Halloween Dogs - Oh, My!

Pumpkin Shiloh

Batty Sheila

Hot Dog Seymour

Lady Bug Mimi

Happy Halloween!  This year, Lady Bug was featured at Busch's Pet Products Howl O'Ween event but I forgot our ladybug costume!  She decked out in a scarf and hat, though.  Photo to come!  Have a very spooky day and night :).

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Hounds to the right of me, Hounds to the left of me....

Allie Mae

Margie

Queenie

Seymour

I am not a morning person to begin with and it does not help to feel pinned down when I want to get up, not unlike Gulliver in Lilliput.  This morning, despite a full new door to my upper 1/2 floor bedroom, I was pinned by 5 dogs who allegedly should have been sleeping in their crates overnight.  Sucker.  Margie was at my left shoulder, resting part way under and on my sheet; Queenie was at my right shoulder, pressed up against it on top of the blanket; Seymour slept on my legs; Betty Boop was solidly pressing my left leg - she was not moving and Allie Mae was imitating her on my right leg.  Consequently, I did not make it to church.  Well, of course, that is just the excuse.  I now find it difficult to sleep "alone."  I had the door put on so I could have some space with no dogs present.  Turns out, so far I tend not to want empty space....sigh.  I did go to church this evening.  I kenneled up a large number of dogs to give my neighbors peace and to help them realize they can be kenneled when it is not meal time.  I had planned to go out for some supper but came home, un-kenneled everyone and had supper at home with Seymour in my lap.  We all walked out about 10:00 PM before final meal - the dogs to pee, me to enjoy the smell and promise of rain.   All are now settled.  I went to let Farrah in with Sadie, but she was out in the yard.   Early morning planned - will see how much chutzpah I can wrangle up. 

 

Betty Boop

Farrah

Check our adoptable dogs - click the label

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Animal Sanctuary founder dies

Animal Sanctuary founder died  refers to my friend and rescue mentor, Judy Haushahn. She was a dedicated person to her dogs, her foster families and her community of Cole Camp, MO. If there is anything good at Silverwalk, it is from her influence. She was fair, truthful and did not tolerate liars. I will miss her terribly. Her only "fault" was she did not like hounds! The last hound she had, though, was Daisy Duke - a lovely Basset who could counter surf with the best of them.  Judy was my voice for references and vet checks.  She had done some type of investigative work, knew what questions to ask and how.  I remember one time, she emailed me and said, give them this dog and me along with him!
 Elvis at rest -thanks, Judy

Judy, Elvis, the dog I adopted from you and the other dogs in heaven are rejoicing now you are with them. What hound-song there must be!  Judy's funeral is on Friday, when I work :(. She requested that well mannered dogs, including her own, attend.

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Lazy, lovely, noisy Autumn Day

I love autumn.  The leaves cover the bare spots and whole patches of ground where the dogs have decimated the grass.  It is the prettiest covering I could ever imagine.  My friend Erin stopped by today to volunteer.  I wasn't ready to work much, so we sat and had a very nice chat.  It is nice when you meet people "formally" who tend to share your passions or at least understand them as you are able to support and share theirs.

When I arrived home from work this morning, it was crisp and cool.  I let the inside dogs out, the outside big dogs in who had had access to the back yard and breezeway all night,  snuggled up in a blanket with a Beagle and space heater and snoozed soundly till noon!  ACH!  Everyone was very ready for "breakfast," myself included.

Cane in Halloween mode - BWAHAHA

 I need to reduce the number of dogs I have here at Silverwalk.  Not only to meet my license requirement but also to best serve the dogs themselves.  When I have 19 dogs on site, in and out of the house, few get the attention they deserve.  I learn to pay very close attn to individual interactions.  For example, for some reason, Cane and Dino don't care for one another.  Ok, Cane doesn't really care for anyone but Dino really drives him crazy and vice versa.  I try to keep one in the front yard/field and one in the back yard.  Doesn't always work.  AND then there is the daily sweep.  I get done sweeping, work on uncluttering my desk by pitching papers and what do the hounds do?  TOYBOX time!!! As I pitch paper, they haul it out, tear it up and strew it across the formerly swept and decent floors.  Sigh.

