It's all fun and games...

...until someone loses an eye.

Oops.

Heh.

Walkin' and Playin'

Today,  Dad and Cathy took me to the tennis courts nearby to go for a walk and play for a while.  We had a great time!

Made just for me

My sister Amy loves me SO much, she made me a plush chewy toy today. It was the very first thing she ever made with her new sewing machine.

I'm so lucky!

My First Christmas at Home

Today marked my first Christmas in my Forever Home.  I woke up to find my stocking filled with yummy treats, and loads of presents under the tree with MY name on them!

I got a new squeaky goose that sheds a lot less than the other one I had. I really needed a new one, too, because the thick fuzz from the old goose used to get caught in my throat and tickle my nose all the time.  In fact, I was playing with the old goose just before present-opening-time, and when I got my new goose, I was so excited, I ran around and suddenly threw up.   Sure enough, Mom saw tufts of old goose fuzz in there as she cleaned the mess.  (There was also some lobster from the night before, but I'm hoping she didn't notice.)   Then Mom washed off my new goose--yup, Goosie was right there with me when I was barfing--and we were both good as new.  What a fun Christmas morning!!

Santa also gave me a bunch of other chewie toys that squeak and rattle and roll, and then I got even more presents from my Aunt Maria.  My cousin Petey (he's a yorkie) sent me a whole stocking full of stuff, too.

The best gift of all, though, was being surrounded by a wonderful family that loves me. 

It was the best Christmas ever!

Aunts & Uncles are for Spoiling

Tonight was Christmas Eve, and Dad's family came to visit.  Mom made this big meal called The Feast of the Seven Fishes.  I'm not sure why it's called that, because she actually made ten different kinds of fish.  All I know is, the kitchen smelled great all day long.

My Aunt Cathy and Uncle Angelo came to visit, along with Grandma Mary.   I remembered them all from their previous visits, and gave them a warm welcome.  I had never met Aunt LouAnn and Uncle Bobby before, so I growled a bit when they first came in. I tried and tried to have a sniff underneath Aunt LouAnn's skirt, but Mom kept stopping me and saying it was "rude."  Honestly...I was just trying to get to know her a little better. 

After a while, I realized that they were family, so I let them stay.   That's when the real fun started!  When Mom wasn't looking, Uncle Angelo and Aunt LouAnn kept sneaking me food!! They're SO bad!!!  

I love them.

I had imported Italian breadsticks, calamari, cheese, and even a little lobster.   I can't really say whether or not they tasted good because I ate them so fast I didn't bother chewing them.  

I also got to have another one of those frozen beef bones, with the delicious marrow inside. They truly are my favorite snack.

It's getting late now, and Mom says I need to get to bed so that Santa can come.  I can't wait to see what he brings me!

Snow Day!

My sisters all had off from school today, and Dad worked at home, so I had my whole family here...on a Friday!

I've read about snow in books and such, but this was the first big snowstorm I've ever actually played in.  We got 7 inches of snow so far!! 

I love Winter!

Sweet Dreams

I was running freely in a wide open field of grass, when I spotted the biggest, juiciest Canada goose ever.  Black eyes glaring, he honked and waved his wings menacingly at me, but I was unafraid.  I gave chase, and although the ornery beast was fast, I was faster.

Then I woke up.  But it was sure fun while it lasted. 

*sigh*

Welcome, VP pup!

Congratulations to Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his lovely wife, Jill on their adoption of a three-month-old German Shepherd puppy.  The puppy will be joining them in Washington D.C. this January.

A fine looking canine you have there, folks.  Once you go tan-and-black, you never go back!

**UPDATE**

Well, it seems there has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding the newest Biden family member. It was discovered that "Champ" was purchased from a disreputable breeder in Pennsylvania, whose business has been cited for multiple animal rights violations. That's right: the Bidens went to a "puppy mill" instead of rescuing a dog from a shelter!

For shame!!

According to the latest news reports, the Bidens are promising to adopt ANOTHER dog, possibly a golden retriever, and this time, they promise to rescue it from an animal shelter.

Better late than never, I suppose.

I do hope that the Bidens will learn something from this debacle, and will use their new platform in Washington DC to put a national spotlight on the horrors of puppy mills.

I hope Santa wasn't watching...

