POTP for Those in Harm's Way in the American West

Photo courtesy of Zoolatry

Please keep the humans, doggies, kitties, horsies, and all the other domestic and wild creatures living in our western states in your thoughts. Things can be rebuilt, but lives lost are gone forever.
The wildfires are relentless. 

Wordless WTF Wednesday

Photo provided by Beastie.

Garth's Awesome Contest!

Woo hoo! Garth is hosting a silly photo contest and the Mango is totally there for sure. Awesome!

He has two big categories! One is naturally silly (no photoshop) and the other is for your photoshop sillies.

I was going to enter THIS photo, but then I counseled myself "now, Mango, you want the contest to be fair, right?" Because for real, who could beat me?

Not to mention that momma said this would go in the photoshop category which is not correct because this is an ACTUAL REAL PHOTO of me water skiing on the Kansas ocean.

What photo did I enter? Well, you will just have to tune in to the contest to find out. Trust me, it is amazing! Heck, I even found one of Pea looking like a total doofus head (plenty of material there).

You can go ahead and enter if you want. Just click here for all the rules.

Mango man! Oh yeah!

Construction Supervisor Dexter

How to entertain oneself when exercise is limited to walkies and the odd trip to the pool?

I decided that providing oversight to a long due construction project was just the ticket. To whit, replacing the crumbling dirt behind the barn with a nice retaining wall.

Master wanted to rent a back hoe, but I was able to convince him that our pal, Jimmy, and his two boys could function as human back hoes at half the cost and twice the entertainment.

Surprisingly, he took my advice and sure enough, Jimmy and the boys arrived ready to work.

Prior to commencing Project Retaining Wall, there was the traditional laying on of hands. One worries about poor Jake simultaneously touching my pointy black head and that of the torpid beast.

While there is little doubt that cleverness and abounding energy emanate from my labraself, it is potentially offset by the sucking out of life force created when in contact with the vacuum inside of Mango's cranium.

I do find the size of Jimmy and the boys a bit alarming. As you see, Brett actually makes the RH look almost normal sized.

I decided that my best chance at a successful project was to consult with Jimmy directly (requesting that he put the most nommy rocks in a hidey hole for later consumption).

Alarm! Mastiffs and power tools! Not good! 

Under my supervision, the dirt was dug and the retaining wall begun. Sadly, we had to shut down the site due to extreme temperatures (although I would have preferred to just hose down the boys and have them continue with their labors).

All that digging exposed some interesting vole holes into which my pointer snooter fit quite nicely.

Sure, I'm adorable. I can't help it. I admit that when it comes to getting scritches and cookies, I have no shame. I'll even go cross eyed with dirt on my nose if that's what it takes.

Dexter done!

P.S. The RH reports that he was declared to be "in fantastic shape" at the vet with his only misery being some yeast in his ears (well, after he got over his prostate exam, that is). As for me, I continue to count the days until I am officially off the DL and my tennis balls are once again flying through the air.

Missing Leg and Stinky Feet

My life is full of trials....

Sometimes my leggie vanishes and I totally can't even get up for sure.

Momma! Help the Mango! 

Other times I am overcome by the fumes from Captain Stinky Foot.

I don't think I can hold my breath much longer.

To top it all off, today I have to go for my BIG EXAM at the vet. The annual head to butt touchy feely complete, I am sure, with anal probe. Oh the horror.

Mango Man! Oh yeah!

My New Cooling Jacket by Dexter

I am happy to report that the twinges in my hind quarters have diminished and I am feeling quite bouncy. Nevertheless, I remain on restricted activity which is quite frustrating for an active chap such as yours truly.

Deprived of daycare, agility, freestyle, and, yes, tennis ball, short walks (supplemented with trips to the pool next door) are, for now, my only outlet.

So you can imagine my frustration as I watched the temperatures soar into triple digits. 

Surely it was divine providence which timed the arrival of my Swamp Cooler jacket (which had been back ordered for ages). 

After momma soaked it in the pool, I was ready to try it out.

What do you think? Of course everything goes with black, but I think I look exceptionally sporty.

There was a bit of a tussle getting it on and momma will have to adjust the chest strap, but overall, I give it four big paws up. 

