Esmae's Animal Filled World

An interesting article on the Zanesville massacre

2012-02-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Terry Thompson and the Zanesville Ohio Zoo Massacre: Newsmakers: GQ

This is a very well written article on the Zanesville exotic animal massacre and the man behind it. It made me think of the great documentary "The Elephant in the Living Room," about people who have exotic animals, and also the series "Fatal Attractions" on Animal Planet, about people who have exotic animals and eventually are killed by them.

I can completely understand the attraction to have a wild animal. In fact, I'd have several myself, if it were not for my over-riding concern about what is best for the animals. There is no question in my mind that it would not be best for an exotic animals to be in my home. I believe they belong in the wild, and that we should do nothing to promote their capture, sale or breeding to private citizens. I believe zoos serve a valid conservation and education purpose, but generally speaking, it is still sad to visit them and see animals in captivity. It is especially heartbreaking after seeing them in the wild to see them in a zoo, and beyond heartbreaking to see them in a home or "private zoo" setting.

As a kid, I loved the zoo. One of my first memories of doing any activity outside the home was visiting the Detroit zoo when my family lived in Detroit. We moved away when I was three, so I had to be younger than three. I can still remember vivid scenes of the animals. The first lion, the first elephant, the first zebra I saw in real life. Wow, I was impressed. I was with my mom. I never had an easy relationship with her, and I don't know how she came to take me to the zoo that day. I remember it was raining, and I wanted to stay all day anyway. We shared an umbrella. We shared a hot pretzel with cheese - my first - another vivid memory of that day. I remember the male gorilla I saw behind glass, and how I thought he looked sad. I remember a conversation with my mom about that...not the words, I just remember asking her about it and that she did say something about it. I remember looking into the gorilla's eyes, and hearing her voice while I did. I always visit zoos when on business or leisure trips around the world. There is no question my love of animals and my early exposure to the zoo inspired me later in life to visit animals in the wild and see them in their natural habitats, where they belong.

After seeing elephants in the wild, it was painful to see them in the zoo. It is no way for an elephant to live. Yes, maybe it is better than death and it serves an educational purpose, but it is tragic how little most zoos can provide for elephants compared to what they have in the wild - large family groups, a variety of vegetation, lots of various terrain, etc. Seeing an elephant standing alone in a small concrete space was so heartbreaking I couldn't look. It is just so very cruel.

Though I would love to be near an elephant every day, there is nothing, I hope, that could make me forget that is not what would be best for the elephant. I simply can't provide a suitable elephant environment. Nor could I provide an appropriate lion, tiger, bear, wold, serval, or any other exotic animal environment. Life in a cage is not fair; life away from your own kind is lonely. Not being able to act on your instincts is cruel. It is not appropriate to force animals to live in captivity because they are beautiful, powerful, exotic, or even because one loves them. Certainly it is wrong to keep animals in captivity because of how they make you feel.

There is no question that being near exotic animals is thrilling. Outside the U.S., regulations are lax - you can go inside tiger cages, play with lion cubs, ride elephants, pet cheetahs. I admit that from time to time in my travels I have done some of these things...because the opportunity was there, and because not doing it would not change anything. For example, there is a zoo in Africa where, for a small tip to the zookeeper, you can go inside the cage and pet the cheetahs. Those cheetahs are going to live in the zoo whether I do that or not. They were actually rescued orphans and can't be returned to the wild as they never learned how to hunt; a skill that wild cheetahs have to learn from their mothers over time. I'm not supporting cheetah capture or altering the lives of the cheetahs for the worse. And the draw is amazing. To know what a cheetah feels like (their coat is rough, almost like a bristle brush, not soft), to hear their purr (really deep, closer to a dog growl than a domestic cat purr), to see their expressions (happiness at a belly rub, jealousy at the other cheetah getting a belly rub, etc.) to feel their heart beat in their huge chests and watch their tails flip back and forth in the red dirt.....well it's amazing. And yes, I think how amazing it would be to have one.....but I never would.

I completely and totally understand the attraction people have to the idea of having their own exotic animals. I would get in the cage with the lions, the tigers, the wolves, the bears....I am not inherently afraid of animals. I would also be the kind who doesn't have the animals in cages. (I'd have my horse in the house if I could.) When an animal powerful enough to kill you in a second chooses not to kill you, it's an amazing feeling. It is easy to feel special in that moment. When an animal that could kill you in a second seems affectionate towards you or happy to see you, you can feel beyond special - you can believe you have a unique bond with that animal. Something about you is special and the animal knows it and your connection with that animal is like no other....people believe it. You can't help it. It has a seductive power that can blind you to reality and to danger. That is how people who have raised a pet tiger they love more than anything in the world one day find themselves injured because they turned their back and lit up the tiger's prey drive with a sudden movement and "play" to the tiger results in injury to the human. I never blame the animal in those situations; the blame does not lie with them.

Being attracted to exotic animals is completely understandable, but taking the wrong turn of accumulating them is selfish and irresponsible. Terry Thompson had animals because of how they made him feel. And while I am sure they made him feel great, how did they feel? This is a man who had serious emotional issues. The animals were innocent victims and whether he meant to hurt them or not doesn't matter. While I am sure he did love his animals on some level, what he loved about them was likely their beauty and the way they made him feel special, powerful and unique. Real love is putting the animal's needs above your own, caring more about how the animal feels and whether its emotional, mental and physical needs are met than about yourself....and thus, most of the time, not acquiring or owning animals. One person can only care for so many animals well...though there is no magic number for all people, there is no question Terry Thompson was way over the limit no matter how you look at it.

It is a tragedy for his animals that he did what he did. Maybe if it leads to laws that exotic animals cannot be privately owned that will be a benefit that comes of this, though not one worth the cost. It is horrible that law enforcement was put in the position of putting down these animals and that they could not be captured alive. Everything about the situation is a tragedy, though no innocent people were harmed by any of the animals, which is good - because there would be those who blamed the animals for being animals. At least this way it is clear that the only evil or malice was man's.

Simon's Saga Ends

2011-08-20T00:07:00.001-06:00

In September of 2003, we were looking for a companion dog for our then almost a year old Aussie, Callie. We knew we wanted to adopt a rescue dog, and we read about Simon, a red merle Australian Shepherd estimated to be between 4 and 6 years old. He had survived a lot of trauma - some of which was obvious, some of which revealed itself over time once we adopted him. It was hard not to fall in love based on his story. His owners in LaGrande, OR, had hired their neighbor boys to shoot Simon (who had a different name then) and their other dog, a terrier. So he was taken to a cinder pit outside of town and shot twice in the head, and then presumably struck by a vehicle (glancing shoulder blow). Somehow he survived, though the bullets took two teeth, punctured his jaw and tongue, and left him bleeding. It happened in July of 2003 and a deputy found Simon by following a blood trail to some shade of a tree. A kind vet operated on Simon and the shooters got a whopping sentence of one day's jail time for animal abuse. He went into foster care and a few months later we adopted him.

At first he was nearly orange, with dry and brittle hair that became a beautiful, silky soft, deep red merle when he got a good nutrition program. He was too thin and his head looked too big for his body. He told us through his behavior some of the other things that had happened. He must have been beaten for pooping, because he would never do it on leash or if watched. He must have been beaten in a kitchen, because no kitchen ever felt safe to him...it took him over 6 years to enter our kitchen; we even tried carpeting it due to his fear of linoleum and tile floors....but that is how we learned the fear of certain types of floors and the fear of kitchens were separate. When he got nervous or upset, he would poop in the middle of the night in one room of the house. He was very upset by young men in baseball caps and by the smell of gunpowder. He was unpredictable, and could bite people when he considered them to be on his turf - sometimes with a warning lip curl, sometimes with no warning at all. He had an extremely high prey drive and was very aggressive with horses and livestock; he could never be trusted alone with them. He did not know how to play with any toys and never would fetch. Eventually our other dogs taught him tug of war, but he only really played it the last 2 years of his life. He knew how to break ice, respect the end of a leash or a line, and he was all muscle when we got him and could jump over 6 feet straight up. He had not had enough to eat so he ate way too fast and had to have a special bowl or toys to slow him down. He also consumed everything and anything - he had to have his stomach pumped at least a dozen times while we had him, but he was indestructible. He had nightmares for years - I used to wake him up and soothe him until he realized where he was. He was jealous of anyone else getting attention and thought all hugs should be his. He was like a football player on a date who does not take no for an answer - he kept trying to get on your lap when you sat on the couch, and snuggle into you. The vet said that he was probably not professionally neutered and that his tail had been bobbed too short. It is a wonder he wanted anything to do with humanity at all.

In truth, he was not an easy dog to own. He was a huge responsibility. It was not his fault; he just never could completely shake the trauma he had been through. And who could blame him?

Keeping him safe was the first priority - and that meant making sure he was not in a position where he might bite someone. One had to manage all house guests very carefully - and once in awhile mistakes were made. It was hard to ever relax and not worry about him; fortunately Callie, the dominant dog, kept him in line and one need not worry when she was present. Unexpectedly, however, he outlived her.

From the day he came home, he was a hero in the eyes of Ophelia, one of our cats. He was "her dog." She never went a day without washing his face, rubbing her butt on his chin, and napping next to him. She loved to curl up along side him. She is very shy about other people and animals, but Simon was a joy to her.

He was with us for almost exactly eight years, and we did our best to make them happy ones for him. He went on lots of camping trips, he loved boating and rafting, he went running and hiking. His favorite treats were dried sweet potatoes, but he never met a food he didn't like. He rolled regularly in manure, annoying to us, heavenly perfume to him. He loved other dogs, though he had little socialization skills - he liked to hump and then when a dog was submissive to him he had no idea what to do...he was a beta dog all the way. He was happiest with a strong leader and another submissive dog to be a buddy. We fostered dogs and he had a clear favorite - a dog he loved so much we almost considered adopting him just for Simon.

He was a gentle dog at heart; he could be trusted with small kittens, and he was a great dog to socialize young foster puppies with - he never lashed out at them no matter what. He was very protective of us, and we never had to worry that someone would break into the house when he was in it!

He was slowing down a little, but after all, he was 12 to 14 years old, which is a decent age. He didn't show signs of arthritis and he was still quite active. Last Sunday, less than a week ago, he developed a slight swelling in his neck. We picked him up from daycare and they noted it - when we got him home he sounded raspy like it might be impacting his airway, so we went to Westvet in case it was a cheat or a bite that needed treatment. Samples suggested lymphoma cancer. We made an appointment for Tuesday to discuss options and went home to await test results.

The next morning he would not eat. I made him a milkshake of cat food, kitten milk and kibble and he went eagerly after it, suggesting appetite was intact but the swelling, worse overnight, impacted his ability to eat or swallow. He did not want to eat soft food and would not touch anything until it was liquid. So I took him to work with me to keep an eye on him. By noon the swelling had doubled and he was beginning to have trouble breathing, so another trip to Westvet was in order. Cytology results were back: large cell lymphoma. We knew that could mean 30 to 60 days, we didn't know it could mean 30 to 60 HOURS. We were not at all prepared. He was suffering - clearly complaining of pain, and the swelling was so bad it was like he swallowed a basketball and it got stuck in his throat. In less than 24 hours it looked like we were losing him.

We had to reduce the swelling and control the pain. To accomplish that and not rule out other treatment options, we had to treat with a chemo drug and an IV painkiller and he needed to be admitted and monitored for 24 hours. During that time we tried to evaluate whether to do chemo or put him down. Chemo would take 4 to 5 weeks until we knew if it was working, would entail 5 months of drug treatment, would require more tests and many drug cocktails, and might buy him 6 to 14 months if successful. For an older dog, especially one with Simon's issues who is not easily taken to work or monitored 24 hours a day, one who would not like going to the vet on a regular basis...could we put him through chemo? Would he want that? We are going into winter - he stays indoors a lot - what would he be looking forward to?

When he was stable and the swelling was controlled, he could be switched to oral painkillers and come home; so he did, late Tuesday, after 24 hours of wondering whether he would ever be home again. Ophelia was estatic to see him. He was tired and relieved to be home. The vet said that with painkillers, prednisone, and the drug he'd had, he could make it 2 to 5 days before the symptoms re-occurred. So we decided to give him one last great day and have a vet come to the house so he could die with his family and never have to go back on a tile or linoleum floor.

He played with a dog friend, at steak cooked in bacon grease and topped with egg, cooled himself in the canal, ran in the pastures, said goodbye to the people at his daycare, napped on his favorite orthopedic bed. He was clearly not 100% comfortable, and we knew it would get worse and chemo would only postpone the inevitable. In the end, we had to say goodbye much sooner than we expected. A week ago he seemed totally fine, and yet two night ago, he died...peacefully and loved.

We did the best we could to give him a good life; to make up for the past. He gave back all his love and gratitude, and left us with many positive memories of times with him...and funny memories of his quirks. It is a huge shock to lose him so quickly. Ophelia, also a rescue, will miss him most of all....her dog is gone, and I can't tell her why. I found her waiting on his bed this morning. He leaves a void for all of us.

Gorrilas in the Rain

2011-08-10T22:06:00.000-06:00

One thing I wanted to make sure my husband saw during his first (and possibly only) visit to Africa was mountain gorillas in the wild. So we detoured from Tanzania to Rwanda to see gorillas. Although I had been to see gorillas in Rwanda in 2007 on two separate hikes, and in Uganda the same trip, I was thrilled to get to see them again. For animal lovers, it is really an amazing experience - and if you aren't an animal lover, it could convert you. It's amazing.

First of all, seeing these animals on foot is quite an experience. The gorillas, habituated over about 2 years, choose to let us visit them. The guides communicate with them in grunts and reassure them we mean no harm, and they accept this.Even though man is their greatest threat. Even though they know this, with bad experiences with snares and poachers. Even though, without weapons, they are more powerful than we are.

The day of our hike, it rained. The hike was 7.5 hours round trip, with one hour of that being gorillas viewing. Unfortunately, it was raining during the viewing and that made for less than ideal conditions, in two respects. First, it is always tough to get good photos of gorillas as you can't use flash, it is very humid and quite dark in the rainforest, and often you get lens fog. Second, gorillas are less active in the rain as they hunker down and wait it out vs. play and interact with one another. But, it is what it is, you take what you get. At least we did get to see gorillas, in both the mist and the rain. It was a tough hike, and we ended it cold, wet and hungry, and covered in mud - but it was worth it, and I'd do it again.

In these photos you see the secondary silverback - not the biggest silverback in the group or the leader, but the V.P. if you will, of a group called Sabayingo. He is pictured with one of the females and her two offspring, one of whom is about 2 and the other who is just a few weeks old. The baby is huddled close to mom with the toddler on the other side, so you can only see an ear of the baby here. You can see the big male with his arms wrapped around him, waiting for the rain to stop, guarding his family members. We are standing about 10 feet (best guess) from the Silverback, off to the right of this photo.

Although I didn't get great photos compared to my past gorillas trips, this was still a nice viewing. I have been lucky enough to see gorillas in the wild 5x now - and I have no idea if I will ever have the chance again. If it is something on your life list, make it a priority - because it is truly something special.

The Elusive Leopard

2011-08-07T22:24:00.000-06:00

Seeing a leopard is always a supreme treat on a safari. This trip, we saw two leopard cubs. They were walking a distance away, and I didn't get any photos as I was busy watching them and trying not to lose them. As the cars gathered in the central Serengeti for a glimpse of the cubs, making it harder and harder to see them, we luckily found the mom. She was laying, then sitting, on a mound under an acacia tree. Here are two photos of her. I wish we would have been closer...but we got a great view, and we were the second car there, and soon after an onslaught of vehicles made the viewing less than peaceful. It is hard to imagine a sight more beautiful than a leopard in the wild. These gorgeous, athletic and solitary creatures are incredible, and strong enough to haul a kill up a tree in their jaws.

Young Hyenas

2011-07-22T22:43:00.000-06:00

Although I've seen spotted hyenas before, this trip I saw some young ones. Pictured here is a baby hyena nursing from mom. In a separate sighting, a young hyena came up the rod very curious about our vehicle and gave it a good luck; that's the other picture. Both viewings were very nice. Although some people don't like hyenas, I do. I think they are fascinating animals, from their matriarchal societies and hunting methods to their strange lopes and calls. They always remind me of dogs even though supposedly they are not really related.

Black Rhino

2011-07-21T19:10:00.000-06:00

The endangered black rhino can be hard to see, but we luckily got a viewing in Norongoro Crater of this one. Unfortunately, Norongoro Crater is not a great place to see such an animals, because you have one rhino and about 40 cars. It's sad. Everyone wants to see a rhino, so the call goes out and WHAM every car in the crater is there. This poor rhino wanted to cross the road, but as he walked, cars kept getting in his way as everyone positioned themselves to try and get a view or photo. It was like a Yellowstone Bear Jam only worse. Ug.

It is a very sad fact that many African guides are more interested in great tips than respect for wildlife. This is understandable - certain clients will tip more to get close and get that great shot, even if annoying or harassing the animal is the result. Clients may demand behavior that is not best for the animals, and guides often feel this pressure so they do what is asked even if they know they shouldn't. This pressure is even worse when the animal is particularly rare or very sought after. Many times clients may not realize the negative consequences of getting too close or staying too long. An ethical guide will respect park rules as well as what is best for animals, but may be penalized at tip time for doing so by clients who care more about their photo ops than the animal's welfare. If you go on an animal viewing/wildlife trip, please think about what is best for the animal and respect whatever rules the guide sets out.

We left this poor rhino in peace quickly, but it was sad to see him struggle with the traffic and the cars jockey for position continuing to block his path. This is where a park ranger would have come in handy if willing to block the road and let the poor guy on his way. Unfortunately, all the park rangers we ran into in Norongoro Crater were speeding and none of them seemed to be actively engaged in animal protection. Our guide reported that the rangers in fact kill many animals due to failure to obey speed limits they themselves set.

