year's end ...on to the next

First and foremost, sincere gratitude to Markus, Angela and Lisa&Tim for donations! 

It's been a rough year, no lie. Too many of the photos I've taken this year were destined for the veterinarian. 
A sterilization clinic is in the works but life keeps getting in the way.

The last week has been spent bringing Brooklyn back from the brink; she ingested an unknown toxin, and we thought we were going to lose her. We did all we could but were expecting the worst. Happily, she has pulled through and is getting stronger. I don't want to speak too soon but we may actually end the year on a high note.

Since the last update we've lost a few more old friends. Inevitable but always difficult.
Chester was with us a long time, one of the 1st adult strays to join the troupe. He survived heart worm and was a smart and loving fellow.
Most recent picture of him, sleeping next to his daughter Blue

one of my favorite shots of Chester

 
another old favorite

Greta, our leibling. A slew of health issues and an indomitable spirit. 
An old shot of Greta playing with Monkey    

















showing wee Rufus the ropes
 












and one with Zasu (who is still alive and mostly well at 23)

We had to say goodbye to Mo.
Momo was sweetest of her sisters and outlived them both

 

One of my favorites of Momo, keeping an eye on me 













Xmul wasn't related but they were raised together and Mo loved her best

Mo was so happy to see Xmul the last time she came to stay -maybe she knew it was the last visit.

The youngest of our recently deceased was Zoot. He and his siblings showed up at the end of 2011 to irrevocably change our lives.

   

there will never be another like him

We lost him to aggressive skin cancer. He had survived and recovered from multiple surgeries but these last tumors were awful and we couldn't put him though any more.  
Better days, happy and covered in marmot poo

Rest in power and chaos friend

It hasn't all been loss. This month, Sean found 2 puppies at a nearby abandoned building. They spent a couple days with us, got baths, vaccinations, and new homes with families in town. 
An injured pup he rescued last week is being fostered (by the aforementioned Lisa and Tim) and will hopefully be going to a permanent home this week.
rescued and rehomed

lost and found

New life in the palm tree.
Two chicks, days before they left their impressively engineered nest.

One less friend. Our Twiggy was suffering from multiple health problems and had a rapid decline. This is one of the last pictures of her, fittingly between her sister/rival Xmul, and Xasu who helped raise them both.

JoJo, Rose and Rocky have been spayed, cones are off, and stitches are out.  Not a moment too soon for us; they were dangerous with those things on!

Rose is as big as Xmul now. All 3 of them are.

Xmul, Zasu, June, Murci and Tuesday. Zasu helped raise them all. 
She's 20 years old and always in the middle of things.

Excited faces...what could it be? Zasu knows.

Sean found her along the road by herself. She wasn't from any of the nearby houses and she nearly climbed into the Jeep on her own.

1st bath (and an undeniable resemblance to Twiggy).

We're calling her Brooklyn.

Big ears and markings like Twiggy, but not the ornery temperament. We were hoping for a break from the constant influx of dogs (and eventual spayings) but she has made sure we don't regret it by being an absolute sweetheart and the least trouble a puppy can be.

















 
Look at those long legs -she may end up Twiggy-sized. $o much dog food!

Rocky was her size a few months ago. 

 
She and the older pups play all day and half the night, with the occasional nap.

 
Brooklyn tries to get Monkey to join in... Monkey is not having it.