Dogs: Rescue UPDATE

http://thedailystar.com/localnews/x952274282/Dogs-seized-from-kennel-get-out-of-legal-limbo

The dogs that have been seized by the SPCA are now being screened for adoption, as the judge in Popolizio's trial has awarded custody to the SPCA.  I am thrilled at this development.  For the full story, please click the link above.

Dogs: Noah

Meet Noah.  We are dog-sitting him while his owner is at Crufts Dog Show in England.

He is a very regal-looking boy... 

 who loves taking naps on couches...

and even more loves just plain sitting around on a couch. 

 Here he is with Winston (left) and husband (middle)

I can't get enough of him while he's sleeping because he is so darn cute 

He also loves looking at things outside like crows and other birds. 

What a gorgeous fellow!

Now that he has adjusted to staying here with us, he is a happy camper who hardly ever stops wagging.  He's not as playful as Oliver and Winston, but he is very loving and always cheerful.  I think I'm in love.

Oh yeah, and he's a Rhodesian Ridgeback, from Kaskazini Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  He has sired two litters of beautiful puppies thusfar, and I hope several more.  I'd like him to be the dad of a pup of mine someday.  If you're interested in getting a Ridgeback, I'd highly recommend this breeder. :)

DOGS: Rescue UPDATE

http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Dogs-removed-from-kennel-amid-investigation-into-neglect-138000833.html

Please watch this video.  The most dire situations had already been removed, but now it looks like they are removing the dogs in better health too, as none of these dogs look too bad, short of the tail on the one Vizsla that is infected.

I am appalled that no criminal charges have been filed yet, and am still waiting from the Susquehanna SPCA about fostering a dog.

A photo of one of the worst-off dogs is on the Susquehanna SPCA news website: http://www.susquehannaspca.org/news.html

Please spread this news around and send dog food to the SPCA to help these poor animals.

Dogs: RESCUE MISSION

UPDATE: I have spoken to the Otsego County SPCA and it is indeed true and very sad.  It is hard to get through on the telephone number because the phone is ringing off the hook for them, as the word has gotten out only today.  But please, please, please consider doing all that you can to help these poor animals.

I found this on facebook just a few minutes ago, and I want to get it to all people who may read anything and may be in the New York area.  Please consider donations, fostering, and help.

Donald D. Brown
I’m trying mobilize the rescue organizations for the different breeds mention below. Can you help?
We have a terrible, heartbreaking situation in Upstate New York with Frank Popolizio’s Southside Kennels located in South Worcester, NY. The Otsego County SPCA has been called in, as well as NY State Troopers, to remove over 130 dogs that are staked out w/barrels for shelter and no bedding in the barrels in subzero weather. The dogs are emaciated, eating their own feces, and in horrible physical condition and unable to fend for themselves. There are vizslas, GSP’s, Weimaraners, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks in peril that I know of. There may be other breeds at this puppy mill as well. 
Please help me get the word out to the neighboring rescue people. The Otsego County SPCA is overwhelmed with the number of dogs they are going to have to take in and they have asked for help. The director, and contact person for this SPCA is a lady by the name of Liz Mackey; her phone number is 607-547-8111. This is a Cooperstown, NY number and the SPCA is located just south of Cooperstown. 
Thank you for any help you can lend in this sad situation.

Dogs: Thanksgiving Eve

It's Thanksgiving Eve and the boys are asleep...

 Oliver is in circle-mode... and completely "off..."

 Winston is in sprawl-mode, and deigns to open an eye and groan if you pet him.  He's not too fond of the camera flash either.

 see? Circle dog.  Well, more elliptical dog, but who's counting?

How a dog can sleep like this and NOT get a stiff neck is beyond me.

Sleep tight, dear readers, and have a wonderful holiday tomorrow.

Dogs: Winston

Meet Winston.

Winston is a Rhodesian Ridgeback bred by Kaskazini Rhodesian Ridgebacks in East Meredith, NY.  We are very proud of his heritage!!

Winston is especially gifted at looking pensive and slightly worried, which makes you want to just cuddle all 100 pounds of this butter-ball.  We just learned yesterday that he's overweight for a Ridgeback, so he is now on a diet and is not pleased at all with us.

Which reminds me... Winston loves to eat.  As a puppy he used to eat lying down, but he now stands to eat.  Even still, the photo of him lying down to eat is too cute to pass up.  Plus, it shows off his magnificent ridge.

