Where the Wild Snorkies Are – A bed time story for naughty doggies!

By Storese Meatstack as told to Opie’s Mom

Inspired of course by Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are – Our family’s favorite bedtime story!

The night that Opie put on his Human suit and made mischief of one kind

And another

His mother called him “WILD THING!”

And Opie said “I’LL EAT YOU UP! Or GRRRRRRRR!”

So he went to bed without eating anything.

That very night in Opie’s crate a blanket forest grew until his ceiling hung with soft flannel and the wall became the world all around and a freeway tumbled by with a private van for Opie and he drove all through a night and day and in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are.

And he when he came to the place where the wild things are they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws. They also yipped their terrible yips and barked their terrible barks and howled their terrible howls!

Till Opie said “BE STILL!” And tamed them with the magic trick

of sniffing all of their butts and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all

and made him King of all wild things.

And now, cried Opie, “Let the wild rumpus start!”

Play Wild Rumps Video Now Please

 

 

“Now Stop!” Opie said and sent the wild things off to drink water.

But Opie – King of the Wild things was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.

Then from far away he smelled duck, potato and liver treats and little boy feet.

So he gave up being king of the wild things

But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go we’ll eat you up – we love you so!”

And Opie said, “No!”

The Wild things yipped their terrible barks and howled their terrible howls and sniffed each other’s butts, but Opie got his leash and caught the magic van ride home

And drove back over a year and in and out of weeks and through a day and into the night of his very own home

Where he found his supper waiting for him

And it was still…. In the bowl!

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Snorkie Report: Rattle Snakes in My Town? OMD!

A Snorkie Public Service Announcement

Hi all,

Opie here,

Mama was reading an article in the local Culver City newspaper. She’d give you the link, but for some reason this article is not online at their website. The article is about rattlesnakes. Evidently, here in Southern California, we are entering a danger zone regarding these snakes. We are about to enter rattle snake season. I’ve never seen a rattlesnake, but Mama has. She grew up in Texas. She’s seen a lot of scary snakes — Water Moccasins, Rattlers, as well as Copperheads. Lori Fusaro, the author of the article states that “300,000 dogs and cats are bitten by venomous snakes every year.”
Yikes, that’s enough for Mama and me to take notice.

We live in the city, but weirdly, Culver City is very creature filled. We have opossums, raccoons, foxes and the occasional coyote in and around our town. Culver City is also home to several feral cat colonies as well.

I know there are at least two on my street. I have a hard time keeping them out of our yard. Mama says before I came she was usually good for can of tuna for the little grey tabby, who has had about two litters that my mom knows about. Mom is allergic to cats so she keeps her distance. Mrs. W. down the street feeds a big white and brown tom. Bottom line — we have a lot of critters. It stands to reason we have rattlesnakes as well.

Just above the dog park, my beloved Boneyard, the people park is full of hiking trails. It’s very woodsy and isolated up there. Mama says people hike and run up there all the time. It’s a perfect place for rattlesnakes to live because it is quiet and uninhabited – a true mini wilderness with plenty of game and peace and quiet. We won’t even mention our L.A. friends who live in the canyons. They definitely have snakes! L.A. is kind of weird. It’s dry and lush at the same time. Nice quiet hot dry spots for snakes and nice shady nooks for other types of critters too.

Mama’s not a hiker, but she has lots of athletic friends who like to hike and bring their doggies too. Lori Fusaro’s article in the Culver City News was an eye opener.

Here are the key facts from her article. (This would be so much easier with a link! Sigh!)

1. Rattlers come out of hibernation in the Spring when they first emerge from hibernation and in the late summer. (Okay, clearly entering that period)
   
2. Rattlers are active at dusk. Think about the time you and your doggy go hiking!
   
3. If your dog gets bitten, take him immediately to the vet (Horn honking crazy time here. If you have a siren – USE IT!)
   
