Paw Prints

2010-06-20T16:20:00.001-05:00

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!

2010-02-16T16:21:00.009-06:00

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!

2010-02-16T15:21:00.006-06:00

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!

2009-07-10T23:50:00.009-05:00

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!

2009-07-10T23:12:00.013-05:00

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

2009-07-10T22:56:00.007-05:00

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')

2009-03-23T16:15:00.007-05:00

Christmas 2008

Koda's 2nd Christmas!

Indy's 1st Christmas!

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T13:20:00.007-05:00

Happy Halloween from Koda a pirate (left); Indiana a British rock star (center); & Riley a pirate (right)

Ready for the big night & waiting for Riley to arrive

Dakoda's second Halloween (no costume to rip up this year!)

Riley & Indy's First Halloween!!

Trick-or-Treat don't we look sweet?

Indy....growing...growing...

2008-11-01T13:08:00.006-05:00

Just wanted to put some pics of Indy and show how fast he is growing. I captured some really cute pictures of him in the almost 2 months that he has been here. He's quite a handful but cute as a button.

As you can see, he has gotten quite big since we got him almost 2 months ago. He now weighs 27lbs, and eats like there is no tomorrow! He loves going for walks, meeting new people and dogs of course, and he especially loves his Koda Bear.

Besides wanting to eat and chew on everything, he's a dream. He does keep you on your though. I can't even imagine how big he will be in 2 months time, my gosh! Anyway, he thinks he is a lap dog but I got new for him, pretty soon I'll be sitting on him, lol. Anyway, as much as I can't wait until he gets a little older and out of the puppy stage, I am enjoying him now.

Indiana Jones

2008-09-14T12:28:00.015-05:00

Our latest and last edition to our family is Indiana Jones, a purebred yellow English Labrador Retriever. Born on July 7, 2008, Indy came to us on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, just one day shy of 8 weeks old. I've only ever had one purebred dog in my life and that was a Lhasa Apso named Rambo when I was about 3 or 4 years old. Anyway, he's already showing signs of his intelligence. Potty training is a breeze with only a few accidents here and there. He already knows "sit", "down", and is learning "stay". He gets along with Koda fine. As a matter of fact, his first day home she greeted him with a toy. That's my girl! I have a feeling he'll be a handful when he gets a little older and bigger but with some guidance and direction, he should be a happy, healthy dog.

Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-14T12:28:00.013-05:00

Well, it was bound to happen again sometime.....another hurricane threat. Only this time it wasn't that bad for us. However, this was Dakoda's first hurricane evacuation and who better to spend it with than two of your best buds, Harley and Coco!! (Coco, a mini schnauzer, was one of the dogs I was fostering at the time for Companion Pet Adoption who my aunt and uncle loved and thought would make a great companion for Harley and so they adopted him!).

Anyway, they were all so good, except poor Dakoda didn't know where to sleep. She's used to a routine and since that got broken for about a week she was a little confused. But none-the-less, we survived and it was a good expierience for her. At least all the dogs got along. Since Coco stayed with us for a few days before the hurricane, he and Dakoda got really close and I found it funny that when Harely and Dakoda was playing, Coco would try to defend Dakoda, lol. They are so funny and such good dogs. Couldn't ask for more.

Riley's Music Video

2008-09-13T13:33:00.004-05:00

FINALLY!!...I present to you Riley's new music video. Since I don't have much video of just Riley, I wanted his music video to be of some of the things he loves the most...his sister and, of course, his pool. So, without further ado, here's Riley!! N'joy :o)

Wild Quaker Parrots

2008-07-21T18:59:00.009-05:00

A few years ago, I made some "nature videos" with my new video camera. Editing has always been sort of a hobby for me and thought it would be nice to put some music to some of my recordings. The first video is of the pond when it was first established. Little Jamie & Oliver were just tiny babies that were under the 4 inch law. They were adopted so we were able to take them considering we had no kids and they would be in an outside pond. The pond has certainly gone through some changes since then. We had always planned on updating it over time. We had to do what we could afford, but I don't think fake plants and red & white rocks were necessary....DAD! Haha. None-the-less, I think the music video came out nice. It's very tranquel and relaxing.