...because I was a little bit naughty today.

I snuck into my sister Amy's room, and chewed up her very favorite Littlest Pet Shop figurine. It's a Lamb that is really hard to find, and no longer available in stores.  Here's what it used to look like:

I know I'm not supposed to chew human stuff, like toys and shoes, and usually I'm pretty good with that. It's just that once in a while, I get kinda bored, and the mood strikes me, and I simply can't help myself. 

Amy's little lamb, minus its tasty ears, bow, tail, and other plastic bits

I'm sorry, Amy.  :-(

The good news is, Mom was able to find the Lamb on eBay, and bought it to replace the one I massacred.  She says it's going to come out of my doggie treat allowance. I guess it's the least I can do. 

Indeed, I am Thankful

This was my first Thanksgiving in my forever home. I am so thankful for my wonderful family, and for the love and affection they shower upon me every single day.

Today was no exception, of course. In addition to my usual meals of that scrumptious Newman's Organic food, I was given an extra-special treat: a frozen beef bone from the butcher shop, filled with delectable marrow. You guys, I can't even begin to describe how yummy it was. Just take a look at the video Mom took, and I'll let my tail do the talking:




Happy Thanksgiving!

Snoozin'

Nothing I love more than a nice nap with my sister Cathy. 

What price fame?

A friend sent me a link to this livestream webcam of a bunch of Shiba Inu puppies. 

Sure, they're cute, but honestly....don't you think today's youth needs to learn a little bit about overexposure?  I mean, to live your life with cameras around 24/7...that can't possibly be good for one's psychological development.

Just sayin'.

Remembering our Canine Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day, a day to remember those brave souls who have served in our military around the world, risking their lives to preserve freedom and democracy. 

As a canine, I ask that you also take a moment to remember the dedication of the thousands of dogs that have served our country in times of war, starting in World War I and continuing to our country's present day conflicts. 

There is a push here in NJ to create a war memorial in honor of U.S. War Dogs.  You can learn more about the history of canines in military service, and make a donation to the memorial, by visiting their website: www.uswardogs.org 

In Defense of Barney

There's been quite a hullabaloo about the First Dog, Barney, having bitten a White House reporter today.

All I can say is, the video speaks for itself, and my fellow canine is getting a raw deal.

Clearly, this is yet another case of the "gotcha" media doing what it does best: entrapping innocent victims into a situation where they come off poorly, all for the sake of ratings. Disgusting! 

Poor Barney had a rough week: he stayed up late watching the Election Results Tuesday night, and spent the last two days helping President Bush choose the transition team that will assist the new First Dog assume his or her new role after the 2009 Inauguration.

As I'm sure you've heard, the Obamas plan to get a puppy to bring with them to the White House in January. So, not only does Barney have to move out of his palatial digs, he does so with the knowledge that he is being replaced with some young whippersnapper who probably isn't even housebroken.  The idea of the furniture in the Lincoln bedroom being chewed to bits is weighing heavily on Barney's mind.   Is it any wonder that the taunting, high-pitched shrieks of "Here Barney, look here, look HERE!" from those pesky reporters put him over the edge?

Plus, it's clear from the video that it was just a wee little nip of that guy's index finger. He BARELY broke the skin, for heaven's sakes. Trust me, if Barney had wanted to, he could have taken that guy's finger clean off.  

Much ado about nothing, I tell you.

See the Video HERE and judge for yourself.

My favorite TV show: The Dog Whisperer

Dogs aren't usually interested in television much, but I must confess, I just love Cesar Millan, aka "The Dog Whisperer"....I could watch him for hours. 

What can I say?  He just...gets me.

In addition to his hit TV show and several best-selling books, Cesar and his wife, Illusion, run a non-profit foundation that supports the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of abandoned and abused dogs.  They do wonderful work, and help animals in need all across the United States.  

You can find out more (or make a donation) by visiting www.MillanFoundation.org. 

Mischief Night

Tomorrow is Halloween, which means that tonight is "Mischief Night."  It's an evening when teenaged humans misbehave and get a bit rowdy, prowling the streets, making noise, throwing toilet paper into trees--but it's all in good fun, really.

Unless, of course, yours is the tree getting TP'd. Then, I suppose, it's not much fun at all.

