Basset Stole my Phone:Should I file charges against Huckleberry Hound?

Don't let this basset fool you I thought he was innocent too! This is no ordinary basset hound indeed looks can be deceiving. He uses those puppy dog eyes and that hush puppy swagger to distract you and take what he wants! This isn't the first time he stole from me so I am forced to contemplate should I file charges against huckleberry hound? A cookie here or there I could live with, even the toy or 2 he has played fetch with and discretely tucked under his bed to smuggle home. But after his second or 3rd visit he wanted more. I first realized Huckleberry hound may be a kleptomaniac after a stay at my house days later his father came into the salon, head down, red faced looking ashamed carrying several articles of my clothing. He explained how sorry he was, hoped I would forgive Huck for his weakness and admitted this wasn't the first time Mr. Hound has been caught with contraband after a playdate. Well of course I laughed and forgave my favorite 4 legged sleepover buddy how could I not? Huckleberry is the most endearing hound I have ever met and I have 3 basset hounds of my own so I know. Whenever he is introduced to anyone within seconds of intro they exclaim his resemblance to a cartoon character. He can be quite expressive. Starting usually with fast paced aroooo's(aroo aroo aroo aroo) accompanied by head shaking that makes his jowls quiver and slap together in a most comical way he alarms me letting me know someone has invaded his space but than he will transition into slow, long enthusiastic arrooo's aroooooooooo....arooooooooooo thowing his head back as he searches for a toy to play fetch with the newcomer. After a few minutes of this song and dance most people are laughing and Mr. Hound has stole the first thing on his agenda, their heart! I see how I let it happen, how he stole my heart and betrayed me. Several more visits and huckleberry upped the anti. We were having so much fun, I thought I knew him, I considered him family and than his Dad once again bashfully came to see me. In his hand he carried 2 remote controls. 1 to my air conditioner and the other the TV, found stowed between the blankets of Huck's bed when he returned home. Well once again I blame myself. I do tend to keep it hotter than most like it and maybe I wasn't paying attention to what Huckleberry wanted to watch that would explain why the TV always ends up on Animal Planet and I was layering my clothes all weekend, at least I'm not crazy. Now here we come to the final incident that has made me question my relationship and open my eyes to what a fool I have been. It happened Sunday, July 12th. I met with Huck's Dad to drop him off after a 1 week visit. It was bitter sweet we were both happy and sad to see his dad but I loaded his things into the truck and watched him go as I strolled thru the parking lot and into the Wallmart to do some shopping. I didn't find what I needed and stopped at another store on the way home to get some final ingredients to make more dog treats for the coming week. Finally more than an hour later I was home and discovered without my phone. My calender, all my contacts and business clients , my life is in my phone I was frantic. As anyone would do I searched the car, the house, and finally started back tracking my day. By 8pm that night a light went off and I called Mr. Hound to see if he might have my phone. But he was careful this time and my phone was not found hidden in his bed. By Tuesday afternoon I relented, reported my phone missing and filed a claim. Like lightening Wednesday by 12pm my new phone arrived. It was disappointing, it didn't have cute bulldogs all over or that greet on incoming and it certainly didn't bark and howl when it rang. It was dark and unfamiliar. I went about programming it anyway and just as I finished not 5 minutes later I heard the first unfamiliar ring, I looked ,having no contacts it was an unfamiliar # but when I answered, it was not an unfamiliar story. My old phone had turned up in Huckleberry's things. So hearing how I have been cunningly betrayed by my favorite basset hound tell me what would you do?

7-16-09-I have had a chance to sleep on it and realize Huckleberry would miss me like I miss him and probably had my phone to keep in touch! I cant press charges, I LOVE HIM!!!

Dog Meal Recipe of the day

Huck Howls 4 this dish:

Hearty Hound Loaf borrowed @ https://www.threedog.com/Default.aspx

Ingrediants:

1 1/2 lbs ground turkey

1 egg

1/2 tsp sage

1tbls minced garlic

1/4 C finely chopped green bell pepper

1/2 C corn(I substitute peas)

1 medium tomato chopped

6 ounces tomato paste

preheat 350

combine ingrediants, pack into greased loaf pan and nake for 1 and 1/2 hours. Cool, slice and serve

AAAAROOOOOOO!

Shelter Pets GO Home!

Finally the day came! Missdoolittles brought shelter pets from the

Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA http://www.ruthsteinertmemorialspca.org to the Shenandoah Farmers Market http://462farmersmarket.com

with Great success! Meet Rocky & Fluffy! These 2 senior, Yorkies/Silkys or most probably the combination, Silkshire Terriers were owner surrenders! When I brought them home Tuesday evening they were sad, quiet, filthy and matted, they had spent several confused days at the shelter! Here's what they looked like:

I have never encountered 2 pups so thrilled to be bathed and groomed! They immediately came to life, tails started to wag, ears that were heavy with matting perked up, they started to have expressions when they looked at you and I can only guess they realized they no longer smelled offensive and decided they wanted to cuddle in which they did! 9 am Thursday morning we stepped out of the car at the market , Rocky in his new black Tshirt adorning a Rhinestone R and Fluffy Sporting a matching Tshirt with a Rhinestone star! Together on a coupler they moved excitedly, tails wagging thru the crowds of people flocking to pet and cuddle them! They stopped for every person and child, They instinctively new just when to offer a kiss, when to be patient with a child, when to look longingly into someones eyes and they broke hearts all day! Several people inquired on 1 or the other but they are so closely attached to each other we held out and before they day was over Rocky and Fluffy found their forever home together! Ahhh... the air of New found hope! I saw smiles, tears of joy, excitement, and rejoice in the various eyes of the 104 vendors at the market that were experiencing for the 1st time all the emotions of a rescuer. 1st the shock of the homelessness of 2 helpless pets, the realization good dogs end up in shelters, the frustration of it and than the renewed faith in humanity to see the donations, the support and witness these 2 Silkshire terriers wag their way out the door with their enthralled new family on to a new life in their forever home! Yes, It was a good day at the market!