Common Zebra

2011-07-20T12:55:00.000-06:00

As a horse lover, of course I have a soft spot for Zebras. My favorite are Grevy's zebras, but those are endangered and hard to see; I have only seen them in Samburu National Park in Kenya. On our Tanzania trip, we saw the much more common "Common Zebra" (so aptly named). Although they may be common, I never get tired of seeing them.

Young zebra have brownish stripes which get black as they mature. The pattern on each zebra is supposed to be unique, though I can only tell the difference between them if I look really closely! Smaller than horses, zebras have really cool calls to one another - sort of a cross between a donkey and a hiccup. This photo is of a herd we came across in Norongoro Crater.

Southern Ground Hornbill

2011-07-20T09:17:00.000-06:00

I am not a birder. I do not like the checklist approach to wildlife viewing, and I admit I have a hard time understanding how someone can look past a mammal like a giraffe or an elephant to ooo and awww over a tiny bird. But, I do understand that birds are harder to see, more fleeting in your time to view them, and often more elusive than elephants - so perhaps it is that element that makes birding addictive to some. Not to me, however.

I have been fortunate enough to see a ton of bird species in my travels. Though I can't always remember their names, I do enjoy seeing new species, especially when on a long trip or game drive where not much else is available. Birds beat nothing. I would rather see mammals, or reptiles, but when this is not possible, birds are quite nice. Taking photos of them also gives me something to do while bird afficianados I may be traveling with whip out the binoculars.

Some birds really are pretty cool, and I appreciate them much more since I've gotten chickens and observed a lot of their nuances in behavior and language over the last three years.

One pretty cool bird is the Southern Ground Hornbill, pictured here. Hornbills in general are interesting, but Ground Hornbills live on the ground, as the name would imply, and they are very large birds that you can see from quite a distance. I would estimate them at 2 to 3 feet tall. You often see them in pairs, or with young, stalking around looking for snakes, insects, etc. int he grass. It takes them several years to be sexually mature and the young stay with the parents for several years rather than just a season. Only one chick is raised in a breeding season. I think I've seen these birds on every trip to Africa and in many places each trip, but they are always noticeable and interesting to watch. This trip, in the Serengeti, we saw a mated pair feeding their young in a hole in a tree. Life is cool to watch; even bird life.

Lions in Norongoro

2011-07-19T21:34:00.000-06:00

We had a glimpse of a pride of lions in Norongoro Crater. I love how lions blend into the grass; scary but beautiful. The scenery looks not unlike Idaho except for the lions. We saw the same pride of lions overlooking some buffalo in the distance a few hours later. I like this shot of a lioness looking out at the buffalo, perhaps hoping for them to wander her way, perhaps just enjoying the view.

Two serval cats in one day

2011-07-18T22:29:00.000-06:00

One thing I was hoping to see in Tanzania was small cats, as I hadn't seen a civet, a serval, a genet, an African wild cat, etc. on previous trips Although I love cheetah and leopards and lions, I was hoping for a new cat species...and I got lucky.

We saw two different serval cats in Norongoro crater. Even though they are usually seen at night, we got to see them in full daylight. Here is a photo of each. I loved the sightings - especially the first one. We found a young male serval on the road marking territory and then hunting. His jumps were very cool to watch - graceful and very high! The first serval we found in the morning and the second was across the crater in the afternoon. I don't know the gender of the second cat, which was moving rather quickly so I am glad I got a photo!!

The spots and markings on these cats are so gorgeous. They have bright white stripes across the back of the ears, long tails, and slender, spotted bodies. I may never have the chance to see a serval again, but I hope I do. It was a very cool experience and the first new species I saw of the trip.

Dik-Dik

2011-07-17T21:26:00.000-06:00

The dik dik is a very small deer, smaller than a medium sized dog. About 18" tall, they are generally found in mated pairs, sometimes with a youngster, near the bottom of a bush. We came across this little dik dik in Lake Manyara, resting under a bush. They have adorable noses that are always moving from side to side. They have such delicate, tiny legs they are like pencils - with eraser sized hooves. Dik dik are completely adorable and I would love to be able to touch them....but of course since I haven't run into a tame one this is not likely to ever happen. I bet a baby dik dik is one of the cutest living things.

Blue Monkeys in Tanzania

2011-07-16T11:46:00.001-06:00

My long awaited trip to Tanzania and Rwanda finally took place in June and early July of this year. My main goal was to take my husband to Africa for the first time, and hopefully have him fall in love with Africa, as I did on my first trip there in 2005. He was reluctant to go to Africa, but he did enjoy it and would do it again, so I am glad that I got to go there with him and I look forward to the time we can go again. Since it is a costly and time consuming venture, I am sure it won't be soon, but there are many places I would like to see in Africa that I haven't been to yet, and an ever growing list of places there I'd like to go back to as well. This particular safari was not the best I have ever had in terms of wildlife viewing, but it was good all the same with a wide variety of animal species and some varied habitats, and it was an enjoyable trip.

The first park we visited was Lake Manyara in northern Tanzania. Very near the park entrance we ran into some blue monkeys. We saw blue monkeys several times within the park, and again later in the trip in Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania. Of all the blue monkey sightings we had, this is the best photo of a blue monkey I was able to take. They reminded me of guenon monkeys as they have a very similar nose. Their hair made me think of Lizzie the cat - both have hairs that are multi-colored within the same strand. Males and females have slightly different sizes and shading.

Hopefully in the coming weeks I will find time to post some of the best wildlife photos of the trip.

Goodbye, Old Girl

2011-05-15T23:14:00.001-06:00

I always loved dogs, but my mom didn't. She never bonded with them, and in fact used them, or rather, my love for them, against me my entire childhood. However, I noticed that when my dad died and my mom lived alone with his dog that out lived him, she began to see the dog as a companion rather than a tool. Also, after her stroke left her half paralyzed, she was really unable to do dogs any harm in anger, as she once had, except by ignoring their medical needs and/or over feeding them.

It was my job to put my dad's dog to sleep when the time came. The poor dog, a black lab I first met at 6 weeks, was 16 and could no longer get up. There was absolutely no question in my mind his time had come, and I was glad to be able to be there for him at the end, as I had at the beginning, and I thought of my dad as his dog - and what felt like my last living link to my dad - slipped away.

My mom, living alone without the dog, clearly missed him terribly. Though I told myself that she did not deserve to have a dog, that this woman, who I watched be, to understate it, "unkind" to dogs almost all my life, was really not worthy of having one...I also realized that it would comfort her now, and that letting her have that comfort would mean saving a dog's life. Maybe, in the end, she could do dogs one good turn. I know old dogs have a hard time getting adopted, but would be the right speed for my mom - so I asked the Idaho Humane Society for the oldest dog they had, the one that was going to get put down next, the one no one else wanted. They said "Mollie" without a second's hesitation.

Mollie was a black lab mix, age 9. She was left by her family at the shelter and said to be not good with cats and barked too much. She had been at the shelter for 6 weeks and was out of time, as well as starting to go out of her mind. She was wearing the hair and skin off her paws rubbing them under the cage trying to get out. I took my mom to the shelter to meet Mollie. My skin was crawling thinking about the idea of getting my mom a dog, but at the same time, I thought about saving the dog, this poor dog I'd never met but now knew the story of. Getting a dog for my mom was one of the hardest things I ever did. I made a deal with her though: I would be in charge of the dog's medical care, and if my mom did not provide proper care, I would take the dog. (We did have several fights about that later, over a bout of ringworm...and I made her stick with the bargain she made).

When I went to get Mollie, it was clear she'd been through this drill over and over. She is removed from her cage where she has to pee and poop after nearly a decade of being housetrained. She is led out of the kennel area where she is housed with another dog and the noise of barking is deafening. She is taken to a small room where she meets some people, who run her through basic commands, look her over...and reject her...sending her back to the cage, the other dogs, the noise. This time she meets my mom in the little room. I watch, trying to remain neutral. I don't know if it's too soon; my mom has been without a dog for 3 months; I think she is ready. I watch Mollie - she takes care not to knock into my mom's walker. She does not jump up at all. She seems like a good fit. I can see my mom likes her. Mollie seems like she has been through it before; she is friendly but she knows not to get attached - she is glad to be out of the cage, she is friendly.

We fill out the adoption paperwork. Mollie seems indifferent, watching the other people and dogs come and go. As soon as we leave the shelter Mollie perks up dramatically. When I open the car door and tell her she can get in, she looks up at me like I am her savior. No kidding. Her whole face and body changed. She loved me at that moment. She knew she was getting a home - she truly did. In that moment it all changed for her, and she let me know she appreciated it.

She settled in to my mom's house in December of 2004. She loved the food, having her own big back yard, her own bed. When I visited she was so happy to see me - and she stuck to me like glue. She got a little too fat. I wondered who would last longer, her or my mom. When Mollie came to visit at my house, she never chased the cats. I knew she might out live my mom so I knew she might come live with me one day, and I wanted to ensure she got along with my animals and knew my house.

My mom ended up in the hospital in late 2009, no longer really able to care for herself or the dog. I went to bring Mollie home with me. She was very, very arthritic and very, very slow. She did not like to get up. Her teeth were terrible. It turned out she had a bladder infection and an abcessed tooth as well. She was too fat. I wondered how she would adapt to living in a house with other dogs, with cats, with 2 people who came and went, not one who was with her all the time. I put her on a diet, got some anti-biotics for the infections, moved her bed to the front of the fireplace, and bought her a couple new ones as well so she could lie in any room she chose. My mom went to assisted living in another state, by choice. I took Mollie to the house she used to live in with my mom when it was empty. I thought she might be sad...but she wasn't. She wagged her tail at me and stayed by my side. She truly seemed happy to be wherever I was.

She loved to lie by my front door and watch the world go by. She barked at the mailman, passing dogs, people who walked by. She lost weight and gained vigor. Within a few months, on some arthritis meds, she started to want to go outside with me to feed the horses every day. Walking across the pastures was a long walk for her. She loved to snack on horse poop. I made sure she had one ride in the car each week. She went with the other dogs when we camped, and we sacrificed hiking and packed an orthopedic dog bed for her. She took roadtrips with us. She played in the snow, swam in a river, and was thrilled to be part of a family again that did so many activities.

When we adopted a young 8 month old pup, the pup tried to get her to play incessantly. To my great surprise, Mollie delighted in stealing toys from the puppy. She loved rawhides and other chew toys despite her bad teeth. She tried to catch the ball the first few times I threw it for the pup, but poor old Mollie fell over, and realized she couldn't chase balls anymore. So she would lie in the pasture, watching me throw the ball for the puppy. Only her arthritis gave her away as over 15 at that point.

When I got home she wanted to meet me at the door, but she was too slow, so I used to pull up and sit in the driveway for a few minutes to give her time to greet me at the door with the other dogs and not feel late to the party. But sometimes, Mollie surprised us all with her bursts of "speed," which consisted of fast-ish lumbering - when it was time to get in the car again after a nice rest stop on a road trip, she would lumber around the car in circles playing "you can't catch me" - which actually, we couldn't as we were laughing too hard. When the other dogs were busy greeting us, Mollie would give a cursory hello and quickly sneak behind them and grab their toys, lumbering off to her orthopedic bed with pride when she obtained one...guarding it so carefully she'd take it out with her to pee until she finished it off.

When we were gone for a week at Christmas, and she had done so well with us for over a year, I hadn't been worried she wouldn't make it. Though she was in good hands, she took a sharp decline. Our absence was obviously much harder on her than I realized. It took me a lot of coaxing to get her eating again and to get her to perk up after that. It took a full week to get her back on track, and I admit, I was worried and felt guilty for having left her thinking it would be okay, as it had always been before.

She maintained a very healthy weight, but gradually showed less interest in food. For a long time I bought her gourmet organic wet food , but even that was eventually rejected, so for the last 6 months I made her rice and hamburger mixed with a little kibble. She became incontinent, but I got some meds for that, and gave her canned pumpkin for the phyto-estrogen as well, and arthritis meds. So she had pills every day for a long time, but they seemed to help her - gradually the dose was increased to the max.

Her arthritis got worse. It got to the point that most mornings, she couldn't get up without assistance as she couldn't get her back legs under her. I lifted them up and got her started. She couldn't get up the two steps on the deck to come inside anymore, though she hopped down - so we carried her up. She and I developed a routine where she worked the front end and I worked the back end and we got her around; I couldn't manage her 78 lbs alone but as a team, we got by, though it was hard on both of us. She had several instances where she fell and could not get up without assistance. Luckily, each time we were near and she didn't have to lie there long, but it was awful to find her in some position where she could not get her legs under her, looking up saying "Can you give me some help here?"

Every time I got up in the night, or came home and she wasn't at the door, I would expect to find her not breathing. But, she always was - she just napped more and more soundly. She ate less and less. She lay at the door for part of the day instead of all day, too tired to keep track of the neighborhood with her prior vigilance. I would often find her at noon, having slept through my arrival, asleep in a sunny spot with a black cat curled up next to her on her dog bed. The cats really liked her, and several slept near her often. I would even find the puppy on her bed with her sometimes - and I wish I'd gotten some photos of those times.

I kept thinking it was probably getting near the end, watching for signs that she wasn't enjoying life. She kept giving me signs she was. It wasn't until the last month that she finally seemed much more tired, her efforts to move so labored she didn't want to get up some days. She stopped even trying to get in the back door, just lay waiting to be carried in. Sometimes she fell over while relieving herself, when a back leg gave out. I braced myself and set a date. I arranged to have the vet come to the house, after a weekend when we were with her, so she could die at home....something I think we all want. I dreaded seeing her go.

I tried hard to make the right decision - not to cut her life short, not to wait so long that she had needless suffering and too low a quality of life. She was mentally alert until the end - never suffering dementia, and I am happy for that. I am happy she always knew who I was, even at the last moment. I often wondered about the people who had her puppy years. I bet she was such a cute puppy. She had such a good personality - they clearly socialized her and cared enough to train her. What made them dump her at a shelter at 9, a big black dog, and never come back? Did they not know the statistics? She had very little chance of being adopted. I resented that this family she loved would have done that to her. I did not mind paying a few hundred dollars a month for her medications, washing her soiled bedding, cooking her food, carrying her or lifting her back legs so she could walk....she deserved to have someone love her and care for her like that. But whoever had her when she was young should have taken care of her to the end. Dogs are not disposable. It is a lifetime commitment - and the day I took her from the shelter I knew I accepted the responsibility of being there for her at the end.

The end was today. I made her steak for her last 3 meals. She clearly enjoyed it. We had a last walk into the pastures, and she had a last snack of horse poo, pictured above. Every step was so hard for her. But yesterday it was sunny and she was feeling good - she even got up by herself twice for the first time in two weeks. She even went up the stairs unassisted for the first time in almost three weeks. I began to wonder....was I saying goodbye too soon? But last evening she fell, with a thud, and I found her unable to get up again. And I reminded myself that though she can still have a good day, they are now weeks apart - it used to be the bad ones were.

And so although it was very, very, very hard - I said goodbye. I felt her leave the world as my hand was on her head and she was sleeping. The vet came to her so she was spared the last car ride - car rides have been too hard for her for the last few months. I hoped that having no more pain, and ending that way, was the kindest thing. I tried hard not to hold on so long that it was about me and not about what was best for her. I wanted her to go while still having the dignity to walk (albeit labored) and to have SOME remaining quality of life, albeit laying on a soft bed barking at a passing dog.

My husband and I carried her body to a waiting gurney at the vet's office and said a final goodbye. I am grateful to him for all the times he carried her - grateful on her behalf as well as my own. He never complained about me taking in a very old dog, or any of her old dog problems. He was a good dad to her. He cooked her food too, he coaxed her pills down her too - he walked slowly beside her without impatience. Without him, I would have had to say goodbye sooner, and she would have missed out on some activities because I could not carry her alone...and I could not get her in or out of the car unassisted for the last 9 months. I know she was grateful to both of us for all the care-taking the last 18months - and all the adventures.

I wish I could have discussed the final decision with her. I agonized over it for ages and I hope, and believe, it was the right one, at the right time. I will miss her. We all will. After 16+ years on the planet, she is gone.

A Few Treats for the Kids

2011-03-30T21:46:00.000-06:00

Esmae turned 11 last week - hard to believe!!! We have been doing some weekly riding lessons, which has been a lot of fun. Hopefully we'll find some new riding partners and get out regularly this year. On her birthday, I gave her this little treat bowl - topped with a peppermint; her favorite. I plan to bake her some carrot and apple cookies as soon as I can (I am sure she will share with Buster).

The chickens also got a spring treat. They love hot dogs and minced garlic, strawberry tops, and a mix of brans and millet. It all went very quickly!!Hopefully we'll be adding a few chicks soon to the flock.

Swimming with Manta Rays in Hawaii

2011-02-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to get the chance to go to the Big Island of Hawaii recently, and snorkel at night with giant manta rays. We went with a company called Sunlight on Water. Off the coast on the Kona side of the island there are two locations where you can snorkel with mantas - one by the Four Seasons and one by the airport. Dive boats take scuba divers out to the sites while other boats take snorkelers. The divers get on the bottom of the ocean floor, about 30' down, and shine lights up towards the surface while snorkelers shine lights down and float on the surface holding onto a big floating ring. The goal is to make a column of light in the water, which attracts plankton. The manta rays come and eat the plankton, more or less ignoring the divers and the snorkelers alike.

The experience was really excellent. We saw seven manta rays. Everyone in our group, of varying ages and snorkeling experience, was able to participate and loved it. The manta rays themselves are mighty impressive, with a wingspan of over 10 feet by the larger females, with the males being smaller. We had an excellent orientation and educational presentation by a woman who then videoed the experience underwater, and got incredible shots.

