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Countdown to the apocalypse.

Hazel 's bum leg (from a break) is much stronger.  

She and Linda are inseparable.

Linda has finally lured Hazel into the water.  

She won't swim yet, but she'll wade.

She likes to run with the bigger girls too.

She's learned that it's sometimes wiser to stand still.
When Lucy and Lily speed past.

When she finds herself between Shirley, Zoot and a butterfly.

 

Tito stands aside for no one!

Tito runs along the property we've begun renting. 

We intend to turn it into a dog rehab/exercise area (and eventually spay/neuter clinic).  

It's a bit inland, near our house and on our main walking trail.

It was a shrimp farm; the existing building is odd and in extreme disrepair.  It's flanked by 2 large concrete pads with hangar type frames. There are concrete pools, at least one of which we're going to use as a swimming pool for dogs with hip problems. 
Lots of work to be done!

 

Otto has recovered from tendon surgery and can go on walks again!
Blue, Otto and Linda

A few random cute pairings:
Eve and Henry

 

Alice and Osita

   

Monkey and Blue

royal visitors

Stingless bees moved into our compost bin made from old tires!  According to Wikipedia, the Mayan word for this bee is Xunan kab, literally meaning "royal lady".  We've set aside 2 of the tires and they've settled in nicely.  After witnessing neighbors burn a wild hive a few years ago, we're feeling especially happy to host them.

We've been busy the last few weeks... Otto is nearly recovered from tendon surgery.  He went on his first walk in 2 months and had no problems! 
Surgery is done on the second of Rita's ears; her recovery is going well, though it is gruesome.  We hope this gives her some relief from her constant ear infections.
This was shaping up to be a happy update, lots of progress and a new adventure on the horizon -a perfect time to have the reality of life here become painfully obvious.

Strays are everywhere; we do what we can to help people who want to have their dogs (or strays) sterilized.  Last week Sean took 4 to the city, 3 to be spayed and one neutered.  I had hoped to have good news to report; instead, two of these dogs are dead from poison.  They were both the sweet, lovely, dogs of a fisherman who does a lot for strays.  A fair amount of time and energy went into making everything happen, and to have them killed by someone, just because they could, is heartbreaking.  This isn't the first or even second time his recently spayed dogs have been poisoned. 

I'd intended to let you in on our plans, but we're both crushed and I'm in no mood to promote Celestun.  Beach front encroachment and denuding goes unchecked, wild bird trapping is common, the plunder for profit of endangered sea turtle eggs is not unknown.  The common and haphazard use of poison (we've found piles of dead dogs dumped in the woods and seen more than one neighbor spraying weed killer on the beach) is distressing.  For a town that relies so heavily on eco-tourism, there is shit-all interest in the actual environment; maybe people won't miss the birds and turtles, but they'll care when the money disappears.  Humanity shoots itself in the foot, but not before annihilating everything else that moves.

Again with Hazel

Hazel has been with us a month.  
Lex,Hazel and PuppyG

She's a happy little dog.

Walks are great fun! 

Hazel and her best pal Linda. 

  

Everyone but Hazel loves the water 
(including the adolescent flamingos in the background).

It's the only time Reggie will leave her side.

Even Linda's enthusiasm can't convince her.

Linda is happiest soaking wet and covered in goo.

l-r Lucy, Hazel, Tito, Lily

heading home -Hazel's 1st walk.

Buddy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Sean for our private journal and re-posted here:

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

"Buddy died of renal failure at the vet's office. I had taken him in on Saturday when he was obviously not doing well. Dra. Sandra said that it is likely that the encephalitis that took him down when we first met him had consequences for his kidneys that could not be overcome, even by him. He was irritating and lovable, loud and affectionate. Roni poured herself into his recuperation early on; we both spent sleepless nights in the bodega with him as he was chased in circles by his invisible demons but Roni especially took it up even when we were both beginning to think it was hopeless. He turned the corner and had a nice retirement with us; it seemed like every day he would amaze us with something new he couldn't do the day before. We both loved him and miss him."

Hazel

This little sweetheart talked Sean into bringing her home.

Hazel less than 2 weeks ago:

I think she's 3 or 4 months old.

Linda has her on a strict exercise regime of running stairs,

...tug of coconut husk

and wrestling.

Amber joins in, Molly does not.

Hazel, Lily and Ginger.

All legs and attitude.

Xmul loves puppies.

She is thrilled by Tito.  Posey has seen it all before.

Two Aztec parakeets keep an eye on things from a neighboring sea grape.

easing into autumn

This time of year there are flamingos in the nearby salt ponds.
We keep our distance and Lucy pays them no mind.

Sweet Otto is recovering from surgery to fix a torn ligament.  

It will take a couple of months, but we're hoping for a full recovery.

top-bottom: Gracie, Otto, Lily and Frankie (taken a day before surgery)

Shirley, Bette,Lex and Linda

Amber, PuppyG, Mega and Posey

Amber loves Reggie.  Xmul and Tuesday take a break.

TheTribe play 'attack Xmul' -all in fun.

Xmul hilariously puts the run on Chester.

Luna, Xmul and Mo

Luna

Zoot photobombs Jack.

Sisters Mo and Twiggy

Pretty PuppyG recently turned 4.