Meet Zack...

This is Zack!

When the G-man & I returned from our Arkansas trip Tuesday night

I could barely wait until the next morning to pick up Gertie

at Best Friends Kennel.

When I arrived there on Wednesday morning one of the women was very sad

because she had just been received a call that one of 

their long-time customers died the evening before. 

The wife of the gentleman wanted to find a home for Zack.

I asked what kind of dog & was told a little black Schnauzer.

Zack came out and was happy to be out and about again.

He had been in the kennel off and on for about 4 or 5 months

because the gentleman would come home from the hospital

and then a few days later have to return, so back to the kennel Zack would go.

Gertie met Zack and they seemed to get along just fine

in the few minutes they were together.

After a quick call to the G-man to see if we could "try out" the dog,

the three of us, Gertie, Zack & Cheryl, were on our way home.

This little fellow is so smart and he absolutely loves the G-man

(well who wouldn't love him).

Zack has settled in just fine. When the G-man sits in his chair

Zack immediately jumps in his lap... he is a man's dog.

The only problem that has arisen is with Miss Kitty.

She is not happy at all & just doesn't want to be around the patio

where she usually likes to hang out.

I'm hoping that she will soon adjust... she did have a 

period of adjustment when Gertie & I came into their lives.

As some of you on Facebook know, I had a terrible night on Wednesday.
I couldn't stop thinking of all the reasons why we don't need another dog,
experiencing sadness for the loss of Zack's master,
and wondering how I can get Miss Kitty to accept a new family member.
Miss Kitty had such trauma because of the Labor Day fires in 2011
and she is just getting over it.
She's been so skittish of sounds of workers & big trucks in the neighborhood
and she has settled back in when I bring home a new animal.
Thursday morning and today dawned bright, beautiful & cool which
gave me a more upbeat perspective on all my concerns.

The funeral for the gentleman was at 2 PM today & the kennel owner
went to it and the woman immediately wanted to know if she'd
found a home for Zack.
Now she wants to give us his bed and favorite toys
and is so glad Zack has a wonderful new home.
It's difficult to find a home for an eight year old dog,
but I hope he will be happy here (I think he is)
and that he will have a good life.

You'll probably be reading more about Gertie & Zack in the months to come.

Photos may be a problem... he didn't like seeing the iPhone or the camera

pointed in his direction... I wonder what that is all about?

Photo Tag

Portrait of Beau taken by his master Daniel Jenkins

This is a photo of my ex-husband's dog, Beau. Daniel & Beau live in a small seaside town in Australia. Daniel is an artist and Beau is... well Beau, is his best buddy.

When Daniel & I were married way back in the 1970s we had a great dog named Beau. Unfortunately on my birthday Beau was hit by a car and killed instantly. Neither Dan nor I have ever forgotten this wonderful little dog we had who, if he had lived, would have grown up to be a big dog like the current Beau.

Daniel's emails to me are always signed: luv, dj & b

Isn't this a wonderful portrait? Daniel just had a photographic opening in the town of Metung where he lives. This July he will have a bigger show in Melbourne. He is a photographer and sculptor and I have had pieces of his in blogs in the past.

Photo Tag Rules:

1. Go to your first photo file and pick the 10th photo in it.

2. Tell the story behind the photo.

3. Tag 5 other people to do likewise (I'm not tagging anyone, but please take this & fly with it if you'd like to participate).

Farewell Buckaroo aka Buck

A Sleeping Buckaroo

One of the sweetest dogs on the planet died today. Buck was the white lab that protected me, my home and my animals for several years after I separated from & later divorced my second husband. Buck stood guard at my gate. He loved living on our little acreage in the country near Austin. He and Gertie were best friends. She would decide to go on a little jaunt around the neighborhood and Buck would tag along with her.

Buck was good friends with the cats and with my horse as well as with Gertie. In later years Buck would meet the G-man at the gate when he came to visit me. When Gertie & I would go to visit the G-man Buck was the one to stay home & take care of business.

After the G-man & I decided to make a life together, Buck went to live in Austin with my ex-husband. He didn't have the land to run around on anymore, rather he ran with my ex and his dog Annie around Town Lake, went to the law office with them each day, and learned to be a city dog.

Buck was a happy boy. He was a rescue dog whom I named Buckaroo which later was shortened to Buck. My ex and I rescued him and in the end Buck did the rescuing for me. This morning I received a call from my ex that Buck became ill overnight and when the vet examined him & did xrays this morning he found cancer. Buck was euthanized this afternoon at the age of 11 years... that's equivalent to 77 human years.

The photo above is one of Buck asleep in the den at the home where the G-man, Gertie & I live. He came to visit us from time to time. Buckaroo, the wonderful, lovable white lab is missed and loved.