Galaxy is my confidant “I rule the world” diva. She’s in charge, and pushy… often her pushiness is her need to take care of everyone around her. She’s my ‘nurse dog’.
Kiwi is a lounger, happy snuggled all day on the couch or bed, over anything else in the world (Well, other than the hose!)
Sorry to the non-rodent fans reading this 
Mosey kids. We lost Lance at 2.5 years of age last week. It was a hard hit since the old man had only just come home with us, but we’re very excited to have a beautiful litter from him. He had been tore up during the Ratstock show when someone put him in with the wrong boys. On meds he felt fine, but once off the meds for his injuries, he developed a full blown URI that was just too aggressive for successful treatment. It’s very bittersweet. The only solace is that, with his injuries, we were not even sure he’d make it after the show.
Lots (more…)
I’m sure Traum, and for sure Cove would have preferred condoms to neutering. ;0P
I think that this video is really cute, and makes a point. Now, where’s those beef and liver flavored condoms that were recalled due to dogs trying to eat them! LOL
I’m a Cardi person at heart, and adore the sporting breeds (I’ll likely own another Cocker, or a Pointer someday), but I am also a big fan of the ‘Bully’ breeds, as well as Mastiffs. Before Cove falling into our laps, I talked to a few Am Staff breeders about a show pup, but was uncomfortable about the cropping requirement (I dislike cropped ears, and many breeders won’t sell a show pup that won’t be cropped) Pittys are one of the few breeds Hubby and I can agree on as compatible for both of us. Cove is ‘his’ dog, and the stubbies are ‘mine’. Kiwi is the ONLY dog there would be a custody battle over, if there ever were a split up! LOL
It always amazes me how against ‘Pit Bulls’ the general public can be. Yes dog aggression is a big issue in many lines of Pit Bulls, as well as other breeds, but as a whole. Contrary to popular belief, human aggression is NOT something the Pit Bull is pron to, or suppose to exhibit. Even among real dog fighters, any man biter, or dogs that show signs of human aggression are culled. Dog aggression is common, but a completly differnt matter all together, and many lines have pretty much bred this trait out (Or never bred for it in the first place). On the farm, Pittys were all around utility dogs, and many still retain herding instincts!
I hate to be over sensitive, but breedist people really upset me, just as much as racism does. I hate, and don’t understand why of all breeds, Pit Bulls are the current fad breed to hate. Pittys are the original ‘all American’ dog. They are all-around farm, and family dogs. Before the gangs, and idiots decided they were ‘cool’ they were pretty much seen as working curs.
This is the American Pit Bull terrier that I know. Loving, and known as ‘nanny dogs’. I’ve never met the blood thirsty, angry dogs that the media refers to as “Pit Bulls”.
My biggest fear is that next will be a breed like Pems, and Cardis, who like every breed, through poor breeding, and deplorable owners can be major ‘problem dogs’. What happens when the media goes after another breed, for whatever reason? It’s scary.
I adore Kiwi’s likeness to a pig, with her grunts, snorts, and nose wrinkles. We call her “Wii Wii”, sing songy, like a pig call.
Kiwi is IMO an awesome example of how wonderful this breed is. She’s been shot, beat, frozen, abused, neglected… but she’s come back around beautifully. We’ve had some bumps in the road of recovery, but I have a huge amount of respect for Kiwi, and her ability to forgive past misdoings.
I would hate to see ignorant, mass hysteria eliminate good dogs, because people don’t understand they are fighting the wrong war. Not only does the breedism towards Bully dogs bother me, but so does the fear of “Who’s next??”. Will they be banning German Shepherds? I can’t imagine that, not at all. With as many people are terrified of GSDs though, I can see them being a big ‘next’ on the list, and many areas are already trying to ban them and other protection breeds.
I don’t understand how anyone can hate these wonderful dogs (Or any breed). Knowing the breed, it really hurts. I really hope that enough people with sense choose to do the right thing, and rather than banning breeds of dogs, they decide to make irresponsible owners accountable for their animals, and deal with problem owners before it leads to dog bites, and attacks with ANY breeds. “Punish the deed, not the breed.”
