Category: People and their pets

Love!

A Valentine Day reflection.

Yesterday was, of course, Valentine’s Day.

Rather than copy something from somewhere else I wanted to be original in my thoughts about love.

Jean was happy that this be published.

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February 14^th, 2022

In a world where new gizmos are coming onto the scene with what seems like ever increasing rapidity there is one thing that remains constant. It is love.

To my mind, love is a great deal more than the emotional and romantic connection between a man and a woman. Of course, that love, the romantic connection, is the one that is the subject of countless songs, poems, plays, books, and many other forms of communication, and one that goes back to almost the origins of warm-blooded life.

If one opens one’s mind, however, love can cover so much more. Love for the land; love for the distant stars in a dark sky; love for the sea; love for nature; and on and on. Too many times for me to count, and why would I want to count them anyway, each day I look out to the north-east and towards Sexton Mountain. My fondness for that sight is, I think, a form of love.

But this is Valentine’s Day. Despite the history of the day being an ancient Christian feast, as in Saint Valentine, an early Christian martyr, it has long become an important cultural and commercial celebration of romance. I sense you and me wanting to kick back against the commercial imperatives although, as you can see, I offer you a Valentine’s card.

With this card, I celebrate our love.

With this card, I celebrate that you and I found true love back in 2007; the first time this had happened to me.

With this card, I celebrate all that we have.

Dear Jeannie, I Love You!

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Here is the card:

Picture Parade Four Hundred and Twenty-Four

More delightful photographs of his dogs from Gary Messinetti.

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More wonderful photographs from Gary in a week’s time!

The loss of Sweeny; now we are five.

It was a shock!

Two days ago we noticed that Sweeny had a growth on his right-hand foreleg. Sweeny was 11.

Yesterday, we decided to take him to be seen at Lincoln Road Veterinary Clinic (LRVC).

LRVC is so busy these days that a scheduled appointment would be impossible. So Jean and I waited at the front desk; the staff were fantastic. We were told to bring Sweeny early this morning (Wednesday) and leave him there. Dr Russel Codd is well-known to us and he would try and find time during the day to diagnose Sweeny.

We were back home, minus Sweeny, by 8am. At 9:15am there was a call. It was Dr. Russ! Both Jeannie and I took the call.

Sweeny had advanced diabetes. His liver and kidneys were going and he was in pain. He had lost the will to live.

Very reluctantly Jeannie said that Sweeny should be allowed to die at the clinic. I agreed. Dr. Russ then said that that was the best decision and one that he would have taken if he had Sweeny as his own.

But it was a shock to hear of Sweeny’s issues. We had no idea and, as was said, just two days ago Sweeny appeared happy and content.

Now we are five!

Picture Parade Four Hundred and Twenty-Three

A welcome to a guest Picture Parade for the next five weeks!

I was emailed by Gary Messinetti last Monday with this message:

Dogs. I haven’t gotten out much with the pandemic and my other medical issues, but I did manage to shoot these yesterday!

They are so good! They are fabulous! Apart from reducing the file size a little to suit WordPress, they are unchanged.

I intend to present these photographs for the next five Picture Parades!

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Just wonderful!

We wish Gary all the best regarding his medical issues and, once again, thank him for sending me the wonderful photographs. Until the next Picture Parade!

Winter travels with one’s dog.

Indiana Lee offers some good advice.

I promised Indiana that I would publish this excellent post on the 27th January but then my ancient brain forgot to do that.

But here it is!

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Winter Travel Considerations for You and Your Pup

When you’re traveling in the winter, it’s always important to take some extra precautions. If you live in a location that experiences a lot of snow, ice, or cold temperatures, keeping yourself safe should be your top priority.

But, when you’re traveling with your four-legged friend, making sure you’re even more prepared is crucial. Extra considerations should always be taken when you’re on the road with your dog. While no one wants to think about getting stranded or getting into an accident, things like that can (and do) happen. Being prepared, even if you’re only taking a short trip, will make all the difference when it comes to your own health and wellness as well as your pup’s well-being.

So, what can you do to prepare properly and make sure both you and your dog stay healthy and safe while traveling this winter?

Stay Safe on the Road

Winter travel can be dangerous depending on weather and road conditions. Planning should always be the first thing you do before heading out with your dog. Check your local forecast as well as what the weather is like where you’ll be traveling. If possible, avoid going anywhere when the road conditions are icy or snowy.

If you have to travel or you pick a clear day, it’s still important to make sure your drive is as safe as possible. Always adapt to the conditions you’re going through, and remember to drive slowly and cautiously on icy roads.

