New canine addition for the holiday

[njsteve]

Our new addition.

We went to the grand opening of the new Tractor Supply Store in town a couple weeks ago. They had the local puppy rescue service there with a bunch of their adoptable critters. Of course I made the mistake of taking the family with me.

Just to keep the family quiet I filled out an application knowing full well that someone out of the 200+ people before us that signed up for this particular pup would get him, leaving me in the clear.

Of course we get the call two days later congratulating us. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif It turned out that out of those 200+ applications, just about all of them were disqualified! The rescue person read us some of their answers to the basic questions. They were scary.

Here's a sample of answers to the question "Where will you keep this dog?"

Sample answer:
1) "On my balcony on the 23rd floor."
2) "Tied to the same tree my other dogs are tied to."
3) "In the garage if the temperature gets below zero."

So I guess our answer of "In the house or in our fenced 2-acre yard when it's warm out" must have sounded miraculous to them. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

His name is Widget, which as you may know, is the technical term for a hypothetical mechanical device of dubious usefulness.

He is about the size of a sub sandwich. We think he is Jack Russell and Dachshund.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7002551.jpg

Here's Widget being crushed by one of our other dogs, a female Basenji (also a rescue dog). Just to give you an idea of relative sizes, she weighs 17 pounds. In the background is our other Basenji. He's a grumpy 8-year old who went blind as a puppy from the genetic eye disorder PRA. He really doesn't know he's blind, he has adapted very well over the years. He's just curmudgeonly, which is a Basenji trait anyway.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7002548.jpg


The wife was preparing the house for the Holiday season. I heard a rustling sound and saw the pile of plastic wreaths moving. I pulled the top wreath off and there he was. This is his commentary on the season:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/BahHumbug.jpg

[Jeff H]

It's amazing how many people don't really qualify for a rescue dog. We were in the same situation with a nice fenced in yard and keep the dog inside(duh). So we qualified easily for a rescue dog. Dog looks happy already! We're still dealing with the chewing on everything with our dog. Rescue dogs tend to be an interesting mix a lot of the time. Our dog is a black lab/whippet/pit bull mix. Good luck with the new pet!

http://home.comcast.net/~jeffhansbury/Jackie/jackie11.jpg

[Postsedan]

Very nice, Congrats.

Dan.

[njsteve]

One of the other "deal-breaker" questions was "Who is your Vet?"

The rescue lady said the vast majority of applicants replied that they didn't have one, even though they already had dogs.


You can definitely get some bizarre combinations with the mutts. This is one of our other rescued pups. She is a 50-pound, Yellow Lab/Siberian Husky mix. Check out the bright blue eyes and the Cleopatra eye-liner! Very rare option. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/daisy1.jpg

[Chateau Slate 66]

Thank you for getting a rescue dog. I don't know why people would buy from a breeder when there are sooo many good dogs that need a home. Here's our second rescue Sheltie.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/ajmartinson/P1000192.jpg

[Mr70]

You guys should all be commended..http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/peterspix_2007/German_shepherd_6.gif
We always get our dogs from the local shelter,for the very same reasons you mentioned.

In the spirit of this topic,did anyone see this incredible video taken off a Chilean traffic camera?
It's an amazing testament of K9 Heroism of one Dog saving another during daily traffic.The beginning my be hard to watch,but rest assured both dogs were rescued shortly after this video was taken and are fine today

http://wtop.com/?sid=1539175&nid=456

[njsteve]

That sheltie's color is amazing. Looks like Picasso's version of a Blue Merle Sheltie.

We had a Sheltie for 17 years. He was my wife's dog before we met. He was a happy little dog though he got so pudgy in his older years he looked like a wooly bear caterpiller when viewed from above.

[Novadiecast]

Welcome to the Jack Russell rampage!!!!!!!

Here is my Jack Russell Mix and he is 12 pounds soaking wet and thinks he is the King. He rules my 85 pound Lab like it's nothing. They are a handfull.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c153/novadiecast/newyears2007046-2.jpg

[77Z28]

Hey Steve congratulations on new addition. We had a Basenji dog which died about 4-5 years ago. Have not met many people who knew what a Basenji was. Our dog was brown and white, no black. Do you get odd responses when you tell people you have a bark-less dog?

Have a great holiday.

Todd http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[markjohnson]

Nothing like a puppy! A dog's aim is only to please its' master (unlike a selfish cat). The world would be a much better place if people were more like dogs. You know, I once read that in the Canine vocabulary, the word 'lie' doesn't even exist.

