I had a bad feeling when I woke up that the family wasn’t going to show up to see Heidi. I don’t know why, but it just didn’t feel right. I called them to see if they were still coming… no answer, so I left a message. 1:00 came and went and no family, no call. I clearly wasn’t meant to be. Their loss. There is another family she has an appointment with on Tuesday at 2pm. I think their expectations may be too high, but we’ll see when I meet them and have a long heart to heart - unless they stand us up too…

On a lighter note, the puppy went home around 11:30pm. What a handful when you have as many big dogs as I have. I was on edge the whole time worrying that one of mine would accidentally hurt it. They were very well behaved around him. He sure is a cutie. But boy did it make me thank my lucky stars I have survived the “infant” puppy stage and have NO desire to head down that road again anytime soon.

I got a call from my husband before I went out to dinner with my friend to let me know that he was bringing home our friends 6 wk old female lab puppy for “ME” to watch this weekend. Well, needless to say, I get home and find a MALE, 4-5 week old red dobe mix puppy w/tail. He is sooo tiny. My son has him in the basement in a laundry basket. I have to keep him away from my dogs - he is soooo tiny. He eats solid food and had a nice solid bm in said basement (ugg) which I stepped in and tracked across the carpet! He sure is a cute little bugger. I hope he sleeps alot because I am going to be home alone tomorrow with the other 7… yes 7! Heidi is STILL here!

Heidi has a family coming to visit her on Sunday at 1pm. They seem very interested and “may” be a good fit. They have young kids 6 and 9 and have employed a dog trainer for their other dog a 1 yo cocker. Heidi will do good having a young dog as a playmate and is doing much better with her behavior. I will happy to see her go to a good family that will love her. She is a sweet girly girl. It is amazing how much she has grown and how much she has filled out in the past 3 weeks. She looks soo good. They clearly werent feeding her enough and I assume was a huge factor for her behavior.

Here are a few pix of Heidi.. I cant believe I forgot to post them

(Heidi is the little one in the back)

I should have been a model

Heidi has a potential adoptive family coming on Monday! Fingers Crossed.

We took Zeus for a ride this morning and on our way home there were insight crews infront of our house. I stopped and asked them what they were doing and they told me they were installing highspeed lines for cable and roadrunner!!!!! HOLY MOLEY!!!! I almost died. No release date for highspeed yet, but I am sooo excited… 26K dial up blows!

The home I had lined up for Heidi has fallen through and she is back up on Petfinder. They decided they didn’t want a dog that was so young and I totally understand. Having a gianormous puppy isn’t easy. She has improved greatly in the past week or so and is now completely crate trained. She has stopped jumping almost completely. Working on down, she has almost mastered it… but still gets really excited. She spends alot of time in the morning outdoors with Hera romping and playing chase. They are nonstop together and love to wrestle and run. The other dogs are too lazy and want to sleep…

We had friends over last night to play and they were absolutely exhausted today. Heidi spent most of the day laying on the floor sprawled out asleep. I did get two inquiries today. I will see… the first one didn’t seem too promising. They felt the adoption fee was too much and wanted to haggle with me on it… I’m not “selling” tires here folks.

It has been a week since the foster has showed up at the house. She is doing pretty well. B and R still aren’t too impressed with her. But they tolerate her with exception of their spot behind my computer at the table. They are quite protective of that space and consider it a very coveted spot in the house.

I have been working with her and she is a really smart little girl that just needs some training and TLC.

Good news she has a home lined up. The couple that took my last foster a few months ago wants her. I think it will be a great match for them and Duke. She will benefit from having another dog and is very dog friendly.

I got a call yesterday afternoon from a guy that wanted to get rid of his Saint. The dog jumps up and scratches his wife so she says it must go. She was rather callous about the whole thing and said the dog was driving her literally insane. So I drove half way with my friend Laura and picked her up.

She is the sweetest thing. She is 6 months old - AKC (came with pup papers)

Another birdie bites the dust at the jowls of Rufus. Yesterday morning Rufus came running in the house and lovingly placed the slobberiest dead green heron at my feet. He was so pleased with himself. He looked up at me with those big brown eyes like “look what I got ya mom” - I could have died. I don’t know if he killed it or Hera did and he wrangled it from her.

He is becoming quite an accomplished bird killer. I witnessed him pull one out of a tree not too long ago. Naughty, Naughty Rufus!

