Today, May 17th, is my third birthday! Hurrah for me, and thank you to all of you who emailed or left me messages. Thanks Faya for mailing me a gift, I love late birthday gifts, it makes the celebration last longer!

Well, I've come a long way - I sure was cute at 3 months old, the day Mom and Dad took me home. Just look at me at left - even though I've changed a lot and become a substantial chap, I think you can still see its me. My coloring was slightly different and my tail was straight...hmm, never did figure out what happened to my tail....

Anyway, I've had a fantastic birthday - been spoilt rotten. I've had three long walks - 2 with Dad, one with Mom; 2 car rides - ok, it was only to the Toyota dealer to get Dad's car inspected...but I still hung my head out the window and barked at everyone to inform them it was my birthday! I have also been showered with snacks and love and many gifts!

First up, Mom and Dad gave me a squeaky, scary looking dragon whose tongue and tail unfurl when you squeeze it; a pack of fresh beef bones (unfortunately they won't give me one today cos I've exhausted my snack quota); a pack of "decadent" Dingoes (they are new and have cheese on one end!) and a pack of not-so-decadent 100 calorie peanut butter dog snacks. They are putrid. Sorry Mom. Good try.

Then the mailman arrived and TWO packages were for me!! One was from my beloved Miss Amelia in Washington State...she sent me two stuffy/squeak toys and a bag of six big dingoes! A girl after my own heart!

The other package was from Amelia's brother, Bigfoot Fletch and his sister Maxie who live in California. They sent me a hilarious Loofa surfer toy with red hair like Mom, and a bag of these little but very yummy treats. Mom loved them (no she didn't eat them!) because they are so little and being the snack fiend that I am...she is glad to have little snacks so I don't become too substantial, if you know what I mean...

I was napping when Mom produced Fletch's gift, so forgive me for looking so blase in the first photo....

So as you can tell...SPOILT!

Around midday, Mom took me on my birthday walk to what we like to call, The Enchanted Forest. Only readers in the UK will understand the reference to Mom's favorite author as a child, the now contravercial Enid Blyton. She wrote about enchanted forests, magic wishing chairs, faeries, wolves and all sorts of stuff. Mom read all her books...

But we digress...the forest is not really a forest, it's just a lovely area of our park that is covered in trees and stuff.

I love to sniff the grass and ground in these parts ...at some point I went tearing into the undergrowth after a scent...and ended up having a good old birthday roll in something stinky. Mom just sighed and said, "Ok Axie Pax, it's your birthday, you can roll in poop if you must!" So I did, and came out stinky with a black neck. What fun!

Upon exiting the forest, I ran into a sheltie...she was sweet, but frankly at my age, I'm pretty aloof and disinterested in most dogs...I mean there are just so many butts you can sniff before it all becomes dreadfully tedious!

So as you can see everyone, splendid birthday! Thanks Mom and Dad, thanks Grandma and Grandpa in South Africa for the lovely birthday email. Seems Dad's parents forgot. Ahem!!!

As its my birthday, can I ask you to pray for two wishes please?

1. No rain on Mom's parade and festival tomorrow please! (Besides, I also plan to attend with Dad)
2. Full recovery for Auntie Lynne's cat Lucas who has heart issues and diabetes. I wrote to my pal Joe the Cat for advice as to how to make a sick cat eat...and got a heartwarming and very informative response. Read it here. Besides Blanche the Bitchy Cat next door, I really do like cats (and proud to say it in public!)

Sorry, one more...

3. No more itchies. Two plus weeks post cortisone shot and I am still feeling great, no return of the itchies, and as you can see, I am in pollen areas with lots of grass! I am sooo happy. Hope it lasts and lasts!

Love you all. Thanks for making my day and life so special!

AGC

Labels: Amelia, Bigfoot, birthday, Festival, Joe the Cat, Parade, third birthday

¶ 4:54 PM 6 comments links to this post

Labels: Mother's Day, Pillow Dance

¶ 8:24 AM 8 comments links to this post

I dedicate this blog post to the Honorable Judge Sirois who today rendered final judgement against Marc-Andre Laporte, convicted animal abuser of 97 dogs, mostly wire fox terriers.

I had wanted our friend and Laporte survivor Bingo to give us his report - but he is out celebrating and I was too impatient to share the good news!

