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

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

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

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!

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!

We're Very Sad about Tasha

We're very sad to report that Tasha (of Tasha and Eva's Blog) crossed over the rainbow bridge yesterday.


We're especially bummed because we had just met Tasha and Eva a couple of months ago when they came to Dog Pad to meet Tory and to stay there with us a couple of days. It's never easy to leave a Dog Pad buddy... but especially hard when they're a dog-blog buddy, too.


We're going to do everything we can to help Eva get accustomed to being the main dog at her house. She's never lived there without Tasha, so we know it will be hard on her.


And, we hope that Tasha's mom and dad know how sad we are about their loss. We think they would appreciate knowing that all our dog-blog buddies care about them, too. Won't you leave them a message at their blog?


Wuf Ya!

We Got Tagged by Key West Collies!

Hi dawgs. Sorry we've not been posting as regularly lately. It IS spring (finally!) and we've got lots of things to uncover and discover and smell in the yard and the wetlands.

That, and dogmom has been hogging the computer. Something about needing to find a job since she was downsized... whatever that means.

Anypaws, our buddies Essex and Deacon at Key West Collies tagged us for the Japanese Name Game. They said they tagged us for it because it is easy. We're trying not to be offended by that comment... since they're going to visit Ohio soon and that's where we want to go this summer, too.

Anypaws... here's how the Japanese name game works: To do this name game use the following key: A - ka, B - tu, C - mi, D -te, E - ku, F - lu, G - ji, H - ri, I - ki, J - zu, K - me, L - ta, M - rin, N - to, O - mo, P - no, Q - ke, R - shi, S - ari, T - chi, U - do, V - ru, W - mei, X - na, Y - fu, Z - zi. Then you tag a few friends.

So... Gomer's name is Jimo Rinkushi.

Opie is Mono Kiku. (Dogmom laughed at that one because mono is monkey in Spanish...)

Floyd is Luta Mofute.

And, maybe best of all... DogMom is Temoji Rinmorin.

We tag Buddha, Butchy and Snickers, Tosca and Wimsey.

Wuf Ya!

Another Pet Event This Weekend!

Ok. So we didn't actually get to go to the Pet Fair in Shakopee with dogmom. But we know that she went because she came back smelling like all kinds of dogs. Big dogs and little dogs. Old dogs and young dogs. Black dogs and brown dogs and white dogs. Even a hairless dog, according to her... although we can't imagine that.

Tomorrow, Sunday, dogmom says that we can go to the Carver-Scott Humane Society's Walk to unite Pets and People again this year. We went the last two years. And, we behaved so we got to stay and walk with everybody. Sometimes it's hard when all those people and animals are around to behave, ya know?

Hope we'll see some of you there. It's at Lions Park in Chaska! The Walk starts at 1:00 p.m.,(registration at 11:30 a.m.), and lunch is at 2:30 p.m. There's more information HERE.

Wuf Ya!

Shakopee Pet Fair!

TIME CORRECTION!

Saturday from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

At Lions Park in Shakopee, MN.
More info here or here or here.

Wuf Ya!

Hey Dawgs!

We've been playing with dogmom for the past week and wondering why she's at home talking to people and working on the 'puter. Not that we mind... it means more ear rubs and tummy rubs and snacks and treats for us. Aaaannnndddd... we still have been going to Dog Pad to run and play.

Tory is helping dogmom to train Opie on some better obedience skills. He seems to be getting it and actually listening more. Dogmom says she knew he was smart... so smart he didn't think he had to listen to anybody.

Anypaws, he actually (sometimes) will heal and will come when he's called and sit-stay. Dogmom and Tory can open the door and tell him to stay and he actually does, until they walk out the door... then sometimes he thinks he should follow them even if they didn't ask him to.

But, it's a lot better than he was a few weeks ago when he went galavanting around the neighborhood chasing that squirrel for four hours.

Wuf Ya!

Shh.... Dogmom's not looking

At our blog, that is. She's been really busy the past couple of days and she hasn't had time to look to see how many visitors Opie got on his barkday... and how many comments there are.

We think that if you keep commenting and visiting all weekend, that we can beg forgiveness after the fact and she'll still count the comments toward the fundraiser. Cuz she's kinda like that, ya know?

Tell everybody!

Wuf Ya!

It's Opie's Barkday!

Send all your friends to visit our blog today (May 1, 2008)! Dogmom's doing the same fundraiser that she did on my pupped-day!

Each visitor to Dogs' Aye View today means $0.10 to a local animal rescue.
Each comment means $0.25.

The more the merrier! So go tell everydog and everycat and every hampster and, well, everybunny!

Wuf Ya!

We're Celebrities!

Dogster.com sent us this quiz so dogmom could see what celebrities we are. Do you think these are really us?

Gomer = Will Smith

Leading Man

A fresh prince in the pursuit of happiness, Gomer is megastar Will Smith!

Putting the jazz back in jazzy, Gomer is always moving and grooving to the beat of his own internal drum. Not one to settle for second best, Gomer only takes on projects that are sure to draw attention and improve his pawpularity in the pack. Gomer's broad appeal across breed, age and gender lines means that his actions often lead to his being named best in show. Smooth, suave and debonair... he's the perfect pet to take home to Mommy. Not lacking in the looks department, Gomer‘s toothy (um, toothless) grin would send even the most furrocious group of alien invaders spinning helplessly back into space.

Opie = Johnny Knoxville

Up for Anything

The kind of pet that can leap tall fences in a single bound (or not, but give it a shot anyhow), Opie is the original Jackass, Johnny Knoxville!