I found this on a friend’s blog! So I took the quiz and here is what it says I am…. Yep… that is pretty accurate!

discover your dog breed @ quiz meme

Zeus my black lab is getting ready to turn 5 years old on Saturday! I can’t believe I have had him that long already. He is such a good boy and so smart. We are going to take a trip to Petsmart to get him a few toys and treats. He loves trips to Petsmart and getting treats at the check out counter. I still remember the night I brought him home like it was yesterday. It was well after midnight before I finally decided on him. We drove 30 miles to look at boxer pups and I just didnt “feel” a connection with one so we drove another 30 miles to look at the lab pups. Zeus was one of several black males, but he stood out and I knew as soon as I picked him up that he was “the one”. He is such a loving easy going dog.

He was such a good puppy that I wanted another puppy from his parents. Which I did get 18 months later - Apollo, my yellow lab is Zeus’s brother (they have the same mom)

Well thank goodness the 4th is almost over. One more set of fireworks, in 20 minutes, and it will be over. Luckily my gang isn’t bothered by them when they are at home and everyone is lounging through out the living room snoring loudly. Last night I went down the street to meet my friend Laura and 2 of her dogs (Zoe the IG and Buckeye the doxie/jrt) to watch the “red, white & boom” fireworks. We can see them about 20 or so miles away on a hill in the cemetery. I know that is strange but it is one of the best places in our county to watch. I took Brutus with me just like last year and we mingled with the other watchers. We sat in front of the same couple as last year and they remembered Brutus. He played with their JRT for a few minutes and then lavished in the child driven limelight.

At one point before the fireworks started, an a$$ decided he would shoot off a few of his own. The jerk let one off, it sizzled and hissed then lifted off the ground about 5 feet and blew up. Shooting sparks out about 10 feet right in the middle of their group! Poor Brutus about poo’d himself. It scared the living daylights out of him and if I wouldn’t have had a tight grip on his leash he would have bolted out of there like a shot. A couple more bottle rockets went off, him barking and woofing in protest. I shouted out.. for God’s sake people this is a cemetery.. have some respect for the dead! Fireworks are stinking illegal in Ohio for a reason! No more fireworks - Victory!

This is the busiest week of the year for the shelters with all the dogs/cats that run off petrified during the fireworks displays. Fingers crossed that most of them will be reunited with their families. All of my kiddos are inside and safe - hope yours are too!

We had a photo session last night with the boys since I know I won’t be around much, if at all tomorrow. I found these great ties at Meijers a few weeks ago and have been saving them. Don’t the boys look so “regal” and “handsome” in their bow ties… hahahaha!

Call me Bond, James Bond - I like mine shaken OR stirred!
Did somebody say “cheese”? I like cheese! I love cheese! I’ll have some thank you!
“All Right MOM!!!! Enough pictures aleady! I cant smile any more - my face hurts!”

They are such good sports. Can you imagine the clothes I would have for my dogs if they were little. I am still holding out hope that I will find Saint Bernard sized one-piece Jammies some day!

**I also added new widgets for their Dogster Pages! Just click on the widget to view their pages (which I dont do a very good job of up dating!) I have to add these pix on there!

I said goodbye to Phoebe, Violet and Stella this morning when I dropped them off at Petsmart to be groomed. Their mom is back in town and will be picking them up from there. I won’t see them again and it makes me so sad. They have such a special place in my heart and have been in and out of my home for 2 years (visits and foster). I know they are going to love Wisconsin and they will love their new house (which their mom and dad purchased specially for them - can you say heated floors!), but part of me is very sad that I wont see them again. We had a great week. Enjoy your new house girlies!!!

I just had the scare of my life! It is now 2:20 am and I let the dogs out to potty at 12:30am for bed. They all came back in except for Apollo. At first I wasn’t too concerned. I couldn’t remember if he went out, everyone rushed the door and piled out. So I went to look for him upstairs… not there. Yelled for him out back… he didn’t come. I gave it a few more minutes thinking maybe he had the runs and was taking his time. Still didn’t come. Searched the house again - not here! Not in the basement or trapped in any room. Couldn’t think of any way he could have gotten out of the house. My son didn’t go out… he was lying on the couch with me after my husband left, so he didn’t let him out. I go outside walk around – go out to the pond – I am in full panic mode by this time! Did he drown? I can’t find him anywhere. I get in my car, drive around scream his name 5 thousand times… still no Apollo.

My son Is out looking too. I call my husband, who is out playing poker absolutely hysterical. I am envisioning him laying dead on the side of the road somewhere. He has on his collar with several tags, he’s microchipped… but what if someone steals him?! Hardly able to see through my tears I head back out to the pond for a second look. As I am half way around, still calling his name I hear a jingle… I make it around the pond and he is sniffing around by the abandoned horse barn!!!! He sees me, but wont come. He thinks he is in trouble. I go running over to him and put my arms around him and just burry my face in his fur. At this point he is very happy to see me. I can’t believe he didn’t come when I called him. The only thing I can think of is that he heard the panic in my voice and thought I was mad at him.

Crisis averted! Thank doG!