Tag Archives: Dogs

Feb11

Me and Elvis – together 7 years today

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Me and Elvis – together 7 years today

Seven years ago today, I gave myself the best Valentine’s Day present ever – a new best friend. I adopted Elvis on February 11, 2005 – he was just 3 months old. A few weeks before, I started my search for a dog. I had recently bought a house with a fenced in yard, and I wanted a dog. I thought about a bulldog or a corgi and then decided on a mutt from a shelter. I went on petfinder.com and found this dog already named Elvis, but there was no picture – it was fate. He was rescued from a kill shelter in West Virginia and was currently with a foster family with Furry Friends in York, PA. I drove up to meet Elvis on February 5th. He was 15 pounds at 11 weeks old. Six days later Elvis was mine. He came for a home visit and never left. Within a couple of days, he was potty trained and crate trained. I thought he was a genius! We bonded VERY quickly. We have been best friends ever since. Elvis has been by my side through a few boyfriends, friends come and gone, three houses, a few foster dogs, one permanent dog (he’s still not crazy about his sister Cilla), parties, outings, a great three month road trip on the U2 360 tour, and my everyday highs and lows. Through it all, Elvis is always there for me.

Elvis at 3 months old

Elvis in the car, when he was an only dog

Elvis my cuddle buddy

me and Elvis

Jan29

I Have Found What I’m Looking For at Dogtopia

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I Have Found What I’m Looking For at Dogtopia

the gym

I have finally found a job I actually like. My mom had been telling me to get a job so I can be with people, since I like to be alone – well alone with my 2 dogs. I found a job, but it’s with dogs, which is why I like it. So much for getting out and being with people. I started working at Dogtopia last week, and I love it! It’s a lot of cleaning up, a lot of barking, it’s early in the morning, it’s tiring, but I love being with dogs all day. It’s hard to describe unless you’re a dog lover, but I just love being around dogs petting them and playing with them. It truly is Dogtopia. And as an added bonus, Dogtopia fosters dogs from Dogs XL Rescue. I have fallen in love with one foster dog named Sanders. He is the sweetest dog and has been at Dogtopia for 3 months. He really needs a family. Unfortunately, I cannot take him because Elvis and Cilla would not be so welcoming – plus I have been warned that if I bring another dog home, I’ll be evicted.

the romp room

I have always wanted to take a passion of mine and turn it into a way of making money. Now I have done just that. I am making a living taking care of dogs, which are my greatest passion. I have finally found what I have been looking for.

Nov11

Happy 7th Birthday Elvis!

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Happy 7th Birthday Elvis!

Some are celebrating today because it’s Veterans’ Day. Some are celebrating today because it’s 11.11.11. But I am celebrating today because it’s my dog’s birthday. I can’t believe my Elvis is 7 years old. That’s 49 in dog years – he’s older than me now.

Elvis is 7 today

I adopted Elvis on February 11, 2005 – he was just 3 months old. A few weeks before I started my search for a dog. I had recently bought a house with a fenced in yard, and I wanted a dog. I thought about a bulldog and a corgi and then decided on a mutt from a shelter. I went on petfinder.com and found this dog already named Elvis, but there was no picture – it was fate. He was rescued from a kill shelter in West Virginia and was currently with a foster family with Furry Friends in York, PA. I drove up to meet Elvis on February 5th. He was 15 pounds at 11 weeks old. Six days later Elvis was mine. He came for a home visit and never left. Within a couple of days, he was potty trained and crate trained. I thought he was a genius! We bonded VERY quickly.

Elvis at 3 months

Elvis at 6 months

Elvis 1 year old

Elvis in the car

Elvis' 5th Birthday

rough day

Elvis love the Broncos

I love my Elvis SO much! Happy Birthday baby!

me and Elvis in Palm Springs

Dec11

Going Home for Christmas – day 2 Abingdon to Ellicott City

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Going Home for Christmas – day 2 Abingdon to Ellicott City

After almost 900 miles, 14 hours of U2 (including 360 concerts from DC and Vegas), one hour of sleep and lots of sweet tea, we’re back in the EC. That’s Ellicott City for those of you not from around here – Ellicott City, Maryland. We left our hotel in Abingdon just after 5am, stopped twice and were home before noon.

It didn’t get light out until after 7am. And route 81 north in Virginia is really dark – absolutely no highway lighting. Put up some lights Virginia! About an half hour or so north of Roanoke, we stopped at a Travel plaza. It was the coolest travel plaza ever! They had an Elvis quarter game. You know the one where you put the quarter in and it pushes them out. It played Elvis music too.

