Random Thoughts of a Bulldog

Do All Dogs (cats, birds, iguanas) go to Heaven?

2025-10-22T14:45:00.000-04:00

As the title suggests, a controversial topic for some today. Not for me so much. I suppose it matters on which side of the afterlife fence you find yourself. I do believe that animals have souls and do continue on after this earthly existence. There are many accounts of folks that have experienced NDEs (Near Death Experiences) who were not only greeted by relatives that had passed but their beloved pets!

This leads me to share a story of my own with a pet who crossed over, though not my pet but my uncle's close campion Moose the cat. He was a large jet black cat with piercing green eyes that was literally my Uncle Hank's shadow. Most times you would find him content in my uncles' lap on the recliner watching the Mets or Jets depending on the season. He was fiercely protective and if he didn't like you he would let you know. My uncle being retired spent a lot of time with Moose, even getting up 4:00 in the morning to feed him breakfast that he demanded at each crack of dawn.

Moose lived a long life but eventually passed and my uncle's world went on without him. Then one day my uncle now in his 80's became ill and battled the final stages of a cancer diagnosis. I went to visit him in the hospital the day before he passed. As I stood there with my Auntie trying to give some comforting support, Uncle Hank turned to Auntie and said " Don't you see Moose, he's right here on my bed beside me!" I saw him stroke the bed as if Moose was there. Now I can't be certain that this wasn't the morphine they were giving him or if it was it truly happening at the time but looking back I think that Moose was there to comfort Uncle Hank and guide him to the other side.

Have I had experiences with my own dogs/cats that have passed? There were times when I could of sworn I saw my tortoiseshell cat Glow, in the hallway by my bedroom or heard the sound of Nala's claws clacking on the wood floor when no one was there. Wishful thinking...perhaps but I am not giving up hope that all dogs (cats Etc.) will reunite with us on the other side of that rainbow bridge!

"Bout" Time for Blogging

2025-10-13T14:36:00.002-04:00

Okay so like it's been a year and a half since I last wrote anything for this blog. I wonder how many abandoned blogs are currently floating out there in the universe? Anyways all is well on my end and Sylva is doing good for a 12 year old bulldog. He recently had some seasonal skin issues which seem to be resolving itself with weekly baths using a medicated shampoo from the vet. ( DouxoS3 antiseptic/antifungal shampoo)

A lot of changes since last time I was here. The most notable is that I retired from work. Yup I put my time in and now have joined ranks of the retired and restless! Still being kind of new to this lifestyle I should find plenty of time to work on this blog! Some days I feel that I just have been on a long vacation and will have to go back to my desk next Monday. I guess I need to adjust to the new routine ... or maybe find a new routine?! I do miss my friends from work though but the rest of it ...not so much.

Well I keep it short since I am just getting my feet wet in the blog pool again. Stay well..Sylva says hey!

Suddenly Saturday

2024-07-06T11:31:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone is enjoying the 4the of July holiday! It's hot and steamy here in the northeast as I assume it may be the case for most!

So I found that Sylva has a hematoma in his right ear flap yesterday. I knew what it was immediately because I experienced this in the past with one of our dogs, though which one I am not sure. It is like a big bubble in the ear that is a soft mass of sorts. Though not painful though it can be sore or sensitive to the touch and it is a concern. I am not sure what led up to it, sometimes an ear infection and scratching at the ear can cause it or shaking of the head. I don't think he has ear infection but we have an appointment with the vet this week and we will see what needs to be done. This is more common with dogs who have long ear flaps. Here is a link that explains it in detail: Dog Ear Hematomas

I have ran out of space with my Google photos so I am at their mercy to increase the storage and pay them more money. Alternatively I could go and delete photos I suppose but for the sake of time I will pay them their ransom. So hopefully next time I can access my more recent pics. For now this will have to do. Remember to keep the pups cool and access to water and have a safe, enjoyable weekend.

Peace

Finally Friday and the Heat is On!

