HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TO ME

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

Showdown!

Before I update you on the showdown at the groomers who butchered my beautiful coat, I want to wish my dear Mama a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! She is just over 5 in doggie years, so she is still a pup (She made me write that!).

Yesterday Mom went to the chain petstore (we don't want to tell you which one because we still like the store in general because they do good charity work for animals and we don't believe in besmirching someone's good name over one nasty incident) where I got horribly groomed last week. She was all fired up to meet the store manager and get some justice for us. The store manager to whom she had written letters and sent photos was not in, so she spoke to a nice woman named Krystal. Krystal listened and cared about what we'd been through. Mom and her then went to speak to Josie, the lady who lied to Mom or who at least lied by omission in failing to tell Mom that Melissa did NOT groom me, but some ill-experienced novice did the job. Mom reports that Josie denied lying but did admit that Melissa had not groomed me but she insisted that Melissa had been with the novice the whole time, showing him what to do etc. Mom wasn't born yesterday (see above for proof) - you have only to LOOK at me to know that Melissa could not have supervised my haircut. Mom told them straight that she didn't believe it for a second.

Anyway, yadda yadda yadda -- Krystal and Josie offered Mom 3 free grooming sessions and Josie added that SHE herself would do the job {shudder}! Know what Mom did? She laughed! I mean seriously, how can you offer my Mom free haircuts in the salon that did this to me and by the SAME woman who lied and caused this all in the first place. Mom entrusted me to Melissa - clearly and explicitly - they deceived her in letting someone else groom me (who didn't know what he was doing) and then not telling Mom that that is what happened. Not to mention that they made Melissa look bad by implying that she had groomed me and did a bad job of it.

Krystal promised Mom she'd ask the District Manager if he could do anything. We believe we should be compensated monetarily so that another groomer can restore my coat to its former glory. We wait and see what transpires, but Mom is not holding her breath.

On a happier note. Mom asked me for a birthday kiss today. I did not oblige, I'm not a licker type of dude. I never lick unless peanut butter is involved. So Dad told Mom a secret. That if she gently stuck her finger in my ear and held it to my mouth, that I would lick it! How did he find that out??? Mom tried it, and sure enough, I licked her fingers like an idiot. I fell for it! Eek!

AGC

PS Later today Krystal called back Mom. She told her she'd spoken to the district manager and all they were willing to offer us is a refund on my haircut or three free haircuts! Mom said she'd collect the former but would NEVER accept the latter, ever. We don't think this is good enough, but that's the end of the matter as far as I'm concerned.