Norwood!

Please come play with Stumpy and her squeaky.


I was trying to get a better video and pictures for you but you are so impatient (typical ocd/acd)

Berner update #2

There's a berner in my living room!

HE, yes I said HE, stopped by this morning for breakfast. I had just finished cooking bacon and I hoped the smell would be irresistible. I left my door open and stood behind it. After he finished the kibble he came through the door and I closed the door behind him.

He didn't panic until I opened the door to let Stumpy inside. I leashed him first and when he realized he wasn't going out he panicked, but calmed right down as soon as the door closed.

He is soooooooooo skinny!!! He should be an 85 -95 pound dog. If he weighs 60 pounds right now i would be surprised. I haven't checked to see if he is neutered, but he does have one of the pieces of extra equipment that make him a boy. He's probably 2 or 3 years old.

He allows me to approach and pat him, but doesn't come to me; it doesn't matter what I do to encourage him.

More pictures after I recharge my camera battery.

Brenda? Did you measure that dog door?

Norwood, I know I promised you the next post and i don't want you to feel your less important than this berner boy, but everyone was worried about this guy, so I wanted to let them know he is safe and in my custody.

Berner update: runnin' with the big dawgs

It's not good...

The berner girl was coming around every day or every other day; having a bite to eat, drinking and sometimes sleeping in Stumpy's chair. She still wouldn't let me get close. But she was looking healthier, more relaxed and seemed to have more energy. Her tail was flying high and she trotted up the street.


I hadn't seen her since the weekend and she hadn't been by to eat for a few days.

Today, on my way to the food bank I spotted her with this crew.

This pack is one I am not familiar with. They were over close to where the cows and calves had been last week. Not good...

Close to that same area a friends dog was nearly killed by yet another pack of dogs, earlier this week. That same pack had killed a calf recently.

The ranchers are actively seeking feral dogs and shooting to kill.

That makes 4 packs of feral dogs running in a relatively small area. The pack that tore up my friends dog included 4 puppies.


Do you see the size of that malamute-looking dog!??! CRIMINY!!!

I'd guess the berner dog to weigh around 85 or 90 pounds. Although, it's hard to say under all that coat. I can't fathom how much that big malamute weighs.

If she comes around this weekend, I am going to step up my game. I'll befriend her after I get her caught. I don't want to scare her so badly that she is afraid to return.

I also don't want her bringing her friends by for dinner or a sleepover.

Dirtville is a dumping ground for unwanted dogs. It's also the home of several hoarders. I know of three that keep over 40 dogs in unhealthy conditions with no thought of spaying, vaccinations or even the ability to feed them.

Because Dirtville is not an incorporated town, the county takes responsibility for everything, in theory anyways. Really, they like to pretend we don't exist out here.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Hairless cat enjoys a bath

Can you relate?

Draw the Dog

is AWESOME!

This is a very cool blog of one talented guy! Watch as a story comes to life.

You can make your dog famous by sending Jim pictures and a detailed story of your dogs exploits. He also does custom work.

If your non-profit organization helps dogs, it can use any of the cartoons on this page for free to promote your organization or raise funds. Inspired by your suggestions, they will keep increasing the number and selection of “rescue” cartoons.

Dinnertime in dirtville

can be a feeding frenzy



Gambel's Quail

and a bunny


Ravens are on the look out for coyote


and leftovers


Berner update:
she was here this morning and ate the food I left out. She, at least, knows there is food here for her and will no doubt be back for more. She let me get a little closer but not close enough.

Who's been sitting in my chair?

It's not Fenway.

We first saw this dog last week. It was raining, I was headed to the food bank. Poor thing was soaking wet and covered in mud. You could tell he/she was lost. It looked so hopeful when we pulled up.

We get so many dogs dumped out here. That's probably the case everywhere, now. Still, not a day goes by that I don't see one or two strays, or one of the several packs of feral dogs.

I stopped that day and called to the dog, it wanted to trust me, but couldn't bring itself to come close.

Wednesday night it showed up out front, at dusk. Again, I couldn't coax her close. She and Stumpy met. I think Stumpy thought she was Fenway. Her new friend wasn't interested in playing, though.

I called to her and sweet-talked her, but she was even more skittery. No doubt, she is being chased out of peoples yards, at this point.

Yesterday she was resting in the sun in our driveway, when we came home. She and Stumpy bumped noses but she skedaddled when I called to her.

This morning she discovered Stumpy's chair and that is where she was when the sun came up. Stumpy didn't mind sharing, but she wanted to play. Her guest did not.

I'm calling her "she" because I don't see any leg lifting, not that that means anything, really. She looks to be a Bernese Mountain Dog mix. She looks enough like one that she could be a purebred; just stunted, young or badly bred. I'm thinking a border collie/Bernese mix, perhaps. She's losing weight. I haven't left food out because of coyote and the hoarders' dogs, next door. And Stumpy is a pig and can be possessive (only with dogs) if I am not close to remind her she knows better.

Now that the Bernie is coming up on the deck, I will leave food out on the deck when Stumpy comes in.