For those of you who live in Louisiana, take a look up at the sky every now and then. I think you'll be amazed at what you see and even hear from time to time. What??? Is that a quaker parrot I see? It sure is. They've been flying around New Orleans and surrounding areas for a few years now. I noticed them after Hurricane Katrina. The tale is that a shipment got loose on their way to a pet store and since have been living freely amongst us. Apparently Louisiana isn't a bad place to live for a parrot. The weather is warm and they obviously survive the winters. At one time a bunch of them hung out in our backyard (I counted 19 once). I loved to just watch them hang around and make that God awful screaming noise. It felt like I was living in a tropical jungle. With a little patience and stealth, I was able to get close enough to film them. They were so beautiful I decided to put together a little video. Hope you enjoy it.

Oh, I thought the squirrel in the video was going to attack me! At one point, it started running in my direction. Yes, I was that close!

Backyard Bundle

2008-07-21T15:58:00.028-05:00

I wanted to take some time to talk about some of the other animals we have. Well, first there is the finches. I believe we have 4 zebras, 8 or 9 society (2 were just born this spring!), 2 lady gouldians, 2 orange weevers, 4 spice, and 2 really small black ones (I forget the name of them).

Of course the gouldians are gorgious to look at but my favorites would have to be one of the zebras named Baby Christmas (he was born around Christmas time of 2006). I went to go feed them and I saw this little furry thing moving around in one of the nest and he was the only egg that had hatched. When he started to learn to fly, he would actually fly on my hand sometimes when I was feeding them. He's the youngest of the zebras and is almost white (probably will be a light grey when he's older).

Then there is one of our society's named Alfalfa (well, that's what I call him because of the way his feathers smush down on the top of his head). He's very calm and doesn't fly away when you get too close to him like the others. He's our little geek and a new father of 2! Very cute. They were born in April and I call them Hansel and Gretel.

Next we have the turtles: Jamie, Oliver, Sylvester, and Squirt. They are sliders who enjoy the water and basking in he sun.

Jamie is the only male of the four, he's also the more social of the group. He seems to know his name too. Oliver (who got her name before she was old enough to determine the sex) is Jamie's sister and a bit more shy. Sylvester was a rescue. She (also got her name before we could determine the sex) was almost road kill but thankfully someone was kind enough to stop and pick her up. Then there's Sylvester's homegirl, Squirt. Squirt was given to us by Dakoda's other favorite person and trainer Gloria. She is the biggest of the lot but very sweet. Squirt and Sylvester were the newbies at one time and Sylvester sort of befriended Squirt, who was very shy, when she first arrived. Basically, Sylvester, who was just a baby, would sit on top of Squirt during cleaning and followed her around alot.

The pond plays host to a school of goldfish. God only knows how many we have, I lost count. Most of them are comets that were meant to be feeder fish but my dad, being cheap like he is, brought them for $.19 cents and put them in the pond. They are huge now and definitely beautiful. To think something was going to eat them and to see them now....WOW!. Two of them are fancy goldfish. One is an orange fantail and the other is a black moore named Einstein. Einstein is the only one with a name because he was one of the very first fish we got that is still alive. We kind of look out for him because he's a surviver.

I also have my own little project I put together. We had a few really nice planters that weren't being used, so I decided to make two small ponds out of them. One is a water garden just for plants and the other is the home of 2 fancy goldfish named Pirate & Treasure. Pirate is a black moore and Treasure a fantail. I'm hoping to change the water garden into another pond for a couple of redcap oranda goldfish.
I had one but it died and so did its' mate who I think was just another fantail. They were both really small and I think they got caught in the plants or something. Their death remains a mystery but they were beautiful.

