Farewell, sweet Lenny

Lenny died last night after having a stroke. He lived a happy 12 years, 7 of which were shared with our family. He brought us joy and humor every single day.

Thank you to all of Lenny's wonderful DWB friends for some great memories. He is with some of them now.

RIP Lenny, 7/12/1998 - 3/20/2011
Thank you, sweet little buddy

Transported animals

My mom has been having a lot of fun meeting new dogs and taking them from the shelter to new foster homes.

FALCOR

This is Falcor (named after the Luck Dragon in "The Neverending Story"), who got the new name "Cory." He was at our local shelter and is now being fostered by Indianapolis Great Pyrenees Rescue. Do you think he looks like the original Falcor?

Cory is SO BIG that my mom couldn't fit him in her little car - her friend lent her car and helped drive him to Indianapolis. You can read all about Cory on Petfinder - I hope he finds a new home soon!

SHILOH

Mom's next transport was an Australian Shepherd named Shiloh. He was another big boy and traveled in a crate, so another one of my mom's friends helped her drive him. Poor Shiloh has heartworm and is being treated in foster care, and he got the new name "Babaloo!" You can read more about him at the New Spirit 4 Aussie Rescue website.

BARNABY!

Check out this sweet little guy!

Of course, Mom prefers to transport wire fox terriers whenever she can, and a couple weeks ago she got to drive BARNABY! Isn't he adorable? He loved riding "shotgun" and watching the world go by. His nose prints are still on the window of our car - they need to clean that up so I can leave mine!

Another picture of Barnaby, in which I think he resembles Yours Truly. Very handsome, of course.

Barnaby has TWO websites - on Petfinder, and on the website for Wire Fox Terrier Rescue Midwest. There are plenty of WFTs that need homes too! How about Barnaby?

TEAM LENNY!

I have started a team to help out my fellow dogs that need new homes. Maybe even a few kitty cats too. Our humane association is hosting a "Walk for the Animals" on October 3rd, and I am gathering my friends to raise a few bucks for the animals in the shelter. The MCHA also offers my therapy dog training classes, and has a therapy dog group called VIPaws. It is a good cause and I am happy I can help, because I don't have any money!

Please check out my fundraising site!


Here are all of the fun activities for that afternoon:

1:45PM Musical Sit
2:10PM Argus K-9 Search and Rescue Demonstration
2:25PM Flying Paws Agility Demo
2:40PM Doggie Costume Contest
3:00PM Recall Relay
3:30PM Argus K-9 Search and Rescue Demonstration
3:45PM Fundraising Prizes Awarded
Ongoing Activities: Agility Try-It, Doggie Dash Obstacle Course, Canine Water Park/Off-Leash Play, Pawfect Pedicures Nail Painting Station, Pet/Human Caricatures, Adoptable Animals from the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter, Kids Carnival with balloon animals, face painting, games, animals and more! Human massages, Vendor Marketplace benefiting MCHA, Nose, Nails and Tails trims from Joyful Hound Mobile Grooming, Booths from sponsors and other animal welfare non-profits.

Do you have maybe $5 to spare to join Team Lenny and support the shelter animals? Or can you help your own local shelter in some way? The animals - and I! - thank you!!

Pet Partners!

I've gotta tell my mom CONGRATULATIONS! She and I have been going to therapy dog classes for almost a year now. This weekend, she completed her human coursework side of things. She even got a nice little certificate! Now we just have to take the evaluation test together to become a registered Pet Partners team through the Delta Society. Our local branch is called VIPaws. One hurdle is that we are waiting for the Delta Society to make a ruling on whether my bald legs are acceptable or not - no leg warmers allowed when visiting!

And congratulations to my dad too! He was in the paper (Herald Times) yesterday. It was not his favorite picture, but Mom and I thought he looked pretty darn cute.

He always looks like he's having a great time when he conducts. His orchestra has a big season coming up.

Mom has also transported some more great dogs - including a fox terrier again! She got asked to transport an alligator named Elvis but declined the opportunity. I'll put information about Barnaby, the WFT, up tomorrow. He needs a good home!