2024-06-21T14:07:00.000-04:00

With temps hovering in the nineties this week in the northeast everyone here is a little cranky! Going for a walk is either an early morning event or late evening. Certainly the beginning of the dog days of summer!

I am always amazed to see people walking their dogs in the middle of the afternoon. Don't they realize the risk of heat stroke is likely! Can you imagine not being able to sweat plus wearing a fur coat in this heat! I am sure most of my readers out there are aware of this but there will always be folks that are clearly ignorant of the fact that you should keep your dogs inside with the A/C and plenty of room temp water available during the midday heat!

A plastic kiddie pool may be a good idea for some pooches to splash around in. Or a cooling mat may offer some comfort to a dog that's experiencing some over heating. Or just having a fan next to their crate or bed.

I found a cool idea for a frozen dog treat. It consists of one cup of frozen Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup of peanut butter and 1 ripe banana. Mush it up in a bowl or blender and put it into ice cube trays to freeze. Taste so good I would eat it!

Well folks that's all for today keep your doggies and yourselves cool and see you next week!

Finally Friday Four Years Later

2024-06-14T16:23:00.000-04:00

I am back! Shamefully yes it's been four years since I last post anything on my blog. Life gets busy, enthusiasm wains and laziness sets in. What can I say? I am sure there are many abandoned blogs out there in the stratosphere! Life goes on and takes it's twists and turns and here we are again.

Sylva is well and still with us. Still mastering the art of eating garbage off the street. He will be 11 this summer, which means we have had him for close to 9 years since adopting him. He is a great dog and truly man's best friend. If not my husband's best friend! While my husband whiles away working from home, Sylva is content to lie at his feet under his desk available for the occasional pat on the head or lunch tidbits that may stray his way.

Also it's June and that means the hydrangeas are in bloom! For some reason last year they were not that spectacular as they are this year! I must say the blooms are everywhere and more vibrant than ever!

I wanted to recommend for my fellow brachycephalic dog owners who may run into the severe dry nose syndrome. You know when their nose gets so dry pieces of it fall off! Yes yucky indeed! But surely it's uncomfortable for them as well and Sylva has been dealing with this for a while, especially more common as they age. I tried something our veterinarian recommended and it seems to be helping a bit. It's called Blissful Dog Nose Butter. You have to keep faithful in applying it but for the bit he doesn't attempt to lick off it seems to be helping, so give it a shot if your pup suffers from the crusty nose!

All right that wasn't so bad for my debut after a four year hiatus! Have a great weekend and happy Father's Day to all you dads out there of human or fur children!

Peace!

Finally Friday and Street Eater

2020-09-04T17:58:00.000-04:00

The Friday before the Labor Day weekend is here and it is lovely outside today. You would never know from this corner of the world that there is a thing wrong! Indoor dining commences today in New Jersey though only at 25 percent capacity! Maybe slowly we are returning to some kind of normalcy?! Fingers crossed!

Sylva just came back from his evening walk and I was told by my husband that he picked up some mystery morsel on his way! He described it as looking whitish in color He grabbed and gobbled it so quickly he didn't have a chance to pry his jaws open and reach in! Sylva always seems to find some tasty treat on his walks. I hope that with each thing he consumes that nothing will make him sick as a dog. Is this where they got the term "street food" from I wonder?! Other than that it's be an uneventful summer. One of going no where and no fun. Hoping the fall will be a turn for the better.

Still missing Nala. Guess that will always be! Hope you all are well out there. Enjoy the long weekend!

"What?! It looked like pizza crust to me!"

"I am saying ahhh!"

Here is a link to a pet poison control center. https: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

Not that I have used it and I hope not to but in case your dog eats that package of Hershey bars you intended for Smores and it's after hours it may come in useful.

Summer of No Fun!

2020-08-04T15:02:00.002-04:00

So we are still in a semi restricted state, no indoor dining, no large gatherings, masks are a must etc. etc..