Betty Boop - 3/4 Beagle, 1/4 Bassett, 100% sweetie

Todd - defender of our land, snuggler extraordinaire

There then is the afternoon bark, er, watch.  The school bus stops about 3:30 PM everyday.  Oh, the greeting it receives.  A neighbor dog, running loose, comes around - he has been here before and will be here again - not new, but we must object vociferously.  I finally brought everyone into the back yard, then crated some for some time out and relaxation (ok, I wanted the relaxation, too), letting them chill from their endeavors to keep Silverwalk safe from whatever their dog brains imagine. 

As I prepare my supper (only second meal of day; remember, I was late getting up, too), I hear Todd making staccato barks....he is not crated....soon, he is out the back door,  only into the back yard, mind you, but making his patrol rounds again.  Todd and Betty Boop are two Beagles I hope never get adopted.  I simply adore both of them.  It really is time to let the crated ones out for a stretch before supper and bedtime.

I am going to St. Louis tomorrow for a lecture.  I just happen to be transporting a dog to her new home as well.  Nice how those things work out :). 

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Roscoe got Adopted!!

Let's see - Roscoe came to Silverwalk from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri via Skyview Animal Clinic on Sept. 30, 2010.  He stayed here for more than a week, but due to his known and demonstrated jumping ability, I moved him to our partner, Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, where there are higher fences.  He conquered those, showed his climbing and mountaineering skills by not only getting out of his pen (frequently) but walking along multiple pen toppers scrunching the leaves and laughing at Alice, the director.  WELL.  Today, Roscoe has been ADOPTED!  To me, he has been redeemed: from pending death to a forever home.  His adopter, ahem, has a large backyard surrounded by a 6 ft. vinyl privacy fence.  Stay home and enjoy your new life, Roscoe - you deserve it!!

Roscoe - to his new home today.  What a wonderful dog!

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

A Nocturnal Walkabout

Well, this is just weird.  Last night, Hoss, the big, loud, loving Redbone Coonhound, pushed his way outside in the dark.   I wasn't worried about him coming home, just what may happen to him in the meantime.   I was up late, intermittently walking outside, calling and listening for him.  Oh, yes, I heard Hoss.   First, he was in the back next to my pasture where there is a lot of old brush and small trees with scads of smells; then, he was in the front, up behind my neighbors, back on the way to the Mississippi, where a couple neighbors used to hunt Beagles.   I finally heard him about 1:30 AM on my front porch - he was very happy to come inside, drink gobs of water and then have supper.  He sacked out on the couch for the rest of the night.  I was so glad to see him - he seemed glad to see us.  I'm sure my neighbors were glad he was home, too.
What is weird is almost exactly a year ago, I wrote about walking a Coonhound,  LadyBird, at midnight - not a smart thing to do as she, too, let everyone and everything know she was out and about.  Sigh.  Plan is to never let this happen again.  Stay tuned.

Hoss - a big, loud, loving four legged kid

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Lovely Autumn - and NO to Prop B

Wow - I did not intend to drop out of posting for this long but have been involved with study and testing for my fiduciary work of nursing, which I love and need to be reminded of that fact occasionally. So this blog and others got pushed to the back.   I did pass my trauma certification which only, to me, means I now need to study more and consistently to be effective.

Roscoe and Dino - trading places

Things have not stayed still at Silverwalk while I haven been hitting the books.  Never!  Roscoe moved out to Safe Harbor where the fences are higher.  He almost promptly showed his skill by popping over the 5 ft. fence in the exercise pen, leaving Garland, his Rottie/Shepherd mix playmate and Alice, the SH director, both dumbfounded.  Effortless.  He apparently ran around, didn't bother anyone as Alice didn't hear any other dogs barking, then came back down the hill into his pen where his breakfast was waiting.  He has since gone to the same jump spot but responded by putting four on the ground when Alice said "NO."  He is an utterly gorgeous, very nice, people loving dog - and very athletic.

