Taipei Dogs

' Taurus are reliable, focused, practical, and usually right on time.'

Practical definitely a yes, judging that this batch of photos were backlogs from last Christmas, I'm not so certain about my other horoscope traits.

Taipei is an absolute heaven for dogs, owners being city dwellers love to bring their pooches everywhere they go. They get all the oohhhs and arhhs from passerby, many of canines gained frame overnight with people asking for a snapshot with them. All it takes is one person pointing the camera at any one of pooches to gain instant attention. As I found out, the moment after these photos were taken, the admirers just flocked in like bees to honey.

Next to Switzerland, this is the second country I've visited where dogs roamed freely off-leash. Many a times we thought we saw a stray, the next moment the owner turns up...

Once we saw a pooch in the wee hours of the morning, sitting by a road. Just as we wanted to grab it, it strolled back around the corner, down the alley back into this shabby looking shophouse.

Dog heaven it is, where they roam carefree.

Much unlike where we are at staying at the moment. Just this afternoon I was chasing and hunting down two little brats who threw stones at Yumi. She goes bonkers when the postman and garbage collector comes too close to the gate, and there she is sitting in the porch staring at these two monkeys throwing stones at her... and she's still smiling and wagging her tail. One might say that she's naive, but I choose to prefer the word "stupidity".

Hopefully those two won't be doing that anytime soon, while I'm still holding grudge against them. If not, with my last straw, I'll soon be dealing directly with their parents.

Things that I Missed (1)

The next few posts are gotta be way overdue, The Cow and I had been busy since we came back to England, running errands.

Apart from dealing with a particular troublesome individual, which I almost tore my hair off, things are good.

Coming back made me realised the little things I missed about this place. Be it a little robin dropping by the garden for visit, to a dead badger by the side of the motorway (though I prefer to see a live badger and never had that luck).

A drive down the motorway admiring all the con-trails, staring at the night sky making wishes upon shooting stars. Those were the little things I missed.

Yumi got poked

Poke, poke, today is the day Yumi got poked by needles again.

Much to our (more of mine) relief, her blood test came back negative for heartworm. Has place order for her Interceptor tabs.

Following that, she got poked yet again, this time for a rabies jab.

The vet was happy that our gal is so "healthy" that she has no problem what so ever when she tried to pinch the canine for fats to inject the shot. Yes, our gal is in fact overly "healthy" in the field of body fats, so much so she might need to go on diet soon.

Just outside the vet's was this lil pup for adoption, its overpowered with cuteness and I couldn't resist taking out my digital cam.

My Dogs are (were) big babies

They are indeed.

Cocoa
My very first dog, found her on the street.
My family has the habit of reading the papers on the floor, spreading out the double pages making it easier to read.
Cocoa hated it when our attention wasn't on her.
She'd put her front paw on the corner to prevent us from turning the pages.
If that doesn't work, she'd put both front paws.
If that still fails, she'd simply walk to the middle and plant her butt right on our morning news.


Bubble
My second baby, the famous pinscher who won't hesitate to bite your fingers off if offended.
He loves to curl up sleeping beside us. We in turn became his possesion.
If anyone is to tempt to disturb his sleeping cushion (the human next to him), he will, deffo bite your fingers off.

Yumi
My new member, is the babiest outta all.
I've decided to start this post thanks to her.
Watching a dvd on the laptop with my headphones on.
She got bored watching me, hopped off her throne and tried to nudge off my headphone,... she failed and was shafted aside.
The queen/ Biatch (with a captial B) then walked in front, blocking me from the screen (I'm lying on the floor watching) and refused to budge. That failed, I started watching through the gaps of her legs...
Last resort,... she started typing on my keyboard.

SIGH, I've to stop watching and play with her... threw her a rawhide, which is why she graciously gave me some time off to finish this entry.

Dogs, they are big babies indeed.

Dog IQ

Picked up a book from the stores yesterday,... "Test your dog's IQ". Did a small lil experiment before I start going through the book, this is to just give me a rough idea of what to expect from Yumi.

Pre-test 1 :
Place treats in cup and see how the canine would react.

