Another week bit the dust. Woohoo! Only eight weeks left until we say sayonara to SA and hello to the open road!
Speaking of the open road…the astronomical gas prices are seriously bumming us out. When we started planning over a year ago, we estimated the max price per gallon would be $3.25. We were way off!
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Before anyone thinks we added a new dogger to the mix, let us explain. Several weeks ago, during an afternoon walk with Gus, we happened upon this gorgeous dogger running loose in our neighborhood. It was sunny and pushing 80 degrees and this poor guy was wearing a sweater. He was panting up a storm (obviously) and very friendly. Not many strays we know of wear sweaters, so we knew he had to belong to someone.
We were able to corral him and used Gus’s leash to walk him back to our house. After we gave him a much-needed drink of water and shed him of his sweater, we hopped in the car and headed to our vet’s office. He didn’t have a collar or tags, but we hoped he was microchipped. He wasn’t. Sigh…
Can you tell Gus gets a bit freaked out when another dog is near his face? It’s something we’ve been working on with him for awhile. He is very face-sensitive!
We are happy to report that after a quick play session, we leashed up our new friend and took him for a walk around the neighborhood. Sure enough, he led us directly to his house! The person who answered the door said, “yeah, that’s our dog, hold on”, and then closed the door. We seriously stood there for a full ten minutes before they reappeared. We kindly (okay, maybe not that kindly) suggested that they keep a collar on him and refrain from dressing him in a sweater when it’s warm.
Oh yeah, here’s the best part. When we asked what the sweet dog’s name was, they replied with, “Tupac”. Totally awesome or totally lame? You decide.
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We wanted to take a minute to help spread the word about a great dog-friendly event in NYC. Amber of the American Cancer Society contacted us and asked if we would share some information on their upcoming event.
Join hundreds of dogs as their paws hit the pavement at the American Cancer Society’s
Bark For Life of New York City! Together, dogs and their owners will be celebrating
the care giving qualities of canines, remembering loved ones lost and fighting back
against cancer. There will be contests, activities, giveaways and so much more!
Registration is $20.Sunday, May 1st, 2011
Riverside Park, NY
(W. 108th Street and Riverside Drive)Sign up today: http://www.relayforlife.org/nycbark
For exciting news and updates “Like” us on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/BarkForLifeNYC
If you are in the NYC area, we highly recommend attending this event. Not only will you be supporting a great organization, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to attend a fun event with your furry loved one!
Not in the NYC area but still want to help out? Click here to make a donation. Every dollar counts!
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We hope you have a wonderful Friday! We are taking the afternoon off and plan on visiting a few San Antonio gems as part of our “Farewell to Texas” tour. Last Friday’s plan to visit the Japanese Tea Garden was thwarted when we ran into a snag applying for our passports. Eek! That’s what you get for waiting until the last-minute. Gus and I might be waving at M from across the border!
According to Gus 
Wendy @ iwuvwes.wuvtags.com
April 15, 2011
Oh grr! 10 minutes? Closed door? WT@$#!%#@? Reminds me of a time in college when I returned a stray kitty to a house (he had a tag, oddly), and the owner greeted me with, “Oh yeah, that’s ours.” No thanks. No “Yay! You’re home! I love you! (Kiss, kiss, kiss)” Just “Yeah, that’s ours.” It took every ounce of my being not to return to the house, snag the cat, and run away. But the fact that the dogger you found looks groomed (and nicely!) and owns a sweater tells me that maybe the peeps care for him more than they let on in that door slamming charade. And the dogger led you to his home b/c he wanted to go back there. We’ll hope. 🙂
According to Gus
April 15, 2011
We felt terrible leaving him behind, but you’re so right about the grooming. He looked beautiful and his teeth looked good too. Yes, let’s hope it was the best thing for him. 🙂
Scriptor Obscura
April 15, 2011
That photo of Gus with the other dog near his face made me laugh out loud! 😀
The expression on Gus’s face is just too funny!
