Happy Chanukah!

Well, I didn't think I was going to blog until Tuesday, but I had such a great day today, that I had to take some time off tell you all about it!

About an hour ago, I helped Mom and Dad light the first chanukah candle in our menorah! Unlike Christmas, which is also today, Chanukah lasts for 8 days celebrating the miracle of the temple oil that lasted for 8 days even though there was only enough for one. Dad lifted me up to see the pretty candles (left) but not before I took I peek for myself (right). I am a curious hound after all!



After the candle lighting Mom sang (not a very pleasant experience for anyone to witness, least of all I who has sensitive hearing) and then she began to make latkes! I was so fascinated by this intricate procedure and the thought of gobbling a few at some point, that I grabbed the digital camera, and decided to pretend I was Martha Stewart (the cooking criminal) doing a cover article on the art of latke making!

Step 1: Peel the potatoes


Step 2: Grate the potatoes - do not be idiotic like Mom and use a miniscule hand grater. She didn't have any alternatives (hint hint, bridal registry) - so she was most courageous to attempt this.


Step 3: Grate onion (try do it with your eyes closed as Mom started to weep half way through...)


Step 4: Beat 2 eggs and mix with some flour and baking powder


Step 5: In true Chanukah spirit, drench a pan in oil and add latke mixture.


Step 6: When browned, remove latkes and place on paper towel to absorb all the oil.


Step 7: Transfer latkes to a pretty plate and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar (South African thing) or Apple sauce and sour cream (American thing). Mom hates apples or any vestige thereof, so Dad had to do without...


Step 8: MOST IMPORTANT STEP: FEED LATKE TO THE WELL DESERVING DOG AXEL


Man, that was one yummy treat. I just hope it doesn't give me the runs, and if it does, that it lasts for one day and not EIGHT!

Earlier in the day, Mom, Dad and me headed to our park to run and play. We always have the best time in the park and today the weather wasn't too cold, and besides, I was sporting my handsome coat, so I felt warm and snug!



As usual we went to our favorite spot on the little wall overlooking the river and boat house row. I posed with Mom and Dad for these pictures. Isn't it marvelous how all our coats match? Mom says to tell you she had just woken up and had not "put on her face" whatever that means!




For those of you who have never been to Philly, I took two pictures of the beautiful view:




All in all, we had a spectacular day. I hope that all my wiry pals and their families are enjoying their Christmas/Chanukah hols as much as I am!

AGC

POP Goes the Weasel!

Mom came home yesterday evening carrying that mysterious box that the mailman had tried to deliver! And in the mailbox, was another package that I just knew was for me too! I was dizzy with excitement.

In the first package was a red fleece coat. Hmm, a tad disappointing (you can't exactly eat a coat!) - but the SitStay company did include a few treats in the package - greenies! Mom insisted on getting me into my coat right away for a photo op. The coat fit really well and it sure was warm and cozy. I ran around in it, posed for a photo and then began to feel hot!



What I really wanted to know was what was in the box! Eventually with my patience wearing thin, Mom tore it open and inside was my weasel ball! Dad had to open the ball with a screwdriver to insert something called a battery, and then the fun began! The weasel was alive! It darted around the room, it rolled all over and I ran after it. I took it in my mouth and shook it all over the place. But it would not die. Everytime I threw it down to kill it, it came alive and took off! Man it was fun! After half an hour I was pretty exhausted so Mom told me the weasel had to take a nap! He came out again a bit later when I started barking and Mom and Dad needed to distract me!



I received this amazing Chanukah greeting from my pals Agatha and Archie in front of their menorah. Boy, they look positively possessed with the holiday spirit!



I also wanted to share pictures of my friends Kodi and Maddie (left) who also sent their holiday greetings - though they don't look particularly festive - they were more concerned with the neighborhood cat whom I'm told they were staring after in the photo...Mom nearly fainted when she saw Kodi (standing), she thinks we look pretty alike. And on the right is dear Luci who I hope to meet very soon as we not only live in the same state, but a short drive away. Mom and Luci's parents Kathy and Ed met at the Montgo Terrier Show and became firm friends! In the photo Luci is anxiously awaiting Christmas... bet she's going to get a lot of presents 'cos she too is an only child like me!



Chanukah begins on Sunday night, and I am very excited to see the menorah and sing Chanukah songs with Mom and Dad (and hopefully eat latkes). And Mom and Dad don't have work on Monday, so we all get to hang out together! I think I may take a break from blogging until Tuesday unless something very exciting occurs that I feel compelled to share with you all.