[Xplantdad]

Here's our new addition...see the Pavillions post for the full scoop of how we got her http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

Her name is Bella

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Bella/tn_DSCF4225.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Bella/tn_DSCF4224.jpg

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Steve congratulations on new addition. We had a Basenji dog which died about 4-5 years ago. Have not met many people who knew what a Basenji was. Our dog was brown and white, no black. Do you get odd responses when you tell people you have a bark-less dog?

Have a great holiday.

Todd http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The Basenjis are a bizarre breed. They still exist in their native form in the Congo region of Africa. They may be "barkless" but certainly not mute. They can make the cutest yodeling sounds and then emit the most blood curdling banshee screams you ever heard.

I got hooked on them from an experience as a little kid. The summer camp I was at in CT had one. That dog was named "Barkus". I was amazed at its athletic agility: he was able to avoid the attempts of 250+ bratty kids trying to grab him on a daily basis. It was an amazing athletic fete to observe - like watching a running back sprint from the opposite endzone, weaving through the opposition, for 99 yards and scoring a touchdown. No one ever got a finger on him.

We had a male Basenji for 9 years. He died of a brain tumor back in 2001. We then got a pure-bred, brindle Basenji puppy who was 2/3 new African gene pool (a group of Basenji fanatics actually went back to Africa in the 1980s and brought back some Basenjis to add more diversity to the gene pool.) Unfortunately, he lost the genetic lottery and came down with a new version of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) that hadn't existed before. PRA is one of the genetic eye diseases they were trying to weed out with the new dog breeding stock. The old form of PRA would strike in middle age. This new version hit him when he was less than 1 year old. Of course, the well renowned breeder offered to take him back but we knew that would have meant he would have been euthanized immediately. We couldn't allow that to happen, so we kept him. He's adapted remarkably well. He's amazing to watch as he runs the back yard, he can sense where things are from memory...and really long whiskers.

The tri-colored female, we got as a rescue from the Basenji Rescue and Transport (BRAT) http://www.basenjirescue.org/ . Her elderly owner had died and the relatives didn't want to be bothered with the dog.

Here's the three, pre-Widget.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/P1180004.jpg

[TDW]

Steve...That's great you have rescued another one. My wife and I, both being retired now, have volunteered at one of the rescue shelters for dogs. We walk them around a 10 acre field, spend some time with them , feed them treats and just generally play. I sure would like to see all of them adopted by families like yours.

[x Baldwin Motion]

We rescued one several years back and managed to adopt a buddy last Christmas, sadly from a woman who was too sick to care for her. They enjoy playing ball on the "trampoline" off season. Greatest additional to the family since kids.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q101/65z13/2008Jan21039.jpg

[MrsBillyBobcat]

Steve,

Congrats on your new puppy Widget! He is very cute and that is a very cute name! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Also, that's a great group shot of your other 3! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif


[ QUOTE ]
One of the other "deal-breaker" questions was "Who is your Vet?"



[/ QUOTE ]

That is how I got my "Camy". She was too small to be adopted the day I was at the adoption event, but when they found out "who" my Vet was (a cat specialist), they said I could take her home.

Here she is "working" Bill. You can see how small she was compared to his hand. We were actually there for her sister, but she was so dang cute, we adopted her too!

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg133/carcrazyqt/oldpics291.jpg

[RamAirDave]

I grew up with shelter-mutts (affectionate term absolutely) and dachshunds.

I love the weiner-dogs to death, but they're hell on (short) wheels. I can't even imagine mixed with a JR.

Cute pup, good luck http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Ngtflyr]

Thought all you animal lovers would enjoy this

For Your Home Alone Dog!! (http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq356/69Z28Camaro/?action=view&current=WhenEngineersOwnADog.flv)

[budnate]

now that is pretty slick, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Thought all you animal lovers would enjoy this

For Your Home Alone Dog!! (http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq356/69Z28Camaro/?action=view&current=WhenEngineersOwnADog.flv)

[/ QUOTE ]

[njsteve]

First snow for the pup. He can't quite figure out the stuff.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/snowpup2.jpg


He seems to like the taste, though:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/snowpup.jpg


He eventually got the hang of running around in/on the stuff.
He's got the acceleration thing down.
The stopping thing is a whole other matter.

Here's his version of WHEN GOOD PETS GO BAD: WHEN PUPS ATTACK!