Meet Coal, possibly Chihuahua mix who stepped in half way though the day when the Rocky and Fluffy went home:

This little guy really new how to work the crowd! Unlike the common belief Chihuahua's are shy and sometimes nervous you could not get past Coal without getting a kiss and you could hardly keep him away from the children! Coal almost went to a new home today but he turned out to be terribly frightened of the cat. He still awaits a home at the Ruth Steinert SPCA. Coal's visit was not in vain though! He won the heart of Charlie, the Penny's classified advertiser and with that he won future weekly advertising slots for the coming Pets visiting when Charlie and market owners discussed their mutual wish to help the shelter pets!

All in all Missdoolittles couldn't be more pleased with the first event!

A Cat for my Pack? No way!

Maybe? I am working with the local shelter Ruth Steinert SPCA http://www.ruthsteinertmemorialspca.org/to bring a pet every week to the Market to spend the day with me and get some much needed attention! My first visit to the shelter in I'm ashamed to admit, a long time, I was just supposed to be finalizing some paperwork to start the event and I came home with a kitty. In my defense who could have resisted, here's what happened: The wonderful shelter worker, Sherry who works tirelessly and is so compassionate and very good with the animals as well as the people asked me to please look at this beautiful long haired white cat they got in. The poor thing is matted to the bone under her angora like coat! UGG! I say, I dunno Cats can be very difficult and dangerous to groom, their skin tears like tissue, seeing her desperation I say, but.... let me handle her and see what she's like. She is putty in my hands, lets me roll her around, play with her paws, purring all along perfectly content to be belly up in my arms until I try to put her back than she gently wraps her paws around me like a baby I am holding her now and she looks up at me first wide eyed than she squints her yellow eyes and licks my chin!!! I feel my heart skip a beat and know I'm in trouble! Sherry sees it too, I look at her and her eyes well up... I say I will help but I'm not very experienced with cat grooming I usually only assist so Ill be back after I look into it some more and talk to my co workers. I obsess about it all night and by morning have convinced myself I can comb out the matts, Ha! I go back the next day and I bring kitty home. She has no name yet as they thought she was a boy and hadn't thought of something suiting for a girl yet. I have already purchased her a pretty new collar and necklace to match her eyes that are nearly clear lime yellow like glass beads. So far she has let me cut her nails and purred at the clipper so I am hopeful! The verdict is still out with my pack though! I promised myself after my last foster failure Baily, adopted my Mom and made himself a home there would be no more pets! But a Kitty well they are practically self sufficient ,aren't they? Pictured above is a "kitty" look alike Sapphire from AboutCats.com as I have no pictures yet. Turkish Angora? Any thought on names? here are 3 I like:
Darla-little darling,
Kami- are spirits which sometimes interact with people . They are known to possess great elemental power. Kami also possess common traits such as emotions and are able to think freely for themselves. People who are able to sufficiently please kami are usually blessed with their loyalty.
Hemera-Goddess of daylight and the sun.

Dog Treat Recipe
Bow wow Biscuits
1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
8 tablespoons bacon grease -- or margarine 1 egg --
beaten 1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons beef broth -- or chicken
1/2 cup ice water
6 slices Bacon -- crumbled,
optional 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded --
In a big mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients thoroughly to form a dough. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin and use a cookie cutter to make shapes for cookies, Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 min.

Cat Treats
1 1/2 rolled oats
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup tuna oil or beef/chicken bullion
preheat 350,mix all ingredient into a dough, dist hands with flour and form small 1/2" round treats, put on greased cookie sheet and bake 30 minutes or until slightly browned.

Cranberry Juice In your DOG Treats

My Bulldog Fanny is prone to urinary track infections. She was born with spina bifida, which is not degenerative in dogs and although she is perfectly normal in every way she does wear a diaper. I have met several dogs in the grooming salon that seem to suffer re occurring urinary track problems so I thought I would share my tips. Fanny gets a cranberry supplement and in 4 years she hasn't had any serious infections that weren't resolved by making sure she got her supplement. Whenever I bake treats for my pack I substitute cranberry juice for water and sometimes add dried cranberries to the doe. The dogs love the treats and I haven't had any problems with the outcome yet. Now, I am not a veterinarian this is a preventive idea only. For more English Bulldog Info try http://www.engbulldogs.com

More info on Dogs with Diapers:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DoggiesinDiapers/

Here is a perfect example of a dog treat I would substitute with cranberry.

FREE Dog Treat Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Doggie Biscuits

1 package apple, dried OR substitute dried cranberry
1 teaspoon Cinnamon --(I usually just shake some in)
1 Tablespoon parsley, freeze-dried
1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 cup ice water or here I would substitute 1/2 cup water & 1/2 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup Corn Oil
5 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
2 large eggs

Put the apples/cranberries in a food processor so that pieces are small if you need them smaller. Combine in a bowl all of the ingredients -- can add a little oil or water if dough is too dry. Using a rolling pin roll out dough to about 3/16" thick (can make thinner or thicker). Using a cookie cutter -- cut into shapes -- place on cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for approx 20 -25 minutes (until golden). WOOF!