Whippet Snippets

She Don't Know Me

To the anonymous lady who left a note inside the building door this morning that said:

"PLEASE do not let your dog relieve itself by the door of the building, or in the flower beds, grassy areas etc. THANKS"

Where the heck do you expect me to go? I'm a DOG. I pee outside. The loft building grounds are my backyard. And last time I looked there was tons of snow, dying shrubs, frozen trees, and no flowers or grass to be had anywhere. And I would certainly not relieve myself by the door. I do not do concrete, thank you very much.

What do you have against a little yellow snow?

I think I know you. You have a tendency to leave anonymous notes. You were successful with your last target. You forced her to move out because she was sick of your rantings.

Well, sorry to report, but we have already decided to leave this place, and that you didn't have a thing to do with it.

You know where I live. Why don't you just go talk to me, instead of cowering behind a piece of paper? I won't bite. I promise I won't even pee on you.

And I promise I won't report on all the real violations that go on the building: disobeying the 'quiet times' of the building, illegally parking in visitor spots, leaving the door open for non-residents, operating a business in a residential building, and installing fixtures and the like without prior approval.

I'm happy to be leaving this building, and getting away from you NIMBYs. Looking very much forward to peeing in my own backyard without getting, well, pissed on by others!

Warm hugs and pisses,
Ribsy

One Step Closer

Could this be...Ribsy's new digs? See more photos.

Details to come!

Kitty not included.

Everyday

To get better at this photography thing, Girl's got to practice everyday. With Boy away and a clear sunny day, she grabbed the goods and the pooch and shot for 5 minutes before getting cold and hunkering inside with skinny ol' Ribster.

I Got the Girl(s)

How adorable are these two? Presenting Ribsy's brand-new identical cousins from out West. Ribsy hopes to meet them in-person (in-dog?) one day. By then, he's sure they'll be a lot bigger. Congratulations on your cute little twin stars, Mike & Andrea!

Never Say Goodbye

What a blur the last week or so has been. Here's a photo of Ribsy perched outside the door. Sometimes it's so darn hard to leave.

And as it turns out, sometimes you don't have to leave at all.

Ribsy will be staying in the Hammer after all! The stars have aligned and the pack has figured out a way to make it work out here. That means he will still get to play at the dog park, perfect his snow running skills, and chase those lovely Toronto gal pals of his, Hazel and Mabelle.

In the meantime, the loft has sold and Boy and Girl are house hunting...again. But this time Ribsy has heard mention of a 'fully-fenced backyard' - and he's VERY excited.

Keep the Faith

Ribsy presents the best of breed-winning whippet at this year's Westminster Kennel Club show, Ch Sporting Field's Rock On. Unfortunately he failed to win the Hound group. That honour went to a 15 in. beagle instead (did you know there are 13 in. and 15 in. beagles in this world?). Doesn't he look so cool and smug?

And here are a couple of terrific photos from the whippet judging yesterday, courtesy of the New York Times.

Someday, one day, just gotta keep the faith - a whippet will win!

In These Arms

Ribsy's feeling the chill - the minus 30 wind chill. A quick stroll around the neighborhood was all his numb little toes could muster. During this jaunt, he managed to: get checked out from behind, stop for a treat from the school crossing guard, and curl up like a snow baby in Boy's arms.

Two Story Town

While thinking about the impending move, Ribsy grows a bit sullen. He had a rough go at first, adjusting to new trees, surroundings, and temperatures. But, with the help of an animal behaviorist and a steady routine by Boy and Girl, he got used to it. And he began to like it. He loves that there's a dog park down the street...a dog park that he RULES! There are no other dogs as fast as him. And sure there are more coordinated frisbee nabbers than him, but for pure speed, he's the one to watch. He loves that! He also loves the kind neighbours on the floor of his building, with the random Milkbones, scaredy cats, and numerous pats on the head.

He wonders what kind of street he'll live on in Vancouver. The thing about the Hammer, despite all its obvious problems, is the authenticity of it all, especially the people. There's no pretending around here. What you see is what you get. And that's what Ribsy will miss so much. The genuine friends he has made out here - in the building, across the street, down the block, and at the park. He thought that kind of feeling was buried in the past, in a long forgotten era of trust and innocence. Kids aren't allowed to go anywhere by themselves these days - and Ribsy thought he was leashed!

Here's a thoughtful essay for a Monday morning. One that makes you think about the neighborhood you live in...and the one you used to.  Hopefully Ribsy and his pack will find a nice and friendly one in Vancouver.

She's a Mystery

According to leading animal psychics in the New York Times today, Vivi the missing whippet showdog is alive and well.  She ran away from the circus that is dog shows in order to live a normal life that, for her, means foraging for food, befriending new dogs, and experiencing the thrills and challenges of single motherhood.

Eck! thought Ribsy. He couldn't live without his couches, daily snuggles, and reliable doses of peanut butter, sardines, and provolone cheese. The comforts of living with people far outweigh the freedom and call of the wild, in his humble opinion.

Vivi, you really should consider coming home. Your owners will be returning to the Westminster show for the first time since your disappearance. What a wonderful reunion it would be if you turned up at Madison Square Garden.

Last Man Standing

It's that time of year again. The mother of all dog shows. Check out the official poster for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show - yay, there's a whippet. Ain't it cute?

The hounds take the judging stage on Monday, and the last dog standing will be crowned Best in Show on Tuesday night. Go whippets! The last (and only time) our breed won was in 1964.