Puppy Time

The shelter is low on dogs (and cats) and that is a good thing! Tuesday night there were hardly any dogs to take photos of – kind of a bummer. When all the long timers have had their photo shoots there is only one thing to do – cuddle puppies!

We ignored the fuzzy little whiner – yup, me, ignoring the fuzzy one. Could it be that the WCAC has turned me in to a lover of smooth-coated bully breeds? Maybe.


Cher (ID: 47282)


Cher was one of those sweethearts. Young and feeling a little shy 'cause she's only been here a couple of days. She was also a little camera shy as I could never get her to put her ears up. I had to be quick to actually get her looking at the camera. It's one of the "reasons" why I could use a new camera. It seems like if a pup has a real aversion to having its photo taken it's when I bring my camera up to my eye to compose the shot that they really shy away. So maybe if I got an upgrade to my Canon Rebel – one with a view screen …

Princess was more puppy-like, bubbly and full of energy. She had the cutest terrier face and a deep rich reddish brown color – and puppy breath. I have several friends who talk about the phenomenon of puppy breath and Princess had it. My friends were right; puppy breath is a marvelous scent.

Princess (ID: 48314)

Kiwi is another one of those sweet, shy bully-mix puppies. She has a face that makes you want to find her the very best home with all the love and proper training that a dog deserves.

Kiwi (ID: 48345)

Aaron is one of the smallest pups I've gotten in a kennel with – usually there are several to a kennel which makes them hard to photograph and they don't keep a clean kennel, if you know what I mean. But, Aaron's house was clean and he is quite the fuzzball! I was not having much luck getting his photo as he is so monochromatic that the lens couldn't get a good focus. I settled in to just enjoying hanging out with him. I love the little puppy "sproing" through the air as he ran all around and over me. I did luck out and get a couple of usable shots for the web.

Aaron (ID: 48246)

I've been slow in blogging this past week and as fate would have it my Canine Biographer's shift on Sunday fits right in with the theme of this post. I spent three hours at the WCAC with very few bios to show for it. BUT IT WASN"T MY FAULT – it was "Piggy's" fault.

Nom, nom, nom.

One of the kennel techs is fostering this little girl and leaves her in the office while she's working in the back. "Piggy" likes to be held and I was the only one in the office, so I just had to do it. What absolute fun! I wonder if Charlie would ever consider us fostering new born pups?

Overseeing my work

Sound Asleep

And a Home for Everyone

Dog Room D was dark and all the kennels were empty but one, a little tiny Australian Shepherd puppy by the name of Aruba. No tears! The little guy had a deposit and will be going home soon. Besides, it was bedtime at the WCAC.


The Valentine's adoption special was good. Lots of dogs have been adopted and I'm sure quite a few cats as well. But have no fear, there is still someone waiting for their forever home where they can find all the love and good food they deserve.

Brandy (ID: 48012)

I'd say that Tuesday was a bully breed night, but I just had to step in the kennel with Julie and Brandy. Brandy is one of those sweet fluffy dogs who like to give lots of kisses and love a good massage. The picture may look like Julie is holding her, but really Brandy is reveling in the massage that Julie is giving her.

My favorite of the night – yes, I know I always have a favorite – had to be Bitty. She was such a cuddler. Her nose is a hot mess including some healed-over puncture wounds, and she pushed hard to get out of the open kennel door, but once I got inside and gave her a little head rub the snuggler in her came out. She immediately laid her head on my chest and pressed closer with each moment. Next one paw came up on my knee, then another – if I'd been sitting right I think she would have crawled up in my lap and snuggled down for the night.

Bitty (ID: 47692)

Both she and Toffee settled on their blankets once I'd been in their kennels for a few minutes. I love it when they are so trusting and calm like that.

Toffee is a beautiful dog. I don't think I could ever crop a dog's ears, but it gives her a very beautiful look. I'm sure someone did it to give her a more menacing look, but she was so sweet and whined like a puppy when she saw I was going to visit her in her kennel.

Toffee (ID: 44207)

Davis is another one of those dogs with a misleading look – that big, brindle bully breed look. Really he's just a timid sweet guy who was looking for a little love and was so very gentle when he took a treat.

Davis (ID: 45862)

I was just remembering how some of these powerful breeds will flick the treat with their tongue rather than take it directly from your finger tips and chance biting you. I'm trying to remember who did that Tuesday … I think they were all of similar mindset.

CHEWY UPDATE: Chewy was adopted last week Wednesday and went home Thursday. He came back to the shelter on Friday when he tested positive for heartworms. On Saturday someone sponsored the entire cost of his treatment (which the NCSU vet school offers at cost) and Sunday he went home. It's just got to stick this time.

