Happy New Year 2011!!

This year I hope everything will be a little better than last year.
The whole world struggled throughout the year, and we had many many sad stories and dismal news.

May the people be a little more considerate for the animals.
May our animals be a little safer and happier.
Wishing more animals safe forever homes.

As for us, we are starting the new year with this lucky girl.

ZsaZsa is now officially scheduled to get spayed on 1/3/2011, then go home to her new family. Yeah!
What a great beginning of the year is that!

ZsaZsa and Anko wrestle. They do this over and over and over. Looks like Anko is always it.


More adoptable dogs here!!!! I.C.A.R.E.Dog Rescue

Great news for ZsaZsa!

Looks like ZsaZsa has found her forever home.
She will be living in a very nice neighborhood that's close to a popular dog beach with a sweet lady and two doggy friends.
I am so thrilled for her and thankful that this is happening to our ZsaZsa.
We know she is a special dog who has so much love and energy in her tiny little body.

Sweet ZsaZsa


One thing we have to do in order to get ZsaZsa new-home-ready.
SPAY!
Sorry ZsaZsa, this world is full of homeless doggies we can't afford to bring in more puppies. That's even if we know your babies would be unbelievably adorable and cute.

Once we get ZsaZsa spayed, she will pack up her suitcase and head for the new home!!
And that will be the perfect beginning of the year 2011 for me.

Another cute video clip of ZsaZsa being hand-fed

Hand-feed your dogs

I feed my dogs dry dog food for breakfast.
I cook for dinner for them but I have busy mornings, I consider dry dog food as cereal for them.
They seem to like wet food better, and every morning they stare at the bowls of dry food and look up at me, and sit still.
I don't want to spoil them so I usually just leave them alone, and eventually they slowly eat it, and finish everything by around noon.


Now my kids' school is out, I have more time in the morning. I saw ZsaZsa struggling to pick up small pieces from her bowl, because of the shape of her mouth (?), one morning, I helped her eat by hand-feeding her dry food piece by piece.
She waited for every piece anxiously, wagging her tail, ate quite a lot off of my fingers.
Then, my other dogs came and started waiting for the dry dog food pieces with ZsaZsa, looking enthusiastic.
I was totally puzzled to see their passion for the food they normally pretend doesn't exist, but began to wonder if it was the hand-feeding that was making the boring food hard-to-get yummy treats.
I kept hand-feeding until the bowl got empty. They wanted more.
Weird, totally weird, but fun!
Since then I hand-feed them every morning. Every morning, they eat with great passion and eat a lot.
Once the school starts, I won't be able to do it but it will be good for all of us while it lasts....


Hand-feeding breakfast...ZsaZsa is so cute!

Irresistable mud puddles

On Christmas Day, I took the girls out for a walk in the morning.
It was very quiet everywhere. Everybody must have been enjoying talking with their guests and opening their gifts.

I noticed a gate to a high school field left open.
There was a huge field of wet green grass that was too temping to pass out on.
We walked in, and I let the leashes of the dogs loose.

After that, maybe for a half hour or so, they ran and ran in the puddles going crazy, getting wet and dirty.
Screaming happily and jumping with joy. It was so exciting to see them enjoy living every moment.

By the time they got plenty of fun, they were head-to-toe muddy.
I thought for a moment how I would bring these dirty animals into the house.
We had a couple of guests over at our house and I wouldn't want the dogs to jump on them with their muddy paws.
So I walked some more before we headed back home so they were (almost) dry.

They must have had the time of their lives running in the field, the moment after we got home, they all collapsed on the couch and began to nap.
Anko and ZsaZsa twitching their feet and stomach. Cute.
They must have been still running across the wet grass in their dreams.

The trio waits in front of the bathroom while I take a shower.

Merry Christmas!!

Finally we have a beautiful clear, sunny day! Yeah!

The sun feels good. It’s great to be able to see the blue sky again.

Things we take for granted like the sun and blue sky. You find out how much you miss them once you don’t have them anymore.

This Christmas I will look around and pay more attention than I usually do to things, people and animals and count my blessings.

The important things are not what we normally want to get. Those are the things we already have and take for granted.

I realized it a few years ago, yes, I have known it for some time now, and still I have many battles within myself, with my own greed. Will I ever get over the fear and be happy?

I have dogs that remind me what happiness is all about.

It’s love and care and sharing. I try to spend as much time as I can with them, and they are happy to just spend time with me.

I want to feel like them and be happy like them.

Why do we have to make our lives so miserable that we are always under pressure and have to feel stressed every day.

My happiest time of the day – when I go to bed with my animals…currently 3 dogs, 2 cats and 2 human kids.

ZsaZsa getting ready for bed

Stop, Rain!!!

Still wet.
How can it rain this much? This is 4th or 5th day of consistent rain.
I don't know but one thing I know for sure is it's getting really tiring.
In the meantime, we are getting so used to getting wet in the rain, we just get outside and walk around till everybody gets their business done.