   1. Carry your dog because the venom effects them quickly.
      
   2. Smaller dogs are effected even more quickly. (Gulp!)
      
4. Do not try to suck out the venom. (Don’t try it on humans either – stupid westerns!)
   
5. Don’t put ice on the wound.
   
6. Soap and water are good to clean the wound with.
   

If your Mama or Daddy is a big hiker, you all may need some special dog training classes on how to avoid getting bitten. There are trainers that specialize in this. (Think of this as an opportunity for MORE TREATS!) Lori didn’t have any specific recommendations.

Oh and here’s good news and bad news – Good news -- there’s a vaccination that dogs can get that can lessen the effect of a snake bite. Bad news – yes another &%$@ shot. However, I think I’d rather have a shot than be bitten by this loud viper.

So all you guys be careful out there! Mama and I will stick to the city sidewalks and the dog park, but you nature  freaks lovin’ types take heed. Be careful!

Many thanks to Lori Fusaro, author of “Rattlesnake Season is Coiled to Spring,” Culver City News, 4/21/2011, page 11

Another good source of info is PetEducation.com.

Your Pal,

Opie

How I spent Wednesday at Doggie Central

While my family pined away for me

Hi All,

By the time most of you read this today on Thursday. I will be home with my family, probably fresh from a bath! Mama never managed to get the webcam to “save as” the pictures of me at Doggy Central, but Gregory did show her the “snip it” feature on the computer. So we do have some photos.

I’ll let the web cam stills tell the story of my day at Doggy Central.

First, let me say, that I didn’t want to leave my Mama when they dropped me off. I tried to lower my center of gravity and… well I had to be dragged out. I did not really behave in a “dogly” fashion.

However, once I was there… there were so many butts to sniff and bizarre toys to climb on that I ended up having a decent time. I was kind of tired from the dog park. So, after dinner and some of my duck stick bits, I was kind of sleepy.

You see these little blue beds. We can sleep on these. Some dogs take naps during the day on them. I had a blanket last night. Mama told the lady that I’m used to sleeping in the bed with them. I can’t bring my own toys or blanket, but they gave me something warm last night.

Some dogs were kind of noisy during the night. It was not as quiet as it is at my house. Of course, once Mama and Daddy start snoring maybe it’s not all that different. I did manage to get some sleep, but I’ll admit I got up and walked around a little bit.

When I woke up the next day, I had my familiar breakfast of kibble. Additionally, I got a special bonus. One of the guys took me for a walk. I was really excited at first. I thought he was going to take me to my Mama. Unfortunately, he didn’t. When I got back, there were more doggies there and we played a bit.

I really enjoyed playing with the three white poodles. They come to Doggy Central all the time. In this picture we are trying to see what’s going on in the other small dog room. One of our attendants was over there. She smells like treats!

There are four big rooms of dogs at Doggy Central – two small dog rooms and two big dog rooms. I’m in the smallest small dog room. The other small dog room has bigger small dogs in it. Mama likes me to stay with the little guys. I don’t mind. The some of the bigger small dogs are actually big dog puppies and not really that small.

Maybe because I was so tired from my noisy neighbors, my walk or just missing my Mama. I finally just had to lie down and take a nap. Mama told me when I got back that I should try and stay in the line of site of the camera.

I was really in line this time. I was “dog” tired!

Of course, this didn’t last long. I was back on my feet in no time at all. Dogs were always running around, barking, and our attendant was frequently on our side of the wall mopping up our little puddles and picking up our little “offerings.”

As you can see, I’m worn out for a moment.

But it didn’t take long for me to perk up to see what was going on.

Mama says that this trip was to accustom me to being at Doggy Central. She wanted me to understand that she will always come and get me. She doesn’t want me to feel abandoned when or if they go on trips.

Well honestly I don’t feel abandoned at all. The other dogs are fun and interesting to play with.

The people are nice enough.

But I still will miss my family and be glad when they return.

Lovin’ Life at the Dog Park!

 

A picture is worth a thousand words! And here are a few of mine on the subject of the dog park.

 

 Opie loves the dog park!  Here he is doing the whole getting acquainted butt sniff thing!

