entropee

I'll tell you friend, the last couple of years have been more difficult than I'm comfortable admitting. The shit and sadness have weighed me down.

 

 

 

 

 

We can't afford to be sick at the same time, or for a long time, so Covid has added a new layer to our isolation. At my strongest it's all I can do to battle the kangaroo-sized dust bunnies and keep the yard relatively feces free. A global pandemic is the latest in a long list of complications.
Good morning to and from these knuckleheads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The year began with the loss of Osita on January 6th, a year after her mom Gracie and sister Blue. She was brilliant, funny and stubborn. 

Last photo taken of her, resting with Otto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sunset with George.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osita, Chester and Archie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 7 a tiny ferocious puppy found her way to our gate. She growled relentlessly when picked up and it took some time to win her over.

We named her Carter.

Newbie Carter reluctantly sitting on the swing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murci, Evo and Nina give her a sniff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At that time Evo was not doing well and it turned out to be a problem with his intestines. We tried everything, including surgery, but he faded away. Two months of vet trips and sleepless nights, but he didn't recover. He died on the 3rd of April. I don't have anything pithy or meaningful to say, I just miss him. His antics in the yard had been one of the bright spots of my days..
The last photo I have of him chasing insect shadows, his favorite pastime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreground is Aggie and Lenny, with Len sporting shaved spots from heart worm treatment.
Final photo of Evo, sitting in the sun, looking thin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've had multiple cases of heart worm treated this year. That entails 3 trips to the vet -when there is money and medicine available. We try to keep them on Frontline, but can't always afford it or find enough. The Mexican veterinary supply chain is a mystery. On the bright side, the tax on pet food could end next year. That would be a welcome change, as the dogs go through 1100lbs (500kgs) of kibble a month. 

Aggie (little shaggy abandoned in November) and Rocky (blue collar) were developing a fine friendship until it was spoiled by Rocky's mean streak. Aggie has not been open to overtures of reconciliation.

 

 

 

 

 

Rufus, our dear boy, passed away May 6th. 

The day he arrived, Feb 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best pals until the end. 

Rufus and his nephew Jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last photo I took of him, surrounded by family in the sunshine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carter was spayed mid-July. She did her best to complicate things, but everything turned out fine. 

Carter wearing the latest in bespoke post-surgery attire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug 29th we said goodbye to Eve, another of Gracie's pups. 

Eve (top step) and her papa Chester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eve with her sister Blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue and Eve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 9th we said goodbye to Alice, with us since 2007. She was Sean's steadfast pal and a bad ass. Her passing marks the end of an era. 

Al with her sisters and Henry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging out with Osita.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entertaining puppy Blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 19th we lost Nico, one of the mosquito shack puppies. A truly joyful dog who had just turned 6. Severely immune-compromised, she wasn't expected to live as long as she did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always at my feet (sometimes frustratingly so), life is a little lonely without her. 

The day she came home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Half grown and starting to lose fur.

Walking with Bette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apoquel improved her quality of life, but it could only hold back the tide for so long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me, Nico and Agnes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a long, heavy post and it's only October ...maybe next time I'll tell you a scary story ...ooooh ...about unsustainable development in an ecologically delicate 'protected' area... boo! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...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.