What You Can Do About Animal Rescue

I tend to start things I cannot complete.  My dedication to animal rescue often feels like one of these things. (so does my gutter cleaning, it just started raining....) BUT all is not lost for those who feel like I do, I've had this link up on my browser for a week about what YOU can do to help the animal rescue cause.  Bichon Information Station is just a great website in general, the only drawback is you will probably feel a great need to cuddle an animal soon after viewing it but that is OK, trust me.  Anyway if you do NOTHING ELSE about animal rescue go to the first link and see what you can do easily and quickly.  I blog, tweet, and facebook about animals in need and animals in general and try to help raise awareness.  Not everyone wants to do this or can, I can't foster and am strictly prohibited from adoption by my better half (I will NEVER give up) so I do what I can this way.  I also donate to the local thrift shop that benefits the local animal shelter and purchase items from the store.  Not much but I always tell myself it's better than nothing.  Then I cuddle the dog again.

He looks like he needs cuddled doesn't he?  Sometimes I think he is saying Jeeze, would she just let me sleep??? LOL

So WHY haven't I been blogging?  Well for one I'm lazy.  The main reason is I'm like MAKING MONEY writing for the internet.  You read that right, making money, some days it feels like $2 an hour but sometimes it's $20 an hour.  The latter doesn't happen that often and it's probably more like $10 an hour but sitting on my rear in my warm house or in my husbands truck and piddling @ the computer is not brain surgery nor do I sweat or have to deal with people, sorry I got burnt out doing that with my husbands business.  I'm also writing a few articles for a new site that is looking for excellent writers, they are something like hub pages.  Right now you are saying why is she going on and on about this?  Because I wrote an article about Bichons!!  Then I wrote another article about brushing a Bichon Frise.  The reason I wrote this article is because many people won't get a bichon because they are afraid of the maintenance involved with this breed.  I've had to chase errant dogs that got off their leashes, cleaned up after dogs that refused to be house trained, replaced carpet, woodwork, and phone cords that had been chewed; all dogs require some maintenance and take time.  It's a fact of life most things that are worthwhile require some maintenance or dedication.  Bichons require grooming but give love and adoration in return. 

If you are bored, or want to know more about these subjects, or are considering writing for the internet, go check out these pages.  They are something like hub pages, logbud.com doesn't provide immediate pay.  Textbroker.com is one of those that pay immediately or at least twice a month.  If you have some idea where a comma goes in a sentence they will pay less than one cent a word.  I'm above that but they are tough on grammar and sentence structure.  In fact I'm sure they would simply CRINGE @ this blog entry.... LOL

Presidential Pets and A VERY SPECIAL Bichon Frise

When President Obama was newly elected I wrote a bit about his choice of a puppy, and whether it would be a Portuguese Water Spaniel or a Labradoodle. 
Then of course the Presidential family has chosen Bo.
This nice lady sent me this link yesterday to a blog entry about Presidential Pets.  She writes that pets give comfort and normalcy to the presidential family.  This is true of all families and people I think.  I was fretting over paperwork and filing, what to take to the basement, what needed to stay up on the first floor, why should I keep any of it on the first floor if I could not FIND anything.......and then my bichon, Dispatch, was hungry. He's had his eating problems in the past.  He is picky and the food bowl "scares" him.  I went into the kitchen to tell him it's OK to eat and finally (DUHHHHH) got him a heavier bowl and a mat that does not let stuff slide around and he ate.  By himself.  I didn't have to be there.....I used to have to watch him eat, hold the food bowl, or listen to him BEG for me to do these things.  Or give up and feed him on the floor.  Kibble, not canned food on the floor----- do you think I'm an idiot-----don't answer that.  The point of this story is I forgot all about my problems with rearranging things that really don't matter because of Dispatch.  Then I could really focus and blog instead of filing....NO, I have a plan for rearranging paperwork and am not stressing anymore.  This is what pets can do for us.  Besides sit on the lace tablecloth in the dining room and look like "huh me? What am I doing wrong?"

Last but not least if you live in California or one of the neighboring states and have a  place in your heart for a  very special little bundle of Joy, meet Petey.  He is available @ Bichon FurKids Rescue, along with other Bichons of course.  You see in this photo Petey  is laying down, there is a reason for this.  He was born with a partially unformed back leg and when he was 6 or 7 the other hind leg became tired.  His family turned him into a shelter but he was afraid, and of course he wondered why his little world had turned upside down.   BUT Petey being a special Bichon got a cart after he was was taken in to foster by Bichon FurKids Rescue.  He can use it on grass even!  There is a video on his page, be sure to see it, you should see Petey go. If you've ever seen a Bichon in action you can imagine how glad Petey was to be able to run again!  Petey is one fantastic little dog who is available for adoption. 

Charitable Trust, Help Save Unwanted Bichons

As you can see a Bichon Frise takes rather easily to being spoiled.  They are also climbers or @ least mine is.  I discovered a new charity on facebook that helps these little angels (those are NOT horns growing out of his head, it's a crooked halo!) Help Save Unwanted Bichons takes in, vets, trains, and rehomes these little clowns. 
You can also do a search on facebook to find other resources to help these little fluffballs and other dogs.
I also came across some excellent online resources about dealing with the loss of a pet.  This one from Home Vet is wonderful.  Another is available at Helpguide.org.

Dog Does The Butt Bounce and Goosestep

Repeat after me, TC is a BADDDDDD blogger, a horrible blogger. But you see TC sort of has a job writing, of all things. Believe it or not they even pay her. She is getting a disease from this though, talking in the 3rd person disease is the correct name she believes....
Her dog is only slightly less crazy as you well know. He is doing his usual thing here...enjoy.
TC writes much better when being paid but she has been writing instructions about using a command line and a terminal window......

How To Relax Doggie Style

You have to have a willing Daddy to do this, otherwise a bit of AC blowing the curls around and we are ready for our morning snooze.

Then mama goes and takes too many pictures and I feel forced to actually move my head?

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I Hepped Mama

Just some pictures of me seeing what mama was doing in the back of the truck and then Daddy thought I should stay with him?  They said something about me keeping them entertained?  I got a new harness see?  JUST like my old one only not chewed on and not dirty!

Then I "hepped" mama clean the trailer, she laughed and laughed and then got some stinky spray and kept spraying my feet and wiping them with paper towels a whole bunch. She said they were much worse but she didn't think of getting a picture?  Mama was going to cut my face hair last night but Daddy likes to tell me I don't have to listen to her and call me and I hid under his arm and peeked out @ her.  Then he says she spoils me?  I don't think I'm spoiled by either one actually.

I Am Easily Pleased?

Today it was almost like I was given a gift.  My husband was getting a load of mangoes on his truck and since we were the only truck in the lot I decided to walk Dispatch the Bichon Frise.  I noticed the man @ the dock talking to my husband and I'm thinking oh no they don't want dogs on their lot but I'd made up my mind to walk with Dispatch for a bit.  Dis kept saying "It's HOT you old bag, are you NUTS, lemme go back to the truck.  OOOCH ouch, there's stickers out here too".   All of this was said by dirty looks and tiny whines of course. 

Whines from the dog and not the man on the dock, I couldn't hear him.

My husband got back in the truck and told me what was said when we were pulling away.  The man had a pair of bichons whom he had bred and had one  puppy left and @ first was trying to sell to us.  Then after he saw Dis walk around a bit he asked if we entered dog shows with him.  My husband told him no we bought him as a poodle.  Granted this guy was just a back yard breeder but he said he wished HIS bichons looked and acted like that.  He remarked on Dispatches cockiness and how he strutted around but listened to me.  (I always blame the cockiness on his human Daddy because they have the same attitude @ times but maybe that's just me?)  The dock man then asked if Dispatch was neutered (yes) and then asked if we would be interested in taking his dog and TRAINING IT!! 

We didn't take the puppy but it was great that someone thought Dispatch was that well behaved.  The jumping out of the truck into my arms trick and the standing up on command so I don't have to lean over so far always gets them.   We don't use a leash, he doesn't want to get more than 5 feet away unless he is pooping so I always say I've got an invisible leash.  Skeeter was trained the same way and Mugsey was on his way to being trained to walk without a leash.  We really don't "train" other than the sit and the lay down and roll over thing which we are still working on.  We talk and use hand gestures unconsciously and Dis catches on, I can't say this is just a bichon thing though.

Of course the dock foreman didn't see the scratches on my legs from Dispatch wanting up when his nails were too long, he never heard him scream like he was being killed when he was being ignored or left in a vehicle or @ home, and he never saw him after a cat.  Those are just little things he does that might not be considered good doggy behavior. 

So I've been telling Dis all afternoon what a well behaved show quality bichon he was, maybe it's a teeny lie but he believes me.

Pictorial Essay Of An Old Dog Learning NEW Tricks

Dispatch never has learned the stay command too well.  I mean he would stay.  As long as you were saying stay constantly and maybe threw some sternness in there and didn't like get more than a few steps away.  After that all bets were off.  We would work on it but it just never did seem to get done.  Dispatch is 7 now.  Due to him being in the truck with Daddy and I and he having to be like TOUCHING one of us @ all times we thought it was necessary the other day to make him stay. 

Actually what brought it on was he went to sleep by himself in the bunk because he was so exhausted...he doesn't sleep while the truck is moving.   He's saying how could you do this to me, don't you miss me?

If I act all cool an nonchalant they will let me go right?

Hey you over there in the drivers seat?  See me? 

Oh come on, I know you see me, I've stayed for like 2 minutes......

This is getting ridiculous.

That's it, make a bridge so I can walk over to your lap Daddy.....

What do you mean you were just kidding and I have to STAY?

Hey you, there in the back with the flashy thing?  DO SOMETHING!!!

He now knows what stay means, he is none to happy about it however.

New York City Bichon Needs Adoption Now!

See this wee tiny baby?  He needs adopted and he needs adopted NOW and I'm in TX and can't do anything about it.  If you knew the hour or two we spent playing with our Bichon Dispatch whom we have had for 7 years and whom growls @ us when we pet him with our feet or play growls sometimes....he's a little white dog with dull teeth.  Anyway euthanizing a bichon is like euthanizing a rabbit because it kicks when you pick it up, basically not much difference.  Or drowning a kitten because it scratched you.  Kittens scratch.  PLUS this dog has shown signs of fear but not agression!!!!  Even if the dog is aggressive it just needs some training.  PLEASE??????
This is what it said on facebook where I got this:
Scheduled to be Euthanized Tomorrow, July 30, 2010 Beyond tomorrow, this dog will no longer be around! PLEASE Call to Foster or Adopt SNOWBALL!!! "Snowball" A867130 – 5 yr. neutered Bichon Frise. OS, 13.5 pounds. Owner said... this dog can become aggressive w/ strangers and other animals (yet showing no aggression at shelter). Needs an appropriate placement who can manage his issues.
neutered male ~ 5 yrs
obese
slightly matted very tense , fearful
showing no signs of aggression
718-272-7203 - Press 0 for operator Shelter is in NYC
I don't know anyone actually in the city, do you? 
email tcscarlet at yahoo dot com with any questions and I will try to find out or direct you to original poster on facebook......

What New Form Of Alchemy Is This?

Hey this is Dispatch the Bichon. I's writing to youse cuz my mama? I'm thinking she may have lost it. Either that or she's like a Magician? I dunno, you be the judge. See she gets these bowls yesterday, this usually means food except for the one she puts the green stuff  in and throws it out, I've heard her tell the rugrats to take out the compost?  Anyway she goes and gets these two bowls and sits on the COUCH in the family room.  (you can see the family room is a workroom, old garage, tv room, rumpus room...thus the slime and laser/digital thermometer on the table, mama made me say that...)  The BOWLS on the COUCH have me puzzled in the first place, usually the BOWLS stay in the kitchen.  Little bowls come out for them to taunt me with eating ice cream in front of me but not the BIG BOWLS!

So then she's sitting there and granted the old broad is getting a bit long in the tooth but I thought surely she hadn't lost it yet.  I mean she remembers to feed me most of the time and can usually figure out what I'm so plainly telling her but this has me buffaloed.    See that's ME the ball of fluff watching MY MAMA take bits of green stuff like grass and puts part of it in one bowl and breaks the others in half or 1/3 and puts them in the other bowl?  I TRY AND TRY and smell but she has gone nuts?  I mean even strawberries and cantaloupe smell good to eat but this is insane and I'm a pretty good judge of insane.  And she is playing with them on the couch!  I hears her tell Daddy that it's been WAY too long since she has had a garden (my Aunt Peggi brought these green things, thanks Aunt Peggi, now my mama is NUTS!!)  because I'm 7 and have NO idea what snapping beans is all about.  Beans I know. That's the nasty part of Chili I think?  These are green mama!! Get a grip would ya!  I mean I try and try to figure out what she is doing, I stop short of actually EATING the raw green things but my gosh man they are right there in the BOWLS on the couch, I smell and paw and nose but there is not a clue to be found, the bowls just hold the green stuff, I try to lay down and can't, I'm entirely too upset, my food source and ability to look out tall windows has gone off her ROCKER!!  She is using the same BOWLS that hold real food like hamburger or chocolate cake batter, I don't get to eat the batter but it smells divine!!  I finally just gave up and let her go about her madness.  Pretty soon she takes the stuff in the kitchen and after awhile brings the things back to Daddy and he eats them with butter.  The butter I can understand, I'm pretty fond of butter but WHY would you sit and play with green stuff on the couch?  Still has me puzzled?
(note from Mama, the slime and the laser thermometer were Daddies, he was trying to expand his "pile" by the recliner...the slime and the thermometer left soon after that..., if I left him to his own devices we would have a welder and a jack under the tv in the family room.)

