Westminster Woofs

David Frei. Late in knowing him. I had watched the Dog Shows intermittently over the years. Especially the one on NBC after the Thanksgiving Day parade. I did not watch it with any depth of knowledge. I only knew there was a dog show immediately following Santa's triumphant end of parade appearance. After adopting Liam my entire life's direction changed and with it came an increased level of interest in all dog related shows.

BEAGLE BOY

In first year of Liam, 2008, I watched the Westminster Kennel Club competition at Madison Square Garden. Uno the beagle won. One quarter Liam. The announcer, guide, expert commentator was the iconic David Frei.

We wrote about the WKC in our blog story in 2012.

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Dog%20week%20Feb%202012

David Frei's final appearance for the WKC show was February 16, 2016. FOX will now be broadcasting the show. He does not work for them. And he is out. Here is the farewell story.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/16/sports/saying-farewell-to-david-frei-westminsters-nuzzling-voice.html

The sad new of David's leaving hung over the two day event. Liam did his best to enjoy the show even striking a pose for the judges. See pic below. But he is a muttigree...not a purebred and only purebreds can enter.

Instead we entered a contest in which we could compete...the WKC selfie contest. 

What a gallery...we did not enter to win but to be part

We posted with the requested hashtag #wkcselfiesweepstakes

We did not win...over 3000 canine selfies are there and they are all award worthy.

LIAM'S INSTAGRAM SELFIE

We don't think purebreds and mixed breeds have to be on opposite sides.  David Frei loved all dogs. So do we.
Liam at Best In Show Pet Resort with all dogs 

http://www.bestinshowpetresort.com/

Goodbye David Frei

Maybe some day all dogs will be welcome.

Woof, Woof

Liam bit a Bunny and...

RABBIT KILLER

I thought the title would be milder than the captioned photo above.
We are living with a rabbit killer.

Liam. 

I always wondered what Liam would do if he caught a rabbit. He had not been successful in snaring one.

Until Saturday. 

Background
Early each morning Liam rings his poochie bells. These hang on the doorknob of the side door. see photo

POOCHIE BELLS ON DOORKNOB

Their jingling is his signal for his morning excursion out to the backyard to do his business.
Before he leaves I give him a greenie (dental chew treat) I know. He is controlling me. True. He is. But that issue will be for another blog story.

This story is about murder. See the face of a killer. 

HEY MOM. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

Death Knell
The poochie bells are ringing.
It is 4:10 AM Saturday morning. No daylight yet, not a bit. I don't turn on any indoor lights. We have a powerful street lamp which shines up our driveway and illuminates half our backyard. We also keep on a side door light. I can find my way by these artificial lights. I give Liam his daily greenie. We proceed to the side door. I prop it open so he can come back in on his own.

He may be out for 5 minutes or 15. I watch through the rear room window. I can see him moving about...a dark shadow darting among the bushes and trees. He is sniffing and looking and listening. Stopping and going. I go into the bathroom and while in there I hear squeaks and squeals. Why is he back and why is he playing with his toys? He has rubber squeaker toys and the noises sound exactly like ones they make when squeezed.

Not his usual routine. I come out...look out the door. Liam is hovering over what appears to be a large animal. No, not a squirrel. A rabbit? I call his name. He ignores me.The shadows created by the street lamp light give a Halloweenish glow to the scene and I realize oh no, those sounds were from this animal. I don't see a head. Has Liam ripped off its head?! The body is still.

The Rabbit Died
Liam has killed. And he is not coming in right now. He is all over the yard. Following a trail...reliving the event. Paul appears. He heard the noises. I show him our killer and his prey. We are both horrified. Paul takes a close look. A bunny! Liam killed a bunny. Easter is coming. What bad timing. There is no blood. Its head is there. With a shovel and broom we get the body in a hefty bag.
And the bunny is placed in the back. It is over.

What the heck occurred here? We surmise our backyard stalker surprised a sleeping rabbit. And did what his instincts dictated. Pounce. Grab its neck and shake...

Would it have been better if I investigated the noise immediately/
It was only minutes.
Could I have stopped the killing? Should I have?

