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Tujunga

After 20 years in Echo Park I needed a change of scenery... and more greenery. In May 2004, I traded in my sweet little 1915 bungalow for a mid-century modern post & beam up in the hills of Tujunga. Moving to new digs was a great adventure for all of us. Even though it's really just a hop, skip and a jump from the old 'hood, Tujunga feels like another world. My home is in a very rustic setting, near Angelus National Forest. It's very peaceful and quiet here, and the dogs have much more space to run and play. We're zoned for horses up here and many people have them. Even though I'm a city girl, it's been fairly easy adjusting to a more low-key lifestyle. And as you can see, the dogs like it here, too!


With change, came more change, some of it quite unexpected... Opal was now an adult dog, and even though Zazu & Foxy raised her, she started picking fights with them. This is sometimes the case with multiple female dogs in the pack, and not uncommon for breeds such as my beloved Chow Chows. Despite her early socialization and training skills, she was hell-bent on becoming the top female, and Zazu wasn't having it. As fighting increased between my girls and no amount of intervention, management or training eased the tensions, it became apparent that Opal would do better in another home. Needless to say, that was a stressful time for all of us. In May 2006, I found Opal the perfect home. She is the constant companion of Jim & Jane, a wonderful Chow-loving couple who have a beautiful place up near Fillmore, CA. She now lives a life fit for a Chow princess. She has acres to play on when the family is at home, but since they also love to travel, Opal has been seeing the country in their deluxe motorhome. She's been from California to Virgina and down the East Coast to Florida! I miss my sweet girl more than words can express, but find comfort knowing she's treasured, well-loved and truly happy in her new home.

Opal the Chow princess is doing great! Here are a few images of her enjoying some of the perks of being an "only child".
Update: My beloved Opal died of nasal cancer in May 2008 at age 6. I cannot bring myself to write about it at this time...
I find comfort in knowing what a wonderful life she had, and how much joy she brought to so many.




Ling Ling
Ling Ling had been given a death sentence at the North Central shelter. Being a Chow, they had automatically marked her kennel card "USE CAUTION". She had blood in her urine and they had jumped to the worst case scenario of cancer without running a single test. Her coat was sparse and gray and her front teeth were all missing due to neglect and malnutrition. Still, her sweet spirit was undeniable, and I fell in love with her instantly. Truth be told, I was not looking for another dog. I had recently re-homed Opal and was still mourning that loss. I rescued Ling Ling to foster and rehabilitate her and find her a great, new home in Opal's honor. It took quite some time to get her health back on track - her knees were terribly arthritic and required surgery. She was very undersocialized and shy at first, and it was a long road for her to develop trust of stangers. She has improved greatly, and continues to gain confidence. Foxy found a new girlfriend in Ling Ling. They are quite a team - hunting lizards together, sometimes for hours! Ling Ling is pictured here with the only toy she'll touch. This one is just a cheapo rubber squeaky toy, but she is obsessed with it! She carries it around, sets it down and barks at it.
Snorkel
Snorkel is an irrepressible little terrier mix rescued from idiot neighbors who claimed he was "too hyper". He is Grommet's bookend and best friend. You'd never believe two mixed-breed non-siblings could look or be so much alike. Same long body, same ridiculous underbite, same funny little terrier/gremlin sounds. This guy is pure comic relief 24/7. Every day Snorkel initiates terrier wrestlemania and races laps around the house and yard. He wakes me up by placing a tennis ball on my neck, as if to say, "Okay, you're up, let's go - time to play!". Snorkel also has a soft side and is ultra-sweet and loving. He likes being held like a baby and will just lean in and place his cheek against your cheek - too cute! He is very competitive with the other dogs, as far as possessions go - if he sees another dog is fond of a toy, he'll make it his mission to steal it. Even though the other dogs could care less, Snorkel likes to parade in front of them with the coveted object, making sounds that are the equivalent of "Na-na-na-na-na!".







Peanut
Peanut is the light of my life! I rescued this utterly adorable senior Pomeranian from the high-kill Baldwin Park shelter in September 2006. His owner had dumped him without giving any reason, basically leaving him there to die. Peanut was huddled in the corner of his over-crowded cage and I didn't think he could walk because he was so depressed, he didn't move. Fast forward a year later and Peanut is doing well, no, make that fantastic! Even as the oldest (my vet thinks he's about 12) and smallest (8 lbs.) resident of Devil Dog Ranch, he fits right in and takes everything in stride. After clearing up a number of minor health issues his confident, silly and spunky personality fully emerged. This guy has been through so much, but is always happy and smiling! Considering his uber-cuteness, I'm sure it's no surprise to learn that Peanut is treated like a rockstar everywhere he goes - I call him my little Cocoa Puff Daddy. I'm thinking he would be a great therapy dog if I could ever find the time to pursue that with him... Thanks to two appearances on the popular webcast Cute with Chris, Peanut has fans all over the world. Here he is at a 4th of July festival with his idol, Smokey the Bear, sporting his fashionable summer haircut.
Senior Dogs Rule!