Watching dogs come back to the shelter after only being gone for a couple of days is heartbreaking and I think it is so important to know what you're getting yourself into. I had two dogs before Tippi, but this is the first time that I really thought about what I was getting into (and no, I was not prepared for the incontinence). I was so lucky with Sugar and Snips. Cesar Millan's book "Be the Pack Leader" has a good section of questions to ask yourself before adopting a dog. This article on Cesar's site is a good start if you're thinking about getting a dog (or cat) http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/yournewdog/before-you-adopt.

Chow Lova!

Yep, that's me – a lover of all things Chow Chow. I've met some great dogs at the WCAC, but if there is a Chow in the house I am going to search them out whether they need a photo shoot or not. This week it was Chewy and Curly Sue.


I'd been watching Chewy for a week or so. He had been put in quarantine for being snippy. They were trying to figure out if he was a cranky Chow or just a little freaked out about being there … which all of us can relate to, as our first few visits to the Center were an attack on the senses. Chewy turned out to be a good guy, and they even gave him a bath and a brush out before they put him on the floor. He has the most amazing look, don't you think? His photos made me think they should change his name to "The Cowardly Lion." Everyone who saw his photos thought he looked more like some mythical creature than a family dog. Someone is very lucky. The WCAC has a Valentine's Day special going on so the adoption of this fine specimen of the Chow Chow breed was only $25.00.

Chewy may be one cool looking Chow, but I'm in love with Curly Sue. Thank goodness she too has been adopted immediately or I'd be hard pressed to stick to our budget – money be damned, I want her! Her looks are a perfect mix of my Sugar and Snips after a romp in the coal bin. She was badly matted when she came in so they had to give her that "Summer Puppy Cut" shave that I've loved since that first summer Sugar and I spent here in North Carolina. Curly Sue's undercoat looked like dirty dish water, just like my Snips. They did one thing I never have done, though. They gave her a lion's tail. OMG! It was so cute to watch her wag that thing. She felt so wonderful when I petted her. That wonderful soft head, the fuzzy body, and the look on her face when she put her ears down really did me in. There are definitely Chow- specific mannerisms 'cause everything she did stirred memories and emotions in me. She was even sweet enough to let me hug her neck.

Still, there is the part of me that knows that I was meant for Tippi. Nobody wanted her anymore and very few would do for her what I do or would have such a supportive spouse to put up with it all.

My camera started acting up when I was taking photos of Ray Don (ID: 46247). He's a good boy and didn't jump on me too terribly much for being a puppy and all.

So that's all I got done for the night. It was the camera, I'm sure. Why of course it had nothing to do with how much time I spent with Curly Sue and Chewy.

Remember you have through Monday to adopt for just $25.00 – but pets do not make good surprise gifts – it is a long term commitment, after all.

Also, check out these videos of Curly Sue. Curly Sue - v1. Curly Sue - v2.

My Snips w/a Summer Puppy Cut
We do miss that fuzzy-wuzzy!

Diapering an 80 lb. Dog

It's taken us six months, but we've finally come up with a routine that is minimizing the "yuck" of Tippi's incontinence.

No, we haven't figured out what is causing her incontinence and we've gone back to the vet to figure out why she drinks so much water (a gallon to a gallon and a half in a 24 hour period). The Geriatric Blood Profile came up with a lot of things that were just a little out of whack. One possible diagnosis is Cushing 's disease (an adrenal gland problem). So, we had the vet perform an ACTH test. The results were inconclusive — of course. And of course there is another test, and even if that test comes back with a Cushing's diagnosis there is more testing, expensive medications, no cure, etc. I've left it up to Charlie as to whether or not we pursue this as I'm comfortable with where we're at right now.

I control her water intake, keeping it to a little less than a gallon a day. It seems to be the minimum amount before she starts searching out water from bath tub drips and toilets with the seat up. And through a process of elimination, no pun intended, we've found a pair of cotton doggy britches lined with a baby diaper while she's in the house keeps everything clean and dry.

We initially tried the doggy diapers, but with Tippy at 80+ pounds they just didn't make anything big enough. And the cheapest I could find came out to about $2.00+ per diaper. The britches we ordered fit well and are easy to get on and off, but they're made of cotton and would just soak through. First we tried lining the britches with adult incontinence pads, but they didn't hold enough and leaked out of the sides. Trying baby diapers, I cut a slit for her tail and pinned them to the inside of the britches. I quickly discovered that the cut edges needed to be sealed – pee soaked fiber and gel falling out of the diaper is not cool. Also, there was still a leakage issue.

