The back of this sweater Bonnie is wearing says, “Dear Santa, Let me explain…” which is just perfect for her. I think someone at the shelter picked this out for her, because I didn’t even know I had it until today!
Casual Dog Xmas Portraits 2024
Category Archives: Pets
Foster Brothers for the Holidays
Shea got the foster brothers ready for their last vaccination at the shelter today. Leaving them there for a few hours was heartbreaking, as they did not know we would be back soon. I hope the next time I leave them (after they get neutered) will be when they’re going to their forever home. It’s great that we can help keep these two out of the kennels.
Everyone should adopt, not shop!
Of course, they were thrilled when we brought them back. I’m so glad we will have them for the holidays after what was a very dark year in many, MANY ways.
This was a spontaneous shot that Shea took of me and four dogs (the two fosters and my two babies) after a wonderful dinner he made for Hugh and me last night. I didn’t realize that all four dogs were up on that couch with me, but Hugh was there with his dogs off-screen. You can see a tuft of Buster at the bottom of this picture. The four on the couch with me were probably looking for a short break from Zin and Buster, who I always enjoy seeing.
December Dogs
We have Calvin and Hobbes as emergency fosters during a kennel cough outbreak at Humane Society of the North Bay.
Shea made me nervous running backward around the pool at our friends’ house yesterday, but it was adorable that the three dogs here wagged their tails furiously and followed him like the Pied Piper. Bonnie wisely kept out of this high-risk activity, but everyone was unharmed in filming this video.
In the backyard in the rain with the dogs, including the foster brothers. We’re all ready for the longer days after the solstice with more warmth and light.
Tender Foster Sibling Moments
Bonnie has her moments when she’s tired of her two foster brothers, but at other times, we have moments like this, which warm my heart.
Legacy Bonnie Photos
Until today I had never seen these pictures of Bonnie a volunteer took before I met, fostered, and adopted Bonnie. That person added me on Instagram. I noticed the HSNB logo and started to peruse the animals on the feed. Bonnie was among the dogs that were featured.
It still amazes me that she had been in the shelter for a year, but to most people adopting a blind dog is daunting, not to mention the medical expenses that she came with even before her eyes were removed. These pictures were taken long before her bilateral enucleation, of course. I am grateful every day that she’s my little girl now, even though she can sound like a tremendous dragon when she growls, usually to protect me when I don’t want her to. After getting professional dog training, Shea and I are much more adept at calming her down and acknowledging her real and understandable fear.
Foster Adjustment
Bonnie is chipper morning with her foster brothers Calvin and Hobbes. It doesn’t last, but it’s nice while it does.
Calvin had no problem running up the stairs while following Snoopy, but Hobbes really needed some encouragement. When he was left out he made a scream that sounded like a witch’s cackle, so Shea tried to help him learn. Eventually, he just grew tired of being left out and now he runs up and down like nothing. This reminded me of building Bonnie’s confidence with the process, but she’s blind! This is Shea’s filming of Hobbes steps lesson:
Calvin and Hobbes wrestle with each other in the bedroom. Shea tried to capture them following Snoopy in lockstep, but they moved so fast!
Meet Calvin and Hobbes
We are emergency fostering these two brothers who were tied up and abandoned at the fence of the Humane Society of the North Bay yesterday. Calvin and Hobbes are lovely even though on the drive to the house with us they were extremely nervous. These poor pups had quite a dramatic day yesterday. I’m so glad they had the loving touch of the great staff and volunteers at HSNB. Shea is very patient with them while we keep them safe and warm until they can eventually find a forever home, but they are on a mandatory three-day hold. They are about a year old and very healthy from what we can tell. Look at their amazing eyes.
Here are all four of them on the couch with me. You can barely see Snoopy who is the only one with his eyes open.
You’ll hear me refer to them as Ernie and Bert, but we had to change their names since those were used so often recently at the shelter.
Baywoof Article on Bonnie and Snoopy
For as long as it works, this is the article online.
This site republished this story that first appeared in a slightly different edit through an HSNB newsletter.
Tapestries and Cheer
While I’m still counting the days to go home as the house is being rebuilt, since I have these tapestries that are so nostalgic for my siblings and me, I found a place to hang them for now, which cheers me up a little. A year ago I was taking pictures of all these dogs I miss so much with their xmas outfits. I don’t know if it’s healthy to constantly see their pictures rotating on my slideshows around the house. Still, it’s so important that I remember them and their distinct personalities, not to mention the other dogs I lost in more expected endings where I had a chance to say goodbye. This is the first time in my life I don’t think I will put up decorations or a full-size tree because this isn’t the home I planned to be in, even though I’m lucky to have a partner and two amazing dogs to be with this season. My mom’s ceramic xmas trees survived, so they will suffice. I might change my mind and see what other holiday decorations survived the fire, but this is the current plan. Shea doesn’t seem to mind that I’m not rearranging the house for the holidays and there is plenty of other projects we’re working on so it’s not a priority.
Photos with Santa for Humane Society of the North Bay
This was very much worth flying back from Hawaii a little earlier! Shea and I took the redeye on Friday night and after a very brief rest I headed over. Shea joined me later. I wasn’t about to do something without my dogs, so I had them the entire time, even though Bonnie was her cranky self and startled a few folks. Fortunately, she’s harmless (but loud). Snoopy, on the other hand, was such a good ambassador, that he even was held by a stranger for her photos since she missed her late dog.
As you can see, once again we had families with kids, dogs, and without sitting with Santa and Mrs. Claus (Tom and Julie).
Thank you to Bill, America, Ted, Shea, and Sara for your contributions to these photos!