Well, I guess I got a little carried away with the whole "Mischief Night" tradition, and got into a bit of trouble myself this evening.

Tonight, while Mom was busy getting the basement decorated for Christina's Halloween party tomorrow, I came across Cathy's costume.  You know, the fuzzy cat costume that she is wearing tomorrow at school, and again in the afternoon when she goes trick-or-treating? The only costume she has this year?? Yeah, that one.

I swear, I was only sniffing it, just sort of investigating, but then....I smelled those darn feathers.  The headband with the cat ears has these little downy black feathers attached to it, and oh my goodness, I just HAD to taste them.  And gnaw them. And nibble them, ever so slightly.  

Dad found the headband at the top of the stairs and told Mom. She was NOT happy with me.  She said a bunch of words that did NOT sound as sweet as when she usually talks to me.  In fact, the only time I ever heard words like that was when I figured out how to use the cable box and caught an episode of The Sopranos.  

I wish I had a better explanation for my behavior, but the truth is: I just couldn't help myself.

Mom was able to sew the ears back on straight, and she used a scary looking thing called a "glue gun" to make the headband into one piece again.   Cathy says she forgives me, and to tell you the truth, in the time it took me to type out this post, I've just about forgotten what it was that I did wrong.   If not for that heavenly taste of marabou lingering in my teeth, it all would be a distant memory by now. 

As a way to show Mom I was sorry, I stayed very still while she tried my Halloween costume on me, and I even posed for a picture.

Oh, why do Halloween costumes have to be so tempting??  

Sunday and the livin' is easy

Dad and I had a great time playing frisbee out in the yard today. He tossed a tennis ball out there now and then, just to mix things up, but I ALWAYS managed to find it.  

Later on, I came inside and took a little nap. 

We did our usual trip to the stables, the dog park, etc.  Met lots of new dog friends, and had a blast. I also spent a bit of time with one of my favorite chew toys.   

I hope your Sunday was as relaxing as mine was!

Neighborly Love

Remember my friend, Buddie, the yellow lab that lives next door? 

Well, her human brother Nicky came over today with some presents to welcome me to the neighborhood!  Wasn't that nice?

They gave me a whole bag of rawhide chewies, and some gourmet cookie biscuits that were YUM-A-LICOUS!!  Mom let me have one right away. So tasty!

Stylin' new jacket

Another day, another present. 

Today, Mom got me a light jacket, to keep me dry and cozy when it rains.  I love it! It reminds me of the stuff Tiger Woods wears on Sundays.  It also has some reflective strips, so that I'm more visible during my nighttime walks.  

Seriously, don't I look cool?

Presidents and their Dogs

In two weeks, humans across America will head to the polls to elect their next President.  As a rule, dogs like myself do not get involved in political matters. We, being the more intellectually evolved species, find the entire election process rather droll.  The pack leader is the pack leader...end of story.  I don't quite understand why humans must make it all so difficult, but then, there are many things about human behavior that are difficult to understand.

One thing that does interest me about the two candidates is that only one of them has pets at home. Barack Obama, for all of his talk about "unity" and "change we can believe in" does NOT have a dog. Hmmpf!  I know my mom is still planning to vote for him, though, and she assured me that he has promised to get a dog for his daughters after the campaign is over, whether he wins or not.

As for John McCain, he has lots of pets at home, including several dogs (even a mixed breed, like me!), a ferret, and many goldfish.   My dad says that's just one of many reasons to vote for the guy. If only his running mate didn't advocate shooting at my brother wolves from a helicopter, I might have considered endorsing him. Alas.

No matter which candidate you support, I thought you might find it interesting to read up on some of our nation's past Presidents, and the dogs that loved them: Presidential Pups

Figuring Out My Heritage

Well, today was another big day: I had my first visit to the vet! Of course, I've seen a vet before, when I was down in Mississippi, but this was my first time visiting a local doctor.  

Mom says I did great at my check up (no surprise there) and Dr. Collins was very nice.  He took me in the back to have my microchip inserted (not that I'll ever run away, but you know, you just can't be too careful these days) and the staff went nuts over me.  I got so many compliments on my adorable face, my petite stature, and my wonderful disposition. 

