Princess

Princess crossed the Rainbow Bridge today on my birthday... she was the last of my Bichon Frises... I did have six at one time. Her mother, Lucy was 18 and died a few weeks ago... I'd kept three of her pups from the one time I bred her and Princess was the last at 14. She had a good life but I'm sad.

Zoo's still here

Well, I now have five dogs and six cats... I only have one Bichon Frise left in the family... Princess and she's 14... her sister, Desi, still lives with my good friend, Petchy in Santa Fe but her mother Lucy, brother Spuds, sister Orchid and Uncle Ricky have all crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I have Katrina, the deaf Maltese, Punkin, a Maltese who was left outside all the time but is the greatest pet now and very attached to me as additions to Woody and Li'l Herman and Princess... on the cat side, I have three Persians still... Silver, Cleo and Pinkie and Bella, the Himalayan and two Tuxedo cats just over a year old named Thelma and Louise... or Weezy as I like to call her... if I can figure out how to upload pictures to this new-fangled Google blog, I'll do so... I also have a whole bunch of koi and goldfish in an outdoor pond and they come running to be fed.

Fw: New Cat

My latest addition... a three-year-old Persian... believe it or not, she's white right now with a pinkish tinge around her neck which makes her look like a clown... this picture was taken when they'd just pinked her up with Cherry Kool-Aid mixed with the Cream Rinse when they gave her a bath and it lasts for months... she came with the name "Fluffy" but I think I'll call her "Pinkie" in honor of Pinkie Lee... however, that could change... right now, she's hiding somewhere in the store while she gets her bearings...
*´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·' ¤ Stampo
For a Good Time, visit www.stampo.com

Coming to Las Vegas? Be sure to visit our Las Vegas Retail Store at 1008 E Sahara
just two minutes east of the Las Vegas Strip!

Take a virtual tour of our Retail Store and RubberArt Gallery at
http://www.vivalas.blogspot.com/

Join in the fun at our forum and Mail Art Gallery at
http://www.stampostore.com/forum/

Am I Famous Now?

Am I Famous Now? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was born today. One of 10. My daddy was very famous. I have lots of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she got famous, she has only had puppies. No more loving hands, no more fun trips -- just puppies. She is always sad when they leave her. I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mama and my three littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one day they said I would be famous. I wonder; is famous the same as fun and good times? So you picked me up and carried me away, even though you were concerned about me hiding from you. I don't think you liked me. My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says BE BRAVE. My ancestors were. Did they go to good homes like mine? I'm hungry because I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't bite or snap when the children are mean to me. I just run and play and pretend I am in a big green field with butterflies and robins and frogs. I can't understand why they kick me. I am quiet, but the man hits and says loud things. The lady doesn't feed me good things like I had with my mother. She just throws dry food on the ground, then goes away before I can get too close for touching and petting. Sometimes my food smells bad but I eat it anyway. Today I had 10 puppies. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could play with them but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this hole under the house nursing my puppies. They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and worry my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty. I now have eight puppies. Two got cold during the night and I couldn't make them warm again. They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them out on the porch, we can get some food. Today they took us away. It was too much trouble to feed us and someone came to take us away. Someone grabbed my puppies. They were crying and whimpering. We were put in a truck with boxes in it. Are my babies famous now? I hope so, because I miss them. They are gone. The place smelled of urine, fear and sickness. Why was I here? I was beautiful like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came though I tried to be good. Today someone came. They put a rope on my neck and led me to a room that was very clean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table. Someone held me and hugged me. It felt so good! Then I felt tired and laid over the arm of the last one who cared. I AM FAMOUS NOW. Today someone cared.

Snowball Crosses The Rainbow Bridge

I couldn't find Snowball all day long and this afternoon, I found her drowned in the fish pond... a palm leaf had been covering her body.  Needless to say, I'm sad about her going this way... yes, she was arthritic and old but still got around with her Rimadyl which I just got filled last week when she and my other three Bichons had their Rabies shots.  She was nine when I rescued her... her owner had died and she was going to be put to sleep... it will be seven years ago this Thanksgiving...  I'll miss her hobbling up her steps to the bed... she always slept on the left side of the bed right up against the headboard and would come over for scratching and petting when she felt the need for it...

Thanksgiving

I have a turkey thawing so I can celebrate the Canadian Thanksgiving as well... it was windy here today but warm... I had to turn on the A/C in the store... I'm SO glad I'm out of snow and cold... I re-named my male Maltese Woody today as he reminds me of Woody Woodpecker. Katrina was spayed yesterday and that's quietened her down temporarily. Cleo, the black cat from Hell, is going to have to go back to the shelter as she's got a real mean streak in her and I'm afraid she'll scratch some kid in the store and I'll get sued... she turns on a dime from being a sweetie to a demon. It's a shame as I HATE taking her back there. My mother will be coming in just about a month and she's going to freak when she sees I have eight dogs now! And two cats after Cleo leaves... but I did get rid of the fish... well, inside anyway as we needed the space for more shelves for stamps but I have fish outside in the pond still.

Sugar has developed this dementia where she insists on sleeping in the store at night and I can't figure out why. Herman and Woody are wrestling a lot. Woody likes to stick his tongue right in my mouth and persists even when I turn my head.