To all my Jewish and Christian and Aethiest/Agnostic friends -- I wish you all a very happy and healthy Chanukah/Christmas/Some-sort-of-holiday!

AGC

Mothers in Cahoots

As usual, Mom came home after 5 PM last night and as she opened the door, I thought it would be a fine time to reenact my favorite game - "Catch me if you can," so I bolted out the door! Mom seemed miffed as usual - she kept saying, "Axel, I was about to take you for a walk you silly pupik" (I believe a pupik is a Yiddish word for the nether regions of a chicken!). Like I believed her! So I ran about, crouched on my front legs and barked at her as she got close. But then, alas, Mother Nature intervened (bet all Moms are in cahoots), and I felt a poop coming on, so I had to squat then and there, and Mom took advantage of me in my compromised position to stick my leash around my neck! Damn, I was mad at that poopie!

Anyway, she kept her word and took me for a walk - more like I take her for a walk really - she is too slow for me - I need to pull her along at my pace! On the way, we stopped off at the dry cleaners to collect some of Mom's sweaters, and the lady working there thought I was the cutest thing. Heh heh, I'm such a chick magnet!

While I was at home yesterday, the mailman knocked on the door with a big box in his hands, and I just knew instinctively that it was my chanukah gift. But blast it, I couldn't exactly open the door and sign for the package! So I had to watch in sheer agony as he left a slip in the mailbox and took off down the street! What if he never comes back?

Well at long last, I have some Chanukah greeting cards to show off on my blog. The first one Jill, Mom of the Terrierfirma Gang (Libby, Bamboozle, etc), created - it's pretty cool; but not quite as cool as the one I made this afternoon! Notice how I feature rather prominently - I decided not to include Mom and Dad - it would have ruined the ambience of the card! Next to Jill's card is one I got from Bigfoot Fletch and his Mom Carol...




I have a new pal from Ohio to introduce - he has a rather grand name: Highcrest Dale Gunn. I wonder what they call him for short? I can't imagine his parent Chris saying, "Go potty Highcrest Dale Gunn!" Tee hee. He is around my age - 8 months old - I sure would like to get together and play!



I have taken to barking quite a lot lately, especially in the middle of the night. I don't know why my parents seem to get mightly mad at me, don't they realize I am protecting them, the ever dutiful 24/7 watchdog? Just because their human hearing is so lacking, doesn't mean I am barking at nothing! They seem so upset, I have heard them having hushed discussions about taking me to the vet to get me neutered. Hey Mom and Dad - guess what? my voicebox is not in my balls! Cutting off my balls ain't going to affect my ability to bark. Geez, humans can be so dumb!

AGC

Of Dogs & Bitches...

Before I get into today's post, I want to send a big, slobberly kiss and thank you to Petsmart Charities who sent a very generous check to the SPCA in Montreal for the care of the Blainville Wires. Mom got a call from Elizabeth Pierce last night while she was soaking in the tub, and I heard her scream! I got a fright, thought maybe she'd been attacked by something - but thankfully it turned out to be a happy shriek as she heard the news from Montreal! So on behalf of all canines the world over - three cheers for Petsmart!!!

And more good news this morning from my friend Cheryl who has been looking after the 5 Missouri Wire puppy mill rescues! They are doing great! If you remember, I posted the disturbing pictures of these poor abused souls a while back. Well, now you can see how well they have recovered with the outstanding love and veterinary care they have received. Click here to see the amazing transformations of Star, Nora, Little Smirk, Tres and Charity. Made my wiry little heart sing all day!

Well, with Chrismukkah only days away, the cards and festive photos just keep pouring in. It seems everyone and his uncle wants the privilege of being featured on my blog! And who can blame them?

Here is my lovely card from Adrienne and Huckleberry, the smooth jester:



Some of my friends sure are creative and witty. Just look at these funny cards. The first one is from Jo and her gang Esme, Flynn and Snoopz dressed up as the Three Wise Men; and the second is from humans Jill & Mark, with their terrier troup - Libby, Bamboozle, Linus (Airdale) and Mathilda (Scottie). Man I wish my Mom was that clever!



Onwards to our wee fashion segment I like to call, Wires in Weird Threads. Take a look at Snickers (left) in her bright pink snow suit. It almost made me wet myself, but it wasn't worth the effort of having to get off the computer chair and lift my leg! Pictured right is her bro Butchy sporting a purple sweater. My coat is due to arrive any day now, so perhaps I shouldn't make fun of my pals, God only knows how goofy I will look in my new attire!



