Pichu tried to kill a baby...

... a baby squirrel!
this morning i let the dogs out and pichu ran straight for the mandarin tree where an innocent baby squirrel was foraging and almost killed him. i was screaming like a crazy lady and im sure the neighbors heard. i wonder if she didnt intend to kill him because she had him in her mouth but didnt bite down. i was so upset. it was just a little baby. i dont think ive ever even seen a baby squirrel. he was finally able to get up the tree and she CLIMBED UP THE TREE. as far as she could anyway. i got her inside the house and then went back out. he was still in the same spot and his mom was a few branches above him. he was chirping away. but it sounded kind of muffled. dont know if that's the normal sound of a baby squirrel learning to chirp or the sound of a baby squirrel with a punctured lung. i watched him for a long time. on the exterior he was fine (no blood or anything) but who knows. when i was leaving for work i went back out there and mom and baby were gone. hope they're ok :/

fave pics from week 8 - part 3

such good sitters
6am

we're going to grow up together
kodi

fave pics from week 8 - part 2

sasha & oliver
tico
sasha in basket
where is the rest of sasha's body?
this basket is the best toy ever

fave pics from week 8

tico
oliver morning greeting (6am, everyday). hungry hungry hippos

kodi
oscar and oliver

4/19/08 Puppy Pickup Day - Part Three

New Mommy Melissa and Oliver New Mommy Betsy and Sasha

New Auntie Nannette and Joey
New Cousin Phreddy and Joey Sadly, I failed to take a picture of new parents Ellen and Steve and Kodi :(

4/19/08 Puppy Pickup Day - Part Two

Greg with Oliver in the new Puppy Bjorn
Xmas '08 card!
Sasha! Get in the picture with your brothers and sister!
OK, better than nothing
Tico - already bigger than my mom

4/19/08 Puppy Pickup Day - Part One

last day in the pen!



Kodi found an empty flower pot - best toy ever!

Sasha's first day home

There was a bit of crying in the car, and then some serious romping around with Bunkie, and a good sleep, some more playing, a little walk, and now some more sleeping.

#2 aka Sasha - Birth day pics

2/24/08 sasha was born second (hence his title #2). we had no idea what we would be getting as far as looks and once 2 came out looking almost identical we realized we need to tie ribbons on them to know which was which. then the third puppy was born (his title was mr. brown, real name Joey) and then all the rest looked different so we stopped with the ribbon.

2/24/08 after each puppy was born he would nurse until Pichu started having contractions again. then we'd move them to an incubator box that had a heating blanket on the bottom to keep them warm and keep them out of harms way as she was delivering. this is sasha & oliver in their incubator box.

2/24/08 the 8 of us. all puppies are delivered. momma dog and human parents are sweaty, tired and amazed.

2/24/08 this could be sasha or oliver. a couple hours after birth. pichu was confused by these little being that hurt her so much. she growled at them the first night until her mothering hormones kicked in after they started nursing.

2/26/08 we soon realized that sasha had a big white spot and oliver had a small white spot. if you couldnt see their chest though they were identical.

...and thank you

Thanks to both Natalie and Greg for taking in a dog who might normally be an undesirable (i.e., very pregnant), and giving her a home and bringing her pups into the world (who are perfect!). It takes special people to jump in with both feet and to open up your home to my/our weekly visits.

It's been great and hopefully the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I want to personally thank all of you for providing homes for these little (and sometimes not-so-little) guys and gals. And a special thanks to my incredible wife, Natalie, for devoting nearly every waking moment over the last two months -- and there were A LOT of waking moments-- to the health and wellbeing of each and every puppy!

And now, one of my favorite shots of Tico (the puppy we're keeping)....it's one of my favorites because it was taken around week 3 and it was pretty much the last time I could hold the tubby little guy with one hand! Ahh the mem0ries.

All the best,
Greg

everyone is here!

poor pichu - soooo tired. look how pink Tico's nose is! l-r either Oliver or Sasha, my parent's pup, Tico, either Oliver or Sasha, Little Girl (name still in the works) and Joey.