Its sad that Tupac’s owners obviously don’t care enough about their dog to take care of him properly. He could easily have gotten lost, been stolen, or even been hit by a car and killed while roaming the neighborhood like that. Personally, I think that Tupac is a lame name for a dog, but he looks really nice and friendly, though! 🙂
Judy
April 15, 2011
The dog was fortunate to have found you and Gus. It’s funny that Gus seems to have some of the same expressions on his face that Tiffy had when we were fostering the puppy. A look like…”Well I’m really unsure about this other dog but mom and dad are expecting me to be on my best behavior look”:) Especially the one where they are face to face and he is eyeing the camera with one eye. LOL As for people, if you think about it they never really act the way WE want them to. Maybe they were grateful, maybe not, I guess you’ll never know. The important thing is that you did the right thing for the dog and he looked happy to be home. Good Job!! Well Done!!
According to Gus
April 15, 2011
So true on expecting the owners to act differently. Even though they never showed any gratitude, maybe that’s just the way they are?! We’re glad we found his home…now is not the time for us to give Gus a brother! 🙂
Bailey
April 15, 2011
When I read about Gus not liking other doggies in his face, I thought…”this is just like Nala!” Nala hates me to get in her face. If she didn’t mind, I think she’d totally LOVE me! I’m ALWAYS in her face. 😉
Too bad about the other doggie’s home. I told my mommy about it, and she said it reminded her of our neighbor lady who found a little doggie. The woman made flyers to try and find her home, and when they finally did (she called a local animal shelter), the people said they didn’t want her. Our neighbor lady ended up keeping the little doggie, because she got along with her other doggie.
Sad that people fall out of love with their doggies. Gus is truly lucky to have you!
Woofs & hugs,
~Bailey
raisingdaisy
April 15, 2011
Not too fond of that name, kind of says something about the owners, don’t you think? How disgraceful that they didn’t seem to care that their precious pup was returned to them! And to close the door on you for 10 minutes?? We wouldn’t have waited around that long. We probably would have left a note with our name and number and let them make arrangements to come get the poor little thing. Gus must have thought, “Wow, I’m glad I don’t live here!” LOL
2browndawgs
April 15, 2011
Tupac is one cute pup. A sweater when it is so warm out? Gosh, we hope he has a good home life.
We would love to join the Bark for Life…if only we were in NYC!
2browndawgs
April 15, 2011
Forgot to say good for you for finding his home! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Chunyo's Corner
April 15, 2011
I would have been annoyed myself.. It’s a shame, such a cute dog. We have a neighbor who is constantly letting their elderly dog run loose. AGH! Makes me crazy!
Have a great weekend!
Donna and the Dogs
April 15, 2011
So glad you found him his home – even if it was a little strange one!
adventureweiner
April 15, 2011
The sad fact is that some people just aren’t the responsible or caring dow owners like us. I mean, they didn’t even take a look at him before naming him. Tupac? They ovbiously thought he was Pit Bull or something. Ha, ha. Anyway, you and Gus did your good deed and that might be as much adventure and fun he has had in a while.
Jen
April 15, 2011
Tupac is so cute and smart! Too bad his owners sound a bit off (trying to put that nicely!)
Hope you have a great weekend!
Snoopy@snoopysdogblog
April 15, 2011
Hey Lori,
What a cute doggy who was lucky you guys found him 🙂 – it reminds me of a walk we had a few months back in our neighbourhood when a little local dog came running up to me across the road. Mum took it back to his house and they were very relaxed about the fact the Dog was running across the street and they didn’t even know it was out. On that walk this happened 3 times with this Dog obviously escaping through the same door in the house.
I know that if I’d got out Mum would be freaking out at the thought I was running across the road……
Have a great weekend guys,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
According to Gus
April 15, 2011
3 times?!?! I hope they finally plugged the hole the dogger was escaping out of!
Vicky
April 15, 2011
How terrific that you were able to find his home and get him safely returned. I could only hope that in the extremely unlikely event that Darby were to get lost, he would be found by someone as thoughtful as you.
We are having a Bark for Life event here this weekend. I’m looking forward to checking it out.
Happy Friday!