Sylva is enjoying the company of his humans during the day as they work from home! I am sure in his mind this will last forever but at some point going back to working in the office will resume! The weather has been hot in Jersey and right now we are experiencing the tropical storm Isaias that is making itself know by blowing over a few trees! A fast moving storm it will do its damage and move out of here in a couple of hours! ( We hope! )

Speaking of hot I have got to bitch a bit about folks walking their dogs in the heat of the day! Why do people decide to take a stroll with their canine companion at that time when you could do it in the early morning or in the evening? The dogs are dragging along with their tongues hitting the sidewalk and they don't notice? I am not sure if it's selfishness or stupidity?! Imagine taking a walk in 90 degree heat in a fur coat without the ability to sweat! Dogs can suffer heat stroke very quickly in high temps. Especially flat faced breed dogs like bulldogs even more so. Here is an article that explains what happens and the symptoms:

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/heat-stroke-in-dogs

If you don't have access to a back yard and your dog really must go at high noon make it a short walk, just long enough to do ones business!

In the meanwhile take it slow, enjoy the time spent with your dog and being at home and pray that this virus will be behind us sooner than later!

"Time to take my afternoon nap as soon as I finish my morning nap!"

May Day May Day!

2020-05-05T17:50:00.001-04:00

So we have entered a new month of Cornona lockdown. Though I realize that New Jersey has been one of the hardest hit states with over 7,900 fatalities I am starting to get restless with the situation. Not to sound indifferent, we have friends who have been hospitalized and know of folks passing. It is serious. There has been a slowdown of cases and I pray all our social distancing has paid off and we are flattening the curve. Hopefully the warmer weather will deter the virus and a vaccine is on the horizon! There is one dog I know who wishes this was an everlasting stay at home situation! Sylva has become way to comfortable with the around the clock attention pattern! Just like all dogs I guess who are enjoying the comforts of home with their pet parents available 24/7. This made me think that now is the opportune time to adopt a dog! One would be able to be home with their new pup and help him adjust and bond! I am not sure if I could convince my husband to my way of thinking! It just may be too soon after losing Nala?

At least the weather is starting to yield to the more enjoyably pleasant! This past weekend was full all out spring time! The Lowe's was packed, respecting social distancing, with lines to the cashier all the way down the aisles! People were anxious to get out there and plant some new beginnings! Sunday we power washed the deck much to Sylva's dismay! He is leery of any hand held machinery! The power washer is one of them!

Well until we meet again, hang in there, stay well, take care of each other and enjoy the fresh air when you can! Much thanks to all the healthcare workers!!!!

Lock Down Dog

2020-03-24T10:33:00.001-04:00

I assume most of us have been banished to our homes with limited contact to the outside world. A month ago who would of dreamed of this except in some science fiction movie?! The only member of our family who is thrilled about this is Sylva.

We were headed out on a ski vacation for a week when that and all other plans came to a screeching halt. Now with both of us working from home Sylva has the luxury of around the clock company! An extra walk during the afternoon and plenty of attention has spoiled this guy big time. What a disappointment it will be for him when we return to work!

In the meanwhile we wait for this virus to pass and life to resume some normality! Take care of each other and practice good hygiene habits and do not hoard TP, there is plenty to go around!

Be well all!

"Ah... move over you're on my spot!"

No Time is a Good Time

2020-02-29T18:50:00.001-05:00

The post I find most difficult to write since the passing of my first bulldog Ozzie.....Nala passed away last week, unexpectedly. Hard to believe she is gone. Our hearts are broke.

The couple of weeks leading up to this event found Nala healthy and her usual happy go lucky self! There were only two times in hindsight that she may have experienced the precursor of what would eventually be her demise. She had a moment where she seemed dazed and a bit off. Both times she retreated under the dining room table, her safe space. She stood under there for a anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes. Once she came out of her shelter she seemed fine! I did note it however and was going to mention it to her veterinarian when we went for her yearly check up this week.