Last, but not least, there's Nieko and Bindi, the lovebirds who you've met in a previous post. Just a little update on the two. Bindi is the leader who will defind his/her territory at all cost. She got out once and, to my suprise flew on my head and went right back into her cage. Nieko is content just staying in the background while Bindi makes a fuss over every little thing. He/she loves to shred his shredding toys, swing on the swing, and hang from branches. They love to listen to people and aren't afraid to chime in on a conversation especially if it includes whistles. They are a handful, but a joy to watch and interact with.

HELP ANDY!!! click here

2008-06-13T17:50:00.010-05:00

Hi everyone! I'm reaching out to all the animal lovers for this one. This poor dog was hit by motorcycle riders and was left for dead. Thankfully, someone found him and now he is undergoing a very costly recovery process. Most people would have given up and put the dog down, but someone thought this particular dog deserved a second chance. The vet bills totaled over $6,000.00!!! So, if you can spare just a few dollars at the least to help donate to Andy's recovery, Andy and his rescuers would greatly appreciate it. I made a small donation myself so if you could please find it in your hearts to help this sweet angel who really needs it. I guarantee this dog will appreciate his future life once he is fully recovered but he needs your help. Read his story below:

Andy put out a 911 call when he was hit by motorcycle riders. He was hit and rolled into a ditch and a nice person pulled him out and took him home and put him on her porch. Then she waited approx 18 hours before she called because she did not know what to do. Andy's, soon to be foster Dad, who was out of town, directed that Andy be taken to his vet. After several x-rays, it was determined that Andy had 2 broken femors and a dislocated hip, not to mention that he was heartworm positive AND unneutered. Andy has a great personality and great spirit to go along and after several long consultations, it was decided that Andy deserved to see another day. He has a great personality, a wagging tail and a lick for your hand. His prognosis for full recovery is excellent BUT he is asking that if you can will you please help Dad with his medical bills. Mom is setting up a PayPal account for him.

Dakoda & Wizard's Weekend

2008-05-23T17:57:00.008-05:00

This past weekend was beautiful so I decided to let Dakoda and Wizard play for a long time in the backyard (Dakoda's favorite place).
It made for a perfect photo day so I took some very nice pictures of the two of them. They are both so photo genic. I love taking pictures of them because they actually sit still for me. It's almost like Dakoda knows that I'm taking a picture and smiles for the camera. Wizard has always been a screen gem since she was a baby. She used to run up to the webcam while filming for her close ups, lol. I'll have to find those old videos of Wizard one day and post them. I think DJ is even in a few of them, though he could really care less about being filmed. Anyway, here are just a few of many good takes.

Riley's Slideshow

2008-05-23T17:18:00.003-05:00

I've finally finished making Riley's very own slideshow! It was a bit hard to find pictures of just him considering wherever Dakoda is, he is by her side. Man, I must say that dog gets better and better everyday. He's the dog people dream of having. The one that may not dance or play dead (actually he does play dead) but will cuddle up next to you in bed, sit beside you calmly for a while, and even walk right by your side without worrying if he will take off running. He's very loyal and it's almost like he knows he's in a better off place than he was at the shelter. He just receives loads of attention and soaks it in everyday and shows his appreciation for it.

Riley :o)

2008-04-05T14:47:00.003-05:00

After making the videos of Dakoda, I didn't want anyone to think I left out Riley. I am working on making and putting Riley's music video and slideshow up as well. Dakoda's was in the making before we even adopted Riley so....

Of course, wherever Koda is, so is Riley. So she'll most definitely appear in his video. They are like peas and carrots. They just simply love each other. They can eat out of each other's food bowl without any aggression, share water at the same time, lay on each other, etc. They were meant to be together. The only problem is they always want what the other has. I can give them both the same kind of bone with the same exact flavor and size, and still one wants the other one's.

Dakoda Music Video

2008-03-21T18:31:00.004-05:00

Here is a music video I made of Dakoda when she was just a little puppy. I made sure to add "vicious bunny" to the mix. Apparently, this was Dakoda's biggest threat in the backyard and she made sure to let it know by constantly barking at it everytime she got to play in the yard.