Opera Dog

You might remember that my dad is a conductor and my mom works at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. So we have a pretty musical family. Including me! I like to sing along when my mom plays high notes on the flute.

However, I don't think I come close to the talent of Duca the Dalmation.

Duca belongs to one of the opera/voice teachers at the JSOM, Carlos Montane', and she goes to school with him all the time. (It's against the rules, but, hey, Duca's a diva.) Duca will even stop by in my mom's office for a treat every now and then.

And did I mention? She even speaks German.

Here she is, the diva herself.

DWB Friends! Maggie and Mitch

I was a very lucky dog this past week. While my family was on vacation, I got to meet some of my oldest and best buddies from Dogs With Blogs -
Maggie & Mitch, and Scruffy, Lacie, and Stan!

The Vacation Dude

Driving back from our week in Maine, we stopped first to meet Maggie and Mitch and their mom, who was super nice and adorable! I think their mom is older than my mom, but their mom looked younger! While the people had a lovely lunch and chatted and admired their gorgeous farmhouse, Maggie and Mitch and I hung out.


Can you believe that I've NEVER met an Airedale in the fur before?

"WHAT?!?"

It's true. I was lucky enough that Maggie and Mitch were the first Airedales I ever got to meet. And they set the standard pretty darn high!

Mitch is an all-around great guy! He could sense that I was a "senior" dog and took it easy with me. He also made total goo-goo eyes at my mom. She was in love.

And the guy can tell a good joke! He was awesome!

And this was no surprise... Maggie was gorgeous! I was glad I dressed up in my party bandana so I would look nice for her.

I gotta tell ya, for such an elegant girl, she has some impressive facial hair. Her beard is great.

Maggie has always been my very special friend because her birthday is exactly two days before mine, in the same year! We are practically "twins"!

Of course, our people wanted us to pose for a picture all together. We did not feel like cooperating.

This was the best shot we got. Maggie has a very "top model" pose, doesn't she? Maybe she should be on Pawject Runway!

Thank you for such a lovely get-together, Maggie and Mitch! I was so happy to finally meet you!

In my next post: Meeting the Holy Terriers!

More DWB Friends! Scruffy, Lacie, and Stan

How many terriers can you count in this picture?

I got to meet Scruffy, Lacie and Stan! Their mom was nice enough to pack them all in the car and meet us EARLY in the morning, even though it was about to rain! She brought us to a nice park in their neighborhood.

Is that you, SCRUFF MAN???

Now we are so happy, we do the DANCE OF JOY! Hey!


Here, Scruffy is doing the long-awaited comparison... who has the longer foxy legs? Surprise! It is Scruffy! My NBA-sized legs are just a teeny bit smaller. It might be an optical illusion though, considering my legs are slightly, um, balding, and he has luscious, full legs.


Drumroll, please....


There she was, the incomparable Lacie. Truly a princess and a diva.


Now, I know that Lacie has a lot of admirers, and a lot of love interests, but she was TOTALLY playing hard-to-get with me. I think it's because I was so nervous I forgot to put on my party bandana.

Stanley proudly led our terrier parade through the park.

"Here we come...walking down the street...

We get the funniest looks from...all the dogs we meet...

HEY HEY we're the TERRIERS! And people say we bark too loud!

But we're too busy playing...to keep our voices down!"


Stan the Man started giving my mom the Airedale goo-goo eyes that Mitch tried earlier.


Hey, come on Scruffy, that's my MOM you're making out with! I will pretend not to be jealous.

...LACIE?? You too? You let my mom hold you and you won't kiss me???
So much for hard-to-get.

I got to say my good-byes to everyone after my mom stopped giving out kisses willy-nilly. My terrier buddies were nice enough to send me off with a goodie bag full of really fun toys! I squeaked them the WHOLE WAY home! My people loved it.

Thanks, Scruffy, Lacie, and Stan - it was so pawesome to meet you! My parents really enjoyed meeting you and your mom.

I can't wait for another road trip - who will I get to meet next?

Vacation...

I am going to Maine to see my nana and other family!

And...I may get to meet a few DWB friends while I'm gone...keep your paws crossed! I'll be sure to post pictures when I get back.

