The scoop

Kirby cat came home after a 10 day adventure outside. Thin, but OK. He appeared just in time before the bad, colder, snowy weather appeared. Timber is limping less and on the mend.

The scoop

Kirby cat is still missing and it has been 10 days. Timber injured her shoulder muscle going out after a bumper - I have gotten some exercises from a friend/PT and have ordered some Glucosamine for the girlz to start taking. I have been asked to speak at COA (College of the Atlantic) on 2/9/12 on READer dog and raising readers. I have started a power point with tons of pictures of the kids/dogs. Rissa will go to BBV tomorrow visiting and it will more than likely be her last time - I may have to retire her - she seems to have no advanced warning when she is going to poop and I can't have her going the bathroom on the visits. - we'll see how it goes.

Sad news

The other night the door blew open a bit and Kirby cat went outside (hasn't been an outside cat all of his life that I know of) - he never offers to go out when the dogs comes in etc... well, he ventured out (surprising he didn't come back in or stay around) but... he has been gone now for 3 days. I hope he isn't hungry, cold and suffering. I would think once he had a taste of the cold outside and no food - he would return... nope.... Here he is with Rissa a few months ago. He loved the dogs so again puzzled he would venture away from home.

BBV

Jill got to go to Birch Bay Village with me today because she was shedding the least of the 3. She had a great time visiting with folks and enjoyed a sing along at the organ in Safe Harbor. June played the organ and 3 of the residents sang. "Sing-a-long" with June and Jill!

Dog Scouts deliver

The Down East Dog Scouts delivered dog cookie bag treats to local banks to had out to their drive thru clients. Here are Jill and I delivering a box of treats tot he SWH branch of BHB&T.

Rissa and Santa

Community Service project

The Dog Scouts decided that our community service project this year would be to give DVD sets on dog training to some libraries in Hancock County. Jillian and I gave a set to the SWH library yesterday. This is Jill with the library director.

Happy Birhday Jillian!

Jillian turned 9 on 10/27/11

? last swim on 2011

Girlz got to swim yesterday - ? the last time this year?

DEDS fall picnic

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A few of us got together from the dog scout troop and had a picnic at member Nancy's beautiful water front home. One of the members also received her PhD in PT and we celebrated that! 6 of the dogs there in pic. My 3 in the back round swimming, Raya about to go get her tennis ball and Bri and Grace playing life guards on shore. Also the girlz hanging out post swim while the humans ate and had margaritas.

October 12th

Tail gating in Bangor

September 2011

Not much happened in the way of visits this month. Rissa turned 13 on the 29th. 2 weeks before we had a visit to the emergency vet - Rissa had an abscess in her mouth - her first illness! 2 weeks of antibiotics have ended - she was her old self after 2 days and continues to run and play and retrieve! I was on a team this month that won 50K for a lab rescue from the Pepsi refresh project. Many hours of collecting yellow Pepsi caps and entering codes this month - all paid off and we placed #1 out of 354 groups in the 50K rank.

Bark for Life walk

Jillian and I were the top fund raisers at the event today! Got a cute gift bag, Petco gift card, bandana and T shirt... Best snap of her with bag - she had her eyes closed. It was quite hot after the walk. Picture of her in front of our Dog Scout info table.

more pics from 8/21/11

Sunday visit to Cedarwoods Kennels

I took the girlz back to their original home for a visit and family photos. Rissa's grand daughter Lily had a litter with Timber's son Ivan. Friend Colleen was able to come to Bradford, Maine and take some pictures. Here's a few snaps I took and will have more once Colleen edits her snaps! We had wanted to get a 4 generation picture on Rissa's side - unfortunately her daughter died 2 days before we visited (complications of Lyme disease). The girlz got to swim and run around the grounds at the kennel.

Bark for Life

We will be walking in the Bark for Life jaunt on August 27th. This is for the American Cancer Society and it is the first Bark event for them in Maine. Nice it happens right here on MDI!

August 5th

A group of us that have READer dogs went to Swan's Island to do a program for the kids as a celebration of opening their new library after fire destroyed it 3 years ago. Jillian did fab on the ferry and with all the kids. She is so sweet and everyone loves her soft ears.

therapy ball

Rissa and the others have started a pet therapy ball exercise program to help keep their core and leg muscles strong as they age.

Rissa

Rissa had surgery on Wednesday to remove a fatty tumor under her right armpit and while under anesthesia - she had her eye sty/tumor removed. All is fine - she is an easy patient once she got over the anesthesia. Hot packing incision, antibiotics, eye ointment. No swimming or running x 7 days. She is picking up her bumpers and wanting me to play so I guess she is feeling OK!!

June 2011

We went to our Dog Scout picnic yesterday. The girlz had fun and tons of swimming!

Tremont assembly

Tuesday, June 14th, Timber and attended the school assembly to give her kids their books and certificates. Pictured book pawtographed by Timber, the kid's book mark they have put stickers on when they read to Timber, certificate and a pencil (I love my REAder dog). Group shot on stage (2 were absent) - Mrs Dow our contact and Timber rec'd a stuffed elephant and I got the beautiful plant.

June 2nd

Rissa and I attended Cirra's NEH library READer dog celebration. We had some children read to us and I had some cake which was very yummy! Rissa was great - she goes with the flow even at 12.5 years old. She loved on all the kids.

