The Bark Park

Last Friday, me and the hubz took the boys to the vet...it wasn't really a great experience...kinda * traumatizing *...

Anyways, we ended up having Zeus with us and having to leave Zax at the vet.  I figured this would be a great time to try out the Bark Park at Pendleton King.  I'd read about it, but hadn't taken the boys there.  Zax is a jumper and a runner.  We've done professional training with him, but it didn't help.  He was basically an adult when we got him, and we've had a difficult time undoing his life before us.  So, I'm very nervous about taking him to a dog park...the whole 'off-leash' thing doesn't sit well.

Zeus, however, has been with us since he was 6 weeks old...and it pretty trustworthy.  Zeus had already been through a lot at the vet, and he was visibly concerned that we left Zax there :(

When we got to the park, we were the only ones there.  We tried to get Zeus to play...ran around, threw a ball...but he just wanted to stay right next to one of us.  When another dog showed up, Zeus went to greet the owners, but wouldn't play with the dog...even though the other dog was pretty persistent.  And we couldn't get Zeus to drink from the faucet, even though he was obviously thirsty.  At one point, Zeus came up to where we were sitting and just laid in the dirt...he was ready to go.

I tried taking him back to the Bark Park by myself two days later.  He was excited when he realized where we were going.  When we got there, there were 4 or 5 other families with dogs there.  When I got closer, I saw that there was a jack russel mix and a papillion mix in the park...there is a separate side for dogs under 30lbs...but they were in with the big dogs.  I was walking a 129lbs dog into the fence...and the jack russell was ready to walk right underneath him.  I'm never worried about Zeus intentionally hurting a smaller animal or biting at it...I'm scared to death that he will get excited and trample it...kinda like a horse. 

But, he was fine.  He played and ran and got lots of lovins and treats from the other people in the park.  I noticed that all the dogs had to be coaxed to drink from the faucet... 

He helped a dog dig a hole...and then pushed the dog out of the way so he could lay in it :)

Yay for the Bark Park!!!

I'm still not sure about taking Zax...I know he would have snipped at the smaller dogs...but they weren't supposed to be in there anyway... 

Traumatized by a Vet Tech

Recently, Zeus (our big black boy) had to go to the vet for his 3 year old appointment.  Somehow, our 2 dogs got on different schedules with the vet...Zeus's check-up was this month but his rabies shot wasn't due until October, but Zax's rabies shot was due now but his check-up wasn't due until October.  Our boys can be a handful together, and I remember we brought them separately last year...but I'm still confused.  Paul was off work, so we brought them together for Zeus's appointment to get everything over with.

Zax has had a growth on his paw since last October, the vet quoted us $60 to remove it, but said that it was just  a mole and didn't have to be removed.  Since October, Zax's attitude has changed a little (he's become a little less patient with us).  He was also starting to act like the mole bothered him, he wouldn't let us touch it or get close enough to look at it.  So, we decided that we would talk to our vet about removing it.  While we were at the vet this month, he stated that he could remove it that day, but Zax would have to stay until later in the afternoon.

Now, usually, we love our vet.  But this visit was a little traumatic.  The vet tech stuck Zeus 4 times with the needle to get blood work...the last time moving the needle while it was in his arm.  Zeus has a high threshold for pain...but the bear was squirming in Paul's grasp crying at this point.  I'm thinking....'would I sound crazy if I asked her to stop and get the vet??'  Just then, she gets the blood and it's over.  Zeus is cowering in the corner...but it's over.

Not yet....they always clip the boys' nails when we go.  The same vet tech cut through Zax's quick...twice...


When Paul went to pick up Zax, he came home with an $80 bill and no instructions...I had to make a call to the vet to straighten everything out...$30 back and the stitches will dissolve...geez

Caylees Law

Caylees Law
This is a petition created to drum up information for the proposed Caylees Law.  This law would make it a felony for a parent/caregiver/guardian to not notify law enforcement of a child's disappearance within 24 hours of knowing the child is missing.  I know everyone has an opinion on this case.  In my interactions with other people, I think most people agree that there wasn't enough evidence to charge Casey Anthony with the death of her daughter.  However, there is suspicion around the fact that this 2 year old was not reported missing for over a month.  Even without being a parent, I can look at that fact and determine that something is hinky.  Unfortunately (& fortunately), gut feeling and situational circumstances are not enough to convict someone for a heinous crime in a criminal case.  If something comparable to the proposed Caylees Law was on the books, Ms. Anthony would have had to answer for not reporting this child missing in a timely manner.  We will probably never know what happened to little Caylee, but I think it's a reasonable assumption to say that this incident would have turned out much differently if Caylee had been found sooner...if Caylee had been reported missing sooner...much sooner.  The site at change.org allows you to sign a petition for Caylees Law (which is getting some national attention) and provides a form letter to send to your representatives and legislators.  I think a lot of people are frustrated with this case.  Like I said before, I think most people understand why the verdict was not different and do not think badly of the jury or courts...but are still angry that Ms. Anthony did not have to answer for her responsibility to her child.  If you're one of these people, make that frustration productive...look up your representatives and mail them the petition.