To be honest, I've high expectation with the result for this test, since she's so food driven and all.

Result :
She ran around the cup, barked, ran, bark, ran,... you get the idea.
Tired, she just sat there staring at the forbidden food, and started whining... Test failure.


Pre-test 2 :
Place treats under cup.

Well this might be easier than the first test I suppose.

Results :
She proved me wrong,...
The test subject started with running around the cup, more barking and running,... then she surprised me.
She attempted to dig her way under the cup!!!! *Speechless*

I'm not pinning my hope too high with the scoring in the next few days...

What oh What am I to Her?

The house feels empty without the rascal and Cow.

Flying home tomorrow, and since Cow has no time this week for Yumi, she was sent to Yen's (our home boarder) till Saturday.

Wondering if she'd miss me,... my worries were for nothing, in fact I felt used. All this while she might have just taken me as her food cum treats vending machine... *sob*

The moment she went into her vacation camp,... I was nothing. The sight of her doggie friends and all the new smell,... she totally let her fur down and ran around like some lunatic escapee from a mental institute!!!
She din't even come to the gate to bid us farewell, ermmm, when Cow sticked his hand through the gate to pat her, she actually ducked!!!

I was taken aback,... sigh, what am I to her?

Uneventful Week

The week that passed was simply stale, apart from ISP leaving me with a dead connection for more than 24 hours,... the customer care was friendly, but that doesn't take away the fact that I know more than them,....

Since I was left outta cyberworld for a whole day, picked up my needles and started sewing again. Made two new pouches, one for my fags and another for my keitai which I got months ago but never got the chance to write about. The latter (laugh hesterically), I've always wanted a 903,... *drool* (even when 903 was such an old phone, it has became such a classic that the price still remained high). Nevermind that, I've got a replacement now *still laughing*. I know I know, its from last season, 8MP is enough for me, the new 10MP would be too much to handle. Not sure why but I just love white clamshells with rotating screen...

More updates on my four-legged furby. We've put her on a barf diet (raw meat) but worried that her stool is way too hard, she's now on barf every alternate day. She's not taking the veggie and supplement mix (credit to Yen, our homeboarder) very well, but hunger speaks louder, so she has no choice but to chow them down.

Oh and recently she's brushing her teeth as well, *ahem* abit of an obsession actually. She takes her toothbrush wherever she goes. *The brush actually belongs to Bubble, but its way too big for his tiny jaws and he left it in a corner to collect dust*

Never Fails

... to surprise me. A dog, a weird dog.
This is the first dog I've ever known who takes her tablets like treats.
This is the first dog I've ever known who drinks "Bitter Yuck" like water.
This is the first dog I've ever known who prefers to whine and howl than bark.
This is the first dog I've ever known, who's more fascinated by kites and aeroplanes than screaming kids and kitties.

She's desperate for a wee, out the gate, and ohhhhhhhh kites,... (half a minute later) pee,... need to pee.
(Finished business)
Ohhhh kites,.... (another half a minute) ohhhh aeroplane.... (and she's completely in her own world).

PS: Bitter Yuck is sprayed on stuff to prevent your canine from chewing it, it's supposed to taste REALLY REALLY digusting.

Updates

The past two weeks had been a nightmare for both canine and humans, canine has to be confined from reaching for her toys and jumping around, not to mentioned she's banned from the porch area as well. Humans? Well we'd to put up from the grumpy spayed bitch, oh and her whines.

At long last, she's been given the approval (by moi) to have her torture device removed. She once again a free canine.

What ya about to see or hear in the clip below is just a small taste of what I've to face everyday. Yes, she's once again managed to score a ball in the hole under the couch. No, I dunno what she's managed to kicked in, coz this is the sixth time that night and I can't give a crap.

Password Please

Last bit of energy

I'm now writing this entry with my last remaining bit of energy . The exhaustion accumulated during the past few weeks (especially the last) is now taking its toll.

