Doggens

As with other countries that we've visited, we saw lots of dogs in Venice and around Italy. I don't know why there are so few dogs around in Dublin or so many in other countries, but that is how it appears to be. In Venice, there were a lot "purse" dogs as well as larger ones.

Adventures in dog sitting

Since Blogger or my Eircom "DSL" is being annoying and not uploading pictures for me, I can't post pictures from Brussels today (or last night). So, last weekend my friend M was stuck for a dogsitter so we offered to do it. Friday after work, I decided that M didn't live that far from work so I would walk. So, I started out walking carrying my heavy backpack. Well, I walked for a little while. Then I walked some more. And more.

After an hour, I was still walking and the sky looked ominous. I had a small Google map but where I was wasn't on the map. So I walked a bit more. Then, I decided that I should look at the map yet again. Then a woman with small children walked by and asked if I was lost. I said that I was and where I wanted to go. She proceeded to give me very detailed directions. After she gave me the directions the first time, she said to turn left and took my left arm to indicate "left." I know my left from my right! Anyway, she gave me the directions three more times and then must have decided that it seemed like I didn't understand because she told me that when I got to a certain point that I should ask for more directions.

So I start out on the new path. I walk a little ways and notice houses decorated in light blue and dark blue. I guessed that there was a match either on soon or recently. So, I kept walking and turned where I was supposed to. Then I walked a bit more, and more and more.

Then it started to rain! At least it was a pretty light rain, not lashing. So, I got to a major street and guessed that it was the one street that hadn't been labeled from the street I was originally on (which I was correct as I found out Sat.). So, after an hour and a half with aching back and shoulders, I arrive at M's house. I then go to her boyfriend's house to get the dogs and bring them back to her house.

Then the adventure began. The dogs are sort of house trained. They are used to being outside all day so when we had them inside, they had a few accidents. We got to clean them up. Also, the older puppy is used to sleeping on the bed. With two people on the bed, that doesn't work very well. She woke us up all night because a 50 pound dog kept getting on and off the bed!

On Sunday, we returned the dogs and then went back to our little kitties. Now I remember why I like kitties better. And why I don't really want a puppy. Older dogs are the way to go for me!

Goodbye Caineal

One sunny day last August, I decided to walk home from work. It takes about an hour. On this day, I took lots of wrong turns (actually didn't turn where I should have) and came across this small dog lying on the sidewalk with another dog pacing by her. I stopped because the dog was lying funny and looked like it needed help. I pet her head and she barely lifted it. She didn't make a sound.

I phoned my friend M to ask for another mate's number since L's sister was a vet. I wanted to phone to see what I should do. L didn't answer her phone so I called M back and she came and got us. By this time, the dog with the sick one had run away and other people were there to help us.

Ok, I knew nothing of dogs. I hadn't had one growing up and until recently I was afraid of them. In my world, small dogs are puppies and large dogs are, well dogs. So I told M that I found a puppy that I thought was a labrador. This is the only breed I have had much interaction with. So, she brought a box to put the "puppy" in. Well, she noticed the grey muzzle and teased me a bit in the car. I didn't notice it because the dog didn't lift her head at all and I was in "get this dog to the vet mode" and was looking at her hips more because I thought that she had been hit by a car and didn't seem to be able to walk. She winced whenever I tried to move her hips.

So, M gets to where I am and the people who stopped to help help me get the dog under my jacket and a blanket so that we could carry her to the car in a type of sling. We take her to the vet.

I called the next day and they told me that she is a 8-10 year (later thought to be about 14) old Terrier mix. She had a heart murmur but all her bloods were fine and she seemed to be in good health considering how underweight and malnourished she was. If I didn't adopt her, they were going to call animal control and she would be put to sleep in 5 days if nobody claimed her. I adopted her and named her Caineal, the Irish for cinnamon since she was a pretty brown (and I am obsessed with Cinnamon).

During the rest of the summer and into autumn, we would go on long walks to St. Stephan's Green after I got home from work. Whenever we got to the park, she would prance and her ears would perk up even more. She loved her long walks. Even though she was old, she'd sometimes chase the cat around the apartment and play with some toys. She liked to chase her ball. She also loved her treats. At times they were the only things that she would jump for. She also hardly ever barked, unless Darshin was tormenting her or getting near her stuff. In other words, she was an incredibly sweet dog. She even tolerated me picking her up and carrying her around and putting her on the bed even though until about a month or two ago didn't like to cuddle.

During the winter, her heart got worse and we tried a lot of different medications and I changed vets to one who would do objective tests on her. She had ups and downs and would lose consciousness and bladder control at times. The medicines usually helped, though (aspirin worked the best). The last couple days, she hadn't been eating and was barely drinking. Her tail didn't wag when outside. Her ears didn't perk up and she hardly walked. This morning I found her lying half on, half off the couch when I got out of the shower. It looked like she tried to get off the couch but couldn't and had lost bladder control.