Haircuts for all today

My Coton Li'l Herman got his first haircut today and is looking very sleek... I decided there was no way that I could keep up with the constant brushing needed to keep him long haired... I hated having to "torture" him. So he'll stay looking like the Bichons. I've named the deaf Maltese puppy Katrina and the groomers said I'd picked the perfect name for her... LOL She's a little dynamo chewing and digging and the house is strewn with the evidence as is our "office area" in the store. She's a ball of energy, terrorizes poor old arthritic Snowball and wears out Li'l Herman although they have fun playing Tug O' War with toys and chasing each other and wrestling.

Zoo Update

I don't know if I posted about the cat I got from the shelter here hiding for 10 days under my bed and then I got someone to get her out and we moved her to the store where I realized her nose and eyes were running so took her to the vet and got Clavamox antibiotic and nose drops for her... cleared up the cold in a few days but by then, my Persian cat was sneezing and then her nose started running although I didn't think they'd even had contact so I started her on the Clavamox and nose drops and now she's better but the Himalayan has sneezed a couple of times and so far, no runny eyes or nose... the last few days, Cleo (the shelter cat) has gone ballistic if you touched her sides and if you held her, she'd swipe at your nose and turn into a demon although she's extremely friendly and wants attention all the time... sits on the rubber buffet when people are there going through the rubber and follows customers around the store wanting to be petted... so I took her to the vet and of course, she didn't react at all when the vet manipulated her sides but she got a pain shot anyway so that was $68 on top of the $51 for the cold... my $13 cat has become very expensive... her name is Cleo now.

 

And my deaf Maltese got my newish glasses last night and bent the nose grip thingie and chewed a little on one lens so I have to go to Lenscrafters tomorrow and get that taken care of... I hope they don't charge me for it but they probably will.  It's a good thing she's so cute... she has paper torn up EVERYWHERE and the place looks like a disaster area both here and in the store area where she's taken a liking to wrapping paper.  I need to get her spayed soon... maybe then she'll stop humping my arm and the other dogs.  LOL  She is like a cat and gets up on the table when I'm eating and as soon as I put her back down, she's right back up again.  Good thing it's only me eating there... she thinks everyone who comes in the store should hold her and pet her and carry her around ever since a woman did the first day she was in the store and she whines and cries when they don't... I hope she gets over that!  Li'l Herman will tolerate her playing with him for a while but he tires of it as she just goes and goes and goes.   The other dogs are so old, they can't be bothered and Lucy growls at her and Sugar barks at her when she tries to engage them in play... sometimes, when Li'l Herman and Mitzi are tearing around the house chasing each other, Sugar steps in and barks at them to tell them to settle down.  LOL  Bella has been lying low ever since Mitzi arrived but each day, she's more visible... Silver doesn't take any guff off her and comes up on the bed with the dogs and sleeps.  There are other great cats at the shelter but I'll never dare get another one there as they're all sick. It's a disgrace the way the place is run... typical government operation.  They don't know what animals they have or where they are...

Silver walking through the plants.

Silver's taking a dim view of the puppy's antics too!

Yet another look at Princess.

Princess doesn't look too happy about the new puppy...

How could anyone have kicked and abused this little cutie?

A side view of my new baby Maltese, Miss Scarlet.

Yet another bird's-eye-view of my new Maltese puppy rescue.

A little washed out but at least it's a face-on shot of my new baby.

And here's my Maltese puppy... since she's deaf, I can't get her to look at me for a good picture! And when she's suitably posed, I don't have my camera!

My new five-month old Maltese sitting in his chair at the table... she likes to get up on the table too... she's like a cat!

Here's a bird's eye view of my new Maltese puppy...

Lucy with her babies... about 12 years ago.

Li'l Herman at rest.

Li'l Herman's sitting on his chair at the table hoping dinner will be served soon.

Li'l Herman having a rest under a chair.

Animal Update

This little Maltese pup is the cutest thing in the world... I've named her Miss Scarlet. She plays with Herman and chews on my hands like all puppies do and is so inquisitive... checking out everything... she sees herself in the full length mirror and barks at herself and runs away... it's so hard to imagine that she's been kicked and abused and is deaf. I looked and looked under the bed and couldn't find Ebony so had someone younger and thinner come look and he found her and I tried to hold her but she didn't want to be held so he put her in the closet where the food and water and kitty litter are and she's disappeared again but at least I know she's okay and it will just take time... the Maltese thought he was being smart barking at Silver but learned that's not a smart thing to do... Kurt and his wife loved her to death when they were here cat rescuing. She's such a happy bouncy little thing.

New Maltese Puppy Arrives

I have the deaf Maltese puppy and she's a real sweetie... cute as can be!  The dogs have all sniffed her out... she's been abused and kicked... poor little thing.  She hasn't been spayed so I'll have to get that attended to.

Animals

I'm getting worried as I haven't seen Ebony since the day I brought her
home... she needs to eat and get water... I can't find her anywhere and
can't imagine she's hiding this long... I put tuna under my bed and it was
eaten but one of the other cats might have gone under and eaten it there...
Sugar (my rescued from the shelter dog) shows great interest under my bed
which is why I thought she might be there... today, there was a free Maltese
puppy with partial hearing loss advertised and I'm supposed to get her in a
couple of hours... I can't wait and sure hope she's half as sweet and cuddly
as Oliver was when I dogsat him... I still have a special place in my heart
for him and think of him a lot... but it wasn't meant to be... some other
lucky person will get to adopt him. How long can a cat stay in hiding?

