Autumn Lou

Louie waiting for me to put down the camera and play tuggie with her.

Fall in MO

Here's Louie in the back yard. Fall leaves everywhere the day before Gregg hops on his mower to mulch. Louie loves to run in the leaves.

She has plenty of space to run.

Princess

Our sweet Princess passed away this summer on one of the hottest days of the year. We had three digit temperatures almost daily during that time. Princess had been outside that day. When my son's girlfriend returned from work, Princess had already left for his trip to heaven. Princess was about 3 years old, a beautiful collie. She was waiting to move into her new home which her papa Enrique was preparing. It was a very sad Summer.

The Kiss

The Kiss... (From Marty)

He had just saved her from a fire in her house,
rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard,
while he continued to fight the fire.

She was pregnant.

When he finally got done putting the fire out,
he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper,
"The Observer," noticed her in the distance looking at the fireman.

He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and
wondered what she was going to do.

As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man
who had saved her life and the lives of her babies
and kissed him just as the photographer snapped this photograph.(Embedded image moved to file:

Cute Pals

From Glen - Slainte! from Kansas /:-)

A Dog's Prayer

A beautiful poem from Louies gram-papa.

A DOG'S PRAYER
by Berth Norman Harris
Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me. Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding
will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.Speak to me often , for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail
when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements.
And I ask for greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.Though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshipper.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do you bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready,
willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.And, beloved master should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you.
Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest---and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.

Squirrels and dogs can be friends

Hi Tina,
As a fellow dog-lover I thought you might be interested in this.
"Finnegan" the squirrel
For about as long as she can remember, Debby Cantlon says, friends and strangers have brought her animals in need. So it wasn't much of a surprise when someone asked her if she'd care for a newborn squirrel found at the base of a tree somewhere near Renton. Debby Cantlon, who plans to release Finnegan, the young squirrel, back into the wild, bottle-fed the infant squirrel after it was brought to her house. Cantlon, who has cancer, says rescuing injured animals is therapeutic for her. When Cantlon took in the tiny creature and began caring for him, she found herself with an nlikely nurse's aide: her pregnant Papillon, Mademoiselle Giselle. Finnegan was resting in a nest in a cage just days before Giselle was due to deliver her puppies.
Cantlon and her husband watched as the dog dragged the squirrel's cage - twice - to her own bedside before she gave birth.Cantlon was concerned, yet ultimately decided to allow the squirrel out - and the inter-species bonding began. Finnegan rides a puppy mosh pit of sorts, burrowing in for warmth after feeding, and eventually working his way beneath his new litter mates.

Two days after giving birth, mama dog Giselle allowed Finnegan to nurse; family photos and a videotape show her encouraging him to suckle alongside her litter of five pups. Now, Finnegan mostly uses a bottle, but still snuggles with his "siblings" in a mosh pit of puppies, rolling atop their bodies and sinking in deeply for a nap. Finnegan and his new litter mates, five Papillion puppies, get along
together as if they
were meant to.
Finnegan naps after feeding. Finnegan makes himself at home with his new litter mates, nuzzling nose-to-nose for a nap after feeding.

Unconditional Love

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
If a dog were your teacher, you would learn stuff like:

When loved-ones come to me, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout... run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

And MOST of all...
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.