Saki's Anniversary

Three years ago, Joan found a cold, scared, very dirty dog in the street and brought him home to get cleaned up and fed. "Just for the weekend," she said.

Saki stretching out on "Chula's" chair, just because it's "Chula's" chair.

Well that dog is still here, and his name has been Saki since Kyla named him that first day. He's a little crazy, but he's got a great big heart and I think it would be a lonely house without him. I guess he's here for a lifetime. Like me.

Best wishes,
Juno

See Chula Jump

Yup. We had to get a six-foot fence because we don't want to lose crazy Chula. Look, I know she's very happy living here, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to explore life beyond the yard, beyond the morning walk. But, the girl still doesn't know how to control herself when she sees other dogs, so we want to make sure she's, well, "contained."

However, here she is trying to get "uncontained." Oh Chula, you're very silly. (Shhhh. Don't tell her I said this, but, she's not going anywhere. Shhhhh.)

Jumping Chula: Good thing it's a 6-ft. fence!

Best wishes everyone,

Juno

PS: I'm free to go wherever I want, because I don't want to go anywhere anyway.

Winter Blahs

What a winter. We've all been cooped up inside, so really, what's a dog to write about? I mean, you can churn out only so many philosophical tidbits, and then all you want to do is sit in the yard and feel the breeze.

See me out in the snow? I actually love it, but Joan's afraid I'll freeze. 

We're getting a fence—I mean a taller fence—because Chula has decided she's a cat instead of a dog. The girl can jump anything. No running start, no warning. Boing! She's over the four-foot fence in a flash. She's cost so much at this point she might as well be one of those Westminster dogs.

Chula's getting a little chunky: "Winter Speck"

Anyway, excuse me for not being in touch with the world much any more. It's just such a chore to get around. But, hey, I'm old. I can do whatever I want.

Best wishes to all of you,
Juno

Wee Geordie

Happy Birthday, Geordie. Joan hasn't forgotten you.

This is Wee Geordie, but everyone called him Geordie. He was born on December 29, 1968 in a New York City loft. Papa was a Malamute and Mamma was a black Labrador.

When Joan first saw him, he was hiding in a corner, afraid to come out, afraid of the puppies, afraid of light, afraid to be touched. Joan picked him for all those reasons, but also because he had a softness about him that wouldn’t turn into a hard shell or a bite of fear.

He lived for twelve years and saw all sorts of changes in his world, including the arrival of Joan's four babies who never became rivals. He just accepted the babies and watched them grow. And when the babies got big enough to go beyond the yard, they adopted an abandoned puppy that had been dumped in a neighbor’s yard. Geordie didn't get jealous; instead, he got younger and let the puppy—named Scotty—jump all over his head and climb on his back. He tried to play, but he wasn’t sure how. So, he would stand up and bow, stand up and bow, over and over.

When he died, there was great sadness in a small part of the world because, well, it’s always that way when someone gentle is no more. Their leaving ruins the earth's balance between kindness and cruelty; and it’s a sadness indeed that cruelty so often gets the upper hand.

Best wishes, Juno
PS: Charles Scott made the portrait.

Time, Snow, Sleep

I realize that time is passing me by. I'm not so active anymore. Sleep is fun. So is getting Joan up in the middle of the night. So is eating. Gone are the days of traipsing around the park, hopping in the car (now, I tremble and struggle to get up on that seat), and chasing after that cat that used to taunt me.

It's somehow okay. This is what life is supposed to be like. First you tumble and frolic from morning until night; then you get more serious and make a concerted effort to observe and comment on the world; and then you realize that a good sleep and a deep stretch followed by a nice meal are the real stuff of happiness.

Saki and Chula do my running around for me now. I don't mind. And I still love a good snow storm. Ah, yes, the beautiful snow. I still have that. And dreams.

Best wishes, Juno

Bath Time for Juno and Saki

What's with the baths? Oh, just because I don't pass the human smell test? So today was bath day for me and Saki. While it feels good when it's over, I'm not so sure it's worth the humiliation. Okay, I admit it. I smell pretty. Saki smells pretty. However, world, we are dogs. We're not really supposed to smell pretty.