Getting to know you, getting to know all about your, hmm, hmm.. cup of tea..

Our little city has a great little dog park. We call it  “The Bone Yard”  I think it’s cool even though shade is at a premium in this park.  This park is the result of  a positive grassroots movement of pet owners that really worked hard to make the city get this thing “up off the ground.”   That’s not only cool, but rad as well!  It is a monument to pet advocacy. I feel uplifted every time I go even though when it was really being put together I had no pet and can claim zero credit for the parks creation.  

Those Kudos go to our local Friends of Animals community organization!  Bravo! Bravo! Bravo.

So what’s so great about the Bone yard?

Well, it’s divided into two sides — one for dogs under 25 pounds and timid dogs and dogs over 25 pounds. All the really humongous dogs are on one side of the fence and the itty bitty guys and timid guys  are on the other side.  Sometimes you see big guys with little buddies on the big guy side of the fence Opie certainly shows some interests in a particular big reddish labrador looking doggie over there. They sniff each other through the chain link fence. 

Hey Dude, How're they hangin' .. Oh sorry..they're not.. Awkward!

There are just a few rules for the park.

1. All the pups must be fixed ( This is not a ’60′s love in for pups!)

2. All dogs have to be licensed ( and the requirements for that are totally reasonable and the license is only $25) See my previous posting  about pet licensing. I am an advocate of that!

3. And if your dog is aggressive, ornery or just nuts.. don’t bother bringing him/her. The Bone Yard is all about friendly romping and good old fashioned butt sniffing. Cujo will have to stay home and chew on his mama and daddy for kicks.

4. All dogs must be OFF LEASH within the BoneYard.  At first this didn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I noticed that dogs that come in on leash with nervous owners are really fearful and harassed by the other dogs. The owners end up tied up in their own leash from their dogs nervous circling .   Last week, two young women entered the park with their little poodle. They kept her on leash and she tied them up. I started looking for cameras. Surely we were being punked.  At the time, I didn’t have my camera or you’d be in for a treat. 

It’s really great to see the dogs roaming freely all over their section. Some folks take the opportunity to pay good hard games of fetch with their pooch.  The doggies fetch, run around, play, wrestle or just hang out under their owners bench in the shade.  There’s fun lovin’ in the air!

The park boasts a really good little doggy and people water fountain.  My only problem with it is that sometimes sand gets in the doggy part. I always scoop out all the muck and rinse it as best I can. Some owners are a little more concerned about that muck.  So they bring little portable doggy water bowls with them and fill them up on the people part of the fountain.  Now the picture I have here is not a picture of the fountain at the Bone Yard, but its the same type of thing.  Ours looks a little lower. I think the one on the big dog side is like this.

Image by brododaktula via Flickr

 

The rest of the rules are no brainers extrapolations from plain old good manners. The rules are clearly posted at the park and also at the on the Friends of Animals website. So, really there is no excuse for breaking the rules. People have donated pooper scoopers and lots of people pick up after their own pet  poo as well as those of others who are a bit too oblivious to notice the steaming mountain behind the only shady bench.

Really, I am telling the truth.

 Besides butt sniffing,  Opie likes to do what most dogs like to do at the park. Run around like a crazy dog! And man oh man is he fast!  He can really book when he wants to get from point A to point B!

I’m the white blur heading full tilt toward that unsuspecting white dog. Ramming Speed!

 

Image via Wikipedia

 

Now, I am in search of a dog beach near our house to take Opie. I know there is one at  Coronado Island in San Diego.  However, that’s just a little further from my house than I’d like.  If anyone knows about any dog beaches in the L.A. area, please comment about it and let me know. 

Opie’s a California Doggie Dude, but he’s never been to the beach. I think that’s tragic.  I know he’ll go nuts about the seagulls and other  birds. He’ll dig in the sand. He might be afraid of the surf, but shouldn’t he get a chance to check it out a little bit?

He promises not to poo in the sand….much!

Really, would that face lie?