You would think it gets tiresome to have humans fawn over you in this way everywhere you go, but for me, it never gets old.  I'm guess I'm just a people-canine. 

One of the things everyone seems fascinated with is my lineage.  While I prefer to cultivate an air of suspense in that regard, I can understand the human tendency to try and figure these things out. They're such curious creatures by nature! 

Although the rescue group said they thought I was a spaniel/terrier mix, the general consensus amongst those who have met me recently is that I am actually a terrier/beagle mix.   While many of my overall physical characteristics resemble a Manchester Terrier, the little 

speckles on my one white leg are indicative of some beagle ancestry.  Dr. Collins concurred with this analysis, so that's good enough for me.

Here are photos of both of those breeds, and one of me:

Well....what do you think?  I can certainly see the resemblance, but I must say, I love being a mix of the two.  It's not that I have anything against purebreds--some of my best friends are single breeds!--but you can't beat the aura of mystery that surrounds a mixed breed like myself.

Making New Friends

Lovin' the new dog bed!

I made some more new friends today.  In the morning, Dad took me to the stables where Christina goes horseback riding.  I've never seen a horse before!  They're so cool!!  I kept wanting to go run over and say hello close up, but Dad was concerned that the horses would accidentally step on me, so I stayed by his side like a good boy.

While Christina was having her riding lesson, Dad and I headed over to a nearby nature preserve, where lots of people go hiking with their dogs.  I met so many new canine friends, and they all smelled so interesting!  Lots of great sniffs. 

Mom took me for a walk after lunch, and I explored in the woods for a bit.  No geese today, darn it. Maybe tomorrow.

Best of all, Mom stopped by to see Pat and Roger at Luke's Place this afternoon, and got all of my paperwork in order.  

It's official: I'm staying!! Yay!!  

Getting some nice tummy rubs from my sister, Cathy

Hangin' with my Homies

I had such a good day today!

This is me and my newest chewie: a round, rawhide thingy. OMG, I love it so! Mom and Dad are freaking out because they say it smells "like dirty wet feet."

And, I'm like, "Well, duh! It's made from dead cow skin. Helllllllo?" Honestly, humans have such limited palates. Rawhide is 80-85% protein, 12% fiber, and very low in fat. The eau du toe jam aroma is just an added bonus.

Hey, I had some visitors today! First, Mom's friend Wendy came over with her son, Ben...and they brought me some gifts! Yay! I love gifts!

They gave me a new rope toy, and a furry skunk chew toy with a tennis ball thingy in the middle, and a rubber alligator squeaky toy that scares the crap out of me. It's the thought that counts, though, and that was so nice of them to welcome me so warmly.

Later on, Dad's sister, my Aunt Cathy, came to visit with her husband, Uncle Angelo.

Not to be immodest, but they frickin' LOVED me. They said I reminded them of their dog, Toby, who died several years ago. They were so great...they kept feeding me stuff I'm not supposed have, whenever they thought Mom and Dad weren't looking. Uncle Angelo gave me, like, 6 crackers, and Aunt Cathy kept sneaking me some cheese. They're so naughty! We hit it off right away.

They brought me a present, too: a new bed! It's very soft and cushy, not to mention stylish. Here's a picture of it, along with a sampling of the gifts I've received over the last couple of days:
I know, I'm totally getting spoiled over here. Isn't it great?

Adjusting to My New Family

I love my new family.

My mom works at home, so I have someone here with me all the time. Once in a while, she goes to the store to buy me more toys, so I stay in my crate for a little while, till she gets back. I love a good nap as much as the next dog, and it helps the time pass more quickly until she's home again.

I have a big backyard that I can run around in, with lots of trees and grass. The girls take me for walks all the time, and they love to play frisbee with me--my favorite sport!

Another exciting thing: there are lots of other dogs living here on my street. The first neighbor I met was Buddie; she's a yellow labrador.  We hung out together at the bus stop, saying goodbye to our human siblings as they left for school on Wednesday morning.   I also saw Schatzie, the Schnauzer from three doors down, but he didn't realize that I was his new neighbor, so he barked at me.  That's okay...his human realized later that I was "the new kid on the block," and called to apologize. I think we're going to be good friends, actually.

Yesterday, during my early morning walk, I met the English Sheepdog next door. Her name is Macbeth, which I think is quite regal. She's very down-to-earth, though, and asked me to call her Beth, so of course, I obliged. 

