Auld Lang Syne

The last 12 months or so have aged me in dog years.
Since the last post we've said goodbye to 3 more friends.
 

George and Gracies' only boy, Truman Chapotle, passed at the beginning of November. He was an awesome dog. 

Truman with little Willy a few years ago

 

a little angel

 

smiling in the sunshine with Zasu

 

Archie had his last trip to the vet early December. 

He was our most vigilant protector of the yard

 

He was brilliant, silly and a great friend to many. 

Rolling in cow poo on a walk with Miles

 

Helping Shirley get comfy when she was new and not feeling well

 

My girl Tuesday is no more.

In her favorite spot at sunset

 

Lung cancer took her mid-November and I wasn't ready.

A few years ago -Zasu, me, Tuesday and Monkey

 

Archie, Bean, Reggie and Tuesday: loved and missed

 

Within hours of Tuesday's passing a man showed up with a wounded stray. The little thing was horribly matted and there was a lot of blood. As usual I didn't think to document it until we were well underway. That matted fur on her back was solid and infested.
Wounds dressed and getting a haircut

 

 

 

 

 

 

Considered calling her Wednesday (it was a Wednesday) but her name became Agnes. Still sedated, matted hair removed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A high-pitched bark and high maintenance coat are not my favorite but that isn't her fault. She's a young, rowdy goofball, busy unlearning an array of bad habits

 

Aggie is now healed and spayed. She likes sleeping in hammocks, barking and kicking ass. Playing with Joy

 

It isn't easy to lose old friends, but such sweet new friends help. 

Wishing everyone a hopeful new year. May we all have some good to help with the bad. 

A better photo of newbie Rhubarb's short legs and stubby tail

...to recap...

Since the last update we've had to say good-bye to a few old friends.  

Ziggy, Tito and Henry

 
The 3 girls dumped in February are now called Gilda, Jane and Joy. They are fun, sweet-tempered dogs.
Picture of Gilda from June 2018 (Jojo foreground).

Unfortunately Joy has hip problems which cause her significant pain and will need surgery. Despite this she is aptly named. 
Gilda and Joy attack.

Jane has had no health problems since her broken leg healed. 
Jane and Joy.

All 3 have been spayed -just in time to be big sisters. 
Jane and Joy play with the wee ones.

May 3 Sean returned from a day in Merida to find 4 abandoned puppies in the nearby bushes. The smallest of them did not survive. 

The remaining sisters are called Bindy, Biscuit and Boomer.
Bindy mid-May (she's part hippopotamus),

Biscuit (a pillow for Henry, early June),

and Boomer (mid-May) with Nico, Xmul, Sean and Murci.

It hasn't been all puppies, there were visiting bees

morning runs,

pitaya flowers,

then fruit.

Summer is a time of many milestones for us. July 29 was the 1st anniversary of finding 9 abandoned puppies; they are all happy, healthy, loved and sterilized. The occasion was marred by a street full of dead (poisoned) street dogs. They were not 'ours' but we knew and cared for all of them. We'd known some for years and the girls had been spayed. I'll spare you and myself a photo.

July 31 we brought in a stray and her 9 puppies. She had a burrow about a block away, in an open lot, where we'd been taking her food and water. It was a no win situation since we'd be worried to distraction either way -worried for their safety because of hot days, hard rain, and now a dog killer, but also worried for our sanity if they were to survive and fill the area with loud, hungry, fecund dogs. 
We'll be desperate for homes for them as soon as they're weaned!
She is unnamed, friendly and sensible.  

They are in a private pen. 6 females (+ mom) and only 3 males. 
Did I mention we're desperate to find them homes?

Less than a week later, Aug 6, we heard something unhappy nearby. It was this poor little fellow, all alone. He isn't even properly weaned but he's brave. We've named him Willy because we're so happy he's a boy. 

Aug 06, 2018

shaggy sisters

Days have been busy, due in no small part to the influx of abandoned young animals. Kittens dumped in January, rehomed through our vet.

February started with these 3 pups, all girls.

All adorable and good natured

though currently a bit scruffy.

The traditional bath photos:

She had a limp which turned out to be a fracture.

mandatory time outs

supervised play time

closely watched

Nina (of the 9) has been spayed and a few of her brothers have been neutered. We're swimming upstream but we're getting there.

These beauties are already responding to their mange treatments.