I got an email from Canadian pal Dean-o, to take exception at my anti-feline comments. It seems, horrors, he lives quite happily with one of those creatures by the name of La Petite Maudite. I am heartened by your testimony Dean-o, but I'm not sure I'd like to share my couch with a cat! Her food might be a different story - I am pretty partial to tuna! By the way, Dean-o wants you to know that he was having a very bad hair day when this picture was taken. Tres evident mon ami - as they'd say in Montreal?



From Canada to South America, I have two new friends to introduce - a mom and daughter act named Chelsea and Milu. I am still hoping to learn more about them and where they live etc...so stay tuned. In the meantime, just look at this duo of gorgeous Wires:



Finally, I want to take issue with something that has irked me for ages! Why do humans use our species as a put down or worse, a terrible insult! Take this headline for example in today's news: Saddam co-defendant calls witness a lying dog. Now I ask you friends, is that fair? Should it not be the greatest compliment to call a human a dog? Humans should aspire to be more like us - we are loyal, kind and our mission in life is to give and serve! Our female counterparts don't have it much easier with bitch being the ultimate insult for a woman. Can somebody explain this conundrum to me. I just don't get it, damn it!

AGC

PS My wiry thoughts and prayers go out to Woody who isn't feeling well of late. Miss Amelia, his sister, I ask you to give him hugs for us, okay?

All I want for Christmas/Hanukkah is a "red furry scrotum!"

So Mom has been a bit huffy of late, disgruntled with certain things that characterize life in America. Such things as MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen program where we see spoilt teens enjoying $200,000 birthday parties (I swear sometimes I think she is about to throw something at the TV!). Or the craziness around the holiday season, where she sees people who obviously do not have loads of cash, going nuts on their purchases, getting into debt. When she sees these things I have to bear with her mutterings and exclamations. It gets a wee bit irritating.

Anyway, so her latest peeve, is the pervasiveness of Christmas everywhere - and the absence of Hanukkah. On Sunday she went from store to store seeking Hanukkah decorations for the house (she insists on joining in this weird American custom of dressing the house up for the holidays), and came back with NOTHING. All she found was a roll of boring gift wrap. Anyway, not to be deterred, she set about cutting out dreidl shapes in the gift wrap and sticking them on the windows facing the street (where I can not reach them, naturally. Oh yee of little trust). I think Dad thought she was bonkers, but he humored her and helped her to reach the high spots with tape.

I decided to do my bit for holiday decor, so I took my spongy ball Mom brought me from work (it's a marketing giveaway for her org), and I set about diligently making holiday confetti out of it. I did a splendid job! Mom sure didn't appreciate it though...with in minutes, out came that loud, obnoxious machine - it must have been very hungry, 'cos it gobbled up all my blue confetti and I haven't seen it since! Bloody unfair, all that hard work for nothing!

Oh, before I forget, I have to tell you that I wowed everyone at training last night! Wendy the trainer said I was a very good boy and didn't even add her favorite bit, "for a terrier!". You should have seen her face when I went down on command. Mom was beaming too! So to all those ignorant farts who think fox terriers are untrainable, I say, "Phooey on YOU"!! And by the way, it was not easy to be so obedient last night because Stella the Italian Spinone pup was a a hair away from being on heat! She is being spayed today! So it was very distracting to say the least, me being such an intact, virile, young man!

So, I have a few more festive photos of my pals...I'm still hoping to get one of a Wire in front of a menorah, but maybe I'll get Dad to photograph me on the weekend when we start our candle-lighting. Unlike Mom, I am a very tolerant dude, it bothers me not that there are a profusion of Christmas pictures and a total lack of Hanukkah ones!(By the way, I spotted a lot of potatoes and onions in the kitchen - I'm hoping latkes are on Mom's mind! I did hear her grumbling about having to wait until the wedding to get her food processor - apparently grating potatoes and onions isn't such fun!). Here are our pals Colby (left) and Brandy & Nicky (right). Boy they look great! I wonder if those stockings will be filled with tasty treats!!?


