Bailey and Daisy in Boats

I took this shot on Friday night as we were starting to put the dogs up.  That's Daisy on the left and Bailey on the right in their "boats," as we call them.  These upside-down open crates are perfect for the incontinent twins.  It makes cleaning up after them in the morning a lot easier, and they like having that "convertible" feeling with the open top.  We elevate the boats to make it easier to pick them up and carry them outside, rather then having to bend down to the floor to get them.  (No, they are not going to jump or climb out and hurt themselves; we've had the boats on the floor for a long time first, and they've never been able to get out by themselves.  Because of their neurological problems, neither Daisy nor Bailey has the leg strength or agility to climb over the side of their boats.)

In the boat is a thick West Paw bed, and just before we tuck them in, we give them a soft fleece blanket to burrow under — on Friday night it was the Winnie the Poo blankets you see hanging over the edge of the boat.  We have a bunch of different blankets, these two just happened to be in the laundry rotation that day. (Although very cute for the blog, I must say!)

As for cleaning up, on the left of Daisy's boat is the red basket of cleaning supplies, and behind it is a stack of fresh towels for wrapping around the peein' wee'uns before carrying them outside in the morning (to avoid a 7:30 a.m. squirting on one's clothes, which is not how we like to start the day, needless to say).

Bailey and Daisy only worry that one day we might decide to take their boats down to the pond to see if they'd float.  So if they ever heard Alayne or me say, "Hey, kids, let's go boating!," there are going to be two very nervous Dachshunds here.

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Still 2nd place as of Sunday!

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It was thanks to all of your amazing votes that we won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the final Shelter Challenge of 2009, and we came in fourth nationwide in the first Shelter Challenge earlier this year, winning $3,000.  So this is serious money and can really make a difference for our disabled animals!  Please help us win this round of the contest by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too.  Thank you!

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18 responses to “Boats”

  1. Evelyn - Tacoma Avatar
    Evelyn – Tacoma

    Very cute accomodations! Ada approved?

    Like

  2. Glenda Avatar
    Glenda

    Too cute!
    (and very clever with the boats,
    I might add)
    Thanks for the chuckle~

    Like

  3. Moon Rani Avatar
    Moon Rani

    In anyone else’s hands this would have been a dull post about two incontinent dogs and their beds. But your flair, Steve, made it whimsical and interesting. The best part was where you painted an imaginary picture of Bailey and Daisy bobbing around on the pond.

    Like

  4. Doe George Avatar
    Doe George

    Ahoy Matey! Simply adorable! A smile on my face from ear to ear!
    Voting each day…………

    Like

  5. Leila - Washington Avatar
    Leila – Washington

    Steve, you never fail to make me laugh! (except on the sad posts, of course)…how cute are those two! If you decide to take the SS-Bailey and the SS-Daisy out for a test run, we want pics!!! Make sure they have little sailor hats on…

    Like

  6. Shirley * James/Portland, OR Avatar

    That is so darn adorable!!!! Two RDR residents go cruising!

    Like

  7. Ann Avatar
    Ann

    I just love the 2 little faces peering up from the inside of their “boats”. What in ingenious idea you and Alayne came up with for Daisy and Bailey…I’ll bet there are many folks who can (and hopefully will) use this idea for their incontinent pets.
    And I’m laughing at the visual of those 2 sitting in their boats floating on the pond 🙂

    Like

  8. Lynne Parker Avatar

    “peein’ wee’uns” You are too funny. I can’t imagine how much laundry you must do every day.

    Like

  9. Mimi Bryson Felmly Avatar
    Mimi Bryson Felmly

    You are such a wonderfully inspiring couple ! I’ve been following you for the past few years and there’s never a dull moment. You’re certainly there for all. Thank you !!

    Like

  10. ginger Avatar
    ginger

    Steve, you do have a way with words. I can see these two with a Winnie the Poo sail on each of their “boats” cruising on the Pond with the beautiful fall colour of the trees in the background. Ahoy there, matey! It’s wonderful how you & Alayne find ways to work around all situations.
    Big hugs all around,
    ginger, Tobias & Tlingit

    Like

  11. melissa Avatar
    melissa

    Too cute! I always love the doxie posts!!

    Like

  12. Mary Ann Avatar
    Mary Ann

    Thank you for the wonderful work you do with those most special angels! Love your posts and hope to get over to see you in person someday…I’m only over in Portland ME!

    Like

  13. Lisa in CA Avatar
    Lisa in CA

    Convertible bunk beds! Brilliant!

    Like

  14. Angela Johnston Avatar
    Angela Johnston

    Hi, Daisy and Bailey! (and to all the other animals, too!) Great idea about the upside-down crate! My down dog Skippy slept in a pack-n-play bassinet (with a “rubber sheet” to keep the mattress clean!) by me bed for a long time so I could tend to him and didn’t have to bend over so much. He loved it, and we were sorta sad to see it go when I finally got his bladder/bowels under control. Today he sleeps in a regular dog bed on the floor with his foster brother. He has competed in 5 wheelchair races over the past year, and he’s won 4 of them! He has his own Facebook page and does as much as he can to educate dachshund owners about IVDD, and to let people know that down dogs can make awesome fur kids! I LOVE the work you do at RDR, and hope that Skippy and I can visit someday!

    Like

  15. Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin Avatar
    Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin

    Cute post! I love how they are peering up over the side of their boats. And, Winnie the Pooh blankets did add a cute little flair!
    You all are amazing the things you come up with to accommodate all the animals w/ their different challenges.
    New business: RDR Cruise Line?

    Like

  16. Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty Avatar
    Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty

    Hey look, RDR’s gone condo! Just tell them it’s the penthouse suite, with a skylight. How completely adorable – not to mention a creative and practical approach to caring for these two cuties and their special needs. Bless them – and you & Alayne!

    Like

  17. nart Avatar
    nart

    i can’t help but melt everytime i see all your lovely animals and how gorgeous and happy they all are, despite their disabilities! such an inspiring ranch, i wish that one day i can pop over to volunteer and help you guys out with these lovely boys and girls 🙂

    Like

  18. Ilsa Avatar
    Ilsa

    so they leak? Expressing them does not work? why don’t they sleep together? prob so they don’t get pee on them right?

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