A Tribute to Mr. Bumby

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Mr. Bumby – a True Gentleman

Bumble WineI meant to write about this earlier, but time and a bad email filing system got the better of me, and I do apologize for the lateness of this tribute.

Mr. Bumby, beloved baby boy of David and Theresa of Chicago, passed away last summer.

It took his mom Theresa a while to be able to write the email I’ve quoted from below, because when are hearts have been torn in two, words tend to fail us.

I’ll let Theresa herself tell you more about Mr. Bumby –

We lost the battle – in such a massive and heartbreaking way. August 16th, 2007 – our beloved Mr. Bumby was peacefully and respectfully escorted to the rest he so needed and deserved. He never gave up in spirit, but the physical failed him on all fronts. We all tried so hard – Mr. Bumby, David, I and the team of veterinary specialists we worked with – to no avail.

You’ve no idea how much we loved that man and how much happiness he brought to our lives. Not just ours alone – but to all of our friends and family – and I’m pretty sure he made our neighborhood a better place too. He was such an ambassador of good will, at all times, and had such a loving personality – that’s just who he was from day one, I think. The influx of cards and flowers and well wishes we received after his passing was astounding – and I think that alone speaks volumes, coming at a time when just the ‘common courtesy’ isn’t that common in most peoples’ daily routines. Dealing with his illness and having to make the decision on when it was time to say goodbye were the most painful situations I’ve been through. And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. There’s not been a day since August when at least a few tears haven’t managed to sneak up on me at some point – but there’s no bitterness to them, mostly it’s just love and longing.

He is so very much missed.

I do apologize for taking so long to deliver the news; I hope you understand. I needed to let you know, and more importantly, I needed to thank you for the amazing contribution to the quality and happiness of our lives. I don’t think it’s exaggerating to say that I’d be a lesser person if I hadn’t had the pleasure of Mr. Bumby’s company – not to mention Maurice (aka the cow puppy).

BumbyI don’t know what I can add to such a tribute, except to say this – I can’t begin to say how much it means to me to know that he was loved so much by his people.

Every time we send a puppy out into the world, to a new home we can only hope we’ve done the best possible job in choosing, we are taking a leap of faith.

Learning of their deaths is always sad, since for the most part, my last memories of them are of their puppyhood. I can remember them only as they were in the time they were with me, so it’s sometimes hard for me to imagine them as adults, let alone as seniors.

I know Bumby had a wonderful life, which is as much as we can ever hope for our pups.

Weezie Iza Star, and Cows Gone Wild!

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Hey, check out who made it as the very FIRST Frenchie LOL on Ihasahotdog (LOL Cats – aka ICanHasCheezburger.Com – for dogs).

funny dog pictures

It’s Mz IzzyBella, now known as Weezie (or DevilDog, to the poor poor puggies who have to put up with her.

Like I said, I can see why she doesn’t make it onto all the fashionable birthday party guest lists. And we thought Paris Hilton was a Diva!

Holy Cows!

Looks like this has been a banner month for cows going nuts all over Ontario!

First I have my own run in with off roadin’, garden crashing, snowbank scaling cows, and now this –

No choice but to shoot runaway cow, police say

Cow Runnung Loose in Mississauga


Police shot and killed a steer that escaped from an overturned truck this morning, saying they had no choice because the animal was charging at people.“It charged at one of the officers, right at him, and he had no choice,” Provincial police Sgt. Dave Woodford said.

He explained that the animal had actually hit and thrown four other people in a residential neighbourhood of Mississauga. No one was seriously injured.

“These things are big animals and they’re just like bulls. When they charge at you, they’re going to throw you,” he said.

The steer escaped from a cattle truck, along with two cows and a bull. The truck overturned at about 6:40 a.m., snarling traffic on the Queen Elizabeth Way near Highway 427.

Two of the animals ended up in the backyard of a home on Brentano Boulevard.

Initially, the animals were peaceful, calmly munching away at the shrubs in the garden.

“They were rubbing up against my father’s shed. They were fine in the backyard. I guess when they tried to get them out of the backyard, that’s when they got really restless,” said resident Teresa Nimer-Boutros.

The steer got spooked when handlers tried to corral it and force it into a replacement truck. One of a number of portable iron gates used to guide the animals into the truck fell, scaring the steer. He knocked over the driver of the truck who was helping in the effort.

The rest of the story is here.

Poor cow. You kind of have to feel sorry for it, although if you think about what was likely facing them at the end of their journey, being shot by a policeman after a nice run through a garden and few mouthfuls of hedge probably seems like a better way to go out.

