Lola Needs a Home

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Lola Needs a Home of Her Own
Lola is in Canada, and needs a home of her own…

Hey, have you been looking for a super deluxe, pre spoiled, ready to install lapdog v. 2.0? One with most of the bugs already worked out? One that’s been field tested and approved for day to day family snuggling and cookie eating?

Then check out this little cutie pie from over on French Bulldog Village –

Admit it – this is the dog you’ve been waiting for.  The sweet, gentle, people-loving Frenchie who will cuddle up with you on the couch while you eat popcorn and watch movies, read a good book, or take a nap.  Who knows, maybe she’s a sports fan?  She loves her people, so whatever you like to do will be just fine with her, as long as it isn’t too athletic.  Lola is a friendly and outgoing girl who likes children, other dogs, and pretty much everyone she meets. She would, however, prefer to be your only furry resident; at her age, she doesn’t want or need to be pushed aside by the younger crowd. A home with one or two good natured dogs would probably be just fine.

Lola is one of the luckier Frenchies on the French Bulldog Bus. Until now, she had a loving home.  Her owner wishes she could stay, but he has to move where pets are not allowed, so sweet Lola needs to find a retirement home of her own.

It’s tough to be uprooted when you’re an older girl, but Lola’s taking it like a champ.   Her sweet personality keeps shining through. There’s a little grey around her muzzle but her heart is pure Frenchie gold.  Lola’s always been a good girl and she’s in good health.  Well, maybe a little “middle-aged spread,” but nothing abnormal.  She does take thyroid pills every day but it’s a very inexpensive medication, and she takes her pills without any fuss. She’s up to date on her veterinary care.  Lola has been well cared for all her life, and she has no known traumas or illnesses. She’s just, like the rest of us, getting up there in years.

Lola has excellent manners, with crate training and house training under her belt.  She has the ability to slip into your household and settle down as comfortably as if she’s always lived there.

Lola needs a loving forever home to put her Frenchie feet up and nap next to a nice warm human being. She’s a lovely brindle girl and very photogenic and would be delighted to pose with you on your next set of holiday cards. Don’t you need a cuddly Frenchie to snuggle with?  Lola is waiting for you!

Come on, you know you have room for one more Frenchie on your lap. Lola is a little old lady who just wants a chance to live out her life in a peaceful, loving home. If you’re that home, then go on over to the French Bulldog Village and fill out an application form.

Here are Lola’s basic stats (note that she’s in Canada, and can’t be shipped):

Location: Castleton, Ontario, Canada
Email: Lola
Age: 11 years
Gender: Spayed female
Weight: 28 pounds
Color: Brindle
Cost to Acquire: $250.00 to be donated to rescue
Shipping: No

(Note: Lola is not mine, and I have no say in her placement or adoption. To inquire about Lola, please use the links I’ve provided)

Yours Feets is Fishie Food

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Little fishies nibble your toes...

Here’s a new idea for a beauty treatment – stick your feet into a basin of warm water, so a gaggle of fishies can nibble off all the dead crusty bits.

Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.

“This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet,” Ho said.

Well, God – of course I want to have nice feet. It’s right up there in my priority list with world peace and ending the conflict in Darfur, so of course the idea of letting a school of hungry fish snack on my toes sounds swell.

The fish used at the spa are Garra Rufa – a small, toothless variety of carp, sometimes known as the doctor fish or Kangal fish. They’re used to treat various skin conditions, psorasis in particular, and have long been a spa treatment in Turkey.

In 2006, the fish started appearing at luxury spas in parts of Asia, and there are now doctor fish spa treatments available in South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and China. It’s understandable that the fish would be more readily accepted in areas where natural cures, including animal based ones, have always remained popular. DC spa owner John Ho was less sure that DC area pedicure customers would be as open to the idea.

(Ho) didn’t know if customers would like the idea.

“I know people were a little intimidated at first,” Ho said. “But I just said, ‘Let’s give it a shot.’ ”

…

Dennis Arnold, a podiatrist who four years ago established the International Pedicure Association, said he had never heard of the treatment and doubts it will become widespread.

