Construction

Egads , we thought we were going to get our doggy naps yesterday but there was construction going around our house. There was banging and whirring as the bathroom was demolished. We told Dad to do both bathrooms at the same time; and that he could join us outside, but he said no. Silly, Dog Dad.

Before that all started we spotted Dusty and Charlie on their morning walk. No, this is different Charlie. They are both male Shelties and their full names are Dostroyevski and Charles Dickens. If we are walking, Dad will chat with their pawther. Both are a little worried about us, especially Deacon because we are so much bigger.

Charlie (tri-color) and Dusty (blue-merle)

Well hope you have a quiet day, we heard we have more construction going on. Guess we won't be getting are dogie naps. Arggg, what do we have to do.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Goodbye Charlie

Contemplating Charlie's crossing

ANZAC DAY 2009

Today, Anzac Day 2009, our good friend Charlie crossed the rainbow bridge. She was a grrreat Sheltie, whose mom has a heart of gold. We feel her mom’s pain and wish we could make it go away. We know it is always good to look back and remember. So here we go.

Charlie’s blog debuted on 2 June 2007, while ours started about a week later on 10 June. We were welcomed to the DWB family as # 506 on 17 June, while Charlie joined DWB as # 675 on 14 October. It took us until 4 November for us to sniff out Charlie and said hi. In that first post we read, she was remembering her brother Higgins. We were fortunate enough to be the seventh dog to sign her guest book.

Charlie remembering Higgins

Reverend Lady Charlie the Antediluvian

of Goosnargh on the Carpet

Charlie’s popularity soo sky rocketed past us. We were fortunate to celebrate Charlie’s 14 and 15th Barkdays on 20 December in 2007 and 2008. Charlie had a lot of friends and went on a many cyber adventures. CCCSI (Cat/Canine Crime Scene Investigators) comes to mind. Our favorite adventure was the Hijinx cruise back on 8-11 May 2008. She went on a virtual tour of the Caribbean and stopped by Key West to have some pirate dog grog with us. It was there we hooked up with our good pal Mack. Charlie gave us four awards, helped us find our noble titles and we treasure it all. We will miss you Charlie, old gal.

The May 08 Caribbean Boat Trip

Argg, it is Essex, err Black Dog the Pirate

As for Charlie’s mom, our hearts and thoughts go out to you. We hope you continue to visit us, we so love your gentle words. You made a tough call and if you doubt yourself, please once again read the word from a hundred years ago. On Anzac Day 2009, you were the one in the arena.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
~Theodore Roosevelt~
With Dog Dad, we do a twenty-one woof salute.

"Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof -- Woof, Woof, Woof."
Dog Speed on your journey across the rainbow bridge dear friend,

Essex, Deacon & Dog Dad

Growing Old With Dogs

A friend that our Dad works with sent him this link ( http://www.greatdanepro.com/Growing%20Old/index.htm ) that has a poem about growing old with dogs. It really struck home with Dad, especially after reading Charlie's latest post. Now Dad can't compete with the person that put that site together, so he recommends you go visit it. If you have some time left over, go visit Charlie too, his Mom will appreciate the support.

As for the poem, it touches the heart of a dog person. We don't think people other than those that have allowed an animal to touch their soul will understand. Then of course that very quality describes a DWB hooman.

Dog Speed

Essex & Deacon

The Conch Republic

Flag of the Conch Republic Flag

from Wikipedia

We are celebrating Conch Republic Independence Day (23 April) this week. There are different things to see during the week, to include a battle between a Coast Guard Boat and the Conch Republic Navy. We hear there is plenty of toilet paper to be seen during that battle.

The story of the Conch Republic Independence Day starts with the US Border Patrol setting up a road blocks on US 1 in 1982. They stopped people looking and searched for drugs and illegal immigrants. Well, the folks in Key West seceded from the US. They hit a Navy Guy over the head with a loaf of bread and surrendered one minute later back to the US.

A lot of people enjoy the festivities around this time. Click on the Conch Republic link to find out more about this nutty place we call home.

As for us, we enjoy Angel Paws. Two new dogs stopped by today. A cairn terrier puppy named Sparky and a cross breed named Schroeder. Showing up today was Chance and Copper too, who show up to the Angel Paws about once a month or so. Dr. Ollie was at his best, licking Deacon's mouth and cleaning his teeth. Ollie loved having another cairn terrier to run around with.

Dr. Ollie Cleaning Deacon Teeth

Ollie resting

Sparky, a Cairn Terrier Puppy

Schroeder & Ollie

Schroeder

Chance
Copper

Essex watching for traffic

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Wabbit Ears

We hope everyone had a grrrreat Easter Weekend. Ours was pretty good except for having to wear wabbit ears for awhile. One of these day we will get an Elmer Fudd hat and then trick Dog Dad into wearing it. We wonder if we will still get the cheese for wearing the ears. Dad spent Saturday doing something called taxes. He sure gets focused and ignores us, when he does taxes. Do you get ignored when your pawrents do taxes?

Wearing Wabbit Ears

We were a little sad last week, because Bear and Jack left Friday morning and headed up North to Virginia. We will definitely miss the antics of those two. Then of course people always come and go at Angel Paws.

Bear is handsome pupster

Jack, the canine ping pong ball

If you get a chance go wish Ludo a Happy Barkday. He is a grrreat pupster.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Charlie's Pawsome Idea

Our cyber paw friend Charlie frequently has pawsome ideas and this is one of them. She started the first ever all-animal lyric-writing bee!

Here are the specs:
Using the song "From Both Sides Now" as a model, write your own lyrics for one or more verses that reflects your life and views as an animal, then post them on your blog, link back to Charlie's DogBlog, then stop by and leave Charlie a comment that you've participated. No time limit, and no tagging necessary, just spread the news by patter of paw, linking to Charlies post. TELL YOUR FRIENDS TELL YOUR HUMANS TELL EVFURRYBODY!

Our version is below, we hope you enjoy it.

Woofs and tufts of shaggy tail,

On a mission we will not fail,

Things to chase everywhere,

We have Angel Paws to defend.

But the tourists now are few
Disappear like morning dew
All are leaving right on cue.
The dog park we defend
We chase trailers passing by,
Then bid evil golf carts good bye,
We won’t see them until the fall
Then again the fence will call.

Now the humans they are few
Where they've gone we’ve not a clue
So we just have to sit and wait

‘til someone passes by our gate

June, July and August heat

We sure look for an icy treat

No we don’t chase a silly ball,
We just wait until the fall

Then we no longer play pretend
Again the park we defend
We bark at things passing by
All framed by an azure sky

So we chase them left and right,
Give them all a dog gone fright
It's collie dogs now in control
And collie dogs love fence patrol.
So we chase them left and right,
Bark till they are out of sight
It's collie dogs now in control
And collie dogs love fence patrol.