I called John and then took her to the vet. The vet agreed that she "had the look of a sad dog" and since she was hardly moving, that it was humane to put her to sleep. He said it looked like she had just given up. So, he sedated her and then injected her with the other stuff to make her heart stop. It only took a few minutes and she seemed quite peaceful. I think that she knew. She slept in the bag that I carried her in almost the whole way to the vet (she NEVER does this and hated being in the bag). She also slept on my lap while waiting in the vets office. She had never curled up on my lap before. She was completely listless when at the vet (and all the way to it).

So, here are some pictures of our little girl. Goodbye Caineal. We loved you a lot even though we only had a few months with you!

Porterhouse again

Last night J and I went to the Porterhouse. She needed to relax after moving a bunch of her stuff and I needed dinner. I had just gotten back from picking Caineal up from the vet. I took her to a different vet for a second opinion since the first one wouldn't x-ray her heart to check the state of her heart murmur. This one took x-rays of her heart, her backbone, and scanned her heart. She has really severe heart problems and currently is dehydrated and has fluid in her lungs (but none on them). One of the valves in her heart is blocked almost completely. Basically, she probably has about 6 months or less. That makes me really sad but I know that I have given her a good end of life and she seems pretty happy even though she can hardly walk sometimes from the arthritis and disc degeneration.

So, both of us needed a bit of a cheer up. We got there and since there was a football (soccer) match on, the place was pretty full. We ended up sitting by two guys from Frankfurt, Germany. They go away every year at this time because Frankfurt has a Carnival long weekend like Mardi Gras and they don't like to be there then. So, we chatted with them all evening. We had some interesting conversations about politics, which of course J tried to avoid and would go to the bathroom whenever it got to be too much for her. At the Porterhouse, they are having a stout festival. J tried the chocolate truffle stout but didn't like it. I tried the chocolate truffle stout with Tia Maria in it. That was tasty. It was fun to watch the two German guys drinking stout. One of them winced when he took drinks of it because he is used to lighter German beirs.

As we were walking back to my place, J told me that we have to broaden our bar repertoire. I am sad by that but she is probably right. We can go to the other Porterhouse but we have to start going to pubs outside of Temple Bar. I hope she has some good ones down by her or maybe there are some good ones between where she moved and where John and I live...

Are you going to clean that up?

I don't know how many times I get asked that and other questions about my dog. I don't mind the occasional question but the answer should be obvious when I have a bag over my hand watching Caineal and waiting for her to be done doing her business. Yes, I clean up her poo. I don't like stepping in dog shit any more than the next person. Seriously, though, I get asked if I clean up after her when we are just out walking. People somehow feel that they have right to drill dog owners here. I would never think of just randomly coming up and asking a person if they pick up their dog's mess. They aren't nice about it either. Their tone is interrogational, like they are daring me to say no so that they can yell at me.

I have also been asked if I was going to clean up her pee. I actually had a guy yell at me from across a street one day that I wasn't cleaning up the pee. I have since changed our walking route (there aren't trees very close by on that route). I don't clean up her pee because I haven't thought of a good way to do it and think that the rain washes it away and she usually pees on trees so it becomes fertilizer for the ground. Besides, it blends in with the vomit, human pee, and all the stray dogs' urine. Oh, and the grease from the late night hotdog stands. Yep, they drop a lot of that because Caineal stops to smell the corner where the stand is by us whenever we walk by it. She sometimes tries to lick the concrete but I don't let her.

Where I usually walk her, because there are lots of trees along the street and few people, is near a taxi rank. At least once a week one taxi driver will roll down his window when he sees us and wait for us to walk by his car and then ask a question. One asked if I had a license for Caineal. Usually they just ask if I clean up after her.

I am also surprised at the number of people who appear to be afraid of dogs. Some people will cross the street when they see us and we get a lot of "eww" looks and some dirty looks. Few people ask to pet her or look at us nicely. Yesterday a lady did, though. She looked sadly at Caineal (she was limping a lot) and then smiled at me and looked back at her. She looked like she wanted to ask me something but didn't. A girl also asked her mom why my dog was limping. Nobody answered her. By the time I had processed what she said, it was too late for me to answer. I wasn't really paying attention because I was watching her walk and trying to get out my keys since we were almost home. And her accent was a bit different than what I am used to hearing.

While I am on a tirade, people are rude in other ways, too. The other day when J and I were walking home from the pub, this guy starting yelling things from across the street at/to us about Bush. There is definitely some anti-American sentiment here. Most people are just curious but I have encountered some who judge me based on my accent. I know that is everywhere and a part of life. Sometimes it just gets tiring to explain that I didn't vote for Bush and why I think that he got elected. I don't agree with many of his policies but I do think that he is effective at reaching and identifying with the "everyman."

On a happier note, today I should get a new oven. I am waiting for the delivery/installation people to come "before lunch."

healthcare

People complain about health care in the U.S. Insurance is expensive and far too many people are without it and can't get health insurance. However, health care here isn't perfect, either. I have insurance which costs about 50 Euro a month but can't use it for 6 months unless there is an emergency. A doctor visit costs 50 Euro. I realize that this is much cheaper than back home but the quality of care I have received is far inferior than I received in the States, even in an HMO. When I have gone to the doctor for illnesses, the doctor here hasn't taken my temperature.