Starting from senior's visit, to Yumi's operation, Cow's friend's short visit, and now the worsening of Yumi's wound. As for senior's visit, well I won't go into anymore details, those trusted friends you should have the password, go read for yourself. Cow's friend is a really nice chap, that's all I'm gotta say. So leaving Yumi's operation and her recovery progress, that oh boy I'll write an essay with my last breathe.

Right, to begin with my essay, Yumi was sent in for spaying last Saturday, well I'd no problems with my vet back at home, but here,... the vet just somehow made things worse for us.

If you'd like to see how bad Yumi's current condition is (that's if you have digested your last meal), just click on the link below and key in password "Please gross me out".

Show Me the Photos

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Day 1: Sent her in for operation at noon, was told to call back at 4pm to check if we can fetch her home that night. Rang up and was informed that she's still under surgery!!! . Fine, called them back at the time I was told. "They" informed me that she's still drowsy from the anesthetic no choice but to keep her for the night. I've strictly asked for them to walk her before the clinic shuts at 9.30pm as first of all she's outdoor trained, and secondly the drip during the operation might be too much for her bladder to take (that's if they even gave her a drip)... Called again at 9pm with the same set of instruction. Oh before I forget, asked them how's Yumi taking her experience being caged up,...... the caller on the other end of the line reply, "Oh she's taking it really well, in fact she's more eager to play than anything!" It doesn't help that everytime I called, with the self introduction of, "Hi I'm XXX, I'm checking on my DOG which was sent in this ...." and they would come back to be after 15 seconds of putting me on hold and ask if my pet was a cat or a dog. Cow advised that I should have told them that it was a goldfish. At that point, I was starting to get really worried.

Informed them that I'll pick Yumi up at 10am the next day (since the clinic opens at 10), lady on the line explain that the staff needs to clean up the cage before Yumi can leave so I can only pick her up at 11am,... WTF since when does the patient in hospital has to wait till the nurse and cleaner clean up the room before discharge? What kinda screwed up logic is that?
After much negotiation, they agreed to let me pick her up at the time I requested.

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Day 2: Went to the clinic at half ten, giving a 30 mins leeway for them to prepare for her discharge. Was asked if I wanna get a E-collar for her,... the counter staff shut up after my comment, "E-collar,... isn't that an absolute MUST after a surgery? So you are telling me that its optional?" Lady then asked me to wait as they try to fit the collar I just "bought". Fine, told them I'll be running to the shops opposite the street to pack some lunch. Back at 11am, asked them where Yumi's at and ... was told she's now taken out for a pee... ... ... ... don't think they got my instructions from last night, well, and from 10am till 11am,... one hour,... really felt like strangling that *BEEP* behind the counter.

Asked for a letter of proof for the spay, "Oh you have to wait for 2 weeks, come back in 2 weeks' time." Err.... do you need a solictor to write it for ya?

Finally I get to see the distressed canine. Outside the clinic, questioned the assistant if Yumi's nails had been trimmed as requested, her reply just made them look even more unprofessional, "Oh it still look abit long" Ya, underlying statement, "Oh *BEEP* !!! forgot to do that". She then dragged out the poor groomer and trimmed her nails outside the clinic. Not the groomer's fault since he hasn't been given the task in the first place.

One BIG mistake I made, asked her how's the wound. She got the groomer to lift my canine up. Thinking she's just trying to point to me, I din't think twice to stop her. Before my brain can catch up with my eyes,... she peeled up the med tape on the wound, liken tearing off a piece of waxing tape,... and it sounds like it as well ... YOU *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* ,... do you have to go to such extend to show me? Speechless, I left as quickly as my wounded canine could walk.

Back at home, canine drank a whole bucket of water. Can't help but to be convinced that she hasn't been given food nor drinks the whole stay with them.

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Day 3: Yumi's doing ok I suppose, she finished all the food I cooked for her. Mixed veg, tofu, pork, and some kibbles. She's drinking alot too, But her wound is slightly sore. No problem on the whole.

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Day 4: Her wound isn't looking good, its swell up even more and it's reddened. Oh did I mentioned that the vet refused to give me any antibiotics for her? They said that being such a MINOR operation, giving her a dose after the operation should be sufficient... BULLOCKS!!!