You know, some folks think I'm a bit weird because of my curly tail, but I found a soulmate in Denmark by the name of Teddy who also has a curly tail! The good news is I don't feel so weird anymore, the bad news is that I am no longer unique! His Mom Kitty (fancy having a human Mom named Kitty!) says he was born with the kinky tail, unlike me who was born with a straight one. Teddy is 5 years old and has an older sister named Aimee who is 6 years old (right). What a cute pair, obviously NOTHING is rotten in the state of Denmark (I've been reading up on Shakespeare in my spare time). Looks like poor Aimee got caught in a meteor shower!



I also want to introduce my friends Danny and Suzie's newish little sibling Molly. She is just 4 months old. What a sweetie she is... Hmm, I quite fancy her! (Sorry Ms Amelia but I do dig the younger bitches)



Speaking of Shakespeare, I read this phrase today - "if music be the food of love, play on..." Now I'm not 100% what that means...but it seems to suggest what we wires already know - that we LOVE food! And we will go to amazing lengths to get it - especially if it isn't dog food! Check out my mate Terry virtually standing on his head to eat the crumbs out of his human sibling's high chair! Man, he cracks me up! But I'm pretty bad too...anytime Mom or Dad are in the kitchen, there I am, patiently waiting for something to "fall" at my feet. For some reason that is unfathomable to me, this seems to irritate Mom no end. In addition to everything else she moans about, she often mumbles, "oh I miss those days of being able to eat a snack in peace!" Mom sure can be a stingy cow sometimes!

Finally, a note to all my neutered dog friends reading my blog. You may want to add one more thing to your Christmas/Chanukah gift list: Neuticles

What you may ask is that? Why fake dog testicles of course! I kid you not:

"The prosthetic dog testicles serve absolutely no functional purpose other than perhaps to soothe an owner's guilty conscience (despite Miller's claim they do wonders for a dog's self-esteem.) Since 1995, more than 150,000 animal owners - mostly dog owners, but some cat, horse and bull owners, as well - have ordered Neuticles, ringing up $16 million in sales. " According to the owner of Roger, a neutered retriever: "He has a cute, little, red furry scrotum." (And for Christmas, does he have a matching Santa Claus hat?)

Uh-hum (clear throat). Well okay. Maybe Mom will add this to her list of insane, ridiculous, things that characterize life in America. I may just agree with her on this one (then again, I still have my balls!)

AGC

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

Well, the Dog of the Year contest on Barkslope is underway! Still coming off my high after my fundraising efforts for the Blainville and Missouri Foxies, I decided that should I win, I will donate 90% of my winnings to Fox Terrier Network who do great rescue work. In this spirit of giving, Mom and I emailed all our friends in the universe to ask for their vote, and clearly, our appeal worked, 'cos I am way in the lead of the pack! I am so ahead, I'm almost embarrassed! There is still time to vote if you haven't - just click here. This is more than just a cutesy contest for me -- I want victory to be able to continue my philanthropic work!

Well with Christmas and Chanukah just days away, the festive pictures of my friends are pouring into my inbox! Mom was at Petsmart this weekend, and Santa Claus was there...she told me later she was almost tempted to pay for me to have my picture taken, but being Jewish and all, she came to her senses in time! I think I would have liked to sit on Santa's lap and pull his beard - all that hair! Look at my pal Smitty and his sister Jessie sitting with Santa - they made the happy picture into a card for me!



Here is my pal Libby with her Dad Mark gazing at their Christmas tree (left). I cannot imagine having such a tempting thing in my livingroom, I wouldn't know what to do first - lift my leg or attack the shiny tinsel! How do you restrain yourself Lib? On the left is my cute pal Sherlock from NJ looking very Christmassy! What a cutie he is!



Many of my pals are also realizing that December spells COLD - so they are running to the store to buy their winter ware. Mom actually ordered me a fleece coat on Friday - I wonder if I'll like it. None of my friends wear coats, so I hope they won't think I'm a sissy! Mom is a real Jewish Mama, whenever she is cold she wraps ME in a blanket!

Here is my pal Ozzie in his coat (left) - he looks a little perturbed...maybe he is thinking, "Geez Mom, in this thing I'll never be able to sneak up on a squirrel or bird! Could you not have bought me a brighter coat!? Haven't you heard of camouflage? *sigh*" And check out Brandy and Nicky in their patriotic colored sweaters. Bet that keeps them warm and toasty.



