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!  Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!

Monday Mischief: Green Dog Toes and a Winner

Mother Nature continues to have different ideas than we do about spring.  As each variety of flower, blooming shrubs and tress begins to bloom their hearts out, along comes a storm and the petals are on the ground.  Lots of rain, high winds, and even some hail add to the "fun."

In between storms, we run around cutting bouquets to enjoy in the house and try to keep up with mowing grass.  

Yesterday the Dog Daddy jumped the gun and began mowing when it was definitely still too wet and lush.  (You know what's coming, right?)

Technically, Rudy is a yellow Lab.  In reality,  he is a white boy.  

At least he was white.

 Now he's a white boy with green feet!

And in other mischief related news...  

We have a winner in our book giveaway!  

Congratulations to Larrielle P.   

She was selected by Random.org as the winner of a paperback copy of It's Just A Dog by Russ Ryan.    

Larrielle, I need your shipping information within the next 24 hours or an alternate winner will be selected.

Wordless Wednesday: Who What Why?

Not so wordless Wednesday...

This is not the photo I'd planned to share today, but life happens, right?

You can probably correctly guess WHO this is.

WHAT is he doing?

WHY is he doing it?

Find out the real deal tomorrow!