Eight cats & kittens came into the SPCA yesterday. Space is running out in the isolation unit!! These two little guys are supposedly 8 weeks old — the manager is not so sure …..
They are not too keen on humans – so my job today was just to hang out with them and pat them. They are now called Aspen & Ginko, and they are pretty crazy playful like all kittens this age.
So here you go, just for fun, a bit of kitten madness!!
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On Sunday we had another busy day! Even the dogs had a busy day – although Ruger’s busy day only lasted about half an hour.
We were up early again to help set up for the Fun Day. Ruger & Neve came with us, but as soon as some of the other helpers and their dogs started arriving, he started misbehaving. Silly boy. He had been OK for a bit chewing on his Frisbee, but then after a while none of us appreciated getting deafened by barking. So home he went.
So we assembled the gazebos for the food & raffle tables to go under, put up a banner, organised chairs & tables and generally made the dog park look presentable. Before we knew it a couple of hours had passed and it was time to open for the public.
Pretty soon, people started to arrive and enrol for the fun events. We had very serious competition in some events – such as: The Best Dressed Puppy & Dog, Best Vertical Shagpile, Best Splotches, Dog & Owner Lookalike and the Sausage Retrieve.
There was the usual number of run-aways, and dogs who embarrassed themselves & their owners by peeing as soon as they got in the ring (not to mention any names starting with ‘N’!) The Sausage Retrieve turned into the Sausage Devour for most competitors, but the SPCA Dog Manager and her new young dog came up trumps because Phoebe brought MOST of her sausage back, so she won the prize for that one.
The ‘registration’ pack had some treats, a can of dog food, and some coupons.
There were ‘spot’ prizes for lots of different things too.
“Spot” – the therapy pet model dog.
All the ‘smoothies’ parading around the ring.
Next to us is Cujo the St Bernard! Behind us is the building site for the new SPCA Centre.
“Just give me the darn treat, Mum!”
Taking a break in the paddling pool.
“Ain’t I just the cutest?”
Puppies ready for adoption.
Ready to go on the obstacle course.
Neve was entered in: Best Smoothie, Best Splotches and the Obstacle Course. She didn’t get any prizes, but we thought she was a winner anyway!!
And we thought we were on to a winner, because she was so tired that she just slept for the rest of the day! She lay on the couch, snoring loudly.
And if I was clever enough – there’d be a video of a snoring Neve here – perhaps tomorrow …….
Ruger & his best friend
Posted in Blue Heelers, Dogs, Pets, SPCA
Tagged Blue Heelers, Dogs, Pets, SPCA, Therapy Pets
We’d had the third DNF on one of our caches on Monday. Even though it is a cache that does have a tendancy to migrate seasonally as the vegetation changes, we though that three in a row was a bit much, and it was probably gone.
It was a lovely bright sunny day, so when PB got home from work we decided a little maintenance run was in order, as we’d had another cache in that direction to check a few things on also.
So off we went to our ‘lost’ cache – replacement in hand – as surely it was gone. But no, no, no there it was, a mere metre or two from where it should be. It was a tad damp, so we sat it in the sun to dry out and busied ourselves with other things – PB lookingfor a new spot and taking co-ords, and I with playing around with the camera (seem to be doing that a lot lately for some reason……)
Not so 'lost' cache.
This is one of the shots that I got - no special effect involved at all – it’s just what the light was doing shimmering off the river and through the leaves of all the trees around.
Special Effects
Once everything was dried out a bit, I re-bagged the log book, and we settled the cache in its new spot – tucked under a particular branch this time, so hopefully easier for people to replace in the correct spot.
We carried on our way, past an old disused garage where some even older cars are parked up. So of course that was a chance for a photo stop as well! If it wasn’t mind-bogglingly hot standing out on the asphalt, I would have tried a few more angles too.
Old Cars
We tried to check on another which is a multi/puzzle, but couldn’t check the final due to maintenance crews in the area, so that will be another trip. And when we got to the WP, there was that worrying look of slashed vegetation. Yes the trees near the sign had been trimmed, but the container was still safely tucked away in its place behind the sign.
There’s another cache that we’ve had a few issues with – the kind where the cache owner goes ‘It’s a difficulty 3, terrain 5 multi. Of course you’re going to have to do a bit of work!!!!!’ when cachers claim that it’s not there. Over its life span thus far, very experienced and not so experienced cachers have claimed that each & every part of it was definitely missing at various times– and when we, upon investigation, have found that said ‘bit’ is definitely NOT missing. So we’re a bit sceptical when logs say that part of it is missing. But this time – they were right!!! So the last laugh is on us. We need an horrible little film canister to fix it too – do you know how impossible they are to get these days!!!?
A is for Annie
Maybe there is a WP or two in this picture?
So we trotted off to PB’s mum’s – to drop in her copy of Dogs that Blog: the Australian Cattle Dog Edition (which finally arrived!) and to pilfer a film canister that I’d seen lying on her garage bench. I think it probably belongs to PB’s brother - JemNZ, but never mind, all’s fair in love and war when caching is concerned!!!!
We were 2/3rds successful with our mission: calendar dropped off and suitably admired, flower photos – that I’d been trying to get for a couple of days – taken, but film canister filtched – NOPE – we forgot.
Daisy Line-up
Daisy Close-up
Ah well ….. there’s always another day.
And speaking of days – if you need another calendar (and who doesn’t) go here and buy one starring all the most handsome Blue Heelers in the world ….. and not to forget Norwood!!!
Ours arrived yesterday and they are awesome!!
Enter the code SHADOW for the next two day only and get 15% off!!
