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

Mayday for turtles

All of the photos in this post were taken by Sean (with our sturdy, waterproof, slightly low-res camera).  The salt ponds and surrounding woods have steadily been drying out.  
Xmul and friends cross what's left of a pond.

On the mornings that Sean runs he goes about 8k, with 9 dogs, and takes drinking water ...for the dogs.  Everybody (except Sean apparently) loves to drink out of the bottle.
Tori, Xmul, Luna and Truman have a slurp.

Xmul, Tori and Murci have a drink.

Oh, Steve.  Not a thinker, but at least he's handsome.

Horrible!  Frankie next to a huge turtle shell, nowhere near the beach; obviously poached, gutted and dumped.

To the beach!  Tori, Linda and Twiggy.

 
Note the new house in the background; it is not only illegal (construction has been halted by an environmental agency for now), but also completely asinine to build so close to the water.  This entitled nonsense, including the compulsion of homeowners to remove beach scrub, and install street and porch lights, does more to harm the turtles than the poachers.

Two of our biggest fans of the beach, Rufus and Linda!

PuppyG is rocking a new haircut!

Linda, PuppyG and Rufus!

King George and Xmul.  George has been with us for a long time; he is worshiped and beloved by all the younger dogs. 

Late in the month, the flooded roads are drying up.  
Puddle jumping with Daisy,Tori, Mo, Chester (weird, he doesn't usually get wet ...maybe George knocked him in), George, and Bosha to the right.

Murci leads a happy group across land that was underwater a month ago.

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.

puppy maneuvers

Daisy is back to her happy, playful self!
She and Lucy love the beach.














Isn't Lucy a beauty? Checkout those lashes!














We had a visitor...I think it's called a mapache, but I'm not sure.
My first thought was rabies, but I think it was domesticated and dumped. It seemed inquisitive and wasn't afraid of dogs. I wish I had managed to trap it for a wildlife rehabber, but I'm no Steve Irwin. It had big teeth and I was more concerned about the safety of the dogs. I think this was what Gracie treed few years ago and she still has the scar on her throat to prove it.














If he comes back I'll try to trap him.














As for our own little beasties...
Xmul (pronounced shmool) is a riot and a handful!
Here she takes on Tuesday.














Xmul and Mo (I think).














Wrasslin' with her best pal Daisy.














Coming for the camera!!!


















The beach is usually deserted this time of year, perfect for doggy sorties. Chester and Tito in the lead.














The dogs think the best thing about the beach is dead fish to chew on!
(notice Twiggy's cute broken tail in the foreground.)














Finding the fish is easy ...the hard part is keeping it; competition is stiff!














Luna (I think) and her prize.














Xmul!


















Luna, her fish, and Daisy.














Mo and Twiggy.














All pups present and accounted for.