This was half-a-second before he sailed right off the porch and into the snow...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/snowpup3.jpg

[Norm reynolds]

I have a Sheltie and a rescue black lab the lab I have had fro three years now and every time it rains he get really upset have been working on that and I am NOT giving up on him then I have my baby the sheltie
Shelties are very smart When I first t got her she would not come to me then I had my accident at work which Now I am on disability and now she will not leave my side and late at night some time I am in a lot of pain she some how knows I can be in bed and in pain when she will give me a little kiss as to say she is here for me I have had other dogs in my life but shelties are special and very lovable dogs and this dog has melted my heart
The only problem with shelties is they are barkers and loud I all most lost her this past March she got some kind of infection and needed surgery when they opened her up a girl for the hospitable called me and said she was not going to make it
I have to tell you that felt like having your heart pull out of you she loved me so much and has all ways been here for me a 1/2 hour later the surgeon called me and told me what happen and that she was NOW in recovery and gave her 85 % chance to make it though the night when I asked him what the girl told me he said that He has a habit to pushing the envelop and he was 98% sure he got all the poison out of her system
well that was nine months ago and she is doing great she is here with me as I am typing this and she still worries like I said she is always by my side no matter what room I am in She did cost me a lot of money but I love her to much not to try to save her funny thing is when I was young I was not in to dogs but this little sheltie melted my heart http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/stingray66/Mail0003.jpg

[njsteve]

Here is a dog's entertainment fantasy. Just hanging out by the fireplace for hours on end:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/S7002639.jpg

And when the fire goes out, he can always hang out with the "undesirables" at the electric heater.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/S7002751.jpg

[mockingbird812]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Xplantdad]

If you remember....a beagle showed up at our house on Thanksgiving evening...so we took her in...and Holly promptly named her Bella...

Well...we tried as hard as we could to integrate Bella into our household that includes two adult cats...but it didn't work out like we had hoped it would.

I put the word out to some friends...and Don Breen (one of my buddies and a Pavillion regular) stepped up and took Bella in. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Don had gotten a beagle puppy not long before we "adopted" Bella...and she is assimilating into her new surroundings quite well. It was hard to let her go...but it's for the best...

Don... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/youguysrock.gif

Here are some pics of Bella and DJ in Bella's new home!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Bella/100_6263.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Bella/100_6256.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Bella/100_6258.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Bella/100_6259.jpg


This one cracks me up! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Bella/100_6262.jpg

[mockingbird812]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[njsteve]

A little update on the little guy.

He hasn't really grown much. He has gained a pound. He weighs around 7.8 pounds now and has all his adult teeth. Doesn't look like he's gonna get much bigger than this.

He definitely has the attitude of a much larger dog though. Here is his opinion of the latest in dog-training celebrities:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/cesar-hater.jpg

[njsteve]

Today it was about 65 degrees in New Jersey. All the snow melted and I spent an hour and a half doing the "poop walk" collecting all the canine gifts from the past three months. The dogs really enjoyed the day outside...and the mud.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7002807.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7002811.jpg

[rubbinisracing]

I watch the "Dog Whisperer" all the time...One of my favorite all time dogs is his Pit Bull named "Daddy"...most laid back Pit Bull I've ever seen.

[gb70]

Looks like he fits right in with the gang.

[mockingbird812]

[ QUOTE ]
A little update on the little guy.

He hasn't really grown much. He has gained a pound. He weighs around 7.8 pounds now and has all his adult teeth. Doesn't look like he's gonna get much bigger than this.

He definitely has the attitude of a much larger dog though. Here is his opinion of the latest in dog-training celebrities:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/cesar-hater.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[njsteve]

He really has learned the sad puppy look. Here he is sitting on my gym bag pleading with me not to go and leave him with that mean fat cat and the other dogs.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/dontgo.jpg

[njsteve]

Can you blame him for being scared?

This is Freddy Kruger Kitty. He outweighs pup by 300%

P.S. Those aren't abs - they're stretchmarks.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/fatkitty.jpg

[gb70]

I thought our cat Oscar was big. That is a keeper there! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[rich p]

Wow Steve !! Chaos I see there ! Is that ALFA in front of the heater ? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

Yes, there is never a quiet moment here. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

I think Freddy Kruger is the only "normal" pet we have, with no real behavioral issues. He was another rescue, a former feral cat that was captured, neutered and released (they clip one ear as a marker) under a local wild feline control project. He was eventually picked up by animal control and brought to the local cat shelter. He was there for 5+ years because no one wanted a 9 year old cat with FIV (the feline version of HIV). He is as healthy (and as big) as a cow.

This morning I heard the pup whining and looked down the stairs and saw pup laying at the bottom of the stairwell, crying because the cat wouldn't play with him. All kitty would do was sit on the middle stair landing and hold up one paw in pup's direction. I guess that's his version of "Talk to the claws".

He's a good cat but gives us a scare sometimes. You'll wake up in the middle of the night with unbelievable pressure on your chest. Thinking your having a coronary you open your eyes and see Jabba the Cat staring back at you. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif