Barkley's Happy Tail

Love at first sight!

Just three days after he arrived at See Spot Rescued in Jersey City, Barkley went home with his furever mom! We are SO excited for Barkley, now named Benji (since he's a Basenji!), and his new mom. Best wishes to you, little buddy! We just know you've got a wonderful life full of laughter and love ahead! Huge thanks go out to Barkley's new mom, everyone at SSR, K9dergarten, the FODA transport crew, and the folks at DeKalb County Animal Services. All of these amazing people played a part in Barkley's bright future. These pictures (thanks to SSR photog and new mom's facebook) show just how grateful he is. PAWS UP for Barkley!

 

Settling in at home

Hanging out at K9dergarten

Look at my new jacket from Mom!

Let's go, Mom!

 

Bon Voyage, Barkley

Today marks the beginning of the rest of Barkley's exciting journey: he went on transport with Friends of DeKalb Animals this afternoon! Barkley is on the FODA van en route to Jersey City, New Jersey as I type this post. The rescue group that is taking him is called See Spot Rescued. SSR is a fabulous group! They are new to the DeKalb/FODA transport circle and we are all so excited to have them help us save more lives. SSR is so awesome...Barkley already has people scheduled to meet him when he arrives in NJ tomorrow! SSR, like Pets Alive, is dedicated to finding well-matched loving homes for the dogs in their program so that they can finally have the wonderful lives they deserve. I know Barks is destined for happiness, love, safety, and comfort. We are so excited for him!

 

No new fosters for us today...we are taking a week's break to rest and love on our own dogs for a bit. Next Saturday our adventure will begin anew. Who knows what lies ahead? The house is quiet without Barks, almost too quiet. He brought so much excitement and joy to our family and I know he will bless his forever home just the same. We're going to miss that crazy little love booger, but we know SSR has big plans for him. We love you, Broccoli! Congratulations on your new beginning!

Barkley boarding the FODA van

To learn more about Barkley's rescue group, visit: https://www.facebook.com/seespotrescued

Here are a couple bonus videos of Barkley. Enjoy!

Doggy Adventures: RC Car Fun

Barkley is really smart. Too smart. There isn't a doggy brain puzzler toy out there that can stump him. He needs something that will keep him actively engaged for more than five minutes. So, we picked up a cheapo remote control car. Barks was kind of afraid of it, but it definitely held his interest once we spiced it up by taping his stuffing-free fox toy to it. All the other dogs joined in on the fun before long, even Flea. Check out the video to see Barkley and friends try to figure out the RC Car. I have to point out that Barkley is the only dog not barking. You'll hear us call him Broccoli in the video...this is one of his many nicknames. You'll also see why we usually leave Flea out of the mix for these types of events. It worked: all 4 dogs are now sleeping soundly, hurray! Enjoy!

If you're interested in adopting Barkley, please email jsmartinez@dekalbcountyga.gov
Here is his Petfinder page with more info: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/25043403-Barkley_In-Foster-Basenji-Dog-Decatur-GA

My First Dog: Bandit

Bandit at age 4

Young Bandit, maybe 1-2

I'm not sure how I've gotten this far without writing about my very first dog, Bandit. This post is probably going to make me seem hypocritical. Everyone knows I am opposed to giving dogs as Christmas presents. I should throw a "generally" in there somewhere. I believe there are exceptions to this position. Dogs are not objects or accessories to be "gifted" willy nilly. They are living breathing creatures that deserve serious contemplation and commitment. I wholeheartedly believe that it is inappropriate to give another person an animal for Christmas, any other holiday, or as a gift in general. However, I don't see anything wrong with a family deciding it's the right time to bring a pet into the home as long as the decision is made together by everyone and with the promise to provide a loving home for the pet for its entire life. My situation probably falls somewhere in the middle of these scenarios.

Me & Bandit at ages 8 & 2

I got Bandit for Christmas when I was six years old. To date, he is the best Christmas present I have ever gotten. My sister and I had finished opening all of our gifts and were sprawled out on the floor playing with our new stuff when something licked my toes. I couldn't believe there was a real live puppy looking at me on Christmas morning. We almost named him Beethoven (this was 1994, mind you), but we settled on Bandit since he reminded us of Johnny Quest's dog in the cartoon (except the cartoon Bandit wasn't a Boston Terrier).

Me & Bandit at ages 9 & 3

Bandit was not a rescue, but bought from a backyard breeder. He was a chronically ill dog. He had demodectic mange as a very young pup, struggled with seizures throughout his whole life, had severe degenerative arthritis that began at middle age and led to one of his front legs being badly deformed and crippled, and ultimately developed Cushing's disease that led to kidney dysfunction. He even had a heart attack about a year before he died and collapsed in howling pain. Bandit had poor health across the board from day 1 as a result of irresponsible breeding.

My mom always told us how although he was the runt of the litter, she first saw him standing on top of the breeder's couch with a defiant look on his face as though he ruled the joint. This pretty much sums up his personality: bold, belligerent, fierce, independent, cantankerous, tirelessly mischievous, and asocial. He never cared for the company of other people or dogs. He only ever liked me. Over the years, Bandit had become so clearly "my dog" that my mom decided to get my brother and sister their own dogs to make up for it. Bandit was an unabashed troublemaker. He ate our pet turtle. He was a complete chocolate-monger (my mom kept a bowl of assorted Lindt truffles on the dining room table and we found Bandit on the table, sorting through the bowl only choosing the peanut butter flavored chocolates, carrying them to the corner of the table and piling them up...no joke). He ate foamy toads. He burst through a screen door in pursuit of a dog twice his size and had to get his brow stitched up. He ate an entire platter of Christmas cookies at the ripe old age of 12 and nosed the glass platter off the table to its shattered demise so that my brother got blamed for it. He taught the other dogs how to smash through the brick foundation of the house to escape. He ate snacks from people's purses and food straight out of their hands. His antics were endless and never ill-planned. I loved his spirit. He was just great.

Middle-aged Bandit

Pizza Thief at 12 years old

Sleeping Senior Bandit

Bandit moved to Tallahassee with me when I went to college. Nothing had changed; we were still the best of buds, partners in crime. He was my security blanket and our bond grew even stronger as he grew ancient and sicker than ever. Senior dogs have a special place in my heart after nursing Bandit through his final years. He was so feeble and deformed looking; my mom called him Rasputin. 

We went home for Christmas break in 2007. Bandit was 13 and a half years old. I had been out with friends for several hours on December 27. When I came home, I found Bandit lying on a comforter on my bedroom floor. I knew he wasn't right. I knew this was it. Everyone thought I was being dramatic until he had a massive seizure. It was the worst I'd ever seen and it was clear it was the end. He tried to move, but couldn't. He lost control of his bodily functions. We got in the car and drove him to the emergency vet about thirty minutes away. Bandit took his last breath in my arms on the way to the clinic. It was horrible, but I was glad it was over. His final battle had lasted almost two hours and it was a relief to see him at peace. The hardest part was leaving him there at the clinic that night, all alone on that cold table. The only thing I could think about was that I had kicked him out of bed and made him sleep on the floor the night before because he was crowding me. I'll never forget that. I hope he forgave me for being so insensitive. I know he waited for me to come home that night. I kept telling him I would be ok without him now and thanking him for all his years of steadfast loyalty. He knew he could finally let go.

Bandit's Coat

I wore his fuzzy dog coat around my neck at home like a fruitcake for two weeks after he died. I had Bandit cremated and his ashes put inside a beautiful hand-carved box. He would have wanted it that way; he hated the dirt and the outside. He was a fussy critter and he had an air about him that let everyone know he was regal. I put his "good dog" collar charm and an honorary peanut butter Lindt truffle inside his box with his ashes. Hopefully he approves.

Me & My Old Man

Bandit's Ashes

I was six years old when we got Bandit and my sister was three. We knew nothing except that we finally had a dog and we loved him more than anything. So yeah, Bandit's story pretty much goes against everything I now stand for, but I was a child and he was my best friend. Bandit had a very loving life, but so many others like him aren't as lucky. Our story had a happy ending, yet I'm still sitting here begging everyone out there to ADOPT and not shop and please do not "gift" pets. This should mean something. There are so many purebred dogs in shelters today, unwanted and dreaming of a loving home. If that's what you really want, I beg you to please give one of them a chance instead of supporting the endless cycle of backyard breeding and puppy mills that have led to our overpopulation problem today. Please do not abandon your senior pet in their old age when they need you the most. Honor the commitment you made to them and stick by their side until the end. They'd do the same for you without question. As I type this post and look through Bandit's scrapbook, I voice this wish in his memory hoping to honor the loyalty and friendship he gave me for almost 14 years. Bandit, you will be forever loved and missed!

Happy Tail: Cindy Lou's Adoption

Looking snuggly in NY!

Cindy Lou Who, our sweet little foster Chi, was adopted today from Pets Alive rescue group in Middletown, NY! Hurray, Sqwindy! And it's one week to the day since she left on transport for NY! This is super pawsome news and I am so thankful to Pets Alive for their diligent updates, posts, and pictures. It was so very tough to let Cindy go, but knowing she went to such a wonderful group made me feel tons better. From the looks of her adoption picture, Cindy Lou even has a cute little Chi sister!

Cindy enjoying some snowy sun

Pets Alive is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. They help thousands of homeless animals from across the country find the lives they deserve. Pets Alive isn't just for dogs! They are an animal sanctuary for dogs, cats, birds, exotic animals, horses, goats, and just about any critter you can think of. If you're looking for a worthy cause to support or would like more information about Pets Alive and their mission, please visit their website: http://petsalive.com/index.html or follow them on Facebook or Twitter. PAWS UP for Pets Alive and PAWS UP for Cindy Lou! 

Update 2/17/14: Cindy Lou's new name is Roxie! In addition to her Chi sister, she recently gained a Basset Hound brother! I hear he's a typical "in your face" kind of puppy, but Cindy Lou is patient and does well tolerating his antics. As if that's not enough excitement, Sqwindy also has a brand new human sister! Her mom says Cindy Lou is in love with the baby. She constantly lies next to her and licks her head. Haha!

Cindy training at Pets Alive

Cindy resting at Pets Alive

Ladybug Cindy at Pets Alive

Smile for Petfinder!

Pengihuahua!

Cindy and her new family!

1 Week Update on Barkley

We are seven days in and Barkley is doing very well. He and Oliver have become pretty good buddies. They're a perfect tug o' war match and they love to wrestle. Mr. Barks has a ton of energy. He has to have mental and physical stimulation or he will find mischief. Running in the yard, playing fetch, wrestling with Oliver, learning new commands, and figuring out brain toys are all great ways to keep him busy. He hasn't done anything actually destructive, but he thinks it's super fun to unroll the toilet paper and TP the house we leave any bathroom doors open. He's also really good at letting us know when he's hungry: he'll carry all the dog bowls out into the living room and line them up on the rug. If you ask me, those are just adorable quirks, not trouble!

Barks is still sleeping in his crate at night without any trouble at all. His potty training is complete and he is becoming less hand shy with each passing day. Barkie is like a rubber band, a bouncy ball, and an acrobat all wound up in one funny furry package. He makes us laugh all the time with the crazy way he launches himself off of furniture, slips on the wood floor, and leaps through the air with the greatest of ease. He knows when it's time to settle down on the couch, too. As long as he's exercised well, he has no qualms about curling up for a movie and cuddles at the end of the day.



Here's a short video of Barkley playing with his KONG Wobbler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKuSrigHWDs

And another video of Barks and Oliver playing tug o' war (and Bunkin's super loud referee bark in the background...sorry!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPsml_r7dcY

Barkley's a really cool dog. If you're looking for a fun, energetic, loving, cuddly pup with a huge personality, Barks is your guy. He's SO smart and is eager to please his people as long as he gets his share of attention in return. He's good with kids and other dogs. Barkley is looking for a home that will understand his spirit and appreciate his uniqueness. Email jsmartinez@dekalbcountyga.gov if you're interested in adopting Barkley.

Introducing...Barkley!

With the bittersweet sadness of Cindy Lou's departure comes an exciting new adventure: our next foster dog, Barkley! We brought him home from DeKalb County Animal Services yesterday as soon as Cindy Lou boarded the FODA transport van. Normally I'd probably want to take a week's break in between fosters, but since we only had Cindy for a week and I'm still on vacation from school we went for it right away.

 

Barkley was picked up as a stray on December 24 near Agnes Scott College in Decatur. He was very skittish and shy in the shelter and unfortunately spent Christmas in intake. He's still a little hand-shy and prefers contact on his own terms, but he seems to be warming up very quickly. Barkley slept in his crate last night in our bedroom. He did very well with that. Today we'll work on name recognition and "sit".

Drew came up with the name Barkley (Barks for short). It's pretty funny since he's a Basenji mix, a "barkless" dog. Basenjis make a sound that's like a yodeling wail instead of a typical bark. Barkley does exactly this. He's very smart, energetic, playful, and alert. I think he might be crossed with some sort of herding dog (border collie?) or maybe a terrier. Barkley's only 17 pounds and although he seems pretty young, the shelter thinks he's full grown. He's a tad on the skinny side, but I wouldn't want to see him weigh more than 20 pounds at most. His teeth are beautiful, he's heartworm negative, and he's neutered. We're working on potty training reinforcement and constructive energy release (e.g.: no inappropriate chewing). He really just wants to play, but our three guys aren't too tremendously interested. Flea hates him, Bunkin says he's too old and crotchety for such youthful energy, and Oliver just wants to hump him to death. So we arranged a playdate for Mr. Barks with our friends' pup, Suzy Q. Suzy is a great match for Barkley in terms of size, age, and energy. They had a blast running around in the yard.

Barkley is available for adoption through DeKalb County Animal Services. If you're interested in him, please email jsmartinez@dekalbcountyga.gov for application information. He's going to make someone a really great dog!