I want to remind my friends that even with a nice cooling jacket, it can get too hot for walkies and your humans should be mindful of the heat stored in the sidewalks which can burn tender feet. And never, never, NEVER let your humans leave you in the car, even for a moment when it is hot outside.

You can read all about the Swamp Cooler jacket here. Momma ordered mine from Amazon.

Dexter done!

P.S. We did not order a jumbo jacket for the RH, but he has been getting hosed down before and after his amazingly short strolls.

POTP for Miss Sunshade the Super Dale - Updated

Just when I was reviewing my week for something fun and exciting to post about, I learned that Miss Sunshade, the Super Dale is very ill and needs all of blogland's POTP.

Miss Sunshade was having a very happy and bouncy day when she suffered a collapse.

She is at the ER and is on oxygen to help her breathing. 

Of course she is getting every test possible.

Her mom has been at her side and hasn't posted on her blog yet. You can visit here to leave good thoughts, I know she will get them.

Update - Miss Sunshade had internal bleeding and is currently recovering from an emergency splenectomy. The next 48 hours are critical.

I wanted to add some good news to cheer you all up. Remember my friend, Lily, who crossed over the bridge recently? Her family was so heartbroken. Their house was so empty with no doggies around.

Well, they have adopted a little rottie dude named Louie, you can read about it here. Welcome home, Louie!

Mango Man! Oh yeah!

Saying Goodbye to Bolo

Another one of my wonderful friends has made his final journey.

I've known Bolo for a really long time and I have watched him guard his mom and dad and his Puppy and have so many cool adventures.

Too soon, my friend, too soon.

My big heart breaks.

You can visit his family here.

An Apology, a Pea Update, and an Award

Apology

Where are all the pithy comments from The Mango of late? Sadly, momma has been very trigger happy on the mark all as read button. 'nuff said.

Pea Update

Pea is still on restricted activity and he is driving me buggy! He is not supposed to bounce or run for 87 weeks! But he is feeling pretty frisky and will go back to swim club on Saturday. 

An Award

Check it out! I got this way cool awesome award from my brand new pal, Reuben! Thanks, buddy.

As a recipient of the award, I, Mango, am supposed to answer some questions for you (and momma insists I let idiot Pea answer as well. Whatever). By the way, momma decided to color code our words. Frankly, it makes me a bit dizzy.

Question #1 What is your favorite number?

Mango - What is a number?

Dexter - Mango, you are a fool.

Question #2 What is your favorite beverage?

Mango - Pool water!

This drinking bowl ain't big enough for both of us.

Dexter - I love that nommy kibble slush water in my foodable bowl (momma always adds water to my kibbles because she worries I will dehydrate what with refusing to drink from any water bowl containing slobbers).

Question #3 Facebook or Twitter?

Mango - Facebook! For real. The Mango is not fond of limiting his words.

Dexter - Given that we have but one computer and I am (for reasons that are unclear) fourth in line behind Momma, Master, and the RH, well, there is not much opportunity for yours truly to indulge in either.

Is it my turn yet? Please?

Question #4 What is your passion?

Mango - All those hot gal dogs! Oh yeah! You know it!

Oh Tula! How can you resist The Mango?

Dexter - My tennis balls (which are currently in lock down, boo hoo)

I likely won't see my tennis balls until it snows again if the Evil Witch has her way.

Question #5 What is your favorite pattern?

Mango - Towel

Dexter - I'm going to take a bye on this one. I am just not keen about outfits of any sort. 

Question #6 What is your favorite day of the week?

Mango - I like Sunday the best! Because I get my super nommy bone and momma is home from the work place and it so totally like all about ME.

Dexter - Saturday! Because I get to go to school on Saturday!

An old photo from pre DL times

Question #7 What is your favorite flower?

Mango - I like the flower that is used to make pizza! Nommy, nom, nom, nom.

Dexter - I am always delighted to see the flowers on our fruit trees because it means that there will be lots of nice fresh fruit right at Dexter level in just a few weeks.

Why is the RH in this photo? I thought it was MY turn.

Phew! That was super hard. Now, are you ready? I am supposed to pass this award to 10 friends! Well, that sounds like a lot, right? So I am just going to pass it along to less because that's the way that ball rolls, OK?

Iris

Iris is all fluffy and beautiful and she writes in funny words that the Mango does not understand but she also writes in normal words, so it's all good.

