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It's Opie's Barkday!

Hi Dawgs!

First, dogmom says I have to tell everydog that Floyd is doing fine after his bout with pancreatitis. We have to watch him, cuz he eats a whole lot but isn't gaining weight. I think it's because I chase him around the apartment. Dogmom says that wouldn't account for the calories he's eating. Whatever.

Anypaws, today's the day we celebrate my barkday. 'Course, we're not sure really when my barkday is... or at least I've not told dogmom... but the guestimate when I invaded Gomer's heart and dogmom's house back in 2001 was that I was born around this day. Dogmom says I'm 9 years old today (or is it 10?), hmmm. I'm not tellin' !

So, me thinks that everyone should do three things in honor of my barkday today...

• Lick your human on the face and tell them you love 'em. 'Cuz they're kinda forgetful and might not know it today.
• Click on the animal rescue site button on our blog (or someone else's) and donate a bowl of food to a shelter pet. Better yet, buy some of your Christmas gifts there and donate even more.
• Run and play, beg for treats, take a nap and relish the fact that you have a great home. Oh yeah, and say your prayers that a lot more dogs, cats, puppies and kittens find a forever home this season.

Chase ya later!
Opie

Floyd is Sick

Yo Dawgs!

Before you tease me about caring about the cat... you have to understand a couple of things, ok?

When Gomer crossed the rainbow bridge a couple of months ago, Floyd would let me chase him around the apartment. And Floyd would let me eat his food sometimes. And I could chase him around the apartment. And I could kiss him in the face when it smelled like tuna. And I could chase him around the apartment.

Anypaws, Floyd wasn't feeling too good when dogmom came back from her conference late Monday night. And he vomited breakfast on Tuesday. And he vomited breakfast on Wednesday. When dogmom came home for lunch and saw that Floyd didn't eat his breakfast but vomited anyways... she took him to Pet Crossing Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Bloomington.

Floyd doesn't like Pet Crossing as much as Gomer did and I do. He's a cat. He likes everything to always be the same. Dogmom says that's why she thinks I'm part cat... but Floyd's worse than me about learning about new things and new places.

Anypaws, I was scared that Floyd wouldn't come home. You know, like Gomer didn't come home when he was sick. So dogmom brought Floyd home last night; but, he has to go back to the hospital today.

Dr. Roth says that Floyd has pancreatitis, likely due to the stress of being away from me while dogmom was at the conference. He's dehydrated and he lost almost a pound in the past week. And his liver enzyme is raised a bit.

Anypaws, put your paws together and say your puppy prayers that Floyd is ok soon. I miss chasing him around the apartment.

Chase Ya Later!
Opie

It's DogMom's BarkDay!

I've got lots of stuff planned!

First, she's going to take me outside to the little off-leash area in the apartment complex so I can do my business and get ready for the day.

Then, she's gonna feed me breakfast. (And, maybe Floyd can have some breakfast, too.)

Then, she's going to give herself a rainy bath so she can take me on a walk around the preserve trail.

Then, she's gonna come back in and snuggle with me since it's kinda cold and drizzly outside. Once I'm all warm and toasty, maybe I'll let her give me a massage.

Then, we'll both take a nap... although usually when I take a nap is when she plays with Floyd and moves stuff around in the kitchen and makes the dishes have no taste and stuff.

Oh well... gotta get going!
Chase Ya Later - Opie

Yucky White Stuff...

Yo Dawgs!

It's back. I mean, I'm so flustered about it that I don't know what to do. I thought Gomey and I chased it away for good. But, alas! It showed up again last night while I was sleeping.

I'm not sure what to do. Gomey always helped me out with this. DogMom is trying... but it's just not the same at all.

Anybody know what I can do to make the wet, cold, fluffy white stuff to get off my grass so I can go potty?

I mean... well, it's not so bad right now. It's more just like a blanket on top of the grass and you can see bits of grass peeking through the holes in the blanket. But, remember, it seems to always want to go get its friends and then, before we know it, there is tons of the stuff piled all over.

Help me!
Chase ya later... but I'm gonna go hide under a blanket now.
Opie

Wow! Yard Sale Results!

Hi Dawgs!

So, DogMom sat outside in the rain all day on Saturday (after being sick for three days... stupid human) so that she could help with the yard sale for pets needing veterinary care... (see previous post).

