Eddie was the life of the party in our group.  He was loved by all the other dogs and their owners.  Everyone knows a man or woman who is just always so upbeat and fun and it just makes you feel good to be in their presence.  Well this was our Eddy the dog.  Every dog walk that included Eddie was just that much more lively and fun.  Every one was his best friend.

The last few days the Dog Mobile and our walks have just not felt the same with out Eddie’s sparkling presence.  In fact they seem life less and empty.  I am sure it is going to take quite some time to grieve and come to terms with the loss of our special Eddie.

When Eddie was little he used to finish his walks and crawl from the back of the Dog Mobile and squeeze through under the barrier to come in the front seat and sleep beside me.  When he got too big to do this he always lay with his nose sticking through the barrier so I could put my hand down to pet him and get wonderful Eddie kisses in return.

Eddie became my full time assistant dog walker at one point as my dog Dot decided it wasn’t for her anymore.  She just wanted to walk and not work.  If some young dogs had some extra energy to burn Eddie would lead them on what I called run ups or sprint intervals back and forth ahead of us until they were tired.  If two dogs were thinking about not getting along Eddie would just slip his gorgeous little body in between the two dogs to deflect their tension.  If a dog was doing something they weren’t supposed to do Eddie would present a stick to play with or do something else to distract them.  Eddie was a peace maker.

Eddie also loved to share his cookies so many dogs especially Laika, Kali and Dot love to get out of the car at Eddie’s house and go have treats both before and after their walk.  Eddie also always had a bowl of fresh clean water outside on his back step so the dogs could get a drink after walking on a hot day.  On special days like Valentines Day and Halloween and even on his Birthday Eddie would leave special cookies out to share with his friends.

When we were at the Veterinary Hospital on Sunday and learned that he would not have long to live they said it is always hard to lose a dog so young.  That is true but in Eddie’s case he was young and a special, special dog.  I have owned dogs my whole life and I have been walking dogs now for many years and I can tell you he was one of the most special dogs I have ever met in my life.

I have been telling the other dogs the bad news over the last few days.  Today when I told little Jess who was one of Eddie’s favorite gal pals she stood up and put a paw on each of my hips and gave me a hug.  Then part way through our walk when I was overcome with tears and emotion she again gave me a great hip hug.  Jess has never done that before.  When I told Tug who has just lost his companion Cocoa very recently and is a really good friend of Eddie’s he totally understood and gave me some grunts and kisses to comfort me.

Eddie is predeceased by his best Chocolate Lab friend and mentor Rigby and his special Golden Retriever friend Cocoa (Kofax) and his older special girl friend Terra.  I am hoping they are all together now in Heaven and he and Rigby are playing tug of war and Eddie is licking Terra’s ears the way he loves to do.

Eddie is survived by his most amazing owner Lynda who loved and cared for Eddie in the best possible way.  He is also survived by his Aunt Dot who helped raise him and tried to let Rigby’s Chocolate Lab influence always be stronger than her Terrier influence.  Eddie was Dot’s best friend.

So we were wandering through the woods enjoying ourselves when Bonnie and Eddie were off like a shot in pursuit of a red fox.  I called the two of them to come back and worried that they would not be coming back any time soon.  I couldn’t believe it when the other dogs failed to notice or smell the fox and didn’t also join the pursuit.  With in minutes the two were back in our group.  What a shocker.

I text-ed Eddie’s owner to tell her what happened and she said she was just happy that Eddie didn’t eat the fox as he ate a squirrel on Friday and has had diarrhea ever since.  Eddie’s favorite toy is a stuffed squirrel that has been unstuffed for quite some time so is really a shell of a squirrel.  His owner calls it Chelsea Squirrel.  Well on Friday’s walk Eddie did indeed find a dead squirrel.  He really couldn’t believe his luck.  I could just see him thinking ” all these years I have had that fake squirrel and when I play with it I pretend it is real and now here I have a real Squirrel”.

Eddie dragged that dead squirrel around for our whole walk.  He tossed it and played with it just like it was Chelsea Squirrel.  He tried to entice the other dogs to join in but no one was interested.  Finally when we got back to the car and all the other dogs got in to go home he decided it was time to eat his treasure from the top down.  There was no way he would let me near him until he ate the squirrel.  All but the tail.  The good thing was it was a freshly dead squirrel.  I think they are easy to kill right now as they are so fat getting ready for winter that they can barely walk let alone run.

Today’s chase brought back memories of years ago when we encountered a wolf.  Two of the six dogs I was walking chased the wolf and the other four dogs stood glued to my side and we all quivered.  I really didn’t think the 2 dogs chasing the wolf would ever be seen again but after many, many agonizing minutes they returned all intact.  Today’s fox chase was not nearly as scary as that.

First off I received the cat sitting from the man of the house who explained he was taking the lady of the house on a Magical Mystery Tour for a surprise birthday present.  They would be gone for four days total and he would leave me a note with the contact information of their destination in case of emergency.  I anticipated they would go somewhere like Montebello or Mount Tremblant.  When I arrived the first day and turned over the paper the destination was a hotel in Paris.  I am thinking this man is romantic and what a lucky lady.

So one activity that usually entertains indoor cats while pet sitting is knitting.  I sit and knit with the cat beside me and they are usually fascinated and watch the yarn, play with the yarn and some even try to eat the yarn.  That used to happen with my cat Freddie Rodriguez.  I would be knitting along and suddenly I would have a soaking wet cut piece of wool in my hand because she had chewed it apart.  Well this cat Max had zero interest in knitting.  Not his style.  He preferred to sit on the window ledge with his back to me looking at the outside world.  Max has just started to go outside for the first time in his life and this was my first time pet sitting so we had decided it was probably not a great idea to let him out but obviously that is where his interest lay.

The other very intersting thing about Max was his soccer ball toy.  He had a yellow sponge soccer ball toy that was in his food bowl with his kibble every day when I arrived.  It would be soaking wet so he had recenlty  submerged it in his water bowl and then moved it into his kibble bowl to store it.  Or maybe he thought his kibble needed company.  I am not sure but it was very amusing.  So every day I removed the ball, dried it out and left it on the floor.  The very next day there it would be soaking wet and in his kibble bowl.  I would love to know Max’s thought process on that one.

All in all I had a great time cat sitting Max.  He was a real cuddly and affectionate cat who was most definitely not a knitter.

*******

I seem to attract animals wherever I go or they
attract me and here is another example.  I went for a moutain bike ride yesterday in the Comox/Courtney area in B.C. where I am visiting
my family.  We headed out on some logging roads and 10
minutes out  on a fast descent we passed a barking dog in the woods.  I
didn’t think too much about it other than be happy that it didn’t run into our path.

After 2 hours of riding we headed back towards home.  We weren’t supposed to go back the way we came but I wanted to get an extra hard
workout in and it was all climbing on this return so I
convinced my riding partners  to go back that way.  As
we approached we heard the same dog barking again in the exact same spot.  I stopped my bike and checked out the situation.  There
was a black and white pit bullish dog about 10 feet
into the woods and up a hill barking non stop.  He was
wagging his tail and looking behind him repeatedly.  I
used all the key words like cookies, treats, come etc
and he would not budge.  I decided there was someone
or something in behind him so maybe he was just there
with his owner who we couldn’t see.

My uncle and I decided we would come back after supper and if he was
still there then we would  have to do something about getting him
out.  We headed home and my uncle decided to skip the
last bit of really technical riding and popped out on
their road about 500 meters earlier than where we
entered.  We headed home on the road and passed some
mailboxes where out of the corner of my eye I saw a
LOST sign and a picture of what looked like a black
and white cat.  I rode on but something nagged at me
so I turned around to look at the sign more closely.
Sure enough the picture was off the black and white
dog in the woods (Bronco) along with a brown female
(Sarah) whom we hadn’t seen.  The sign said they had
been missing from the Oyster River area for 5 days.

I immediately called the barely discernible number on my
cell phone.  It has been raining here for the last 5
days and the number was almost washed out.  I talked
to a woman who could barely speak because she was crying so hard.
After 5 days she was sure her dogs were gone or dead.
She came and met my uncle and I and we drove in on the
logging roads as far as we could with my uncles truck.
We then had to walk in to where Bronco was still up
on the hill in the forest.  As soon as he saw us he
barked and was so happy to see his owner but still
would not come out.  We walked in towards him and I
heard his owner cry “oh sarah”. At this point my heart
sank and I was afraid to walk any further as I
anticipated a dead and mangled dog.

What we found was a beautiful red dog who was laying down in the brush
and could not move at all.  She could barely lift her
head actually.  Her poor body was just covered in bug
bites and her back legs seemed to have no reflexes in
them.  I happened to have a water bottle with me and
the 2 dogs just lapped up every drop of it.  We took
my uncles vest, put it on the ground and lifted Sarah
into it.  We used it as a sling to carry Sarah out of
the woods to the truck as she was a rather heavy dog.
The whole time we carried her in the makeshift sling
Bronco didn’t leave her side and had his nose in there
with her making sure she was ok.  We drove them back
to their owners car and as we put Sarah in and Bronco
jumped in beside her you could see they were relieved
to be back in familiar territory.  Sarah was already
looking stronger from the water she had drank and
could now hold her head up.