The manta rays swim beneath you, and do rolls so you can see both the top and bottom of the rays. There are also silver fish circling around pursuing the plankton. When the bubbles from the divers rise up, it is like a gorgeous underwater chandelier with bubble crystals and silver fish intertwined. So, even when a manta is not in view, it is something to behold.

I've never snorkeled at night, and never with manta rays. It was the highlight of the trip. If you get to the big island, give it a try! It was so worth it. The video below from the company we went with gives you an idea, but it's better in person! (I got no photos since I do not have a water camera).

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Swimming With Spinner Dolphins

2011-02-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

Off the Kona side of the big island of Hawaii, you can swim with wild dolphins. It's pretty amazing! A large pod of dolphins lives there and you can go with several different companies out to swim with them. Essentially they position the boat in front of the pod, you get in the water, they swim under and around you, and you get back on the boat and repeat until time's up. Typically you can also see manta rays and often whales as well, but the day I went, there were no whale sightings. It was a stormy sea and I got a bit seasick - fortunately someone had an extra Dramamine! (Bonine is even better, but I forgot to take it!)

I went out on the Sea Wolf, and the experience was a good one. The captain and crew were great, and the dolphins were just gorgeous. A very large pod of dolphins, I would estimate at least 100.

When I got in the water and they swam under me, I was impressed with the moms and babies, the small groups of friends, and the playfulness of the dolphins as they swam. They jumped out of the water, twirled and flipped, swam within 2 feet of the boat, jumping out of the water. Of course, it was a moving boat, the swells were high, and I was feeling very nauseous, so I basically pointed the camera and hoped for the best for a few minutes between snorkel stops. I happened to get one good jump photo - not centered, but hey, you take what you can get!

I would never swim with captive dolphins, after watching The Cove, who could?! But it's great that you can swim with dolphins in the wild, who really do not seem to mind a bit, and not interfere with them.

Golden Eagle (?) Visits

2011-01-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

This afternoon while Maisey and her friend had a playdate, this really, really large raptor came to rest in a tree in my backyard. About a dozen crows gathered around it and cawwed and cawwed but failed to get it to depart, so they eventually left. This bird stayed for over an hour. Golden Eagle? If you know, let me know!

Very cool to see this bird in my downtown Boise backyard.

More Animals on the Island of Aruba

2011-01-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

I was able to find some pelicans on Aruba and get close enough for a photo. One of the cool things I did see was pelicans fishing, right where I was snorkeling, several times. I never get a great pelican photo, but I keep trying.

We went to Arikok National Park, to the extent the rental car allowed, and found some wild donkeys and some roaming goats. The photo here is a silhouette of a goat on a cliff in the park, not far from the rocky cliffs above the ocean.

Luckily, I persuaded my husband to go to the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary as well. Run by a Dutch woman with her heart in the right place, the sanctuary cares for injured wild donkeys. Donkeys were brought to the island 500 years ago for labor, and when no longer needed were turned loose. Many roam wild, often getting hit by cars, etc. so the sanctuary is the only option for them if injured or unable to care for themselves. Males are neutered at the sanctuary. Currently it has 109 donkeys. I bought 5 bags of carrots and visited, and the photo is of one of the donkeys begging for a carrot (his name is Brad Pitt). Very nice place to visit.

Wildlife on the island of Aruba

2011-01-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

We usually try to head to a beach somewhere, ideally on an island, for Christmas break, and beach vacations are not wildlife trips - though I love the snorkeling. I never get good photos snorkeling though, so I've stopped trying. I can't help notice any animals or wildlife we are lucky enough to encounter on land, however. This year, we visited Aruba. It had more to offer in the way of wildlife than many islands I have been to, but the culture of the island appears to be one that is geared towards partying, not nature appreciation.

Pictured here is a lizard with brilliant turquoise coloring. I saw several of these in various sizes, and also several small brown lizards. Also pictured is some red seedum in flower growing out of the white lava by the ocean shore in Arikok National Park, on cliffs above the ocean.

This Year's Charities I Support

2010-12-17T23:51:00.001-07:00

Whew, all the year end contributions are done. This year's recipients - deemed worthy based on my research and my personal charitable priorities, include:

Human/People Based: I like to support the charities that help people in places and situations where no one else will, which use money efficiently to provide life saving care, and which are not religiously affiliated. Doctors Without Borders and International Rescue Committee do a great job; both are 4 star charities per Charity Navigator. If you give before 12/31, your contribution to IRC will be matched. Kiva is an interesting charity where you can make a micro-loan to someone of your choice and if they pay as agreed, re-loan the money to someone else when repaid. It's a great way to make a direct difference in someone's life.

Environment/Habitat Conservation: I look for charities focused on preserving the planet, protecting wildlife corridors, and conserving animal habitats wherever possible. Many of these overlap a bit with wildlife/animal focused charities. Nature Conservancy is a favorite (though 3 stars) and I give to them monthly. National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) is a four star charity dedicated to environmental protection. This year I added Ocean Conservancy (3 stars) as well. Rainforest Alliance (4 stars) has a triple matching contribution until the end of the year, and does a lot of work on behalf of rainforests worldwide, including a program I like that helps rate travel companies and their environmental policies. Sierra Club (4 stars) is another long time favorite, offering cool trips as well as doing lots of great environmental work. Of course, close to home, there is the Idaho Conservation League (3 stars), a new charity for me this year, focused on conservation issues within my state.

Animal Conservation and Advocacy: Wildlife is my number one priority, and the conservation thereof, but of course domestic animals need protection too. Domestically, I give to Animal Legal Defense Fund (4 stars), lawyers who advocate to use and change the law to protect animals. They help when overworked prosecutors can't handle cruelty cases, and they provide resources to cases that might improve the state of the law. I also support my local Idaho Humane Society, providing necessary animal management and care. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (3 stars) has a matching gift through the end of the year, and runs an animal sanctuary that is nationally known, as well as focusing on no-kill shelters. Farm Sanctuary (3 stars) is a new charity for me this year, focused on helping improve conditions of animals suffering in factory farms and taking in farm animals in need. African Wildlife Foundation has long been my favorite of favorites since African animals are my absolute favorites and I adore Africa. A four star charity focusing on both wildlife and land preservation, I give to them throughout the year. Defenders of Wildlife (3 stars) focuses on endangered species protection and ran a creative program to compensate ranchers for livestock lost to wolves when wolves were reintroduced. National Wildlife Federation (3 stars) has some great wildlife trips and does some good work, though I admit I am annoyed at all the "freebies" they have (wrapping paper, cards, labels, etc.) instead of focusing on conservation. World Wildlife Fund (3 stars) also offers interesting trips but focuses on animals and environmental protection. Wildlife Conservation Society (4 stars) works on habitat preservation as well as species conservation. Save the Elephants does elephant research in Samburu, and I have a special relationship with them because I saw an elephant born and they helped me identify the family he was born into and visit him again 18 months later.

Lesser Known Animal Charities: Although these are generally not rated charities, I have some experience with them personally or believe that they are worth contributing to. Ewaso Lions is a lion research project based in Samburu, Kenya and run by a lion researcher I had the pleasure to meet in Kenya and have kept in touch with (she has an interesting FB page too!), so I give a little bit monthly to hopefully help further her efforts, which I know to be worthwhile. I give monthly to sponsor a hectare of land in Virunga National Park in DR Congo to be patrolled for snare removal and to support the officers working there to protect mountain gorillas. I can't safely go visit in Congo and support their efforts, as I can the similar efforts in Uganda and Rwanda, and these gorillas desperately need protection. Congo is the third and final area in which these creatures live, and donations directly help pay rangers who put themselves on the line - and lose their lives sometimes for the gorillas, so the very least I can do is support their efforts financially. Cheetah Conservation Fund recently got rated for the first time on Charity Navigator and did not fare well, but I know that Dr. Laurie Marker with the organization has done so much for cheetah conservation, including a pioneering guard dog program in Namibia, I am not willing to withdraw any support...yet. They often have a year end matching program for donations, including this year.

I Fund Them Because I Use Them: I support Boise State Radio because I love public radio and listen to it nearly every day. I also give to Charity Navigator because I use and rely on their ratings and think it is an effort worth supporting.

Giving - during the "Season of Giving"

2010-12-09T11:12:00.003-07:00

After my first trip to Africa, I got a lot more serious about giving to charities. I realized that, even if my student loans were not all paid, my retirement account not fully funded, my savings goals not yet fully realized, etc., etc., etc. - by living in America I have advantages that millions of people in the world will never have. So do you. Even if you are not wealthy, you have so much more than so many. Giving a few dollars really does matter. And, we tend to take things for granted like running water, electricity, etc. that so many people don't have. Not to mention access to medical care, etc. Americans truly have amazing opportunity - and so do most people in other developed countries. It's easy to forget how privileged we are. When I went and saw people living where there were no jobs, no infrastructure, no banking system, no access to credit, no clean water, no housing, no food - people laying by the side of the road, erecting sticks and paper as shelters from the sun or rain, or just laying there because they had nothing else to do and no food and no energy (and sometimes no clothing), it changed my perspective - permanently.

I used to give to charities now and then when I got a solicitation, but I didn't investigate them that carefully or give that much. I didn't think about my overall goals and what I wanted to support. So when I got back from my first trip to Africa, I sat down an evaluated what I wanted my contributions to go towards, and developed a plan to free up some money for charitable contributions (canceled magazine subscriptions, canceled my cable package, etc.). Originally I picked 12 charities and gave to one a month, a set amount I freed up to make available for contributions. Eventually I modified that plan so that I have a few charities I give to every month, and several others that I give to annually pr bi-annually, depending on finances.

I research charities as well, to ensure that they are using their funds for the cause, not salaries and marketing, etc. Although there are some causes I really believe in, some of the charities that aim to further that cause are not worthy of a contribution because they are too disorganized or inefficient. It does matter; every dollar counts and how it is used matters because you want the maximum amount to go to what you care about, not 10 cents out of every dollar you give.

If you want to research charities, there are a few good sites to do so. I like Charity Navigator best. However, you might get additional information from Give.org, the Better Business Bureau's website to evaluate charities. Another evaluator is Guidestar. In addition to researching how they use the money, I determine whether a charity has a privacy policy so they don't share my address if I ask them not to. Otherwise, you get 5,000 solicitations from every charity in the universe.

For me, wildlife and the preservation and conservation of wildlife is my top priority. Along with that is the need to preserve wildlife corridors and natural lands in their natural state - conserving rainforests, protecting biodiversity, protecting the oceans, allowing wildlife to migrate and reach other breeding populations, preventing development of natural resources so that some remain protected. Another goal is promoting animal welfare and moving towards better treatment of animals, including promotion of spay and neuter programs, animal rescue and welfare groups, and groups that assist animals in emergency situations. There are always going to be people who are helping other people - but sometimes the animals get forgotten. They are my priority. That being said, I also think the most vulnerable humans on the planet need and deserve assistance. I am not very sympathetic for those who have had opportunities they have thrown away, so personally I prefer to focus on those who suffer due to circumstances beyond their control, and those who need aid most and are most often ignored. I selected a few charities that I think do a good job of targeting the world's most vulnerable people and assisting in a meaningful way. Also, personally, I refuse to give to any charity which is religiously affiliated, as I have observed far too much waste in many such organizations and I have found that my priorities are too divergent from theirs even if we share some common goals, in most cases. Finally, I try to support charitable organizations that I benefit from personally by using their services (like NPR, for example).

In addition to giving monthly or annually, I revised my estate planning documents to give to charities on a larger scale, when I no longer need my assets.

I would encourage everyone to develop your own personal giving plan - even if it's only a dollar a week you can set aside - that's $52 a year you can give to a charity, and that makes a difference. So does $25. So does $5. There are also ways you can make your money go a little farther, besides researching before giving.

First, ask the charity not to share your name so you are not inundated with mail, and ask them not to send you mailings either. They generally mail asking for more money once you give - but if you tell them you will give regularly but NOT to send mail, it saves printing and mailing costs and saves you aggravating additional requests too. Second, you can turn down the "free gifts." They are not free and every dollar spent on them is less to spend on the cause. Watch for charities that send you stuff you don't ask for - address labels now and then, ok, but if they are always sending you calendars, wrapping paper, other "free gifts" you didn't ask for, remember that is all money they are not spending on the cause. Ask them not to send it and realize charities that do that are spending resources on that type of marketing so if it is excessive you might consider another charity.

Other great ways to make your contributions go farther are to watch for "matching donations" which often happen at the end of the year or at some point when the charity gets a donation for matching grants. Many charities have a Facebook page or email list that will notify you of these options without wasting mailing costs and paper. I like to wait to donate to the charities I give to annually until they have a matching drive and then double my contribution. Many employers also have matching grants to certain charities, so especially if you work for a large company, look into that. You can also shop online by linking through Goodshop or igive, which donates a portion of your purchase to the charity of your choice. Many sites also offer search engines that give one cent per search to charity. And of course, many charities offer a credit card that a portion goes to the charity rather than miles or cash back for you.

Aside from outright donations, there are other things you can do to give. You can ask that donations to your favorite charity be made in your name instead of birthday, holiday or wedding gifts. You can suggest that your office donate to a charity rather than spend money on a holiday party - donate to a cause you agree eon instead and have a potluck celebration on the cheap. Donate your unwanted items to a charity.

When you travel you can pay attention to ensure you are supporting local jobs where you are going and that your travel company is environmentally responsible. Many international flights allow you 70lb of checked luggage at no charge but you often can't take or don't need that much on your journey, so take extra supplies to donate to the local Red Cross or other charity int he country you are going to. You can easily donate 40lb of used clothing or medical supplies this way. Responsible travel companies will help you and facilitate your donation to a local worthy charity at your destination.

There has to be at least one cause you really believe in. So even if you only start with one -start somewhere! Almost every American can afford to give at least a little something, and there are millions in the world who have nothing to give.

Wise Old Mollie

2010-11-30T18:38:00.002-07:00

This is a photo of Mollie on her 16th Thanksgiving. It is her second with me. Before that she spent 5 years with my mom, and before that, over a month at the shelter after being abandoned by her family at 9 years old. She was going crazy at the shelter, though she'd been taken out for walks. When she realized she was getting in my car to leave, she looked at me as a personal savior. Whenever I visited her at my mom's, she was thrilled to see me.

When she moved in with me after my mom went to assisted living, she showed no signs of looking back. She welcomed the chance to lived with other dogs and cats. She was overweight, and she had a few infections....but those problems were quickly taken care of, and she is now a very healthy weight and moving much better.

She likes to feed the horses with me. She likes to steal toys from the other dogs even if her teeth are too old to chew them. She loves to lay looking out the front door and bark at people and dogs who pass by, and the mailman. She loves to go for rides in the car, go camping, and lie by the fire. She still has a very high quality of life despite her age and her arthritis (for which she has a daily med).

She is a good dog. I am glad to give her a good final home, and I will be interested to see how much more time she has. I hope for her sake the end is in her sleep, dreaming of the treats she still enjoys.

Night Owl in Borneo

2010-11-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

We saw two of these brown night owls on a night drive in the Danum Valley, but I can't recall their formal name now. I was just glad to get a photo in focus; my camera is not great at night.

It Really Is A Long and Winding Road

2010-11-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of the access road to the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Danum Valley, Sabah. It really is a long and winding road, but a surprisingly good one as well. The diversity of life in the forest this road runs through is amazing. Luckily, it's not open to the public, so it takes researchers and tourists only and is tightly controlled.

Snorkeling off Manutik

2010-11-04T12:48:00.000-06:00

I had a day to kill at the end of my Borneo trip so some of my group and I went to a small island near Kota Kinabalu named Manutik. It was nice - sandy beaches, a little store for snacks, and not too many people. The snorkeling off the beach was very good. Lots of fish, some coral. I really enjoyed it and it was a great last day. Although I didn't have an underwater camera for photos of the fish, I saw clownfish in huge anemones, including some pink rather than orange ones. There were lots of colorful fish I've had to work much harder to see before. These photos are taken from the dock, where tons of small fish were all over the place.

A Misty River in Borneo

2010-10-25T22:59:00.000-06:00

Whenever I see photos of a misty forest, I imagine it is cool there.....but in Malaysia I learned that this is not the case. Although there were wonderful mists in verdant green forests, it was hot....but the beauty was still there. This photo doesn't capture it, but serves as a reminder of a gorgeous place with gorgeous wildlife.

Combed Agamid Lizard

2010-10-22T20:43:00.000-06:00

We ran into this combed agamid lizard in the Danum Valley in Borneo. There were two fairly close together, and they didn't mind posing for photos.

Amazing Roots, and Ancient Burials in Borneo

2010-10-21T14:13:00.001-06:00

One morning on a long hike in the Danum Valley, a primary growth rainforest in Borneo, we went to an ancient burial site. Supposedly the indigenous rainforest people of the past were animists who believed that the higher you are placed, the easier you will get to heaven. At the top of a peak there was a wall of rock. From the top of the rock, tree roots grew down - at least 30 feet. I've taken a photo of the roots looking up from the ground as well as one looking down from near the top. Photos can't capture it, but it was a very cool tree.

Near the tree, on top of the rock, there were some ancient burial caskets. Bornean Ironwood (a very hard wood) logs were hollowed out, and inside the body was placed along with weapons - the blow dart used for poison dart hunting. Supposedly the higher the casket was placed the higher in the society a leader was placed. We saw the remains of one casket on which the carving was still evident, and the tools were still visable inside. However, the body was no longer there - supposedly the casket rolled down from above at some point and no one knows what happened to the contents. According to our guide, it would have taken at least 50 men to carry the casket up through the forest to where it had been, the highest point in the forest. Since it was not an easy climb, I didn't envy that experience.