A new addition to Stampo's Zoo

Survey Says....



Most popular name... Ebony!  I like it!  So thanks for all the suggestions
and well wishes... I haven't seen her since I brought her home but that's
usual for the first couple of days plus she was spayed on Wednesday so still
recovering... I think she's under my bed as Sugar has been keeping vigil
there and that's what she did when Bella was hiding out after her spaying...
so now I have six dogs and three cats BUT a maltipoo named Ruby is coming to
check out the living quarters tonight so she may be moving in as well if her
owner approves.  And I'm SO tempted by the offers of cockatiels that keep
coming up...

A new addition to Stampo's Zoo

Today, I went to the Lied Animal Shelter to try to find the white and apricot Persian I found on Petfinders... she wasn't there and no one knew what might have happened to her... they've moved the animals into huge tents out in the desert and you have to tramp forever to get to them after gong to the old place at the opposite end of where the animals are now... there were SO MANY cats in there and I wanted to adopt them all... when you come to their cage, they come out and reach out their paw and rub against the bars and put on their best behavior... or they stay curled up in their litter box as it's the only soft area in the place... they may have peed in their little cardboard french fry container of food. There was a big yellow Persian male who was extremely friendly and then a tiny black Persian female who wouldn't get out of her litter box where she was sleeping but I later found out it was because she'd just been spayed yesterday and no wonder... she was a sweetie and declawed both in front and back so I took her for just $13 as she was a county cat... a city cat would cost up to $150 which is ridiculous... I haven't named her yet... Herman has said hello to her but she's hiding now... Bella was quite surprised to see her and actually got down off her chair where she just lies looking pretty. I'm hoping she'll be a friendly cat after she recovers. Blackie?

New Cat on the Horizon?

 

I went on a wild goose chase for the white and apricot Persian today... the shelter told me he was at the Nellis Petsmart and I went all the way up there (saw the Walmart everyone meets at... it was in the same shopping center) and it wasn't there and never had been!  When I called the shelter, she said they had 300 cats and couldn't keep track of them all so it must be at the shelter so I'll try going there tomorrow... I had to take Herman to the vet for an ear cleaning so didn't have time... one of the cats had shit on the sofa and when I wiped it up, there was blood so I took the stool in and they're having it tested for parasites or colitis... sold me some expensive high fiber food that Ineed to feed them.  He suggested Nutro for the dogs which is what Kim had suggested too.  They were all groomed yesterday so are looking very beautiful now... the vet couldn't believe how great Li'l Herman looked compared with when he first saw him.  He's a real fluffball now and was so funny at the vets... wanted to play with every dog that came in.  He especially liked a little long haired dachshund so I might have to get him one of those to play with... he's torn all the stuffing out of his parrot which is his favorite plaything... I just have to say "Where's the parrot?" and he runs and gets it so we can play tug-of-war.  He's such a happy little guy.

Sugar's Pound Picture... she looks so scared and has grown a lot of hair since then... I don't know what she's mixed with... possibly a terrier of some kind. She's sweet as Sugar though and cuddles up to my back as close as she can get in bed. I've learned that the Animal Shelter calls ANY white dog a Standard Poodle Mix so I have no idea what she is... her face looked like a Bichon's which is what attracted me and she's a wonderful dog... I suppose she's a "Designer Dog" since that's what they seem to call all mixed breeds now! If anyone knows what she is, let me know... I've decided she's a cross between a Bichon and a Terrier of some kind.

Stampo with Silver and Li'l Herman at Viva Las Vegastamps!

Ricky's at the back, Snowball is in front of him, Lucy is lying beside Snowball and Sugar is on the left with her head turned away saying "No pictures please!".

This is how many Bichon Frises I hope to have someday!

Princess resting before leaving for a hard day's work at Viva Las Vegastamps!

Sugar says a dog's life is SO hard!

I find it relaxing to just stretch out on the chair...

Don't you think I have a pretty face with blue eyes and a blue nose? Have you ever seen a prettier Himalayan Cat?

This is how I spend my day... Silver sits on the chair at the other end of the table...

Princess's eyes are shining!

I have to clean myself all the time so I can be the prettiest one in the house.

This is my favorite chair and I love to sleep here all day long while Dad and the dogs are at work.

Is that a dog I see over there?

Aren't I the prettiest Himalayan you've ever seen? I think I'm a blue cream point but I'm not sure...

This posing is getting tiresome...

I wish Stampo would take the tags off my cushions even if there is a penalty punishable by law!

I don't catch mice... I just sit and look pretty!

Don't you love my blue eyes? My nose is blue too!

Okay, okay, I'll pose for a picture but there'd better be some tuna in it for me.

Bella's wondering if she's in Africa.

Bella washing her foot... foot in mouth I guess would be the proper term.

Bella's looking at all the dogs and wondering why there aren't more cats in the house.

Bella's wondering where her tuna is.

From the back, we have Sugar, Snowball and Herman... Herman's toy parrot is on the floor... having been thoroughly shaken!

Herman watching Bella to see what she's up to.

Herman looking up at Dad... he just had a bath yesterday and is feeling handsome.

Cat Spaying Ahead!