Aromatheraphy For Dogs

I'm a skeptical person sometimes.  Sometimes I'm Pollyanna.  I was approached to do a review for aromatherapy candles for dogs.  I was COMPLETELY skeptical.   Once again sorry for the video quality, donate for a new camera for MOI!! LOL

Guess what?  The candles seemed to work!  And my dog is like not the worlds easiest to fool either (he doesn't do dog treats) but he did seem to calm down when the candles had been lit for awhile even under stressful situations (for him) such as the vacuum or someone coming to the door.
I used the Clay Sage scents and Lavender, I liked the Lavender the best.  These are made by ecoPure Naturals, an OurPet's brand, the website is www.ecopurenaturals.com.  These candles are also for cats.
Like I said I was skeptical, especially for dogs but I do know how the scent of Jasmine can take me back to being a teenager, some lemon reminds me of grandma's house......

In The Proper Spirit After Clearing Your Mind Of Impure Thoughts

I had to explain to someone Monday that Dispatch the Bichon Frise will only eat meat if you clear your mind of impure thoughts and offer the meat in the proper spirit.  The man was in a neighboring office of the one we were visiting and brought in some dog biscuits to have Dis sneer @ with utter distaste tempt Dispatch with.  I told him there was no way Dis would eat the dog biscuit unless he had gone without food for a few days and then I wasn't sure.  I also explained about the meat.  You think I'm kidding about the meat?  I'm not.  It's best if you focus on the dog and really want him to eat the meat.  If he thinks another animal might get it he will take it right away but otherwise it takes a few tries and he has to stomp off in the other room and then come back and decide he might show his benevolence by humoring your pathetic attempts to feed him.  I'm not kidding.  The ice cream I had this afternoon?  Now that was worth begging for, ice cream is life blood itself but must be offered in the proper spirit too.

Sentiment, Memory, Family, and Dogs

I was going to clean off my chest of drawers the other day, it's from an old waterfall set of furniture, I seem to have had this chest of drawers most of my life, (maybe that's why I'm so enchanted by new furniture?).  I thought what do I take down?  The tennis balls the dog trys to bring to bed once in awhile and I have to hide by putting them up high.  The white stuffed dog?  Bath and Body Works had these for sale in Feb 2004, Dispatch the bichon was a little over 6 months old.  The dog keeps dragging the tiny teddy bear to bed that lies beside the dog to bed with us too.   The picture frame and picture?  My daughters with an early Missouri version of Bichons (actually poodle and small sheltie/border collie mixes), the picture was taken in the early 80s if not 1980.  So I dusted the chest of drawers, the bracelet the older daughter gave me lays on top and my only pair of earrings I like.  The bracelet says - sometimes the best things in life are often unseen, a moment of serenity, a feeling of security, all this and more you've given to me.  The dresser scarf was my mothers, I think it's silk, not sure it's supposed to be a dresser scarf but I latched onto it not long after I was born and declared it mine.....The lamp?  The little blond girl in the picture broke the globe once when throwing balls in the house, she has heard about it ever since so I don't think she throws balls in the house anymore....The candle came from Ft. Lauderdale when we lived in the tiny camper cleaning up after Wilma....
I left everything exactly as it was.

Dispatch Practices Leave It

Happy 4th or actually 5th EVERYONE!!  Dispatch is horse and barks like a little girl (no offense to all the little girl dogs out there) from being in his crate and telling me he did NOT want to be in his crate @ his Daddies family reunion, OK his human daddy, his real one hasn't had a family reunion that I know of....
OK here's the gist of the whole thing, watch Dis leave it, I told ya he was a good dog and ya didn't believe me!!