The night prior to her passing all was good and Nala was jumping up and down when we had company that evening and then happily munched away on pizza crust, her favorite! She fell asleep on her bed, our living room couch which she had commandeered years ago. That Thursday morning at 4:45 AM my husband came downstairs on his way to his morning workout. He passed Nala on her couch and as he did so she raised her head acknowledging him and returned to her snoring. On his way back in he noticed that Nala was not on her couch. He began looking around for her, maybe she was by the back door and had to go out. He didn't find her there and checked her usual haunts when he discovered her at the end of the dining room sticking out half under half out of one of the chairs. She looked asleep...but wasn't. Frantically he woke me up at 5:45 saying "I think Nala is dead!" Our poor bullie girl was gone. It must of been quick we assume, maybe it was a stroke or her heart failed but whichever it was we hope it was painless. She looked peaceful as she laid there as we covered her up and her companion and bullie brother Sylva sniffed knowingly around the blanket.

Nala had just turned 9 years old a few days before. We had her for 7 of those years. Before that her owner was Samantha who had her as a pup. She was always loved and well taken cared of and did indeed have a wonderful life! We will miss her impish ways, her one tooth grin, her love of riding shotgun in the car and her delicate snoring. It was our privilege to have her in our lives and she gave to us more than we could give to her. Good night Nala, until we meet again on the other side of that Rainbow Bridge!

Best Wishes for the New Year 2020

2019-12-31T13:07:00.000-05:00

Well hello out there. Yes it's been too long since I last posted a thing or two! Nala and Sylva have been doing well. No issues to complain about. It seems during the cold weather skin irritations are minimal at best. We just had a quick visit to the vets the other day to get Sylva's rabies vaccination. Dog license renewal in town is in January and their rabies vaccine has to be up to date in order to get issued a new license for 2020. Nala's is due the end of November so since she is covered for the majority of the year she is good to go!

Personally I am glade the holiday stuff is behind us. It's always stressful, and hits the wallet hard. Though this past year wasn't too bad. We traveled a bit and had some good times with family and friends that I am very grateful for. Our health has been good which is a biggie.

If you tune into the news you are bound to see a lot of tragedy and suffering. The world can seem like a crazy place at times. I have taken the opportunity at the end of this year to contribute to a local no kill animal rescue organization. It's wasn't a lot but maybe if we all can volunteer our time or contribute a few bucks, we can put a dent into someone's suffering.

In the meanwhile I look forward to 2020, another chance to be our best selves and maybe make a difference in some small way!

Health, happiness to all!

Happy New Year from Nala & Sylva!

Almost Friday and a Turn for the Best!

2019-10-24T20:45:00.000-04:00

Another week has flown by and Halloween is literally around the corner! I haven't thought much about costumes for Nala and Sylva this year since they have proven to be not big fans of wearing them! Nala just refuses to have anything on her head and gives me the stink eye when I approach her with something slightly resembling a costume. However our first bulldog Ozzie was less fussy with the dressing up thing, I think he thought himself quite dapper when he donned his pirate costume one year! Argh good ole Ozzie boy!

o Sylva has recovered quite well from his recent skin infection. I am not sure if it's a change in the weather or whatever allergens that lurk about but when he get's it, it's bad!

His belly turns a scarlet red and crusty bumps appear randomly on his back and sides. A visit to the vet was necessary. She put him on a course of anti-biotics and we were sent home with some medicated shampoo and instructed to bathe him 2 to 3 times a week. We have been hauling him off to the local Pet Plus and making use of their do it yourself dirty dog special. Five washes for $25.00! All of our scrubbing and adding an essential oil that our vet gave us, Melaleuca oil, more commonly known as tea tree oil, has paid off! I have also been giving him an allergy supplement that contains probiotics, omegas and colostrum.

So now that he is all better I am sure it's Nala's turn for something !! Be well all!

Syl tolerating the tub!

2019-10-06T16:18:00.002-04:00

A wonderful weekend is coming to a close. Tomorrow Monday rears it's ugliness upon us but at least the doggies got out for a bit and enjoyed some fall weather. Nothing spells happiness like a ride in the car with the wind flowing through your jowls!

Have a good week friends!

Happy Fall Y'All!