I have an appointment Friday to get both cats spayed. Bella is driving me crazy with her yowling... she's much louder than Silver was... I couldn't get an appointment at Lied Animal Shelter until the 21st but called the Humane Society and they got me one with an actual vet for the 15th and I'd rather do that than go to the shelter anyway with all the germs there! It's only $5 more... $40 instead of $35... the shelter charges another $20 if the cat is in heat so I hope by Friday, Bella stops yowling and Silver doesn't start if the animal hospital has the same policy! The trick will be for me to wake up early enough to take them... I was up at 6 this morning cutting rubber but then fell asleep again and didn't wake up until after 10 and Herman was sleeping right on top of my chest with his head snuggled under my chin... he ain't heavy, he's my doggie. He's such a wonderful dog... the light of my life... always ready for a cuddle or a rumble. He's so cheerful and happy all the time. Sugar's a sweetie too but she's a little devious... jealous of anyone else getting any attention... both of them like to sit on my big recliner chair in the store with me but Sugar is shy of strangers whereas Li'l Herman just barrels right up to them for petting.

Silver gets a Himalayan companion!

I picked up a two-year old female Himalyan tonight. She's beautiful... a champagne color and very gentle but hiding out somewhere... I introduced her to the closet and when I put in some tuna she was testing out the electronic kitty litter box. She has some mattes to be worked on but not as bad as Silver was. Her name is Isabella but I think I'll probably change that as Anna said she doesn't come to it anyway... I'm convinced cats only come to "Kitty". And then, of course, only when they want to... or when you are near the refrigerator where the tuna is kept.

Think I'll just get them both spayed although the woman tonight had seven of the cutest kittens that were two weeks old... she's bottle fed them since the time they were two days old and were found in a trunk. They had told her she'd be lucky if half of them lived and they all lived. They were mewing and running all over the table as soon as she opened the cage. She works at the SPCA and was at Petco doing dog adoptions yesterday and this woman brought this Himalayan cat up and said her boyfriend was allergic (the usual story) and Anna told her the SPCA is full of cats and can't take any more until some get adopted out and she should take her to Lied and she said she didn't know where Lied was nor Mojave and just dumped the cat there... funnily enough, the cat had got its shots at Lied! So she lied about Lied. I did find out that the SPCA has taken over the Dewey space when the county closed it and not all the dogs got sent to Death Row at Lied.

Orchid was one of Lucy's three pups that I kept... she went blind at seven years old and coped with it amazingly well... she got Cushing's Disease and then kidney failure and died in September 2003.

Snowball, Spuds, Ricky and Princess at Viva Las Vegastamps! Spuds died of a heart attack in May of 2005 and I was devastated as he was a person in a dog's coat... my Bichons have posed for many of the rubber stamps I sell on our Web Site at www.stampo.com/catalog Just type BICHON in the SEARCH box to bring up thumbnails of the pages they're on... and then click on the thumbnail to bring to full size. My dogs are with me 24/7... if the dogs can't go there, I don't go there!

My Bichon Frise, Princess... daughter of Lucy and French Fry.

Heaven

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying
the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He
remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead
for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road.

It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill it was broken
by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing
before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like
Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like
pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got
closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close
enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. "Of
course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right
up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the
traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and
continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another
long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road
which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.

There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside,
leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there". The man pointed to a place
that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate,
and sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he
gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked. "This is Heaven,"
he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope.
That's Hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that
they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."

Auntie Helen has just brought me a silly parrot puppet to play with... I wonder if I can catch it?

This parrot is really starting to annoy me!

Take that and that and that you dumb parrot... you may not be a squirrel but you're just about as good.

I'm gonna pulverize this stupid parrot!

Sugar and Ricky in back... Snowball and Princess in front... Dad moved something on the camera and now we're all pink!

Sugar is looking a little pink today!

Well, okay, you can pet me... but I'd really prefer tuna!

Is that tuna I see coming?

I think I'm beautiful from ANY angle!

Okay, you guys, stay away from my tuna!

Li'l Herman... you stay away from my tuna! It's Mine! You hear me? Mine, mine, mine... all mine!

This is where I come to have my tuna in peace... in the dogs' bathtub... but now Li'l Herman has started jumping up to finish off my tuna that I was saving for later!

We need more cats in this house!

Silver thinks dogs are silly!

Silver's giving Li'l Herman the eye as if to say she's STILL not quite sure what he is!

Li'l Herman's enjoying his new rope moose Uncle Ed and Aunt Linda gave him... now he can play tug of war with Dad with his moose instead of Dad's underwear or towel. His moose squeaks sometimes too! That's Lucy behind him and Ricky's standing on the floor.

And here's an aerial view of Li'l Herman.
From: David Fritz
To: Stampo
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: Herman
I don't think you could have gotten a better dog if you had genetically engineered one. He is so playful and full of life. I remember well not being able to sleep much past 6AM with him... he'd be rolling and romping around on the bed wanting to have his tummy rubbed, nuzzling my armpit and neck, and licking me wherever he could find some bare skin on my arm or chest. When I'd get out of bed, I'd usually find most of the clothes that were in the laundry basket scattered around the walk-in closet floor. He is a "teacher" type personality... teaches his human how to have fun and laugh a little, and most importantly about love, loyalty, and devotion. Most other dogs (i.e. Augie) are "guidance" companions... They will be by your side through life's up and downs, but don't expect them to "teach" you how to deal with those same ups and downs by example. Herman isn't just one in a million... he's one of a kind ... period.