Judge Sirois sentenced Laporte to 200 hours of community service (the maximum by law is 240), plus a fine of $2000. He will serve THREE years of probation during which he is NOT ALLOWED to own a dog. The best news is that the so-called Red Collar Dogs (the 18 wires Laporte still owned and wanted returned so he could breed them again) are safe. The Judge severed Laporte's ownership rights and said he would send him to jail if he contacted any of the foster families. To see the video in English that reports on the case's outcome - click to:
http://montreal.ctv.ca/cfcf/video_popup?news_id=21840

There you will see my friend Bingo (I'm almost sure that is him in the black coat - also pictured top left) and I think there is a glimpse of Honeybee too. And our dear friend and savior, Elizabeth Pierce is interviewed too.

Oh Happy Happy Days my friends! Though we would have liked to see Laporte banned from dog ownership for life or sentenced to hard jail time or the electric chair - the Judge handed down the most severe sentence he was able according to the Montreal law. It is indeed more than we could have ever hoped for.

Thank you to everyone for signing the petition and supporting out cause against Laporte. It's been a 3-year struggle, but we were victorious in the end, for the just always triumph my friends, and evil gets what it deserves.

AGC

Labels: Bingo, Elizabeth Pierce, final judgement, Honeybee, Judge Sirois, Marc-Andre Laporte

¶ 2:16 PM 12 comments links to this post

Good news to report. My itchies have vanished! POOF! One day I was red, hot to the touch, and itching like crazy, and the next day, one shot of cortisone later, I am cured. Please God we hope it lasts as cortisone is not very good for me! I am so much happier you wouldn't believe. The weather is warm again after a few cooler days - and our street is littered with pink blossoms all over the pavement and street - it is messier than snow, but thankfully it isn't slippery. Can you see the pink carpet in the photo at right? It looks really pretty at a distance, but up close it is kind of smelly and the petals get into everything - car, house and oh yeah, paws!

The best thing about spring is the arrival of Mr. Softie The Ice Cream Man. Everytime I hear the musical van, I rush to the door and start to bark to alert dad to his arrival. Dad loves ice-cream almost as much as I do! If he is putering in his basement, he can't hear Mr Softie, so I go crazy to tell him to hurry up, grab his $1.25 and get the hell outside to buy an ice cream. Then from the moment Dad steps in the door holding his cone, I pester him until I get some. Dad, unlike Mom, is not a sucker for my cute behaviour, he ignores me and always leaves me the very last bite of his cone. I tell you, waiting for him to eat the whole thing is pure torture!! Below you can see me pestering Dad in stages - first I sit next to him and tap him with my paw. Then I jump up behind him and breathe in his ear, and finally I jump in front of him and bounce up and down until I get my way!!

A reminder that Tuesday is the final hearing in the Laporte case - let's hope the judge has done all his work and will deliver justice for the wirey survivors of Blainville House of Horrors. Another report will be in from Bingo as soon as the verdict is delivered...so watch this space...

AGC

Labels: ice cream, Marc-Andre Laporte, Spring, substantial wires club

¶ 3:24 PM 4 comments links to this post

I know this is difficult to believe, but I was actually happy when Mom told me she was taking me to the vet this morning. I was that uncomfortable. My itchies were driving me bonkers.

So off we went on the 15 mile drive to Boulevard Animal Hospital in the Far NorthEast of Philadelphia. I was quite calm when I walked in, greeted the two German Shephards, beautiful Akita, Puggle and trio of kitties. I patiently waited my turn and then I saw Dr. Brett. He announced the obvious, that my skin was very inflamed and infected, and Mom and Dr. Brett decided I needed a cortisone shot and anti-biotics. I agreed!

The only part of the visit I did not enjoy was the thermometer up my behind! Oh, and when blood was drawn for a worm test. But at least I left the practice knowing that in a few hours, I would feel much better. And it is now almost 12 hours later, and indeed, I am itching less. I happily went on my evening walk and even played with my friends. For the past few days I wasn't up to that.

Thank you for all the well wishes left in the comments. Mom did look into homeopathic solutions but the homeopathic vet told Mom itchies was one of the most difficult afflictions to treat and it would be a very slow process. Seeing how miserable I was, Mom knew we could not afford to be patient. Maybe in the fall, when typically my itchies desist, we will explore that again.

