Whippet Snippets

Kitty's new kasa

Ribsy's learned that Kitty, mistress of Bald Guy and Fizzio, has found herself some new digs. Seems like the mister and missus are excited about the impending arrival of both their new mini-human and their new mortgage.

Well worth the pain...in both cases. Ribsy agrees wholeheartedly. There's nothing better than your own house. If you pee on the walls, well that's your own problem to take care of and nobody else's. You can't beat that.

Congratulations Kitty! Never mind the box, will you get your own litter room?

Shotgun Ribsy

Just a short note today - Ribsy's still tuckered out from his Adventure Dog walk with all his buddies this morning at Island View Beach. Plus, as an extra special bonus, he got a promotion to the front seat of the truck. The very front! Guess he scored sympathy points with the dog walker! Yeah yeah, he knows he ends up at the same destination with all the other dogs. But it's cushy. Very cushy.

The Whippet Racer

What Ribsy looks like all evening, after a manic play session with Blitzen, his 6 month old whippet puppy pal. Why, he almost looks angelic.

Or frankly for this Mr. Shanky, perhaps he's just sad for Girl because she learned that Morrissey is boycotting Canada due to its annual seal hunt practices. "As things stand, Canada has placed itself alongside China as the cruellest and most self-serving nation," he said. Heaven knows Girl's miserable now!

Not the last resort

Ribsy heard from Boy tonight. Contrary to his initial fears, he hasn't left him for another dog. Far from it. In this country there are virtually no dogs whatsoever.

A couple of the resorts that he has overnighted at recently include the Coco Palms Dhuni Kolhu, plus --

 

 

the Mirihi Island Resort, where he indugled in the luxurious privacy of a water villa, complete with designer furnishing, air conditioning, private deck and direct access to the ocean waters. Not bad at all! Of course, this opportunity doesn't usually happen, but when it does he sure is appreciative of it.

But despite the posh resorts, Boy still misses Ribsy and home very much. Nothing beats a good old fashioned bed wrestle with a bony pooch, agreed Ribsy. Besides, as a non-swimming entity, Ribsy thought, what good is all that water?

All dogs go to heaven but how do they leave earth?

Ribsy continues to heal well. Tomorrow's the last day for his antibiotics, and this afternoon he was his usual rambunctious self, playing fetch with Max, Benny and Jaaks at the park. He's feeling fine and full of life.

When surfing the Internet later, though, he sniffed out this article in the local Times Colonist paper about disposal of beloved pets. Should it be a backyard burial? Or taxidermy? One method that is growing in popularity is pet cremation which on the Island, is serviced by Glory Bound Pet Crematorium. Ribsy's very recent gash-treating vet, Joey, is quoted as saying that in Central Saanich, the backyard option is as popular as cremation.

Whatever the choice, there's no doubt that pets are becoming more regarded as integral family members who deserve a proper goodbye.

Shopping Unleashed

Ribsy's puzzled by Girl's behavior. Sometimes she brings him with her inside stores and homes, and other times, she quickly slams the car door on his face before he can sneak his skinny self outside.

"Some establishments are just more pet friendly than others," explained Girl.

For example, most of the second hand and consignment furniture stores allow Ribsy to browse the aisles and wares. A couple of honourable mentions also go to Capital Iron and Canadian Tire on Douglas St. (not to be confused with the one on Shelbourne St, where he was rudely tossed out). Even Galleon Books & Antiques in Sidney, with pricey, dainty, delicate collectibles covering every inch of its floor space, kindly let Ribsy shop. And more and more businesses have a resident pet or two that greets shoppers, to most folks' delight, including Ribsy's faves - PJ, EB and Pita the whippets down at the Riviera Barbershop.

An L.A. Times article discusses the growing acceptance of pets in stores, since pets always bring their well-armed owners, who are willing and eager to buy - even more so, if proprieters are friendly to their kids, er pooches.

There's even a hotel in Austria that has banned kids under 12, but welcome dogs with open arms - because, according to the owner, dogs are better behaved (boo-yah!).