I guess I can forgive her for not spending the day with me. I mean, well, it was raining anypaws... so I didn't really want to walk around the preserve and get all wet.

Anypaws, Pet Crossing raised more than $1200 !!! for the animals!

Chase ya later!

Opie

Got Stuff? ... Need Stuff?

Hi Dawgs!

Sneaking in a post while dogmom is staring at the big paper brick again. She's been looking at the same two for a few weeks now. I don't get it... she tries to read them out loud to me, but she sounds a lot like the Charlie Brown parents when she does. Something about farmokologee and something about pearosites called neematoads and cestoads. I don't see any toads or farms anywhere near here. I think she's gone totally bonkers since Gomer's gone.

Anypaws... I don't have much time before she sees me on the laptop. So the point is this... Pet Crossing Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic is hosting a yard sale next Saturday, October 3rd from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All the proceeds will benefit the homeless pets that live at the clinic while their moms and hooman kids are in the domestic abuse shelter. The animals get tons of TLC, a safe place to stay, a soft place to sleep, and food and water thanks to the wonderful employees that work with dogmom. But some of them need a lot more care... like dental surgery and expensive medications for their arthritis and kidneys and livers and stuff.

So, the staff are hosting a yard sale to raise money for the pets. Over the course of a year, the employees and the hospital spend about $75k on the pets that need homes and care. Can you help just a little bit?

You could help if ...

• you "Got Stuff" that you don't need (and you live in the Minneapolis area) or you want to donate - please take it to Pet Crossing before next Thursday, October 1st.
• you "Need Stuff" - then please stop by Pet Crossing next Saturday, October 3rd, and buy something or make a donation.
• you have a web site where you could post this information.
• you have friends in the Minneapolis/Bloomington area that you could email with this information.
  

Thanks in advance for your help!
Chase Ya Later! - Opie


Post info:
YARD SALE FOR PETS IN NEED
Saturday, Oct 3 - 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
at Pet Crossing Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic, Bloomington, MN
FREE EVENT - Items for sale benefit homeless pets
Age Suitability - All Ages
Tags: benefit, pets, donations, yard sale, homeless pets, Pet Crossing

Got Stuff? Pet Crossing Animal Hospital is hosting a yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 3rd, to benefit homeless pets in need of veterinary care. We're accepting items/donations through Oct. 1st; please drop items at the clinic (10861 Bloomington Ferry Road, Bloomington, MN) during regular business hours.

Don't Got Stuff? Come to the clinic on Oct. 3rd (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) and see if you can find something you gotta have.

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT HOMELESS PETS IN NEED OF VETERINARY CARE.

Happy Hump Day!

Yo Dawgs! Dopey Opie here...

So, dogmom has been hogging the computer again. Something about more classes and some family stuff. I think she's just playing games online or something. She said that she's not and that one of her cousins in Michigan died so she's looking up information. I never heard about any cousins in Michigan before... and what is a Michigan, anyways?

Anypaws... she laughed when she saw my notes for this post because she says I've been trying to hump Floyd the cat ever since Gomer crossed the rainbow bridge. You'd think she'd be glad... at least I'm not trying to gum him to death and swallow him like Gomer always did when he saw Floyd the cat.

By the way, I took some pictures of the preserve (since inquiring collies Essex and Deacon wanted to know), but dogmom misplaced the wire that connects the camera to the computer so I can't show them to you yet. I'll get on her (a.k.a. threaten to hump her to death) to find it soon.

Gotta run. Chase ya later.

Hi Dawgs, It's Opie!

Yo dawgs! Dopey Opie here.

This will be a short post... mostly because the dogmom is taking the good-smelling clothes down the hallway to make them stink again. What is it about humans that makes them want their stuff to smell funny... like flowers and ocean breezes and stuff like that?

Tomorrow will be three weeks since Gomer crossed the rainbow bridge. Dogmom really misses him, I think. It's kind of a mixed blessing for me, though... cuz she wants more cuddle time and she seems to pay more attention to whether my teeth need brushing and my nails need trimming. She even threatened the dreaded water bath to make me smell like her clothes. Yuck.

I kinda miss him too... but I'm relieved that I don't have to be naughty to take the pressure off of him.

Anyways... dogmom's back now and she said something about walking to the preserve again.