Brought her back to the clinic, vet tried to squeeze her wound to see if that's any fluid from the swell. Nope, none so ever. The *BEEP* vet wasn't convinced, squeezed a few more times, now I see blood. The vet felt my laser beam eye and quickly stopped. Was given a course of antibiotic and some pills to relieve the pain and bring down the swell *FINALLY*. Kept Yumi under supervision to prevent further licking of her wound and most of the night she's alright. Her e-collar has been off since yesterday and she has been doing well.

Just as I turned my back, she sneaked quietly to the porch. Went out and found her licking her wound.
*Flash back to few months ago* When Yumi was having her first heat, she diligently licked and cleaned every trace of blood. Now with the blood from the wound *all thanked to her vet* she's starting to clean it.

From that incident on, blood just kept dripping like a leaking tap. I've no choice but to put the e-collar on her. With the device, the dumb canine din't dare to lay down, so sleeping was somehow outta the question. I had to cradle her like some baby till she's too tired and totally off guard, then gently pushing her to the ground with the head resting on her bed. But even with that, the longest she'd sleep was not more than 30 mins. It's gotta be a long night.

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Day 5 (Today): There's still a bit of blood from the wound, I'm starting to apply the cream given more often than asked. The bleeding went down. She's refusing to drink, eat and pee with her e-collar on. Nope, the hunger strike isn't gotta work for her this time. Beaten by exhaustion, managed to get force her to lay down next to me, her legs are starting to kick, good sign of her resting and dreaming. Sigh, I'm gotta get some shut-eye before the four-legged wakes up. Will rant more on her post-op recovery progress when I'm slightly more recharged.

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PS: I've just tried taking her e-collar off (had to bring her out for a quick relief), despite its necessary, I totally regrated it. All the yelling and screaming just to stop her from licking her wound. Putting the e-collar back was a nightmare, spent *BEEP* *BEEP* 30 mins to do it and not to mention she's totally freaked out yet again *sigh*. Manage to get her some treats and medication before popping the lampshade back on her.

Canine and Cow updates

It has been a week of destruction in the house, Yumi destroying each and every of her toys and the Cow hammering the buttons on his "sexbox". While the Cow was busy killing zombies and aliens, Yumi planned a surprise attack of her own. Muahahhahaa she gave the nerd a forceful french kiss!!! Well that's her sweet revenge, bearing grudge from the spanking she got from killing the herbs in the porch.
Oh PS: I'd be flying home tomorrow night, then off to the dentist,... not an appointment I'm looking forward to though.

My Blah Week

This entry started with a burst of giggles in amidst of the ratting of machine guns and the sweet aroma of coffee. Haven't had the motivation to pen down all the thoughts this week, might be due to my soap opera obsession again.

I've to say, my life is still simple enough compared to many of my friends. As they hassle around their jobs, family, children and other errands, I'm sitting here blogging, sipping my coffee with my headphones on.
Chatting with one of my dear girlfriends the other day, unfortunate news arrived that her husband has been retrenched on that very same day. With a new flat and her baby princess who just started school, she hasn't lost a bit of her optimism. Back in school she's pretty strong, and she hasn't lost a bit of that virtue.
With recession floating around, many had asked about our well-being. Grateful that I'm still in their thoughts, yes I do worry at the same time I prayed and kept my faith.

Back to my week, it's been pretty blah, it would just bore you to death listening. Dog-sitting Pluto while the Lees were away was sadly the only highlight of the week and Cow's long gaming session with Ads. Other than that, Mr Mailman paid me a visit. I've been waiting for my parcel the whole week, and with fear that I might miss him, I've appointed Yumi as my faithful doorbell (Our cheap doorbell has been very temperamental). Fenced her up in the living room and left the front door opened, making it really obvious to Mr Mailman that we are home. Yesterday afternoon, her howl echoed the hallway, I flew down the the flight of steps and there he was, laughing. Throughout the signing of the parcel, he kept laughing and pointing to the door. Seemed to me that he found Yumi's weird whining noises entertaining (giggles).