I have to tell you all a wee secret. I am such a clever rascal! Guess what I did last night? I faked a pee!!! You see, after the pee-in-the-bed incident, Mom and Dad vowed to take me out to pee before we all retire to bed. This involves taking me out back and basically begging me to pee. "Go potty Axel! Make pee-pees good boy!" is the usual refrain. So last night I was tired, and it was cold outside, and I was rather peckish (that's South African for "needing a snack") - so I went outside, lifted my leg for a few seconds and then ran to the door. Mom looked at me suspiciously...she must have wondered if she'd heard any liquid from my loins...but then, thinking that as I'd lifted my leg, I must have peed, she brought me inside and gave me my usual liver treats as reward. Heh heh, so now all I need to do is lift my leg and Mom will think I've peed! Hahaha! I feel very clever indeed!

But then we Wires are so talented, can you believe that I have a friend named Peaches, who plays the piano! I kid you not! Her Mom says she is a progidy waiting to be discovered! I bet she'll appear on Oprah soon!



Another thing we Wires, and terriers in general excel at, is the great snoozeroo! You already saw the pics of me and Mom snoozing, now check out Jill the human, with her babies Linus the Airdale and Libby the Wire having a three-way snooze. All the holiday preparations must have tired them out!



I'm not sure whether I've introduced my pal Herman before - but he sent me some new pictures that I just had to share. He wrote me that, "Eating mom's bushes is still my favorite pastime when I'm outside but they aren't as fun now that the leaves are all falling off." He also bemoaned the fact that he has an uncooperative ear that just won't stay down - not even glue helped! Well who cares Herman, you are perfect as you are. I should know, I have a crooked tail! Be proud - there is a lot to be said for being goofy! Oh and by the way, Herman also has a book recommendation for all of us, it's called, "Walter the Farting Dog" by William Kotzwinkle. Fancy that, a farting dog? I've never heard anything so preposterous!



And finally, I have two new friends to introduce: Snickers (3 1/2 female) and Butch (5, male). They are both rescues and live with their Mom Linda in Janesville, Iowa. (In the picture on the left, Butchy is on left of picture and Snickers is on the right.) What a cute couple they are, and don't they look adorable cuddled up together? I wish I had a wiry sibling to cuddle with - Mom and Dad are okay, but they aren't as warm and furry as I imagine another dog is.



I swear I saw Dad roll his eyes this morning when Mom reminded him that I have dog training tonight! Heh heh, poor Dad, it must be hard for him to constantly hear the trainer saying, "Not bad Axel....for a terrier!"

AGC

In Disgrace

I am not in a very good mood this morning. I spent the night in my crate! I hadn't been in it since I was a wee pup months ago, and let me tell you, it by no means measures up to spending the night with Mom and Dad in their bed.

So why, you are most probably wondering, did I end up in this state of ignominy? I'm not proud to tell you that I peed on Mom and Dad's bed last night as we were preparing to go to sleep. I don't know why I did it. I just did, damn it. I had been out before bed with Dad in the pouring sleet, I'd even peed a few times...I'm just a dog, I don't pretend to understand how my uninary tract performs. All I know is that my pee soaked through two layers of bedding. Dad was downstairs at the time, and Mom was just getting into bed when she heard the undeniable sound of liquid emanating from my thingie. She screamed, "AXEL!" like a banshee out of hell and kept repeating that word she is so fond of "you bugger!" This time, there were a few more words added that I will not share with you, my more discriminating audience.

Dad heard Mom's shrieks and came upstairs. I gave him one of my cutest looks - thinking that once again he would crumble and not get too mad. Boy, I was wrong this time. He was steamed. He went straight down the hall, retrieved my crate and put me inside and bolted the door. He didn't even say anything, which made me feel worse.

Off came the top bedspread, and Mom tried to soak up the pee from the comforter - thankfully it hadn't permeated to the sheets. She then set about blow-drying it, all the while muttering something that I took to be obscenities. Once she got into bed, I started to whine and protest my confinement, but to no avail. Evidently this time, the parents meant business. Despite the racket I kicked up, I was not released and spent the night unhappily in my crate.

At least all seemed forgiven this morning when Dad opened the crate door with his cheerful, "how is my good buddy?" Phew!

I received a great email today from Diane in NYC who had seen Mom's post on Craigslist about the Blainville Wires. She wrote to say she would send a donation and mentioned that she is Mom to two foxies - a smoothie and a wire! Of course, this made my day, so I wrote back to request more info and a picture.

