Wordless Wednesday - Sitting

Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary

I don't talk about my job much here, but today I am going to say a little because it led me to one of my new favourite places. I work with individuals with autism. My job is to supervise programs based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). I am currently working with a young man who we are transitioning from the school system to the adult world. While this young man may never have paid employment, I do believe he can contribute to society.  One of his support workers, came up with this awesome place for him to volunteer.  The place the she found was Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

This sanctuary takes in a host of unwanted animals and when possible finds them loving homes, and when not, provides them loving homes. 

I had the pleasure of accompanying my team there to see how it worked etc. etc. (If anyone I work with is reading this, it was a really tough shift, it was hard!). Our jobs for the day were to help water the pigs and then to sweep out stalls. (Yes, I helped do this, this princess can do hard work). The people working/volunteering there were wonderful with my client and as wonderful with all the animals. It is a place that you feel the love and respect. After our work was done, we had some time to go around and feed the animals. I took some pictures (I only had my phone as I was actually working), so they aren't the best quality, but they give you an idea.

There are llamas,

chickens, roosters, ducks, geese, 

a buffalo named Dakota,

sheep,

more llamas,

I love the colour of this one

dogs, this one Sasha is Phod's twin,

pigs, 

biggest pig I ever saw

cats, 

 ponies,

This one kept chasing the others off for the carrots

goats,

a deer,

emu, 

and not pictured, cows and rabbits and I am sure I am missing something. I fell in love and I am excited that I will get to go probably once a month at least through to Christmas (and maybe past) as my client will be volunteering there 2 mornings a week. I think it is an amazing way, for a young man who loves, loves, loves animals, to contribute to society. 

Mischief Monday - Other People's Dogs

This is a story where Lee and Phod have no part in the mischief! 

On Saturday, the Man and I took the 2 for a walk. We were coming down the road when a beautiful chocolate lab named Bear came out of the field. Bear's owner was calling him, but he still came over. The Man had Hailey and I had Phod.  He kept Hailey back while I let Phod sniff Bear. It went ok, but then Phod did a little snap to tell Bear he was boss. I was able to then continue on with Phod (I regained some confidence being able to control him during this), while Hailey had her sniff.

My poor scared girl, tail between her legs
hackles up

On Sunday, I was up well before the Man, but late enough to know we may see other dogs, so I did separate walks. [It is not like the Man can keep sleeping when we leave. The pup who is left behind carries on the whole time]. Hailey and I went up the hill where other dogs live. As we passed a house, a dog came out. The dog's people were outside but didn't notice or care. My poor LeeLee was terrified at first as this very gentle and calm dog sniffed her and the followed us. Hailey clearly wanted to go home so we turned around and that pup followed us the almost 1 km back (.6 mile). As the walk continued, Lee was on alert but did relax some. I then had to delay Phod's walk until this dog left our property. He was not happy. 

I was thrilled with how well my pups did during both these situations. It gave me some of my confidence back and we will continue the separate walks when these sorts of things are likely to happen. 

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

Remember our friends and loved ones who have gone to the bridge including:

KC

Sunny

Loki

Gemini

Bagheera

Cinder

Lemew

Hokey Wolf

Rover

Max

Barley

Always in our hearts

Sepia Saturday - Walking Zaphod

I have never walked Zaphod alone. Hailey I had (and she is more or less the same alone, maybe a little less sniffing when alone), but not my boy. I have been enjoying the time we have been spending together. I think he as too. He always has a big smile when we head out. He is actually sniffer than Hailey. He also often checks in with me or nudges me for pets on the walk (something Hailey never does, I think she forgets she has a human with her half the time). 

Smiling and walking

He is happy until I ask him to stop to take his picture, then I get these cute faces:)

"I thought you said it was walk time."

This time alone is helping keep me motivated to keep up the two walks most mornings. (We do occasionally do a very early morning walk together, when I know it will be safe).

Flower Friday - For Grandma

Today we join Dory's Flower Friday. This is a rose that our Grammie aka Grandma got given to her by a dear family friend when Lady was visiting. Orange roses are Grammie's favourites.

Project Hailey - Meds

As I mentioned, we decided to try Hailey on her meds again (prozac) because her anxiety was increasing. We had some at a low dose left, so started with that and saw an improvement. We called the clinic and asked for them to prescribe the low dose.

Last week I went to pick it up and after I left the pharmacy (because she is on a human drug, not one you get at the vet clinic), I realized they had given us the original higher dose. I knew she was going to take it because I had just spent $46 on 30 pills and we weren't going to waste that. However, I called the vet to clarify.

As you may remember, our vet is a close personal friend, who has proven time and again he is a wonderful vet (although there is a joke at the clinic his note taking could use some work). After talking to him about why  we had the higher dose (even though I left a message saying the lower one seemed to be working), he had decided, after looking back at the books and doses, that the lower dose was just too low. He wanted her to be on this higher dose. So like many times in our vet relationship, we have agreed on a compromise: Hailey will try this higher dose for one month (I have paid for it anyway). If we don't think it is any different from the lower dose or if she has side effects etc., he will prescribe her the lower dose.