Stampo wrote:
When I had him weighed at the vet, he still weighed 19.8 pounds... they "straightened" the kink out of his hair yesterday so he looks a little bigger... he got a new toy with rope on it and LOVES it... it's a moose that squeaks and we can play tug of war with it... he goes nuts in the morning and wants to play... I couldn't put my underwear on the other morning as he wouldn't let go of it and then yesterday, he had my towel and wouldn't let it go so this morning, he had great fun with his new toy. He's SUCH a delightful dog... so playful and happy... I still can't get over how he just fit himself right in... you fostered him real good!
Stampo
For a Good Time, visit www.stampo.com

Li'l Herman and Silver... love how Li'l Herman lies with his legs behind him.

Li'l Herman had his first grooming yesterday and boy, does he look good... the groomer says they're going to have to muzzle him in the future as he didn't like it at all when they were doing his head and his bum... I said I didn't like it when they did my bum either! She does another Coton de Tulear and says that dog is the same... I wonder how long the curl will stay out of his hair... all got a bath except Sugar who is keeping herself so remarkably white she didn't need one. Silver got her LAST matte out and purred all the time as I was holding her... she's finally out of heat so I need to get her spayed now before she goes into heat again... she wasn't a happy camper and I can't find a boyfriend for her. She's looking very beautiful due to all the brushing I've been doing. Li'l Herman got two new toys today as he's taken to playing tug of war each morning... yesterday, I couldn't get my underwear on as he wouldn't let go of it and today he got my towel and had a tug of war with me with that... yesterday, we had to make a delivery to Las Vegas Art Stamps and there happened to be a couple of big trucks beside us and he barked and barked at them... just like when his foster dad took him to pick up the Bichon in Texas. He's such a little clown. He kisses me on the lips just like Spuds did... pushed his lips right into mine... sometimes a little tongue but most often just a dry kiss... I think Spuds must have sent him to me... he jumps up on chairs just like Spuds did... when I sit at the kitchen table to cushion my rubber, he gets up on a chair and sits beside me... and now he's learned to jump into the dog bathtub where I give Silver her tuna each day and clean out the dish of any remnants left by her... I discovered Silver's original name was Angel which would have been a good name for her... I sure didn't like Skittles!

Lucy's on the bed... Ricky's on the floor and that's Herman's tail in front of Lucy.

Princess showing off her champagne ear.

Princess doesn't look too happy with all the new animals in the house! But she's actually starting to play with Li'l Herman despite her older age...

And here's an aerial view of Princess.

Lucy and Ricky looking in opposite directions from the picture below...

Lucy and Ricky feel a lot better after their bath... Lucy's in the front and is Ricky's sister and also the mother of Princess.

Snowball is about 15 and has lived with us for nearly six years since her owner died and she was going to be put to sleep... she has arthritis but her rimadyl is a wonder drug and Dad has put two steps up to the bed so she can get up easily. Lucy and Ricky find the steps an easy way to get up now too since they're 15 as well... and even Princess has decided to take the easy way up... Li'l Herman and Sugar have NO trouble jumping straight up onto the bed.

Snowball feels a lot better after her bath yesterday.

Sugar the Pound Puppy didn't need a bath yesterday as she keeps herself so white and clean.

Li'l Herman stretching his legs in Texas... eyeing a Squirrel no doubt!

Sugar stays so snowy white we think she must bleach herself! She's the Pound Puppy... behind her is Lucy, sister to Ricky and mother to Princess.

Li'l Herman and Stampo discuss a problem with a a customer's order.

"Well Herman, what's the total weight of the shipment?"

"Let's see now... 1.8 ounces per stamp, and there's 643 stamps in the order... hmmmmm... hmmmmm... carry the 1... hmmmmm... round up... and the answer is... hmmmmm... I'VE GOT IT! Elevendy-seven ounces... just a tick over 73 pounds!"

Silver still thinks the dog to cat ratio is too high!

Li'l Herman with three of his new Bichon family... Ricky, Snowball and Princess.

Li'l Herman checking out what Sugar has been eating...

Li'l Herman and Princess... Li'l Herman is the one with the black and champagne spots.

Just room for Li'l Herman to squeeze in with Stampo on the chair and help with the work at Viva Las Vegastamps!

Li'l Herman sitting with Stampo on the chair in Viva Las Vegastamps!

Silver's reaction to Li'l Herman's Arrival

Li'l Herman looking for squirrels in Texas

Li'l Herman Running

Li'l Herman looking pensive

Li'l Herman Stretching

Li'l Herman's letter to Daddy Wayne and his bio

5/27/05 Letter came Snail Mail

Hi Mr. Wayne,

My name is Lil’ Herman. I am so happy you have adopted me, because I want so badly to have a place I can call home and a family who will love me, I can barely stand it.

Let me tell you a little about myself. As you know, I was lost and couldn’t find my way back home. One day, a man in a uniform picked me up from the streets and took me to a cold and scary place that had a lot of other lost dogs there. We were all so scared. A few days later, a nice woman came and looked at me, and took me to her home where there were a lot of other dogs living. This nice woman shaved off all my dirty and matted hair and gave me a good bath… it felt so good. I enjoyed living at this woman’s home. There were food and toys around all the time. I just loved having food and clean water whenever I wanted, because it was pretty hard to come by when I was lost.