I hope you are enjoying the summer! (I've had a lot going on that I need to blog about!)

Franklin/Vote for Lenny!

My cousin Franklin, who is 7 months old, has not yet developed a stomach of steel like I have over the years. He got in to the Easter candy and ate a lot of dark chocolate yesterday! (The cat knocked it off of the high counter top it was sitting on.) He got really sick and had to spend the night in the ICU with the vet. The good news is that he is doing better and he can come home today from the hospital. Please keep your paws crossed for him, and stay away from those human treats!

I am in the running in a fashion photo contest by the website BaxterBoo.com! I entered my Christmas picture in my dashing argyle sweater. Would you please vote for me?

http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/27576/voteable_entries/3688024

The contest ends April 15th, and you can vote every day until then.
Thanks a lot!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I don't have a green bandana to wear, unfortunately. My mom is part Irish so she is enjoying the day. She and my dad are off this weekend to Louisville, KY to see the Kentuckiana Cluster Dog Show!!! WITHOUT me!!

I went to the Vet for a checkup on Saturday. I was expecting my usual "he looks great for his age!" That didn't happen. He did say that my skin looks great - but allergy season is about to start up again with springtime. Anyway, my back legs are a little creaky and sore and my teeth are building up plaque - but I am "too old" to have the anesthesia to get them cleaned. Also, I now have a heart murmur which we will monitor. I don't have any symptoms yet, but in the future it might slow me down a little bit. I may be a distinguished mature dog of 11 1/2 but I think I look great.

Winter blues

It has been a rough new year, hasn't it?
I am missing my friends who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I am especially sad that Wally is gone. He was so funny and so smart.

Do you remember I told you that my friend Tobie crossed the Bridge? Well, a couple weeks later, her brother Stoney followed her. He had been really healthy but suddenly cancer developed in his bones.


I am glad that they are together now, but sad too.
My family has several people friends who are fighting cancer right now too, so we are thinking of them. Two are doing quite well but one is just beginning treatment and it is very hard on her. If you have an extra prayer or thought to send their way, that would be pawsome.

But there are happy things going on too.

My new cousin Franklin is getting really big! He's grown to about ten pounds! He's a piebald dachshund. I'm happy that he is healthy and getting along well with his kitty brother and my Uncle Walter, my nana's wiener dog.


Have you been watching the Olympics?


My dad and I have been. He likes watching all the skiers. My mom likes the speed skaters. I am cheering for the United States and Canada mostly, but for nice people from all of the other countries too. My nana gets to go to the Olympics next week for her job! She will get to see some hockey games.

Me in my Pawlimpics shirt

I'm not sure the people are as talented as all of my canine friends, though. Do you remember the 2008 Pawlimpics? A very talented bunch, all of us. For some nostalgia and good will and world peace I am re-posting the original Pawlimpics Bone Relay. There are some friends in there who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge since then; we can remember them fondly and be thankful for all of our DWB friends around the world.

Reporting from the doggie hotel

My people left me at the kennel so they could fly away and have fun with their family at Christmas. I'm stuck here at the local "animal country club" until the new year. It's really not so bad but I wish they would hurry back.

I did get a very cool holiday gift before they left - a Dog Spinny by Nina Ottosson!! I have wanted one of these kinds of toys ever since I saw the video of Jackson playing with his Dog Brick.

My mom got to help bring a wire fox terrier home from a shelter. His name is Oscar and you can read all about the organization that got him home - Wire Fox Terrier Rescue Midwest. This "before" picture of him is from their website. I hope he gets a really nice new family.


Thank you to my buddies for all of your wonderful cards! I hope you are having very happy holidays, and best wishes in the new year!

Good and bad, happy and sad

I met Santa Paws this weekend!

I have been a little bit naughty so I tried not to ask for too much. :) Plus I look like a devil dog with those eyes! My mom was not Santa at the event; she got to be the "line coordinator" - boring!

I also got some sad news today. My old friend Tobie, who used to be my neighbor, is crossing the rainbow bridge today. She got bone cancer that progressed really quickly. Five years ago, she was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer, which went into remission, so I am glad she had those extra happy years with her dad and brother Stoney.