So I am happy to introduce Rally, the smoothie who is going to be 10, and Abby, the wire, who is going to be 6. Rally was rescued from a puppy mill and Abby was rescued from a family who found her too much to deal with (fancy that! Difficult to believe!)
They live in New York city with their doting Mom and Dad and have a very big yard in which to run and play. They also get to go for walks in Central Park.

Diane writes, "I just wanted you to know how much these dogs are loved – as I said they own the house and we love it." They sure look happy in their Mom and Dad's bed!
(Um, some advice buddies - Don't PEE!!!)

Boy, it's like summer time today...well, not really, but it feels like it after the horrid weather we have been having. The sun is shining and it's a whopping 40F! Woohoo!

AGC

Nine Days 'til Chanukah!

How do you like my hat everyone? Remember the Christmas hat that Winston was modelling in an early post? Well, as a Jewish dog, I am so happy I found this cool Chanukah hat!

Not much news today. The weather outside is gruesome - snow, icy and sooo cold. Can you believe, I haven't even felt like escaping today? Even if I had the desire to though, I have to say Mom and Dad are being super careful everytime they open the door. When it gets warmer they'll probably forget...humans don't seem to have very good memories! I recall them swearing they would not raise a beggar who eats people food...haha, you should see them now! I get to taste everything from popcorn to Mom's tea!

I want to congratulate my smooth pal Huckleberry who came runner-up in a story competition! His Mom is Adrianne, and they live together in WA. Read the amazing story of how Adrianne rescued Huckleberry and how they became soulmates!

Today my friend Dean-O in Montreal, also let me know that a story about the Blainville WFTs appeared in their paper today under the header: After the nightmare, dogs find love

It's all about the wonderful Elizabeth Pierce (pictured right with a wiry friend) and the amazing people who have come forward to foster the surviving dogs. We get to read about HoneyBee again, who although has presented many challenges to her owner Elisabeth, Elisabeth is not willing to give up on her charge. Quite simply, she loves her.

In the article, we finally get to know the name of the horrible man who left these beautiful dogs in neglect and treated them so abusively. Remember this name: Marc-Andre Laporte. I wish I knew how to make one of those voodoo dolls - I would get pleasure sticking a few pins into it. The article describes how Laporte, has refused to release what he calls his "best breeders" in the hope of breeding them again.
"We all hope the man will never get the dogs back, but there's an outside chance a judge will rule it's his livelihood," said a member of the Montreal SPCA.

This man should NEVER be allowed to own a dog again, and furthermore, he should sit in jail until he rots.
By the way, anyone reading this - please take a minute to thank the reporter, Cheryl Cornacchia for writing this article. It is my hope that it will garner a reaction from the dog-loving, decent Canadians who read it. Cheryl's email is: ccornacchia@thegazette.canwest.com

AGC

Fun & Games, Terrier Style

Oh boy, I really managed to piss off Mom and Dad last night. I had been home alone all day - the dogwalker didn't show up - so when Mom got home, I had a lot of excess energy. Hardly my fault! I gave her lots of hugs and kisses and then we went out into the freezing evening for a quick walk, pee and poop. After stripping off her layers, Mom remembered she'd forgotten to take the mail in, so she opened the door, and OUT I WENT! I thought it would be a fun game to have Mom try to catch me in the bitter cold, and on the slippery sidewalks. Whenever she got near me, I jolted in the opposite direction and barked and barked, and laughed! It was great fun, but Mom didn't seem to think so. She first played along and even giggled at my antics, but then she tried to coax me in, beg me and finally scream at me. She even tried the Hansel and Gretel manoever...leaving a trail of liver treats to the front door. Good effort Mom! After a good 20 minutes, Mom was so irate, that I gave in and came inside. Boy, she was steamed!

Then not 10 minutes later, Dad arrives home, and as the door opened, you guessed it...OUT I WENT! AGAIN. Dad thought it was funny, but Mom was not amused and told him I'd done the same thing earlier, and "good luck trying to catch the bugger!" Dad was more fun then Mom, 'cos he made more effort to catch me...he tried many creative techniques, but I was too clever for him. It was only when Dad pulled out a piece of pastrami (Mom's cunning idea), that I couldn't resist, and as I accepted the bribe I was tackled and dragged indoors. I was then imprisoned in the laundry room as punishment. Mom had called for a spanking, but Dad bless him refused! My confinement lasted all of about 10 minutes, with Dad releasing me much to Mom's chagrin! I think I'll try this stunt again later...it was just too much fun!

