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Is it Haute in Here?

…or is it just Ray?  We were eagerly awaiting our package, because although there is no longer a waiting list for a Birkin bag, there is a slight waiting list for custom dog sweaters.



Fuzzy picture-operator error.

 That’s right, just in time for award season and the red carpet, Ray-Ray is in Haute Couture.  Who is he wearing, you ask?  Oh, just a custom made sweater by Tiennot Knits.  It’s what all the best dressed pooches are wearing this season, especially ones celebrating their team winning the Super Bowl. 

To tell you the truth, I debate on ordering this since the first moment I read about Tiennot Knits Sweaters.  Of course I wanted one for Ray because I want him to have everything but he’s always been a little iffy about clothing.  He’s had a couple of knit sweaters but always did better with fleece and t-shirts.  I certainly didn’t want to order a custom sweater just to keep it in the hall closet.  I needn’t have worried, though.  That’s what is great about custom. I wanted to make sure it was not too long and just tight enough to be snuggly. 


The funniest thing, though, Kevin was home when the package arrived and left it on the table, so when I got home I opened it and ooohed and ahhed over the sweater then set it back on the table.  Ray, however, knew it was for him (you’d think he gets lots of packages or something) and kept whining and nosing at the table till I finally put it on him and took him outside. 
He was pretty proud of his new look.
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A Monday Mini Me-ow

Those who give of their time and talent know how rewarding that can be, especially if it is an area that you are passionate about.  I daresay if you are reading this, your passion in some way involves animals, probably dogs, probably pit bull types and probably rescue in some way.

When my daughter was born, I had a grand idea that each year we would go and buy a toy together to donate for Toys for Tots or some similar organization and hopefully set her on a good path of a giving life.  I’m embarrassed to admit that happend exactly zero times.  On the other hand, I’m not embarrassed at all because maybe that was never my passion, but just a popular foundation that does good for a group that I thought I’d like to help.

What I am so proud of is that Asia has decided to lend her time and talents to a group that I am very supportive of, ACSPCA.  We drove together to the shelter on Saturday so she could attend orientation and I could walk some dogs, specifically You-Know-Who.

Though she likes dogs, Asia’s passion is cats.  She is actually very cat-like herself and we joke that when we adopted Miko, the two of them spent his transition period in her room so he probably thinks they were adopted together.   I’ve spent time in the cat rooms as well, and am fascinated by the different ways people interact in there.  Some people walk around the perimeter of the room, greeting and petting each cat before settling in a chair.  I usually walk in and sit on the floor and wait to see who will approach me.  I wondered what Asia’s method would be, although I had an inkling that I already could make a pretty good guess.

She and I are both pretty quiet and reserved, so I wasn’t at all surprised when she told me she sat on the floor and waited for kitties to approach her. 

I think she made quite a few new friends.

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"Love me Tender"

Hello, Furiends!  My name is King and I would like to start off by thanking my brother from another Mother, Ray, for letting me have so much face time on his blog.  I know his friends have been missing his mug and I appreciate all the love and kindness I’ve been shown while I await my forever home.
I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself because there are things I’m just now discovering, too.  Up until about two weeks ago, I thought I was one thing, but it turns out I am another.  I was a part of a pack and there were 8 of us in all.  We were all chi-wow-ahs, I thought, but it turns out I’m something called an AmStaff.  I think that means really big chi-wow-ahs.  I’ve spent my whole first year of life thinking I was one of them, fitting in our nice little world but then my family said we were moving.  I didn’t realize that meant we were not all moving together to the same place.
They took me to a “homeless shelter” where the big hearted people there said they would find me another home, even better than the one I had before, and in the mean-time, they would take care of me and give me the things I need.  They even made sure my jingly bits went away.  I guess that’s ok, because I feel fine.
I found it to be very confusing there for awhile.  Lots of other dogs were telling me about themselves and lots of different people came to see me.  Ray’s mama comes to see me a lot and she said I could call her mama until I get my own.  She takes me for long walks and helps me mind my manners, even though she calls me Mr. Perfect a lot.  When we walk she makes the “uh-uh” sound and I’ve learned that when I hear that sound we stop walking.  I always stop and look at Mama to see why we’ve made the uh-uh stop but I think it’s just because she wants to see my handsome face so as soon as I show her my handsome face we get to walk again.  Sometimes we stop and I sit for a cookie.  The first couple of days, when she showed me the cookie, I wasn’t sure that she would give it to me but she gave it every time and all I had to do was sit!  She says I’m a master at something called “loose leash walking.”
I’d be happy to take that cookie!
I think we are going to learn other ways to get cookies too, if I’m here long enough.  Mama says she hopes we won’t have time but when she says that she seems kind of sad.  She says she loves how I greet her in a polite way.  I don’t jump on her and I don’t ever do sharky mouth, even when I’m looking for cookies that might be in her hand.  I’m just starting to ask her to play with me, but she is kind of a girl, so I take it easy with her and when she says “give Mama a kiss” I know exactly what she means.  I like to give kisses!