ZsaZsa is doing great with us.
She has leaned to sit and wait for the meal.

Cute!


Also became very good friends with Toby the cat.


They usually wrestle and have fun.

Really hope it will clear up soon.....

ZsaZsa didn't get adopted this weekend

ZsaZsa attended 2 adoption events this weekend.

Saturday in Irvine, and today in Santa Margarita.
Both days when she came home after the event she looked so tired and hungry.
It was raining hard, and cold, and she also had to put up with a long drive going there and coming back.
I felt so sorry for her even though it was all to help her with finding forever happiness.

I was told by a member of I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue if someone decided to adopt her at their adoption event, they could bring her home on the same day, and someone from the group would follow them to their home and do a home check, and if everything went well that she would stay there and would not come back to us.

That means when I leave her at the adoption event, I may not see her again.
I get mixed feelings about that.
I would be very happy for her for finding a home, but not seeing her again ever, would leave us with an empty feeling.

Activities to save dogs' (or cats') lives always come with these mixed feelings.
You are always dealing with happy, sad and angry feelings.
You go face to face with human's arrogance and cruelty.
But it's not us that gets killed by our ignorance and stupidity.
It's the animals. The dogs and cats.
I don't know why they even like us.

ZsaZsa has become comfortable with us and acts as if she is a member of the pack.
She trusts me and follows me diligently.
Such a cute, smart and such a good dog.

She was found roaming in the desert by herself. Obviously she had an owner before.

Is her ex-owner even looking for her??

ZsaZsa gets a treat after coming home from the adoption event.

Wet!

I like cool weather because it's easier to walk dogs when it's cold than it's hot.
But wet, is another thing.
Dogs do hesitate to go out when they see the rain drops falling from the sky.
They clearly show that they want to stay inside.

But you have to take them outside no matter what.
Because they have to go to the bathroom!!

What do I do?
I drive them to the guest parking lot in the back of the building where there is a grassed area and where they often play.
They feel comfortable there so the bathroom time takes only a matter of a few seconds.
It's a 20-second walking distance from our unit to the parking lot, but I still drive there at night and in the rain.
Even in the rain, they run around for a few minutes, enjoy the smell of the rain, tackle each other, and do their business.

ZsaZsa is already getting used to this routine. She can now hop into the car by herself.
I'm not sure if she drove with her ex-owner a lot (I doubt it) but she was scared of getting into the car at first.
I carried her to the seat.

Now she looks excited to see the car door open.
Walks right over to it and jumps in with Ginger and Anko, and stays in the rear seat very quietly for the whole time we drive around.

It's amazing how fast dogs learn new things from other dogs.
ZsaZsa has learned the fun of having friends, wrestling with them, winning a treat first, and more than anything the love of walking!

She was very confused of the leash at first.
Now, after one week since we've had her, she jumps around with joy when she sees her leash.
While it's really great to see that, it's just very natural that she loves it.
It's their instinct. Their life. Their love. Our love.

ZsaZsa finds something good!



I love watching her during our walk. She often looks up at me to check if everything is fine. So cute.
Tomorrow she will be attending the I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue's adoption event in Irvine. 
Someone from the group will come pick her up before noon, and we will pick her up from the venue at 7pm.
It's a long-hour event. Hopefully she won't be too exhausted.
And I hope someone nice will notice her there.


She will be very tired after the adoption event, and will be like this.


Good luck, ZsaZsa!!! We are wishing you the BEST!!!

ZsaZsa - Young Female Chihuahua/Terrier Mix

Meet "ZsaZsa".

She appears to be a Chihuahua/Terrier mix, and thought to be about 2 years old.
She was found when she was wandering in the desert by herself, and brought to a rescue group called I.C.A.R.E.

I am fostering her in my home until she has a new forever home.
ZsaZsa is such a pretty little dog and so lovable. We are in love with her, and are really hooping that she will find a nice family soon.

Here are a few things about ZsaZsa that we have noticed. I will update the info as we find more things about her!

• Shots current
• Will be spayed soon (definitely before she goes to a new home)
• Has very pretty fur. Basically in black and white. Has long white hair around her neck that makes her look like she is wearing a fur neck-warmer.
• Appears to be perfectly healthy
• Potty - We have been taking her outside and she always goes to the same spots to go. She seems to need to go every 1-2 hours. We don't have a doggy door so I'm not sure how that will work with her.
• Food - eats well. She doesn't seem to like dry food very much (she eats it a little). She loves canned wet food.
• Extremely friendly - she has no fear for other animals, and usually walks right over to them. She plays with my dogs and cat. She loves people and acts so happy when she sees our friends, or even strangers in the park.
• Quiet - she is very quiet in the house, and only occasionally barks at the noises outside. Only time she growls/barks a lot is when she is running with my other dogs outside. She chases them and barks like this kind of small dogs typically do.
• Loves walking - the leash bothered her at first. We think she had never walked on the leash before. She now loves walking with my dogs, and is getting better and better at being walked on the leash.

