Need A Little Holiday Magic?

 Today kicked off the start of Holiday Magic at the America Center downtown, it goes on all weekend and there is TONS of stuff to do! There's carnival rides, a ice skating rink, many activities for kids, and lots of booths with more stuff than you can imagine. St. Louis Senior Dog Project has a booth there along with a few other rescue groups, selling craft items (to benefit our dogs in foster care) and we have dogs there for adoption also.



I took Radar this afternoon till close. He participated in the pet parade and done really well. During the pet parade they have all the dogs that are up for adoption walk across a big stage, while a MC announces their names, personalities, what they like to do for fun and which rescue group they are with. I had to carry him up the steps but considering how loud and bright it was up there he walked across like a pro with his tail high in the air. Thank goodness my nightmare didn't come true, all I could imagine is him getting on stage and having to take a big ol' poop. LOL Wouldn't that have been sumpin? ; )

Everyone that walked by just thought he was sooo adorable, he gets a lot of interest at adoption events. Tonight there were a couple people that were working some of the dogs booths that actually seemed really interested in him. There was one in particular that really had the gentle touch that Radar needs, she was actually the only person that he approached on his own, which is really saying something! He doesn't approach anyone but me.As the evening neared the end, he was beginning to show signs of stress, and would do a low barky, growl when people would approach. He was saying he had enough! We were there for about 4 1/2 hours and that is quite a long time for him to be in that busy environment.

I might go back on Sunday with Radar, depending if we both recover by then :)

The Princess And Me

Today has just not been a good day from the very beginning. It started with the neighbors dog getting out of the yard right around the same time I was waking up and letting the dogs out for their morning potty. Well of course Kiki wanted to come over to the front of our fence and start a barking, running frenzy, which is not easy to break up when we are talking about 7 dogs total. All before my morning coffee *SIGH* As the day progressed, it got worse. Izzy started puking, many times, because she ate something she shouldn't have, Radar running through a water bowl, dogs trying to eat cat hair......the list could go on and on. While I'm having one of my bad days, Izzy is having one of her high maintenance days. I wonder if people understand what I mean when I say she is a high maintenance dog? If she gets something in her head, there is NO changing it, typical doxie but she tends to take it to extreme's sometimes. Below is a little video of her during one of her "moments" don't forget to turn up the volume, sorry for the background noise. 

What does she want? She wants a treat, since I attempt to keep them on a strict diet because of their breed, I also limit the amount of treats they can have. I had just given them all a small piece of a treat but apparently she was not happy with that. If I don't do what she asks, she will start this, she also will bark (loudly), stand up, beg, dig on my legs etc. This is why we call her Princess because she truly believes she is and thinks she should be treated like royalty.

One thing I have always been told about doxie's, if you give into them once they never, ever forget it. If you don't believe it, watch the video again LOL  I hope tomorrow will be a better day for me, and maybe Izzy will wake up not so needy also :)

It Was Nice....

It was really nice seeing family this Thanksgiving, I don't see enough of them. Its funny how you get so busy with your day to day life you loose track of friends and family sometimes. The dogs were all well behaved besides Radar's pooing in the crate while we were gone :( but its all good, or at least I keep telling myself that. I mean look at that face, how could you get mad at that? He looks so peaceful, and really he is doing better, he is now getting much more comfortable in different parts of the house. The bad part about making him more comfortable in the rest of the house, I think its going to turn him into a major moocher, but oh well.

I got the Christmas tree up today, and I didn't have the heart to put it up where I usually do, only because that is Radar's "safe haven" so I just made room for it else where in the house. Radar was already acting weird this morning. After we come in from the morning outside trip, he wouldn't go lay in his bed, I looked at the bed, picked it up, wondering what in the hell it was that was bothering him. Well after about a hour I figured it out, there was a throw blanket over the back of the chair, its not usually there, so once I put that away he slowly got back into routine. Some days I wonder if I'm going crazy or if they are, OR maybe we're going together. Its always nice to have company :)

So needless to say I have kept myself busy, my dogs really don't like all the commotion that comes with putting up the Christmas tree, I can tell it makes them nervous and jumpy. Here's a picture of Izzy laxin. I have also managed to ALMOST finish my Christmas shopping! I am so proud of myself, and I didn't even have to leave the house. The last couple years I have done most all of my Christmas shopping on Black Friday online. You get really amazing deals, plus usually free shipping, without the hassle of dealing with the crowds. Yes its right up my ally :) Really the only thing I have left to shop for is the dogs, I meant to finish that today but I didn't get to it. Tomorrow brings lots of running and a return trip to get MORE bloodwork done, I hate getting bloodwork done! The last trip they blew my vein in my right arm, so I guess they'll be shooting for the left this time, have I mentioned I hate getting bloodwork done? lol

I have already caught Cashew trying to snatch a ornament off the tree! Since this is Piper's first Christmas with us I'm not sure how she is going to do with the tree while we are gone, right now she seems not so interested. Doesn't really matter I'm used to coming home to a ornament chewed up here and there. I'm looking forward to my mom and dad coming into town for Christmas, now to get the house ready!

What I'm Thankful For

I am very thankful for a lot of things in my life, great family and friends. I have a wonderful husband that puts up with my obsession with helping animals and welcomes new fosters with open arms. I am also very thankful for all the health of my perma dogs, and of course the love and friendship they offer me. I am so relieved that Apple found her new furever home before the holidays, now she gets to celebrate in style and comfort as she was meant too. Although the last few days I've been a little down about my own health but all it takes is a good snuggle with the dogs and a holiday to make me remember that I am truly blessed.