They headed off to the emergency vets to get Bronco’s dirty cut cleaned up
and to see what was wrong with Sarah.  It turned out
that Sarah was suffering from severe dehydration,
starvation and exhaustion.   With a few days of food,
water and love she should be fine.  What a relief.
Bronco deserves a dedication award for staying at
Sarah side and barking until someone noticed their
distress.  I don’t know if Sarah would have lasted
much longer.  It was all so accidental that I found
them as I almost didn’t go on that ride, we were
supposed to come home another way, we almost didn’t
notice the sign on the post box etc.  Thank goodness
there is a happy ending to their story.

These dogs all went into temporary foster homes in Kingston while they awaited finding forever homes.  I had a few clients who were looking for new doggie companions so I passed on the email.  We decided to drive down to Kingston to meet the dogs.  There were a number of dogs to meet but going into the meeting based on pictures and descriptions there were a few standouts.

First there was a bonded pair who needed to be adopted together which is a hard thing to do when you are an adult dog and large breed.   Most people are looking for one dog not two.  A client who had recently lost her wonderful Chocolate Lab companion felt a tug on her heart strings  when she heard their story.  Unfortunately as her pet sitter I can not take more than 1 large dog at a time and definitely not one with a strong prey instinct (a husky mix) as I have 3 cats so they were ruled out.  Both were amazing dogs though.

The next dog on our list was Bayzle who is a Chocolate Lab/Chesapeake Retriever cross.  He is 16 months old and has a very interesting history.  At the age of 8 weeks he was rescued off an ice flow in the St. Laurence River.  He was taken to a shelter and adopted.  It seems from then on he was not walked and was over fed.  So at the age of 16 months he ended up back in the shelter very over weight (20 pounds) and with not the greatest manners as he probably was never disciplined.

Both clients were interested in Bayzle.  The client who had recently lost her Chocolate Lab was for obvious reasons since she wants another Chocolate Lab.    Ollie’s owner was also interested since Bayzle and Ollie are close to one another in age and breed.  Going in to the meeting Ollie’s owner was giving Rigby’s owner first choice on Bayzle since she was currently dog less.

We arrived in Kingston at a soccer dome where a Dog Agility Competition was underway.  It may not have been the optimal meeting place as we were in a gravel parking lot where all the rescue dogs had to be on leash and we had a lot of well behaved agility competitors passing us on leash as well.

First off there was a cage with a blanket over it and once the blanket was removed a large dog started barking like crazy. When she came out of her cage she was pulling on her leash.  She had GIANT ears and a skinny gangly body.  Her name was Suzie and her breed apparently is Great Dane/Rhodesian Ridge Back cross.  She looked like a giant mouse.  In my mind I wrote that dog off as not desirable.

We then met Bayzle who was a chubby brown lovely dog.  Rigby’s owner and I took him for a little amble to try to get to know him.  He was eager but didn’t seem to be all that interested in his possible new owner.  When Bayzle first came to  Kingston he was in one foster home and then when his foster mother went on holidays he went to a second foster home.  At this meeting both his first and second foster mothers were present and I think Bayzle was eagerly trying to please both his foster mothers and thus wasn’t focused on his potential forever home.

I think had Bayzle  been adopted he would have bonded with his new owner and been a great companion.  Also at play was the fact that Rigby’s owner was really still grieving for Rigby and she  just wasn’t ready for a new dog.  Just like any relationship if there is no connection then  there is not connection and it is best to walk away.

Then there was Ollie and his owner.  They met Bayzle and Ollie just ignored him.  Ollie was however interested in the aforementioned funny looking dog named Suzie.  I was thinking to myself this is not the right dog for Ollie but then I wasn’t around while Ollie and Suzie were bonding.

We had agreed before coming that no one would adopt a dog that day and we would all go home and think about it.  Back to Ottawa we went and of course I was sad that no one wanted to adopt Bayzle.

Ollie and his owner went back to Kingston a short time later to meet Suzie or Satellite Suzie a second time.  This time they went to a grassy park like area where Ollie and Suzie could play off leash.  It was a match and Suzie was adopted on a Saturday and moved here to Chelsea.