It is not murder if it is not planned, right?
Manslaughter

But Liam did plan it. Every time he runs after a rabbit he expects to capture it. So there's the plan.

Paul explains this is the better outcome. He says would we rather have looked out and seen a rabbit standing over Liam?

Or a dying rabbit in pain?

Liam did what he had to do.

BUNNY RABBIT DREAMS

Protected his territory.

He is at peace with himself
Or is he?
Liam has not been out for his early morning trip since the killing. Has rung his bells for his greenie. But after scoffing it down, he refuses to go out. 

Remorse? 

Or an item on his bucket list checked off?

Which is it Liam?
Woof, Woof

Not a Snow Dog

WAKE ME WHEN THE BLIZZARD IS OVER

Snow

Many dogs love it. Puppy Liam did. See him at the side gate licking the icy fence and hoping to be free to run. I am a snow lover and was pleased to have an ally in my storm anticipation and accumulation appreciation. Liam was an avid snow fan for several years. Last year not so much. And here we are in 2016.

SNOW PUPPY LIAM

Blizzard 2016
We have our first storm...Saturday, January 23. It achieves blizzard status early in its arrival. Officially tagged Winter Storm Jonas by TWC. Liam is not showing snow dog joy. He requires my presence when going out to do his business. There are whipping winds and surprising drifts...not conducive to play. Liam does not like the snow touching his bottom. He has short legs and any amount above a dusting clings to him. The contortions he performs to twist his body up and away from the wetness resemble a composite of advanced yoga poses. The storm amounts are high, the second highest in history at 26.8.
Inside, he sets himself up on his usual perch and watches.

ADULT LIAM BLIZZARD WATCH

Blizzard Snuggles

How could being outside beat what he has inside? The wine is mine.

A Day Care Day
A few days after the blizzard, we put him in day care. In stormy weather not a lot of his pals are out. And I believe dogs deserve canine companionship.

Liam stays dry and safe. We watch on FB and see. He is in a group. I always like to see him with others. Though it appears they are planning an escape. As long as they are socializing.

Then another snow

A February Friday morning...this one named Winter Storm Lexi. Liam watches from the window perch. This storm is fast and fierce. Heavy and dense. The sort of storm compelling folks to photograph their trees. Gone within hours. From his window seat, Liam watches it go. I got our tree in there.

It leads us into Super Bowl weekend.

Indoor activities take place on Super Bowl weekend.
Perfect for
Not a Snow dog 

Liam finds waiting for the festivities exhausting.

WHEN IS THE PUPPY BOWL?

Not a Snow Dog
Super Bowl Dog?

I'LL REST MY EYES

Puppy Bowl time
See photo below
Latte is licked and disposed of...see right corner.
Puppy Bowl on. Liam on the couch.

Not a snow dog day.

LIAM ENJOYING THE PUPPY BOWL

More Snow

Morning after the Super Bowl, more snow. Something changes. Paul reports Liam leaping and racing through the backyard. And doing the doggie snow nose dive...yes they create snow holes with their snouts and Liam is doing it. Must be sniffing for what lies beneath.
Maybe savory smells sealed in by snow cover. 

I follow him outside and sure enough Liam is a snow dog. This week.

Is it this storm with its wet clumpy qualities?
Or is it the storm accumulations producing an exciting promise of excavation?
A canine archaeological dig?

Liam the snow dog
Once again

SNOW IS FUN!

Woof, woof

Daddy's Home

MY DADDY IS RETIRED, YAY!

Paul retired January 1

Liam's daddy is home
this would be what they label
a major Life Event

Paul hurts his back day 2

Acquires an aggressive cold day 8

Immobilized
Housebound
Weather
Biting Cold

Housebound
Blizzard
Housebound

And Liam?

Blissful

HEY I HAVE THIS, BACK OFF

Hopeful
Mesmerized

Liam positions himself in a yoga crescent pose and waits.

HE'S HOME!

Stares
Sighs
Snuggles

And they hold on to each other.

And look at me when I try to get in on the bromance

LEAVE US ALONE

Okay, I get it...
I'll go into the woman cave.