Today I'm preparing for tomorrow, since I am not having Thanksgiving dinner at my house all I am doing is making a few desserts, easy enough. The real work will come after this holiday, getting the house decorated for Christmas, "spring" cleaning and getting ready for my parents to come into town for Christmas. Oh and I can't forget the dreaded Christmas shopping, the last few years I have done the majority of my shopping online and that is my plan this year too. This should be a real experience for Radar, he doesn't like having new people in the house and I hate to tell him but his normal hang out spot is where the Christmas tree goes. This should really throw him out of whack. The last few nights he has been coming in on his own, the common denominator seems to be David, when he is home is when he seems to do this. I would really like to see Radar have his very own home for Christmas, but if that doesn't happen its ok, he can celebrate with us and enjoy the goodies Santa brings.

All the dogs were unhappy this morning because of the rain, except Hazel, the rain doesn't bother her one bit. She runs and plays in the yard like its nothing. Piper really hates it, I made her go out and she just sat at the door with her tail tucked begging to come back in. It finally slowed down enough that she went out and done her business. Cashew would only go out if I accompanied her, geez what a brat :) I don't blame any of them for not wanting to go out, I wouldn't want to go out in this cold, wet stuff either but sometimes we have to do what we don't want to, right? Here's Cashew curled up with Izzy, or rather her back end. 

I wish all of my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving, be thankful for what you have and forget about the things you don't. I believe God gives us what we need and only gives us as much as we can handle.

Radar The Turd Bird

Radar really is a good boy for the most part, but he certainly has his moments where he can be a turd bird. Tonight he went out with the rest of the pack around 7pm, he kept coming to the door acting like he wanted in, I would open the door and he would stand at the bottom of the steps and just look around. Well finally over 3 1/2 hours later he came in, but not on his own will. I propped the door open and had David go out in the yard, it took a few minutes but Radar finally bolted in the door. I told ya he doesn't like my husband, at least now we found a good use for this dislike.


I wish I could figure out why he does this, it always happens at night time and it hasn't happened for over a month now. For awhile after the last time he done this I made him wear a lead every time he went out, but quit doing it as he started coming in just fine. I just can't understand it, this time I tried hot dogs, cheese, just leaving the door propped open and walking away, nothing worked till our send David out to the yard plan.

There are some days that I think maybe I'm not cut out for fostering, today is one of those days. I still can't break him of pooping and peeing in his crate when we leave. I've been working with him for almost 2 months on this and its not getting any better. I take that back, it has gotten a little better, now I can leave for about 15 minutes without it happening but nothing over that. I keep thinking maybe I'm doing something wrong but when I ask for advice, I'm told the same things I am doing. I've tried leaving him in a xpen instead of a crate and he still does it. I guess I'm just going to keep going till something clicks in him to make him realize we are never going to abandon him.

Bigger and Better Things

I got Apple all bathed and smelling good, cleaned her ears brushed her out so that she would be ready for today's home visit with her potential adopters. My friend, Amy is starting her own grooming business and offered to "finish" groom Apple, so last night we went over to her home so she could get her all trimmed and shiny :) 

She trimmed all the excess hair between her toes and pads and made her tail look perfect! I think Apple did very well considering this is likely the first time she has ever been on a groom table and probably the first time she has ever been trimmed with sheers. Here she is getting her tail trimmed, she doesn't look to worried to me :) she is actually keeping a eye on Amy's little Pom, Prince, she seemed to really like him and enjoyed his bounciness.

Here is a picture of Prince, or as Amy calls him Princy. He is also a puppymill survivor that struck gold when Amy adopted him. He was about 8 months old and had a luxating patella, basically this is when the knee cap pops in and out of the socket. Prince had a Grade IV, which means the knee cap permanently stays out of the socket, and requires surgery, he also has chronic urinary problems. He is a lucky boy, there are a lot of people that would not have spent this much money on "just a dog."  Isn't he a doll baby? He only weighs like 4lbs or so and is nothing but a bundle of energy and happiness, thanks to Amy! He's one of those dogs that you can't help but be happy around because he is so enthusiastic about life and everything in it.

Back to Apple, I completed her home visit this afternoon and was very happy with it. Tonight she is in her new furever home, hopefully loving life! Her new adopters are home most of the time and were as happy as could be with Apple. When I left she was curled up in the recliner with the son, I love happy endings! I'll be calling to check on her in a couple days and I hope they send me a picture or two of this sweet little girl. Happy tails to Apple! The Davis pack sends love and kisses!

Groom Time For Apple

This evening I decided to start grooming Apple in case she gets adopted. She hates getting a bath, she really doesn't like the water part, she seems ok with the scrubbing, soap part but the water does not make this little one happy. I don't blame her, probably the only experience she has had with spraying water was a hose splashing her in her cage. I think that would make me not like spraying water too! The whitening shampoo done a good job, I think its going to take a couple times to really get the stains totally out of her fur.

I'm gonna miss this little firecracker if she does get adopted, she has SOO much personality, I can't believe her little body can hold it all in. I think she would be really happy in a one dog home so that she can be pampered, and doted on like she knows she deserves! :)  See the look on her face in this picture? I think she is saying "Why did you that to me? I'm a princess." I'm not sure which is worse, a dog that comes from a breeder that has no clue what the good life is or one that has expected it their whole life but till now they never received it? I've seen both, and really both are heartbreaking, but maybe that's because I believe they all deserve warm beds to sleep in and a plethora of love and treats. At least now she gets to live the way she should, warm and loved.