Going through the pain so you don't have to, Opie knows that he trots a fine line between funny and stupid, but he doesn't care—he's laughing about it all the way to the pet store. His over-the-top antics make you grimace with fear and you often find it hard to believe that he actually enjoys playing the class clown. But Opie laps it up and continues to defy the odds, despite your warnings and concerns. Other males in the pack tend to be a little jealous of Opie, but the females find him simply dreamy. A die-hard good ol' boy, Opie is more of a General Lee type than a Knight Rider, but give him enough time to think things through and he's sure to find a way to wreck both vehicles at the same time.

Floyd = George Clooney

Mr. Hunky

Floyd is none other than superhunk George Clooney!

Turning heads everywhere he rolls, Floyd is a huge hit with both googly-eyed babes and older, wiser fans. Admirers will paddle across no less than eleven oceans just to get a glimpse of this A-List heartthrob in the fur. Floyd isn't in a big rush to settle down, so is often seen out on the town with the cutest members of the pack. Not just a looker, Floyd's activism knows no limits—enerpetically involved in the campaign to save Dogfur, Floyd is always looking for a worthy cause that he can sink his teeth into.

Wuf Ya!

Shocking Day and Reminder!

Today's the day that Tory and Mike are going to help dogmom see if Opie can be collar trained like a hunting dog to come back when he is called. Wish 'em luck, so we don't have to find the Dopester a new home.

Also, we wanted to remind you that Thursday is Opie's barkday. And, dogmom is going to do the donation-raising thing like she did with my pupped-day on April 1.

You can find more details here:

http://dogsayeview.blogspot.com/2008/03/shhhh-tell-everydog.html

And here:

http://dogsayeview.blogspot.com/2008/03/1st-dates-to-remember.html

And here:

http://dogsayeview.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-pupped-day-results.html

Opie thinks he'll be able to outdo my results. Ha!

Essentially, every visitor is worth a dime and every comment is worth a quarter. How much is Opie worth?

Guess we'll find out Thursday!

Wuf Ya! - Gomer

No Takers on Free to Good Home...

Dogmom wants to know why nobody seems to want a really cute dog that keeps running away for fun. (Three Times is Dogmom's Limit)

Opie says that obviously, three is NOT the limit, since he keeps escaping and running and more and more people keep trying to get him to come back home, including dogmom.

Yesterday, he ran away again and didn't come when dogmom came home. And didn't come when Randi and dogmom tried to catch him. And didn't come when the neighbors in the neighborhood behind our house (seven of them!) tried to catch him.

And didn't come when dogmom screamed because he crossed Bavaria Road. And didn't come when he was seen running down the new section of Highway 312 (that isn't open yet, thank both dog and GOD!)

Know what made him stop?

He finally caught the squirrel he'd been chasing for four hours.

Dogmom saw him holding something and told him to drop it. He did.

Then he nudged it with his nose. And he started to run away again.

She said, "No, you gotta show me what you got." And he did.

And she nabbed him. And then she buried the squirrel under the pine tree where he used to live.

Damded dog.

Meanwhile, can somebody explain to me why I had to sit in the kennel for four hours while Opie was having all this fun?

I thought not.

Wuf Ya!

Opie Escaped from Randi ...

And Gomer tried to eat the duck eggs.

Dogmom's pulling her grey hairs out.

Dogmom didn't want to laugh at Randi, but she's kind of glad that Opie finally broke her in after three and a half years of coming to walk us while she's at work.

Randi called and said that she was just relishing the thought that Opie was being a good boy on their walk. He didn't tug on the leash. He did his business; both jobs even. He paid attention to her commands and he strutted along-side her.

Then, when he came back inside... he waited for his opportunity. When she wasn't paying complete, 100% attention. When she was busy putting the leash on Gomer. Then, he made his move.

He ran right by them and bolted out the screen door.

He didn't come back when she called him.

He kept running when she tried to chase him.

He ran away whenever she got close to him.

He stopped and stared whenever she got too far away.

Just like he does with dogmom.

Randi called dogmom at work. And she laughed. And then she felt bad. She went home and talked to Randi and walked in the back yard.

When she called Opie...

Know what?

He came.
Right to her.
And stopped.

And she grabbed his collar and put the English rope lead on him. And he tried to bolt again. But couldn't.

So, he's back home (again). And everybody's at their wits' end about how to get him to stop it.

Wuf Ya! - Gomer (the good one)

Uh-Oh... All's Quiet ...

Dogmom says that when things are quiet it means something's about to go awry at our house.

She's silly.

It was warm and springy at our house this weekend. We liked walking with dogmom on the new trail behind our house. It goes all the way under the new highway (that's not open yet). And past a couple of neighborhoods and eventually even links to the trail that went behind the house where we used to live.

We walked all the way over there yesterday and then we walked back. Dogmom was impressed that we didn't bark at the kids riding their bicycles on the trail, even though there were about eight of them.

And we didn't bark at the baby riding in the stroller with her mom and dad walking behind her.

And we didn't bark at the boy throwing sticks in the creek.

And we didn't bark at the neighbor with the Schnauzer while he was mowing his lawn.

And we didn't bark at the neighbor where the rabbits live under the trees when he was pulling the junk from his shed.

And we didn't even bark at Floyd when we saw him sitting in the window! Although, Gomer did think he could climb the side of the house and get to him for a minute.

Anypaws, we went to Dog Pad today to play. (Don't tell Dr. Hollee at Pet Crossing... Gomer's not supposed to go play yet; he has to wear his dreaded basket muzzle so that he doesn't play ball or tear his stitches out.

Wuf Ya!