One day, a man came and took me to a house that had a fluffy white dog already living there. His name is Augie Doggie, and Augie seemed to have everything I had hoped I’d have one day… plenty of food and water, lots of squeaky toys and chewy things, and a great back yard with big trees and shade. I soon discovered these little furry animals that ran around in the trees and on top of the fence. My foster dad calls them squirrels. I try real hard to catch them, but they’re pretty darn fast runners, plus they can climb trees really good. Maybe one day one of them will be sleeping or busy doing something else and I’ll catch em’.

My foster brother, Augie, was a little jealous of me at first because he was used to getting all the attention from my foster dad. But the longer I lived at his house, the better he seemed to like me. We’d chase squirrels together several times a day, and sometimes would chase one another around the house. I still like to take his squeaky toys from him, but he has so many, that I can’t possibly guard them all. When I first came to Augie’s house, I spent the first couple of nights in a cage, then my foster dad started letting me sleep in the bed… holy moly what a great feeling! I just love to stretch out and roll around in that bed, then fall asleep next to my foster dad. He holds and cuddles me so good and it makes me feel so safe and loved. He also lets me sit in his recliner chair with him and fall asleep on him for some great naps. Another thing I’ve learned is that when he walks into this one room with a lot of small doors and food smells, there seems to be something good to eat in everyone that he opens. As you can guess, I stay pretty close to him whenever he walks around… I just might get a tasty treat.

Sometimes, we go for a ride in his car. I just love to ride in the car. One day all three of us spent the whole day in the car. We traveled 700 miles in order to rescue a little baby Bichon puppy whose owner couldn’t care for any more. The trip was great. I didn’t get sick at all, and I think I chased away about 100 big trucks while we were going down the highway. We would come up beside them on the road and when their big tires got a little too close to our car, I would growl and bark at them and pretty soon they would be gone. I guess I just had to teach them not to mess with us.

Another thing I love to do is go for a walk. Whenever my foster dad brings out the long, red leash, I get all excited and start wiggling around, because I know we’re going for a walk, and I can hardly contain myself. I walk really good on a leash, but my foster dad still needs a little practice. Somehow, he seems to be pretty good at getting the red leash wrapped around my feet while I’m trying to lead us down the sidewalk. I suppose with some practice, he’ll learn to do it better.

I’m pretty happy at my foster home, but know it’s only temporary because he has to help other dogs, like me, find a home. I’m looking forward to living at your home and being a good dog for you and all my new step-siblings. I still need to learn a few manners, and hope you will be patient with me while I learn the rules of your family. I had a little separation anxiety at first when my foster dad would leave the house, but he taught me how not to have it. If I have a relapse, you can ask him how he fixed it for me. Like most dogs, I love table scraps, but I also like my regular dog food too. I’m easy to please, and am a loving baby who just wants to be safe and loved. Thank you for adopting me Daddy Wayne.

With love,
Lil’ Herman

Li'l Herman's bio on Small Paws Rescue:

Hi! My name is Li'l Herman! Can you tell I'm one happy fluff? I have a zest for life! You could say the world is my oyster. I am 1 ½ yrs old and weigh about 12 lbs. I was a lost puppy that ended up in a scary shelter but I was rescued just in the nick of time! Boy! Was I a mess! I was one big matted furball. Well, after my extreme makeover I felt and LOOKED like a different dog. My hair is still a little short right now because they had to shave me down but it's growing out nicely. I have some patches of gray here and there. My foster dad says I'm adorable in a clownish sort of way.

Since my release from "jail" I have made it my main mission in life to have fun and soak up all the attention I can get. I am very outgoing, playful, and friendly. I'm a brave boy too- not scared of nuthin' ! I like other dogs just fine and I like to play with and chase my squeaky toys. My all time favorite hobby is to chase the squirrels in my backyard. They are fast little things! Someday I hope to catch one!

I love to snuggle, cuddle, and most importantly receive belly rubs. I follow my foster dad everywhere he goes. I'm very curious. I am housetrained! Really, I am!! And I'm learning manners like "down". I walk okay on the leash but I sometimes get wrapped around my foster dad's legs so I could use some training and practice in that department. I'm a quick and eager learner.

My dream is to someday have my own forever home. (Well that dream and the squirrel catchin' dream.) Are you the one that will make my dream come true?
P.S. Don't worry if you don't have squirrels for me to chase at your house. I'll find another hobby. And if I catch me a squirrel soon I'll bring him with me to live at your house!

On Thursday, May 26, Li'l Herman flew into Las Vegas and into my heart from Houston, TX via Continental Airlines... he's a Coton de Tulear and not a Bichon but my four Bichons Ricky, Lucy, Princess and Snowball don't mind at all... even my newly adopted Persian cat Silver thinks Li'l Herman is pretty cool! Sugar is also a recent adoptee and has been my shadow since I rescued her from the pound but she's learned to share Li'l Herman with me too... she sleeps against my back and Li'l Herman sleeps against my front... he even likes sleeping under the covers with his head on my shoulder like Spuds used to... he sits on my leather recliner chair with me all the time in the store. If I have to get up to wait on a customer, he follows me and then is back up on the chair before I can get to it... he runs and stretches just like in the pictures and he loves to play... even knows how to chase a ball and bring it back... something my Bichons weren't interested in doing... he's a joy! I don't know how his foster Dad was ever able to give him up.

