Reluctant birthday boy

Baxter celebrated his birthday on his own terms. When he saw us coming with a party hat and a treat he high tailed it to the back of a crate. When we tried to coax him out, he replied with a warning growl. So we gave him his treat and sang to him. He was suspicious of the treat at first, but eventually he ate it.

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Holiday Goodies (and Badies)

Okay, it's the holidays. Christmas cookies, potato latkes, fruit cakes, punch bowls, chocolate Santas or Chanukah gelt... whatever your tradition, it probably involves culinary treats. So this is the time of the year to remind everyone: PEOPLE TREATS ARE BAD FOR DOGS!!!

This is true almost without exception. Chocolate is downright toxic to dogs and the other stuff can make them ill in varying degrees. Alcohol is a disaster. It's not funny to watch Fido lap up the spiked eggnog. Really, it isn't. It could make him quite ill. And, dogs don't digest oily latkes or shortening rich fruitcakes very well. Mostly, what comes in goes out, and canine innerds suffer as a result of trying to process it. I run a daycare, and not a year goes by that the holidays don't bring horrendous diarrhea to my lovely, clean store. Yes, we have an outdoor yard. Ever tried getting diarrhea off snow and ice?? It's not a pretty task. And the pups don't feel that good either. They drink water and lie around looking perplexed that their body should betray them so.

So please, control yourself and discipline your kids so the dog doesn't get treats other than those meant for dogs. There are losts of holiday versions of dog treats for sale out there in Walmart, Pet Source, Target, your local supermarket or your local pet store. Take advantage and make sure your family understands whose treats are whose!

And what about dress up?? By all means! Hats, suits, collars, boots, it's all cute.
just remember DOGS IN COSTUME MUST BE SUPERVISED. At all times. Left alone, they may very well decide to treat the adorable dreidel coat or reindeer antlers as toys... which means chew baby chew! And dog clothes are not safe for eating. I can't count the number of times I've looked on in sympathy while some poor four-legged tried to poop out yesterday's antlers.

So have a fun, happy holiday season - and help your pup to have one too!

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Watch Gabe Woof his Birthday Treat

Gabe loves his birthday treat. Doesn't even mind the party hat 'cause he's totally focused. Brother Sam lies nearby trying very hard not to look over to stare at Gabe's bounty!

Who says pit bulls don't play nice?

Watch Dexter as the new kid on the block. This was his interview and he played beautifully with Shuki the sheltie, Benny the cocker, and Livvy the lhasa.

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Bossy Black and White

Cuba the black and white wolfhound mix is new to The Doggie Den family. Watch her get off on the right foot by keeping Zack the golden retriever and Lenny the German shepherd in line. A girl has to take care of herself!

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Floyd wins the Esteemed Elder prize

Floyd the friendly basset turned 11 today! He's our official senior pup though he doesn't act like it. He watches from the couch until he sees something he wants to participate in, then he jumps down and barks his deep WOOF! He loved his treat - wasn't even aware of the party hat. He has very clear priorities: FOOD, FUN, SLEEP pretty much in that order.

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Double November Birthdays

Ezri turned 5 today and boy does he not like his party hat. He did eat his peanut butter treat but only after we took the hat off. He was also a perfect gentleman: he let his brother Atrayu (see his birthday pic on Fri. Aug. 14, 2009) share his treat. What a good boy.

Maya is another one who hated the hat, so we took it off and she dove into her treat with gusto.

She turned 3 today. She's really a big dog but she prefers to play with the medium sized dogs because she can boss them around - not that they listen!

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We need facetime!

We each need our 15 seconds of fame, but everyone else gets in the way. So we just push'em aside and work our own agenda.

Lily, Clancy, Cody, Java, Crosby, Ringo

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Noel and Atrayu Get Down to It

While Clancy the lab puppy watches with his blue bone, Atrayu the Icelandic Sheepdog wrestles with Noel the black lab mix.

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Next Stop: Thanksgiving

Is it possible that Halloween's just a memory and Thanksgiving is zooming toward us?? It's a wonderful season, full of friends and family and dogs and PARTIES!

Dogs like to party too... but it's important to keep them away from people food and people drinks. At The Doggie Den. We get more upset tummies and GI tracts this time of year than any other time. This week we're going through the toxic chocolate (and other candy) syndrome. Unpleasant for the pups, for their owners and for us.