Posted in Blue Heelers, Dogs, Geocaching, Nature, New Zealand, Pets, Photography, SPCA
Tagged Blue Heelers, Dogs, Geocaching, Nature, New Zealand, Pets, Photography, SPCA
Another one of those ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ moments.
When I went out to the SPCA this morning, I had a kitchen sink.
Everything AND the kitchen sink....
Now I have a hole in the wall.
Everything but the ..... well ...... even the everything has GONE!!!
By this evening I’ll hopefully have doors.
(PS. You can have that car. Totally free. Just come and take it away. Please.)
Now that it is officially 2010 almost everywhere, you will be looking to hang up your new calandars. If you don’t have one, (or even if you do!!) get on over to Lulu.com and buy Dogs That Blog ACD Edition and support the work of the New Hope Cattle Dog Rescue.
Ruger and Neve are some of the dog blog stars that are featured along with their pals Velcro, Gus, Callie & Louie, Stumpy, Wyatt, Norwood and Charlie. 
If you check out the Lulu.com homepage, there is even a discount on calendars at the moment, and your donation to New Hope is not affected.
Go on, go have a look and check out the most handsome dogs ever!
Every Wednesday I volunteer at the local SPCA (Society for the Protection of Animals) for a few hours. Mostly I just clean out the cats’ cages and sometimes do a little bit of computer stuff.
The manager had been hoping that most of the cats and kittens that she had in would get homes before Christmas, but there are still a few little furry faces looking for a home. We took some photos of them today for advertising, so I thought I’d show you a few – these are some of the funny or cute photos we didn’t use.
And on a slightly cat related theme…..
This is an old Kiwi children’s joke (and probably an American, British, Scottish & South African children’s joke for all I know!)
“How do you know that an elephant has been in the fridge?”
.
.
.
.
.
.
“There are footprints in the butter!”
The Annie & PB variation:
“How do you know that a cat has been on the kitchen bench?”
.
.
.
.
.
.
” There are footprints in the plaster dust!!”
"Mum, I've been sitting here quite a while, can I have a wee nap now?"
Coming soon to a wall near you could be “Dogs That Blog: The ACD Version” – which will be a calendar featuring
the finest heelers in the dog blogland.
That is, according to Norwood!
Ruger & Neve hope to be starring along with their dog blog pals:
and hopefully our fellow Antipodean pal Charlie Daniels from Australia
And not to forget Norwood the heeler with extra fur!!
Funds raised from this little project will go to new Hope Cattle Dog Rescue.
So, we’ve been having a few photo shoots. And here are some not quite contenders for ‘ best photo’ from today’s modelling efforts.
"Ok, I'm done, you took a photo."
He’s home visiting with us at the moment to see how he gets on with the dogs. So far he does not sit still for 2 seconds when I go in to see him (he’s hanging out in the bathroom) so these are the best photos I can offer. He smooches alot and purrs like a jet engine, so he definately loves humans anyway. The manager says he must be someone’s pet, but no one has claimed him after 12 days, so he’s up for adopting.
But the question is: Does he really look like a Kyle?? That was the name he got allocated when he got brought in, so we can change it if he stays.
Slightly better shot
Anyway, if any of my doggy readers out there in cyberspace have hints or stories about introducing adult dogs and cats to each other, now is the time to tell me. No matter where you blog, or if you don’t, you should be able to comment.
BTW – I’d forgotten how cat logic works. He has got a big pile of comfy blankets in the corner. He has chosen to snuggle down on the damp shower tray……….
…. at least, Neve has passed her first assessment towards becoming a therapy pet.
This is a programme that has been operating in our largest city, Auckland, for some time now. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of our little rural town is hoping that we are going to be the second place in New Zealand that has this programme. It seems that the rest homes are keen to have pet visits, and one school is keen to have children take part in the ‘Read to a Pet’ programme.
Future Therapy Pet practicing her smile.
So Neve had a great time at her assessment this afternoon, and smiled and wagged happily through having her tail pulled and ears mussed and wheelchairs run at her, umbrellas opened, people crowding her, meeting strange dogs and people and other such indignities. She failed dismally at ‘not -eating -the –bowl-of –food- randomly-lying -on -the -floor’ when off lead, but everyone’s allowed one failure. (I guess we will have to work on that one a little more!!!!)
Next I have to do some training and pass a police check, we have another assessment within an establishment like a school or rest home, and then if it all works out, she’ll get her own little Therapy Pet bandana, and we’ll be able to start doing regular visiting in whatever establishment we get matched with. We’re looking forward to it!
Link for more information about Outreach Therapy Pets.
Video of some of the Auckland Outreach Therapy Pets. I suggest you turn the music off…….. remember, you have been warned!!! 
Posted in Blue Heelers, Dogs, Pets, SPCA, Therapy Pets
Tagged Blue Heelers, Dogs, Pets, SPCA, Therapy Pets
Cats because I spend the morning at our local SPCA cleaning out cat cages. I’ve only volunteered there twice so far, but have already encountered all kinds of small sadnesses such as the poor pregnant kitten this morning, probably only a couple of months away from her own mother. And another feisty young half-wild cat that came in last week and unfortunately had to be euthanized as it was never going to settle enough to be found a home. And the injured cat that was new in this week – very affectionate and obviously a family pet, but not micro chipped , so it will be only luck if she is returned to her owner if she recovers.
So people, please please micro chip your pets.
And as for dogs: the photo almost says it all. Those that insist on licking the sores on their legs and making them worse rather than better WILL have a cone put on their head!!!! And if they did not fight with their brother, they would not have bites in the first place!
