Finally Friday and Almost 4!

Of course now that Ozzie is spanking clean from his bath he decides he needs a facial and rubs his sour mug face on the garage floor! Good job Ozzie!

We will be celebrating Ozzie's 4th birthday on Sunday. Its also been 2 years since we adopted our Oz. Its hard to imagine a time when we didn't have him in our lives!
I asked Ozzie what he wanted for his birthday and he told me bullysticks, a bunch of them. He is easy to please. I am sure we will have liver cake and party hats and if any of his doggie friends come by we will invite them in to party.


Since July is almost over and the dog days of August are upon us I will leave you with some pool antics of a bulldog named Gus. Looks like he is having a blast with his kiddie pool.

Hope you all have a blast this weekend and maybe get a kiddie pool of your own to cool off in!

Wordless Wednesday...Almost

I had a bath yesterday at "The Doghouse". The ladies there were very nice and I took a little nap while waiting for mom to pick me up. They even put a cool dog bandanna on me! So it all worked out well considering I hate baths!

Timber!

Running from the red deck!

Last week I was still too traumatized to mention it. The pain has dwindled so I will relay the tale.
We had a huge old Maple tree on our front lawn. (Notice I said "had") It was at least 40 feet high and probably older than Ozzie's pop. It provided abundant shade and no doubt home for several birds and squirrels. Though it had issues. It had succumbed to time and displayed signs of rot in some areas. Also it had become an ant hotel and leaned towards the house so if a major storm came along, well enough said. Since it was considered a town tree we called to have them look at it and see if it was healthy enough to remain standing. As soon as they arrived the two men from the DPW looked at it and quickly said that it should come down. I pleaded "Are you sure?!" My reply was "Lady, if that was my house I would want it taken down!" So to make a long story short, they came last week and took it down. All that remains is a 10 foot stalk that looks like a giant middle finger protruding through the earth. Mother Natures way of saying "the heck with you for taking down such a beautiful tree!" Of course this occurred in the middle of the hottest weather of the summer! The sun now beats down on our house unmercifully in the afternoons without the protection of our tree. Any rate they will come back eventually and remove the offending remains and next spring plant a new tree in its place. A sad story perhaps of a life cycle of a tree.
Ozzie is bummed because his front porch is too hot to sit out on in the afternoons. I am sure I will be bummed when we get our electric bill for July!

Finally Friday and to Hot to Trot!

Saying it's hot outside is putting it mildly! The northeast is now in the middle of some of the hottest weather yet of the summer. It was so hot yesterday that I saw two trees fighting over a dog! Rim shot please!
All the kidding aside it's dangerously hot for man and beast. Today's temperatures in the New York metro area is suppose to be 104 degrees with a heat index of 110 degrees! As I look at my thermometer it reads 89 degrees as the outside temp in the shade and it's only 8:15 AM!
As you know heatstroke can kill your dog very quickly. Especially Bulldogs and other short snout breeds. Their narrow tracheas and flat noses make it even more difficult to exchange air by panting. It is recommended when its over 80 degrees to keep your bully in the AC. All the outside that Ozzie has seen is to do his business in the back yard!

Here are some of the signs of heat stroke to look out for in your dog.

• Increased rectal temperature (over 104° requires action, over 106° is a dire emergency)
• Vigorous panting
• Dark red gums
• Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums)
• Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up
• Collapse and/or loss of consciousness
• Thick saliva
• Dizziness or disorientation

To read more on what to do if your dog exhibits any of these symptoms: Here is the rest of this informative article on heat stroke and your dog. (Of course never hesitate to call your vet!)

It would be a good time to make those yogurt pupsicles that I spoke about the other week.
Another frosty treat is to get some low sodium beef broth and pour it into ice cube trays to make some beefsicles.

Whatever you do today hydrate yourself and keep your pup indoors except for the necessary poddy breaks. Stay cool my friends and have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Too hot to go out, too hot to play, too hot to eat......well maybe not that hot!

Don't Rub me the Wrong Way!

There is nothing Ozzie likes more than a good back rub! Well maybe food of any kind but that's a different issue. Every evening when his Pop gets home, Ozzie gets a comforting massage. It got me to reading about pet massage. Massage in general increases circulation, improves digestion, strengthens immunity and provides stress relief. What's more relaxing at the end of a hard day than a massage? Some veterinarians poo poo it saying that evidence is weak of any real benefits other than the attention and affection it provides. But in the meantime pet massage work shops and clinics have flourished. It seems that if it's good for humans why not your dog or kitty? Especially bulldogs who are so ergonomically challenged to begin with it would make sense they could really benefit from massages. Just the look on Ozzie's face shows you that all is good in the land of Oz!

Below is an instructional video on massage for your pup that has been Ozzie approved.