May 2011

Well, several dog events got changed or cancelled this month so not much to "blog" about. Changes in my work schedule cancelled a pet therapy visit and a READer day at Tremont. THEN - I got a nasty cold - so, no school yesterday - had to miss the MDIH volunteer celebration last eve - am not going to the retirement center today... Missed the dog scout walk this month because I worked that day.... I guess the girlz will be ready for our June plans. One final day of school for Timber (6/6) and then the celebration before school ends.

4/30/11

The pics from the yard sale with Jill didn't come out - oh well. We missed Tremont READer dog this week and the Acadia pick up day - worked to many and long into the night hours that I didn't wake up in time to go... oh well. Hopefully tomorrow the girlz will get their first swim of 2011 in!

4/16/11

Dog Scout yard sale today. We hauled and set up yesterday and today was the sale. We were successful but not as much $$ as last year. We think the April date vs. the June date made a difference in the number of people that came. Timber loves the yard sale as I usually bring her home a new baby - this time a Siamese cat! Jillian went to the yard sale as my sales associate and official greeter. I hope to have a picture of that soon.

4/13/11

Timber had REAder dog at the Somesville library. Cute little girls read to her and she wagged and layed on their laps. Got a call from the vet - ALL of Rissa's lab work in range - all levels within normal limits! Yippee!

Vet

All 3 dogs and Lucy cat went to the vet on Monday. Every one's weight was good. all heart worm and Lyme negative. Rissa had some blood work done as she is 12.5 and starting to act her age a bit more. All in all - a good visit except for my wallet :)

Sunday 4/10/11

Took Rissa visiting at Birch Bay Village. She absolutely KNOWS when her collar goes on that she is going there. The other 2 were in the car - when we got there - she came right to the front and jumped out- she knew it was her time to visit! The girlz in the car actually had 2 residents visit them in the car. Not a usual circumstance but happened twice today. It is always fun for people to see all 3 colors in the car together. Tomorrow the vet's for a routine check up and heart worm test etc... All 3 dogs and Lucy the cat to docs tomorrow - bring my wallet!

April 7th

Timber went to Tremont School today. She was so happy to see her "kids"

April 6th

Tonight the Dog Scout troop was invited to the island cub scout meeting. We had stations on grooming, bite prevention, training and what the dog scouts are/do. The "dens" circulated to each station. Jillian and I were the dog bite prevention station. Each practiced greeting a dog, took a pledge on bite prevention and each got their own handout I had made a few years ago on bite prevention. Jillian was a peach and so gentle and good with all the kids. She enjoyed herself!

Prez service award

Received 2 presidential service awards today for volunteering. One as an individual and one as part of the Dog Scout troop. Third year in a row!

New flip flops

March 19th CGC

Jillian received her CGC rosette today so I tried to snap a picture with all the girlz and their ribbons.

March 18th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIMBER!! 11 YEARS OLD AND GOING STRONG - JUST A FEW WHITE WHISKERS GIVE AWAY YOUR AGE!

March 16th 2011

Timber had 4 sweet little girls read to her today at the Somesville Village Library. Sabine earned a book today for reading 10 books to Timber. (picture) and we had a new girl Carolina today :)

March 13th

Was able to be on call and attend the Down East Dog Scouts troop meeting today and hear a presentation on dog rehab. Interesting - I may invest in a "PT" ball for dog to keep them limber longer... not a bad idea in aging dogs.

March 10, 2011

Timber and I went to school today - we only had 2 kiddos read to her. The second graders were doing some bacteria project and were all dressed in white clothing protectors... not a good time to be pulling a kid to read nor did I want to be exposed to the germs they were growing!

March 9, 2011

The girlz have had a mellow month ... nothing real excting - Rissa has done some pet therapy visits. Timber has done some READ sessions at school - we didn't have a Wednesday off to do the Somesville library so our other team did it in Feb. We are going to go on March 16th to the library. We attended a dog scout meeting and our guest speaker was maggie davis who has started a program on helping folks with their pets down Deer Isle way - she also spoke about her experiences with herbal treatments and reiki for animals. Our last visit to Birch Bay was memorable as Rissa really did her "job" helping a woman adjust to her new living situation. She was moved from assisted living to the memory unit and was still very upset. She kept hugging Rissa, as she was crying, "I didn't think you would find me" I was so sad to see her so upset and she normally is so up beat. Rissa kept walking over to her and giving her kisses. She had stopped crying by the time we left. The snow has been to deep or icy for the girls to do much running - we have taken advantage of the melting on the driveway for some running. I may look into greeting the troops - I think Jillian would really like that - spring is just around the corner and the drive to Bangor will be easier in a few weeks.

Feb 1, 2011

#1 - WE WON the Pepsi grant. The top 10 projects won and we were #7!! $$50,000

#2 - The superintendent - Rob Liebow - put his picture with Timber on the new district website with his "believe" message. I guess his reading to Timber and the entire program really impressed him! http://www.mdirss.org/

#3 - Timber's grand-pup was adopted by a co-worker and we went to see her... So sweet. Ashlee!

January 2011

Not much happened and I guess I fell behind in this blog. The girlz went visiting at the retirement home twice this month. Timber and I went to the Somesville Library once and Timber and I went to school once this month. Been busy voting in the Pepsi refresh challenge - a group I belong to is close to winning a grant for 50,000$ to make a place to rescue and re home dogs. The results will be in on 2/1/11 at 0600.