You should always have a few extra supplies in your car for your pup, but in the winter it’s even more crucial for their safety – as well as yours. Some of the basic items you should have packed include:

A first aid kit
An extra blanket
Extra clothes/gloves
Handwarmers
Extra food/water
A compact snow shovel

For your canine companion, having an additional blanket, plenty of water for them, and a toy or treat to keep them occupied will make a big difference.

If you get “stranded” anywhere for a while, don’t leave your dog in the car while you go look for help. While most pet owners understand the risks of leaving a dog in a hot car, leaving them in a cold vehicle can cause frostbite or hypothermia in a very short time. Stay with them until help arrives. Having your car stocked with the right items will keep you both safe and warm.

Make the Most of Your Travels

Traveling with your pup is a great way to break away from the potential “winter blues” that many people face. Whether you want to head somewhere warm or just embrace the season as is, getting out can actually improve your overall health and well-being. Spending time outdoors can reduce your stress levels, give you more energy, improve your mood, and even boost your testosterone levels. You don’t even have to chop down a tree to get that last benefit, so it’s really a win-win.

No matter where you’re going, make the most of your travels by sticking to your health and wellness goals. Dogs need exercise just as much as people, so bring your furry friend with you on snowy hikes, or take them cold-weather camping to enjoy nights beneath the stars together. Just make sure to stay hydrated, dress appropriately, and moisturize your skin if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors. Dry, cracked skin can be painful and unsightly. Don’t forget your pup’s paw pads, too!

With a bit of planning, preparing, and packing, you and your dog can enjoy plenty of travels together this winter. They’ll love being able to spend that extra time with you, and you’ll both be able to get as much out of the season as possible.

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I hope some of you are experiencing decent snowfalls. Here in Southern Oregon we had some snow but as soon as it was on the ground the next day it had gone. The outlook for the next ten days is cold and dry!

Thank you, Indiana.

Picture Parade Four Hundred and Twenty-One

The following wood carvings are too lovely not to share with you!

Yesterday, Dordie, a close neighbour, sent me photographs of wood carvings. I wanted to share them.

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They are just wonderful and, hopefully, I will receive more background information from Dordie.

There’s something magical about dogs

An incredible true story of a dog rescue!

I haven’t got a great deal of time today (as in yesterday) to write an introduction to this story that was published on The Dodo in December last year. So I am not going to! 😉

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Man Sees Tiny Speck On Cliff In The Distance And Immediately Knows It’s A Dog In Need

“He was funny because I couldn’t see her without my binoculars, and he said he knew the ‘dot’ was an animal because he’s never seen that dot there before.”

By Caitlin Jill Anders

Published on the 16th December, 2021

An elderly man was having his morning coffee outside his motorcycle shop one day when he noticed something unusual on a cliff in the distance. He quickly concluded that the tiny speck he was seeing was actually a stuck animal in need of help, so he contacted the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR), and they sent two animal law enforcement officers to check it out.

The officers couldn’t see the dog without a little extra help, but the man never had any doubt that she was there and desperately needed help.

“He was funny because I couldn’t see her without my binoculars, and he said he knew the ‘dot’ was an animal because he’s never seen that dot there before,” Officer Kailie Barker told The Dodo.

The dog was stuck on a small ledge about 150 feet above a creek. They weren’t sure how long she’d been there and immediately started coming up with a plan to rescue her.

“It took two and a half hours total to be able to find out exactly where she was, how we were going to get to her, obtaining the equipment and formulating an exact plan,” Barker said.

The officers were able to obtain some climbing gear, and once they were ready, Barker rappelled down to the stuck dog — who was so excited that someone had finally come to help her.

“She was obviously very scared. She had her body pressed into the dirt, she was wagging her tail quickly and was trying to crawl towards us when she very first saw us,” Barker said. “The dirt kept sliding out from under her, but she kept trying. When I was down on the cliffside with her, she tried crawling towards me again. When I finally got to her, she kept licking my hands and face.”

Once the dog had been brought to safety, they read her collar and discovered that her name was Jessie Lee. They took her back to HSPPR, where the staff was able to find her family’s contact information. It turns out she had been missing for two weeks and was found only a few blocks away from her home. Her family had searched for her every single day and was absolutely overjoyed that someone had found her.

Luckily, Jessie Lee wasn’t injured after her ordeal and was able to head home to her family shortly after being rescued. It was the perfect happy ending, all thanks to the officers who rescued her — and the man who knew that tiny speck in the distance was actually a dog.

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All the photographs are from the HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION.

It is a precious story and just goes to show the magic we have in our hearts for dogs.Well done that man!

Picture Parade Four Hundred and Twenty.

Picture Parade Four Hundred and Nineteen

Yet more dogs from Unsplash!

I cannot believe that it was just week ago that we had quite a lot of snow. Because just seven days later there’s no snow at all on the ground and if one looks up at the peaks then one can see some remnants of it!

So back to dogs not in the snow!