It was a beautiful place, to live and to die. Whoever that warrior leader was, long ago, he obviously got quite a sendoff. I could only imagine the life he led in that forest, as I stood surrounded by trees so old, they might have been already growing when he was alive.

Pool of Biting Fish

2010-10-19T15:28:00.000-06:00

At the Borneo Rainforest Lodge deep in the rainforest, there is a beautiful pool fed by a waterfall. It is known as the Jacuzzi Pool and several of the trails from the lodge lead there. The pool is filled with biting fish, but the bites are supposedly not painful. A popular treatment in asian spas, the fish, a kind of carp, bite the dead skin off human feet. I found it hard to believe that anyone would pay to get bitten by fish. In nature, the experience was free, but I wasn't sure it was one I wanted to have anyway.

One day we went on a long hike to a viewpoint, and given the heat and humidity I was completely drenched. Although I dreaded the idea of getting back into my sweat soaked clothes, I was hot enough that I decided to brave the fish and swim in the pool. The water was nice and cool - not very cool - but much cooler than I was.

The fish swarmed me when I stepped into the pool and I was surprised by how much I could feel them biting. It wasn't really painful but it was like getting pinched pretty hard by small fingers. My guide told me to keep moving if I didn't want them to bite me. I swam out to the waterfall to get in deeper water and then kept my arms and legs moving. This, unfortunately, resulted in me getting bit on the ass. So I began to try to wiggle that too - and keep all portions of my body moving underwater. Although the water was cool, all that moving heated me up again, so eventually I decided to get out. I probably got about a dozen bites in 20 minutes.

It was a beautiful place to be - biting fish aside.

View of the Primary Rainforest in Borneo

2010-10-16T14:06:00.000-06:00

I will go through a lot to see animals in the wild....but I am not one to want to endure harsh conditions just for a view. I never want to pass up a chance to see those hard to find animals, and I accept that in order to do so, hiking through leeches, in extreme humidity and heat, in rain, through jungles, up steep slopes, are all required. When there is an animal at the end, it's all worth it, and I never regret the effort, no matter how many bug bites or thorns I endured, no matter how much sweat it took. When there is not an animal though - especially on long hikes where there is just not one mammal to be found - although I realize it's a risk you take, I am always disappointed, and the suffering of the hiking and the conditions seems oppressive. I actually envy - and do not understand - that some people can get to the top of a hike, find no animals, and actually think the view alone is worth it. That's not how I'm wired I guess. Yes, there is a nice view - but was it worth what I just went through to see it? No, my friend, NO, it is not!!! What's done is done, I usually make the best of it and snap a photo, but photos never begin to capture landscapes in my opinion, so it's nearly pointless except to remind me of the place I was, where I didn't find the animal I was hoping for.

This is a picture taken from a viewpoint I hiked up to in blazing humidity, with an injured foot, hoping to see Bornean Gibbons. Those elusive, fast moving, loud calling gibbons that I could hear around 4am from the lodge.....I wanted to see them badly enough to undertake the hike even though my foot was killing me. The humidity and heat, and leech socks and tucked in clothing (trapping more heat, ug!) made sweating a constant, so all my clothing was completely soaked and my backpack was stuck to my back. I crossed my fingers for Gibbons, scraping the leeches that were crawling up towards me off my walking stick, climbing over roots and slipping on leaves on the forest floor. And in the end: I got this photo. Note the absence of gibbons. Damn. I look at this and think "This is the place I didn't find gibbons."

This is a primary growth rainforest in Danum Valley in Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. It is hot, but it really is beautiful. The photo doesn't begin to capture the experience. I would never have make the trek just to see it, but it really was pretty amazing. Though I didn't see them, I know the gibbons were in that forest somewhere, and so were orangutans and many other species of primates, not to mention the other mammals, the bees and insects, the birds and flowers. It would be nice to feel an elation or sense of accomplishment or some thrill at finding such a good view, but for some reason, for me personally, those feelings don't come up after a an arduous hike unless there is a mammal, or at least a rare reptile or frog! If you are one of those people who can actually say (and mean it) "What a great view!" and be happy, enjoy that! Take some massive hikes and see the world - be glad that it is worth it even if you don't find the gibbons.

Tiger Leeches (Terrestrial!)

2010-10-14T15:33:00.001-06:00

Leeches that live on land are, fortunately, NOT something I have to deal with in Idaho! I first learned about them before my trip to Madagascar, but I was lucky enough not to get any of them on me that trip. I did get some in Australia in the Daintree rainforest, and it was gross. In Borneo, I did see them - and there were two kinds. Brown leeches were supposedly on the leaves on the forest floor and "painless," while tiger leeches, pictured here, are on leaves throughout the forest, not just the ground, and supposedly "hurt a little bit." Luckily, thanks to vigilance, leech socks, extensive shirt tucking and covering of skin (hard to do in the heat) and some pure luck, I didn't get any leeches that attached to me. I *did* get a few on my hand...because the leeches crawl up the walking stick! It is creepy to see them on the forest floor straining up towards you as you walk by, looking for a meal. My guide, Ryan, put this tiger leech on his hand to show how the leech moves on you looking for a good attachment spot - eeeewwww!!! Something about these critters is just unpleasant! That being said, I am glad that a fear of leeches does not keep me from going to some of the world's most interesting rainforests. I will probably find myself in many more leech areas before my life adventure is over....if I'm lucky.

It is interesting how when you or someone in your group gets leeches, you get hypersensitive and every little thing freaks you out as being a leech. I am sure to live there you have to get over it. Everytime I found one on my hand I felt like there were more. For women, there is the additional complication that if you have to, at some point, eliminate all that water you have been drinking while hiking in the humidity, you put delicate parts very near the forest floor, and risk attachments of leeches in areas you dare not dream about! I met two 80 year old ladies who were birdwatching in Madagascar when they unfortunately got leeches in their private parts, a tale that horrified me so much I vowed to never, ever pee in a forest with terrestrial leeches! (Men have it so easy on that front!) This trip, one girl in my group got a leech in her bra and one on her butt. Ug!!! I know I can't avoid them forever...but I do hope to keep them out of certain areas forever!!!

The Wild Male Orangutan

2010-10-13T23:40:00.000-06:00

Well, though I am a bit bummed that I only saw one wild orangutan, I am thrilled I saw one. It was very hard to get photos as we were in a boat on a moving river, and it was never still....and these are the best I got. Orangutan means man of the forest, and this lone male orang certainly seemed like a gentle man of the forest as I watched him having breakfast over the Kinabatangan River. Most of the time he was facing away from me, but these shots are from the rare 2 minutes he chose to give me a glimpse of his face.

Longtail Macaques

2010-10-12T12:15:00.000-06:00

I often saw longtail macaques in Borneo. Medium sized to small, these playful primates live in family groups. One night froma boat on the river we watched a family with many youngsters playing in the trees. This page shows an adult that is about to lean down and get some fruit on a branch above the water, and a mother and baby. The mother is about to climb up and is scoping the path, while the baby clings to her. I saw this species interact with orangutans at the sanctuary, sit near proboscis monkeys without incident, and play with one another with pretty clear joy. I would guess we ran across them at least a dozen times in 10 days, if not more.

Monitor Lizards

2010-10-11T21:50:00.000-06:00

I saw three or four monitor lizards in Borneo. One was in a tree, and it came down and wandered across in front of me while I was alone in a wildlife preserve. The others we saw along the banks of the Kinabatangan river. These look exactly like Komodo dragons, only smaller. They clean up anything dead in the rainforest quite quickly as they are effective scavengers. It is interesting to see their forked tongues and tough, scaly skin.

Rhinocerous Hornbill

2010-10-07T11:26:00.001-06:00

I am not a birder. I cannot really understand the checklist approach to wildlife viewing, or enjoying something I have to see through binoculars. I like that birders support ecotourism and wish them no ill, but I definitely don't like to travel with them! I was lucky in that this last trip no one was a birder - two people liked birds but they were not obsessive about it! I do see a lot of birds in my travels, and when there is no mammal to photograph, sometimes I take photos of the birds just for practice. I saw lots of hornbills in Borneo. This is a rhinocerous hornbill.

Western Tarsier

2010-10-06T10:58:00.000-06:00

I never expected to see the Western Tarsier, as it is very rare, nocturnal, and small - a bad combination for viewing chances. However, on my last night excursion in Borneo, I lucked out. A Western Tarsier was on a branch near the road and we were able to view it with flashlights from very close up, for several minutes. We also got to see it jump - and it has GREAT jumping skills, like a little spring with hands! This is one cute animal! The big eyes, the long fingers, the long toes and tail - it is just everything you could want a cute little mammal to be. It eats mainly insects. It is considered the Holy Grail of night walks and night drives in Borneo and everyone hopes to see it without expecting to. One of our night walks, the guide found one, but no one got to see it before it moved off...which was a bummer since we were hiking in the dark, in the jungle, with leeches and snakes, in mud, sweating like crazy...hoping to see some sort of mammal. It is particularly frustrating to know you JUST missed it! Surely we could not be lucky enough to get near one twice, so I stopped hoping....only to have an EXCELLENT view of one the last night there! The beauty of wildlife travel is you just never know what great thing you might see!

Night photography almost never works out for me - I don't have the skill set or the right camera. Even though these photos are not perfect, I was thrilled to get them so that I have some record of seeing this great creature! A friend I met on the trip also shared her photos with me, so I credit Melissa with the photo on the left and the one on the right is from my camera. It is always a challenge in a vehcile that is never quite still, at night, using zoom, and the illumination of a flashlight - to get a good picture! Hopefully it captures enough of the cuteness for you to get an idea, until of course you go looking for this creature in the jungles of Borneo or Indonesia yourself. I wish you luck in finding one!

Pygmy Elephants

2010-10-05T16:57:00.000-06:00

I was lucky enough to see and spend time with some pygmy elephants in Borneo, along the Kinabatangan River. The first night we were there, we looked for the elephants and could see where they had been - areas of pushed down grass along the river bank, but they did not come out. We stayed out looking for them until after dark. The guide and the boatman said they could smell them nearby...and sure enough, we did hear them calling to each other.

The second night (apparently the elephants typically make their appearance in the evening) we were lucky enough to find the elephants. My group of 7 people were really interested in wildlife, and everyone was very quiet and patient and so we sat with the elephants and watched them for over an hour. At one point another boat came by, but most of the time we had them to ourselves, which was great.

I was surprised by many things. First, they are SO cute because they are SO small compared to the African elephants I have seen!!! They are about 5 or 6 feet tall. It is really hard to get a photo with any sense of scale at all. But, I tried to get the trees and the grass and the elephant in one of these shots for some perspective. The grass is about 5' tall, that would be my best guess - but it is hard as I was sitting in the boat and not walking through the grass.

I was also surprised at how close we were to the elephants. In the water, we were only a few feet from them. They were tolerant, so they must be reasonably habituated to the boats.

I saw a baby pygmy elephant playing in the water with obvious pleasure for a very long time. I was surprised that all of the elephant, even the trunk tip, went underwater. I was also delighted to see the elephants blowing bubbles in the water, like when kids blow through a straw.

Overall, these elephants looked like mini versions of the elephants I have seen in Africa. The ears are different, and the fact that these females don't have tusks.

Proboscis Monkeys

2010-10-03T23:25:00.001-06:00

Although I did not get any really good photos, I did get to see proboscis monkeys several times in Borneo. These monkeys have large stomachs as they process poisonous fruits and leaves as ruminants do and they can't tolerate sweet fruits. The males have very large noses and the females have smaller noses.

These primates were smaller than orangutangs but larger than the other primates we saw there. For some reason their legs look much more similar to human legs than legs of other primates I've seen.

We were lucky enough to see a few babies, but not lucky enough to get photos. I've decided this photo is the best one I have of a proboscis. I always saw them from a boat, they usually moved higher or a bit away when we were near, and as I had to zoom in, there was never a totally still moment to get a great photo. Ah, but it was nice to see them and watch them anyway!!

Borneo: Land of Orangutangs, and much more!

2010-10-02T13:19:00.000-06:00

I've wanted to go to Borneo for a long time. Having seen gorillas and chimps in the wild, I wanted to see oranutangs as well, and Borneo is the best place to do that. I anticipated it would be a harder trip, so I wanted to do it sooner rather than later...and I recently got to go as a 40th birthday present from my husband! It was a very good trip and I would like to go back!

As it turns out, I did not go at the best time to see orangs in the wild because it was "fruiting season," and when fruit is available widely, the animals are widely dispersed and it is harder to see them. It's also a year when trees that fruit only every few years were fruiting, so that means even more choice for the animals. I did see a large male in the wild, but only one. The rest of the orangutangs I saw were in sanctuaries. The sanctuaries are not like zoos, they are simply protected areas of natural habitat, but they contain feeding platforms and the orangs are given two meals a day on the platforms. The orangs are orphans which are being rehabilitated, and all of the orangs you can view have been released into the sanctuary and they forage for food naturally, but have the supplement of the feeding platform when they need it. They are not caged and are free to leave anytime. As a result, some feedings only one or two young orangutangs may show up, and other times, 10 or more, it all depends on how available food is in the forest. Whether to appear is completely the orangutangs option, which is nice. However, I much prefer seeing animals in a completely natural habitat, not habituated to humans, and since I only saw one orangutang under those conditions, I would like to head back sometime, in April when my chances are better for seeing wild animals.

I was a bit concerned about three things this trip - none of which proved to be a real problem. First, scorpions. I have heard some stories of people getting stung, and while I generally do not fear snakes when traveling as I know they will move off, I don't know enough about scorpions and I did not want to get a nasty bite in a remote area....but I only saw one, and it was already dead of natural causes.

I was also concerned with getting terrestrial leeches, which I was told was basically "guaranteed." They are very plentiful int he forests and there are two kinds - brown leeches and tiger leeches. While I did encounter leeches, I was lucky enough to get all of them off of me before they attached, so I never had to go through the detaching or bleeding process. There were a number of close calls - but I made it! And, the truth is, leeches are a gross out factor not a real danger or health hazard, so even if I got them I would have gotten over it.

The third concern was traveling in a largely Muslim area of the world as an American. While I personally do not have anything against Muslims, I am well aware that there has been a lot of anti-Muslim hysteria post 9/11 and I could easily see Muslims resenting that view and resenting being blamed for the actions of a few nutball extremists. Certainly the average Christian does not get blamed for the acts of the extreme right wingers who shoot doctors who perform abortions, yet for some reason, many people blame Muslims for the acts of the extremists who acted on 9/11. I was angry that two days before my trip the fruitball in Florida was planning the stupendously stupid Koran burning stunt...which though canceled, was yet another insult to Muslims. In the Bush administration, I had some uncomfortable moments holding the American passport at various checkpoints and I had some concerns about what it would be like to travel in a country that is largely Muslim in this era of fear and prejudice, particularly since I am female and traveling alone.

I had absolutely no problem whatsoever with the Muslim population, and I think any discomfort I had at holding the American passport was largely my own fear and guilt/embarrassment about the actions of other Americans towards non-extreme Muslims. I did have a strange encounter with a young Muslim couple who wanted to have their photo taken with me (I don't understand why at all, but it was a harmless request and the young woman was so excited about it that I didn't have the heart to refuse her request - spoken in tentative English). However, that was more amusing than anything else. I do not envy the Muslim women their headscarves in that super hot climate, and it was definitely different to have everyone at airport security be a Muslim woman in a police uniform with a headscarf, but hey, different is part of the fun of travel.

In the days to come I will put up pictures of the wildlife I saw, with the caveat that the photography conditions were overall not great! The humidity was near 100%, which can cause fog in the lens. There were rainstorms, some of which doused the cameras despite my best efforts. The lighting when we saw animals was often bad, the animals move quickly, and often we were in a boat or on a platform that was constantly moving, causing most of the photos to be out of focus. I did my best, and hopefully got a few good photos along the way, despite my cameras quitting on me now and then!

This starter photo is a young orangutan at the Sepilok sanctuary.

Capuchin Monkeys

2010-08-20T12:03:00.000-06:00

I glimpsed four species of monkeys in the Amazon in my brief visit there. Capuchins were one species I had not seen before in the wild...but unfortunately, I did not get to see them very close up or get very good photo opportunities.

All the same, these are the photos I did get to remember these clever little monkeys. I had fun watching one of them jump up and down on a tree with huge fronds, shaking it at us as we sat in a paddle canoe in the water below.

The guide mentioned that these monkeys are often trapped and trained to be pickpockets because they are so smart and so quick and dextrous. How sad. These monkeys have more than enough challenges without fending off human captivity too. I am glad I got to see them in the wild where they belong, happy and playful and calling down to me.

Parakeets at a Clay Lick in the Amazon

2010-08-15T15:20:00.000-06:00

Hundreds of parakeets use this clay lick on the bank of the Napo River in Ecuador. These parakeets were visiting the clay lick just a few minutes before one got caught by a boa constrictor, as featured in a previous post. Once again, tough photo conditions made these the best shots I could get.

Night Monkeys in the Amazon

2010-08-14T12:58:00.000-06:00

One new species that I saw for the first time in the Amazon in Ecuador in June was "night monkeys." I don't know if that is the official name or not, but we were in a small canal and went to the base of their tree at dusk and waited. Eventually as it darkened four little night monkeys emerged. I could see by flashlight only that they were smallish, fast moving monkeys. During the daytime, we came upon another group of them sleeping in the hollow of a tree, and I got some photos - sort of.

I will say the photography was nearly impossible as we were always far from the animals, in a small canoe that was always moving, and trying to zoom in and get clear shot was nearly impossible. If you look at these closely though (click to enlarge) you can see two moneys (look for eyebrows) in the hollow of the tree in the center. One is closer, and one is a bit better focus but these are the same monkeys.

