paws in the park

this weekend was the annual paws in the park fundraising walk for the spca of central florida. and also the coldest weekend in months, as always seems to be the case for paws in the park. anywho, we all bundled up in our sweaters and strutted our stuff for homeless pets - raising $180! go weens!

they started getting antsy in the car.


we saw lots of fellow weens. i could always tell when one was near because riley would pull his leash.


it's a pretty long walk for little legs, so some crossed the finish line with a little help.


i bet this guy didn't take a single step.


some rolled...


in total style...


and some came just to hang out.


lots and lots of dogs. big...


and small.


thick...


and thin.


young...


and old.


beautiful...


oh who am i kidding, they're all adorable.


there were costumes. like a german shepherd in a tutu.


a steampunk gang...


and their dog.


paws in the park isn't reserved just for dogs either.


or even the pawwed.


and of course, there's always the swans.

what makes me happy

okay, okay, so EVERYTHING about dash makes me happy (except the turd snacking, but we've all got our flaws). but what makes me REALLY happy is seeing dash happy, knowing what a long journey it was to get here.

if you're not familiar with dash's history, he was a puppy mill stud, locked in a cage for five years or so. when he got rescued, he was so anxious that'd he'd pace in tiny circles, and he was terrified of people and being touched. over time, the circles got bigger, and he learned that people weren't all that bad. when he came to me, he still had a long way to go, and my motto for him became "all touching is good touching." and i cuddled and petted him every chance i got. now he loves cuddling with me and will beg for pets, and i never turn him down.

at our halloween party, dash wandered into the crowds of people, and twice he got petted. by strangers! and he didn't flinch or run. he LIKED it. he seeked out attention. from STRANGERS! my little boy! *sniffle*

i know these aren't the best photos, but i had to get them while i could.

happy howl-o-ween

halloween, what a great holiday. what's more fun than dressing up and getting free candy? we went to the annual dachshund meetup group costume party, and of course the dogs enjoyed every minute of it. we stayed pretty simple with the costumes this year, enhancing each dog's natural features and unique characteristics.

riley was a bee. he even attempted a little pollinating.

buzz bitches.

winnie was a rescue dog.

someone over here need *hic* rescuing?

and dash, with his spotted coat and girlish figure, was a cow.

oh the moo-miliation.

winnie's first year

last month was winnie's first gotcha day-versary. looking back at how winnie's progressed over the last year, she has come a long way. she no longer trembles when she's held by someone. she takes treats from my hands. she'll even approach me when i'm eating, interested in my food. she used to be too scared to even eat a treat or her food when anyone looking at her. her personality has blossomed. she is playful, and she wants to play so badly. that spunky little girl is in there, just dying to come out. but she's still so scared. and she is still a danger to herself when she's scared. she'll run head first into a wall, trying to get away. or she'll try to jump out of someone's arms at chest height. so, since it was time for her annual checkup at the v-e-t anyway, i asked him about anti-anxiety medication. i tried some natural remedies, but they didn't seem to help. and this isn't forever. it's just for now, to see if it can help to calm her down enough so she realizes that we're not here to hurt her. it's been almost a month, and so far, so good. hopefully big(ger) things will start happening soon.

as for the rest of her vet visit, she's completely healthy. and she weighs less than the cat.

august 29, 2010
scared to death in the back seat


october 2010 meetup
the only way to keep her from hiding under the table was to hold her


halloween 2010 meetup
little gingerbread girl


christmas 2010
she is a bearded dachshund


january 2011 meetup
the first time she crawled into my lap, now it's her favorite safe place


february 2011
napping viciously. it's always a good sign when they start sleeping belly up.


june 2011
the annual dachshund pool party at happy paws. she sank like a rock.
we'll work on it for next summer.

harry potter weenkend

i can't wait! should i dress as hairy potter...


...or ron weensley? i am a natural ginger after all.


hairy for me!


wait, why am i a slytherin?

can you blame them?

awww yeah they do! and i love them too!