Spam and Coco - Yum!

It's been an exciting couple of weeks around here! Two wonderful new additions to the Hundenruhe Haven family have joined us from Little Paws Rescue in Iowa. Sammy is a powderpuff Chinese Crested dog, who is 11 years old. He's a riot, full of fun and loving to follow us around the house, standing on his hinder legs to beg, and learning to chase Mimi and Twig around the yard. His parents had to move into a rest home, so he came to live with us last Saturday. His arrival was delayed by a week because I had to have an emergency appendectomy!! I've never had surgery before, so it was quite a novel experience, to say the least. I am back to work and feeling pretty good now, thank heavens.
Today I met DeeAnn and Cathy in Madison to pick up Coco, a 12 year old rat terrier. She was picked up as a stray, and originally was owned by a couple who gave her to someone...you know the story. Anyway, no one seemed to want the old girl, and Little Paws' foster homes were all full, so we took her in. She seems to be settling well, and reminds me a lot of our dear, departed Sadie. So, it's nice to have a Grandma Rattie back in the house again!
Both of the new kids are chunky monkeys (hence Sammy's new nickname of Spam), so there's some dieting going on here, as well as the hope for an early spring and walkies in the big fields.
Welcome to Hundenruhe! I hope you find your peace here...

Toot - Toot- Toody, Good-bye. We'll love you forever.

I am sad, sad, sad to let you know that Roody has passed away. He had finally gotten over his fear of men (he'd been cuddling on Dan's lap the last few nights), his need to love the ladies, and his inability to eat on his own. He'd gained weight and his coat just shined. Unfortunately, he also had some sort of cancer wrapping itself around his bowels. Roody's pain got to be too much and today we let him go to the bridge to run free with the others. Run free, you old lecher! Even if he wasn't with us for long, he knew he was loved.

Run Free, Racer Boy

New Year has gone on his way, racing to the bridge. His arthritis finally overcame his will and he was unable to get up or stay on his feet. We released him from his pain this afternoon.

He was with us for a little over a year, recently celebrating his 14th birthday with us. New Year was lucky enough to spend his last year with open fields to run in (when he was feeling a bit spry-er), specially purchased giant-sized beds to snooze on, and tons of ear rubs and back massages. New Year was the only dog I've ever met that had temper tantrums. When someone else was on his bed, Newy would stand next to the bed and mournfully look from the bed to one of us, barking and stamping his front feet. The world was too small to contain his huge spirit...

Just Plain Cute

Here's Baci avoiding Twig's "girl germs" and Roody - Toody on a typical chilly winter day (in front of the electric fireplace!).

OK, OK, I Guess She's Not So Bad...

After much pacing, barking, paw-stomping and general tantrum behavior, New Year finally decided that Nala wasn't moving off of his bed, so he joined her. Sweet, huh?

Happy New Year!

Dan and I hope that 2010 will be the best year ever - for us and for you! May your pockets be filled with wealth, your homes filled with love, your hearts filled with peace, and your couches filled with puppies!

Escaped Again!

Tom and his girls apparently felt they had escaped another year's holiday meals, because they came ambling up the hill to the front door yesterday. I'd never seen them this close before! Earlier in the morning, they were in the back dog run, hopping up and down (literally!) and trying to get out over the fence. Dopey creatures forgot they could fly! Once one of them remembered, out they all flew. A few hours later, they came trooping up the drive, up the hill to the house, and hung out on the lawn for about 20 minutes! Only when you live in the sticks can you see this kind of entertainment!