Roscoe, Betty Boop - note the very long, ineffective leash on Roscoe

No adoptions but some inquiries - always good.  Dino is back at Silverwalk now that Roscoe is at Safe Harbor.  He has settled in well and is doing better with this pack mix than he was previously.

When I came home from work on Sunday, I let everyone in/out as the case may be, then sat on the front swing in the yard.  Leaves had turned and were falling, giving us a lovely crunch underfoot.  The dogs had done their business, no one else was up and about causing distraction, so we all mingled and sat, sunbathed and sniffed, enjoying half an hour of good weather and companionship before breakfast.  I love watching the hounds intermingle quietly, even not so quietly.  The shapes and purposes of each hound breed is interesting to me.  Silverwalk currently has multiple Beagles, Coonhounds, Beagle mixes, Dachshunds (not for adoption - sorry) and a Husky/Bernese mix with a Sheltie thrown in for good measure.  Oh, how could I forget Margie, the Cairn terror, er, terrier mix aka Mutt Puppy, Dumpster Diver; I was supposed to find a home for her.  I did - right here :).
 

Sheila, lower right, 10 yrs puppy mill momma :(

Here in Missouri, the Puppy Mill state, a Proposition B is on the November ballot.  It allegedly will rid MO of puppy mills.  Read carefully, avoiding your emotional tugs played on by the media.  Prop B seeks to limit or abandon hunting dogs, limits the best breeders while putting them in with the unlicensed puppy mills and frankly, seeks death for many dogs as a consequence if it is passed.  I am sure no one wants dogs to die but this is what will happen.  The money that has gone into promoting and publicizing this bill would have served the MO Dept of Agriculture greatly.  I am voting "NO" on Prop B.  Please read it with your mind and reason first.  If you do, you will understand from where I come.  I already have to say "no room" to so many hounds; if this passes, it will be astronomical. 

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Not the only Barkers

Cane - Husky mix, housebroken, talker

 Update on my phone calls.  Have not seen my letter to the editor in the paper :(.  I did the other night and last night, keep all my dogs kenneled up (I was home, not working those 12+hr shifts) - last night, I heard coyotes for one of the first times this year, then a local terrier...but not my dogs till 1 AM when Jedi was unable to contain his stool and barked to get out of his crate - I felt so bad.  Quiet from us after that.  On the earlier night,  I had let Cane out at 1:30AM to do his business - no barking from my dogs, but lots from other dogs in the area and beyond (yes, indeed, the night air does carry the sound further than normal) plus my neighbor, for some reason, had her car stereo cranked up in her front yard.  So, no noise from us that night but plenty from others.  This weekend will be different as I will need to let Jedi have some space as well as Hoss.  Bottom line: not all barking at night comes from Silverwalk.  

Hoss - nice dog, no indoor voice

I am not quite sure what to do with Hoss.  I have a new dog, Roscoe, in the outside pen.  Hoss BAYS at him - now with better "humor" than the first day.   Roscoe is a lovely Great Dane/hound mix from an evicted family.  He was on death row at our local humane society when I walked in at the right time for him and not necessarily for me (don't need any more dogs right now).  However, he is here, is a delight but will jump 4 feet fences - easily.  So, when not w/me on a leash or w/me on a leash loose in the yard, he is in the outside pen :(.  No photos yet but you will adore him.  Housebroken, good with children.  I have adopters coming this afternoon; though they are interested in smaller dogs, I want to present him to them - so why am I typing when I should be washing dogs!?  A girl's gotta eat.   Have a great weekend - and adopt those dogs.  Thanks for saving lives.

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk recently became part of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk remains in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.