Speaking of fun, I got the funniest email from Jennie from Indianapolis, who is Mom to Terence the WFT. Terence is obviously highly capable, as Jennie recently gave him a fancy title - Activities Director. She relates that, "He took on the title with gusto!" and goes on to describe how he ran "through the snow with abandon until Dad and Mom were exhausted. This activity included biting snow drifts as he passed by them, gleefully bounding through snow as deep as his underbelly, and sniffing the black blobs of ice and snow that had fallen from the cars."

She then goes on to name the rest of his activities for THAT day:

1) Cat Chasing
2) Refrigerator Raiding
3) Waste Basket Scoping
4) Pillow Toss (upending all the couch pillows)
5) Barking Your Head Off for No Reason
6) Cat Chasing (repeated as needed)
7) "Run, Run, Run"
8) Barking at "Pug Nation" (next door from loft window)
9) Playing with 4 Toys at Once
10) Rolling on Back
11) Preventing Mom from Getting to the Phone
12) Keeping Mom Company.
Activities that were noticeably absent from Terence's schedule were:
Grooming, Bathing, Coming When Called, and Sitting on Dad's Lap.

Boy oh boy, he sounds like my sort of pal! We'd have a blast together. Mom made her own list of my activities (from around 4pm-10pm yesterday) to compare to Jennie's as follows:

1) chewed 4 dingo chews
2) buried/hid 4 dingo chews in couch
3) raided Dad's tool box
4) teased Dad by removing items from tool box one at a time, and waiting for Dad to chase him around the coffee table to retrieve it
5) accompanied mail-lady door to door to help her deliver the mail (off leash!).
6) inspected trash collection on evening walk
7) inspected each yellow marking in the snow on same walk
8) escaped out the door twice for a came of "Catch Me" with Mom and then Dad
9) acted as master taster for Mom and Dad's evening repast
10) barked incessantly at regular intervals
11) undid Mom's ponytail at least 4 times
12) jumped up on dining room table to help clear off papers, gloves etc and distribute around the house.
13) Prevented Mom from using MY computer (as pictured above)

Finally, in today's post, I would like to pay homage to SALEM, Mass fireman, Richard LeBlanc, who saved the life of Pixie, a 12-pound terrier crossbreed, who was not breathing Tuesday when firefighters pulled her from a Salem home filled with smoke and flames. Firefighter LeBlanc gave Pixie mouth-to-snout resuscitation. You win today's Axel Hero Award! Capt. Alan Dionne said the firefighters' work demonstrates an important ethical guideline in the profession. "Save lives first and property second," he said. "It's always life first. And that means every life." Amen to that!

AGC, the incorrigible

Too Cold Even for a Wire-Coated Dude

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! It sure is cold today! The weather guy said it was about 22F but it felt like 10F, and for once he was right! Poor Dad, when we got home this morning from our 7:30 AM play group in the park, his face was all red, numb and painful. Mom tried to give him kisses to get the blood flowing again! I would have tried, but even in my wiry coat, I was pretty cold and my nose especially was frozen so it would have probably stuck to his face! Ha!


Hurrah, Mom found the camera cable...so I can show you the photos I took recently. In this cold weather, my favorite place to get warm and toasty is Mom's lap. Mom calls me her living electric blanket, so there is a lot of mutual warming that goes on! Here is a photo Dad took of us snoozing together on the couch! Mom loves the picture becos I am hiding her big nose! Haha! I think I look huge in this picture, but it's only because my Mommy is so small! In fact, when she sits in Dad's SUV she doesn't even activate the airbag unless I am sitting on her lap!

Last night I had my second obedience training class. The lady trainer is really strict, she doesn't let us dogs play together - last night she even put hoops on the floor to drive home the point that we need to respect eachother's space. What a lot of hoo-ha! Anyway, the lesson was all about the "come" command but I was so distracted by the other dogs I couldn't really concentrate. The trainer kept telling Dad that my breed was bred to be distracted by everything, so I was excelling in what I was supposed to excel! But boy, when Dad told me to go "Down" and I did, the lady's eyes almost fell out of her head in surprise! I sure showed her! Terrier or no terrier, I can do as well as the other breeds, the difference is I have to be in the mood!

I forgot to tell you that on Sunday Mom and Dad took me to the dogrun - it saves them walking me around in the ice and snow I guess. It was okay -- but I missed my regular friends, the stranger dogs in the dogrun weren't much fun! Can you spot me in the picture on the right?