Sudden changes in diet can cause GI tract upset, even if the change is to a healthy food. So feed your dog his/her regular dogfood or a vet-approved alternative diet! And have a happy woof!

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Happy Halloween from The Doggie Den!!

Frogs, turtles 'n bees 'n puppy dogs' knees! And wait! A pumpkin ballerina!

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Watch Yuki take Cooper for a Walk!

Or maybe it's the other way around???

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Hate the hat!

" I'm an easy going fellow. I like to party. But this HAT... Not eating my birthday treat 'til you lose it, okay? I mean we had this conversation last year on my birthday and you're still with the hats."

So... we took the hat off and Cosmo tucked into his peanut butter Frosty Paws with gusto. He's four years old!

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Noel but not Christmas

Noel is one of our charter members. She came to daycare at The Doggie Den when she was yet a pup, usually several times a week. Now she's a 5-year old grown-up, but she still loves to play with her buddies, new and old. Lately she's discovered Remi the bulldog (see last weeks posts); they roll around on the floor and Remi tries to grab hold of her, but Noel's too quick for him!

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Paws Off My Treat !!

Lilly is our sweetest, shyest little dog... or so we thought. She not only preferred to have her birthday treat in her crate, a bystander who got too close got THE LOOK. She was not into sharing and thoroughly enjoyed every lick. Happy 1st birthday, Lilly dear!

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Remi the Bulldog

Remi the bulldog turned two years old on October 7th. He's a big dog in a small body (English bulldog); and his favorite playmate is a very big girl: Bailey the rottie ( see August 24 post). He leaps up and bounces off her head which she thinks is quite funny. Remi was uncommonly patient about wearing a party hat, because his attention was entirely taken up by his treat. There was no question of sharing. Not even with Bailey, whose overtures were met with bulldog growls. Mine, mine...

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Meet the Doggie Den Matron

Fern is 12 years old today! She's the matriarch

of The Doggie Den. She loves to fetch toys herself

(she'll do it for hours) but she takes her

supervisory duties very seriously. If someone

barks out of line she gives them a good talking to,

then returns to her station on the couch. When her

mom picks her up, she talks a blue streak about her

day. It's quite a scene.

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Belle of the Ball

Belle is an adorable Yorkie with big brown eyes that let you know exactly what she wants. For example, she was having none of the birthday party hat thing. Not only the LOOK, but she also screamed her outrage. So I took off the hat, and sang "Happy Birthday" while she worked on her Frosty Paws treat; and she let me know I was finally getting it right. Belle recently acquired a Yorkie brother, Milo, and she willingly shared her treat with him.

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Tucker Turns Two

What's with this hat, Susan?? How'm I supposed to eat my treat? I'm a dog, we don't wear hats, ok? Susan... SUSAN.!!

Gawd this is embarassing.

Right, that's better. Thought you'd never get it. What flavor is this, anyway? Peanut butter? Not bad. But next time, NO HATS.

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Happy 1st Birthday Raven!

Raven turned 1 today! She was as sweet as can be with her peanut butter Frosty Paws treat.

She ate slowly like a lady and shared willingly with
Her sister Java, as well as others. She was

even nice about the party hat! Many happy
returns, Raven!!

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Meet the world's most gorgeous rottie

Meet Lady Bailey, The Doggie Den's perfect rottweiler. She sports all that the breed standard could desire plus a mega playful personality. She's still a youngster so she may slow down some day but we're beginning to doubt it!

Below, Bailey is playing tug of war with Spike. Spike is determined to win, but Bailey digs in her heels, even if she only has a tiny piece of the tug toy. She can't imagine that Spike could beat her!

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Sammy's 3rd Birthday

Meet Sam, our min pin mix. Like his brother Gabe (see our post dated January 14, 2009), Sammy loves the window seat and chose it to enjoy his peanut butter Frosty Paws. He actually turned 3 on August 11, but we overlooked him, so he got apologies and lots of hugs to make up for it.

Sam loved his Frosty Paws (would NOT share) but he was not going to eat it wearing his party hat. Once we took the hat off, he tucked into his treat with gusto.

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Confusion about Spot-on Flea and Tick Treatments

In the spring of 2009, the EPA announced that it would increase its scrutiny of spot-on flea and tick medications for all pets. The closer look included all of the popular brands including Advantix, Frontline Plus, and Bio-Spot. They took this step because the number of complaints about pets becoming sick from these applications had increased considerably, and there have even been reports of serious illness leading to death.

