A Personal Statement

Dogster is an amazing place full of happy, silly photos of a new stance, reaction to a toy, happy chases ~ so many cherished moments. And, when necessary, we grieve together when having to guide one of our beloved to the Bridge. We are truly lucky and loved. With that said, this diary post is not about us, but for those beautiful dogs whose lives were not humanely celebrated.

We are very disappointed and saddened that MV has been conditionally reinstated by the NFL. While it’s been stated that legally he’s paid a debt to society, a far greater debt remains and one incapable of recompense. We demand much more than a publicist-driven campaign in concert with HSUS to indemnify the torture, starvation, slaughter and sadism of MV. We want more than insincere atonement and photo ops. We want those lives that were lost to his heinous brutality and greed to matter.

As a personal form of protest to the profit-driven decision of the NFL, from this day forward we will no longer purchase items containing an NFL insignia. This may mean a change in some of Mom’s food items, but it’s our way, albeit small, of honoring the lives of far too many.

Rest sweetly, pups. We will never forget.

Due to the overwhelming response of pmails - I've created a Forum Thread. Let's each do something for those who no longer have a voice!!

The Forum Thread is posted below. Hugs!!
Personal Stand

A Beautiful Story!!

Last week was very sad for many of us Dogsters having lost Nari, Joey and Jake. So, to cheer all of our pup pals up - she found and posted a video of committment, loyalty and just plain LOVE!!

Take a peek at this You Tube video. We think you'll see the beauty, too!

Cooper - An inspiration

A Gift for Our Mom!

We didn't want this day to pass without giving a very special gift to a very special lady, our Mom! We think this will prove how unselfish we can be. * wink, wink*

Our Promise to Mom

~ We'll sleep in your bed at night and occupy as much space as possible. We imagine it's pretty uncomfortable without us.

~ When we drink water, we'll splatter and drool puddles about the kitchen floor and walk in them, so our paws will stay nice and clean.

~ We'll help with housework by prewashing the dishes in the sink or while you're loading the dishwasher. We'll clean the floor of anything you've dropped and continue our monitoring efforts of the countertops and remove any loose food particle, pronto.

~ We promise to shower you with gifts of unknown life forms that we've caught during our expeditions. Mom, the expression on your face when friends refer to us as "The Manson Family" - is unexplainable. We see it, and we love it - the pride streams through!

~ We'll continue to shed our coats, knowing how much you enjoy seeing our white hairs accessorize your wardrobe.

~ We'll toss and rip apart our toys in the house to show you how grateful we are to have them.

......................

We understand the enormity of this promise, but we're going to work at fulfilling every single item!!! We promise!

xoxo
Tucker, Vayla, Joey and Max

What a Day!

We had a wonderfur day today.

We heard Mom on the phone this morning telling someone she wouldn't be able to make it to the office because she's sick. Hmmm, we knew she was under the weather but not THAT sick...... When Mom hung up the phone - she sang those magical words "Who wants to go to the beach?"!! I'd seen her checking the tidal heights. (We only go when the tide's low - Mom's afraid we may run over the breaker wall if we're too far from the shoreline.) We couldn't believe our ears - the beach - it's our absolute favorite place to run and play!!! We were sooo excited, we could barely eat our breakfasts!!

Mom had to do a few things, and all four of us followed her around; trying to urge her to go a bit faster so we could go to THE BEACH! Before we knew it - we were off.

We know from the driving route that the beach is our eventual destination - we pant wildly and push our heads out the windows with huge smiles while the wind blows our lips - and sometimes our lips make silly, slapping sounds :) The anticipation is always intense.

We finally arrived, and the beach was amazing! Tucker, Max and Vayla chased the seagulls - Tucker swam A LOT against a fairly aggressive surf. He's amazing against the surf - nothing can prevent him from chasing those birdies. We all participated in the multitude of birdie chases.

As wonderful as it was, it became even that much more .... WE SAW DUCKS! Could this be? We're not in the woods today - we've NEVER seen ducks in the ocean before - DUCKS - here - in the ocean - Yes, indeedy - and lots of em'!! Mom tried to take pictures of us but we were so fast and soooo far beyond Mom ..... we'll see how they come out.

It was amazing - grey sky, low tide, fog slowly rolling in and about 50 degrees. We stayed for over two hours and walked the three miles, each way - well; Mom walked - we ran with cheek-splitting smiles on each of our faces!

We are all so very sleepy now, resting comfortably next to our Mom. We had a wonderful day today - and our dreams tonight will be that much fuller.

My First Christmas!!

I had a Christmas with a family - yes, I did!! Mom hung red and white Christmas stockings with our names on them from the mantle, and there were all different gifts in each of the four stockings! Tucker, Joey, Vayla and I had our OWN stockings filled with gifts! We had stuffed animal toys, balls, treats (veggie-based ones - Mom's a fanatic about what we eat!) We also got gifts from our friends and our family. But the BEST gift was given to Mom. A friend of ours, who's always snapping pics of us while we're out, had a beautiful book made. It's entitled "A Year in the Life" - it encompasses all four seasons with the most beautiful pics of us running at the park and the woods. Mom cried - it was the most wonderful gift she'd ever received EVER!!

