2020 thus far

Apparently I post annually now, which means there is a lot to cover. 

The year did not begin easily. We said good-bye to our friend Gracie on January 2, 2020. With us since 2007, she was a great friend and big part of our lives. 

Gracie's last day, spent in the sunshine with Wombat at her side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On February 14th we said goodbye to our Zasu. After more than 22 years together I may never grow accustomed to her absence. 

100s of photos to choose from, this one from a few years ago suits her

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two of Gracie's daughters

Bean 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Blue (airborne)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

...succumbed to their particular ailments soon after their Mom 

(Feb. 28 and March 25).

 

We had a few months before Ernie, who had been suffering from a neurological problem, had his final trip to the vet on July 11. 

Even when getting around was becoming difficult for him, he liked to be in the middle of the action

Tupo, Evo, Ernie Ruby and Rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An old favorite of Ernie, flanked by Archie and Otto

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many happy years with Ernie, Gracie, Bean, Blue and Zasu, too many to do them justice with a blog post. All brilliant, loving, vibrant dogs! The weight of their loss is crushing, but I'm glad to have known them and contributed to their lives. 

 

At the end of December we took in a puppy that was doing poorly. 

We named her Clementine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Lenny (still one of her best pals), Zasu and Biscuit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clementine and gang in January

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spayed and thriving, Clementine and Lenny in August

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In February a stray had puppies in the bushes near our house

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sean kept her well fed and found homes for her pups. She took up residence under our Jeep until he took her to be spayed. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with an advanced case of heart worm and had to be euthanized. She was a nice dog, we were sad we couldn't do more. 

Since then another pair of dogs have made themselves at home under the Jeep; we call them Belle and Loverboy.  This time our intervention came before puppies. 

The pandemic has compounded the time and stress of taking dogs to the vet. We're hoping, more than ever, that someone doesn't poison them. 

One of Clementine's litter mates took to spending time with the sterilized callejeros, so at the end of September we had her spayed as well. 

Rhubarb (pre-naming) escorts Sean on a swim

 

 

 

 

 

 

She made it clear she'd rather be inside than outside of the yard by chewing a hole through the fence, into the area where we kept her after surgery.

She's wonderful- with big paws and a stubby tail (you'll have to take my word on the tail until i get a better picture)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few pictures of Xmul for everyone who misses her:

with Pete

 

digging holes with her pals Reina and Willy

 

under the neem tree with Reina and Ramona

 

shots of some of the rest of the crew:

Evo chasing insect shadows

 

he and Rocky do this all day, come sun

 

or rain

 

sister Rosie is not interested in their game

 

Herbie, Rosie and Willy, all curly-tailed dogs

 

 

sisters Bindy and Biscuit

 

Nico, Jojo, Peaches (foreground)

Evo on bug watch, Clementine and Boomer (rear)

 

 

 

 

Far above the doggie hijinx, warbler chicks on their last day in the nest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

August 6th

One year since we found Willy and slightly longer since I've posted. 
Lots has happened and nothing has changed. 
Willy has grown into his wrinkly face by having an enormous head.
Photos are from Sept/Oct













Happy adoptiversary Willy Vanilly

We've had to say goodbye to Miles, Hazel, Shirley and Bette, some of the best friends I've had. This is the last photo I took of Bette, hanging out with pal Archie. She and Shirley both succumbed to cancer.

Mama is doing well, despite never really getting a name, and having heart worm. We started her treatment, but the medicine has not been available for months. She seems to be feeling great anyway and has made a lot of progress from callejera to house dog. 
Mama and Loretta

We have 'family' names for most of the sibling groups.  
No idea why, but we've been calling her pups the Jabronis.  
Here they are at half grown.
Tabelindatha (OK, it was a joke; it wasn't supposed to stay her name, but the joke's on us.) and Martha

Lenny

Bruce

Lenny and Anne

Elvis and Loretta

Bongo and Elvis

Sean found another sickly girl pup in November. She's now grown, healthy and sterilized. We call her Jewel -which we realized too late sounds an awful lot like Xmul. They also look alike. 
Jewel's homecoming

For a wonderful moment all dogs were sterilized (including Frida!)

...until July 6 when someone dumped Pippy.
She's been vaccinated and is growing like a weed. 
I have a new camera, just need to find the will to use it.

We don't keep track of what we do, but this is a rough tally of deeds done outside of our yard (callejeros and O.ther P.eoples D.ogs):  

Helped other dog caretakers
- with building supplies to improve their dog's area and prevent conflict with neighbors
- with check ins, when necessary
- with dog food, when necessary
- with veterinary advice. We are so far from a vet that many people have no way of taking an animal for care. When we don't know, we ask Dra Sandra.

30+ dogs treated for mange

4 dogs received chemotherapy. Unfortunately, like the heart worm treatment, this became unavailable. Many dogs suffer from this particular cancer and the physical effect is gruesome.  
Pelusa has recovered

 















5 dogs sterilized, 10+ dogs taken for vet care, including 2 hit by cars.

 















This is Natasha, she needed pins and plates in her crushed leg, and a long stay at the vet. Thanks everyone who donated for her care!