2019-09-23T19:59:00.002-04:00

Yes it's here, the first day of autumn! Though by the thermometer in my car you wouldn't guess it!

A sign of global warming? Maybe! A hot day in September...…..heck yeah!

Have a good week folks, get back at you soon!

Mundane Monday

2019-09-16T13:51:00.001-04:00

Ugh, again! Wake me up around Friday will you?!

Ear Reflections

2019-09-14T15:05:00.002-04:00

Another summer is coming to a close, too quickly I might add. Nala and Sylva are doing fine. A couple of visits to the vet for ear infections and skin irritations. The norm I suppose!

I recently switched their kibble from Zignature to Canidae. I was concerned with the news about grain free diets and their link to heart failure in dogs. https://ourpetshealth.com/info/is-grain-free-dog-food-killing-our-pets. I expressed my concerns to my vet and she felt that the evidence was not strong enough to support taking them off their current diet but since Zignature was number 2 on the list I thought I would play it safe. Besides its good to change it up for them every now and then. They seem to like as well so we will stick with it for a while!

"Nala holding still for a ear clean out, Good girl!"

With the weather cooling down we will be spending some more time outdoors, maybe some apple picking or cornfield mazes or maybe just some more snoozing on the backyard deck!

Fall y'all! See you soon!

Spring Fever

2019-04-30T17:51:00.000-04:00

So here we are fast forward to spring. Over the last few months we had our share of vet visits between Nala and Sylva.

Sylva had somehow mystically injured his right rear leg and was hopping around like a contender in a three legged race one Sunday. We took him to the vet that next day and after palpating the injured limb and a x-ray our vet determined it was most likely a cruciate ligament tear. ( only definitively diagnosed with an MRI ) but all indications that was it. ( I can only imagine how much a MRI would cost! Yikes$ ) He was prescribed an anti-inflammatory and some pain meds and I was told to have him rest. Ha! Rest....for Sylva that is next to impossible but we tried. He then had a half dozen laser therapy treatments to aid in the healing. Yes luckily today he is much better, but will still favor that leg now and then and we do not take him on long walks much to his chagrin! Short of surgery there is not much else and we are just hoping that in time it will improve. In the meanwhile I will continue to contribute to my Christmas club which is really a savings for my veterinarians new Volvo!

Then there was Nala......ugh a story for my next posting.... Cheers all!

Christmas time is here,... what..aready!?

2018-12-22T17:10:00.003-05:00

Yes folks it's finally the weekend and only 4 days until Christmas! I am still pondering how this happened upon us so quickly but here it is again! Of course I am in my usual spot of behind the eight ball with gifts and such but that is the norm. To make things even more stressful I lost my keys but lets not get derailed with that dilemma.

Nala has been constantly whining and I am pretty sure it's mainly for attention. Meanwhile Sylva has also been pining away for his pop who has been out of town a couple of days. No one appreciates the mom who does all the dirty work. Though when it comes dinner time I am a celebrity around here!

I have attached a link for 10 things you can do to keep your pet safe during the holidays. My personal recommendation is to monitor carefully relatives who feel it's okay to share their piece of chocolate cream pie with the dog. If you don't it may result in a all nighter cleaning up unidentifiable piles of poop/vomit!

https://www.petmd.com/dog/seasonal/evr_multi_christmas_safety

From our family to yours wishing you all a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year!

Finally Friday and Saving Sullivan

2018-11-09T19:53:00.001-05:00

Whoa this week swept by like a rushing river! Before you know it, it's going to be Thanksgiving and the holiday season! I am as usual stunned by this fact and like a deer in headlights have not a direction planned for escape! So I began with sending out an email to the usual suspects to invite them all for Thanksgiving dinner. Luckily I have already hit the $400.00 mark at Shop-Rite which entitles me to a free turkey! Though it is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dining I need to start planning the rest of the meal! I have had Thanksgiving dinner at least a dozen times but it still perplexes me how to pull it off without the usual hitches!