Slideshow of Dakoda

2008-03-21T17:58:00.004-05:00

I've been meaning to post some videos of Dakoda, I just haven't had the time. Anyway, here is a long slideshow I made of her when we first got her, through to her graduation of puppy classes. Hope you like it. Yes, is a little long, but you try picking out cute pictures.....I just used them all, haha. N'joy! P.S. The darker colored puppy in the first photo is Riley :o)

Give some love to Nieko & Bindi

2008-03-08T21:54:00.010-06:00

My dad and I went to a bird show today just to get millet and some more bird food for the finches....ONLY. We arrived back home with the food, the millet, oh and yeah, 2 gorgeous lovebirds. I must admit, the last thing I wanted was another bird to take care of. After Tommy passed, I decided no more birds for a while. The finches don't count because they are more for viewing than interacting and they are easy to care for. Nieko is a Dutch blue lovebird and Bindi is creamino lovebird. Both of them come from the same breeder. They were the only 2 in the cage and obviously got along fine. They are not shy at all. Bindi walks right up to Dakoda even when she is barking endlessly at her. I was a bit worried about how they would react around the dogs, but they are fine. Nieko stays away from Koda, but doesn't seem threatened by her. He just flies to the top of his perch away from her.

By the way, how do you keep a lab away from birds? Haha, it's in their nature to go for birds, really. Dakoda does have a natural instinct to chase any and every bird. She doesn't mind the finches much. She is a true bird watcher though, that's for sure! Dad's proud, lol

Dirty Dogs

2008-02-01T20:10:00.000-06:00

A few days ago we took Dakoda and Riley outside to play in the yard for a bit. This was a day or so after it had rained so the ground was still wet and muddy. Boy, did they get filthy! No worries, that's why we have baths, haha. Anyway, they both had a good time and it wore them both out so much that they slept like little angels the rest of the night.

Today, Dakoda chewed her leash up.....AGAIN!! We've gone through 3 or 4 leashes already, two of them ruined due to her chewing on them. Anyway, I brought her a nice new red leash and a training collar to go with it. She walks good on a leash outside our house, but gets a little too excited in new places.

Welcome Home Harley!!

2008-01-14T21:10:00.001-06:00

Well it looks like we have another addition to our family. Today, January 14, 2008 Dakoda and Riley got a cousin! Yep, my Godmother, Nancy, and her husband, Dennis, adopted an 8 week old lab mix pup from a shelter in Hammond. Her name is Harley, yes, like Harley Davidson and she's cute as a button. They actually went over there to see another young dog, but it had just been adopted. So, they headed back home but not before making a call to the shelter to see what else was available. Sure enough, they had some retrievers (we are retriever loving people here, haha) and they headed back to the shelter and you know the rest!

I'm so happy my family decided to get a new dog and also to adopt. It touches my heart everytime someone cares enough to save a beautiful life like that. Congrats to Nanny and Dennis and to Harley on finding a wonderful, loving new home!

**UPDATE** After watching Harley grow over the months, I believe her to be a Redbone Coonhound. Perhaps even a purebred.

The Graduates

2008-01-13T17:32:00.000-06:00

Dakoda and Riley recently graduated from their intermediate pet training classes!! Dakoda did very well and proved to me that the time I spent training her was time well spent. Riley still needs some work but it's not his fault Dakoda got an early start on things. He also has shown to be very intellegent and easy to train and should catch up quite fast.. Hopefully, he'll be all caught up by the time their advanced classes begin. I like to keep them involved with these classes as a way to keep them socialized with other dogs and people. It's also fun and a great way to excercise and release some of their energy.

Earlier that day, we took them both to the park for a nice walk. They are learning how to walk on a leash and are getting better at it. I find that Riley is much more confident when he's with Dakoda. It's easier for me to walk them together than have one person hold one leash and me the other. I think if they had the chance they would have both jumped in the lake after the ducks, haha.

