Another Day of Muddy Splendor

It's a banner stretch for muddy dog time here in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  For the first time in a while, we were able to get outside multiple days in a row and play vigorous games of fetch with Shadowfax.  That's the good news.  The bad news?  That game of fetch had to be played on pretty muddy backyard pitch.  Shadowfax didn't seem to mind at all. 

Shadowfax was pretty pooped from romping around in the mud.  It'll take her a few weeks to work off that winter sluggishness and return to prime outdoor season form. 

Shaak Ti and Tito are in the background, clamoring to get in on the action.  Part of the action means getting your toes cleaned off though, and they want no part of that. 

Shadowfax isn't winking, she had a bit of dirt in her eye, which I promptly helped her remove.  In the upper left hand corner of the photo you can see the old beach towels that we use for for removing the bigger chunks of mud from puppy feet.  Ahh...Springtime!

North Dakota Polar Bear?

Even though it's pretty far north, there aren't any actual polar bears in North Dakota. But, it's spring melting time right now, which is great even if it is weeks earlier than normal. Shadowfax though is still holding on to winter like a polar bear clinging to a melting iceberg.

The ring of snow was part of a sweet snow volcano that John created as part of his winter "backyard terrain park" for the dogs.  The giant mound of snow made a great ramp for rolling the ball up into the air for Shadowfax to chase, a fun king-of-the-hill mound, and the perfect obstacle to chase around.  We're not sure if her preference for the small patch of snow and ice is a good thing because she's staying out of the mud or if it's ridiculous that she chooses to chance an icy slip. 

Leap Day

February 29th, Leap Day.  To honor this day, we're supposed to post pictures of our dogs leaping.  I caught this pretty nice action of Shadowfax a while back. 

Last summer Shadowfax was digging a hole in the dirt when she noticed that I was watching her.  She tried to spring out of the dirt and look innocent...to no avail. 

Melting Snow and Mud Parade

So today happened. It was sunny in the mid-40's, an otherwise glorious day. The dogs spent three months of pent up winter energy in one glorious afternoon of misbehaving and repeatedly tearing around the back yard. 

Shadowfax and her "I'm so sorry I was bad and got filthy and trashed the back yard..."

"Psyche!  Hahahaha, I'm not sorry.  I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat!"

This is just a small snippet of the carnage.  The backyard is a giant cauldron of mud, snow, slush, and doggy footprints. 

Giving Hearts Day

The Circle of Friends Humane Society in Grand Forks, North Dakota is participating in a huge one-day fundraising bonanza called Giving Hearts Day.  The Dakota Medical Foundation is partnering with numerous charities in the state and is offering to match every donation greater than $10 (up to $4,000 total).

We would love to have your support in this statewide online fundraising event, and know that if you make a donation greater than $10, your donation will have double the impact when it is matched by the Dakota Medical

Here is a link to the Giving Hearts Day page. You can click "Donate" and then enter "Circle" in the search box to find Circle of Friends Humane Society. 

Seriously Sad Sack of a Deaf Dog

The blog has been a bit Shadowfax-centric lately, but that's mostly because she's the one most frequently engaged in some manner of silly shenanigans, or getting herself into some pickle.  This is her most recent escapade. 

Shadowfax was tearing around the backyard and managed to rip up her dew claw.  The backyard is a bit of a mess, melted snow has pooled and refrozen and is slippery as heck.  How she managed to tear up a dew claw so badly is beyond me, but she did it. 

Shaak Ti is inspecting her temporarily broken little big sister.  Shadowfax hobbled around on three legs for the better part of two days until we removed her foot wrapping. 

Ah poor little pibble, milking this for all it's worth, tucked into her cozy blanket.  One little owwie and she plays it up as much as she can, trying to elicit as much sympathy as possible. 

Nap Under a Rocking Chair

Shadowfax has a half-dozen comfy dog beds in the living room to choose from, but she'd rather take a little nap with her head underneath this rocking chair.  Go figure. 

Does this look comfortable to you?  It sure doesn't to me.  But who am I to argue? 

Shadowfax Asleep

Shadowfax the deaf pittie mix snuggling hard against the North Dakota winter. 

She spends a decent amount of time here in her cozy slumber ball and warming blanket.  I you want to check out the slumber ball bed or reflective warming blanket for your four legged friend there are links.  In many respects Shadowfax is a stereotypical pittie (or pittie mix) - lazy as all get-out.  If you want to know what a pit bull dog is like, here it is. 

That is the happy face of a dog that shall always have the finest things in life.