Red-Tailed Boa and Parakeet in the Amazon

2010-08-01T11:45:00.000-06:00

After Galapagos, I went to the Amazon for just a couple of days to the Napo Wildlife Center. The center is owned and operated by a tribe of indigenous people who decided to go with eco-tourism rather than sell their land for oil drilling. Oil was discovered on their land, but the tribe of roughly 180 decided instead to build the lodge and preserve their land. Thus far, revenue from the lodge has enabled them to hire a doctor and a nurse, build a new school for the village and hire teachers, and employ most of the men in the village.

To get there, it's a 30 minute flight from Quito, and then about 2.5 hours in a motorized canoe up the Napo river, where there is a nature preserve on one side and oil drilling all over the other side, including burning fires in the forest and vast amounts of road building and other destruction of the rainforest. Rather disgusting to see. After the motor canoe, it's another 2 hours in a paddle boat to get to the lodge.

I had hoped that with such a remote location we would see a lot of animals, but the truth is, they are fleeting glimpses. In this area, there was historically hunting and fishing, which is no longer taking place, but I don't know if the wildlife is still wary due to that. The animals have a large area in which to disperse and we can only see them from trails or channels on which we take canoes, so the viewing tended to be scant and quick with the animals a bit far away. Photos were very hard to come by because when you have large magnification and a moving boat and only a few seconds - you get a lot of blur, even with a good camera. Shots were just VERY hard to come by.

The highlight of the Amazonian wildlife I did see was this red tailed boa constrictor that caught a green headed parakeet that was at a clay lick. I was in a motorized canoe and the clay lick was packed with birds. They all took off at once. It turned out the boa had grabbed a parakeet - and then we watched it consume it and slither off. The snake was big...and I was doing my best to get photos while on the floor of a motorized canoe crouched at the foot of another passenger, balancing my camera, which was zoomed, as best I could.

The first shot shows the parakeet - it was quickly strangled. The second one shows actual consumption. This is the first time I have seen a snake in the wild eating anything - and it was hard to see; I would have loved to be able to see it closer or to at least be still instead of rocking around - it made it hard to see well with camera or binoculars.

Blue Footed Booby Nest and Eggs

2010-07-28T21:43:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of a blue footed booby nest that was basically on one of the trails. All their nests are on the ground, so it's easy to see why they would be vulnerable to rats or other introduced species! I thought it was interesting how the ring of bird poop defines the nest.

Although boobies typically have two eggs, only one survives...the stronger of the two. I was glad to be there during the season of egg laying vs. hatching for this reason. Seeing the baby birds that do not make it would have been a tough thing to see.

Frigate Birds

2010-07-21T20:55:00.000-06:00

We saw very large frigate birds in the Galapagos, including magnificent frigates with big red pouches inflated to attract females. On one island, we saw some frigate bird chicks in the nest. This is a parent and a chick, and then a closer view of the chick. The chick was just so cute, it looked like a stuffed animal in a toy store...all fuzzy and ready to be taken home. But, it was obviously alive and being babysat quite well!

Lots of Dolphins!

2010-07-20T21:41:00.000-06:00

Sailing between islands in the Galapagos, we encountered whales and dolphins. I never got a good photo of the whales, but I had a little better luck with the dolphins. We encountered a school of hundreds of dolphins as they were hunting tuna. They jumped in groups, and they were swimming very fast. I think this photo does the best of the ones I have at showing the scale - though of course I have zoomed in enough to tell they are dolphins.

Marine Iguanas, Part I

2010-07-19T22:25:00.000-06:00

Marine iguanas are often the poster children of the Galapagos Islands. They exist no where else in the world. They are cold blooded, so at night they cluster in groups for body heat. You find them laying on the black rocks everywhere you go, and at first they are hard to see. Once you see them, you realize there are hundreds - everywhere!

When their body temperature is high enough, they go into the ocean and dive down for algae that grows on rocks. They have an ingenious mechanism for processing the salt in the water - they spit it out. When resting on the beach, all of a sudden one will spew forth a very salty spray out of its nose.

There are also land iguanas in Galapagos, but we'll save those for another day. I have a zillion marine iguana pics, but here are two where I like the composition of the shot, not just close ups of the iguanas. There will be more to come though - we saw these creatures every day, on every island.

White Tipped Reef Shark

2010-07-17T11:11:00.000-06:00

I know that many sharks are not to be feared, and I have always wanted to see one snorkeling. I was lucky enough to see this approximately five foot white tipped reef shark while snorkeling, and also lucky enough to get a photo with one of those disposable underwater cameras. The shark swam under us for a long while, and it was graceful and seemed to be looking for things in the shallower waters.

In the Galapagos, I also saw several Galapagos sharks, but they were circling the boat and I was not in the water with them. They were large, and gorgeous. I never did get a photo, but they were really, really neat to see.

I also saw a giant Eagle Ray - at least 6 feet across. I watched it move a rock with its nose and look under it on the ocean floor. It was too deep to get a photo of, and I was surprised how large its head was.

The snorkeling in Galapagos offered huge numbers of fish, more than I have ever seen elsewhere. I saw turtles, swam with sea lions every time, and got to see a shark and a ray - doesn't get much better than that!

Sea lions, Part II

2010-07-15T19:52:00.000-06:00

While snorkeling with the sea lions in Galapagos, they came right up to our masks. They were very curious about us, and it was so awesome to have a wild animal in its own environment chose to interact - not for food, not for any reason but free choice and natural curiosity. One touched me with a flipper! They went by so fast it was very hard to get a photo, and I was using a cheap disposable underwater camera too. I would have loved to get photos of the young ones playing with sea stars and sea urchins - very much puppies of the sea!!! But these are at least decent enough shots to remember the experience by.

Waved Albatross

2010-07-08T22:35:00.000-06:00

The waved albatross only nests on a single island in the Galapagos and no other place in the world. We saw them nesting, and also got to see (and hear) their mating dances. The birds open their beaks and clack, and seem to be engaged not just as couples but with little bands of birds participating or vying for attention.

This endangered, large seabird flies incredible distances, staying out to see months at a time. Lately there has been an issue with some fishermen in Peru catching them in fishing nets on purpose and consuming them - a problem biologists and the governments involved are working on. It doesn't apparently bother some to consume endangered species.

It is not hard to see hoe this bird got into trouble. Breeding on only one island, breeding only every other year, and raising only one young can make for some population limitations. The birds have a bright yellow beak and a frosted light yellow head. As with all things in the Galapagos, you can get amazingly close to these birds. We were within a few feet of several of them, which was quite a privilege.

Sea Lions, Part I

2010-07-07T16:48:00.000-06:00

I had heard that you can get REALLY close to sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. They were not kidding. One of the very cool things about the trip was how many angles and ways we got close to sea lions. The first day we took a panga (small inflatable raft) around an island and encountered the sleeping sea lion pictured here. It literally kept sleeping as we were 3 inches from it - I could easily have touched it. I took the photo without zoom, it was RIGHT next to me.

We often saw sea lions on our island walks, and they never moved away. Though at times past they were killed by visiting sailors or pirates, the sea lions in the islands are generally very, very trusting of people. We walked within a foot of them, often having to step over them or very nearly so on many of the islands. Sometimes sea lions would walk past us, or even along with us.

We saw (and heard) them nursing. We saw healthy young, and unfortunately, a few who lost their moms and were not going to make it. We saw wet sea lions, dry sea lions, sea lions of all sizes. We saw them swimming, sleeping, and playing.

My personal favorite was that every time we snorkeled, young sea lions would come up to us, check us out and play with us. They brought up sea urchins from the ocean floor, and star fish. They played with each other, zooming around and blowing bubbles. One brushed me with a fin. They zoom up to your snorkel mask. It's INCREDIBLE. Living free and in the wild, they are curious - like puppies of the sea - and they want to play.

Once in awhile a big male would warn us to stay out of his territory with big deep barks. No problem - easy enough to do. They were never any threat. I have been shocked that nearly every person who asked about the trip, when Is aw we snorkeled with sea lions, says "Isn't that dangerous?" These are gentle creatures that eat fish. They chose to approach us, we are not approaching them. They are a million times faster than us in the water. They come over to play and check us out - it would never occur to me to be the least bit fearful of them as long as one is respectful of their space.

Though sea lions themselves are not animals you can't see elsewhere, I don't think you could have such an extensive and intimate experience visiting with them elsewhere.

Wildlife on Bartolome Island, Galapagos

2010-07-06T23:43:00.000-06:00

The first island in the Galapagos we set foot on (aside from Baltra, where the plane landed) was Bartolome. It doesn't have a ton of wildlife, but it has a boardwalk where you can climb to the top of the island for a famous view of Pinnacle Rock. (Personally, anything I climb I prefer to have a mammal - or ideally many - at the top, and otherwise it's a bit of a bust.....even though views are nice, they are not always worth the time and effort). This was not a bad trek though, there was some wildlife along the way - lava lizards, a few birds, a painted grasshopper, ants, and a Galapagos snake.

Pictured here is a young finch, the first of "Darwin's finches" I saw. It was sitting on the railing of the walkway and I liked the photo.

The other photo is the snake - about 2.5 to 3 ft long and the diameter of a pencil. This was a lucky sighting and the only snake I saw on the islands.

Blue Footed Boobies

2010-06-27T22:06:00.000-06:00

I remember my dad in the 1970's showing me photos in Smithsonian Magazine of blue footed boobies, unique birds that lived in the Galapagos Islands. I was probably first interested in going there way back then, but certainly as I learned about Darwin and read about the islands over the years, my interest grew. The Galapagos Islands have been on my lifetime "must see" list for years, so I was very happy to get to see them this month.

I went with Natural Habitat Adventures, an eco-friendly nature travel company that I took a polar bear trip with last fall. was once again happy with them. I selected a newer catamaran with a max of 16 passengers, and my group had 12 people and 2 guides. I was pleased with the trip and would go again....if there were not so many other places to see!

I saw the mating dance of the blue footed boobies. The boobies pick up their feet and wave them at each other, give each other little sticks and stones, look away and back at each other, make cooing noises, and eventually, if all goes well, build a nest and raise a chick together. The birds show no fear or concern for man, laying nests on the walking trail used regularly by tourists, dancing literally at your feet, and in some cases requiring one to walk around or step over them.

The intensity of blue varies in their feet, but I noticed that the pairs seem to have feet the same intensity of color - faded blue attracts faded blue, deep blue attracts deep blue. One interesting gender difference is that females have larger pupils in their eyes (noticeably) and males have smaller ones. (The close up is a male).

It was very cool, and very interesting, to see the boobies. We saw them on several of the islands, but especially closely on one early morning walk on an island that contained a rookery.

Maisey Loves Rubber Ducky

2010-05-24T22:33:00.001-06:00

Maisey absolutely LOVES rubber ducky. Anytime anyone is taking a bath, she sits enraptured, watching the duck float. If you toss it, she catches it - mid-air if possible, and returns to gently drop it in the water.

Mr. Ducky was previously retired as the cats loved him as well, and a few too many times they fell into the tub watching (and batting at) him. The tub was actually selected in part due to the stadium seating it offers for cats. (Another popular watching spot is the sink, where cats look down intently at the bobbing ducky.)

Maisey quickly determined that Mr. Ducky was a fave, not only in the tub, but in the shower. She stares even though the duck is sitting still. She also loves to throw random toys into the tub while you shower, in hopes you will toss them out. (This can get soggy with the plush toys!).

No kid has ever enjoyed a rubber duck more than Maisey Mae.

The Fox, and Athena

2010-05-23T22:21:00.000-06:00

This fox has been visiting on a daily basis. I'm not sure if it is male or female, or if it is the same fox that got Gwen the chicken last year. There is little doubt that this year it got Athena the chicken. Unfortunately I got there too late - she had been a meal. I just hope it was over quickly for her. She was a scrappy, fun chicken who laid lovely olive green eggs. She was my largest, healthiest bird at 6.4 lbs. I miss her and was very sad to see she was killed.

The next morning I saw the fox for the first time, hunting the other chickens, and being - it seemed - held in check by Oscar, the 16lb cat. The chickens can't play unsupervised anymore - at least not for the time being.

I don't fault any creature for trying to survive, and I actually love having wildlife out back. Every morning I see the fox a few times - about first light, and again a few hours later. It hunts along the canal, walking freely pas the goats, cows and horses. This morning it was pouncing at something and barking a high pitched bark.

Rosa, R.I.P. - More chicken education

2010-05-16T00:04:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago I noticed that Rosa, one of the chickens, was not playing with the other chickens. She was hanging out alone, and laying down a lot more than usual. She was only a year old. She lost her best friend, Hannah, a few months ago to a predator (most likely a raccoon). She was still going out, eating, drinking, and seemed ok except for lethargic and self-isolating. I took her to my chicken vet, Dr. Shackleford, who is a very cool vet and one of the few who treats chickens. He noted she had leg mites and gave her (and the other chickens) some Ivermectrin to take for three weeks.

To get the dose right, I had to weigh the chickens. After thinking about how to do this, I took an old feed sack and my luggage scale and then bagged and weighed and medicated each chicken. It worked really well.

Rosa seemed to get a bit worse, but I kept an eye on her and she was still eating and drinking, but she began to demonstrate difficulty walking. As long as she was moving around though, and eating/drinking, I let her stay outside, though I thought about bringing her in. I took a fecal sample in and there was no other sign of illness, so the vet said no need for anti-biotics.

A week after I first noticed her not being herself, I found the other hens had pecked her. When I went out to let them out in the morning she was laying alone, and clearly needed to finally be separated from the others. I worried I'd waited too long. I gave her Pedialyte and baby food and took her into the vet to clean the wound and get a painkiller and an anti-biotic. I noticed she had lost a bit more weight and I was quite worried about her at that point.

Her regular vet was not in, but was reached by phone, and she got some Baytril and Metacam on board. I gave her more liquids and babyfood and put a hot water bottle next to her as instructed. However, she stopped moving - when I checked on her she was breathing but not much else. Around 2:40pm last Saturday, I heard her thrashing about and went over to see she was having a seizure. At that point there was nothing I could do. After her seizure she passed away - never regaining consciousness.

I took her to the closest vet, Orchard Animal Clinic, to verify no heartbeat and preserve the body until I could talk to Dr. Shackleford. Orchard was very kind about it. On Monday, the vet did want to do a necropsy to see what the cause of death was. It revealed one of her kidneys had hemmoraged. Likely there was nothing I could have done for her.

I have come to terms with the fact that having chickens, and letting them range, you sometimes can't help losing one. I have lost two to predators in two years - not bad overall. I have also saved two - one from a fox and one from pnemonia. I believe the chickens would, given a choice, rather live free range than completely contained at all times. They love ranging throughout the pastures, taking dirt baths, finding worms (especially on irrigation day - their favorite).

I have learned a lot about birds by having chickens, and I really enjoy them. I admit I am relieved every night when I count them and they are all there and safe. I like collecting the eggs. Each chicken has a distinct personality. I love that they run over when I go out in the evening to feed (they know a handful of grain or other treat is coming - it's not that they like me particularly). I've learned how to pill and medicate chickens, to catch them, to give them special treats.

I am sorry I lost Rosa, and sorry she only had a year of life. On the up side, I think it was a decent year for her under good conditions. I feel very sorry for chickens in cages and I can't imagine how anyone can keep them in those conditions. At least Rosa felt the sun, the dirt - caught bugs and worms, ate fresh grass, laid some eggs, and had a best friend. Her short life was, I think, pleasant...and I will miss my little red hen (she was a Rhode Island Red).

Chuck, the current IHS foster dog

2010-04-29T09:31:00.000-06:00

Chuck was formerly named "Yoyo," but he didn't know the name or respond to it so he was renamed and is learning his new name quickly.

He's a chocolate lab mix, and I would guess with Chesapeke Bay Retriever though others say no. He's lab sized with a very large head and nice eyes. He just turned three and was given up by his former owners due to "landlord issues." Too bad, because Chuck was fearful at the shelter and majorly depressed. He also got kennel cough, which he is working on getting over. He was referred to foster care as he was not going to be adoptable as fearful and withdrawn as he was at the shelter; he also was suffering from a very bad coat and skin, likely due to low quality food.

He has started on anti-biotics, high quality food, and affection - of course. He has been very happy since he arrived, enjoying running in the pasture, running in the canal, retrieving when he can outrun Maisey, and gnawing on rawhide bones. He has unfortunately destroyed a few of Maisey's toys with his tough chewing, and passed her his kennel cough too despite her being vaccinated (I guess it does not cover all strains - live and learn).

Chuck just wants to be near me. He is not "velcro" and does not have separation anxiety, but he likes to be really close. He's house trained and crate trained. He gets along great with dogs, cats and kids and would make a nice family dog. He needs a bit more training, but he's smart, receptive, and learning already. It's a shame he didn't get a bit more training early on, as he is a big and strong dog - but he is such a mellow guy that I suspect he has gotten by without training because he doesn't destroy things, has no aggression, and is pure sweet.

I feel sorry for him, having his whole life change and so dramatically for the worse for a time. His 10 days in the shelter had him quivering and totally afraid - and depressed. He wants to lay his body against the door if he can't be in the room with me, or lay near me, ideally touching me, if I let him. At night he jumps into my arms, laying his head across me, and gives a big sigh and a whimper as he snuggles in. He likes to lay on top of me, and since he is a big boy and we have a full bed with two people, it's tough to sleep. He had to do the crate the first few nights but I admit he is talking his way out of it pretty quickly.

I hope he finds a good home soon, and then it will be time for another break from fostering, and some gearing up for travel.

Atlantic White Sided Dolphins

2010-04-25T15:56:00.000-06:00

Recently during a trip to Boston I was able to catch the New England Aquarium's Whale Watch at the very start of the season. Though it was a bit cold and windy, the cruise was a good one. We saw fin, minke and humpback whales, as well as North Atlantic gannets (cool diving birds) and Atlantic white sided dolphins. Here are a few photos of the dolphins.