Our Introduction

2007-12-30T12:14:00.000-06:00

Wizard is the oldest in our small estate. She's been with me for 6 years now. Since the day I opened the cup (she was shipped in a heated reptile cup) to reveal myself to her, she came out without hesitation and made herself at home from the get go. She has been fearless ever since. I thought she would be afraid of our big dog, DJ, but she could care less of the size of, well, anything. She even took a liking to my cockatiel, Tommy. I thought Tommy would be a goner if she got too close to him but on the contrary, she walked right up to his cage and introduced herself to him and they were friends ever since.
After DJ and Tommy passed on, Tommy was the first to go, I felt ever so close to Wizard. I know that reptiles could care less about their handlers but for some reason she was a comfort to me, especially after DJ (part of my soul) passed. I guess it was because they had such a great connection with each other and now that our two boys were gone, we were all we had left. It's not everyday you see a dog, bird, and lizard sit on the sofa together to take a nap without one worrying about the other.

Things have definitely changed for poor Wizard. She's not easily threatend by anyone or anything except for one little bothersome....

Que in Dakoda....

About a month after DJ passed, it was time to get a new dog. And what a huge paw print to fill. DJ was never a dog's dog, he liked us older humans, and I knew he would never agree to let another dog into his territory. Therefore, before he passed I made a promise to him. My promise to him was to never buy another dog and allow it to live in his domain. Rather, I would adopt and rescue out of respect for his species and my love for dogs.

After searching on Petfinder for days, I came across 4 little lab mix pups about 3 or 4 months old. I told the fam. and my dad and I went to look at them that weekend. I intended on getting a male because DJ was a male. But when we arrived the largest one out of the litter tugged so hard at my heart. All my focus was on this little happy fat thing running around the yard. I looked to see she was female and nearly melted in my shoes. I don't know why I wanted a male so badly, but I fell in love with this gorgeous girl. I couldn't stand it any longer she had to come home with me. So, I signed the papers and the adoption process was on it's way!

Two weeks later on Wednesday, August 28th, 2007, we picked up Dakoda from the St. John Parish Animal Shelter and it's been a roller coaster ever since. Her first day home, she was a bit nervous and groggy (she just had been spayed that day). She threw up quite alot due to the surgery. She immediately found her toy box and bed and when she felt a little better, took a self tour of the house. By the next morning, she was what she would come to be in the latter months, a feisty, playful, stubborn girl with loads of energy.

Four months have now passed and she is nearly full grown I would say. I'm not quite sure what she is mixed with, but everything about her screams labrador. Except for her size, she posesses everything that makes up a purebred lab. From her appitite, to her love for water, to her goofy tatrums. She's definitely a handful. Her temperment is friendly and she gets along well with other animals pretty much. Maybe a little too much according to Wizard.

It seems Dakoda thinks Wizard will play with her like other dogs do. She will smack poor Wizard with her paws and bark bark bark at her endlessly. Wizard just sits and stares at her and to Koda's suprise, nothing happens. Wizard has threatened her before, which is very unlike her, but then again, DJ never smacked at her face with his paws like Koda does. The good thing is that they somewhat get along. Dakoda hasn't tried to eat her yet, thank God!

As Dakoda grew into a more high energy being, we thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if we could adopt another dog to help release some of Koda's energy?" So, I made a phone call to my sister, she mentioned something about wanting a dog, and talked about possibly adopting one. We then phoned the shelter.

I remember Dakoda being the only girl of the litter and having 3 brothers. Two of them were identical to her and there was this little reddish brown one. He was the runt of the litter and sort of an oddball because he looked different from the others. I've always been partial to runts considering I'm the runt myself, haha. So, off to the shelter we went again and adopted Dakoda's brother!

After much thought, he would come to be known as Riley. He, unlike Dakoda, is a bit more laid back, doesn't like retrieving much, loves juming in the pond (whereas, Dakoda will just put her front paws in and splash around a bit) and pees without warning, lol. Most importantly, brother and sister have been reunited. Dakoda now has a very specail playmate and is very good at sharing her toys with Riley. His first day home she grabbed a toy and pushed it over to him with her nose. How sweet!!