I have a one dog agreement with my landlord and no extra finances for another dog. Plus, if my dream comes true, I will be living in an RV and traveling, come summer. I am trying to picture two dogs in a small RV, one being a 90ish pound Berner. Yeah, I know people who do it, too.

Enablers, SHUSH!

I'm thinking my jealous little girl is telling me I better be taking pictures of her, not the invader!


I do lover berners, though....hmmmm...


*disclaimer: pictures are lousy because they are taken through a window with a solar screen.


If you're a new visitor to our blog, The Berner (now known as Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner)was a semi-feral dog trying to survive in the Mohave Desert.

Through the Pawer of the Paw, Alf has a family of his own, He's living, well-loved and happily ever after, in sunny SoCal.

The Berner's story can be read in the posts listed below, in chronological order. If you don't have time, now, Alf's story can be read, at your leisure, by clicking his picture on my side bar.
#1 Who's been sitting in my chair?
#2 Runnin' with the big dawgs
#3 There's a Berner in my living room!
#4 He's everywhere!
#5 He's gone
#6 The Berner: coming and going
#7 Berner News
#8 The Weekly Berner Report (March 28 - April 3)
#9 The Weekly Berner Report (April 3 - April 10)
#10 The Weekly Berner Report (April 10 - April 17);
#11 The Weekly Berner Report (April 17 - April 24)
#12 The Weekly Berner Report (April 24 - May 1)
#13 The Berner (aka Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner) Report: May 1 - May 8
#14 The Weekly Berner Report: May 8 - May 15
#15 The Weekly Berner Report: May 15 - 22
#16 The Berner Report: May 22 - May 29
#17 The Weekly Berner Report: May 29 - June 5
#18 The Weekly Berner Report: June 5 - 12
#19 The Weekly Berner report: June 14 - 19
#20 The Weekly Berner Report: June 27 - July 3 (Experts weigh in, please)
#21 The Weekly Berner Report (July 3 - July 10)
#22 The Weekly Berner Report, July 17, The Details and Boatlaods of Gratitude
#23 July 20: Vegas, Baby!
#24 The Berner Report: New Beginnings, July 23
#25 The Berner Report: August 7th Update
#26 The Berner Report: September 13, 2010
#27 The Berner Report: November 30, 2011

Signs of spring in dirtville

High: 62°F RealFeel®: 67°F
Sunshine and some clouds


Seriously, I am not gloating. All to soon, it will be way to hot. I have to be sure to enjoy the awesome weather, while I can.

Doves returned last week and are chasing each other around, endlessly.


Calving has begun.



This little guy was really wobbly on his feet. He was probably less than a day old. His mother did not want me taking pictures!


The cattle were resting just down the street from my house; enjoying a piece of flooded road that was doubling as a watering hole.

And Stumpy enjoyed the last, warm rays of afternoon sun. (Yes, I moved her pillow over, so she could enjoy the sun awhile longer)

Have you ever seen the rain?

It's on it's way out of dirtville, now.

Ground fog 2/10/2010 10am






Ground fog lifting

Puppy Mill Barbie

I am not and never have been a fan of Barbie, so I love this post.

Yup! Let's teach our kids that supporting dog sales through pet shops and keeping dogs in cages is just fine. Way to go Mattel!

"Which came first: Stupid or Doll of Stupid?" is an awesome post by Gina Spadafori who blogs at Pet Connection

Stumpy, where are you?

not outside...it's raining and wet out there!

Come out come out where ever you are!



We are having some wild weather in Dirtville: rain, hail, high winds, thunder and lightning. Stumpy doesn't really freak out. No shaking, shivering, crawling into closets or under beds. She would just prefer not to deal with it all. And stay close in case it all goes bad.



She's not too happy under the desk. It's wonderful in the summer when a cool, tile floor feels good. I KNOW she thinks there should be a pillow under there! NO! Just NO! I have drawn the line!


She hangs out in her kennel, most of the time. Until it thunders, again. Or the wind picks up. Or the hail hits the windows. Or there's a flash of lightning. Then she is either under me, or on top of me.

Amazing footage

Might be considered graphic. A pride of lions take down a water buffalo calf. Crocs move in to steal the calf from the lions. Then the water buffalo come back for their baby. Totally WILD!

Earektomy

Actually, we are at the bank, in the drive through. Each day we make a deposit from the thrift store, Stumpy receives a treat from her friends at the bank. Believe me, they are HER friends. They are not nearly so happy to just see me.



She worries each day. Until she gets her treats, she is quite sure that this is the day they will cut her off.

Poor girl. It's such a rough life; fraught with stress, and all kinds of horrible things!

PS
This post is especially for Norwood, who wondered about Stumpy's "talking" ears.

2010 Dogs That Blog Calendar, Australian Cattle Dog Edition is 15% off!!!

Can you believe Stumpy is still pimping this calendar?

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Type in "SHADOW" for your discount. Ordering multiples will give you an even bigger discount!

Preview the calendar by using the buttons at the bottom of the screen.