Sylva has taken a liken to sitting right in front of the sink so as not to miss a scrape of food that may come his way. This is going to be difficult with the holidays and there is not a place to put him except outside in the cold which I won't do. Looks like his Pop will have to be herding him and Nala out into the back 40 on days I am busy in the kitchen!

Today we came across a lost dog on our street. We were headed off to the local Lowes store when we spotted a yellow Lab casually sniffing at a neighbors front lawn. I immediately screamed out to my husband to stop the car and carefully approached the wandering canine. He seemed friendly enough and came right over to me. Though he had no ID tag he did have a tag with an 800 number for a"Return them home" organization. Fumbling for my phone and glasses I called and the service rep who informed me that the number on the tag told him the dog's name was Sullivan. He was going to contact the owner and then call me back. In the meantime it started to rain and I didn't want to let our wayward friend run off. I calmly enticed him into the car and he was more than happy to step out of the rain! As we drove up to the front of our house we noticed a boy briskly jogging down the street. We called out and asked him if he lost his dog and sure enough ...yup he was looking for his Lab! So we met Sean and Sullivan today who happened to live right down the block from us! Sneaky Sullivan managed to slide out the back door when no one was looking. It's good he had the tag with the 800 number but it would of been helpful if he also had one with his name and address and the owner's cell phone number.

Oh well, all is good and the weekend is here! Wishing you all a peaceful, productive weekend!

"So what's for dinner Mom?"

Long Time No Me

2018-10-28T14:52:00.000-04:00

So it's been a while since I have posted anything to my blog. I shamelessly admit I have been either too busy or too tired at night to sit in front of the computer and think. My apologies.

In the meanwhile Nala and Syla have been good. Sylva has transitioned into the fall season with his usual dermatitis. It has started to calm down and with a good bath he may just smell acceptable again!

Nala is very whiney lately. I am a little rusty with my bulldog translation but I think she is just demanding more attention! She will typically lie on her couch ( and I mean her couch ) and do that whiney bulldog thing until someone comes over and pets her. My husband over indulges her. He will pick her up and have her sit on his lap and look at the computer with him. Hopefully he hasn't given her my password to my Amazon account! I am not sure what has sparked this endless need for attention. Perhaps just a phase, time will tell.

That's all for now, I need to start slowly as I get back into blogland. I don't want to trigger my carpal tunnel and then I couldn't go to work tomorrow. Hmm not a bad idea...

Tired on Tuesday!

2017-09-26T20:42:00.002-04:00

It's been months since my last posting! My old laptop finally gave in and froze up, where it still remains in a cryogenic coma under my bed! My new Lenovo is quite nice but I am still trying to master the learning curve of Windows 10!

In the meanwhile Nala and Sylva are fine! The summer past by like a wink of an eye and here we are staring down at October..just about! We went to the vet last week for a double appointment. Nala had her wellness check up and Sylva was due for his distemper shot. We made a late evening 8:10 PM appointment which worked out well. No one was there in the waiting room and the two of them had the run of the place! Of course we had our side issues, Nala had an infected face wrinkle and Syl his usual belly dermatitis. They were well behaved patients though and received several treats for their good behavior! Hey no matter what happens at the veterinarians stays at the veterinarians ...once you get the treats the bad stuff is all behind you!

Hope to see you all back here ...same bulldogs same blog!

New Look Thursday

2017-04-13T19:08:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in a way long time so I decided with a new post should come a new look! I am trying this new theme that blogger recently introduced to see how it flows and any comments are welcomed.

So we are greeting a new season, spring is upon us! At last free from winters harshness the doggies are out on the deck and sunning themselves in all their glory! Whoa wait though ...so come the seasonal allergies. Turns out that Sylva is very allergy prone. Hot spots erupt all over his skinny body! Not that Nala is immune to this, she does get an occasional rash. My friend who knows her dogs recommended using chamomile tea to relieve their itch. I am not suggesting having tea late in the afternoon on grandma's porch but brewed tea in a spray bottle ! I have 3 teabags currently steeping in two cups of hot water! Once it cools down I will fill up my spray bottle and try it out. Worst case if it doesn't work out, it's all natural and can't do any harm other than make them want some crumpets! I will check in and let you know how it works out! Here is a link to some info on the benefits of chamomile for dogs. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/german-chamomile-a-bit-of-herbal-sunshine-for-you-and-your-dog/

Happy Easter and Happy Passover all!

