Smiles

Sometimes there are those moments that really bring a smile to your face.

Like when you realize you'll never convince your 85 pound Lab that his 11 pound buddy's bark really is worse than her bite...


...or when your favorite person says yes to spending the rest of her life with you.

Verdel the Terror

This little guy? No, he couldn't possibly be trouble incarnate. Look at that face (yes, Shih-Tzus look awful funny shaved). How could a face like that be the reason behind Les's insomnia? How could such a tiny little boy, staying with Les for a week while her dad and his gal are in Ireland, create such horrible havoc in the lives of the Ocats?

How? He's a cat chaser, that's how. And fast. Verdel, under that shaved mane, is nothing but fast-twitch muscle with a taste for cat meat. Or cat fur, anyway. So far that's all he's managed to get. Not for lack of trying, though.

Keep Les in your thoughts that she doesn't completely lose he mind before Saturday when Verdel gets to go home and herd cattle again (yes, he chases cows, too).

Simon helps Les with her knitting

"You can do it, Les! Look, this doggy sweater almost fits me already!"

I haven't the heart to tell him it's a dish cloth.

Of course, Feo seems fairly certain it's actually a babushka for her.
She's also far less enthused about that prospect than Simon.

I'm ready for my close-up

The Adventures of Killer and Fruitbat...

...and Moose!

After reading Cathy's comment to our previous post (Simon Update) about how Simon's big soft snout reminds her of a moose I realized that was his perfect nickname. MOOSE!

Had to have been because of this pic.


Yeah... Moose he is. :)

Simon Update

Time for an update! I am happy to report that Simon is much healthier and adjusting well to life with me and the gang. His skin conditions are clearing up (no more sores!!!!) and he's gaining weight. His male parts come off in a couple weeks when he's had a chance to really heal from being on the street for so long. Ear infections are clearing up, but they'll both need to be irrigated when he's down for his neutering before they really can improve.

So, enough vet stuff. I think some pics are in order!

First few days... We went up to visit Les's dad in Kacy, about 45 min north. He has a modern log cabin, and Simon appreciated the AC. He still smelled horrible even after I spent 45 min giving him a bath, but I didn't realize just how bad his skin was yet. Still looked as handsome as any dog I have seen, though. :)

Les's dad 's pooch, KC (the one Les and I got for him after his Aussie Sara died) LOVED Simon. They became fast friends.


After a medicated bath at the vet, Simon no longer smelled like dog barf and pound, and felt a LOT better. He even decided that all of Feo's toys were his. Well, the ducks, anyway. He always tries to fit as many in his mouth as he can. Here he is proudly displaying his two catches of that particular day.


It didn't take him long to master "the look."


NOSE!!!


Everybody, even weiner dogs just melt when they meet The Simonator.


His best buds are definitely Feo and Herman. This is a shot from the front seat of my Subaru as we left for a couple days away last weekend.


Living with Feo full-time seems to have allowed the two to forget he outweighs her 8:1. (Sorry so grainy)


Size still matters though (he does let her win on occasion).


Who needs toys when you have each other?


Feo is thrilled to have the playmate...


...and I think Simon is, too. (Handsome boy!!!)


I think he knows where he's been and that he's safe now. :)

Lesley got Simon the new door mat. :)

Peanut Butter Delight Doggy Birthday Cake

Herman (9) and Feo (6) celebrated their birthdays today by sharing a doggie birthday cake with Simon. Herman, in top form, managed to gulp his piece and Feo's in nanoseconds. Simon was quick enough to snarf his own piece of cake down before Herman the Hoover moved in.

Here's a video of them on their second helping later on. Note how Feo so graciously shared with Herman.

It's tough being a 9 year old Corgi. But I'll make it, I think if I get some more cake.

Don't hate me because I am beautiful . . .

More Ducks

Herman can wrangle just as many ducks as Simon can. He can also slurp up his food quicker, bark louder, and locate more disgusting things to eat than any dog I have ever seen. Sigh.

Got Duck?

I do. I gots twos ducks.


I picked up the one duck then I picked up the two duck then I sat down with the one and two ducks and slobbered.

We all went for a walk together.

Uh huh. We did. We went for a walk. We're all happy and slobbery and worn out. And friends.

Lotsa Cat Hair

People wonder why I have cat hair everywhere.

Introductions

Today was the big day to introduce Simon to Herman. Feo has already started to tolerate Simon, but just barely. We were a little scared when Simon and Herman first met as Herman got his man-feelings hurt and decided that he didn't care if Simon did outweigh him by 45 pounds, he was gonna show him who was really the boss (Feo). So after some growling and grandstanding, Simon was more than happy to play low-dog-on-the-totem-pole as long as it made Herman happy. :)

So, after the dust cleared, everyone was getting along. Getting 3 dogs to line up for a photo is a chore, but honest, that's Heman on the left through the bushes.


Herman decided the stars were properly aligned so he went off to chase flies while Les threw the giant tennis ball for Simon.




Feo finally decided the boys had had enough attention...


...and poured on the theatrics.

"Oh woe is me! I.... I.... I have the vapors! Take these filthy heathens away!"

Simon!

Comes home! I adopted him Friday, but because I had a scheduled business trip he is making the transition at a friend's home who runs a rescue group (couldn't bear to think of him spending one more week in the pound). He is in a VERY warm and loving house right now, and come this Friday he should be with me in his permanent home. :D:D:D

Vet gave him a decent bill of health (lots of issues, but all manageable, we think -- skin and ear infections being the biggest right now).

Here he is at the vet that first day. I'll be sure to update as he "moves in." ;-)

Edit: After seeing Les's comment about her holding him, here's the full pic. I love this -- as Les said to me earlier, this picture fits her whole personality. :)

Al is gone . . .

Al is gone for work, Feo is visiting, it's raining, and I have to share my chair.

Torn

Yesterday there was a stray Lab wandering around the neighborhood. I went out and called him, but he was a bit leery. So I got down on all fours and he came over and dipped his head and let me pet him. Next thing I knew he and I had a definite bond.
Anyway, he had a collar so we took him to the shelter. He fell right into a heel and jumped into the Subaru like he knew what he was doing. I told him to sit and he did. No microchip, though. They took him in and said if the owners don't claim him in a week he'll go up for adoption. He was very thin and greasy and had obviously been out for a while. I'm thinking he was abandoned.

Well, I couldn't stop thinking about him (he even has a name in my own head -- Simon -- don't know why Simon, it just popped in to my head). So Les and I visited him today. He warmed right up to me and snuzzled my cheek through the fence and licked my hand a bunch. So friendly and calm.

So now I am really considering adopting him if he's not claimed. There's all sort of reasons to, and I can't think of too many not to.

Will have to play the next week by ear and see what is meant to be.

Guilty

"I did it. I limped for treats. They were good too."

FYI - Actually we don't know what happened. One minute Herman was running around the living room, and the next minute he couldn't put any weight on his right front leg. He wouldn't let us look at it and was whining in pain. I got all upset and called the vet who told us to give him his arthritis meds and one of Feo's pain pills. Twenty minutes later he was fine and chasing cats again. I don't know if the pills really could have worked that quick or not?

Remembering Brenda and Cian

My sister and nephew. Killed by a drunk driver on October 30, 2008.

Hurt my leg today...

Got lots of treats, but now I'm all better. Feo was worried, but I pulled through.

The proper way to dry a dog...

...let her do it herself.



Thank goodness my mother doesn't blog -- she'd have a coronary if she saw Feo drying herself on that comforter! :P