Anyhow, I’m ready to go to my home, but just as a little hint, my collar makes me look like I might belong in a peaceabull place, don’tchathink?

A note from Ray-Ray:  “if you are interested in adopting King, please contact the Allen County SPCA.  Now, please, before King becomes my little brother.”

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Reclaiming Some Time

Apparently, the only way to get a little face time on my own blog is to take over and write a little bit myself.  My mama has been so busy with all of the adoptable dogs at ACSPCA that she hasn’t even hardly written about the really important things in life me lately.  The Ray-Ray is still here, people! 

I thouht I would show you what my girlfriend sent me for Valentine’s Day.  My mama says she actually got it for me because she ordered it and my Daddy says he got it for me because he opened the en-ba-lope that came in the mails but I know better.  After all the ladies love cool Ray, so I know Athena asked her mama to send it to me because everyone knows how much fun a good game of tug can be.

It’s perfect because it is soft and easy for my old lovely mama to hang on to when we’re playing.  Plus it gets really long and stretchy so if I get a little over-excited, no one’s knuckles gets bumped by my big mouth.  Then the other day, my mama stuffed little chicken treaties in the braids and I got to “find it” in a fun way.

It was so much fun because when Mama and Daddy got tired of playing I could still play with it safely on my own for a while.  But then, I got sleepy from all the playing and took a little nappy with my new tuggie.

I gotta tell you, this is the bestest tug toy ever and you could probably get your Mama or Daddy to get you one too.
Even though it seems like my Mama hasn’t paid nearly enough attention to me, we did go for a nice walk on Sunday and it wasn’t even in our usual neighborhood.  Mama took me to a new walking place and I got to look at some art.

There were so many new smells to check out and all the new sights to see that all I wanted to do when we got home was sleep.  Mama says that makes me a good pup.  (Which we all knew anyway, right?)

 What did you get from your Valentine?

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The Best Laid Plans

I’m not usually a Friday dog walker, in fact I usually try to make Monday my usual day.  The shelter is closed to the public that day and less volunteers come, so I try to make a point of being there.  Because I really didn’t know how much interaction King would get and I still have a soft spot for Banjo, I’ve been ine every weekday this week except for Valentine’s day.

Today my plan was to walk Banjo and King, of course, and also take sweet Max out for a bit as well.  I know there’s  a pretty steady volunteer who comes on Fridays so I was pretty sure a lot of the dogs would have gotten some attention.  As luck would have it she was still there and gave me the low down on who she had already walked and we gushed on together about how great King is on leash.  What else she shared was that the two puppies kenneled together wouldn’t come out for a walk.  The larger one ran to the back of the kennel and huddled in the corner.  Ugh.  I don’t really want to “do” puppies because A) they’re puppies and B) they often have poo in their kennels.  Ok those aren’t good reasons, but I saw King and made some kissy faces at him and then entered the puppy kennel.  Sure enough, the little beagle/puggle was all waggin’ tail and happy while the other ran to her corner and sat wanting attention but not sure.

Yeah, the view from my lap.

I decided to just sit and play with the two of them so they could get some socialization and the bigger one, Sweetheart, could get more comfortable. 

I should say that even the coldest heart that doesn’t want to sit on a kennel floor with puppies can get sucked in pretty. darn. fast.  Go on, try to resist, I dare you.  Ireland the beagle-y pup played for awhile on my lap and eventually fell asleep. I seriously wanted to sit there all day with this soft little pudge bucket snuggled in my arms.

Sweetheart was so sweet and eager to be loved yet juuuust a little hesitant.  She was pretty happy to lie near me and play with my fingers, her leash, my coat, my boots, etc.

She was such a darling girl and very open to being snuggled with (when Ireland vacated my lap for a whole 10 seconds) and loved to be near me.


After the better part of an hour had passed and I really had no inclination to  move from the floor, I finally tore myself away for a brief spin about the neighborhood with King before heading back to work 

Puppies.  I tell ya, they’re sneaky little things that just steal your heart.

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Walking Wednesday

(Since I knew this wouldn’t be wordless.)

I thought I’d share with you a few pictures from my walks today and to let you know that Miss Delilah has left the building.  Good luck in your forever home, sweetie.

Since I didn’t have enough time to walk Banjo yesterday, he was my first date for today, though he nearly missed his chance again.  Banjo is 10 months old, while not too puppy-ish, he still gets wound up some.  He is kenneled with Max whom I haven’t really interacted with to date.  A secret, here, is that usually since I am walking dogs on my lunch break from work, I don’t often walk any dogs that are double kenneled.  I just think there is too much of a possibility for a wardrobe malfunction.  But today since I had mentally promised some time to Banjo, I entered the kennel he shares with Max…and was very impressed with Max.  While Banjo was running around with his leash and collar, Max cuddled right up against my legs and wagged his sweet little tail enough to make sure I’d be back to walk him too right after I brought the Banj-miester back. 

Outside, Banjo again delighted me with is great leash skills and his solid “sit.”  He was just such a pleasure to walk that I just don’t know if I can gush about him any more.  When we returned, Max was already out with another volunteer, so you know who I turned my attention to.