Sherman and Leroy

How can you not like these two? They are big and slobbery and goofy, just like ME!

The Water Dogs

You know what? I still am not sure how many of them there are.

Dusty

Who is my newest pal and happens to be running a contest into which I, Mango, have entered and my selection of him for an award should in no way be construed as trying to curry favor or totally make him choose MY entry because it should stand on its own merits and the Mango is all about the best dog winning and all that crap.

So Iris, Sherman & Leroy, Water Dogs, and Dusty, pick up the award, play the game, pass it along.

Mango Man! Oh yeah!

Dusty's Way Cool Awesome Contest

That's right! Dusty is hosting a totally awesome contest. Now, honestly, The Mango is conflicted about encouraging my friends to enter because, well, I WANT TO WIN! But momma says I have to learn to share so here goes...

For Dusty's first birthday, he is going to give some lucky doggie a drawing of their most favorite photo. All you have to do is post your photo and let him know about it.

You know what else? Momma, Pea, Master, and I are all in agreement on our favoritest photo ever. You will think "Oh, Mango, I cannot beat that." And you will be correct, but click here if you want to try.

Here goes....

Mango Man! Oh yeah!

Emergency Good Thoughts Needed - Updated

UPDATE - Just got word from Storm's mom that a neighbor found her and is keeping her safe until mom gets home from work. Phew. That was so scary.

My friends, I just learned that our doggie pal, Storm (shown on right) is missing. 

Stormy lives with Chrome the Wonder Horse. You can visit Chrome's blog here to lend your support.

Let's put the power of blogland together to bring Storm home safe and sound.

Dexter on the DL

Friends, if there is one lesson yours truly has learned this week it is to never let your humans know when you have an owie.

I pride myself on my athletic and trim body, but even I, Dexter, can sometimes overdo things.

Thus I found myself, after a very vigorous chase of my tennis ball, feeling the bounce gone from my after burners and experiencing some discomfort when I attempted to retrieve said tennis ball.

I was, in fact, so compromised in my rear quarters that I felt unable even to get onto my couch for a rest and momma immediately put me on the disabled list.

While not prone to self pity, how can one not feel a bit glum when confined to the interior of the estate while the RH gets to promenade about the neighborhood.

And to learn that even sad face patiently waiting at the garage door would not persuade the evil witch to liberate my beloved tennis balls for one quick toss. 

Well, it broke my spirit.

To make matters worse, the RH positioned himself as some sort of guard troll in front of my couch so I would not be tempted to climb aboard. 

Yes, within a few short days, I was not myself. I was moping about the house, reluctant on stairs, and not bouncing in general. So much so that even Master (who is much more conservative than momma) decided it was time to see the vet.

Vet lady was concerned that I was suffering from Lyme. But I think I would have had more symptoms, don't you?

She took my blood and declared me Lyme free but structurally compromised and sent me home with some of those anti-inflammatory medications.

I will tell you, that I am feeling quite invigorated. Thank goodness for drugs.

Nevertheless, I am still technically on the DL which means no daycare, no agility, no dog dancing, no long walks, and (oh the horror) NO TENNIS BALL for at least 10 days. 

Is life worth living with such limitations?

But then, oh happy day, momma took me to SWIM CLUB! Woo hoo! 

Sure, I would rather be chasing tennis ball at my own estate or visiting my daycare pals, but swim club is pretty darn good.

So don't worry about me. I can stand the wait (I think) until tennis ball liberation day. I made sure momma booked me for swim club again next Saturday. It's the least she could do, right?

In the meantime, check out this exciting adventure action movie I made here.





Dexter done!

P.S. From Mango Momma
Dexter is a very stoic little chap and to see him too sore even to crawl  onto his couch was quite alarming. He injured himself on Monday and by Wednesday he was getting worse, not better (even with restricted exercise). Given that he has already had Lyme (which you only control, but never get rid of) the vet was concerned about that as well as his little labraknees and put him on Doxycycline while we waited for the blood tests to come back. The blood work was fine, but since the Doxy has anti-inflammatory benefits as well, he is staying on that while I play phone tag with the vet to plan next steps. 


