Elephant Memory

Why is that whenever I walk my dogs, they can remember every dog on the block no matter how long it has been since we last visited?  Forget new smells or sounds, they are always looking for what they believe to be a dog.  Sometimes convincing them there is not a dog is more trouble then just letting them parade around as if possessed.  

In our neighborhood, we have two Pugs that roam our immediate street.  We vary our walking pattern when they are out and on patrol.  They are never on a leash and sometimes will follow me.  The spectacle I must be with my four rounds of walk, each with a different dog.  I know I must confound the neighbors.  Some have had to stop me mid walk and ask if they truly did see me earlier with another pack?  Yes, I always answer and then proceed to tell them that I have four dogs, each that must have a separate walk due to sheer strength and the four combined out weigh me considerably.  People are either astonished or amused when I tell them how many dogs I have.  At this point, my dogs are either sniffing and stimulating their own senses, unaware of their surroundings or barking at the person who is speaking.  I can't tell if it is a friendly bark or a bark stating their frustration with the standing-still situation.  Either way, we do end up leaving abruptly and with me apologizing that my dog really is sweet and they have no ill-will unless they are a cat. 

Then there is the threesome that includes a Dachshund that will not tire up the street on the next block and the black Chow-Chow cross who is walked by a sweet woman who always waves to me even though she must know I live in the house with the dogs who nearly kill themselves on the window when they see her walking.

I don't know if dogs truly have an elephant memory or if it is just the smell that leads them to believe there is a dog nearby.  I don't really think Odus nearly resembles an elephant, more like a hippopotamus to me.

On a side note, this is the picture I submitted to the Bark Magazine for the smiling dogs section.  Keep your fingers crossed that Odus makes it.

This smile was produced when I was making macaroni and cheese, Odus' favorite meal second to french fries. 

New Friend?

We found this little guy on our front porch this afternoon.

This is not the first time we have had a box turtle come to our casa seeking shelter.  Last summer we had one too!  I think this guy might be the same one who we originally named Noah.  It was an odd day last summer where I must have come home with at least three animals.  Charles was fed up with the "ark" we were creating and named the turtle.  Turned out Noah lived down the street and had gone missing two days prior.  How he crossed the street without becoming turtle soup I will never know.  I don't know why they even care for our porch - they kind of have a long climb before they reach sanctuary.  Our neighbors to the west are closer.  Maybe they all know this is animal safe haven and truly appreciate my decorating sense.  I guess we will never know.

Thank goodness we always have green vegetables in the crisper.  We even have a spare cuttle bone thanks to the birds.  I tried introducing him to the dogs this evening.  Take a look:

I am truthfully surprised Odie did not eat him or snatch him quickly and take him to some corner where I could not save him. I read on the Rio Grande Tortoise Club's website that a dog can break their shell and then it is a visit by the Grim Reaper after. All the dogs were quite intrigued with him, Io especially.  She was so gentle and I was not worried about her manners.  Odie was very pushy and I have to push him out of the way when it looked like he was trying to open his mouth!!  Love him but I am the boss.  

Don't know if we will keep the turtle.  We'll see how the weekend progresses.  If anyone has a good name for him, I am open to suggestions!  

Speaking of friends, these two are the best of.  If they could talk they would never admit it to anyone in public.  They are secret friends.  Even though they fight for window space, the best spot on the bed, and who gets what stuffed animal, they are truly besties.  I caught this precious moment when they weren't looking.  When the camera flashed, they promptly dashed.