Not thrilled with the little picture taking box in my face, lady.

King does really, really well on the leash and takes correction easily with an “uh-uh” and a stop.  Now that he’s more settled in, he was much more interested in being treated, though was not at all interesed in learning “sit” for a treat.

Hey lady, you got any more of those nom noms in your pocket?

King is so sweet and thankful for the little treats I gave him but when I tried to lure him to a sit, he gave up pretty fast as if he didn’t really expect me to give them.  It was kind of sad and I’m a big push over so I just gave up the treats in exchange for a couple of hugs.

Both of these young gentlemen are still available to be your forever Valentine, just contact the ACSPCA for details.

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"Getting to Know You"

Have you ever been happy to see a dog in a shelter?  Do you find any irony at all in Lily, Pitbull Ambassador & Therapy dog winning an online contest run by The Denver Dog?  (Not intended to be mean-spirited…I’m happy she won this.)

The shelter I volunteer at sits in a neighborhood where the kennels could really be filled with one certain type of dog but they are not.  There are no breed restrictions but it is a limited intake shelter and I can honestly say the variety there has been vast.  One of the questions I asked before volunteering was about the policies and stance on  Pit bull types there.  There wasn’t a breed ban and I liked the answers well enough to lend any time or talent I could in order to help out.  I’ve seen small and large I’ve seen boxers, boxer mixes, lots of  retriever mixes and even a blocky headed “terrier mix” with a medium thick coat. 

But times, they are a-changing, folks.  Our new director’s focus is to save lives.  She is open, caring and tireless in her quest to not just turn animals out to homes for the numbers but to get the right animal into the right home for life.  Last week as we were messaging about another issue, she mentioned to me that since I was such a “bully -girl” that I “should hustle over to the shelter” because there were dogs sure to win my love.  I figured she meant Bullwinkle the boxer but she said no it isn’t him.  How long do you think the next morning was while I waited to take my lunch break?  How fast do you think I got to the shelter? 

He wasn’t available yet, he wasn’t even neutered so I couldn’t talk about him but the Volunteer Manager snuck me back to the staff only area to see him and I saw his big happy face.

I heard the high pitched whine, the cry for companionship and I knew.  I saw the big block head and I knew.  I saw the deep chest and I knew.  There was no disguising this guy as a ” terrier mix” because he was pretty much undisguisable. 

So now that this handsome guy is officially without his jingles and on the adoption page, I am proud and excited to share with you King.

King is pretty good on a leash.  We took a nearly one hour walk today and not once did he bark or try to chase any squirrels or other dogs.  He did show interest but not too much  in other dogs, and so far he doesn’t seem to be too treat motivated but he caught on pretty quickly that if he pulled on the leash, I stopped walking until we got some slack. 

Yes, it’s a new day and in this case, I’m happy to see a dog like King in the shelter.  He’ll be loved and well taken care of while awaiting his perfect forever home and if you are in our area and are interested in making this boy the King of your home, contact the Allen County SPCA for details.

*extra credit if you know why this post is titled this way.
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Caring, Sharing (Every Little Thing That We Are Wearing)

As we mentioned on Friday, LL Cool Ray and I were pretty excited for him to don his new superhero bow tie from Little Bow Pup and go on some more weekend adventures.  However as fate would have it,  an adoption even came up rather suddenly which left Mr. Ray-Ray at home and bow tie-less.  Always willing to help, Ray loaned out his Mama and his new bow tie in order to help a fellow out. 

I saw Banjo both on the SPCA website and also when I went to volunteer earlier in the week and I can honestly say, he was (to me) overlookable.  Just going on looks alone, he was not my type (German wirehaired pointer and “rolling stone”) and since  he had already been walked when I arrived I didn’t spend any time with him.  But when I went to pick him up on Saturday?  Oh. Em. Gee, people.  I mean it.  Soulful eyes, easy disposition and very mellow for a seven month old puppy.  I was in lurrrrve and could have kissed his wiry little schnoz all day long.

Banjo was great.  He has a solid “sit” and is attracted to children.  He liked other dogs, but honestly, not all other dogs and while he was extremely approachable by humans while he was chomping on his bully stick, he was a little annoyed if another dog came near it.  All in all a sa-weetie pie.
The other dog at the event with us was the darling Delilah.  I had seen  Delilah at the kennels as well earlier in the week and although she is a Basset hound which would make her not one of my top favorite breeds, I saw her personality shine through in about a half a milisecond.  This girl is divine!  Delilah has the za-za-zoo in spades and I’d be shocked if she isn’t adopted within the next 24 hours.  I think we ended up handing out 2 applications for her and received a filled out app right away. 
So bye, bye, bye, Delilah.  Under these circumstances, I have to say, I’m glad I only knew you for a short time.
Don’t feel too badly for Cool Ray, though.  Even though he had to model the neck tutu that Delilah is wearing, he still got to go out on the town Sunday and get his fair share of lovin’.