Krazy4Pets
April 15, 2011
It is sad to hear that they didn’t get so excited to see their dog. If Tupac was mind, I would jump up and down and thanked you a hundred times to return my dog. By the way, you took such good pictures. The 2 dogs are so cute together.
lexy3587
April 15, 2011
That is odd that they were so uninterested in his return – I, for one, wouldn’t have been home, if Gwynn was missing. There’d have been a very upset and desperate note on the door, and everyone I could lasso into it would be roaming the streets. Maybe they were doing their best to ‘hold it together’ in front of the kind strangers returning their dog? as in, “as thanks for returning my dog, i will not snot on you or blubber”? maybe. And Tupac? isn’t he dead? that sounds ominous. But maybe it means something in another language, and they don’t know about the rapper guy.
My neighbours acquired their dog when he was abandoned in a coffee shop. Same deal as one mentioned above – tracked down the owners, finally, and they declined to take him back.
According to Gus
April 15, 2011
We would have done the same! The sad part is that they had no idea Tupac was even missing. 😦
thatjenk
April 15, 2011
That’s a weird ending, but I’m glad Tupac (lol!) ended up with you guys. In that situation, I would totally turn into a creepy stalker neighbour afterwards, continually checking up on Tupac’s welfare.
TOto's mommy
April 15, 2011
We used have a few dogs in our community that comes down to pee and poop and return home by themselves!! You think Tupac is one of this kinda? That why the owner didnt have any ‘reaction’ to his return?
According to Gus
April 15, 2011
You make a great point…just because this was the first time we had seen Tupac running loose, definitely doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen often. In fact, Tupac’s neighbors were the ones who directed us to the correct house and said that he’s often loose. 😦
Kristine
April 15, 2011
Yikes. That just doesn’t sound good, does it? I mean, there is nothing you can do about it unless your city has laws against dispassionate pet owners, but man…
This has happened to me on walks many, many times. There will be a dog off-leash that insists on following us. No collar, no tags. Not knowing what else to do, I usually knock on some doors in the area. So far, the neighbours have always known where the dog lives. Once the owner of a giant rottweiler was this tiny old woman. The dog refused to go inside the house and the woman was far too weak to drag him. I had to make Shiva sit and stay (thank god she can do that) while prying the rottweiler’s legs off of her and grabbing him around the waist to half-carry him up the stairs and into her house. All the while her other tiny dog yipped at my heals.
Good times.
Anyway… This sounds like an awesome event! I hope it is a huge success!
Anna
April 15, 2011
things like this frustrate me. We have had a trend of lost dogs ending up on our property here. Neither one had a microchip but at least they had tags so we were able to kennel them and call their owners.. and upon picking them up we microchipped them for free. Since this new wave of lost dogs ending up near us we have started to require that training dogs be microchipped.
Glad you were able to find his home, and I agree about the grooming comments. If someone in that house didn’t care he would not look so nice, trust me. Certainly does not need a sweater though. Glad the two of them got along well enough to contain him.
Have a fantastic weekend
Anna
http://www.akginspiration.com
itsmebuddy
April 15, 2011
What good hearts you have to go to so much trouble to find the owner and not put poor Tupac through the system! If we had a medal you would get it!
Buddy, the Bear, Becky
AngelColbert
April 15, 2011
If the worst gus did with the other guy was look freaked out you could easily have another dog if you wanted to. Either way, he’s doing well enough for you to catch up on socialization if you wanted to. He didn’t act out and nose to nose is most stressful for socialization because of dominance. There is the whole eye to eye challenge thing and it looks like Gus is a dominant little guy. If you wanted let me know and I’ll email you to give you tips specific to Gus.
According to Gus
April 15, 2011
He is a dominant little bugger…we’d love to hear your tips and suggestions!!
AngelColbert
April 15, 2011
Oh and Tupac is a cheezy name. Maybe it was one of those unfortunate guys where the kid of the house got to name him.
Pip
April 15, 2011
These pictures are SO BEAUTIFUL! Hope you have some showings this weekend!