Any dog can be a problem dog, when in the wrong situation. Support responsible dog ownership, and educate the public on proper care of animals. Push for enforcement of current care, and animal abuse laws, instead of putting a patch over a problem animal control already can’t, or doesn’t handle.
Not only is Shelby cute, but she’s an excellent model! Today Curt was working on making Dea’s loft bed (With steps that are also book shelves, so Cove can get up!) so I stayed outside with Dea and Curt. I was bored, so what better thing to do, than take advantage of an adorable, willing rodent!
If that’s not enough cute, here’s (more…)
Morgan and I had a blast at the biggest rat show in the region. The Stokes auction house site in Port Orchard, WA is our personal favorite! We get to be there for the annual fall, and spring shows.
This is OFR Mario, and a WSU retired lab rat (There to find a loving pet home!) snuggled up. See the size difference!
Mario again. Mario is a dwarf siamese, who went home with Denise of FURR rattery in WA.
A dumbo cinnamon variegated bred by Dmtn, and a pearl dumbo Eagle’s Bagel kiddo. Both unnamed, they went home with Lynn of ROUS
To see the rest, click for (more…)
I decided to be a sheep, and take the survey at http://www.findyourspot.com/ out of curiosity. I must say, I feel that it’s very, very accurate!
1. Salisbury, Maryland
2. St. Helens, Oregon
3. Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
4. Hagerstown, Maryland
5. Astoria, Oregon- This is very close to where Hubby and I decided to elope. I prefer the mid to southern coast though.
6. Morgantown, West Virginia- This is close to my aunt in Wheeling, WV where I LOVE to visit.
7. Milwaukie, Oregon
8. Eureka Springs, Arkansas- this one seems like a misfit to me
9. Newport, Oregon- Between there, and Corvallis is actually where we’ll likely settle down
10. Elkins, West Virginia
I have family in WV, and it and the east coast really feel like ‘home’ to me. I’m stuck in Oregon (and love Oregon!), but if I decided to make a random move, it’d be all the way east! I love, and really miss fall color. I hate I’m not going back east to visit family as I usually do next month. So weird to be home! It’ll be like winter…. having to travel to see real season changes (Most the local trees are evergreen)
Morgan and I left before sunrise to head up to the big RatsPacNW show in Port Orchard, WA. I didn’t personally enter kiddos this time, but Morgan showed co-bred kiddos so EaglesEye was represented. I’m excited, and am so glad this isn’t as long a drive as Ratstock was just past Pullman, WA in Moscow, ID. The best part about rat shows is seeing all the spectacular rats, and spending time with awesome, fellow rat crazy people 
We had a blast!
Oh and one of Morgans kiddos going to a breeder in BC Canada won BIS kitten. She doesn’t have a name yet, so we’ll wait and see what Erin of JOY rattery names her! Rodent show pics once I’ve recovered and slept a little
I’ve been having really odd migraines, and have finally found a medication which will control them. The problem is, said medication makes me close to worthless mentally when I’m on them, and VERY emotional. Hubby and I have been watching, and enjoying the America’s Got Talent event, rooting for a few of our favorites, our 2 top faves being in the final 5!
Last night, first performance was Donald Braswell singing ‘You Raise Me Up’, and I busted down, bawling my eyes out. I’m not normally one to cry, so it was a very pathetic, and almost humorous state for me to be in. The reason the song has so much meaning though, is because of one super special rat, Josh, AKA Eagle’s You Raise Me Up. Josh was born here, the first of a rare imported gene born in the NW. At only a few months of age we had a viral outbreak (There are no vaccines for rats, like dogs and cats) in the rattery, where I lost his mother, and almost lost him. His death months later, was related to scarring caused by the viral infection he barely made it through.