Oh and Jackson, Gus and Mackie - you had better sign me up for the Big Wires Club -- Mom nearly passed out when she saw that I now weigh....32lbs (14.5kg)! Dr Brett, bless him, didn't seem very concerned. He said I should maybe lose about 2lbs as I am a big guy by design. He did remind mom though that the cortisone would make me ravenous...not the best time to put me on a diet Mom!

AGC

PS Mom has meant to tell you all the good news that her eye is almost back to normal - the retinal bleed has cleared up pretty well. We are all very relieved indeed!

Labels: Big Wires, boulevard animal hospital, cortisone, itchies, Philadelphia, retinal bleed

¶ 7:53 PM 8 comments links to this post

It is only April, yet my seasonal allergies have struck with a horrible vengeance. I am uncomfortable in my own skin, I itch all over and my skin is hot to the touch. I just have to scratch and bite myself all the time. I'm driving Mom and Dad crazy because I am hurting myself and they don't know how to stop me. They keep giving me pills hidden (not very subtley) in cheese - but Benedryl and fish oil don't really help me.

Mom put one of her tshirts on me in the hope it would stop me hurting myself when I scratch - I look pregnant - honestly, I am not THAT fat!

As you can see (right), I am doing harm to myself - this wound is one of a handful -- Mom rubs Resicort lotion into the wounds or hot spot spray, and it makes me yelp as it stings. But it does help soothe eventually.

I haven't felt like doing much except chomp on myself...I didn't even want to go for a walk this morning...I am miserable. What can I do to stop this itch...I can't exactly stay inside all Summer!

Mom is taking me to the vet on Tuesday and I guess I'll get more powerful pills (Temaril P?) or a cortisone shot and probably antibiotics cos I've probably caused infection on myself. I never thought I'd say this...but I can't wait to go to the vet to get some relief.

In the meantime, Mom and Dad are doing their best to distract me from eating myself alive - I had a kong with peanut butter this morning, and tonight Mom gave me little pieces of london broil - when she sees me attaching myself, out come the snacks. I guess you could say that is the only silver-lining in this abyssmal situation.

AGC

Labels: itchies, london broil, Temaril P, wound

¶ 4:41 PM 8 comments links to this post

A month ago, Mom heard via the wire fox terrier Yahoo email list, that a couple from a small town called Center in Texas were literally "trapped" in Philadelphia. Larry and Lisa had come all the way from Texas to visit their son at Fort Dix army base in nearby New Jersey - actually to meet their new grandson. During what was supposed to be a 5-day visit, Larry got very ill and had to be transferred to Jefferson Hospital in Philly. There he underwent serious back/neck surgery. That was weeks ago - Larry is now slowly recovering at a first class rehab hospital also in Philadelphia. (As mom reminds Lisa, if you had to get stuck anywhere - Philly is a first class city for medical care!)

Larry and Lisa breed wires and are members of the Lone Star Fox Terrier Club - their kennel is called Aerostar and they have had a few champion wires like their little gal Wyrelee Miss Money Penny. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for them to be stuck in Philly, so far away from home, their family and all their animals (wires, cats, horses, goats, chickens etc). When Mom heard their plight she was very moved and made contact and visited them 10 days ago. Mom thinks about them a lot and is full of admiration for Lisa having to cope with living in a big city for the first time, for being on hand to support her husband 24/7, having to stay in hotels alone etc etc. So whatever little thing Mom can do for them, she so wants to do!

So last week, she faxed all my vet records to the hospital, and today Mom, Dad and me, went to visit Larry and Lisa in the hospital. I felt it my wiry duty and honor to bring some cheer to them. I hope I did - as you know, I'm a bit of an aloof fellow...but I did my best and I think, accomplished my mission. The photo on the top left is of Mom, Me, Lisa and Larry. Notice that Lisa is holding the Fox Terrier Network newsletter - Mom gave it to her cos that edition was full of funny foxie photos she know they would enjoy!

I'm thinking I might become a therapy dog because I see how rewarding it can be...I just have to learn to be a bit more friendly I guess. Yesterday I did a good deed too visiting Dad's 95 year old Grandad in his Old Age Home. So I am becoming quite a pro.

It looks like Larry will need treatment for another month or so. Please join me in wishing Larry a complete and fast recovery so that he and Lisa can finally return home to Center, Texas and resume their happy, healthy lives.

AGC

Labels: Aerostar, Center, Larry, Lisa, Texas

¶ 5:11 PM 7 comments links to this post