Comings and Goings

In other news, we note the inevitable changes in the pack over the last two years.

January 2023 started with this adorable puppy, who went to a great home, where he is now called "Snorro", international dog of mystery!

After that brief but rewarding event there was a string of deaths...

2010 - 2023-01-11: Stella had to be put down, with a mouth full of cancer and swollen organs. She was an independent spirit in need of some assistance when we met her, and was really good company.

2013 - 2023-02-08: Roxy died of cancer peacefully here at home. She went in to the vet's the same day Stella had to be put down and was diagnosed, we were giving her meds to fight it. We don't know how old she was (nor Stella), they both came to us full-grown and in crisis, were cured of heartworm and lived with us for many years. We loved them and miss them.

2015 - 2023-02-22: June had to be put down, another mouth full of inoperable cancer, like Stella. She could've gone on for a few months in her drooling, grouchy old age but we decided it was enough suffering. I cannot express how hard this was... miss my running buddy (she's the one on the right, with her sister, Zoila, who is still with us).

2014 - 2023-12-06: Cancer claimed sweet kitty Cali, the most affable of Sugar's kittens.

2009 - 2023-12-09: Three days after Cali, loud, joyful Maggie had to be put down. She hadn't been able to get up on her own for several days, was blind and had lost enthusiasm for everything. We miss her dearly.

2009 - 2023-12-26: Goodbye to our sweet, serious Jack. Some dogs gray gracefully, others sprout silly eyebrows. Love him.

2011 - 2024-04-05: Four months into the new year we lost Daisy. Just a few weeks before we could feel she was slowing down, but she still had her little light and she never stopped letting it shine. One evening in March I remember walking to the kitchen and having her just appear besides me, so joyful to accompany me, and I thought: "Remember this. It's an honor that she's so proud and happy to be with you." So it was.

2014 - 2024-05-30: Another of Sugar's kittens died (how we'll always think of them even though it's been a decade), this time Falafel. Like Cali he had some kind of cancer and had to have one ear removed a year ago, but he gave it a good run afterwards and outlived expectations. He's buried next to Cali, out by the Jeep. Post-op Falafel catching some rays on the roof:

2009 - 2024-06-07: Elewah finally had to be put down, she couldn't get up and had been through a string of bad nights. She was with us 15 years, and was probably 2 years old when we met, so that's a long run for a dog. We miss her, will always miss her.

2009 (Lily), 2016 (Perl) - 2024-06-15: A doubly sad day: both Perl and Lily went to the vet in bad shape and neither came back. Perl always had problems, we used to say she was made of spare parts; her sister, Ruby, is still fine, but Perl's kidneys finally crashed and there was nothing to be done. Lily had long been suffering with some urinary ailment which was finally dianosed as an inoperable tumor in her bladder. Left is young Perl, right is Lily.

2024-06: Somewhere during the month of June, an errant pregnant dog we now call Nell made her appearance and unceremoniously produced 10 pups, out in the shelter we have arranged for the Jeep/Street dogs. Two died early on, leaving eight, four of which found homes around their 8th week. The remainig four are still with us, still looking for good homes.

2010 - 2024-07-24: Monkey had to be put down. I am not strong enough to write down what the last few months have been like, how important Monkey was to us both, I just can't.

2011 - 2024-09-14: Our buddy Steve McQueen died peacefully in the night. He had not been doing well for a few days. He was good looking, not so much with the smarts, kinda skittish but a sweetie and he loved his siblings, two of whom still remain with us after all these years.

2011 - 2024-10-17: Had just "finished" this post last night and then Linda took a turn for the worse, was all of a sudden very weak and listless and just died next to Roni a few minutes ago. She was an amazing, awesome presence who could fill a room with her razzle dazzle. She was 13.

Our flag means dogs

I regret the lack of updates this year. Stress and depression have sucked the life out of me. I'm mustering all my oomph to cover the basics.

Halloween 2021 brought us Pumpkin, thanks to the concern of Roger and Chris (way up North at Playa Maya). She was in rough shape, emaciated, mangy and with more mouth polyps than I've ever seen in a dog.

 

Poor girl on day one. Greetings from Reina and Lenny.

After a few days she was already looking less bony and mangy.

Look at that pretty face.

 

Within months she was barely recognizable and had a passel of playmates.

Valentine's day Pumpkin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rita passed Dec 7 2021. Our beautiful girl had a life plagued by allergies and immunity issues. Fun, smart and beloved, she follows her parents and all but one of her siblings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sisters Rita, Bean and Posey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Molly died unexpectedly on Xmas eve 2021, a difficult way to end the year. An old shot of her galumphing in the salt flats.

 

We said a final goodbye to PuppyG Jan 2 2022, a difficult way to begin the year. Old shot of her leading Molly and gang on a walk.

 

Goodbye to our good friends PuppyG (nee Gowron) and Rita.

One of the last shots I have of PuppyG, getting some sun with Xmul.

Carter turned one and loves Pumpkin.

Lex watches Pumpkin play with Carter.

 

 

Sweet boy Lex passed in November. 2011-2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old shot of Lex and his sister Amber.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dec 07 2022 we said goodbye to Posey.

 

 

She was the last of Gracie's pups. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old shot of me and Posey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My pal Otto 2007- Dec 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent shot of Otto sleeping surrounded by his pack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The year wasn't all loss, we gained two new pals. Buttons turned up during a thunderstorm in June. She is full grown and had recently weened pups.

This moldy potato appeared in July, setting off a cycle of mange in the pack that took months to eradicate! Little jerk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I kid, he's swell! Fang has grown into a handsome fellow and we've all recovered.

Trying to get the newbies in one shot is a challenge. 

Fang and Buttons on the last day of 2022. 

Happy New Year !!

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!