Snotface & Twiggy

Wordless Wednesday #46: Hope He Makes it to China

Twiggy on the Couch. Twiggy on the Bed!

Not sure what it's like in your house, but in mine the dogs aren't allowed on the furniture. *cough cough* Well, I suppose it depends on who you ask and who's around when you ask it. Exhibit A:

(This is where Twiggy is as I write this.)

I should be telling Twiggy to get off the couch...but she looks so cozy. Normally I would make her get down, but I'm up late tonight. Normally I would be in bed. If she got on the couch while I was up in bed I wouldn't be around to tell her to get off. And we are aware she gets on the couch sometimes during the night. We can tell by how she rearranges the pillows on the couch. So, tonight I'm pretending I'm already up in bed and I have no idea she is on the couch. Just don't tell my husband. The no dogs on the furniture rule is his!

Not too long ago, while at the BlogPaws office, Twiggy disappeared. Usually the dogs spend the day trading turns going in and out so the door is more open than closed, and hopping from bed to bed to couch to bed. But, they aren't allowed on the human beds. Well, on this particular day I decided to see where Twiggy disappeared to. This is what I found:

Yup. Twiggy didn't seem to care about the bed rule this day. She got right up and made herself comfortable. Maybe it's just me, but when my dogs look so happy and cozy I just can't make them move! Even when it means I barely get any room!

I can't be the only one, right?!

Nationwide Campaign to End Dog Racing

I came upon this video from GREY2KUSA about their nationwide campaign to end greyhound racing. I support it and I think everyone else should too. The conditions most racing greyhounds are exposed to are terrible. You can visit GREY2KUSA's website to find out all the facts. Reading them makes my heart so sad. Twiggy was so lucky to avoid that life. Please watch and share.

 

Currently FL has supporters who are trying to finalize a bill that would end greyhound racing in the state. I really hope it succeeds. According to this article from the Florida Courier, a lobbyist representing those that are trying to stop the bill said, "It's a jobs issue. It's got nothing to do with anything else.'' I really don't understand that statement at all. I realize our economy is not the greatest right now, and that people need their jobs, but saying that we have to protect greyhound racing to protect the jobs related to it is like saying we should legalize dog fighting so people can make money at it. Abuse and neglect are never ok.

Let's save these elegant, gentle dogs from years of mistreatment. Let's put an end to greyhound racing.

 

Wordles Wednesday #45: Can You Spot Snotface?

Baby Sloths - Off topic cuteness!

When I saw this video I couldn't resist sharing. I had no idea I thougth Sloths were so cute, but I do!! Is it illegal to own one? They are probably wild animals that should stay in the wild, but they seem so tame...and cute! And heck, they can't want much more than snuggling, right? I mean they must be called sloths for a reason! Enjoy.

 

Wordless Wednesday #44: Twiggy's New Collar

(Rhinestones for her Diva-self!)

Wordless Wednesday #43: Sunset Walks

This is the view around the neighborhood when I walk Twiggy and Onyx at sunset. I love it!

 

Lessons Learned From an Electric Fence

Many days during the year I take Twiggy and Onyx out for walks through our neighborhood. We gallivant around the streets and usually end up on the 2 mile trail that surrounds the neighborhood. We've lived here over 9 years and I've walked on that trail for all of those 9 years. So, I was quite surprised to learn that the big horse property that sits east of our neighborhood had a single line electric fence dividing the property from our subdivision. And, Twiggy was too!

On one of our recent walks we were strolling along as usual...walk a little...sniff a little...walk a little...sniff some more. We were even admiring the horses that were in the field. Sometimes they would be close and seem very interested in us, but on this day they were at least 30 yards away, grazing. Twiggy was sniffing around looking for a place to do her business and I was actually looking off to the Northwest, admiring the mountains.

Then it happened. The scream that sounded like someone was trying to rip out Twiggy's insides. And it didn't stop. For at least 20 seconds she yelped and screamed and I could not figure out why. Her tail was pulled between her legs so tight I couldn't even get my hands around it. I was rubbing all along her body and her legs trying to figure out the source of this atrocious pain that had her screaming like that. Even the horses were concerned. They came running over to us - literally running. Not a trot. Not a gallup. A full speed run. They stopped about 6 inches from the single line wire. Hmmmmm.

A neighbor whose yard backed to the trail even came out to inquire what the noise was about. He popped his head over his fence and looked at us, and I looked back and said, "I have no idea what happened??" His response was, "Well, that is an electric wire fence." 

Oh. How did I not know that? Onyx even runs under that fence sometimes, but it's about even with Twiggy's back so there is no avoiding it for her. I knew she was sniffing close to that wire so she must have been electrocuted by it. I'm still not sure where, but my assumption is that it was along her back end. I felt so bad and I knew there was really nothing I could do except wait for the effects to wear off. We moved further away from the fence, but stayed in that general area for another 5 minutes or so while I did my best to console her. Onyx whined a lot because he had no idea what was going on. The horses also stayed by us the whole time we were there. They were really intent on watching us. They didn't graze or anything. They just watched us. I felt like they wanted to reach out and console Twiggy. Like they knew what happened way before I did and they wanted to let her know it would be ok.

That day we continued on our way, away from the fence, and we didn't go near it again for awhile. Then, this past Friday, I decided I wanted to walk the whole length of that fence because I did not remember seeing any sign warning that the fence was electric. So we headed out on a double mission. Mission #1: Work with Onyx on a leash because my arm might end up out of the socket if I don't. Mission #2: Find out if I completely missed the warnings that would have educated me on the electric fence.

Results: Mission #1: Minor achievements. Will be working on that one for awhile. Mission #2: NO SIGNS!! I walked the whole way and saw no signs on that fence. I did find Private Property signs and one electric fence sign at the beginning of their property, but it was on a different fence that the one
that runs along our trail. 

Conclusion: I think I'll make my own signs and hang them on the posts. And, I will always watch out for any kind of property line fence!