Winston also likes to run around outside,

(Winston is the one who's the highest in the air; Oliver is behind him), and is he ever powerful!

Winston is also the apple of his daddy's eye, and his daddy is the apple of his eye.  With a face like that, who wouldn't want to take him home and snuggle him forever?

This photo went on our Christmas card last year.  He's just that perfect at posing.

As far as temperament goes, Winston is a true Rhodesian Ridgeback.  Very loyal, quite stubborn, lazy, destructive if bored, but so darn lovable you can't help but run up to him and snuggle him once in a while.  (To which he usually responds with this throat noise like "nnnnnggggghhhh!!!!")  He also possesses a goofy side, most evidenced by when he wants to play with his brother Oliver and says something like, "ROO ROO!" to get Oliver going.

Aw heck, you need another photo.

 Look at that magnificent boy.  He looks a little goofy in his orange vest, but he is so gorgeous.  This is from his younger, slimmer days; days to which we aspire again!

Once upon a time, we were watching a National Geographic nature documentary, and Winston sat right in front of the TV and watched the whole thing with us.  He was fascinated.  If it's a nature documentary, he still watches it on TV.

Golly gee oh gosh oh gum I love him!

Dogs: Oliver

Meet Oliver.  Photos by the husband.

 Oliver likes to watch birds in ponds,

 snuggle under blankets,

 go swimming,

 play in bathtubs,

 hunt for geese,

and sleep on blankets.

Oliver is a Vizsla, which is another name for a Hungarian Pointer.  He is a golden-rust color, and just gorgeous.  Yes, his nose is supposed to be pink, and he has the most beautiful amber-colored eyes you've ever seen.  He has two settings: on and off.

When he's on, he is one of the most hyperactive, ridiculous, goofy, happy dogs you will ever meet.  As a puppy, he was always "on," and required no less than 2 hours of RUN-time on his walks.  (Side note: I strongly caution anyone who is not incredibly active against getting a Vizsla solely for the puppy stage.  It was brutal!)  My father, when he was still alive, swore that any photos of him sleeping were Photoshopped.  Now that Oliver is 2 years old, he is starting to calm down and requires a minimum of 3 miles on-leash walk and at least an hour of run-time in the back yard (fenced-in).

When he's off, he is grumbly, tired, and snuggly; in off-mode he wants nothing more than to be curled up close to one of his humans (me or the husband or the in-laws, particularly father-in-law) and under a blanket.  If you pet him too much when he's in off-mode, he groans and grumbles at you but is too lazy to move a muscle to get away from the pet.  Off-mode occurs during the day periodically, in the early morning, all night long, and in the evenings after about 8 pm.

As I type, Oliver is "off," curled up in his favorite dog bed in the master bedroom.  But if I were to get out the leash, he would immediately be "on" and ready for one of his daily walks.  Such is the life of a Vizsla.

Getting Started

It's my 31st birthday today.  I've been told that I need to have a blog because I love to write and people I know on facebook have told me I have a little bit of that stuff called wit.  I hope to.

Topics I hope to include on this blog:
- Food.  I love food.  I hope to include recipes, restaurant reviews for the few times we (husband and I) go out to eat, dealing with my fussy palate (it's embarrassing how many "hate" foods I have), and learning how to control portion sizes when I just want to eat it all.
- Dogs.  As the proud owner of both a Vizsla and a Rhodesian Ridgeback, I consider them my first children and treat them well.  They get their minimum of 3 miles walk per day and are a constant presence in my life.  I love telling stories about them and taking their pictures and showing off about just how great they are.
- Mental Illness.  I have been battling some form of depression for over 10 years.  My official diagnosis two years ago was "chronic major depression in partial remission," but after moving away from that psychiatrist and having a new therapist, suspicions of a mood disorder are arising.  My psychiatrist appointment for evaluations and medication control is in two days, and most likely I'll be posting about my experiences trying to stay mentally healthy and functional in a world that always expects my A-game when most of the time I just want to stay in bed and sleep.
- Domesticity.  Of course I will deviate from time to time and talk about my herb garden, life living in the country, why we reupholstered the couch after the Ridgeback chewed it entirely apart, and other random topics that I can't categorize beyond this.

Enough planning.  Let's go!