As a result people have been wondering whether to stop using these products. Since the spring announcement, additional research has yielded some answers:

1. Cats are more susceptible to becoming ill from spot-on flea and tick treatments than other pets.

2. The vast majority of reported illness has to do with misuse of the products. That is, people did not follow the directions on the packaging. For example, repeated application over a given 30 day period is dangerous.

3. Products intended for dogs must never be used on cats, for they can cause death.

4. A veterinarian must always be consulted before using spot-on flea and tick treatments on very young, very old, sick, or pregnant pets. These groups are more vulnerable to problems than mature, healthy, non-pregnant pets.

5. When dogs and cats are treated according to the package labeling, there are significantly fewer problems.

6. When dogs and cats became ill even though the product was applied according to labeling, the effects were relatively mild. They included skin irritation and stomach upset and usually resolved in 24-48 hours.

The ASPCA Poison Control Center says the basic message is that people should continue using spot-on flea and tick medications and follow the directions on the packaging. If your pet is in any of the above-mentioned risk groups, do not use the treatments until you have checked with your veterinarian.

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www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care

Atrayu turns 3!

Atrayu is one of a pair of Icelandic sheepdog brothers who are Doggie Den regulars. Today we sang happy birthday to celebrate his 3rd, and he reluctantly allowed the birthday hat routine in return for a delicious peanut butter Frosty Paws treat. You may be able to tell from the look in his eye that he was not sharing if he had to wear that stupid hat. Fair's fair.

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Meet Holly Hound

Meet Holly, one of our most rambunctious girls. She has a hunting dog's energy and will play non-stop. If anyone refuses to play with her - like if they walk away, she stands and barks vociferously! No is just not an acceptable answer. Sometimes when she lies down, we move to cuddle her thinking she's resting. On the contrary, our attention convinces her it's time to play some more!

Holly was 3 years old this week and she enjoyed her peanut butter Frosty Paws immensely. Sharing was not on the agenda!

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Ebby turns 6 years old

Ebby is our coolest, calmest, most collected lab mix. She's socialable but kind of private. She'll only eat her lunch by herself, in a separate room, 'cause the competive commotion of other interested parties is beneath her.

When we put Ebby's birthday hat on, she lost interest in her treat and gave us the look you see. "You want me to wear WHAT?" After the photo we took her hat off and she proceded to taste her Frosty Paws. She's a delicate eater, so there was some left for her chocolate lab mix friend, Fern. Fern was most appreciative.

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Don't Get Ticked Off - Get the Ticks Off

An article by Eve Adamson, reprinted from The American Kennel Club's Family Dog magazine.

Summer means tick season when those bloated little arthropod vampires get warm and hungry and start feeding on cattle, wildlife, humans... and DOGS. But ticks aren't just disgusting, they're also dangerous. When ticks bite wild animals such a deer or squirrels, they take in the bacteria these animals may harbor and can pass them along to their next host. Some bacteria can cause diseases in dogs (and in people) - dangerous, debilitating, and sometimes even fatal diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

(...)

The problem is, it isn't easy to prevent those tiny, persistent and eerily aware critters from finding your dog. Ticks can sense trace gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the air, alerting them to the presence or approach of a warm-blooded mammal. Many ticks congregate in places where mammals tend to pass, such as in the bushes and trees along the edges of hiking trails, or even in tall grass or leaf piles in your own backyard. Ticks know where your dog is going. Creepy, right?

But don't be afraid. A two-pronged approach to tick management can keep your dog (and you) safe and, if not always completely tick-free, at least protected from the dangerous diseases ticks spread. Just follow this plan: prevention and prompt removal.

(...)

Precautions begin with keeping your dog well-groomed. Regular brushing, combing and bathing keep your dog's skin and coat strong and healthy. Ticks tend to prey on weak, dirty, sick animals with broken skin. A healthy, well-groomed dog is more attractive to us but less attractive to ticks, who prefer a dirty dog with a poor immune system for a host. To keep your dog's skin (and overall health) in even better shape, make sure s/he eats a balanced and high-quality diet, especially one containing esential fatty acids (EFA's) either in his/her food or as a supplement. EFA's help strengthen and improve skin and coat quality... .

I definitely recommend using a tick control product on your dog. If you take your dog into woodsy areas often, a monthly spot-on product is a great choice... . Ask your veterinarian about the best and safest tick prevention products (...) because your vet will consider your dog's health, age, size, and also the risk of ticks where you live.