Here we are drying off after the baths. Oh, for the sweet scent of earth.

On Tuesday I have to go to see Dr. Liguori. Sigh. I have some old-dog problems, and everyone is hoping I'm still going to be around. Not to worry. I'll always be around—in reality, in memory, even in someone's imagination. That's what makes life so interesting.

Joan keeps telling me I'm magnificent. She likes that word. It's way better than cute or beautiful, although I'm not one to turn down a compliment involving those adjectives. Now that I'm all clean, it's time for my nap. Call me when supper is ready.

Hey, why didn't Chula get a bath?????? Look at her, all dry and superior. Hrumph!

Chula on her perch. La-de-da.

Best wishes, Juno

Shhhhhhhh (I'm sleeping)

Life is getting very slow and sleepy. Shhhhhhh.

Hot Sept. Finally Over

I don't care what you all say about nice warm weather. Eventually, you just get tired of it. Thanks all the same, but I prefer to sit inside. Let the mad dogs of summer, like Saki and Chula, go out in the noon time sun. Anyway, today it is, at last, cool.

Now I can venture forth. Well, not too fast.

Some people think Chula is cured of her problems, but she's not. Maybe this is as good as it gets. She's fine here in the house. She fine in the yard as long as no dogs pass the house. We'll keep her around and hope that someday she'll blossom into a relaxed and happy dog. My goodness, the terrible things humans  do to animals. Yikes. Oh well. At least Chula is safe with us.

She loves her stuffed turtle and the ceramic look-alike dog, but she also has Saki for a best friend.

Best wishes, Juno

Down at the Pool

Sorry, I'm not in this video. It was just too hot to go out, and stepping in the pool is a great challenge for a girl of my age. But, as you can clearly see, Saki and Chula are cool with it (ha, ha; I made a pun).

Best wishes, Juno

PS: Chula looks really happy, doesn't she?

Chula's Still Swinging on the Proverbial Learning Curve

Chula's going to a therapy session today; wish her well

She still has issues, but I'm doing the best I can
(and never mind Joan's foot, which you probably didn't notice until I pointed it out to you)

So, it's another beautiful day in uptown W. Babylon. That makes three beautiful days all summer. Chula is on her way to the park for Crazy Dogs Anonymous meeting. We hope it goes well and teaches her that she should never be afraid of dogs—only people are scary.

Anyway, she's a little scared of me. ME! And I don't know why because I'm so damned nice. She's not scared of Saki at all, but sometimes she just prefers to sit on her daybed with her stuffed turtle. Alas. I do what I can.

Best wishes, Juno

Rebel

See that? Kids never forget. Happy birthday, Rebel.

Rebel 22 August 1956 - 10 March 1958

Jason and All That Alpha

Chula & Saki at the lake teaching Joan some alpha moves

So, yesterday, Jason Mickalauskas, the dog genius of Best Paw Forward, came to the house with three dogs—big Ranger the Pit Bull & two little bitty dogs who love to stand in the doggie pool on a hot day. Allegedly, Jason was going to teach Chula how to chill. But, the truth is he was really trying to show Joan how to be alpha.

You wouldn’t believe it. The yard was suddenly filled with dogs—the two little ones hanging out in the doggie pool, Ranger Macho Dog being the boss of the world; tired Saki panting in the shade; rambunctious Bailey trying to steal a ball from Ranger, which isn't the best idea ever; me going in and out of the house, occasionally barking just because I can, and constantly watching this crazy party; and, through it all—well, almost it all—there was Chula acting pretty much like a regular dog.

Jason did refer to me as “the old lady.” At first, Joan took umbrage to this, but I didn't mind at all. After all, there are certain privileges that come with being the old lady in the group. First, I have the right to be grumpy; second, I can bark and complain all I want and everybody leaves me alone about it, saying, "She can't help it; she's old"; third, I get to go inside and rest in the air-conditioning while all the humans have to stay outside with sweat pouring down their back trying to impart alpha-ness on Joan's psyche.