Daily Dispatch The Bichon And CSN

As you can see Dispatch can help in using a mac computer too.. we still thought he was a poodle @ this point, not a terribly handsome poodle.  He's always had a thing about furniture as has his mother....

This was taken in August of 2005, as you can see Dispatch does sit on couches too, the back preferably.

Dispatch and I LIKE furniture, in fact I have folders on most of my computers that are labeled furniture or new furniture. 

I really like the quality of this Bedroom Vanity and the appearance.  It would go perfectly in my bedroom that is 1970s ranch meets art deco and primitive...I know it sounds funky but it's really nice.
If you have lots of children in your life they have a bedroom vanity for them too.  Check out their free shipping on some items....just check em out if you have time.

Anyway these are REALLY nice people @ the CSN stores.
AND they have 200+ stores!!

Skeeter Video, She LIVES! Old Terrier

Here are two videos I shot last night of Skeeter, the incredible old terrier dog.  Her story is here and here.  I thought I ran over her, I did run over something, may have been her tail but I think it was her, she was under my wheel on the car and I felt a little bump, I let the car idle for a minute before I took off, I'm wondering if she was that deaf, she's been weirder than usual since then.  I tried to feed her cereal and milk and sausage, I know not the proper food for a sickly dog but @ her age it's got to be easy to eat and good.  She still hates me.


You have to remember this dog waits till I get on the riding lawnmower and then runs in front of me about 20 ft like I'm chasing her, or she used to, I doubt if she does that anymore.  I swear she does this because we live by the highway and people can say look @ that horrible person chasing that POOR little black dog on the riding lawnmower....
Skeeter is a survivor, Dispatch is the only dog who has lived while we've had Skeeter and we've had 4 other dogs.
I've got a CUTE picture of a bulldog and a baby on animalsthatgivepause.com .
AND there's a story about why I hide things from my husband on Tresa's Blog .

Dirty Dog

It was Monday, Monday morning to be exact. Not only was it Monday and time to rage against the machine again but it was raining. Normally the dog does not DO rain. He did this morning.

So before I even got dressed it was bath time for the dog.  He had also discovered something brown and decidedly fragrant.
So evidently I was a little harsh with the brushing and scolding because he wasn't taking brushing well.  Trust me the bichon was not really yelled @ even.  I just hold his head and say "look @ me, aren't you ASHAMED of yourself" while giving my best I am extremely peeved and don't know what I'm going to do mommy look when he growls.    So he quits growling and grovels under my neck so I PLEASE won't give him that horrible mommy look anymore until I have to change what I'm brushing and then we repeat the whole process.  Probably not acceptable doggie behavior but that's how we do it.

So I'm on the computer writing or looking @ how stuff is selling on ebay after the brushing  (countryjunque go check it out soon)   and I look over and THIS is what I see.  You see he never lays under this bench but I suppose he was hiding and invisible?  He is extremely peeved himself.  Then we graduated to this.....

Sitting by the back door on the grandkids sweatshirts they left.  I do believe he is saying just let me outside crazy woman away from you you crazy woman, did I mention you are crazy because you gave me a bath first thing this morning and it's MONDAY for dogs TOO!!
Or @ least that's what I think he said?
I didn't let him out, still wet and raining.  He has gotten mad before after I groom him if I scold him, sometimes he goes and sits in the driveway and looks toward the highway and waits for "daddy" to come home to rescue him from crazy woman.
All is forgiven now though.......I think........

Bichon Video That Daddy Doesn't Know It's A Video

The dog dances, walks, pirouettes, he does it all.  What is funny is the man holding the bone (Daddy is what we call him though no blood relation to the bichon or Mama for that matter?) doesn't know we are doing a video and he is waiting for the flash.  Silly Daddy....

Daddy has on his oldest jeans because we've been working on the yard (surprise surprise, that's extreme sarcasm BTW).  You can see the lawn @ Florence View and other interesting things.

Bichon Frise Gets Crazy When He Goes To Bed

 Dispatch is my Bichon Frise as you can see, he gets REALLY excited when we go to bed. He attacks my feet, he attacks my hands, he hears things and barks. He gets so excited he chokes but goes to the EDGE of the bed to cough because he has been taught not to spit up on the furniture if he can help it. I swear.

Bichon Frise Demands Something

This is Dispatch first demanding, loving, jumping, demanding, goose stepping, loving, jumping, just watch...