“I think most people would be afraid of it,” he said.

Customer Patsy Fisher, 42, of Crofton, Maryland, admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure. But her apprehension dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes.

I’m due for a trip to DC – ironically enough, my first stop when there is usually down to the seafood market, so this is sort of a ‘turn about is fair play’ type situation. Fish feed me, then I feed the fish. Sounds fair. But doesn’t it hurt?

Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Maryland, heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was “the best pedicure I ever had” and has spread the word to friends and co-workers.

“I’d been an athlete all my life, so I’ve always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely,” she said.

First time customer KaNin Reese, 32, of Washington, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: “It kind of feels like your foot’s asleep,” she said.

Read the rest of the story here on CNN, or feel free to check out the video of some hungry Doctor fish in action. Sushi anyone?

Newsflash redux: People more stupid than previously thought possible

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Remember the Frenchie who died from heat exhaustion after her owner left her in the car at the mall?

At the time, I wasn’t sure I could conceive of a stupider (and more cruel) way to have killed your dog than because of a mall shopping emergency, but it’s good to know that people are setting that stupid bar even higher every day. Turns out that scented candle withdrawal wasn’t the real reason why they just had to leave her in the car on a sweltering July day.

From the Daily News Tribune –

WATERTOWN —

Two Waltham residents will be charged with animal cruelty after their dog died of massive heat trauma from being left inside a car outside the Watertown Mall.

According to Watertown police, a 39-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman who shared ownership of the dog will be summonsed to Waltham District Court. No date has been set yet.

On July 16 at 12:42 p.m., police responded to a call from Main Street at Church Street with reports of an injured dog.

Upon arrival the couple 3-year-old female French bulldog appeared “limp and unconscious” with no signs of trauma. The couple told police they left the dog unattended in their car for close to a half hour while inside the Watertown Mall at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

The couple reportedly told police that they took the dog with them to prevent her from peeing inside their home.

“They didn’t want to leave it alone,” said Lt. Detective Michael Lawn.

Honestly, have people never heard of crates? They are these magical inventions that have been around for eons. And yes, I know that Frenchies possibly one of the most frustrating dogs alive when it comes to housebreaking. I’ve seen skilled trainers reducing to quivering bundles of nerves after a run in with a French Bulldog and a Persian rug, but holy cow, the options other than roasting your dog to death in car are almost legion. Wee wee pads, puppy diapers, crating, tile floors… or just re home the poor thing to someone willing to deal with it.

There’s just no excuse for this, none at all.The only consolation is that it looks like they will be facing charges after all –

O’Reilly said causing an animal to be subjected to unnecessary cruelty or suffering is a felony in Massachusetts, and is punishable by imprisonment for up to two and a half years and a fine of $2,500.

If you’re in the Massachusetts area, rest assured that I will be blogging the shit out of this story, and nagging you all to go to court and heckle these dog murdering scumbags into next week.

Tessa doesn't like crowds, and Petal has a secret

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Keady MarketIt was cool and overcast this morning, so we decided to bring Tessa with us when we went to Keady market. It’s very dog friendly – lots of people bring their dogs with them, and so long as you avoid the livestock areas, there’s no problems taking them through the entire market.

The market today was the most crowded I’ve ever seen it – a combination of nice weather and prime tourist season, I suppose. Keady is right on the road north to Tobermory, a popular tourist spot, and a lot of local literature pumps it up as a ‘great place to see real! live! farm animals! It was wall to wall people, with more than the usual complement of ‘free kitten’ hawkers present.

What’s with that, anyways? Why would you haul your yard bred kittens all the way to the market, and sit around all day waiting for someone to take them away, when you could just spay your cat? I don’t quite get the logic in that.

Petal the CatOur ‘own’ cat, Petal, has some rather strange secret life that Sean and I haven’t quite figured out yet. She comes to our porch for her meals, twice daily and as regular as clockwork. Seriously, you can almost set your clock by her, she’s so regular. What’s strange, though, is that we have no idea where she goes for the rest of the day. We’ve seen her trotting across the road, apparently from our neighbour the bucket hoarder.