On Sunday at 11 pm I received a worried email from Ollie’s owner regarding some of Suzie’s behaviours.  That coming Wednesday was going to be Neko’s (renamed Neko from Satellite Suzie) first group walk so I needed to get to know her so I suggested Ollie, Neko and their owner join us the next day for a group walk.  On that walk I had 2 dogs under the age of 2 and 4 other regulars.  Well it turns out most of Neko’s worrisome behaviour was just a result of Neko’s being a puppy and just being transplanted one more time in her life.  Neko is a big dog but really only 9 months old so just a puppy.  By the end of our 1 hour hike in the woods Neko’s new owner was very releived.

So 2 months have passed  and I have to say Neko is just an awesome dog.  Many days she is better behaved than 2 year old Ollie.  She loves the other dogs, listens to all her commands, loves romping in the woods and swimming in the nasty ponds.  My misgvings about her upon our initial meeting were completly wrong.  Ollie and his owner made a great choice and I am so happy Neko is now a part of our lives.

If you are looking to add a rescue dog to your family please keep Smitty’s Rescue in Kingston in mind.  These ladies rescue perfectly good dogs sometimes from unnecessary euthanizia and house, feed and train them until they find forever homes.

http://www.theagilityconnection.net/

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199564326730486&ap=1

Yesterday we were marching through the woods trying to out pace the mosquito’s when Timber decided to go over a hill and start barking her little Terrier head off at it. My intital reaction was to keep walking and calling her to come. Most dogs do not want to be left behind and will follow. That didn’t work. It only made her bark harder and harder. I kept calling and even threw the words cookies and treat in there. All the other dogs partook in that little coffee break.

I finally had to go in after Timber. I knew by the sound of her Terrier bark that she had found something alive to confront. I was amazed that my dog Dot wasn’t in there with Timber as usually if there is a strange dog to confront and do the Terrier dance for Dot is right in there. So my quandry was what kind of animal has Timber found and do I really want all 6 of these dogs confronting it all at once. Do I want to come face to face with it? Is it a bear in a tree, a coyote, a porcupine or a ground hog? Or worse?
After many minutes of trying to get Timber to come to me and her refusing to leave her guard position we all climbed the hill to Timber. It turned out to be a very large Snapping Turtle who thank goodness had decided to be passive and had retracted his head and feet.

The minute I arrived Timber ran back to our path and had no more interest in Mr Snapping Turtle. Her need was to show me he was there. She must have a really good nose because he was far from out path. Of course now the other dogs were really interested in checking out the snapping turtle. Even Laika who had to be carried out of the woods a few years ago when she met a not so passive Snapping Turtle on our path. I am glad today’s adventure ended with no injuries.

Last week two best friends were slated for euthanasia at a pound (not a Humane Society) in Ste. Agathe, Quebec. A group of wonderful women from Kingston drove down to Montreal and rescued these two dogs along with a number of other dogs and have brought them back to Kingston. These dogs are now all in foster homes awaiting adoption to their forever homes. The two best friends are very bonded and need to be adopted together. One is a Rottie Mix and the other a Husky Mix. One Neutered the other is not. They are both gentle and have obviously been well cared for. Obviously it is harder to place two dogs together but these 2 dogs really need to stay together. If you can help please contact Christine who’s number is listed below for more information.

Christine (613-389-8848)
Krista (613-561-0976)
Steacy (613-376-3841)

http://www.theagilityconnection.net/

To you, from all your rescue dogs…

I would’ve died that day if not for you.
I would’ve given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would’ve used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don’t care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn’t matted,
skin that isn’t flea bitten, good food and enough of it, beds to sleep on,
someone to love me, to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved me…
You saved me from the terror of the pound,
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it
When there is no more money, no more room, no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter
Make just a little more room…to save one more like me.
I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason
The dogs before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would’ve been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you.
Author Unknown

I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter…the cast-offs of human society.
I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness, and betrayal.
And I was angry.
“God,” I said, “this is terrible! Why don’t you do something?”
God was silent for a moment, and then spoke softly,
“I have done something,” was the reply. “I created you.”
– Author Unknown

This time of year the ice is melting and breaking both on the River and in the forest. I make it policy during both the freeze and melt seasons not to walk anywhere near the river or the many swamps and ponds in our forests. It is easy enough to make a route where you do not have to go anywhere near these ponds.

I also never walk across the frozen ponds in the winter with the dogs so that they don’t consider it a path or route to follow. When the ponds are melting the water loving dogs such a Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Portuguese Water dogs will walk on to the melting water on the edges and top of the pond just praying to be swimming in there and then they fall through.

Of course in the above scenaro of the 2 dogs on the river it sounds like these dogs were out on an adventure unattended by their human companions. I never agree with allowing your dogs run around unattended. There are many dangers out there with cars, wolves, coyotes, fishers etc.

My heart goes out to these two dogs who unnecessarily lost their lives last night.