The dolphins were swimming around the boat on all sides, and playing, jumping and swimming very happily. Though I would have loved to catch a jump on film, I am pleased that at least these photos came out well enough to identify the dolphins and get a decent view of a full side of one under water. The dolphin viewing was better than the whale viewing in that we saw glimpses of the whales but sustained interactions with the dolphins. I don't recall seeing this species of dolphin in the wild before and I was glad to have the chance.

Zoe, the latest Foster Dog

2010-03-29T15:53:00.000-06:00

Meet Zoe, the latest IHS foster dog. She has been with us a little over a week and is quite a happy dog at this point. She was turned in supposedly because she peed the bed at night. However, this appears not to be the case during the time we have had her. She spent the first night or two in the crate and then worked her way into the bed. Since she sleeps RIGHT next to me and loves to cuddle more than any other dog I've ever known, I can attest to the fact that she does not pee the bed. I would notice!

She is a mini-Aussie/Sheltie cross, age 3, and spayed. She gets along well with other dogs, tolerates cats but gets snappy with them now and then (so she would not be left alone with them), walks well on a leash, and is overweight but working on it with measured portions and lots of exercise.

She is a very sweet dog with an easygoing disposition. Since small dogs are popular, I'm hoping we get some calls pretty quick. That said, she is a joy to have around - she's been going to work with me, and easily adapted to life at our house. I just feel very sorry for her that she has gone from the only home she knew to the stress of the shelter to a new place where she is happy...and there is another place on the horizon for her before she can settle down for good. She bonded with me quickly and is rarely out of my sight. I hate to give her up, but we do not need 4 dogs in addition to the current menagerie, and I don't want to take more time away from Maisey.

Urban Chicken Community

2010-03-25T23:04:00.000-06:00

Tonight I went to an interesting dinner which focused on local food sources and featured a film about urban chicken keeping called "Mad City Chickens." The film, which was interesting, focused on Madison, WI and its efforts to make keeping chickens in city limits legal again. It's legal in Boise, and I enjoy having chickens. My neighbor across the street has them as well.

It's been just over two years now that I've kept chickens. I've lost three in that time - one with no trace (maybe a hawk?), one to a raccoon I believe, and one to a dog (accident). In that time I haven't met any other urban chicken people, though I know they are out there.

Tonight it was interesting in that everyone either had chickens or is contemplating getting them. It was fun to compare notes. It's an interesting little underground sub-group - urban chicken afficianados.

Animal Planet, How I Love Thee

2010-03-14T23:34:00.000-06:00

I have been looking forward to Animal Planet's new series, "Fatal Attractions," about people who are obsessed with living with unusual animals. I have to admit, this is probably because I like shows that make me feel normal in comparison. Though I don't know how they came up with this theme for a show, so far I find it a very intriguing series and I look forward to future episodes. It touches in ways on hoarding, but clearly that is not the focus of every story

The animal cop shows are too much for me - I find them too distressing to watch, though I did watch them for awhile. Man's cruelty to animals is too disgusting to witness on a regular basis though.

However, there are several excellent shows I would not have anticipated liking. "It's Me or the Dog" features Victoria Stillwell, an excellent dog trainer, addressing problems with animals. In this show, there is no shortage of human stupidity, but at least it's not cruelty, and it's great to watch Victoria engage in positive, creative and effective training for a variety of behavioral issues.

Another show I truly enjoy is "Underdog to Wonderdog," where a rescue dog is cleaned up, trained, and placed with a great home. The show is very well done and all the people involved clearly invest a huge amount of time and effort in placements. The first episode I saw was heartwarming but ended in tragedy when the dog was killed, so I was leery of a second episode, but was soon hooked. It's a heart warming show for dog lovers, no question.

An older series, apparently in endless re-runs with no new episodes, is "Champions of the Wild." I truly love this show, as it features the story of one individual per episode and the efforts of that individual to protect, research, and conserve a particular species. It's very well done, and apparently "educational programming" though I never saw anything that good when I was in school.

A long time favorite is "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom," with in depth stories about wildlife that never disappoints, though there is often tragedy in nature one must endure witnessing as part of the show.

"Big Cat Diary" is another great one - capturing true life stories of cats in the Serengeti, a la Meerkat Manor, but without all the hidden cameras and year round coverage. (Meerkat Manor is of course also not to be missed!)

In the category of "I can't believe I like this" are two similar but different shows - "I'm Alive" and "I Shouldn't be Alive." Both are very well done and tell interesting survival (and sometimes death) stories about actual events and real people. Since I love adventure travel I find most of these stories very interesting and am glad, at all times, that these things have not happened to me!

Once in a rare while I catch a bit of "Untamed and Uncut," but this is not as well done, with over the top voice overs and repeats of clips over and over - and it's more gaudy and less tasteful than most of the programs on Animal Planet that I enjoy.

Being an animal lover I suppose I shouldn't be surprised Animal Planet is my favorite channel...but it is interesting the variety of programs they come up with...and obviously there must be a market out there.

Got the guts to watch this?

2010-02-22T17:16:00.001-07:00

If you haven't seen the "Meet Your Meat" video that PETA produced, you may not have something to compare this to....but this is a very different video that tackles the same subject - the reality behind the meat we eat - in a different way. The interviews are with small scale meat producers who clearly care about the animals they raise. If you are not vegetarian, you may try to find farmers just like these to buy meat from so you're "letting the animal have a good life" before killing it. If you're not vegan, you may look for local milk and cheese producers with the same thought process. This film is obviously not as politically charged as those done by PETA, but it does make you think - or it should. Take a few minutes - see how far you can get into it and whether it changes your views on anything about meat, eggs or dairy.

Partitions from Audrey Kali on Vimeo.

Dog Play!

2010-02-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

When we adopted Simon, our Aussie, from a rescue almost six and a half years ago, he never played. He refused to fetch a ball - he might run after it once, but he never would pick it up. He'd turn and look at you like "If you wanted it, why'd you throw it away?" To this day, he remains uninterested in balls or plush toys of any kind.

After about 4 years, he eventually learned to play tug of war, but never *ever* with a human, only with another dog, and only very rarely. About 2 or 3 times a year I would catch him playing tug of war with Callie, and it was always brief, even though I praised him and did what I could to let him know this was good behavior.

Simon *does* like to wrestle though - but Callie really didn't, so he found an outlet with foster dogs (especially Jasper!) and at doggy daycare. He does love to play the growly wrestle game - and actually this last summer he and Jasper drove me nuts playing late at night, early in the morning, and basically allllllll the time. They never seemed to tire! I know Simon missed Jasper when he finally got adopted.

When Maisey came, she didn't want to play with Simon at first - she is shy around other dogs. Then she did try and get Simon - and Mollie - to play with her, but she liked to slap her paws on their heads and generally bat at them until they just about clocked her as opposed to engage in play. When she did get Simon to play, it was clear they had very different styles! Maisey was fast and jumped over, under and around Simon so fast he could not keep track of her and play the game enough to make it fun for him...or her.

After about a month, Simon and Maisey have managed to find some games they can both play and enjoy. They have modified the wrestling game to one they both like a great deal. Even better, Maisey has somehow talked Simon into tug of war - often, and with nearly any toy! She will bring it to him, wiggle it at him, and beg until he grabs it - and then they growl at each other, tug, pull - and eventually destroy!! It's actually great for both of them to have a play buddy. Tonight ancient Mollie even joined into tug of war for a minute, with three dogs on one rope! Very cool!

I have tried (and failed) to get some good photos - but they are action shots and I tend to get blurry or red eyed photos. One of these shows a good tug game, but Maisey and Simon have the tail of a toy in their mouths so close together you can't see it. The other photo shows Maisey smiling, happy as can be, after about an hour of play....and Simon happily enjoying the spoils of his victory on Mollie's bed behind her!

It is going to take the whole family to give Maisey enough exercise, so I actually really appreciate Simon's help! Though he is at least 10 years old now, his energy levels are great and he still loves to play. Now that he and Maisey have fun together, it's obvious they are happy to see each other when Maisey and I get home from work. Simon has less anxiety now that he has Mollie to keep him company during the day and not just the cats. He also has more outlets for his energy that are constructive.

Since you never know when you bring another dog into the family how the pack will adjust, it's great to see that after a month, Mollie and Simon are really enjoying Maisey's toys....AND Maisey herself! Unfortunately, the older dogs try and teach Maisey all their bad habits....but she is such a smart little girl I remain optimistic that with proper training, she will learn right from wrong despite the influence of her new siblings.

Cool Dog Toys

2010-02-10T16:45:00.001-07:00

It's always interesting to me to see which dogs like which toys, and since we have had a fair amount of foster dogs and puppies over the last few years, we have a crate of toys at home so any dog has a nice selection to chose from and indicate their preferences.

Each and every puppy or dog gets at LEAST one new toy of their very own too....of course! Every creature deserves a little taste of feeling special.

Maisey Mae is now nine months old. I am not sure what access she had to toys before. Her prior owners said she didn't play ball or have any favorites, but certainly that is not the case at our house! She immediately caught on to the "toy box" idea and each day she takes out and plays with several toys, often carrying around two at a time so she doesn't have to be limited to just one.

She likes Dingo dones and Ringos (but what dog doesn't!), and she really enjoys cow hooves. One surprise is that she even likes cheap dollar store rubber toys, and I think part of why she likes them is they float in her water bowl. Maisey loves to "wash"her toys. She puts them in the water bowl, stirs and bats them around, bites at them, and then extracts them - and likes to bring them over to play with (often on the bed!). She is truly fascinated by the water bowl and will sometimes put in two toys at once, of different weights, and seem to experiment as they float or sink. I wonder what is going through her head?

Recently for a "new" toy I got her a red eco-toy with a squirrel tail, pictured above. These toys, available for only $9.99 at The Ultimate Green Store, are filled with plastic water bottles that make them crunch. There is also a squeaker in the tail. When the "crunch" wears out, recycle the old bottle (it will be completely flat!!!) and insert a new one! Maisey LOVES everything about this toy - it's good for tug of war, it has different textures, and she likes the crunchy sound and the squeaky sound - and it has good flight properties for fetch retrieval. I can already tell there will probably be another in her future when she has a birthday!

Maisey also loves a "jelly ball" which is a ball with a really soft jelly type texture that is not solid but textured - I think she likes the feel of it. Oddly enough, she hates hot dogs, doesn't really care for many treats, and would rather play with toys than do just about anything! Toy drive = HIGH! She does love a peanut butter filled mini-Kong though!

I think the best prices so far on Dingos (particularly Ringos) is at Doctors Foster Smith. (If you know of a better one, let me know!). I also like to check out dollar stores and specials at the grocery store, and pet store sales, especially after holidays. Simon loves sweet potato treats we order by mail that come on a rope (though I think largely because it's food and he loves food!).

One interesting thing about Maisey's love for toys is that it appears to be infectious. Simon has never shown any interest in some of the toys that have been in his living room the entire 6 years he's been with us - and when Maisey shows interest in them, suddenly he loves them.....despite never caring when foster dogs liked the same ones. Mollie, who is over 128 in dog years, never touched a toy in the last 4 years I knew her, and now all of a sudden she MUST have some daily!! Maisey magic appears to charm every toy she touches. Luckily, there are more than enough toys to go around,s o we have three very happy dogs at the moment, and no toy fights.

Rescue in Haiti

2010-01-22T12:52:00.001-07:00

Whenever there is a major disaster like the earthquake in Haiti, animals suffer as well as people. Both the people and the animals of Haiti had it rough before, so certainly it is a terrible time for them now.

If you want to help the animals of Haiti, I suggest donating to Best Friends, which will work on both short term and long term animals in Haiti and has a team of trained personnel. Here is a specific link to donate to assist with animal issues in Haiti.

While they are also looking for volunteers who meet certain criteria (including being able to be completely self sustained and responsible for your own personal security), volunteering may not be the best option. Here is an interesting piece on the problems that can come about when inexperienced people with good intentions volunteer on the ground.

I certainly feel for the very poor people in Haiti who have had to endure this disaster again, so I donated an equal amount to Doctors Without Borders, which I felt was in the best position to assist in ways I think appropriate in this particular circumstance.

If you choose to give to some relief efforts, I would recommend checking out the charities of your choice on Charity Navigator. There you can obtain information about how your money is likely to be used - what percentage on relief vs. fundraising or salaries or administration, etc. If you can't obtain this information, you can't guarantee the money will be used in the way you intend. Make sure the charity is legitimate and will make the most of your money BEFORE you give.

Have You Seen "The Cove" Yet?

2010-01-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

I would have missed the movie "The Cove" if I hadn't seen a blurb about it in one of the magazines I get from a charity I support that addresses environmental issues. The film is a documentary about the capture and slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Some dolphins are captured from the wild and sold for up to $150,000 each, and go to places like Seaworld and places where you can "swim with the dolphins" for a fee. The dolphins which are not sold into captivity are slaughtered and the dolphin meat, which is high in mercury, makes its way into the human food chain.

The dolphin trainer from the "Flipper" series realized, after working with dolphins in captivity, that they were very intelligent and began a crusade to set them free whenever possible. When he learned of the annual slaughter in Taiji he began to work to stop the killing, and to document it was happening. The lengths he and his team went to to get the footage of the slaughter are incredible, and there is no denying the result is a very hard to watch film that shows what really happens, vs. the claims of "instantaneous death." The film also does a good job of showing how Japan has campaigned to keep the killing of dolphins legal and to legalize whaling again, by buying off small nations which have a vote in the International Whaling Commission.

Certainly, I recommend the film, available from Netflix and otherwise. This is the official website for the movie. Also, here is a website related to taking action to stop the killing. I will not visit Japan while the killing continues, or support Japan by buying their products.

While the slaughter of all animals is disturbing, it is particularly so when man slaughters intelligent, self-aware animals in the wild, and in inhumane ways. I can't imagine anyone watching the footage of the slaughter in Taiji not being horrified.

Maisey Mae Moves In

2010-01-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

As much as I wish Callie was still with us, I can't bring her back. Recently I heard of a little eight month old border collie that needed a home. I was willing to meet her, but not sure if it was too soon.....but when I met her, I felt like she would be a positive for me as much as I would be for her. So, she came home with us, a week ago today. She hasn't been socialized much so she's very fearful of new people and dogs at first, but she is getting exposed to more and more every day and learning fast. She gets along with all the other animals, though she wishes Simon and Mollie would play with her more.

So far, she shows no inclination to nip at or herd the goats, cows or horses. She even gets along with the chickens so far.....

She didn't know any games, so she learned fetch - and loves that! She also learned tug of war, and loves that too. And she has a toy box and an array of chewies. She's learning the house rules and several commands quickly, going to the office for exposure to elevators and more people, and generally living life in a whole new way for her.

Maisey brings a huge dose of happy, energy and levity to the house, which is much appreciated. I am looking forward to doing agility with her and going camping, and hiking, and all the other stuff in life that is just better with a great dog.

Island Gecko

2010-01-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

This is a small, young gecko in the process of regrowing its tail. This year we went to the Cook Islands for Christmas. Not much wildlife - this is the only wildlife we saw that we could photograph, since I don't do underwater photography to capture the great fish we saw snorkeling. Believe it or not, we got a fabulous and very budget trip during low season through Costco. I love to travel for Christmas, getting away from all the hype and presents and so forth and just coming back when it is over. I also love the South Pacific at Christmas-time. It's low season and no one is around. It's summer - hot and sunny. This time we went to the island of Rarotonga, which was fabulous! We stayed at a great place called Sea Change Villas, where we had our own private pool - which I have never had before, and sincerely hope to have again!!! Not all trips are to see animals.......but I can't help but notice them. Rarotonga had a lot of wild chickens, several goats, and very few cows and horses. The island did have several dogs (many of which appear to have been spawned by a basset hound somewhere along the line). We made a donation to the local humane society to support spay and neuter, and held a kitten at the Saturday market. All in all, a great vacation.

Mollie Retires With Us

2010-01-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

In November we took in Mollie, a 14 year old black lab mix my mother has been taking care of since adopting her from the Idaho Humane Society in 2004. At the time, Mollie was 9 and the oldest dog at the pound. She'd been there over a month and was going crazy. She was well behaved and a sweet dog. She enjoyed life with my mom and never jumped or misbehaved. My mom overfed her, and she had an easy life. All the same, she seems much happier with us. She has enjoyed her time her so far and I think she has a couple of years left. We put her on some antibiotics for a few infections and some arthritis medicine and she has perked up considerably. She seems to enjoy ranch life and having cats and dogs around her most of the time. Here's a picture of her rolling around like a puppy and one of her and Ophelia.

Callie Anne: Nov., 2002 - Nov., 2009

2009-11-29T12:32:00.001-07:00

Sadly, she is gone. Callie had a life that was far too short for an Aussie. She was loved as much as any dog who ever lived. I was lucky to be able to share her life with her, from 9 weeks to the end, almost exactly seven years. While I regret that I did not make more time for agility, which she absolutely loved and which was a joy to do with her, and I regret that I worked too much and did not play enough tug of war or take enough walks with her, I know that she had a happy life with me. She made my life far better. Learning to live without her will be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

Her brain tumor and cyst were killing her. Her quality of life became unacceptable, little by little. I could not justify making her go through brain surgery or radiation, spending many of her final days with medical procedures, risking becoming worse off instead of temporarily better. She was already uncomfortable. She'd been through enough. In her final days she became more and more limited. She could not get in and out of the car, up and down the stairs, she could not clean herself or keep her balance. She could not run around and play, or even drink easily. She was dizzy a lot and needed to lay still. She had six medications a day to try and keep her going and reasonably comfortable. She was hungry, thirsty and irritable from her meds. She had some pain and some dizziness. She still loved being with me. She remained mentally alert, eager for treats, and longing for attention. Given everything she had going on, she even remained in a good mood.

