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

Lil'squirts: Tupo,Coco &Nico

We've been calling the 3 newbies the little squirts, though they won't be little for long. Most of these shots are from January.
Tupo out for a walk with Linda and Tito.

Tupo fronts a group shot.

 
Coco is lovely.

 
Nico couldn't be sweeter.

Early January shot of Tupo.

 
Nico and Otto.

Monkey and Tito with Coco on one of her first outings.

Nico!

Coco gets used to being on a leash.

Linda watches Coco and Monkey.

Taking a break.

Tito, Henry and Zasu leave the puppies at home and go for an old dog stroll.

Tuesday sleeps with one eye open.

New year, new plan.

This new year did not come to me with its customary flash of optimism.  
It is still raining.  Almost daily.  This has increased the difficulty of keeping so many dogs in a small space tenfold.  Poop raking has become a serious strength and conditioning routine!  That is a good thing, I suppose, as I have been feeling puny after an injury laden year.  This weather has been great for the spiny grass (xmul).  It has been making walks miserable, especially for the shaggy dogs (and me, the designated xmul-remover).

Sisters Blue and Eve wait for the rain to pass.

I may finally have to break down and import a case of Natures Miracle pee odor remover -damn the price!   Except that as of this month, pet food is to be taxed.  That is going to hurt!  We go through about 100 lbs of kibble a week.

Archie enjoys some morning sun.

More beach houses are going up and we are feeling hemmed in.  With no prospects of compatible volunteers on the horizon (we've temporarily removed our Helpx profile), we have little hope of making much progress at the alternative site.  We need a plan.
Land prices on the coast are currently outrageous, so it's unfeasible to consider adding on to our existing lot.  The same money it would cost to widen our lot by 9 meters could buy us hectares a few miles inland.  We are doing our best to save to buy land.  At least, being vegan in the Yucatan makes it easy to save on eating out!  We've literally eaten out once in the past 2 years.

Sweet, strange Greta wants a belly rub.

Amber makes the most of the 1st sunny day in weeks.

Hazel digs a hole while Amber jumps through the sand she kicks up.

Amber pauses. 

PuppyG supervises Merci's hole digging technique.













Amber and PuppyG play.
 











PuppyG and Merci.

Spot (the cat) will be 18 this month! 
 

The sweet little black and white stray is now a being called Roxy -because she's extremely nice and very brave, just like Roxanne Modafferi!  I hope she shares the same fighting spirit, as she has been diagnosed with Ehrlichiosis and late stage heartworms.  We've begun treatment and it has been unsurprisingly tough on her.  There is no guarantee that she'll recover, but at least she's inside, out of the cold and wet. 

Roxy (who is obviously good with other dogs and cats) and overlord Spot.  When her treatments are finished, we'd love to find her a home of her own. 

'Cold' weather means more dogs love hammocks.  

A tired me, ready to watch a movie -note my Elewah pillow.  

Full crew in my hammock...

and under it.

Stella can jump in on her own, but Tuesday prefers to be helped.  

This is how she asks for a boost.

The Long Rain

"The rain continued. It was a hard rain, a perpetual rain, a sweating and steaming rain; it was a mizzle, a downpour, a fountain, a whipping at the eyes, an undertow at the ankles; it was a rain to drown all rains and the memory of rains." 
Ok, it hasn't really been that bad, I just loved Ray Bradbury as a kid!
No hurricanes or typhoons so I've got little to complain about.
A big mantis suns on the clothesline. 

Helpxer Martina stayed and helped out for a few weeks.  A thoroughly uncomfortable season to visit, but Linda and Stella are always happy to have a new friend! 
Because of  Martina chatting with a few soldiers at the base near us, we were able to have a dog that lives there spayed.  Unsurprisingly, she also had Ehrlichiosis.  Fortunately, one of the soldiers agreed to give her the necessary antibiotics everyday for 3 weeks.  Hurray, she is now healthy and infertile!  Thanks Martina, for everything!
Also, thanks to the people who have donated, through Martina as well as online.  Funds went towards a spaying, antibiotics and a new large bottle of Ivermectin.  Enough for hundreds of injections!

Crazy-eyed Pete claims a toy Martina brought.  

Good girls coming home on a morning walk -everybody cross the road together.

The destructo-duo of Hazel and Murci, best friends and partners in crime.

Hazel plays with her Zogoflex.
I can't say enough good things about their products! 
Most toys don't survive a week, but the Zogoflex toys are still fine nearly 2 years later ...and they float ...and are made of recycled materials! 

Siblings Reggie and Tuesday nap under my chair.

An injured young cormorant came to our gate a few days ago.  It couldn't fly and seemed to calmly be asking for assistance.  This is why it bothers me when people speed by in their vehicles.  It's a beach road, there is a lot of wildlife!  Slow down! 

The bird wasn't thrilled about having to go into a crate, but Sean insisted then took it to Semarnat to be treated and released.

This darling mamacita is always hanging around near our house.  We've grown very fond of her!  We've treated her for ticks/fleas and given her an injection of birth control.  It should keep her from getting pregnant for 6 months to a year; the poor girl needs a break!  Over the couple of years we've known her, she is usually pregnant or trailing puppies.

She's a great little dog. I'm guessing that she's 3 or 4. We would love to find her a loving home!

Nice dogs, nice light, random shot.
Too many to name, Hazel in front.