Woof, woof

Starbucks for Life/Liam Wins

Starbucks for Life
We have been playing Starbucks for Life. A game. You win prizes. They are...
Starbucks for a week
Starbucks for a month
Starbucks for a year
and
Bonus stars.
The phone app looks like this. See screenshot.

We keep getting the same icons. And each new one-gingerbread man, reindeer etc. layers upon its twin predecessor over and over. Getting three across has proven elusive. We are told there have been two Starbucks for Life winners. Here is what our board looks like after every purchase. No change. Virtual excavation would reveal many cats, whales, reindeer, gingerbread men and mice.

OUR BOARD

Latte Macchiato.
But we are winners

During this promotion, a new Starbucks drink was introduced, the Latte Macchiato. It is a winner. 

We are addicted.
Liam and I are so over the grande non-fat latte. Need a new fix for the New Year 2016.
Here it is. top and side views...

Liam went nuts for it the first day I brought it home.

I WANT IT NOW

GETTING READY FOR LATTE LICKING

Our fave Starbucks honored Liam, inscribing his name and paw on our cup. We have a video of Liam loving his latte foam. Longest Dog Licking Latte Foam video on a You Tube. The TV was on and you will hear Carla Hall of The Chew narrating a segment as Liam is licking.  Might go viral.

Take a look...

Promotion Ended January 11, 2016
We did not win Starbucks for life, for a month or for a week.
We did accrue two bonus stars!
Our last card looked like this.

But we did win on the new latte.

Thank You Starbucks

KEEPING THE TONGUE READY FOR LATTE LICKS

Lick, Lick
Woof, Woof

The End of the Year is Here

LIAM SNUGGLING WITH HIS PHOTO PILLOW

Another Year is almost Here
And it means my adoption anniversary day is near.

New Year's Day

Yay

On January 1, 2008 my pet parents Carol and Paul adopted me from North Shore Animal League. I am what is called a rescue and a mutt-i-gree.
I have lived with them for 8 years.

The past week Mom has been receiving donation requests from several of her animal organizations. "Last chance for a donation!" Meaning a tax deductible gift- one may include on your income tax filing for 2015. And save you some money while you are saving the animals. Win, Win...

Here are our organizations

1-I bet you have viewed the ubiquitous ASPCA video. You know it, the one with the shivering chained dogs beseeching us for help while "Silent Night" echoes in the background.

We know when it starts it must be muted. Mom cannot bear it. Daddy Paul reminds us the dogs in the video are actors and are not hungry, cold and abused. If so, they deserve Golden Globes. Mom's opinion is that they are real neglected dogs photographed by animal rights activists to illustrate their situation.
Here is the link
https://www.aspca.org/

2-My rescuers The North Shore Animal League of America. They are NO KILL

http://www.animalleague.org/
I am featured on the Mutt-i-gree Gallery Wall. Mom wrote about me and it is on the site with my photo. Here is her post.
I retired in December 2007 and visited North Shore on January 1, 2008 with the intention of adopting my first dog. We arrived midday and by that time most puppies were in process of being adopted. I was a bit anxious we would leave empty handed but in the last room there was a puppy not yet claimed. I had my first dog. I named him Liam after the actor Liam Neeson. I was told  he had been rescued from Tennessee, was about 5 months old and might be a basset hound/lab mix. Later on DNA testing showed him to be four dogs in one, equal parts beagle, dachshund, dalmatian and Irish setter. Imagine! Liam has enlarged my world and enhanced my life. I had no idea being a pet parent would teach me how to really love. 
Adopt. 
Rescue. 
Save a life. 
Liam saved mine.

3-My friend Wrangler's school, GuidingEyes for the Blind. Wrangler is the Today Show Puppy who joined the crew last January and has been in training to be a guide dog. We follow him on Instagram, FB, Twitter. Or every morning on TV.
http://www.today.com/pets/wrangler
https://www.guidingeyes.org/ 

4-and Best Friends Animal Society, the organization which saved Michael Vick's dogs
we are sponsoring several animals, even a goat!
It is a home, a sanctuary, a functioning farm...

http://bestfriends.org/

LIAM, SAVED AND SAFE

I am safe at home. Wishing others can be safe 

and save others.

Happy New Year

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID

Liam
Woof, Woof