The kindest thing I could do for her was to chose to let her go, before things got worse, which was inevitable. I wanted her to go to sleep at home, after a good meal, in the arms of her parents, and not not in the middle of a seizure, on an operating table, or after struggling through more IVs and medical procedures.

The most the doctors could have done was postpone things a bit. The tumor itself was inoperable. The end was grim - one day she'd lose balance and be spinning and dizzy and unable to walk and panic stricken. We may have been able to buy her more time, maybe even a couple of years, but the tumor would have gotten her in the end, and in the interim she would have to go through a lot of medical procedures and endure a lot of hardship and there would be a lot of risk - she could end up worse off, not better. I would rather the end be peaceful. I could have hung on longer, but it would have been for me, not for her. She won't know the difference. She has been uncomfortable, and coping and adapting to more losses every day, and now that is over.

Although I will mourn her loss forever, I will also always be happy and grateful we shared one another's lives. She was the smartest dog I ever met. I could not have asked for more.

Another Dog Health Adventure

2009-11-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

Callie's oral surgery to remove her fractured tooth went okay on Friday, but was not completely without complication. She vomited during the procedure, which is dangerous for a number of reasons. She then kept vomiting for the next 20 hours - so she had to be admitted to Westvet as an inpatient for all of Saturday. She couldn't keep food, water or medications down so we had to go with injections and IVs. She did eventually get stabalized and was able to keep down some food and medicines, so she came home at 8:30 last night.

Since then, she's been stable but not particularly happy or comfortable. Much better than she was, but I do hope she continues to improve, for her sake and for ours. I hate that she had this complication when she did, but a fractured tooth could not be ignored and it's clear nothing will be easy with her ever again. That doesn't mean it's not worthwhile.

Oh My.....Another Problem

2009-11-19T22:34:00.002-07:00

Callie broke a tooth today and is in a lot of pain so it needs to get removed tomorrow. Another surgery. Ug.

Callie's "Seizure"" Mystery Solved

2009-11-19T05:20:00.003-07:00

If you follow this blog, you may recall that in October of 2007, our then five year old Aussie, Callie, had a horrible episode where she was unable to get up, had a tilted head and was trembling and having neurological difficulties. We were told it was probably a neuro toxin and that she would not make it since by the time a toxin has neurological effects, it is nearly always fatal. But, she did not die. She spent a week in the ER and slowly regained the ability to walk, run, etc. So they concluded it was not a brain tumor because she got better, and it must be a neuro-toxin she had a sub-lethal dose of.

In the following months I kept a close eye on her and she did have some seizure like episodes about 6 months later where she was drooling and trembling and her eyes were dilated - but also a few episodes where she just had a head tilt and problems with her right side. I never felt it was epilepsy. She had seizure like symptoms but was always alert, responsive to me, etc. She just could not control half her body, always the right side.

We went to the nearest neurologist, in Portland, OR and on March 30, 2008 she had a clean MRI that showed no brain tumor, and clean bloodwork, clean spinal tap, etc. Nothing to explain the seizures or the week of not being able to walk. She seemed to make a full recovery for about a year and a half.

In June of 2009 she again had an episode, followed by one three months later in September. They seemed to be getting worse, lasting 45 minutes or more and not wanting to stop. At that point, still not thinking it was "idiopathic (unknown origin) epilepsy," which was all they could come up with, we put her on a human anti-seizure medication called Zonisamide, which is supposed to have not many side effects except gastro-intestinal and to work in 60% of dogs. We had no problems with it.

However, a month later, in early October, she developed a permanent head tilt to the right and I observed one of her eyes was not tracking with me properly, and that she had balance/ataxia issues on her right side persistently. I again took her to the vet and this time they thought it was peripheral vestibular disease, an ear issue that would clear up in time and was causing loss of balance and dizziness. After another month, it was much worse - a much more severe head tilt and more ataxia. Callie was also clearly unhappy at that point, so it was time for another trip to the Portland to see the neurologist.

This time the MRI, November 9th, 2009, revealed a brain tumor which is thought to be a meningioma or a trigeminal nerve tumor. It is not small, and there is a fluid filled cyst adjacent to it three times the size of the tumor. This was causing severe pressure in her brain and resulting in dizziness, loss of balance, etc. It means that she has a few months left absent treatment. She is seven next week. A rather poor copy of an image from the scan is posted above.

A course of steroids and a daily medicine called Meclizine that works like Dramamine to help the dizziness have made her temporarily feel better and hold her head normally. She can get in and out of the car most of the time again, for awhile she could not. But it's temporary.

We have an appointment with the nearest neurologist who might be able to operate on her brain to reduce the cyst. The tumor itself is not operable as it is too close to the brain stem. But reducing the cyst could buy her some precious time. They recommend a course of radiation as well, to reduce the tumor and possibly buy more time. Maybe another 2 years before the tumor comes back, maybe less, maybe more.

It's hard to tell. I know someone who was supposed to die of cancer in three months and ended up cancer free, someone who was to die within 2 years and is still here after nearly 10, and someone who was to live up to 2 years and made it 14 days. Callie's case may or may not be cancer, but either way it kills her due to pressure in the brain.

I want to make the best choice for her quality of life, not for my own selfish desire to have her with me. That is very hard to do. We will get more information - much more - on November 30th when we go to Pullman, WA to the vet school for a consultation with neurology and oncology. There is one clinical trial program in the country at U of Minnesota but Callie didn't qualify for any of their current research. If treatment is elected, it is very, very expensive, likely $10,000 to $20,000. This is one pet I should have bought pet insurance on I guess. Too late now though. Perhaps that was an error, though I bet after the first episode of anything it would have been a pre-existing condition" battle. Anyway, money will never be the deciding factor in animal care for me, because the animals are truly my family and deserve the best choices for their health, not only the affordable ones.

I started taking Callie to work with me two years ago and I have appreciated every day I have with her. If we do elect surgery it will be December 1, my dad's birthday. There is substantial risk, so we don't know yet what we will choose. All the vets I have spoken to so far recommend it as a chance to buy her more time that should, in theory, be of good quality. Radiation buys more time as well. Eventually it comes back and kills her. But surviving to 9 or 10 instead of 7 is not insignificant, especially in dog years. If she can still go camping, go for walks, play tug of war and be with me, I think she would say her life is worth living.

The news was obviously devastating and I still have a lot of mixed emotions. The best path is not clear. The only thing I can say for sure is that I don't regret having this awesome dog in my life, she is a huge part of every day since she came home at 9 weeks old, and life without her, whenever that comes to be, will be very hard for a very long time.

Arctic Fox

2009-11-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a very chaotic week and I haven't gotten photos up in awhile.

We were lucky to see an Arctic fox one morning, interacting with a polar bear. A prior post has some photos of the interaction between them, but here are some shots of the fox itself.

The Brave Arctic Fox and the Young Polar Bear

2009-11-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

One morning we came across a young polar bear who was digging and eating something out of the ice. There are small fish that actually freeze over the winter and then thaw back out and keep swimming in the spring. Perhaps the bear was after one of those in the newly formed ice. In any event, he or she was busy for some time digging at the ice.

Across the pond there came a very small, very cute, little white Arctic fox. About the size of a housecat, the fox came up on the bear from downwind. When the bear looked up and saw the fox approaching, to everyone's surprise, it ran off. The fox immediately began to eat whatever the bear was after. The bear seemed to have second thoughts after looking back and seeing the small fox, so it circled around in a large arc, taking time to roll on the ice a bit, and then re-possessed the meal. The fox didn't just leave though - it stayed and came closer several times so the bear kept having to defend it's spot.

The fox was sooooooo cute. It scampered about, it's tail was always blowing in the wind, and it was a very clever little creature. I was thrilled not only to see an Arctic fox in the wild, but to see one interacting with a wild polar bear as well! It was my trip highlight! We stayed with them about 30 minutes, which I will certainly never forget!

In these photos, the fox is in the lower right corner, looking at the bear.

Polar bears at play

2009-11-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

We had the chance to see some young male polar bears sparring and playing with one another, which was really fun. I always love to catch animal interactions in the wild. These bears have nothing to eat and nothing to do while waiting for the ice to freeze so sometimes they play - but not often, as it burns energy.

We could see these bears from the lodge. It was really amazing to be able to look out the window during breakfast or mid-afternoon and see polar bears! Needless to say, we were never allowed to leave the lodge unless on the buggy.

Proximity to Polar Bears

2009-11-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure how close we'd get to see the polar bears, but they are curious, and so we actually got to be quite close in some cases. Bears that had just arrived to the area were skeptical of tundra buggies, but once a bear had been a round for a day or so they ignored them or came right up to them. It was actually pretty amazing to be standing on the back of a tundra buggy on a grated platform and have a polar bear come underneath, smelling, putting his or her nose against the grate, along with huge, huge front paws. Several times I was able to look right into the eyes of a bear. Many times bears walked very close to the buggy but did not directly approach.

Polar Bears in the Wild!!

2009-11-04T21:21:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to see polar bears in the wild. In recent years, with fear of increased global warming and changing ice patterns, there is growing concern about how long the polar bear can survive. This has made polar bear trips even more popular, and most of the ones I was interested in book up a year to two years in advance. So, back in 2007, I decided to plan a 2009 trip to see the bears.

I researched all the available trips and determined that most of them take place in either Churchill, Canada or Spitsbergen, Norway. It's cheaper for me to travel to Canada than Europe and takes less time, and I prefer to see the bears from land vs. sea. Also, I wanted to have as much access to wildlife as possible and as little non-wildlife as possible - no shopping, looking at totem poles, cultural presentations, etc. And, I always aim for a small group (teeny tiny if possible) and a company that is environmentally responsible and supports eco-tourism and animal conservation.

In the end, I chose a trip to Churchill, Canada with Natural Habitat Adventures, called the Tundra Lodge Adventure. Of all the Churchill trips, it had the most time on the tundra out with the bears. Instead of staying in a hotel in town, you get to stay in a lodge out on the tundra - where bears can be viewed of course. The company is endorsed by World Wildlife Fund, and very eco-minded. I felt it was the best value and experience. The challenge was to find the funds and get a good time slot - it was not a trip I wanted to take on a shoulder season and risk not seeing bears or only seeing a couple.

The timing is tricky. Bears gather at the Hudson Bay near Churchill waiting for the sea ice to form over the Bay so they can go hunt seals. Come too early, and there may be no bears yet. Come too late, and all the bears may be gone already. The bears typically go out on the ice within 24 hours - so you could see them all or see none. Time it right, and you will have lots of waiting bears with nothing to do but pose for photos (unknowingly of course) as they wait for the ice to form. We went Oct 28th - Nov 2, mid-season. It turned out to be perfect timing - we saw about a dozen or so bears a day and the ice was just beginning to form as we left (still a couple weeks to go I would guess). The ice changes each year and since we booked a year in advance, we were very lucky.

I LOVED the trip and got some good photos, a few of which I will share in the coming days.

Leaf Cutter Ants

2009-10-23T21:27:00.000-06:00

Throughout Costa Rica we saw leaf cutter ants. They carried pieces of leaves along a highway, working diligently. It was hard to get a focus and a photo. One of these shows a highway and the pieces of green on the highway are carried by ants. The brown photo allows a bit more contrast. Also is a leaf that has been cut by them so you can see the precise pattern they seem to use to cut the leaves.

Crocodiles

2009-10-23T21:18:00.000-06:00

There is a spot known as Crocodile bridge on the Pacific Coast side of Costa Rica. We stopped to walk out onto the bridge and look down at the crocs. When we got out of the van it was bright and sunny. Part way across the bridge, a major rainstorm hit. We saw it literally coming towards us like a big sheet of water. There was no possible way to escape so we just got completely soaked. Fortunately it was a warm rain!

We went in low season - late September is supposedly the height of the rainy season. But, we were very lucky. We only got caught out in the rain twice the entire trip. Once was the crocodile bridge...which will always remain a hilarious memory for me and a trip highlight.

Tarantula

2009-10-23T21:11:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of the quite large tarantula we saw in Monteverde Cloud Forest - appropriate Halloween coloring and all. Our guide told us a rather gruesome story about a wasp that is the primary predator of these spiders, which I will spare you.

Small Red Frog

2009-10-23T21:06:00.000-06:00

We saw several small red frogs in Tortuguero, like this one.

Bananas

2009-10-20T20:40:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of bananas a little over three months before they are ripe. I was surprised to see that there was a purple flower type bloom - sort of - at the bottom of the banana bunch. Apparently they cut this off and put the bananas in a bag three months before they get ripe.

Unicorn Beetle

2009-10-20T20:36:00.000-06:00

On the road to Tortuguero we passed a Del Monte banana processing plant, which was very interesting, and outside of it there was an old man with a cart of coconuts. He would, for a dollar, slice off one end and insert a straw so you could drink the coconut juice. There was no water available, and I wanted to support him, so i got one. (Not very good, actually). The interesting thing on his cart though was this unicorn beetle. He had a couple of them, who were munching on sugar cane. He only spoke Spanish, and mine is rusty, but we tried to communicate a bit. I asked if the beetles had names but all he replied was "Beetle" so I am betting not.

At this stop I also had my first encounter with biting Costa Rican ants. Ouch!!! Not a good idea to wear Tevas. Before I really knew what was happening they got some good bites in, and they stung for a long time.

Snake

2009-10-19T21:48:00.000-06:00

There was an interesting snake asleep in the fork of a tree near the pool at our hotel in Tortuguro. There were some people there who said it was a boa constrictor, but they were just tourists, and I saw a photo in a guidebook that identified it as something else - I just can't remember what. In any event, it appeared to be napping and was nice to see.

Water Buffalo, and domestic livestock

2009-10-19T21:38:00.000-06:00

Leaving Tortuguero requires a boat ride that is one to two hours. Along the way, we passed by some water buffalo, which was very interesting. They were laying in the cool waters - and I don't blame them: it was hot.

We also saw a lot of Brahma cattle - some of whom were quite thin. On the dirt road to get to the boat, there were fields with not only cattle, but plenty of horses, a few goats, and many chickens. The rural lifestyle was interesting to see. The ranchers make fences with sticks of a certain type of wood that, when planted as just a stick, sprouts and grows into a tree. You can tell how old the fence is because the older ones are trees and they look like someone just ran a fence along a row of mature trees. The younger ones look just like sticks or branches - and there is a lot of variety inbetween.

I also observed a lot of birds - all sizes, colors and shapes - though I couldn't tell you what any of them were. Our guide for this portion of the trip sucked, so I didn't learn much about the animals from him.

Spider Monkeys

2009-10-18T11:35:00.001-06:00

We saw Spider Monkeys playing in the trees and on the vines in Tortuguero, including a mother with a baby on her back that I did not get a good shot of. I find monkey photography to be very hard as monkeys move quickly, the lighting is always bad, and there is rarely enough time to focus well. You get a lot of blurry shots and monkeys shapes that are not clear. I would love to get a facial close up, but when they are on the move this is about impossible.

We also saw White Faced Capuchins but had no time to get any photos at all, as the monkeys were on the move and going into the trees, and being in a boat, we could not follow.

I had hoped to see Squirrel Monkeys in Costa Rica as well, but that did not happen fur us. Next time!

2009-10-18T11:20:00.000-06:00

I was pleased to find a small snake sleeping in a big leaf in Tortuguero. Not long after, our guide found another. It's about as round about as a crayon, and quite long - probably at least 3 feet in length. I gather it is no threat to humans, and is quite common.

Howler Monkeys

2009-10-18T11:09:00.001-06:00

We saw - and heard - Howler monkeys in Tortuguero. We heard the monkeys more often than we saw them, calling with deep screams which I found to be surprisingly different in tone and quality than calls of chimpanzees. They sounded closer to gorilla sounds, actually - though the calmer of the gorilla sounds.

Several times we did see them from the boat we used to drive around the waterways in Tortuguero. We heard them hiking near Arenal volcano, but did not see them there. In Monteverde Cloud forest, we saw them at a distance through a spotting scope and watched them eating ripe figs and playing with each other, surrounded by flies. Certainly it was nice to see some New World monkeys, and I enjoyed hearing them very much - though hated, as always, the stupid people who try and imitate their calls.

Green Sea Turtles

2009-10-17T18:54:00.000-06:00

Tortuguero is on the Carribean side of Costa Rica, where there is a 26 mile long beach which is the primary nesting ground for four species of sea turtles. We were there towards the end of the nesting season, so we were able to see a green sea turtle laying eggs. The Carribean Conservation Association requires that you go at night with a guide, and no cameras are allowed so as not to disturb the turtles. Spotters are employed to watch for turtles and wait until they begin laying, then tourists are allowed to come watch the egg laying without disrupting the turtle. In this way, one turtle is viewed rather than several and the goal is to minimize disturbance for the turtles.

As we were there in low season, we got lucky. My friend and I were the only ones from our hotel who booked the tour the night we went, so we had our own private guide, who was very knowledgeable and dedicated to turtle conservation. We were also lucky that all the groups combined only numbered 30-40 people on the beach. In peak season it can be 250, which is hideous to contemplate!

As soon as we got to the beach we saw a turtle in the distance beginning to dig a nest. We got clearance to go closer when she began laying eggs. I was surprised how close we got - 6" from the turtle! We could see each soft, bouncy, ping pong sized white egg drop into the hole in the sand. Supposedly the turtle goes into a kind of trance once laying begins - she did not seem to notice us, but who knows for sure.