I miss him so much. This is the worse part about rats. You love them just as much as dogs (Well, I do), but they live 2/5’s the lifespan of a dog. I would give anything to have that rat, and a few others back. Joshes loss really hit me hard though, as he was Deas rat, they adored each other. The above photograph is a wonderful example of just what type of relationship Josh had with ‘his’ kid.
Someone is so selfish, to rake my best friends away so often, and after such short time. They are so worth the pain, but it’s so hard every time. It always feels like each heart rat is sent, at the right time, and for a reason. Each ‘heart rat’, brings something important into my life. Just like those dogs, who come in at the right time, for some life changing, important reason.
There is a story someone shared with me after Josh passed, that really touches how the love of an animal, is in it’s special way well worth the pain. “Because even a moment of your love is worth years of pain later.” People always ask me “How can you grow so attached to an animal, that lives so short?” I think maybe a lot of it really has to do with the fact that my Robbie, a Cocker Spaniel was alive a shorter time than many of my rats have been. He lost his fight to a brain tumor at only 3 years of age. To me, time can’t be measured, when shared with a good friend, full of never-ending love. I became really involved in rats, shortly after Robin’s passing in high school, when I could not have another dog.
‘Choices’ AKA I Choose Tears. This is really fitting for anyone, who loves any animal that will likely live a much shorter time than themselves. (more…)
Traum and Galaxy are either considered Cardi-like, or unCardi-like with their affection towards rats… depending on who you ask! On one hand, Cardis are natural ratters, and all around farm protection dogs. Traum has killed a wild mouse before, and I’m sure Galaxy would do so too, if ever given the chance! On the other, they are also smart, and as farm dogs, seem to really be able to figure out who is family, and who is enemy. A few years ago when we lived with a snake, Traum could not be in the same room as him, without growling! He’s one smart boy.
Galaxy with MacKenzie (Dumbo pearl merle)
Traum, and Galaxy with the mink merle Bagel son. (He’s not ‘officially’ named, since I shouldn’t keep him, but Dea calls him Cocoa, and loves him)
I took more pics of Bagel kids, click for some (more…)
I’m not normally an ‘up at the crack of dawn’ kinda gal, but prefer to be a ‘go to bed right before the crack of dawn’ kinda gal instead. (It’s no wonder that I keep the company of so many pet rats… naturally nocturnal animals! haha)
Last night Dea wasn’t feeling too great, so I spent most the night up doting over her, and keeping her head cool from her fever. She woke up at 5am, chipper, cheery, and happy as a squirrel with a sack of nuts. To counter her upbeat happy “I obviously slept, while you stayed up” activity, I decided to actually wake up, and go for a nice walk.
On any normal morning, I do not see sunrise. I save sunrises for special days… the days I actually wake up early for, like dog shows and rat shows (Like the rat show we’re leaving at 4am for this saturday
I took Dea and the stubby dogs over to my favorite park in the world for walking, Monteith Riverpark in Albany, Oregon. I had an alterer motive with that choice, as I also wanted to get doughnuts, from the best doughnut place in the mid-Willamette valley, Corks doughnuts along hwy 20 in Albany
As soon as we got to the balcony over the river, the ducks rushed into the water, and came over the beg for treats. Traumy ignored them, but Galaxy… well, she wanted them to join her for dinner! We were a huge disappointment to them, sine we didn’t bring them anything.
This is the view of the hwy 20 bridge, going into historic downtown Albany. Right past it is the bridge going to N. Albany, and Corvallis.
Walking to the end of the park, we got to see a train right along side the trail, so we stopped to count the boxcars, and admire graffiti. There are times, like that I’m glad Dea can’t read yet
Galaxy wasn’t too sure WHY we were sitting, watching the big noisy thing, so she watched me inquisitively as we counted
Dea wanted to hold the dogs, while I cleaned up some potty.
The ‘twins’ on a bench posing
Dea did NOT want to be left behind!
Traum waiting for me to buckle up the kidlet
And of course- the real reason I would out before the sun was over the horizon this morning! (I have to be honest though… most of them are still in the fridge! Breakfeast for a few days