Puppy Blogging

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I’ve got a ton of new Solo photos for you to peruse, but I also have some sad news – Solo has gone over to the darkside. Living in a house full of cats has convinced him to join forces with the catnip licking, litter pan using axis of evil. Next thing you know, he’ll be up on top of the aquarium, staring at the fish. We’ll have to arrange for him to spend summer camps with Dexter, where he can re-learn such vital Frenchie skills as house peeing, toy stealing, dog wrestling and water dish tossing.

Dexter Dreaming DarklySpeaking of Dexter, he’s coming along quite nicely, although I still have days where I look at him and think “Pet?”.

That’s typical of French Bulldog boy at this age, though – they’re all gawky paws and big legs and round goofball heads. Seriously, we should be able to send them away to boarding school at this point, and get them back as polished young gents, rather than the gauche little nitwits they are at four months.

Here are some photos of him pretending to be a show dog.

Barb despairs, because I haven’t yet managed to get him to stand on a table, but every time I try to he falls over into a pile of puppy goo. I’ll send him off for show training boot camp in a few months, and I’m sure he’ll toughen up quite nicely. In the meantime, I think show prospects benefit from exposure to all the sights and sounds that living in a crazed household like ours affords.

Here’s a collection of some of the photos I’ve received of Frenchies with their new families. I have a ton more to add over the next little while, but I’ll probably wait til my beloved great white is back from the shop, because using the back up PC feels odd and alien to me.

In the meantime, here’s a slide show of wicked, wicked Izzy wrecking the ever patient Linus’ birthday party. No wonder she gets left off of guest lists!


French Bulldog Party in AZ!

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After reading this, I will never again think I am overdoing it by baking Tessa a cake for her birthday and making the other dogs wear funny hats. Duke sure knows how to throw a birthday bash! If you’re out there and read this, we’d love some more party pictures!

I am surprised, however, that Mz. Party Animal Iz-Eloise-Ice-Bat, was not on the party list.

Party Dog

I don’t think a party can truly be complete without her festive presence, do you?

Duke’s birthday party goes to the dogs

Sherry Anne Rubiano
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 19, 2008 08:06 AM

Duke Dohrmann knows how to party in style.

Duke, a French bulldog, donned a white bowtie for his 12th birthday celebration Thursday. About 125 pet owners and 70 pooches attended his party at the Sun City Grand pet park in Sonoran Plaza, near Sunrise Boulevard and Remington Drive.

Duke’s owners, Fred and Lois Dohrmann of Sun City Grand, began the tradition of throwing Duke a party four years ago.

   

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Fred and Lois Dohrmann of Sun City Grand began the tradition of throwing his French bulldog, Duke, a party four years ago. It has grown into a large-scale gathering that friends look forward to every year.

It has grown into a large-scale gathering that friends look forward to every year.

“Lois and I love to do this for our friends,” Fred said. “(I’m) so grateful to see all the beautiful dogs.”

Sun City Grand resident Lori Greenstein said she and her dog, a Basenji named Pokemon, have attended Duke’s parties from the beginning.

“It’s just really, really fun to watch this thing grow, the number of dogs and the number of people that come, and to see Duke,” Greenstein said.

This year, partygoers celebrated with ice cream from Karen’s Kreamery in Surprise, dog treats, cake and a live jazz band. Previous years have featured a mariachi band and other delicacies.

In lieu of birthday presents for Duke, Fred asked people to donate gifts to the Arizona Humane Society. They collected $400, 28 toys, and 25 pounds of pet food for the organization.

“He doesn’t need gifts,” Fred said. “There are so many animals that need help.”

13 Cutest French Bulldog Pieces on Etsy right now

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I love Etsy – I love everything about it, from the website design to the concept to the idea of supporting independent artists.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Etsy, it’s

a website which focuses primarily on providing the general public with a way to buy and sell handmade items. The site follows in the tradition of open craft fairs, giving sellers personal storefronts where they list their goods for a fee. It has been compared to “a crafty cross between Amazon and eBay” and “your grandma’s basement”.

As the description says, it’s a venue for artists to sell small numbers of hand crafted pieces – everything from fine art to low brow kitsch. I’ve found – and purchased – quite a few lovely French Bulldog pieces there, and many of the artists can make custom items, or items in a number of breeds.