It’s good to be the old lady in the yard (or house).

Anyway, I’ve got to say that Jason is a miracle worker. I mean, to get Chula to chill with a pack of dogs—it's nothing short of wondrous.

Ahhhhhh, air-conditioning.

Best wishes, Juno

Learning to Play & Chill

This is the day Chula learned to play

I've never known how to play, and I admit it. It seems that Chula has the same problem, but it's way worse because she WANTS to play. Now, Saki. Saki knows instinctively how to play. So, after an hour or so of learning how to get the ball without getting mad and pulling on a pull toy without attacking the world, Chula stood in the pool to cool down and then condescended to have her picture taken with me and Saki.

See? She's getting there. She'll never be chill like me, but she's trying.

Best wishes, Juno

Too Hot for Words

SAKI: Hey Chula, you want to go out?

CHULA: You're kidding. I'm not going out there. Too hot. I'm staying in the air conditioning.

SAKI: You think Juno would like to go out?

CHULA: What are you, nuts? I just moved here, and I already figured out that Juno doesn't go out unless Joan forces her out.

SAKI: So, what are we going to do today?

CHULA: We're doing it already.

SAKI: Yeah, I guess this is good.

CHULA: Nice bed. What is this, some sort of memory foam?

SAKI: Yeah. It used to be thicker, but I ate the top layer.

CHULA: Was it good?

SAKI: Yeah. I was a lot younger then. I wouldn't eat it today.

CHULA: I'm getting sleepy.

SAKI: Me too.

CHULA: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

SAKI: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

JUNO: It's about time.

She's Home

When Joan came home, I wasn't sure if she had really been gone. I remember waking up and hearing her come in the house. So, first I thought that was normal. Then, I realized, it wasn't normal since she hadn't been around for a while.

I was so happy that I sniffed mightily for maybe five minutes and even wagged my tail. Hey, I'm an old girl and can't manage much more than that.

Now, all is well. Joan's back from wherever she was; Saki's happy (that's him perched on the back step looking at the world); Chula's learning to be a dog in a dogs' world. Now, to sleep; perchance to dream.

Best wishes, Juno

Where's Joan?

An entire month without writing! How could this happen?

Yo! Joan? Come home!

I'm on my way, Juno.

See you tonight.

Chula's Doggie Rehab Hope

SEE, CHULA, THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE! (Not to worry; you'll get there.)

So, on Monday, Chula--former garage dog who lived in the corner of a garage tied to a tool box, who slept on a filthy piece of cardboard, never got petted, never even knew a kind word (see below for more Chula news)--WELL, Chula is going to doggie rehab for at least two weeks.

We will keep everyone posted as to her progress. Jason Mickalauskas at Best Paw Forward seems to be Mr. Alpha Cool Miracle Man, and we're all full of hope that Chula will learn how to live in the world as a happy dog.

I'm not saying she could ever be as chill as I am or as cocky as Saki, but she might just learn to wake up with a smile on her face every morning and sigh a contented sigh at night. Yeah, Jason. We all have some serious hope for that!

Best wishes, Juno

A Little Chula Update

Chula: A Garage Dog No More

Chula. Yes, here are two pictures of Chula--sad Chula and happy Chula. Just imagine, they were taken about one week apart.

Chula spent around two years chained up inside a garage in New York City. No one cared anything about her--no one even washed her or petted her or spoke to her. That's why she looks so haunted, so tormented, so hopeless.

Then, along came people who wanted to help, and Kyla brought her home. We want her to come and live with us, but she's got some major dog issues before she can do that. (Yikes, when I say major I mean crazy major!)

I guess the people who read my blog already love dogs, so I'm barking to the choir when I make this quiet observation that humans who don't like dogs shouldn't be adopting them to begin with. I just don't get it.

You can read more about Chula here, and maybe you can even help.

Best wishes, Juno

The Perks of Summer