Next I opted to cut a hole out of the seat of the diaper. It worked, but it was a real "pain-in-the-ass" to cut until my co-workers suggested I try the die-cutting machine.

I place the die where I want the tail hole.

Position the press and mash the buttons.

Out pops the "donut hole" to be thrown away.

I seal the edges with duct tape, a good TV watching activity. I've had fun catching up on old episodes of Doctor Who. The "monsters" are hysterical.

Finally, we pin the diaper into the britches. We opted for black britches so they wouldn't be as noticeable on her, but I think I'm about to embellish a pair for parties and visiting the nursing home.

And there you have it … a 99% leak free dog!

Final thoughts:
Key tip – never, never, never forget to take the diaper off before you let her out to do her business 'cause some business is just too gross to have to clean out – if you get my drift.

Charlie and I never expected to be clipping baby diaper coupons or buying the industrial size boxes at Costco. I think it's almost like sending him in to buy feminine hygiene products.

We are somewhat convinced that there is an invisible sign over my head that only dogs and cats can see that says "Make her love you. She will put up with anything and take good care of you no matter what is wrong with you or how much of your life is left," which will mean I'll need to work on my negotiation skills to convince Charlie about the next addition to our family.

It does get me down when I consider how many years of this I have ahead of me – but it's doable – and I was raised to believe that you keep moving forward with what you have. You don't give up just because it gets inconvenient.

Although I'm sure my mom will tell you she did not mean for that to apply to animals.

All the Cuties Tonight

It was another good night at the WCAC. I got lots of good shots of some very sweet dogs with only a couple energetic types.

Ringo Star (ID: 47137)

I should have spent more time with Ringo, not because he needed it, but because he's my kind of dog – soft, gentle, soft – oh sorry, did I mention soft and furry? He's a Rottie mix and Charlie said he did look like a Ringo Star. He was a really mellow boy, considering his next door neighbor was this one-year-old lab with an ear- and brain- piercing bark. The way the sound cut through my head, I swore he must have barked right in my ear at one point.

Whopper (ID: 47478)

Whopper was one of those dogs I just couldn't resist. He wasn't even available for adoption yet but I just had to get in that kennel and pet him. The photos don't really show it, but he is a Pittie mix. Yep. He might have the fur and the face of a Lab, but his barrel-chested stubby body is all Pittie. His antics in the kennel were more that of a Lab, which made him even cuter. As I went to get out of the kennel that pushy Pittie personality came out, which was a little weird considering his Lab side bad been the only thing I had seen up to that point.

Biggie (ID: 46326)

Biggie was curled up in a ball asleep when I stepped in to his kennel – well, as much as a 90 pound Boxer can get into a ball. His is one of those stories that makes you mad as heck and then makes you shake your head in amazement that people can be like that.


He and his friend were brought in because of a cruelty charge on their owner. The dogs were neglected and way too skinny. Biggie's owner had been physically unable to take care of them and was paying someone to do it and had no idea they were being so poorly treated. Both dogs are doing better and Biggie was just as sweet as can be. He was a little overzealous in snatching his treats – completely understandable, but he still had better manners than some I've seen.

Monkey Pup (ID: 46306)

Monkey Pup's intake photo made her look horrible like some deformed mutant. On my last two visits she was listed as "in isolation," but this time I actually found her in Dog Room E. That sealed the deal - I would work DE and she would be my first. Poor thing, she's spent so much time in "doggie hospital" that she was frightened during my visit. Such a pitiful look you just want to scoop her up in your arms and show her all kinds of love.


All in all a good night of service and love.

First Day of Class

Robin talked me into taking a training class with her and Ivy. Okay, so it didn't take much. I mean, it involves two of my three favorite things, dogs and the elderly; and I won't be surprised when we come across a veteran or two in our work.

So for the next couple of months Tippi and I will be spending our Saturday mornings at the Carolina House of Cary learning the ropes for her to become a certified therapy dog.

Today was Tippi's first day of class and although she did well she's not going to take to this as quickly as I might have thought. She was much more nervous about everything than I expected. I do think this will be good for both of us, though. Sherry and Laurie's teaching style is a little different from what we've experienced. I think it will teach me to be more in tune with what's going on with Tippi in different situations.

Just this first class has made me realize that I need to walk Tippi more, we need to practice our CGC stuff in different places and I need to spend more time developing a physical bond with her.

Canine Good Citizen Graduation