I also met Scotty, the white Maltese across the street.  He's quite a barker, I'm told, but I think it's all an act, because he turned tail and ran in the house when he caught sight of me.  Hmmpf!

There are so many new friends living here. I've only lived in this house for 4 days, and I've already seen bunnies, deer, geese, and groundhogs scampering about on the lawn.  None of them stuck around to introduce themselves, even though I didn't bark at them. Oh well...maybe they just have to get used to me.

Oh, guess what?  There are CATS living in my house!! No kidding!!!

Mom hasn't formally introduced us yet, because Mittens and Tiger (that's their names) have never actually seen a dog before, so she knows they'll be a little scared of me at first. I think she plans to introduce us this weekend.  That ought to be interesting, and Mom promised to take some video that I can post here on the blog. 

Speaking of video, here's a quick snippet of me, enjoying my new rawhide chewy.  Man, those things are TASTY!

My Story

Let's start at the very beginning,

A very fine place to start...

Ah yes, Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music.  Does it get any better than that?

Now where was I? Oh yes, the beginning. 

Well, my early days are a bit of a mystery, really, because I don't like to talk about my childhood. Why dredge up those dreadful days again?  Water under the bridge, I say.

Instead, I'll start with how it is I came to be in my current home, the place where I am most happy. Yes, that will be a very fine place to start, indeed.

I was rescued in Mississippi, where I stayed with a foster mom for about two months.  She was lovely!  She took great care of me, even when Hurricane Ike knocked out the power in her neighborhood for a whole week.  She gave me lots of love, and worked with me every day to teach me how to be a well-behaved dog.   I still think of her with great fondness, but alas, I could not stay with her.  As much as she wanted to keep me, my destiny lay elsewhere.

I was transported to New Jersey in early October, on a noisy tractor trailer, with a bunch of other rescued dogs.   We were carefully placed into crates and brought to Luke's Place, in Ridgewood.  There, I was greeted by the director, Pat, and her staff of volunteers.  Such nice people!  They were so kind to us, taking each of us for a walk, cleaning us off, and giving us lots of love and attention.  They got us all ready to meet our adoptive families.

Two of the volunteers were a girl named Amy, and her mom, Lisa.  In what can only be described as extraordinary chemistry, I instantly bonded with Amy.  She looked into my eyes, patted me on the head, took me for a nice long walk, and I was putty in her hands. When no one was looking, her mom let me sit in the back of their SUV, keeping Amy company while she had a snack. Amy let me lick the cheese from her Cheetos off of her fingers, and I knew at that moment that I had to find a way to go home with them. 

The family that adopted me was very nice, but--no, I'm not proud of this--I was a bit of a handful.  They had never had a dog before, and I confess, I took advantage of their naivete. Within a week, they were overwhelmed by my excessive bursts of energy (I figured out how to use the coffee machine, and was frickin' wired the whole time), and so they sent me back to Pat.

One of the volunteers contacted Lisa, and she was so happy that I was available for adoption, she came right over the very next morning and picked me up.   Pat warned her that I would be a "challenge," but Lisa is very careful with her coffee stash, and was not worried in the slightest.

Would her faith in me be justified, or would she discover that she'd made a horrible mistake? Stay tuned!

Welcome, humans!

Allow me to introduce myself.  

My name is Scooter, and this is my blog. 

You may ask yourself: what does a dog need with a blog, anyway?  Shouldn't he be doing more important things, like sniffing fire hydrants and chewing on fuzzy things?  And don't his nails make it difficult to type?  

So many questions. And that, dear reader, is exactly why I'm writing this blog.  

Every dog has a story to tell, and yet, so few take the time to tell it. We are so busy going about our daily activities, we miss out on the opportunity to truly communicate with our human friends, whom we love so deeply. 

A shame, that.

I'm different, though.  My mom is a writer, and she has a blog that she enjoys working on very much. She says it's a great way to express herself, and to reach out to others.  She's been an inspiration to me, and I decided that I am willing to give up some precious chew-toy time to share my thoughts and feelings on all things canine.  

So, friends, welcome to my blog.  Pull up a chair, settle in with a nice dried cow ear, and enjoy.