Elvis at the travel plaza

About 3 hours later, we were in Maryland getting my favorite Ledo’s pizza. I have been dreaming of Ledo’s since I was home in June. There is no Ledo’s in Memphis, and it’s a shame because it’s the best pizza in the world! So I stopped on the way home and picked up a large extra cheese.

the best pizza!

Elvis and Cilla were SO excited to see Mom (Dad isn’t home yet). They’ve had more snacks today then they had all week. They will definitely gain a little holiday weight. We’re exhausted and don’t plan on leaving the house until Tuesday. Please watch the video of day 2 of our roadtrip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQFbqdUMYXE

Dec10

Going Home for Christmas – day 1 on the road from Memphis to Abingdon

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Going Home for Christmas – day 1 on the road from Memphis to Abingdon

I’m going home to Maryland for Christmas. A nice long visit with the family and friends. With Big Orange packed to the brim, Elvis, Cilla and I left Memphis just before 8am this morning, central standard time. Our goal was to be in Abingdon, Virginia by dark – we almost made it. We drove a little over 8 hours, 516 miles, stopping only once and arrived at our hotel in Abingdon just after 5:30pm eastern standard time.

Elvis and Cilla ride in the way back

on the road

The first day of driving home is always enjoyable because it is on route 40 East driving through the entire state of Tennessee. It is such a relaxing, pretty drive. Then there is Virginia. Tomorrow’s drive will be almost all in Virginia driving route 81 north, but the last hour or so of today’s drive was in Virginia. As soon as I enter Virginia, I get a completely different vibe. People drive crazy and route 81 is more annoying and not as relaxing as route 40 in Tennessee. Needless to say, I’m not a fan of Virginia.

are we there yet?

So it’s 7pm, and we’re relaxing in the hotel hoping to get a good night’s sleep for our 6 hour drive tomorrow to Ellicott City. Please watch the video of our drive today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JusDw4ccZ4A

Jun17

a day with the kids

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a day with the kids

Today was a great day!

Took the dogs on an abreviated walk because I woke up with a slight headache – the same one from Tuesday! We just walked to the elementary school and around it a couple times. As we were walking back, we went past this house where dogs were barking and then all of a sudden they came out from the yard charging us. These dogs were smaller than Elvis and Cilla, but still I didn’t want a 4 dog brawl on my hands. So I started screaming as loudly as I could ‘HELP! GET YOUR DOGS! HELP!’ The woman yelled for her dogs, but never came to get them. They eventually retreated and a fight was averted. I hope she saw that I had 2 dogs and was trying to avoid a fight and didn’t think I was scared of her dogs. We came home, and I tried to clean out the car a bit, but Elvis and Cilla jumped in because they are ready to get back on the road.

when are we leaving?

let's go!

 

I met Cindy, Tabitha and Keira at Cheesecake Factory for lunch. So great seeing them again. Keira is so funny and Tabitha is so grown up and of course Cindy is the best friend anyone could ever have. And of course the food was good too. I had the lunch special small pizza and small ceasar salad, but it wasn’t very small but it was very good. Plus I had the red velveet cheesecake and 2 glasses of iced tea, which is probably I’m not at all tired right now.

Tabitha and Keira

Cindy, Keira, Tabitha

Tabitha and Keira eating

After lunch, we went to see Marmaduke. I think I laughed more than the kids. It was very funny, had a storyline and held my attention. It was definitely a dog lovers movie. Many different breeds of dogs were featured. I now want a great dane. No, not really, but Marmaduke was really cute! After the movie, the girls wanted to play in the arcade.

keira driving

tabitha biking

Apr15

Don’t Get a Dog if You are Not Going to Love it!

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Don’t Get a Dog if You are Not Going to Love it!

I was crying in the street in front of my house this afternoon when I discovered my neighbor’s dog was lying dead in their front yard because they did not take care of her. Apparently, she had been lying there all day. I had just seen her last night. She was pregnant, again. These people just let her run wild in the neighborhood. She was always outside, no matter how cold or how hot. I tried to take care of her, but she wouldn’t come near me. It breaks my heart that no one loved her and she suffered and died right in front of the door to the house of the people who were supposed to love and take care of her.

I just don’t understand why people get dogs if they are not willing to take care of them. Before you get a dog, make sure you have the time and compassion to love and take care of that dog. Don’t just leave him outside all day because you can’t be bothered. And get your dog spayed or neutered. Millions of dogs are killed each year in shelters because nobody took care of them. So if you decided to get a dog, please visit your local shelter or foster groups. www.petfinder.com is a great site no matter where you live.

I love dogs. I really love dogs. Both of my dogs were rescue dogs and they are my best friends. Mutts are the best!

Elvis & Cilla on the couch