Chase Ya Later...
Opie

Gomer Has Crossed The Rainbow Bridge

Last night, at 7:15 p.m., I held Gomer's head as he quietly walked across the rainbow bridge.

He noticeably hadn't felt well for about a week, which I attributed to the stress of moving to a new place, then leaving on vacation, then bringing back a puppy from Ohio to live with us for a week. But, when he wouldn't eat at all, I noted that he was severly jaundiced and rushed him into the vet at Pet Crossing Animal Hospital. The bloodwork, of course showed very high liver values.

I tried very hard to ignore his pleas to let him go; I wanted the analytical me to win. To run all the tests and get all the information before making the ultimate decision. But, after five hours of treatments and IV fluids, I looked into his eyes and he asked me to please let him go. It was one of the most difficult things I've had to do. But I know in my heart that I did the right thing. Maybe not for me, but for him.

I miss him horribly and expect that I will for a very long time. I take comfort in knowing that I am a much better person for having accepted the scared little dumpster dog into my home, my life and my heart.

To steal a post idea from Hercules' dad when Herc crossed the rainbow bridge, here's a short list of things that I learned from Gomer. As those who knew him will understand, he taught me so much more than the items listed below... but these are the things I remember today.

Things I learned from Gomer...

• This world is a scary, dangerous place. But, with the right people to watch your back, everything will turn out ok. That... and a lot of the things that we fear the most aren't really all that scary once we understand them.
• Every single being, no matter what their faults and how mean they can be, has value. Even the guy who threw Gomer in the dumpster had value… if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had Gomer as a part of my life for the past nine years.
• With the right encouragement and acceptance, every single one of us can excel at fulfilling our purpose in life. Gomer’s first evaluation was that he’d always be feral and never be a good pet. Luckily, enough of us believed more in him than in the opinions of the “experts.”
• Don’t always act in the way that someone else believes is appropriate. Sometimes you need to run around like a crazy person and release pent up energy. And, sometimes you just need to lie down and let someone who loves you rub your belly.
• Life is what you make it. You can be scared, dissatisfied and blame others for your problems… or you can accept what it is and hold onto the hope that the rewards and treats will always come later.
• If your people can’t hear your words, talk to them with your eyes, your paws and your tail. And keep communicating how much you love them until they understand.

Opie and I are doing fine, all things considered. Thank you for listening with your eyes today.

Dogmom

Shhhh...

It's dogmom's barkday today!

Wuf Ya!

Hey Dawgs! - Help us!

We've been banned from the computer ever since dogmom got her two new jobs.

First, she got a different computer. And she kept hogging it so that we couldn't post.

Then, she actually started taking it with her places so that we couldn't post.

Now, she's saying something about we should tell people that a new Dogs' Aye View is coming soon. Something about new design and features or something. We think she's lost her dog biscuits.

Help us, paw-leeese!
Wuf Ya!

Pet Food Recall

Mars Petcare Recalls Some Dry Pet Foods

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall Friday of all dry pet food products produced at its plant in Everson, Pa. between Feb. 18 and July 29, citing potential contamination with salmonella.

Mars, in a news release, did not say how much pet food is involved, but said the recall reaches 31 states and various brands and said the action was taken as a precaution.

"Even though no direct link between products produced at the Everson plant and human or pet illness has been made, we are taking this precautionary action to protect pets and their owners," the company statement said.

Mars said it stopped production at the plant July 29 when it was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced in Everson and two isolated cases of people infected with salmonella.

Mars said salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in humans also.

The company said consumers should look for "17" as the first two digits of the second line on the UPC for products affected. For Pedigree products, they should look for "PAE" on the bottom line. They can also call 1-877-568-4463 or consult www.petcare.mars.com.

The brand names include some items under the names Country Acres, Retriever, Doggy Bag, Members Mark, Natural, Ol' Roy, Special Kitty, Paws & Claws, Pedigree, Wegman's, Pet Pride, PMI Nutrition and Red Flannel.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-09-12-pet-food_N.htm

Gomer's Adoption Day!

Dogmom said I'm supposed to post today since it's my pawdoption anniversary!

Eight years and two days ago today, dogmom saw me hiding under a folding chair in the lobby at Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary in Gilbert, AZ. Of course, I already knew who she was because she found me in that dumpster in Guadalupe about six weeks before. But she said she didn't recognize me.

Something about me getting bigger. I don't remember that part.