Your pal, Pip
Minnie and Mack
April 15, 2011
Makes you wonder about dog owners……he was lucky you found him and saved him from a run in with a vehicle.
Love the pictures!
Drools and licks,
Minnie and Mack
Beth & Tanner
April 15, 2011
Wow!!! What a cutie. I can’t imagine not being frantic if he got away from me. These people need to be reported somewhere. JMHO.
Mayzie
April 15, 2011
YEESH! I can’t believes those peoples didn’t care more abouts their doggie being gone. AND that they didn’t thank you over and over for bringing Tupac (what a Most Hideous name for a sweet doggie) home to them. Well, since THEY didn’t, I will. Thank you, thank you for caring enough to make sure he was safe and got back to where he belonged.
Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie
Kristen
April 15, 2011
Some people name their dogs really stupid things. While I’m sure you didn’t get the best impression of him, strictly from looks, he looks very well cared for. His coat is gorgeous and well-groomed. He looks to be in good shape as well. Hopefully the owners get a clue though about some basic dog owner responsibility regarding the collar and not putting a sweater on your thick coated dog in 80 degree weather (not that any dog should have to wear a sweater in 80 degree weather unless they keep their house extremely extremely cold and airconditioned and the dog escaped with it on lol).
Elizabeth
April 15, 2011
What a beautiful cocker Tupac is! I’m with the others who said he’s prabably been outside sans leash before – no big deal (to him anyway). Gotta hope his people put the sweaters into storage, though.
Sila
April 15, 2011
Putting his name and the owner’s behaviour aside, Tupac does look like a friendly and happy dog. Sweet too! Maybe they should’ve named him Justin or Timmy 🙂
Happy.Bark.Days
April 15, 2011
You guys did a great job of babysitting Tupac and it looked like Gus enjoyed having company over at your house. It is odd that Tupac was found wearing a sweater in the heat of summer (err, spring)… maybe his owners have the air-con on full blast at home? 😐
simplyshaka
April 15, 2011
Tupac needs a new home–that’s wassup! I can’t believe those people.UGH! At least Gus got in a playdate with him 🙂
Hooray for Bark for Life–thats the walk Lincoln and I did last wknd. Let’s not eeven get me started on the gas prices….
According to Gus
April 16, 2011
I thought of you as I posted that…so fun you two were able to take part in such a great event!
LBeeeze
April 15, 2011
I love the face-sensitive photo of Gus. His eye is so buggie. The last photo is just awesome!!! The way the light captures Tupac’s eye is so beautiful.
What rude people to leave you standing outside for 10 minutes after you’d returned their beautiful dog. Shame on them for not taking better care of him.
Kari
April 16, 2011
yes a super lame name!
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/
Carly @GreenDogLove
April 17, 2011
That was very kind of you (and Gus!) to help return the dog to it’s owner. It makes me sad though that he wasn’t without a collar and the owner didn’t seem interested. I’ve helped stray dogs find their way home before and normally return to a happy, happy owner. Oh well, you all did an extra good deed!
Serena
April 17, 2011
I would have burst into tears and hugged you for about a million years if you returned Soda to me (that said the only time someone opened our gate – we still don’t know who – Soda waited patiently at our front door for me to come home!)
I don’t understand how someone could bother to dress a dog but not notice it was missing? Bizarre.
Gus and Tupac looked very cute together though! Well done on a good deed 🙂
The Hook
April 18, 2011
“Bark For life” sounds like a great idea! Good for you for devoting time and space for our canine friends!
btlau
April 22, 2011
awww, you know gus like his new friend and the owner to the dogger is so rude! There is no love lost reunion eh? I would have been dumbfounded if I am there one standing at someone’s slammed door for 10 min…..
one person's view
April 27, 2011
That’s how we got Our Best Friend– a loose dog running in the street. The supposed owners didn’t answer the door, and they never bothered calling the SPCA to see if anyone had brought him in. (And, as one trainer we consulted believes OBF was being hit– hard– I’m not too sorry.)
Puppies always try to lick OBF on the face, and he always squirms away. 🙂