Anywho, we had a wonderful day - we ran in the woods in the early morning with our friends; and later in the day, after Mom returned home, we went back out.

Tucker and I are becoming the best of friends - we run and smile together every day. We sleep in the beds together, too!! I love my sister Vayla and am very gentle when I play with her - and Joey is just the best - even though he's NOT a GSP :)

Mom is so very happy and we are, too!!

Christmas is coming and the Brrrrr weather

Yes I do - I LOVE the cold. We've had some really brrrrrrr days and nights here, and I don't mind it AT ALL! Since this is my first winter on the east coast, Mom wanted to see how I'd react ..... pfffft, I'm a hunting dog, Mom! We love it - as long as we're running really fast and mentally challenged - like our faux hunts!

I'm really looking forward to Christmas - Mom says a Santa Paws pup is coming, and he's going to give us A LOT of toys, bones and treats and Mom's going to take us on two hikes/day during the holiday season - everyday will be like the weekends, she said!! WOW - Don't know if I can withstand the anticipation - how awesome is that! I love Santa and Christmas!!! I can't wait to tear the heads off of my new toys and run around the house and throw them up in the air!!!

How many days till Santa comes, Mom? Is today Christmas Eve?

No, Maxie, but soon- I promise.

I'm Baaaaaaaaaack

Thank goodness - the stitches on my belly were removed this past Tuesday - and I feel wonderful!! All and all, the injury healed quite fast and beautifully.

It's wonderful to be back in the thick of things again with my furfamily. Life's good :)

I got a pretty big owie!

Dear Diary,

Last night, while hiking with my family and friends; I got a pretty big laceration on the underside of my inner thigh. My mom knew something was wrong immediately when I trotted back out onto the path - not displaying my usual zeal and without my hallmark smile. Since it was dark, Mom held a flashlight over me and gave me the thorough once-over. Oh, oh - she saw it - a fairly big circumferential gash along my inner thigh. Thankfully, it missed an artery and was not bleeding!!

When we arrived back home, my mom tried to apply some topical antibiotic, but due to the laceration's location, the guaze and doggie wrap wouldn't remain in place. We got up very early and went to the doggie hospital. The doggie doctor said similar-type wounds have healed on their own with antibiotics, but my Mom didn't like the look, preferring it sutured. Anywho, the doctor gave me several stitches, and said I was a very good boy - one of the best she'd worked on in some time. So looks like it'll be antibiotics and leash walks for me for a bit of time!

So poor me - on leash walks and no running, but the best is I've refound my smile and happily spinned in a circle when I returned home and was greeted by my furmily. I feel so lucky that it wasn't worse.

My Fur Brother, Joey!

My fur brother, Joey, wrote the below regarding his encounter yesterday with a skunk.

Ode to Peppy LePew, by Joey
While running yesterday at the park,
I cornered Peppy and at him I barked.
As the HOUR went by, unrelenting was I;
So he sprayed me til I left after dark!


Note from Mom:
..... The smell was nauseating, but the happy ending is Max and Vayla were left unscathed. Joey and Tucker had a deskunking bath after FINALLY getting home and smell like their beautiful selves today:)

My First Month with my New Family

I love this time of year in New England! I made my way from Kansas during the latter part of the summer, and to be honest; I was a bit concerned as to what my circumstances would come to be. I mean, I wasn't in Kansas anymore!!! Things are pawsitively perfect. My forever Mom laughs at me A LOT, because I'm always smiling and spinning my butt around. My Mom also tells me I'm a very good boy, and my pointing is awesome!

I'm able to run for miles everyday and have gained off lead privledges with my fur family. I LOVE IT!! I've made soooo many friends here, but I try to keep my eyes out for squirrels, and then alert everyone! Since the weather's cooler here, I run faster, longer and further! I'm also developing some kickin' hind leg muscles and feel like a new GSP! By the end of the day, me and my fur family's exhausted - well, my Mom says she is too, but it's not like she's running and playing as fast and hard as us - Geeze, sometimes she's a real whiner!!

Me and my fur family also go to the beach. WOW - that place is the best!! At first the waves startled me - well, they still do somewhat. My Mom's working on a video, and I can't wait to see it. My brother Tucker and I love to chase the sandpipers, and there are soooo many that sometimes I become overwhelmed. My brother, Joey, doesn't run with me at the beach, I guess the fish debris he searches for and scavenges is too irresistible to refuse, so much so that I saw him with a HUGE fish head in his mouth the other day. My Mom made Joey drop it, and then I picked it up and ran with it like a crazy boy! I LOVED IT!! Of course, my Mom thought that was funny, too! My fur sister, Vayla, likes to trot after the seagulls in the ocean - she's just sooooo beautiful - I love her.

xoxo
Max