Walking in the rain

Today is Mom's day off and I thought we would go to the forest preserve and walk today but it is raining. I kept looking at her and she knew what was on my mind, so she put on her raincoat and we took a walk in the rain! I thought the weather was just fine!

Free Gizmo and Luke!

Copied from Coco Rose! You have to admit that she definitely has a point here!

Dear Dogster/Catster,

Please release Gizmo and Luke from the dog/cat of the week spots. It was wonderful to read all about them but now I would like to see another dog/cat honored there. For all of our pals out there please feel free to copy and paste this message and spread the word to Dogster/Catster that we would like to see Gizmo and Luke set free. FREE GIZMO (and Luke)!!!!!

Thanks Coco Rose for saying this out loud!

There are only 52 chances to honor a new Dog and Cat of the Week per year! Many times I have seen this honor last two weeks. That then cuts it down even further. This has been going on for well over a month I think! There are many that would be thrilled to receive this honor. If HQ can change the Dog and Cat and Diaries of the Day, why not the Dog and Cat of the Week?

HQ I am not saying this for selfish reasons since I was lucky enough to have my time in the spotlight and I thank you for it but I know so many deserving dogs and cats that should receive this honor!

Beautiful Autumn Day

It was a beautiful autumn day today. Mom had the day off so both mom and dad were home with me. First I spent most of the day with dad in the backyard. I did not go swimming but it was warm enough. Then mom said she would take me to the forest preserve to go walking. We were walking and I saw 2 deers. The last time there were deer, I was so busy sniffing that I did not even notice them but this time I saw them. I tried to catch up to them but I was on a leash and could not pull mom there fast enough.

Howl-o-ween Costumes

For most of the holidays, mom does stuff to me and then takes a picture so she can put it on my page. Howl-o-ween is absolutely the worst one of all! This involves putting on a costume, usually with a headpiece of some sort and then sitting through a photo session. Mom will snap tons of pictures in the hopes of getting one or two good ones that she can use. Sometimes she even arranges props around me. We went through this last week so she can enter the various group Halloween photo strolls. Then she got the bright idea that she should try to find pictures of me in all my various costumes through the years and make a collage! Some (the chicken) costumes were embarrassing! I feel very lucky that the pig costume was too big and she gave that one to Bonnie! Now I find out I will have to wear this costume in public when we go next week to Purina Farms in St. Louis for the Doggy Olympics and visit our friends Georgie, Jackson and Duffy! Good luck to mom keeping that crown on my head during the costume parade!

One more week!

It is getting close! My big annual trip to St. Louis! Every year my family goes to St. Louis and I get to meet up with my dogster friends there, Georgie and Jackson and Duffy

We go up on Saturday night and we spend two nights in a pet friendly hotel. I wish it was even friendlier and would let me use their pool, but apparently there are rules about dogs in the pool! Hmmmmppph!

On Sunday we meet our friends at Purina Farms and attend the doggy olympics! They call it the Spirit of St. Louis Canine Games and it is hosted by the St. Louis Samoyed Rescue Club. All breeds of dogs attend. There are all sorts of fun games and events and the best one is the lure chasing. I loved doing that last year! We have all won gold medals each year too!

There is also a costume parade and I am going to wear my new Fairy Princess costume. Mom is still trying to figure out how to keep the crown on my head.

After we get tired out there, we go to a restaurant that has an outdoor area so that we can sit with our families while they have dinner. There are a number of very nice pet friendly restaurants in the St. Louis area.

We are also going to stay Sunday night and then go walk around in St. Charles the next day before heading home.

Missing So Many Friends

Many of my friends have made their way to The Rainbow Bridge lately. I have been on Dogster for over 4 years and have lost so many Dogster and Catster friends during that time. Even if I never met them in the fur, they touched my heart and my life and leave an ache when they go.

We read this poem and printed it in PDPC and STAFU's monthly newsletters and thought it was beautiful.

Pet Canvas

When we adopted you into our life our pet canvas was blank. With every lick of your tongue a portion of the canvas was cleared revealing part of a picture underneath. At first I thought it was strange. Instead of painting new memories you seemed to be unveiling a picture already there. But what was it of? I would understand later. As each wonderful year passed, our love for one another grew deeper. Every time we'd play, or go for a walk, or cuddle, more of the picture would be revealed.

When you grew old I started to see a pair of hands on the canvas. I assumed it was our hands petting you but I couldn't make out the rest of it because it was still fuzzy. We knew you were nearing the end and we loved you all the more. We prayed that God would take you in your sleep so we wouldn't have to make that awful decision. But He didn't and I was angry. I asked Him why would He put us in this situation? A soft voice answered, "If you truly love your pet it will all become clear".

When you became too weak and frail to finish the picture I knew it was time to put you to sleep. With all of the courage that God could give me I took you to the veterinarian. As I held you when you passed away my heart broke and rivers of tears streamed down my face. Then I heard His voice, "Look at the picture now". I did and it was crystal clear. He then said, "A pet canvas can only be completed with tears of compassion".

The picture wasn't of our hands petting you, they were God's hands holding all of us.

James A. Ruma

Getting ready for my trip to St. Louis

Yesterday I spent the day at Tail Waggers getting groomed for the big trip this weekend. They made me smell funny so I will have to look for something outside to roll in to get a better smell on me. Mom and dad think I look good and like this smell. I have to decide what to pack for the trip.

Packing for my trip

Checking over what mom is packing for my trip to St. Louis

food dishes - good
blanket - good
Brush and comb - take that out and substitute toys
Toothbrush and toothpaste - put it back and take a bully stick
food - yep, we better bring some of that
Halloween costume for parade - I would rather bring treats

Looks good so far!

I am in St. Louis

Well, after many hours of driving and some pretty terrible traffic when we came near downtown St. Louis, we are checked into the hotel. Mom and dad picked up some dinner for them to eat in the room and put out my dinner too. I am pretty excited so I have not finished it yet. I ate the good stuff out if it! Blue monkey is here, my ball and my blanket. I saw another dog checking into the hotel too. I hear that there is a swimming pool, but I guess I am not allowed to use it! A little white fur never hurt any pool filter, dad could vouch for that. He removes fur regularly and the pool is still going. Tomorrow we meet Georgie, Jackson and Duffy at Purina Farms. That will be fun.

My day at Purina Farms with my friends

Last night we arrived in St. Louis and spent the night in a hotel. This morning after breakfast we drove to Purina Farms. I was so excited to get there! I remember going there before and knew I was going to have a fun day.

We met Pepsi and her sister Cindy Sue, Georgie and her brother Jackson and Duffy there and we went right away to our favorite event: the lure coursing. Pepsi and Cindy Sue did not do it, they do not like it as well as we do. I chased that white thing all over the field! We also did the agility event, obedience, race the wind and I tried pulling a cart this year. There was the annual costume contest and Duffy and his bubble bath costume won first prize and rightly so! He looked adorable!

After Purina Farms we all went out to lunch and we were very good while the humans had lunch. We had some water to cool off and some snackies.

Now we are back at the hotel for one more night. Tomorrow if the weather is good we will go walk around in St. Charles and meet most of them for lunch again and then drive back home.

Right now I need a nice nap!