******5/28/05

Thanks for the update on Herman (you can never send too many updates as far as I'm concerned). It's so comforting to know he is transitioning so well. It sounds like he is truely settling into his new home with you. I hope he and your other dogs are getting along... although it can take a little while for multiple dogs to settle on their own set of boundries. I hope Herman is the loving cuddle bug you were hoping for. And yes, I really do miss him... he has such an addictive personality. I think Augie even misses him in an odd way. Thursday, he seemed to be a little puzzled over how quiet the house was, and yesterday, for most of the day, Augie would stand up and put his paws on the arm of the chair I was sitting in and look at me (his normal way of telling me he wants to go outside) about every hour (normal schedule is about once every 6-7 hours). Augie would then walk around the yard and trees as though he was looking for Herman... where's Herman, because Herman would normally lay down at the base on one of my two huge Oak trees and wait on the squirrels. It was so cute but so sad at the same time. I guess, given a little time, we'll all adapt and have many happy memories. I suppose another round of fostering will help ease the feelings and re-focus our attention on helping other dogs in need of a home. Herman was my first foster and he'll always hold a special place in my heart, not only for being the first, but for being Herman.

The little 4 month old female Bichon baby we drove 700 miles for is doing great with her foster family. Her and Augie started playing and chasing one another around the house as soon as we got home from the trip. It sounds like she and the family's other Bichon are inseparable... almost from minute one. The foster mom says she doesn't have room for another dog (she already has 3 other dogs of her own) and will put her up for adoption once she is old enough to be spayed, but I suspect she'll end up wanting to keep her. She is very friendly like Herman and likes to cuddle, and is a little bossy... supposedly doesn't take anythng off anybody just because she is tiny. I kept her for the first night because we got in so late, and I intended to cage her for the night to keep her safe from the Augie and Herman, plus prevent her from pottying althrough the house, or chewing on an electric cord or something. Well she made it clea r she would have no part of the cage business... man, what a set of lungs that baby had. I'd thought she'd gag herself. Next I took her from the cage and cordoned her off in the dining area with a portable dog fence and went to bed. Again more blood curdling screaming. After about 5 minutes, she got real quiet, and I figured she tired herself out. The next thing I new, I felt something tapping the side of the bed. At first I thought it was Augie, but when I looked, it was the baby Bichon trying to get on the bed, so I figured what the heck, and helped her up on the bed and we all fell asleep... Herman against me on the left, the baby against me on the right, and Augie on the floor in the closet. It was great. Whatever the outcome, someone will end up with a fantastic little Bichon.

Li'l Herman... my new Coton de Tulear

5/29/05

My Bichons won't let me touch them with a brush... the groomer says they're so well behaved for her that I can't imagine it... his hair is wiry curly and the brushing makes it a little straighter... the ones in the pictures have been brushed to death obviously, but I can see why he needs to be brushed as it would definitely get matted easily if you didn't... I got a dog brush for Christmas from my brother and hadn't taken it out of the package as I knew I'd never brush the Bichons... so glad I kept it as it's perfect for li'l Herman... it's strong and when you are finished, you push a button in the middle and the bristles retract so all the hair is released. Bichons have a silky feel and he's got a totally different feeling coat... almost like velcro. Li'l Herman ain't afraid of nuthin'! It's amazing how he just fitted himself right in... lots of confidence... the poor little white dog of unknown origin I rescued hid in my store for two days before coming and poking her head into the doggie door into the house to see if it was okay for her to come in... I took her turkey and everything I could think of to try to lure her out but she had to ease herself in on her own terms. She regressed a little when Herman arrived as she felt displaced but I've been giving her special attention too and now she's lying right up against me again... she's at my back and Herman at my front and the cat comes up on her side and meows for attention... the other four just loll about enjoying their old age... every once in a while, they'll come up and ask for a little petting and scratching but I didn't realize how independent they are until I lost Spuds who was hogging all the attention.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2005 12:33 AM
Subject: Re: Emailing: coton-country
Looking at the pic of the Coton de Tulear breed explains why Li'l Herman's hair has some gray patches, especially on the ears. Is his hair straight? The pic of the Coton looks straight- maybe that's just adult show coat.

My little foster girl, Janie, looks so much like him in the face. I know she's Bichon but she has the same expression. I wish she were outgoing and not scared though.

5/26/05

Li'l Herman is definitely a good watch dog with a good loud bark if he hears
something outside... he's "interested" in the cat but I've told him she's
not a squirrel and he's made no attempt to chase her and she doesn't seem to
realize there's yet another dog in her life... they all look the same to her
I guess. She was up on the bed purring and getting petted while Sugar and
Herman were lying right up against me... the web says they only need bathing
twice a year but I doubt that... they're supposed to be brushed two or three
times a week but not scissored so my groomer will have an easy job...