Finally Friday and How Red is My Deck?!

We made it to an end of another week. The weather today is untypically in the low 80's with no humidity which is not the usual New Jersey in July. Actually it's perfect weather!

I am still second guessing myself on not adopting Roxy. I had even talked with Ozzie's vet to get her opinion and she was a little hesitant, mostly because of bulldogs in general. She sited that having 2 could be a lot of work and females tend to be a bit more aggressive than males, knowing very well how to push other dogs buttons, and the cost of veterinarian care. Ozzie is up to 700.00 this month with his check up and ear infection. I feel bad for Roxy and I will call her owner next week and see how he is doing with finding her a new home. I wish that they would keep her. She seems happy there and the owner Dave, who has been working with her really loves her.

My husband has finally completed staining our deck. For the last two weeks between power washing, staining it and waiting for it to dry thoroughly, it has been the "no zone" for Ozzie. The stain still smells a bit which is to be expected. The packaging says it is V.O.C (Volatile Organic Compounds) compliant. Hopefully it will present no issues to Ozzie. He has enough going on! But in the mean time its the red color that I can't seem to adjust to. I made the mistake of letting my husband pick out the stain. It's just so...... red! Maybe over time it will fade some what and become a softer more subdued shade of red. As far as Ozzie is concerned he could care less about the color as long as he can get back onto the deck to sun himself. Maybe dogs are really color blind?! Maybe husbands are too!?

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Meet and Greet - Ozzie and Roxy

We had our second meeting last night with Roxy and her owners. It was still sweltering at 7:30 last night which did not go over big with the Oz. We met again at a local park which seemed like a nice setting and a neutral territory. The two dogs did there obligatory sniffing of one another and than Ozzie just sat there like as if to say, " I'm good, lets go home!" Roxy is an energetic pup the polar opposite of the Oz. Her owner Dave said that he walks her three times a day. Yikes we barely walk Ozzie three times a month! Will came with us to give his opinion, and no, Roxy did not feel the need to attack him. We left the park saying we would get in touch with them and let them know if we would do a meeting at our house.
When we arrived home there was an informal meeting in our kitchen with my husband, Will and my father. They all seem to come up with a laundry list of why we shouldn't take on another dog while I weakly could only come up with a couple of reasons why we should have her. Their main concern is that Ozzie seems to care little about her or any other dogs for the most part. That he would be more content as the lone dog in the house. Of course the care issues and the extra work and double the vet bills etc. I was looking to give Ozzie some canine companionship and motivation to play. I guess being out numbered on this would make it a less than popular decision if I decided to go ahead and adopt Roxy. My only alternative is to let Roxy's family know today that they should go to one of the bulldog rescues and have them find her a suitable forever home.
I guess Ozzie seems content as an only child. Especially as I observe him snoring peacefully away enjoying his undisturbed morning nap! Sigh!

Finally Friday and Room for One More?

Roxy

As I type away I am listening to the sounds of Ozzie contently snoring. His breakfast and morning pottie behind him he is drifting off into his morning nap. I am not sure if the new medication has kicked in but there has been no adverse side effects ...yet!

A situation has presented itself to me. When I was at the veterinarians the other day I was talking with vet technician Tara. She has a female bully of her own and loves Ozzie dearly! Tara told me about a bulldog who is up for "adoption". It's a patient of the animal hospital. Her name is Roxy and the owners want to give her up to a home that has another bulldog or to someone that is familiar with the breed. The reason they have to part with her is that she has developed an aggression to their 19 year old daughter. A very similar situation that has occurred with Ozzie and my son Will. By the way we seem to have conquered that for the time being. If Will announces himself coming through the door and gives Ozzie a treat he has no problem with him. I feel it all boils down to the entrance to the home. If startled or surprised by someone coming into their domain they get defensive. Just my amateur opinion. Any way they have a trust issue with the dog now and feel its best she lives somewhere else. Tara approached me and asked if I was interested. She would take her but her female is a bit of a bitch (pardon the pun) and 2 females rarely work out.

I presented this idea to my husband who naturally had his misgivings. Not only for double the expense and work but for Ozzie's sake. Would Ozzie welcome a another dog, would he be jealous? Ozzie grew up with 2 other dogs in his previous home but he has been top dog for two years now. Roxy they believe is just under 2 years old. She is currently in her second home and has two other dog companions. She is an active pup and likes to go for walks. Direct opposite of Ozzie who prefers power naping to exercise. Would this encourage Ozzie to be more active or just annoy him?! Dogs are social animals and live in packs. Would Roxy allow Ozzie to be top dog and take her place in rank second to Ozzie? If we don't take her they will go to a bulldog rescue to adopt her out. Sounds like this bully deserves her forever home now.

