Regionals is next week! The weather promises to be hot, so I’m looking forward to my annual terrible sunburn that no sunscreen in the world can prevent, for some inexplicable reason. It’s already hot, Tweed would like you to know.
Less boiling please.
The tiny sun goddess is fine with the heat. Sometimes she just lays flat out in the grass and, like, revels in it. Or crawls into my lap to try and absorb all of mine too. Then she sneaks off into the shade to discharge some of the inferno she has internalized.
Dexter is cool with the heat.
He just shakes it off.
His limp is quite a bit better … I feel like I am the only one who would notice it now. But I wouldn’t run him unless he was 100%. He’s too damn crazy, and could *really* hurt himself flinging him around the equipment.
The fact that Spring has made a beeline for the shade every time we go out (hence why there are no photos of her in this entry) gives me no great hopes for her performance in the heat at Regionals! Fortunately, I have low expectations, so I can’t be all that disappointed with the results I guess. Silver lining and all that. To be honest, I am more looking forward to my 6 days of vacation/staycation that come right after Regionals than I am to the event itself. I am officially tired, and really need to recharge. The fact that competing this weekend makes me a bit scowly as it means no sleeping in for my first three days of staycation tells me just how body-and-soul exhausted I really am. The end of winter/spring is always hellish at work; for some reason adoptions fall way off, but intakes of dogs keeps increasing. Then suddenly dog adoptions pick up again and the shelter starts emptying out, and kitten season explodes. Everyone at work is bone-weary.
Except Rhumba, she’s just laughing. She is one of the lucky ones; she doesn’t realize she has no home.
This week she was featured in an article on VanCity Buzz which has been shared over 5000 times(!) but still no home.
Hello, I can haz home pleaze?
I am old enough to remember the days when shelters drew numbers out of a hat to pick an adopter for a small dog because they were so few and far between in the shelter system. Now they’re in shelters in abundance. I can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with the dozens and dozens of import “rescues” bringing little dogs into Canada by the truckload and handing them out like party favours, sometimes to homes that probably shouldn’t have them. They are starting to full-cycle already, in less than a decade – maybe less than five years! – with small dogs originally from places like California ending up in our local shelters looking for homes once again. And even when they aren’t, the dogs in our local shelters don’t stand a chance; they are “boring” with no SAVED FROM HIGH KILL SHELTER story attached to them, and we actually screen our potential homes. So they languish. Some weeks I avoid the kennels for days at a time because I can’t stand to see all the sad faces in the kennels.
Yep, I need my vacation pretty bad.
On another topic, this photo should be in the dictionary under “corruption”
THAT would be the Two Mighty Hunters leading the little astray, teaching them the ways of being naughty!
Naughty like killing moles that you don’t actually like the taste of, and have no intention of eating.
Moles that you later bring into the house and leave on the carpet for The Food Lady to step on in her bare feet. Probably so that your brother can laugh and laugh as TFL does the screeching OMGEWWGROSS!!! dance across the living room on one unbespoiled foot.
This photo is apropos of nothing, I just think it’s really really funny.
Anyway, wish us luck at Regionals! Come watch even – you’ll recognize us because Spring will be trotting through the courses while I do headstands and make monkey faces trying to bolster her spirits. Bah.
Susan says
your job is a tough one. I don’t doubt you need a week – or five – off! Rhumba looks like an outstanding dog – she’s bound to find a good home.
Hannah says
Our local shelters are bemoaning a similar problem, and someone pointed out that the general dog-adopting public seems to think the further the dog has traveled, the more special the dog or rescue experience. I am sadly seeing it a lot, too, just from asking people I bump into, “Oh, where did you adopt him?” Instead of “the shelter on Pine St!” I am hearing more and more “he is originally from Texas/California/Costa Rica!” And it is said with pride. I mean there is nothing wrong with it, per se, but it sure is, like you said, making our local dogs seem “boring” by comparison.
Good luck at Regionals and I love the photos as always!
riosmom says
Good luck at the regionals! Hope Spring surprises you and runs her little heart out for you. Have you tried wearing a big hat between runs? Forgive me if I am stating the obvious and something you already do but a friend did it to me yesterday when I spent all day outside in 92 degree weather. Have fun!
Robin L. says
Here in Montana rescues and shelters are still importing “California Littles” and have been for several years. It seems you are right about it being easy to get one now.
Liza says
Good luck at Regionals!
Sophie says
Good luck at Regionals! It definitely sounds like you need a vacation, so fingers crossed you get to relax for a while :)
suzanne says
since she is adorable and obviously gets along with the rest of your dogs it might seem, from 3,000 miles away, that Rhumba IS home :)
Karen says
Good luck at Regionals! Happy to see on FB yesterday that Rhumba now has a home!
Carol says
I admit that I have an imported California little. But the shelter I got him from does NOT advertise “rescued from death row”. The only way I know he is Californian is his original Rabies certificate and vet exam. The Portland area imports probably 40% of its shelter dogs. Which I guess is good, because it means the shelters’ no dog out the door without neutering policies and the local spay/neuter programs are working. Plus the social onus of buying a dog here. It is MUCH cooler to have an American Shelter Dog. Most of the local shelters are less expensive than the rescues, so they get more foot traffic. I think each organization is filling a niche. Plus there is a 10-organization coalition that helps each other out. The county shelters get help from the non-profit ones (transfers, etc).
lin says
Hmmm, maybe Canada should start sending little dogs down here. Especially short-haired ones to places like Arizona and Texas. Rescues could advertise them as being ‘SAVED FROM THE FROZEN TUNDRA’.
And good luck with Rhumba (and Gemma?). Although I know that you are keeping her happy and healthy, her true home is not with you. We are in the same situation with a foster dog who we have had for over a year. She really is a good girl, but no, we are NOT keeping her.
Erin says
Hey, looks like Rhumba was adopted a day after this posted, correct??!! Hooray!!