Anypaws... dogmom didn't take me home right away, but came to Keiko's house to get me a few days later. I was scared. I spent the whole first day hiding under the cubby hole in the kitchen counter.

Then, she showed me the doggie door. It smelled like her other dog Floppy, who had crossed over the rainbow bridge. I liked the doggie door. Well, except for when it spanked my butt when I wasn't going fast enough. So, I learned really quickly that the goal must be to run through it as fast as you can ... and as many times as you can.

In any case, it seems like a lifetime ago. Dogmom says that even if she had known then that I would have bad hips and toe fungus's and really bad teeth and a sensitive stomach... well, that she still would have brought me home.

Gotta go tear up Floyd's toys now. Later, dawgs!

Wuf Ya!

Pet Fest, Ren Fest ...

So, dogmom is working this weekend. Or, so she says. She came home smelling like other dogs.

She said she's working at the Pet Crossing booth out at the PetFest at the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee. We think she's doing something else.

I mean, whenever else she works with the people at Pet Crossing, we get to go. I mean, well, we get to go sometimes. Other times, she makes us stay home.

We don't know what this Renaissance Festival is. I mean, we probably wouldn't want to go, since we don't know what it is and all. But when she said Pet Fest... I mean, then we were interested, ya know?

We heard her talking to Tory at Dog Pad when she got home, too. I mean, well, at least if she's going to go play with other dogs, well, she should let us go do the same, dontcha think?

Wuf Ya!

Floyd Bit Dogmom

Again.

He's a naughty kitty. I think that's why she's packing her suitcase and she said that Randi's going to come and take care of us for a few days. She says no... but I think that's it...

See?

I mean, well, I'd leave if Floyd did that to me! And I'm not too upset that we don't spend too much time with him... if that's what he does to dogmom.

Anyways, she said she's been planning this trip for a while. She just didn't tell us about it because we aren't going to Dog Pad. Instead, Randi's going to come and visit three or four times a day to make sure we're behaving ourselves.

Like we don't always? Harumph... as Tosca would say.

Anypaws, we hear that Gemi's doing really well since her surgery. Her recheck appointment is on Thursday, so if we can pry dogmom away from the computer, we'll post what Randi finds out.

I, on the other hand, am still swollen and milking it after my surgery on Monday. See?

Wuf Ya!

Hercules Went to the Rainbow Bridge

'Member Hercules? We didn't talk about him a lot, but we mentioned him on our blog a couple of times. He went to our doggie birthday party. See here. And here. He didn't particularly like us... cuz we're bigger than him and he had a big ego, being a Corgi and all...

Anypaws... dogmom used to work with Hercules' dad. And here's what Herc's dad had to say about him:

HERCULES’ GUIDE TO BECOMING A BETTER PERSON

Pictured is Hercules, the Weber family’s pet of the past 11-plus years.

I wouldn’t normally talk about my home life in a blog that is mostly news and notes for Southwest editors and reporters. However, I’d like to share five things that Hercules has taught me about becoming a better person, colleague, boss and perhaps even journalist.

1) It’s not always about you. Raising children can wear you out, but having a dog is humbling work, too. You need to feed, walk, entertain, groom, train and, yes, especially love a dog if he or she is truly a part of your family. You might think you’re a big shot, but – seriously – who rules and who drools when it’s you that’s carrying the bag of dog droppings while walking down a busy street?

2) Praise matters. I believe we’re somehow hard-wired to enjoy hearing our name linked to a compliment – though it may not show as much in humans, since we don’t have a tail that wags. (Actually, Hercules is a Welsh corgi, a breed that has its tail docked while still young. But when praised, he can still get a pretty good shake going in the trunk vicinity.) Lay some praise on a co-worker or news source, and mean it.

3) Believe in people. My dog does, greeting me at the door after work every single evening with the unstoppable conviction that nap time is over and the fun will now begin. Even though I don’t always deliver. That’s true faith in another, which among humans – especially hardened, skeptical journalists – is often in short supply.

4) Get out there and play. Sometimes just getting outside and going for a walk is enough to forget about the heavy burdens we sometimes shoulder at work. Scientific studies back me up on this. And there’s nothing like dog ownership to provide the daily motivation to take that stroll.