Finally, keep your yard tick free (...). Keep woodpiles and brush piles far from the house and out of the fenced area where your dog plays. Keep your grass mowed short and trim the longer grass that grows along fences and around garden borders. If ticks don't have good, sheltered spots to hang out and await your dog's approach, they'll go somewhere more tick-friendly.

(...) Prompt removal is essential because the longer a tick is attached to your dog, the greater the chances that it will transmit a disease. Most tick bites don't result in disease, but the chance that they could makes it important to remove the little blood suckers without delay.

Every time you go into tall grass, shrubs, or wooded areas with your dog, do a tick check as soon as you get home. Work through your dog's coat with a fine-toothed steel fleas comb or, if your dog has a short coat, just use your hands to look and feel all over for suspicious bumps and creepy-crawlies. (...) look carefully in the areas ticks like to frequent, such as behind or inside ears, around the rear end under the tail, or on the chest and belly where there is less hair and the skin is easy to puncture.

If your see a tick, use rubber gloves or a paper towel to protect your skin and remove it immediately. Drop in into a small cup of alcohol to kill it, then flush it down the toilet. If you think the tick has been attached for a day or more and you want to know if it might be carrying a disease, wrap it in a moist paper towel, put it in a small jar, and call your vet to see if s/he thinks you should have the tick tested.

(...) grasp the tick as close as possible to where its head is attached to your dog. Pull straight up, not to the side. The tick may come all the way out, or it may leave its mouth parts behind. Don't worry if it does. Pull out whatever you can, then swab the area with disinfectant and dab on some antiobiotic cream. Your dog's body will eventually push out the foreign parts, but keep an eye on the area. If it starts to look infected - red, swollen, filled with pus - give your veterinarian a call.

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Three Birthdays This Week

We've had a busy week partying! Lucy the chihuahua mix, Cody the labrador retriever and Houdini the beagle all had birthdays. As you can see, all three tucked into their Frosty Paws treats as though they hadn't eaten in weeks. Lucy only weighs a couple of pounds, but she made the contents of her dixie cup disappear in minutes. Her tongue must have been frozen. Houdini ate the treat then started in on the cup itself. Had to pick pieces out of his teeth! Fortunately we got to him before he swallowed any.

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Olivia's 3rd Birthday

Olivia loves the whole birthday schtick: the hat, the singing, the attention, the treat. Even the having to warn fellow party hounds about poaching her treat! Her brother Simon had his birthday on April 13th (see post for that date). Olivia managed to respect his Frosty Paws cup that day, so today he did the same for her. He's right there, off-stage left but he's just staring hopefully.

Olivia and Simon always come to The Doggie Den together, and sometimes they play with each other, but often they play with other dogs. We refer to Simon as "the old soul" since he has an ageless wisdom about him. Olivia is Miss Center Stage - always eager to be her humans' primary focus. She does share though. We think Simon taught her that.

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Dog Tips for 4th of July

Fourth of July Festivities: Should You Bring Your Pet?

As the country dons its red, white and blue to celebrate Independence Day, nothing says patriotism like a good old-fashioned barbecue with a side of fireworks. But beware dog parents, what's fun for people can be frightening and painful for our furry friends!

The ASPCA recommends keeping your pooch indoors as much as possible during backyard parties and Fourth of July festivities, even if s/he is a pro picnicker. From toxic food and beverages to raucous guests and fireworks, the holiday weekend is a minefield of potential pet problems.

"Even the most timid dog can leap a six-foot fence if he's spooked by loud noises," says Dr. Pamela Reid, Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. If your dog shows signs of distress from fireworks or boisterous revelers, Dr. Reid suggests giving him a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. "The persistent licking should calm his nerves," she says.

The ASPCA offers some more expert advice to keep your pet singing, "Oh Say Can You See," all the way to the fifth and beyond:

- Keep your pet on the wagon. Since alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, place all wine, beer and spirits well out of paws' way.

- Avoid scraps from the grill. Stick with your pet's normal diet--any change, even for a day, can result in stomach upset. Certain foods like onions, avocado, chocolate, grapes and raisins are especially toxic to pets.

- Skip the sunscreen. Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind. Ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.

- Stay fire-smart. Keep your pet away from fireworks, matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.

- Be cool near the pool. Don't leave pets unsupervised around a pool or lake--not all dogs are expert swimmers! Also, pools aren't large water bowls--they contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals that can cause stomach problems.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous from the picnic table, please contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.