Tonight we are going to meet Roxy and her owner at the park ( a neutral territory) and see if the two bullies get along. I just don't know if this is good thing to do. Another big unknown looms in front of us! Then again adopting Ozzie was a big unknown and we took a leap of faith to add him to our lives and look at the result! Many folks have multiple dogs and it works out just fine! They have each other for company and are perfectly content. This could be a good thing for both dogs....maybe.
To be continued..............................

Vet Recheck and the Casey Anthony Verdict

"I am sleeping and I don't want to hear you!"

It was a trip back to the vets today for a recheck on Ozzie's ears. Unfortunately Dr. Tracey found them still swollen shut. Hearing for Oz right now is like trying to hear through cork earplugs while jet planes are roaring over head! Poor Ozzie! Dr Tracey put him on some new meds including drops and a medication called Atopica. It aids the immune system to not over react to the allergents that are creating the swelling, itching etc. The side effect with Atopica is nausea. But not all dogs experience it. It has to be better than the Prednisone which made him thirsty and caused him to pee on the rug! The only other solution if this situation persists is surgery to remove the ear canal. Sounds a bit drastic to me but lets see what the new medication can do. I just know with the cost of this I am going to be doing my own hair and dentistry for a while!!

Now to comment on the Casey Anthony verdict. As most of the country I was shocked and taken aback on the jury's not guilty decision on the 1st degree murder and lesser manslaughter and aggravated child abuse charges. I thought for sure that the evidence even though circumstantial would point to Casey as the perpetrator of her daughter's death. I have to respect our jury system and conclude that they did not have enough evidence to prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I assume that when she is sentence for the lesser charges of lying to authorities she will get "time served" for her three years in prison and walk free. In my opinion she will always be imprisoned by the situation she created that lead to Caylee's death and the public at large which reviles her and views her as a depraved, selfish individual. Her life will never be normal.
If not this world Casey but the next one you will be judged were God will have no doubt to what you have done!

Tuesday Comments

Ozzie is following me around the house. I guess its getting closer to dinner time?!

My artistic interpretation!

Summer in Full Swing

Ozzie's 4th of July was relatively quiet. My husband and I went to a party at our friend's house and he stayed home with Grandpa. Ozzie was quite fine with that arrangement.
I have some ridiculous pictures of the Oz with red, white and blue lei's around his neck. As usual he detest wearing anything on his head or on his neck.
Sorry Ozzie, its for the blog my little man! Besides a little exploitation never hurts anyone!

The Casey Anthony jury will continue deliberations this morning in Orlando.The prosecutions rebuttal against the defense's final statement was a killer (pardon the pun) and really sent home the state's case against Casey. Now the jury has the daunting task of going through the 27 pages of jury instructions and figure out just what they have to do to come up with a verdict. After several weeks of being sequestered from the world the jury members are anxious to go home but I am sure the system will work and they will take their time to come up with a just verdict. I am just wondering how I will detox from watching this trial which has had me riveted to the TV/computer all these weeks. Maybe I will have to step down and watch Judge Judy for a while?!

Finally Friday and Casey, Guilty or Not Guilty

Last night we had our town fireworks. They were visible and very audible from our deck. Ozzie sat out there and did not flinch once. I guess the bombs bursting in air don't bother him a bit! In fact he looked pretty bored with the whole affair. I suppose it's better than dogs who freak out and panic over the noise!
This 4th of July weekend has a few back yard barbecues on the agenda. The temperatures are suppose to rise close to 90. Ozzie may have to stay home in the AC, but he won't mind that! Which in the long run he will be safe and happy. Check out the link I have included from the ASPCA for Forth of July safety tips for you pet.

Today concludes (hopefully) the month long Casey Anthony trial which I have been watching everyday like some crazed addict. Casey who is 25 and a single mom is accused of killing her 3 year old daughter Caylee in 2008 after she had gone missing for 31 days without being reported to the police. Her remains to be found in a field blocks from the family home 6 months later. Casey's defense team claimed in opening statements that Casey had been a victim of abuse since childhood by her father and brother and suggested the whole incident was a result of an accident in the family pool. Then covered up by the father George Anthony. All the family members, mother Cindy, father George and brother Lee have been grilled by both the defense and prosecution. Their pain highly visible and heartbreaking at times. We probably will never know the true story especially now that Casey has declined to testify. Whatever the outcome will be at the end of the day this is an American tragedy. We have watched a dysfunctional family's destruction on TV and their sadness and loss. Caylee is gone from their lives forever and what has happened with Casey that turned her into a pathological liar and most likely a person who has no regard for human life can never be changed. I will be glued to the tube today and as the beleaguered jury hopefully goes off to deliberate, the American public will more than likely have to wait until the weekend is over for a verdict.

Ozzie wishes you all a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!