I had an email from Cheryl who has been working tirelessly for the Missouri Puppy Mill rescues featured in my earlier post. Happily she related that, "I went to visit my Mill babies today. You would not believe, they are the same dogs, I left there one week ago. The one with the really red infected leg, now has a nice clean amputation. He can walk and run around now. He is feeling so much better. He is actually frisky, playful and acts like a Terrier...Little Smirk with the missing lip was barking and trying to get me to play. They are all getting every possible thing they need done. They are alert, strong and happy now. Tears of JOY today instead of the despair and Heartbreak I felt when I dropped them off." Kudos to both Cheryl and Dr Frost the amazing Vet. Next week the dogs are off to new foster homes in Colorado. We wish them happy, settled and long lives!

Still on the topic of Puppy Mills, I told you a while ago that in my very own State of Pennsylvania, there are thousands of puppy mills run primarily by the Amish community in Lancaster County. "This picturesque patch of what is commonly referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch Country has a dirty secret: puppy mills—and lots of them.
“Many people believe that Lancaster County has the highest concentration of puppy mills in the country. It's estimated that there are hundreds of operations,” says Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Now, that dirty secret is being exposed in a very public way—by a billboard on the busy Pennsylvania turnpike."

Now people coming to Lancaster to buy puppies will at least be forewarned! Brilliant idea!
You can see a video of what goes on in those mills, by clicking here (Warning: it's pretty disturbing!) It makes me sick and angry - I want to get on the next bus to Lancaster County and go bite a few Amish dog farmers where it hurts!

AGC

Axel Calls for a Boycott!

Oh bummer. We took some cool pics over the weekend, but Mom has misplaced the camera cable, so I can't post them until she finds them! She had the temerity to suggest that I hid it away somewhere as I do like burying stuff, but c'mon Mom, not camera cables! Give me some credit!

On Saturday Mom and I mailed off a box of goodies to the Montreal Wires - poor Mom stood in line at the Post Office for an hour, but she didn't mind at all. It made her happy to think of those wiry Canadians enjoying their gifts!

Speaking of gifts, I found out what Mom ordered me online for Chanukah! She forgets how techie I am - I checked the history on the computer and found the exact page confirming her purchase. Haha! Check it out, it's a WEASEL BALL!

"Scurrying weasel ball provides pets (and humans) with hours of furry fun! Flip his switch and this wild, wacky weasel jumps, rolls, scoots and darts from pillar to post. Pets especially will have the time of their lives trying to keep up with this rascally rodent!" How awesome! I can't wait to attack and kill it!



And now for an update on that tale of stupidity and ridiculousness concerning a disabled dog owner Mrs. McMahan living in a condo in CA who gets fined everytime she takes her spaniel outdoors through the lobby flouting condo rules that pets be carried. McMahan's appeal of the homeowners' association no-walk rule was denied. Now she says she will take her complaint to the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing. You go girl! And by the way, do you know what the homeowner's association's defense was for their dumb policy? And I quote, "A lot of elderly people live in the building, and a dog can jump up on them and they can get tangled in the leash." Oh Puhlease! Surely you jest?!

On an altogether more serious note - I was watching Survivor final last night (yawn) when Mom switched to CNN's Larry King Live. It was all about China's fur trade - in domestic cats and dogs! Thankfully Mom couldn't stand to watch it, it made her cry - but I saw enough to be very very upset and disturbed to think of the "millions of dogs and cats in China [who] are being bludgeoned, hanged, bled to death, and strangled with wire nooses so that their fur can be turned into trim and trinkets. This fur is often deliberately mislabeled as fur from other species and is exported to countries throughout the world to be sold to unsuspecting customers in retail stores. China supplies more than half of the finished fur garments imported for sale in the United States, so the bottom line is that because dog and cat fur is so often mislabeled, if you're buying fur, there's no way to tell whose skin you're wearing. " (Source:Fur is Dead)

There is something we can all do: write to the Chinese ambassador urging China to enact an animal welfare law that will stop the cruel handling of dogs, cats, and other animals. Click here to email His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China or fax him at 202-328-2582.

However, may I be so bold as to suggest that a more effective protest would be to WITHDRAW the US Olympic team from the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China! A country who exploits and murders millions of innocent animals does not deserve to host an international event of this magnitude. I, Axel G Chocholoza, call on all civilized nations to BOYCOTT THE GAMES until China stops this abomination!

There, I said it!

AGC (philanthropist, activist and now, politician!)