Here are the thirteen cutest French Bulldog pieces I’ve recently found on Etsy (all images are linked directly from the seller’s page). Please note that since many pieces are either one of a kind or made in small numbers, something that’s available today might not still be there next week.

 

 

Kayann Works Spoiled French Bulldog Pendant

Kayann Works customs crafts these big, beautiful pendants onto Dominos. I own one, and wear it all the time, and plan to order a custom made pendant with Tessa on it. Side note: the leather she uses for a cord ‘sheds’ little bits of black guck, so request it on a satin ribbon, instead.

 

 

French Bulldog Cigar Label

There’s something about the face of the Frenchie on this faux Cigar box label from Rubenacker that just makes me happy – perhaps because I have a weakness for single hooded pieds, and their resemblance to Petey from Our Gang. Either way, this is one sweet art print.

 

 

Must Love Frenchies Pendant

Barrel of Monkeys does quite a few cute, funky, inexpensive Frenchie themed items. Their shrink plastic “Must Love Frenchies” pendants are fun, colorful and almost downright cheap, and would be great as a necklace or even as gift tags.

 

 

Iridescent Glass French Bulldog pendant

I love these gorgeous, iridescent glass pendants from Frums Glass Menagerie. They glisten in gorgeous shades of color, and people never fail to comment when I wear one of them. They do them in tons of colors and tons of breeds – and, again, this is an exquisite piece of hand made jewelery for a really great price.

 

 

BellaBella does mix n’ match Greeting Cards and envelopes that come in a lovely gift box with ribbon. Their cute pop art French Bulldog cards are great for an all purpose card, or for “New Puppy” announcements. People do still send things snail mail, right? I also think they’d look lovely framed as a cute little print – buy a pack of 8 cards, pop them into some frames from Ikea, and give them to Frenchie crazed friends as Christmas gifts or for fund raisers!

 

 

Vinatge French Bulldog Gig Poster

Again from BellaBella come these custom made, faux vintage gig posters, made with your dog’s image and tag line, and similar in feel to old indie band posters. Note that the dog on the poster is a Frenchie, and that their store is named after her. Is it any coincidence that so many artists also have Frenchies?

 

 

I am going to forgive the talented artists over at Penguin And Fish for creating a French Bulldog print that much more closely resembles a Boston Terrier, simply because I adore their work so much. I love the colors, the brush work, the funky retro feel and the illustration-esque look of their work. We’ll work on getting them to use a more Frenchie looking Frenchie in their future pieces.

 

 

This is a cute, colorful print from Lady Artista. She can work from your dog’s image, or has several Frenchie prints available. I love seeing animal portraits available in so many new, fresh styles. There’s something out there now for just about anyone’s taste.

 

 

French Bulldog Family in Cafe

I don’t know what it is, but something about this painting of French Bulldogs in a Parisian Cafe appeals to me. I love how the woman in the couple seems to be nursing a hangover. Looking after three Frenchies will do that to you, trust me. Stylistically, this is worlds away from most of the custom animal portraits out there – remember when just about all you could get were pen and ink sketches, or paint by number-esque acrylics? This is a print from a custom painting by Lou Marek.

 

 

Another piece from Rubenacker – the same artist who created the ‘vintage’ cigar box label above. This guy sure has a way with Frenchies, and his coloring is soft and beautiful. He paints many different breeds, all of which are lovely and true to breed type, even when he’s doing funky prints like his Boston Terrier Aviators and Astronauts.

 

 

Oh, this is one of my favorites. The flying, surrealistic Frenchie is a lovely memorial. Welcome to the Doghouse does great custom work, or their prints are wonderful for framing. Like Rubenacker, many of their prints have subjects which are great fun – check out their flying Bostons, and their Cheetos Sloth.

 

 

Dog Art Studio does some incredible Frenchie pieces in soft watercolors. He offers prints, or custom pieces. I’m not a huge fan of watercolors, but these are quite nice.

 

 

Here’s another beautiful glass pendant, this one using a French Bulldog cigarette card. Squidglass does pieces with soft, antique colors, and uses fused glass. Lovely worksmanship, for really reasonable prices.

 

 

Felted French Bulldog and Bichon

Bonus item! Amelia Makes Art doesn’t have a French Bulldog listed on Etsy right now, but she has one in her album of completed commissions, and she specifies she can make one from your own dog’s photos. Her works are tiny, beautiful pieces of art, hand felted out of wool and bits of other things. They’re lovely. Oh, and she donates $10 from every commission to the Family Dogs New Life Shelter in Portland.

 

 

 

 

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