He is feeling well enough now to be quite frustrated at his enforced idleness. Thank goodness for swim club. Not to mention that it is actually a net savings since a trip to swim club costs less than the combined cost of daycare and agility (which he is skipping for a few weeks). 


He also has access to the pool next door (except at times like now when the granddogs are in residence - hopefully they will go to their beach house so Dex can sneak into their pool now and then).


But he remains on the DL at least until June 24th. I am not so heartless as to lock Dex up inside to watch through the window while I play tennis ball with Mango, but he is relegated to the role of reluctant spectator while I take Mango out for his training fun times. 

Foolishness on Friday

Seriously? Momma is all like, "Oh, Mango, look at this cardboard tube. Doesn't it look like fun?"

Well, in a word, NO! Sheesh. Then she was totally chasing me around and making fart sounds with the tube like that was the funniest thing ever. Whatever, you simple minded harpy.

I wanted to bitey her for subjecting me to such foolishness, but I decided to try and bitey Pea instead (unsuccessfully I fear due to him being a slippery little devil).

Watch the movie here.




 Mango Man! Oh yeah!

P.S. For those of you keeping score on FB, this video was shot before Pea went on the DL. Don't get all worried about the little devil, I am sure he will post all about it later this weekend.

Sun Baked Sunday

After about 87 days of rain, the sun finally came out. So what does one do?

SUN BAKE! Of course!

But Evil Witch is all like "Oh, Mango, you need to come in now, you are getting too hot." 

What a party pooper. 

Do I look too hot to you?

Check it out! Here's a little movie of momma all spoiling my funballs good times.



 



 Mango Man! Oh yeah!

Rocky Ending by Dexter

I eat rocks. There, I said it. How can something so satisfying be frowned upon?

I would have gotten away with it too, if Evil Witch Poop Detective wasn't so obsessed with my deposits. What kind of crazy person gives poop a little squeeze when they pick it up or pokes through it with a stick?

So here is what Momma discovered.

Oh look! A quarter. Maybe I will eat that too when she isn't looking.

Yes, my name is Dexter and I'm a rock eater.

Dexter done!

In Defense of Blogging by Mango Momma

I will try to be brief (and I will also include some heretofore unpublished photos of the boys for your entertainment).

I know there are people in the DWB community who have abandoned or nearly abandoned blogging in favor of FaceBook or Twitter (or both). That makes me sad.

When I was growing up we had one phone in the house and long distance calling was not to be done without planning your budget. Subsequently we wrote letters. I persisted in letter writing well into adulthood with anybody who would engage me. Sure, a phone call was immediate, but a letter could be read over and over. Phone calls were not only gone as soon as you hung up, but the contents of the conversation became murky with the passage of time.


When my grandmother died, I was given a box containing all the letters I ever wrote to her (a companion to my box of letters from her). I have often reread and cherished those letters. 

For me, blogs are to FB and Twitter what letters are to phone calls. I love being able to read stories about my friends. I love being able to go back and read old stories. I love that when I "meet" a new friend in blogland that I can read their posts from months or years gone by and get to know them better. And, perhaps most importantly, I love being able to read comments written during times of struggle, both human and canine (or equine or feline). Would it surprise you that I have gone back to my posts about Mango's seizures to reread the comments? It isn't just about his seizures, it is about being able to feel the warmth and support of the blog community when I am anxious about the dogs.

Sure, it takes time. It takes time to compose a post. It takes time to read posts and it takes time to comment. I don't read posts or comment nearly as often as I used to and I frequently just hit the old MAAR button. But you know what? Some posts I read more than once or I go back to read what other people have written in the comments. Because unlike FB or Twitter, it is all still right there, easy to find, not crowded out by the latest round of alerts (both trivial and important).

So, consider this my pep talk to anybody out there who has fallen out of the habit of blogging. Stay in the game. Don't worry if you can't always read or comment. It doesn't matter. Do it for yourself. Do it to have a permanent record of the short time you have with your beloved pets.

Mango Momma! Oh yeah!


P.S. OK, actually, we eventually had TWO phones, but only one call could be made at a time and there was always the old "keep the line open" for when somebody was expecting an important communication.

Miss Lily has made her final journey

The Mango is so sad to learn that the beautiful Miss Lily made her final journey earlier today.

You can visit her family here.

Run free, little princess.

Mango Man! Oh yeah!