The crazy dog lady is back! I've given myself this title because I am really starting to think this is how people see me, haha. Okay, so I love talking and carrying on about my dogs like they were my kids, so what. Truth is they keep me going. They are my favorite topic of conversation.

After DJ passed, it felt mighty strange coming home to an empty house. I spent my childhood, teenage years, all the way into my adult hood with this dog so you can imagine how difficult it was to cope with such a loss. Although no one could ever take his place, I did make a promise to him that I would adopt a dog in honor of him. Adopting and rescuing has been a passion of mine since as long as I could remember. It took 2 dogs to fill his paws!

It's very difficult for me to post pictures or make a blog for DJ and all of the pets in my life that have since passed.  It's not that I have forgotten about them in any way shape or form.  They exists strongly in my mind and in my heart.  I just learned that all we have left sometimes is the memories we shared in life (especially if a big ol' hurricane came by and destroyed all the pictures you had from the past).  So that's all I'm doing is making memories of the present and never forgetting the past.

Anyway, my dogs get my mind off of the stresses in life. I love having them, taking care of them, learning about their species in general, training them, and most in importantly, loving them. So, thank you to my pups for giving me strength to get up on the days I would rather sleep in, thanks for taking my mind off of things like work and other depressing issues, and thanks for being the most loyal beings God has put on this earth.

Welcome Schultz (aka Stretch) to the Family!

We would like to welcome Schultz, or Stretch as he was called by his foster family and now his new name, to our family! Stretch was listed on PetFinder and was adopted by my Aunt Ruby and Uncle George from the Pontchartrain Humane Society in late January. Stretch is a standard dachshund with a dachshund's attitude for sure. He definitely knows "his" home now and doesn't much care for intruders, haha. But he is a very happy social dog in neutral territory.

I'm just glad to see another homeless dog find a forever home and I'm happy to report that I am the one who intervined and suggested Stretch to my Aunt and Uncle. He is now just as spoiled as he should be and well taken care of.

Letting Nature take it's Course & Dem Saints....WHO DAT!

Lots of things have been going down in the pack. The more I learn about dogs, the more confused I get. One day, it's "this is the best thing", the next it's something else. I wish I could go back in time and take some of the knowledge I know now about dogs and apply it to DJ. Perhaps he could have had a healthier life. But, we learn from our mistakes and try not the make the same ones over again. That's my intention any way. I recently switched the dogs to an all natural home-made diet due to some of the disadvantages to feeding just dry dog food. Firstly, because of the crystals Dakoda got for the second time in her life. It was recommended we put her on a prescription diet made by Science Diet and I love my dog too much to feed her that. Secondly, because dry dog food is thought to be the leading cause of bloat in dogs and since Indiana is a very fast eater, even with a slow feeder bowl, I don't want that to happen to him. Last, but not least, all of the health benefits to feeding natural home-made food. Yet, there are so many different opinions out there as to what exactly to add in their prepared food. It can be a bit confusing which is why we now see a homeopathic vet to help guide us in our attempt for a healthier more natural life style for our pets. Trust me, it's a little more work preparing their food (I wish dog food was the best thing because it's alot easier to dish out a couple of cups from a container than it is to actually make and prepare it everyday) but I love the benefits from it.

I was a bit apprehensive to feeding my dogs raw meat in the beginning (YUCK! right?). But after a visit with the homeopathic vet and her assurance and years of expierience, and supposed benefits, we succumed to the idea. Of course special precautions should be taken when doing this like: getting meat as organic and natural as possible without any added hormones and such, cleaning the meat very thouroughly, and feeding the dog in a small space to make clean up a breeze (Koda likes to take food out of her bowl and put it on her bed then eat it, so I put down a "potty pad" to prevent the spread of any bacteria that could be passed on to us humans). Dogs, however can supposedly handle the bacteria from raw meat. Hey, I'm no expert, but if you do the research and talk to people who have been studying and doing this with their dogs for years, than maybe you'll be open to the idea.

Another thing is, you don't hear the term "side effects" with this method of care. Alot of the medications my dogs have been on presented some side effects and only ever supressed the problems. When we first started this, our homeopathic vet said that Koda might expierience some of the illnesses she had previously been treated for with antibiotics because it never actually cured the problem but only put it in a dormant state. Sure enough she got an ear infection that he warned us about and we were able to let it heal naturally and be rid of it once and for all. I was amazed by the results! I didn't have to spend over $100 at the vet's office for medication that wouldn't actually cure the infection. Instead I spent less than $20 on an acute remedy from the homeopathic vet and some almond oil to help sooth the pain and get the wax out (I also used aloe vera from a house plant which helps pain and redness). Grant you, it took a couple of days longer to heal, it was a very bad infection, but none-the-less, it healed.