Reprinted from the ASPCA website: www.aspca.org

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A Study in Contrasts

Little Mackie Mix and Big Bailey Rottweiler are The Doggie Den's best examples of "opposites attract". They LOVE to play together and have two basic strategies to compensate for the difference in their sizes. Either Bailey lies down and the floor and Mackie jumps all over him; or Mackie jumps up on the couch to be more at Bailey's level. In the latter case, Bailey pushes Mack around with his head, while Mack bears his teeth with great bravado!

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Luke and Molly Take a Break

Luke (in foreground) and Molly share the same household. Both were adopted

by their family, though Luke came home quite a few months

before Molly. And what nice temperments! Luke loved being an

only child but he has been tireless in his patience with his

baby sister, who can be quite rambunctious. Here they have

decided to take a break together and have claimed front row center on the windowseat. The nap lasted about 10 minutes, then they were out and about again.

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Zack the Handsomest Golden

Zack was 8 years old on Saturday and he's been coming to The Doggie Den since he was a puppy. He's the friendliest, most cuddly boy you can imagine. He was so happy to have his birthday Frosty Paws treat that he put up with the party hat without a single complaint! Zack loves everybody, plays with everybody and generally enjoys life to the fullest. We are so grateful to have him in our big dog play group!

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Happy 1st Birthday to Murphy!

Not only is Murphy the June dog of the month, but June 5th is also his first birthday! Fortunately no one has told him he has to grow up yet, so he's pretty much still a 6 mo. old puppy. He wasted no time eating his peanut butter banana frozen Yogihund birthday treat. He was so busy slurping, he forgot to fight with us about wearing a party hat!

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Cleo the Great (Dane) Turns Two

Happy Birthday Cleo! Cleo is a discerning diner - she doesn't eat just anything. So Angie had to tempt her to get her interested in her Yogihund Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt. But once she tasted it... WOW! She dug the treat out of the cup with her tongue and woofed it in one bite. What two-year old doesn't like ice cream?

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Black and White Symphony

Murphy the westie and Raven the labradoodle

love to play all the day long

and fall down exhausted at night!

THE END

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Two May 1st birthdays

Okemo was 1 year old on May 1st and is he ever a handsome boy! He LOVES his windowseat even though it's getting pretty warm in the sun (we do have central AC). For his treat Okemo had a banana/peanut butter organic Yoghund - it's frozen yoghurt for dogs! He was a bit cautious with it. Maybe not a health food type guy?

Benny, on the other hand, is a pig that barks. He hated his party hat, but that wasn't nearly as important as getting his Yoghund treat down his throat in record time! He would have eaten the cup if we'd let him. Benny is Susan's cocker spaniel, a rescue from Save A Dog in Sudbury. He was 6 years old on May 1st.

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Watch that arm!

Crosby the puggle: Hey, watch it!

Lilly the standard poodle: Huh? Wha? Wanna play, cutie? Play now, yes?

Crosby: What's with the arm action?

Lilly: Whoopeeeee!

Crosby: BACK OFF, missus.

Lilly: C'mon les' play!

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Oh No, Another Birthday!

This is Louie's pal Elliot (see post dated Thurs. April 2nd). Elliot will be 9 years old on May 21st, but we goofed and gave him his party a month early. You can see Louie off to the left looking for his share of the birthday treat. And you know, Elliot never told us it's NEXT month, can you believe it? I suppose he expects us to do it again in May!

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3 More April Birthdays!

Callie is two years old this week. She's one of four beagles who frequent our play groups, and she's a real sweetie. She posed for her birthday picture, then tucked into her Frosty Paws treat in no uncertain terms. We thought it very considerate of her to take care of the picture first. Callie likes to play with the big dogs even though she's more medium sized herself.






Louie turned 6 on April 15. He's best friends with Eliot (see April 2nd post) who, sadly, couldn't come to Louie's birthday. But Susan sang to him and he seemed quite content to enjoy his Frosty Paws dixie cup on top of a crate where he could keep any potential intruders at bay.




Simon P. is one of a pair of Malteses at his house. You can check out his sister Samantha's birthday post on March 19th .
Simon was three on April 12th and he thoroughly enjoyed his birthday treat. Wouldn't look up for his photo - not even for a split second! He licked it like crazy, and when his tongue got cold he carried the dixie cup into the back of a crate where it was safe for him to take a break!

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