5) Life’s too short. Enjoy your family, friends and colleagues … today, tomorrow and every single day. I’ve come to learn this lesson recently, and the hard way. Hercules died yesterday, after going through a quick but fatal slide caused by liver and kidney disease. He was an important part of our family, and the best friend I’ve ever had. May God bless his soul.

Until next time … thirty-dash.

Herc was a special little guy with lots of spirit. He's going to be missed. We hope he's playing in the rainbow bridge meadow with Floppy, Tosca's kitty, Tasha and all the other pets we've temporarily said goodbye to.

Wuf Ya!

Back Under the Knife...

So, dawgs...

I think some of you know that I went in to see Dr. Kate last week to fix the tooth that I broke the top off of... again. It was the lower right canine tooth. I had a root canal on that one I think with Dr. Visser in Arizona before I moved to Minnesota. Or maybe he did the upper right canine tooth. I don't remember exactly.

Anypaws, it was the lower right one that had a root canal a long while ago and then last week I broke off the restorative sealant off the top of the tooth. So Dr. Kate sedated me and tried to fix it even if it was only going to be temporary until next time I had to get the anesthesia.

Well. Dogmom says I must have decided I wanted some more surgeries. Cuz I broke off the restorative again over the weekend and had to go back to Pet Crossing yesterday. I had lots of stuff done and could feel that Dogmom was anxious about it. She kept saying "Awe, Gomer!" and "Geesh." and "Now what?" while I was sleeping.

I had to have two more big teeth pulled that were broken. Dr. Kate was able to fix the canine tooth so it didn't have to come out. (Dogmom says to tell you it's the nubby little one closest to my tongue in the top picture below.) And, Dr. Kate lanced my eyelid where the wasps or spiders bit me a couple of weeks ago and got out bunches of gunk and probably a stinger or two.

Dogmom says I don't look nearly as georgeous as Gemi when I wake up from anesthesia...


She says I look more like a drunken sailor that lost the bar fight. Not sure what that means, but it kinda made her laugh. Today... I'm hiding in the corner with my swollen cheek and eye...


Trying to avoid the dreaded ice hand that wants to hold my head.


Wuf Ya!

It's Opie's Adoption Anniversary!

Hi Dawgs!

We're at Dog Pad today so that dogmom can clean up the messy mess that I made on the carpet after my twoofer surgery on Tuesday. (I chipped off the top of my lower right canine that had the root canal a while ago.) No worries... Dr. Kate fixed it up nice while I was sedated, though dogmom said that it was a temporary fix and might have to be finished next time I go under... whatever that means.

Anypaws... today's post isn't supposed to be about me. It's suppose to be about Opie.

He's too busy to post since he's in time-out at Dog Pad for getting grumpy with Bear. So maybe he'll do his official adoption anniversary post when we get home tonight.

Oh yeah... other news. Dogmom got a full-time job! We might let her post one day and tell you about. But for now, we gotta go make Tory Chuck-It! some more balls!

Wuf Ya!

Gemi's Surgery Went Wonderfully!

Hi Dawgs!

We won't talk about the fact that we spent the whole day at Dog Pad on Wednesday. Or the fact that we didn't get to go to Pet Crossing with dogmom. Or the fact that dogmom spent the day with Gemi and Randi instead of with us. Or even the fact that she forgot about us at Dog Pad.

Yup... she forgot to come pick us up. Completely. She called Tory after we were all fed and tucked in for the night. Can you believe it?

Anypaws. We're not talking about that today. 'Cuz we know she was helping Gemi and Randi with Gemi's mouth surgery.

And since we've both gone through several mouth surgeries, we know what Gemi was going through. And how Randi was nervous. So it was good that dogmom was there to help them.

What we wanted to talk about today is that dogmom said that Gemi's surgery went really well! She's a little (literally!) trouper.

She had to have 14 twoofers pulled. All in the front. All her top front teeth, including her canine fangs. And all her little bottom teeth in the front.

She got to keep her bottom canine teeth. (Whole ones... not half of them like Opie and me.) And she got to keep all of the other teeth in the sides and the back that she had. We say it that way because she actually had nine teeth that were missing from her little mouth that had never developed. Good thing, cuz her mouth was so small she probably would have had to had them pulled, too.

Anypaws. Gemi still has 19 teeth so she will be able to play and look pretty and, more importantly, eat crunchy food and treats after her mouth heals.

We think she's beautiful... even with those missing teeth and her mouth a little swollen after surgery...

What do you think?