We’ve speculated that she’s actually their cat – she seems to live there. If so, why don’t they feed her? They can’t possibly be feeding her, we’re sure of it – she chows down simply incredible amounts of food when she’s at our place, and she was skinny and malnourished when we first noticed her. She was also covered in fleas, which we treated her for.

So, if she is their cat, she’s not being well cared for, which means I should have no qualms about simply taking her and making her into an indoor cat, right? It’s not so simple, however, in large part because the bucket guy sort of scares me a little bit, seeing as how he’s kind of a hermit and we only ever see him when he drives down the driveway to get his mail (which he does from inside his truck). Sean doesn’t want confrontation with him, partially because he might be crazy, and partially because he’s our closest neighbour. For now, then, Petal comes here for her meals, and goes wherever it is she goes in between. This is going to have to change come winter time, however, as I can’t stand the thought of her being out there in the cold. I have an appointment to take her in for a spay next week, and don’t see why she can’t just stay inside the house for good afterwards. Outside cats disappear all the time, right?

Tessa at Keady marketToday at Keady was the first time that Tessa really seemed unhappy out in public. She didn’t seem comfortable in the crowds – she kept getting confused, and worried when she couldn’t see me. Finally Sean just picked her up and carried her, which she accepted as her Princess-like due, and which gave her a great view of the livestock areas. I think that might have been her last trip to anyplace so crowded and busy, as she really didn’t seem to enjoy it, and I couldn’t relax because she was so stressed out.

I think from now on I’ll stick to bringing her places that are less crowded, like the ice cream stand, and for short walks in Durham. Farmer’s markets and other places with big crowds just aren’t enjoyable for her anymore, and Tessa’s happiness is incredibly important to me.

Lesson Learned – Don't answer the phone, ever

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Last night was a rather stellar example of why I make it a habit to almost always let the phone go to voice mail.

First call:

Caller: Hi, you have puppies, right?

Me: We don’t have any puppies right now, sorry.

Caller: But your ad says you do.

Me: We don’t actually have an ad.

Caller: OK, well, on your website it says “Available puppies”. So I want to know which ones are available.

Me: But if you’d clicked the link, you would have seen that it says “We have no available puppies”.

Caller: Then maybe you shouldn’t put up ads that say you do!

Second call:

Caller: Hi, I’m calling about your French Bulldogs. I was wondering if you could tell me more about the breed, like how they are with kids, and their breeds standard, and their health issues and genetic concerns… stuff like that. (it sounded very much as if she was reading off of a list)

Me, noticing that it’s after 11 pm: Well, it’s sort of late, and I have a website that has pretty much all of that info on it already – I can give you the site address. (it’s http://www.frenchbulldogplanet.com, by the way)

Caller: I’ve seen most of the websites.

Me: Well, there are also some really good books I can recommend.

Caller: I have bought some books already.

Me: Umm, then what is it you still really need to know about Frenchies? (At eleven o’ clock at night?)

Caller: Well, nothing really – I just sort of would like to test out how much you know! I read someplace that that’s how you can tell if someone is a good breeder.

Me: Ummm, I’ve had Frenchies for almost twenty years, so…

Caller: But you might not have read those books like I did!

Me: Well, I wrote most of the on line suggested book lists.

Caller: But that doesn’t mean you read the books!

Me: Look, it’s really late, and we don’t have any puppies, and I designed those sites pretty much so I’d have one central place to send people to for breed info.

Caller: Ha, so you won’t tell me what you know, then?

Me: I’ll tell you that I don’t want you to own one of my puppies, because any dog that had to live in the same house with you would probably try to throw itself in front of a bus.

Then I hung up.

She called back three times, leaving increasingly irate messages, and this morning I found this email in my inbox:

You were SO RUDE TO ME last night, suggesting a dog of mine would do suicide. I could sue you for defamation of character for that, did you know? Instead I will start a website of my own telling people how HORRIBLE you are and that you don’t even know anything about French bulldogs.

I haven’t responded yet, but I did re-learn a valuable lesson – never, ever answer the phone. Oh, and it’s probably not a good idea to read email, either.