So far we have enjoyed a cooler summer than in recent years, and last week we even had two full days of constant, soaking rain … something we had rarely if ever seen in August.  Our first ‘near-frost’ was actually two weeks ago — we woke up one morning and our LaCrosse weather station reported…

I was taking photos for our fall print newsletter the other evening over at Widget’s House when I got these shots of Molly the blind Poodle.  Molly and her sister blind Priscilla are going to be our "cover models" on this next issue.  Actually, there will be three models in the cover photo, since I…

Last week we had a scary moment with blind Briggs, who suddenly couldn’t use his rear legs.  Yet he had deep pain sensation in his feet and could move his legs, pulling them back if we extended them … but he couldn’t stand up to walk.  His lower back was painful in one area, suggesting…

One of the myths about blind or deaf dogs is that they are more likely to snap if startled, and thus might not be a good fit for children.  This, like the typical myth, is simply not true.  By that definition, a blind and deaf dog would be twice as likely to be snappy, but…

It was a good thing I devoted a post to beautiful Bunny just before taking my summer "blog vacation," because this special three-legged girl was adopted last week!  Long-time supporters of the ranch, Karl and Tia M. from the Spokane, Washington area, visited us earlier in the summer and fell in love with Bunny.  They…

I’ve posted before about how blind Widget loves to pester us at meal time.  She’ll stand up on her little hind legs, put her paws on our laps, and cock her adorable head with an expression that says, unmistakeably, "Where’s mine?"  She is, dare I say it, a serial beggar. As a result of her…

Last Sunday Alayne discovered a growth on blind Goldie’s side, near her right shoulder.  It was very small, buried in a lot of other tissue, and it had that "uh oh" feel to it.  Not a fatty tumor, and it felt attached.  This was more alarming than it would normally be, because Goldie had already…

Speaking of cats, here’s one who doesn’t get nearly as much blog-time as those manic attention-seekers, Herbie and Honey Girl.  This is Bunny, one of the nicest, sweetest, and prettiest cats I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.  She came to us last year from the animal control shelter in Spokane County, Washington.  Bunny —…

You’d think that a bunch of blind, three-legged and wobbly cats wouldn’t be capable of — or have any interest in — escaping from their nice, safe, outdoor enclosure.  But you’d be wrong. I was in my office yesterday afternoon responding to emails when Alayne came in and said, "Herbie got out again."  What?!?  We…

I stepped out the back door of our house the other day and saw this scene at the edge of the steps.  That’s Oliver and Twist, the two Dachshunds, sharing a dog cot with blind Austin.  I think there might still be room to squeeze a miniature Dachshund into that upper left-hand corner of the…