Peace,

Nala and Sylva

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy!

Thursday, Snow Day!

2017-02-09T16:06:00.000-05:00

So the ongoing foster failure and adoption of Sylva is going well. He has found his place and Nala is all good with him. Though they don't actually play together they do harmoniously exist side by side. Sylva is a aggressive chewer and will gleefully chew on a rubber ball all day! Nala is the passive observer and still maintains sole ownership of the living room couch!

Today we had at least a half foot of snow or more that caused schools and most businesses to close in the New York city tri-state area. It always looks pretty from the inside out but when the storm is over and you have to dig out ...well it's not so pretty then.

Nala and Sylva like to run laps in the fresh snow but it's always a quick out and in for them!

Here is Nala giving us her fastest sprint to date! Enjoy!

Woaaa!

Foster Failure Friday

2016-12-30T18:36:00.002-05:00

I hope all of you had a joyous holiday and are getting ready to celebrate the new year 2017! We have had peaks and valleys in the past year but all in all no complaints. My son Will and his high school sweetheart Ashley were married in October. That was the highlight of my year and what a beautiful event! I couldn't be happier or prouder of them both!! We then rounded out 2016 with an addition to the family...dog family that is!

The Long Island Bulldog Rescue contacted me and said they had a dog who needed fostering. I had been pondering the thought of getting another bulldog to keep Nala company. She had become such a couch potato my thinking was that may activate her inner dog! I said yes and went to pick up a an Olde English Bulldog named Sylva. The rescue told me he was a healthy 3 years old and his owner had to surrender him since she was unfortunately being placed in a nursing home. She had been diagnosed with dementia.

At first I was hesitant. He kinda looked like a bulldog except he had long legs and an extended snout! His tail a corkscrew knot that pointed southwest! With a bit of an intimidating look he made one take a step back when approaching him.Well anyways it all depended on how he got along with Nala. He was not fixed so he was relentlessly bothering Nala! She let him he know in her diva manner that she definitely was not interested! When we got him home he was antsy. He played with every dog toy in the house and wore himself (and me too) out by the evening. The worst of all my dad did not like him. He felt he was too big and too active. I called the rescue and voiced my concerns that this may not work. They said give it time. My dad would come around and Sylva would relax and adjust to his new home.

Sure enough both happened. Today I saw my dad petting him when he thought no one was looking and Sylva has found his place in the house where he plays second dog to the resident queen. He has proved to be gentle and loving and now that he is fixed could not be bothered giving Nala a second glance. I guess the old saying "be patient the storm will pass" is true! Okay Sylva ole boy looks like you found your fur-ever home!

A happy and healthy 2017 to you all!

So I am staying ....right?!

Nala on the deck with her new brother.

Regal looking in the morning sun!

Another Manic Monday

2016-09-12T20:33:00.002-04:00

Sorry I have been away so long from the blog. Guess one gets lazy during the summer months. Not that we have done much this summer. We have pretty much been doing a stay cation all summer long. Nala is okay with that! The hot weather does not agree with bulldogs and their preference is the couch and the air conditioning on high!

We now look further to going for evening walks in the cooler air and meeting up with our other dog friends. A few months ago Nala lost one of her dog pals, Bailey the boxer. She was up there in age 9 or 10 which is old for a boxer. She was such a sweet girl and we will miss her very much!

Today we have moved out the old furniture in the family room to make way for new furniture being delivered tomorrow! Nala is confused by the empty room! 'What's going on here?! Where's the green couch?! Hope they don't take my couch in the living room too!"

Don't worry Nala there is just going to be more options for you to practice your art of the nap! Have a good week all!