I wish I had more pictures of us together. She is on the left in both pictures.

Have you seen this video on YooToob? My mom and dad BOTH cried. It is a really nice doggie story.


I finished my DWB Christmas cards yesterday and put them in the mail! I hope you get them soon!

My new cousin!

Hello! I am slowly trying to catch up with everyone but I have not made much progress. I hope to over Thanksgiving!

I am very excited because today my new cousin arrives! He will live with my mom's sister and brother-in-law in Connecticut, so I might not get to meet him in person for a little while.


Franklin is a piebald miniature dachshund. "Frankie" for short!

Don't forget, if you're looking to add another dog to your family, you can always go to your local shelter or petfinder.com and save a life!

Some funny news - my mom is going to be taking pet pictures with Santa at our local PetCo on December 5th, to raise money for our local animal shelter. She will either be the photographer, the elf, or Santa!!! She doesn't know yet!

Happy Halloween!

Hi everybody! Thanks everybody for asking about how I am doing. It is nice to know I have such nice friends who care about me. I am fully recovered from the incident this summer and I am doing great, but nobody has had time to help me write or read blogs. My mom is taking a class called Organic Chemistry and she is really stressed about it. But that is no excuse. I can't wait to hear about what everyone has been up to because I've missed you so much!


Here it is, my most humiliating picture of the year - in my Halloween costume. Lenny the Lobster. This is the one time of year that my mom gets to dress me up. (That and when Ohio State plays Michigan - I have a special Buckeye sweatshirt for the game.)


You have to admit, I make crustacean look GOOD! But it did take a lot of bribing before I would tolerate a photo session.


I think I would feel a little more dignified if the costume didn't have the googly eyes.

In other news, the nice people at National Geographic sent me a new book that is being released today, called "DogTown." There is a TV show on the National Geographic Channel with the same name, which I had seen and enjoyed before via the magic of Netflix. Dog Town is part of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, a very large and successful no-kill facility.


This book gets two big paws up from me! Each chapter introduces a dog that arrived at Dog Town, what help they received, and their story of what happened to them after they arrived. You learn the individual personalities and stories of the dogs, and you also get to know many of the people who work at Dog Town through their interactions. You get very connected in just a few pages!

While the book obviously is praising all of the good work that Dog Town does, it is not afraid to deal with controversial topics as well. Right off the bat, the first chapter is about Michael Vick's pit bulls and efforts to rehabilitate some of them. What impressed me was that when Best Friends disagreed with the Humane Society or PETA, or another group working for animals, they presented the other viewpoints very fairly, explaining both sides of the issue. I appreciated that.

There are a lot of successful adoption stories for dogs that probably wouldn't have had a chance anywhere else. The dogs that make it to Dog Town are very lucky for all of the care that they receive and it's too bad that they don't have room for everybody who needs a new home! It is evident that the people at Dog Town know that every dog is special and deserves a chance to heal. There are definitely some tear-jerker moments.

So I recommend this uplifting book, and the TV show as well if you have not seen it! I liked it so much that I would like to share it with someone. If you would like me to send you the book, leave me a comment by November 1 and I will pick one lucky pup at random. Or you can find it anywhere books are sold, and get more info at www.nationalgeographic.com. Thanks National Geographic!

Have a very happy Halloween, and remember - no chocolate!!

What am I, lunch??

I am a very lucky and thankful dog today.
Over the weekend I got attacked by an aggressive dog. He tried to eat me!
You can see where his jaws were around my neck.


It was really scary, but it could have been a lot worse and I feel very lucky to be okay. Just a couple of little holes.

Plus I got to go to a vet who gushed about how handsome and amazing I look for my "mature and distinguished" (thanks Gus!) 11 years.


It happened very quickly or else I'm sure I could have scared him away first. :)

I'm a tough guy and I'm feeling pretty good, but I'm milking this for all it's worth - treats, a nice cozy spot on the people bed, and lots of belly rubs.

I can't wear my collar for a little while but I should be fine in about a week.