My day

I think this is what I must have looked like today. Always chasing something. Never catching it.

Moose party

Party central continues with the buff and tough Moose. May 2 rings number 9 for the Mooseman.

Now you would think this gorgeous stud muffin would spend a little more time cuddling with the girls, but no, not Moose.

Give him a stuffy and he is a happy, proud boy. Of course, Eeyore is probably just happy to have a friend, even if he is tightly clenched in the jaws of Moose.

No end in sight

I have a confession. I'm afraid I check weather.com multiple times a day. Not sure why, the only thing it is really consistent about is predicting the rain. Got sun? Most likely will be replaced by rain. Got snow? Nope, we can look forward to rain.

Next 10 days? Yup. Rain, followed by rain, followed by... light rain.

For those of you that admired our luscious green grass, we totally pay the price.

The calm before the storm

 

The lighting outside this afternoon was beautiful. I rubbed my paws together in anticipation of getting some awesome shots of the hound dogs.

I managed to get one or two before the skies opened up and the gale force winds hit.

Sheesh, winds weren't even in the forecast. I have got to quit looking at weather.com. It is never right.

We need you!

I've talked before about how a few of my greyhounds are blood donors. On Sunday I took Moose to the Salem Emergency Veterinary Clinic for a donation and since it was planned, there were enough hands on deck that I could stand back and take pictures.

Normally, I am right in there beside my hound as they are drawing the blood.


I told Moose it was time to go to work, but he just saw it as another adventure, an opportunity to co-pilot.


The short wait in the reception area became a real yawner for Moose when I reminded them to make sure the resident kitty cat was tucked away safely behind closed doors.


Admiring his big coursing veins is always the first step. They are right out there front and center.


A quick shave to insure that the area is clean. Of course, Moose has the shortest hair of all, so the bald spot hardly shows afterward.


The front-end tech gently holds the head. The idea is to avoid any movement so that the needle stays in place. The first time blood is drawn on a dog always seems to be the worst.

My guys usually settle down after the first time and just stand there.


During the draw, Dr. Erbes was telling me that the last time Moose donated, he was able to help three other dogs.

On many occasions, we have been able to meet both the dog and their owners. It's very touching when you know you have helped save a life. I know how grateful I would be if my dog needed blood to save his life.


A team of four assists with the blood draw. The veterinarian draws the blood and holds the needle in place. A tech holds the head, another tech holds the body and this time, a second veterinarian is rocking the blood and weighing it as it pumps into the bag. Normally, I'm holding the back end of my hound.


My dogs usually stand, but Moose was relaxed enough to sit there during the entire time. It took 4.5 minutes from the needle stick to clamping it off to fill the bag. I think our record is 4 minutes.


This may look like the choke hold of death, but really they are just putting pressure on site where the blood was drawn. Completely normal.


Here we are, 450 gm of Moose's famous go-go juice.


Since they have such thin skin, greyhounds are famous for getting small bruises under the skin. A little bit of ice held to the area helps to reduce the bruising. It doesn't show up so much on black dogs, but the fawn and white dogs always show their hickeys.


A snack is always in order when it is over with. Just one of those perks.


And every good kid gets a smiley sticker when do their very best.


But the very best part of all are the loves and hugs and whispers of "whatta good boy" in his ears.

Greyhounds can donate blood until they are 8 years old, then it is time to retire them from the donating program.

It is a wonderful gift that they can give. If you are interested, talk to your vet or talk to your emergency vet to see if they have a donor program. As you can see, it's a very easy procedure. Moose sat through the entire draw and was ready run and play in the backyard after. However, activity is restricted for about 24 hours after giving blood.

And now, it's time to join the Pet Blog Hop.

The Pet Blog Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. Many, many thanks to the hosts, the Pet Blog Hop rocks.

Please join us, the rules are simple:

1. Follow your three hosts
2. Check out some of the our fellow bloggers, leave them a comment and tell them you are visiting from the Pet Blog hop
   
3. Add your blog to the Linky
4. Copy and paste the html code into your html editor

Happy, happy hump day

Pet blogger challenge

1. When did you begin your blog?

My first post was December 7, 2008. I had a few unofficial posts before that.

2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?

We had a rough year that year with the greyhounds. A few bouts of cancer, a survivor of auto immune hemolytic anemia (he's still with us), we sent two of our seniors to the rainbow bridge and vet bills over $15,000.

I remember thinking that I wanted to remember all of the wonderful stories that our dogs left us with and post a few of the millions of pictures I was always taking.

We also have some very dear friends that have a greyhound kennel that send us pets as they retire. They love to see the pictures of their hounds taking over the couch.

Blogging was the obvious answer. It is purely a personal blog.

3. Is your current purpose the same?

Yep, I am still motivated by all of the same reasons for the dog blog.

I'm taking much better photos and often see stories from the dogs that I might otherwise missed when I'm taking the photos.

4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?

I try to post something every night. Believe me, I have a ton of pictures that I haven't posted yet.

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

No income, but if someone ever adopted a greyhound from reading about mine I'd feel richer.

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?

I have made some great blogging friends, from everywhere. That is such a trip. My dogs make me laugh, I hope I can make someone else laugh too with some of their crazy antics.

7. What do you like least?

Some days, I spend more time than I really have available, but overall, I really like it.

8. How do you see your blog changing or growing in 2011?

Probably not to much change, except encouraging more pet adoption. Greyhounds are my breed, not every body is right for a greyhound, but I would encourage pet adoption from organized groups.

Enough is enough

No more of those sissy glamour shots. You know, the ones with a black background, lighting, faux fur blanket... enough is enough.


Real greyhounds play with pink bunnies.

Is it Moose or rabbit season?

Some greyhounds love their toys more than anything, even food.

Moose is one of those greyhounds.


He loves to play and run and toss his stuffies in the air.


And when he sits down and licks his lips, I know that his stuffie is in trouble, much like a cat with a mouse.


I just couldn't stand to watch anymore after the first came off.

Moose's squeaky, shakey day

Poor Moose loves his babies. So much so, that we don't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting them away from him.

He always takes them into his house and just loves them, well, and a lot of squeaking.

Enter Miss Jillian. She also loves babies and hates it when Moose has a toy.

As soon as she gets a chance, she will steal Moose's baby and promptly destroy it. End of story.


Today, Moose got a new baby. He shook it and he squeaked. There must have been 8 squeakers.


Oh how he loved his new baby.


We knew there would be no getting it away from him.


And when he was done, he proudly carried it back to his house.

News flash.
Within 20 minutes, said new baby was beheaded. Sigh.

Ears for Every Toy

There is the "this way and that way" ears.


The "standing at attention" ears.


And my forever favorite, "the windblown ears."

Moose Ball

Time for another hair splitting game of Moose Ball. Here is the All Star player, Moose.


And he's off like a shot.


Focusing with heavy concentration on the ball.


The patented "twisted moose move."


Leaping towards it with uncanny accuracy.


What's this? INCOMING!


A second ball is introduced into the game and he's flying toward it.


And finally the "one foot follow."

A note to our followers, team mate Flocko has been benched indefinitely. He dislocated his toe Sunday night. Nurse Ratchet was on hand to pop it back in.

Ouch.

Our Little Nelli Belli

Today day was one of those perfect days. With the exception of a quick field trip, it was a day with the doggies.

Their second run of the morning was leisurely and I kept my camera in hand.

Cinderella was particularly photogenic.


She spent some time grazing with the boys.


And after a while, she wandered off on her own.


Just watching the world float by.