Watch ZsaZsa! (these video were taken on the 2nd day after she came to our house)





In summary ZsaZsa is such an easy-to-take-care-of, happy-go-lucky girl. She is very affectionate, too. We always look forward to coming home to see ZsaZsa come running, wagging her tail like it's going to break off.

If you are interested in ZsaZsa, please e-mail me first. Then we can set a date and time for you to come over to meet her!

After that, if you would like to adopt ZsaZsa, you will have to follow the adopting process of I.C.A.R.E.

Thank you!!

The words that made my day

Ginger, Anko and Toro play while waiting to go walking
Watch Toro's reaction. He looks really comical.



I was walking Ginger, Anko and Toro the other day in a big park in our neighborhood.
That day for some reason there were more people with their dogs out walking than usual. I got to stop and speak three of them during our walk, each of them separately.

Their dogs were all good. They waited patiently while their owners and I talked.
My dogs did well too -  Ginger wanted to play with them and was sniffing and pawing the other dogs to try to get their attention. Anko is still skeptical of stranger dogs and stood still, sometimes gave them soft growls. She did her best though.
Toro - now, Toro. His family considered him to be a rather "problem child" than a "well-behaved good example".

He was thought that he would behave aggressively towards strangers including kids and other animals.
Well, he stood behind us, every now and then he got bored and walked to the other dog and sniffed him, went back in his position, waited patiently - and for the whole time he was totally silent!
I'd say he was the best-behaved dog of all the dogs with us.
Even the other owners, every single one of them commented on Toro's good behavior.

"That's a very good dog, huh? He is so quiet and patient"
"Usually Chihuahuas get mad when surrounded by strangers like this. He's so good"

To me those words meant more than just casual complements.
I was really happy from the bottom of my heart to hear them.
They made my day.

At one point, I feared that his family may think about giving him up for his problematic behaviors.
I knew they were extremely caring and considerate people, and they loved Toro.
But under special circumstances, you sometimes have to make a tough decision.

I see lots of ads on craigslist that go;
"We love her but we can't keep her any more"

While I don't trust those words, you can justify your abandoning your pets by saying it's for financial reasons, moves, foreclosures and allergies...whatever sounds convenient.
I know how many dogs are in the shelters and how most of them don't ever make it out again.

Maybe I was paranoid, but knowing that Toro is a good dog that his family should be proud of, helps me feel better.
I think daily walk with us has given him a sense of confident, and he looks more and more comfortable and secure. The changes are so obvious.

If you know a dog with behavioral problems, you definitely should tell his owner to take him out for walks for a starter.
I can tell it's the best and quickest bonding method for the dogs and their owners.
And a great thing is, the human owner gets to exercise, too!

Toro is making progress...

After Thanksgiving life is back to normal except we will have Christmas in 3 weeks....
Anyway, if you have kids or pets, you don't get to rest. Of course not.
It's what you've chosen to do, so just live with it. I am....

This is our maybe 7th day of walking Toro with Ginger and Anko.
They have gotten to know each other much better now, and although they don't consider each other their best friends just yet, they can tolerate each other perfectly.

This whole thing is for Toro to go out and expose himself to the outside world.
Walking outside, noises, people, cars, other dogs....and he is doing great. Well, of course, it's deninitely a fun training any dog would want to participate in.

He was a little scared of Ginger and Anko at first. They are much bigger than Toro.
He would act like he was so alert and was paying his full attention to every move they made.

Now, he has passed that point and wants to play with them.
Ginger and Anko are runners. They run so fast, wrestle each other and have fun when we play in the park.
Toro tried to tag them along, only to get left behind....well, he is tiny so there is NO WAY that Toro ever could keep up with them when they run.
Yet it's wonderful progress he is making I always watch them with a big grin on my face.

This is how Ginger and Anko play


Today the girls started teasing him by running by him and jumping over him, trying to get him to run, or maybe just trying to tease him.

Ginger is such a teaser that is what she does whenever we go to the dog beach.
She finds the fastest looking dog on the beach and goes and teases him to get him to run with her.
And that's the sign Ginger likes the dog.
So in that sense, too, Toro is doing great. I was so happy when I saw Ginger do that to Toro, only Toro just froze, and stood there like a statue, which was very cute.

Ginger teases Toro


Toro's family said he was very nervous about people passing near him. He would growl and bark, but he doesn't do that when he walks with us.  He's occupied with a lot of excitement.  
Contrary to what the family thought, Toro had turned out to be such a well-behaved, submissive and timid dog.
His behaviors have no problem what-so-ever!

Our goal is to get him to feel more comfortable with things outside, and to trim him down to the size he is supposed to be.
He must have had lots of turkey last week he looks like a more blown-up balloon now.

In the mean time, now that I have room for another, I need to decide whether I go to a shelter and find a dog to rescue, or support a rescue group by fostering their rescue dog. I have to evaluate pros and cons of both options...

Need to hurry because a lot of lives are being destroyed every day, and one counts towards a million in a long run.