Okay, so besides trying to give my dogs a healthier life, how bout dem Saints? WOOHOO!!! We won the Super Bowl baby! OMG! This city, state has been going mad for the past month.

It's a Who Dat thang that cannot be explained to anyone outside of the Who Dat Nation. I don't usually dress my dog in dog apparel, but I did buy them all a New Orleans Saints bandana to wear. I can't wait for game day so they can wear it.

Indiana Jones' 1st Birthday!

I can't believe it but Indiana made the big 1 on July 7th!!! Coincidently, he shares a birthday with my mother. Indy is the first dog I've ever owned that I know the actual birth date to. It was a big deal to me and I captured every moment of it.

Later that night, we sang "Happy Birthday" to my mom and when the candles on the cake were lit, the lights out, and the terrible harmonies coming from our voice, Indy got so excited and nearly knocked the table over that the cake was on. I had to hold him back. He was going crazy! I don't know what it is with him, but he loves strange noises people make with there mouths and singing in sync. It's so funny how he responds to it. He loves those stuffed animals that talk or sing when you press the button. He goes nuts. It's histerical.

Indiana's Birthday!!!

It's my party and I'll bark if I want to!

Yippie, now where's the cake?

Koda and Riley join in on the fun too!

Summertime Fun!

It has been a very very hot summer so far. When you step outside it feels as if you are sufficating from the heat and dripping with sweat. Fortunately, we've found some "cool" ways to keep ourselves and the dogs happy and exercised.

We've been keeping cool in the pool this summer and the dogs love it, especially Riley. Luckily, my aunt has an enormous pool and once or twice a month we go over there and let the dogs go swimming. Riley has been itching to do this since day one. We were told he LOVED the water and it didn't take him long before he was swimming the entire length of the pool. It's such a beautiful thing to watch. Koda and Indiana are still a little unsure about actually using there legs to paddle through the water but I think eventually they will come around. As a matter of fact, poor Indy lost his balance and fell in the pool and you'd think he was drowning, lol. I'll never forget those big brown eyes saying, "save me, save me!" when it happened. Luckily, I was right there next to him when he fell in and all I could do was laugh. He wasn't hurt or anything so it wasn't that big of a deal. When there not at Aunt Ruby's they have their little kiddy pool in the backyard to keep them cooled off. It's not as big but it does the job.

We've been taking some wonderful walks in the evening when it's not as hot out and I've decided to take my camera along and got some really nice shots of them playing at the levee. Indiana and Koda are just so photogenic. I've been wanting to get some shots of them with a nice background and what better than the sky itself!

The first picture is Indiana Jones. All 73.6lbs of him! He may look like a chunky puppy but this pic just proves he's all muscle and my arm can prove it. I've definitely HAVE to work more on walking on a leash with him because he isn't done growning yet and he'll be walking me very soon.

Here's Koda Bear looking as if any minute now her ears will guide her into flight, haha. It was nice and windy that day, thank God, and Koda's little ears were dancing in the wind. It's a joy to see her smile and appear to have no worry in the world.

Ahh, my only really good shot of Riley that day. Riley is a velcro dog and doesn't like to be away from anyone for too long. He's the type of dog that likes to "check in" with you and let you know he's still here. He's the dog everyone wants to walk on the leash because he doesn't pull unless Koda is too far apart from him in which case he will wait for his sister to catch up. He likes to be at your side, leash or no leash.

Two peas in a pod. Littermates Dakoda and Riley enjoy a day of off leash play at the levee. So happy together....

Dakoda and Indiana Jones high in the sky. What a wonderful smile on both their faces. The sky's the limit!

Koda's Relapse

I know it's been a while since I last posted anything. Sorry, but it's a little hard to keep up when you're living with 3 dogs. Yes, Riley has since moved in for a while and it's been joyous chaos. None the less, things have been up and down especially for Dakoda.

Unfortunately, a few months ago, Koda was diagnosed with fear aggression and had to have a behavorist come and exam her. She went from being a very energetic, happy puppy to a insecure adult. We've been working with her and she is slowly but surely making progress in a better direction. The things she used to be comfortable with now freak her out, such as getting baths, trimming her nails, putting on her easy walk harness, going to the vet, etc. She is on medication to help her relax but hopefully she won't need to be on it for too long.

Sometimes, these things just happen with shelter dogs or any dog for that matter. I'm just glad she is here with people who love her so much that we are willing to accept her as she is and work on her problems. Someone else may have had her put down, but I know Dakoda and she is a very smart dog and willing to learn anything. It's just a matter of making every situation a positive one and turning her frown upside down!

Picture Update (Xmas 08')

Christmas 2008


Koda's 2nd Christmas!


Indy's 1st Christmas!








Happy Holidays!!