We were also lucky enough to see three hatchlings that crawled very quickly towards the ocean and got washed away on the waves. Normally you can't see that at night, apparently, but we got lucky. The beach opens at 5am and we were told you can often see hatchlings then, so we got up early - but unfortunately we didn't see any when photos were allowed. However, I did take a photo of an egg that was laying near a nest, and a photo of the turtle tracks in the sand. The beach is covered with these turtle tracks all along the beach.

Sadly, however, despite the evenings efforts at conservation and turtle protection, the morning revealed that there is still a huge problem with humans harvesting turtle eggs. Many, if not most, of the night's nests had been dug up, with human footprints and fresh excavation. While there were some dog tracks on the beach, there was no evidence of dogs digging up the eggs - plenty of evidence of humans doing so. That was very disheartening and upsetting to see. Hopefully education about conservation and the turtle's over exploitation will take hold more and more in Costa Rica, but it is quite clear they have a LONG way to go on that front.

Despite the negatives, seeing the turtle egg laying and the hatchlings was my favorite part of the trip - truly a neat thing to see.

Green Red-Eyed Tree Frog

2009-10-10T13:53:00.001-06:00

We were able to see the red eyed green tree frog in Tortuguero. We saw the eggs, tadpoles, baby frogs, and adult frogs. They are nocturnal so it's hard to see them in the daytime. The hotel had a breeding program for these frogs and we were able to release three month old frogs on the hotel grounds. These frogs are supposed to live up to 15 years. I found them hard to photograph so these are some of the best pics I was able to get.

Iguana Eye

2009-10-09T07:47:00.000-06:00

I'm back from Costa Rica. I was using up some frequent flier miles and decided to go there as it has always been on my list of places to see. I was warned that it was the very height of rainy season and a bad time to go, but having traveled in rainy season in Africa, that did not discourage me or my traveling companion. Low season offers better rates and is rarely as bad as predicted. Costa Rica in low season was awesome!!! While it rained off and on, it was mostly sunny, and we only got caught out in rain twice - only once during a planned activity. So we were lucky - we usually were the only ones or one of a few people for each activity we did. Most were groups of 4 or 6 - 8 was the biggest group we had to do anything with, and that was great. Nothing was crowded and we were able to go farther on limited funds than in high season, as well as I think have a better travel experience overall.

While I did not see as much wildlife as I had hoped - I did learn about Central American wildlife viewing enough to know how to see more next trip, and I saw an introduction. Most wildlife centric trips cost more than the one we elected to take, though we emphasized it as much as we could. It was a nice mixture of seeing things and adventure and a much needed break.

As always, I'll try and pick and share my favorite photos of the trip here, and animal stories. (I review the hotels and restaurants on TripAdvisor). Today's installment is a close up of an iguana we saw in Tortuguera, on the Carribean side of Costa Rica. Overall that was my favorite spot we visited as it was the most remote and we saw the most wildlife. There were a lot of small lizards there as well as some quite large ones. We saw one that was a few feet long climbing a tree, which I'd not seen before.

The Next Adventure

2009-09-25T07:57:00.003-06:00

Soon I will be off to Costa Rica. It's not the best time of year to go there - it's the rainy season - but I've traveled in rainy season in Africa before and liked it, so that is not a reason for me not to go. I have to use some airline miles that are about to expire so I am going as far as they can take me. It'll be my first trip to Central America and I am hoping to see as many animals as possible. As usual, I'll post my favorite photos and blog about the trip when I get back. As I leave, the horses are just getting their winter coats in, the chickens are molting, and the cats and dogs seem to be getting their winter coats too. I will be interested to see how they are when I get back; being gone always makes change more obvious.

Callie's Progress - and Setbacks

2009-09-24T08:33:00.002-06:00

Callie had another cluster seizure Monday night, just under three months since the last one. Since there was a 19 month gap and then these two, that means they are getting more frequent. Also, more severe. Unfortunately, that means its time to start some type of seizure medication. The most common seizure med in dogs (phenobarbitol) can cause kidney and liver issues and acts as a sedative so your dog can "zombie out." I talked to several owners who say that once their dogs went on it, they were "no longer the same dog." More than anything I care about Callie's quality of life and I think she would rather have a seizure once every month or so than be zonked out all the time. So for me, it would be a very long time before I would ever consider putting her on that medication, and things would have to be much worse than they are now.

Fortunately, there is a human epilepsy medication that has had some success in dogs. Reportedly 60% of dogs do well on it, it does not act as a sedative or alter personality significantly or noticeably in most dogs, and the main side effect, if any, are gastro intestinal issues like vomiting and nausea. The medication, Zonisamide, is a bit expensive, but cost is not an object when it comes to her health unless it really hits a level I can't possibly manage, and I would probably go to a diet of lettuce and rice only before I skimped on something for the animals. After I got a month's supply ($100) I found out I can get it cheaper at Costco, so I will check that out next time.

Callie tends to be sensitive to everything, including meds, so I was very worried about the side effects. She also does not like to take pills and is an expert at licking off all the butter or peanut butter or cheese off and spitting the pill back out. I've only found one thing in the past that worked so I relied on that: sticky soft cow cheese. I forget the name of the brand but it's the one with the swiss cow and it comes in tiny blocks or wedges. That is yummy enough and sticky enough she eats the pill without licking or chewing or complaining one little bit. Thank goodness past research already revealed the answer to that one.

So far we are four doses into this new regime, and Callie seems absolutely fine - good energy, no throwing up, no personality changes, nothing noticeable at all. Although it was very hard to accept that she needs a medication, I can't ignore medical advice because emotionally I want her to be well and not need medicine. I trust her neurologist in Portland, and he took the time to speak with me and agreed it was time to start meds and recommended the one she is on. I am grateful, as the local vets in Boise, even at Westvet, have very limited experience with this drug and it is fairly new for use in dogs. Cost is probably a factor, but also the other med has been around so long that everyone knows how to use it. You have to keep measuring the level of the old one though, and this one you can skip that. Callie hates IVs and needle pokes at this point, and I don't blame her. She is actually a decent patient but she is a smart girl and why would anyone like needle pricks?

Watching Callie have seizures is by far one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I try and be very calm and talk her through it in a reassuring way, and she remains very conscious and alert, she just can't control her movements. She responds, and I hope that she is comforted. If I could have the seizures myself I wouldn't hesitate. In some ways the most frustrating part is we will never know why this happened - in the beginning it was not epilepsy, she was in the hospital for a week without use of one side of her body. Possibly it was some unknown neurotoxin, that the vets expected to kill her, but she pulled through. Now she does appear to have either epilepsy or something so close we'll never know otherwise. After brain scans and spinal taps and bloodwork we have to accept that we are where we are: we won't get answers, and while it appeared for a long while it was behind us, it is not.

I am grateful for every day I have with her. When she wants a hug and I am busy, I take time to give her one. When she wants to play, I try and make some time to play. I could be a better dog mom - if I took the time to make her a raw diet and I took her running every day and I found a way to do agility with her regularly, I would be a better mom. But I am doing the best I can right now. I take her to work with me 95% of the time, I take her on vacations when we can drive where we are going, I seizure proofed the house so she can't fall or hurt herself if she is home alone, I feed her decent food and she gets exercise, attention, and love. The only thing she really gets in trouble for is picking on the other pets and being too bossy....and her worst punishment is getting yelled at or a brief time out. I believe that she has a happy life and I am pretty in tune with her body language and her vocalizations and what she wants despite the language barrier. She is only 6 so I hope we have another 10 years together, but int he throes of seizure, I sometimes wonder if it will even be 10 minutes.

Flying With a Cat

2009-08-31T14:55:00.005-06:00

Recently I had to transport a cat via airline. I've never flown with a pet before, and I was a bit apprehensive. First, it was a challenge to figure out the airline requirements and get a soft sided carrier that would easily fit under the seat and meet all the requirements for ventilation, size, etc. This took visits to several local pet stores. In the end I had a choice between a $70 carrier and a $45 carrier, and I went with the cheaper one figuring it was a one time use deal, and I'd just use the carrier for regular vet visits after that until it wore out. Although I would have preferred not to spend the money, none of my hard or soft sided carriers met size requirements.

Second, although the airline claimed a health certificate was not required, the vet told me I could be prevented from flying without one. I decided to err on the side of caution and obtain one, since I was at the vet for some sedation medicine anyway. I found it interesting that it was $20 for the health exam and $40 for the health certificate - twice as much to write down the findings as to make them apparently. Bummer.

Third, I obtained sedation meds because I figured that this cat - who cries all the way to the vet and all the way home - would not appreciate an 8 hour trip and would probably register some vocal complaints. I thought it would be easier on him to be dozing - and easier on me. Unfortunately, the vet told me that the meds do not work on all cats. "The side effects vary hugely," she said. Apparently, the cat could remain awake, go to sleep, get hyper, throw up, or the meds could have no effect. Awesome. That really provides me with a lot of variety and not a lot of certainty. She also recommended starting with a half dose and giving as little as possible. I could give 1/2 pill and see what happened and then give another 1/2 if need be, but no more than one whole pill per 8 hours. The whole trip would be 8 hours so if the 2nd dose did nothing I would be SOL.

This particular cat, Rocky (pictured above), is 14 pounds and is really laid back and mellow. At the vet he is not nervous, he gets out and walks around and looks out the window. He likes dogs, kids and other cats. He does not like riding in the car. I suspected he would not like riding in planes either. But he had no choice. His current owners were no longer in a position to keep him, having decided that allergies meant he needed to live outside. He is declawed, and winter is coming, two reasons I was not comfortable leaving him in that arrangement. All local rescue groups and shelters were full with 6-9 month waiting lists. Craigslist did not work. All friends and friends of friends in the area turned down the offer to adopt him. The cat did not ask for this set of circumstances and I was determined to get him a good home. I have a friend who was willing to adopt him so it was just a matter of transport.

I pulled his food and water the night before travel to avoid having him need to relieve himself on the journey.

The sedatives did not really work - two doses and he was still registering complaints. He complained for an hour while I was driving to the airport. He was quiet on the bus that I had to take after returning the car. Then the really embarrassing part: airport security. You have to take the cat out of the bag - literally - and walk it through the metal detector. There is just NO WAY that you can pull that off without appearing to be the crazy cat lady!!!!

He meowed off and on - but was usually drowned out by screaming babies (never thought there would be a plus for those!) He would scratch against the bag and even bite me through it, then give up so completely I would fear he was dead. Once during a plane change I took him out of the bag in the restroom. He looked at the four grey walls and got back in the bag.

In the end we arrived safely - and Rocky has settled into his new home without complaint. I hope I don't have to fly with pets again, but I am glad it did not go worse.

Dexter Cow Update

2009-08-12T06:34:00.002-06:00

Four months have passed (almost) since Bernadette and Zena came to the ranchette and joined the family. It has been a learning curve, as when we get any new species. I always wanted cows though and I enjoy these minis very much. I have gotten used to the mooing and the low sounds they make to each other. They have gotten used to me, and I can make some physical contact.

I had to find a hoof trimmer, and that was an ordeal in many ways. No one wants to come to Boise to trim one small cow. But eventually someone did - and it was traumatic for the cow and for me. She gets flipped on her side, she is scared, and it is not extra gentle. I did all I could for her and next year I will know more what's going on. It's annual, thank goodness. It is much harder than goat or horse hoof trimming. And those who told me cows don't need trimmed were lying.

We also accomplished annual vaccines, though it took two tries. Turns out a big animal with horns who does not want a shot and is still afraid of people is kind of hard to work with. I did eventually get them calm and keep them safe but I also elected not to get a shot that requires an ear tattoo. It's needed if they travel but I don't see the cows going anywhere unless they live into my retirement. I think that is not going to happen but we can cross that bridge when we come to it. Again, far more work to vaccinate the cows than the other animals.

Zena is almost as big as her mom now, and still nursing in addition to eating hay. I'd think she'd get a crook in her neck but she hasn't. I'm going to let mom wean her when ready - I am in no rush and it makes no different to me so let nature take it's course.

The Giant Egg and Chicken Misc.

2009-08-11T22:38:00.006-06:00

Having our own chickens we get a nice egg color variety. When we only had 4 chickens I could tell which one laid each egg because the colors were slightly different. Now that there are 5 chickens that lay brown/tan eggs it is harder to tell. Above is a photo of some of the color variety in a recent dozen. Gwen lays blue green, Athena lays olive green, the darkest brown is Hannah, and the tan/brown are Sylvie (small ones), Rosa, Sarah and Samantha - though Samantha is not laying yet after her recent illness.

Recently Gwen, who lays blue green eggs, laid a GIANT egg. It's the biggest chicken egg I've ever seen! It ended up having a double yolk. Above is a photo of it compared to some of the others.

Tonight I dewormed the chickens, which involves a pill given to them. That is a bit tricky as I have to catch them all and administer the pill, which they are not keen on, but I have gotten the hang of it. It makes giving pills to cats look way easy! I have to do it again in two weeks, but it is an annual thing - 2 pills twice a year I can handle.

Hope, the chick who came at Christmas and went missing June 20, has never been located nor any remains of her, thought I searched all three acres several times. Something must have taken her off the property. I hope her death was quick with a minimum of pain and suffering. I was glad to know her and provide her with a good life and I'll always miss her.

Samantha appears to have made a full recovery from her recent illness. It took two antibiotics, no small amount in vet bills, and two dewormer pills but she began to eat, drink, play and gain weight again. I am optimistic it is all behind her - good because I want her strong before the weather turns cold.

Supposedly there is an increase in urban chickens in the recession. I think that is probably a plus. I have really enjoyed having chickens and although I am still on the learning curve about 18 months into it, I love them!

Naked Simon

2009-07-30T22:28:00.003-06:00

Last week I took Simon to the groomer - where he has gone at least a dozen times before. I gave the same request I always give, which is for standard grooming and nothing fancy. I took him in because he had recently rolled in fresh cow poop, which left him green and overly fragrant. However, when I went to retrieve him I found (to my shock and horror) that he had been completely SHAVED. Except that his head wasn't - it was trimmed - so his head is overly big for his body. He looks kind of like a spaniel from behind but when he turns his head, eewww. He just looks ridiculous. I don't think he cares too much, and in the big picture he is okay it is just a bad haircut, but it is totally pitiful looking. I am looking forward to it growing back! And that groomer will not be getting my business anymore. The poor kid looks like a large speckled rat!

I have given him several appeasement and apology cheeseburgers and I think he likes the extra attention. I feel bad for taking him to a place and leaving him. I never do that with Callie. She is not going to let a groomer do things to her - Simon is laid back enough not to care. Even so, I bet he was wondering what was happening! Those big brown eyes against a naked Simon make him look small and sad. On the upside, I can see he is in good shape and NOT over eating. (He lost 2 pounds this summer).

Samantha Update

2009-07-30T15:15:00.003-06:00

Samantha appears to be basically out of the woods. After two courses of different anti-biotics and a dewormer, and a few weeks in a dog crate in the house, she is back outside for a week now and seems to be having a lot of chicken fun with the others. She is gaining weight again (she's four pounds as of Tuesday) and she is demonstrating good energy and appetite. No idea what was wrong, but the fluid in her lungs has been taken care of and her infection seems to be gone as near as we can tell.

Chicken Stories

2009-07-11T14:16:00.004-06:00

Chickens are usually low maintenance, but lately they have been causing some distress. First, we lost Hope on Saturday, June 20th. I was home all day and didn't hear any chicken alarm calls. That morning Hope hopped out of the coop and went ranging in the pasture with the rest of the flock. She was happy and healthy. She was six months old, had just started laying small tan eggs, and was being a big sister to Hannah and Rosa, the youngest in the flock. But that night she didn't come home. I searched all the pastures over and over for about three hours, and even had a friend come help me, but in the end we found no trace of her - not even feathers. I can only hope she went quickly and for a good cause. It could have been a hawk or a coyote or fox or raccoon? None of the other chickens alerted me and I don't know if Hope wandered off on her own or what happened. I do know that I enjoyed having her, and that although her life was a short six months, she had a happy life. She enjoyed being raised by her mom, and then she loved gaining some independence and establishing a place in the flock of her own. She loved irrigation day and grass and bugs. She had a few red feathers at her throat, but she was almost all grey. I miss her. One thing hard about chickens is that if you give them freedom, you put them at risk, and each day you hope they are all there. This is the first one I lost to some unknown cause, mid-day. Hope is pictured at three months old above with her mom, Sylvie, who is still with us.

In other chicken news, Samantha came down with some illness. Samantha is black and white and the friendliest of the chickens. She didn't want to go out and play on Tuesday, which I thought was odd. Wednesday she didn't want to leave a nesting box where she was resting, and her comb was dehydrated and dark gray. She was totally lethargic and clearly not feeling well. She refused food and water. I had to go to Westvet for a cat injury anyway, so I took her in to see if I could get some fluids and maybe an anti-biotic for her. When I picked her up, she was very, very thin.

Westvet was able to inject some fluid for her and get her started on an antibiotic, and they referred me to a GREAT chicken vet. I've been looking for one for a long while and was glad to finally find a local vet who treats chickens. His name is Dr. Shackleford with Treasure Valley Vet in Meridian. He was very professional, very kind, and got us in first thing Thursday morning. I was worried Samantha might not pull through the night but she did. He said there was no obvious cause of her illness but she was quite sick. He took an x-ray on which we could see inflammation and he said there was a serious infection going on. Bloodwork showed it was attacking her liver.

I put her in a dog crate in the living room and per the vet's instructions I am giving her an anti-biotic, vegetable baby food, and pedialyte for fluids. She is starting to get a little stronger, starting to show some interest in food, and being a little less lethargic - but she is still really sick. She is rehydrated, her comb has returned to normal - and now we wait to see how she does. None of the rest of the flock is sick, so I have no idea what got into Samantha. There is no doubt she is dong her best to fight it off, and I will help her as best I can. She is still young so I hope that she will be able to pull through.