Of course, restaurants are not pet friendly, minus the few patios in town where Ribsy can shiver outside with Boy and Girl, and Doggy Style Deli in Vancouver. One of Girl's big ideas is to open up a restaurant with a dogs' play area, plexiglassed so that owners can keep tabs on their dogs, or watch their dogs eat their own meals chosen from the special dogs' menu.

That would be much nicer than sitting alone in the car, agreed Ribsy.

Buy byes

Hot Lunch was in town on a Saturday and that could only mean one project - garage sales!

Ribsy joined him and Girl in their quest for cheap, unique, and most of all, unneccessary finds. They scoured the papers, plotted their routes, and around 8am were roaring off in the Vandosa with plenty of room to stow their expected stash.

But they experienced stiff competition from garage sale veterans, early birds and non-bargaining sellers throughout Fernwood, James Bay, Fairfield and Oak Bay. Hot Lunch did emerge with a vintage chip and dip bowl set, while Girl scored a wooden framed portrait study of a medieval whippet. She hasn't quite figured out how to take a picture of it sans unsightly glare, so we'll let your imagination run wild with the image of a knightly but pensive whippet quietly contemplating by the window amidst his helmet, candlestick and quill pen.

A sunny stroll in Sidney by the Sea and it was time to say goodbye to Hot Lunch. Thanks! thought Ribsy. You were very kind to walk all those kilometres with me without complaint just so that I would be well rested and content.

But the afternoon was not yet over for Ribsy. He and Girl headed over to the vet, where the kind doctor gently removed his stitches. Although he still has to finish off a few more antibiotic pills, Ribsy feels very good and is definitely on the mend!

Update - a slightly reflective shot of the whippet art at left. OK, it might be a deerhound, but the chesty frame is good enough for Girl to believe it's a whippet.

Quite a Superior Day

Girl and Hot Lunch experienced some of the best Victoria had to offer today. Fine weather, a leisurely morning walk along Elk Lake with Ribsy, baked Italian delights at La Collina, along with some great thrift shop finds at Value Village, Salvation Army and Haultain Consignments, which is a 10-second whippet trot away from Ribsy's pad. They also noshed on choice peanut butter squares at Cascadia Bakery and took a delightful tour around Esquimalt of all places.

Ribsy also enjoyed the afternoon romp with Rosie and Blitzen, although his thighs quivered at the sight of tough-looking-but-sweet-as-roses Diesel the boxer, known to rattle his fences with a mere jostle of his powerful paws.

The evening was capped with a fantastic dinner at The Superior. The Japanese Cowboy and root chip plates were standouts. Speaking of standout, Girl was immediately stunned by a striking oil painting of a disguised lady and her whippet. Turns out it was a portrait of the owner Lisa and her whippet Woody! Her six-year-old whippet Larry lives upstairs, and Ribsy is excited to come visit soon to wag tails and exchange whippet high-fives. He would even love to have his upcoming 2nd birthday party there too. If pugs can have their own restaurant haunt in town to party at, why not whippets?

Easy there, thought Girl. Restaurants are still for us two legged folks - for now. Until humankind fall mushy hook line and sinker, for the captivating, spellbinding powers of the whippet.

But all in all, The Superior is highly recommended -- and it's also an apt description for the entire day!

Thrillshaw's

The Mid-Century special auction at Kilshaw's tonight was a work. As in four-plus hours of hard core bidding work.

Girl unfortunately lost out on the tripod teak lamp that she so dearly coveted. It wasn't even close.

Many fine items went away for high prices, including a Hans Olsen designed table and four chairs, and a Danish teak sideboard that Girl's pal Hot Lunch really wanted. It was his first ever auction and it was one thrilling lot after another.

In the end, Girl did end up with a couple of trinkets, as did Hot Lunch.

Happy Birthday Boy, this hanging teak light fixture (it works too!) is your birthday prezzie. It is temporarily hanging in the study room until a more permanent place can be found. Girl also scooped up 2 cute-as-pie deer ceramic figures, just for some fun on the mantle.

Ribsy, meanwhile, had a warm snuggly night with Linda and Bailey.

Happy Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Boy!

Love, your pack back home