One of the rarest breeds, the Coton de Tulear comes from Madagascar, where
the breed was originally restricted to ownership by royalty. Later, the
social elite were allowed to own the breed, but it is still known as the
Royal Dog of Madagascar. The dog is named after the island's port city of
Tulear, and called Coton because of its cottonlike hair.
A small dog with dark eyes, long lashes and lots of charm, the Coton has a
winning smile. Its coat is long, dry, oil- and dander-free, and has no doggy
odor, so it is a good choice for allergy sufferers. It is kept tangle-free
by brushing or combing several times a week, and shedding is minimal. Color
varies from white, white with champagne highlights and a dusting of black
hairs, to white with a few yellow or gray patches.
The Coton stands 10 to 12 inches at the withers and weighs from 12 to 15
pounds. The breed is said to be intelligent and affectionate.

Lil' Herman's Arrival

My li'l Herman is attached to me at the hip already... he's so SMART... already figured out the three doggie door system and if I have to get up out of my chair, he's back up on the chair before I can sit down to make sure he's right there to sit with me... what a little charmer! I've wanted a coton de tulear so badly and now I have one!

He was excited to see me as soon as I got him at the airport as if he knew... I put a leash on him and he had a pee and then sat on my lap all the way to the store... alternating between looking curiously at everything out the window and lying his head down on my lap... I imagine he was tired from his trip but he was still excited about all the buildings and cars... guess he knew he was in Las Vegas... I'll have to take him down to the Strip to see all the lights. He and the other dogs had no problems at all and he peed twice in the yard and then peed in the store as well to mark it and when we came over to the house, peed here too so I told him that was it... that everything was marked now! He's so smart that I do believe he knew what was happening this morning and you must have been so sad... I had to drive one of my Bichon pups to the Union Plaza hotel to go to a friend of mine in Santa Fe and it was all I could do to keep from just turning around and heading back home with her. I sort of suspected from the description that Li'l Herman might be a coton de tulear but was positive as soon as I saw him... his hair has a very different consistency from a bichon's but of course, they're closely related... some of the stuff I've read say they only need a bath twice a year but I'd be surprised at that since my Bichons get dirty in a couple of weeks... we'll see... I and everyone I know thinks of him as Li'l Herman so I think that's what he'll stay for sure.

Thank you, David, for sharing him with me... now that I see what a sweetie he is and so gentle, I can imagine how much you miss him... and Augie too... I swear they know what's going on more than we give them credit for. I'll definitely keep you updated...

The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
Shortcut to: http://www.molalla.net/coton-country/

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 2:28 PM

Subject: Fwd: Lil' Herman's Arrival

Hi Wayne,

I was so glad to hear Herman made it to you in good shape. I couldn't help but worry about him and all the commotion he was experiencing. I know he will settle in pretty quick with you and your clan of fluffs. I had him a little less than 5 weeks total and he acted more at home every day.

Augie Doggie was even warming up to him, except he still didn't much care to be in the same bed with Herman (Herman likes to own whatever free space there is, so Augie just goes and sleeps in the closet). However, they would eat and drink out of the same bowls, romp in the back yard, and go for car rides like best of buds. And just like Augie, whenever I brought out the leash, he was just beside himself with excitement of going somewhere... anywhere. Herman still liked to take any toy from Augie if Augie showed an interest in it.

Yesterday, in general, was pretty gloomy, yet at the same time happy around here... knowing it was Lil' Herman's last day here, but knowing he was heading to a permanent home with you. I had really gotten attached to the little guy. I believe Herman was probably picking up on the vibe also, as last night in bed, he was stuck to me like never before. I couldn't move without moving him first, and even stranger yet was that Augie slept the whole night in bed with us. Almost like he knew he was saying goodbye to Herman. And to top off last nights' strangeness, on the way to the airport this morning, it was still dark outside and Herman was lying down in the front seat totally relaxed and still, and I was petting him, when all of a sudden, he got up and crawled into my lap and started barking. We were about 3 miles from the airport when that happened, and I couldn't help but feel that he telling me goodbye, speaking to me the only way he knew how.

Lil' Herman was the first dog I ever fostered and hopefully won't be the last (however, I'll have to get better at sending them off to a new life). By the way, feel free to rename him if you'd like. His name when I took him in was Turner, which I didn't think fit his looks. About three weeks before I even thought of fostering a dog, I got the name Herman stuck in my head for some reason and couldn't stop thinking about it. It's sort of a case when you get a tune in you head and can't quit singing or humming it... for days or weeks. Sort of haunting-like. Well when I first laid eyes on Turner, I knew instantly, right then and there he was a "Herman"... he looked like a Herman, with his gray ears and weird eye pigments, a little clownish in a good way. That's how he became known as Herman, but if you don't like the name, it's no offense to me if you change it.

Wayne, I wish you and Herman, and your other pooches all the joy and happiness possible, and hope he can help soothe your heart after the loss of your other fluff. The little guy really left his paw print on my heart... just like I know he also will on your heart. I think that is his mission here on Earth. He is so full of love for humans, you can see it in his little soul when looking deep into his eyes... it's incredible. If you ever get a chance, I'd would be so grateful for an occasional update on how you all are doing (I'd love to see a picture of him once his coat is fully grown out and groomed. I bet he'll be more adorable than ever... if that's possible). I know you'll take good care of my Lil' Herman... and he'll take good care of you. Thank you for opening your home and heart to him.

Dave

How Could You?

When I was a puppy I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent and roll me over for a bellyrub. My housetraining took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed, listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams. Together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog or cat, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table, rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?" Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. With my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not meant for her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.