Now we are waiting to see if we notice a difference.

Wordless Wednesday - When No One Will Throw It - Play Alone

A Spooky Walk

This spooky walk took place on Thursday, August 18 at approximately 5 am. Lady decided to take both us dogs out at once because she was sore and tired and on day 2 of a migraine and she knew we wouldn't see a living soul at 5 am. She was glad to have us both with her.

We went out under the full moon.

It was misty.

We saw the eyes of our deer friends glowing in the field.

When we were about as far as we were going, 2 km (1.2 mi), we heard it. Yes, for the first time in the 4 years we have lived in the country we heard the the wolf. He let out one long howl. We all froze in place. We could tell he was a bit away. We turned and headed home.

In her head, Lady was thinking "I am now in a horror movie - full moon, misty, country road, alone." She was sure that a werewolf was going to jump out at any time. She decided if that happened she was sacrificing Hailey first, and Phod second. (2 km is a lot of time to imagine what you would do if a wolf or werewolf jumped out, even if you know that is not going to happen - the imagination can take hold).

Later that day, she told the story to some of her coworkers. She had an out of office meeting and when she returned, this was on her desk.

She laughed, but it did reminder her, werewolves exist (but maybe not in the scary form she imagined!)

---------------------------
We probably won't be commenting as much as usual the next few weeks. Lady said we will do our best to visit but she is really, really busy at work getting her clients ready for back to school.

Mischief Monday - The Beach Invader

Last week there was an invader on our beach. Don't worry, Hailey checked it out and kept us all safe!

"What is that?"

"Better be careful and check it on on this side . . . ."

"and this side."

"Maybe this is the angle to really check it out."

"I will give it a little growl so it knows I am the boss."

"Now I will get it. The beach is safer now that I got that dead leaf!"

Black and White Sunday

Man and Phod both carry the bumper home from the beach.

Natural Sepia Saturday - Zaphod

Pawlympics - Freestyle Napping - Hosted by Hailey

Greetings Blogville - welcome to this very special event, held on a very special day, my Man's birthday! Cause my favourite thing to do with the Man is have a bed nap (that is what we call a weekend nap that takes place in the bed), I thought it was the best way to celebrate his special day.

Here are the fantastic entries for napping!

Up first is former Mayor Madi showing she has what it takes to be a gold winning napper. 

Sarge is in a great position to run in his sleep if he is dreaming of squirrels. 

She may be little in size but Chimera knows how to have a big nap!

Yang knows how to nap - take up the whole bed so people can't disrupt you! 

Mayoral candidate Christmas likes to cuddle during his nap.

Our current mayors, Murphy and Stanley, are no strangers to napping and have a team entry to our free style napping (it is free style, there are no rules!)

Dakota sure looks cozy under a blanket while he catches 40 winks. 

Tegan has nailed the couch nap - even a TV show isn't going to stop her from sleeping. 

Her brother Wyatt shows us all that pillows are not necessary for a good nap.

Being boxers is hard work and requires a good nap according to our pals Casey and Jessie. I hope they are having sweet dreams.

Casey

Jessie

My sweet boyfriend Easy is napping and dreaming of me (and the two of us catching squirrels and destroying toys).  Isn't he handsome? Doesn't he look like he needs me to come and cuddle him?

This duo has got napping down. Way to go Lassie and Benji!

Want to make sure your people don't sneak out, take a page from Frankie's playbook and sleep on their shoes! 

Relaxed and letting it all hang out is our pal Ernie.

Molly and Mackie sleeping in the cool grass. 

Louis Dog Armstrong's nap has been hijacked by the pup-erotzi! (who can blame them, he is just so cute!)

Nothing is keeping Mr. Bailey from having a peaceful nap.

Maggie Mae  is using her dad as a pillow,

while Gussie also makes sure dad doesn't sleep alone.

From The Daily Bone our reports are catching a few zzzzzz.

Angel Joey

Chester

Next up we have Bentley

and Pierre showing us how they nap in the Bayou. 

Abby Lab has crashed out on her bed. Bet she is dreaming of the wonderful food her mom cooks.

Mayoral candidate Arty looks like he is out for the count. 

Working on her sideways dog is Princess Leah.

Riley, mayoral candiate Lexi's brother, has shared with us his favourite ways to nap.

Lady Shasta looks super sweet snuggling with her puppy pillow. 

All the way from Down Under, showing us they nap the same below the equator are Dui, Roxy and Bella.

Dui

Roxy

Bella

More napping from the souther hemisphere as Jasper and Nellie join us.

Dad naps are the best! 

Sweet dreams to another cute napping pair Walter and Millie.

Momma's make the best pillows according to Dory.

All this napping is clearly contagious as Oreo

and Addi join us as well.

He has stopped bouncing to join us in our sleep, all the way from Scotland is Bertie.

Rounding out our participants is Astrid.

We have definitely seen some world class napping today. Please help us celebrate all this great napping, by napping! Participants, when you wake up, remember to take your medal and wear it proudly, you earned it!

Your host Hailey

And her brother Phod