When I went in for my sinus infection, the doctor didn't really even do a physical exam. She pushed on my sinuses and agreed I had a sinus infection. She didn't check my ears, my nose, my throat. No real physical exam.

Recently, I had an outer ear infection. When I went in for it, again she didn't take my blood pressure, temperature or examine my throat or nose. She only examined my ears. She took my blood pressure after I asked for a particular prescription. I then asked about annual exams. Well, they don't exist here. Women don't have their first gynecological exam until they are about 25 (I think) unless they have had a certain number of sexual partners. They then get an exam every three years. Basically, at my age, I would get an exam every two years. Also, after a woman has a certain number of normal exams, the frequency decreases. So, as a woman gets older (and her chances of cancer may actually increase), the frequency of exams may decrease. However, in order to keep my new prescription, I have to go to the doctor 2 times a year to have my blood pressure taken! Huh?

At least medicines are less here. My migraine medicine is a fair amount cheaper (even though I was only supposed to get one dose at a time) and my birth control is also a lot cheaper. I can even get Flonase (called something different but same drug) over the counter for less than half the price than at home.

I think the differences in health care here are cultural. First, people don't get the same amount of education in any profession here as they do in the States. I am not sure if I think it is a good or bad thing or just different. Second, and more importantly, people are far more relaxed about health here. They won't do objective tests unless absolutely necessary. People go to the hospital for more things, though.

Vetinary care here is also very different. Caineal has heart problems and fluid on her lungs. She also has some nerve problems in her rear legs. It would have been helpful to know some of these things when I got her but they only did a cursory exam. The vet didn't even do blood tests to test her kidney and liver functioning when I found her! When I had her teeth extracted, they did some bloodwork and things were fine. When I took her back to the vet after she passed out one day, the vet didn't want to repeat the blood tests and doesn't want to take an xray of her to see the exact extent of her heart condition. When I asked about it again and mentioned that my friends/acquaintances who are vets back home and the sources I found on the internet stressed the importance of an xray to determine objectively the state of her heart, the vet said she didn't see a need to do that. I can't help but wonder if Caineal gets different care because she was a stray. But she isn't one anymore. Now she is my furry four legged child. When I take her back to the vet in a couple months for her check back, I am going to insist on an xray. If she still won't do it, I think I may change vets. A mate's sister is a vet and I may go to her. I know I will be a difficult client but I want the best for my little girl. I know her time is limited and I want to prepare for how limited and make the best of what we do have.

cold apartment

Sometimes at night the living room/kitchen/dining room get pretty cold. The bedroom stays pretty warm because it is a smaller space for the heater to heat and we have a warm duvet to climb under. The apartment gets cold because the windows let in a draft and their is only one heater in the living room and it just can't keep up with the space and draft. Anyway, one night, we came home to find Caineal curled up to the heater because she was cold. She was also snoring! Poor dog. I put a blanket over her after taking the pictures.

traffic lights

While we were in Barcelona, we noticed after about a day that we hardly ever had to wait at an intersection for the walk sign. We couldn't find any sensors but it kept happening all weekend. They must have some sort of sensors somewhere. On major streets we had to wait a little bit longer but not much longer.

Here in Dublin, some of the lights telling pedestrians when to walk have timers so you know exactly when the light will change. Some also have a sound that they make. This helps the visually impaired know when to go and then they aren't dependent on others. This past summer, there was some debate about the noise that goes with the green walk light. Some people considered it a noise nuisance and wanted to get rid of it. They appear to not have won. I quite like the noise because then I don't have to pay that close of attention to the lights and can tell by the sound when to walk. Caineal also knows the sound so she will wait until the light changes and when the sound starts, she starts to bolt across the street. See, so it helps stray dogs not get hit by cars, too.

dogs in Munich

I got back from Munich today. It was a good weekend. The flight was a couple hours late leaving Dublin because there was a "blizzard" in Munich. By blizzard, I think they meant it was snowing and they didn't know what to do about it. By the time we got there it was raining and the majority of the snow was gone.

As we walked around, I noticed lots of dogs. Big dogs, little dogs, all kinds of dogs. They are allowed on the trains and in stores! Today when shopping, I saw a couple dogs in stores. I even saw a guy walking his dog and holding a briefcase so he may be allowed to take his dog to work. How cool is that? I suppose not so great for the people who have allergies but they probably wouldn't be able to breath due to all the others smoking anyway.

aren't they cute?

Christine had fun taking pictures of Darshin and Caineal when she was here, so here are more pictures of our furry companions.

pets

good pets

Caineal and Darshin are getting along much better. They like each other's food, though. I don't mind since Darshin could use to lose weight and Caineal is still underweight. She eats the cat food pretty quickly, though. Last night they slept pretty closely to each other and don't fight much. Caineal asserts her dominance every now and then but seems less anxious than she was. I think she has finally learned her new name, too. :) Oh, they even sniff each other's noses sometimes!

Happy cat, stressed dog

Darshin and Caineal are doing pretty well in day 2. They mostly follow each other around and try to smell each other. Darshin tries to smell Caineal's nose but she shows her teeth then. I think that when noone is home they get along because Caineal sleeps on the couch and Darshin greets us at the door. Caineal barks at Darshin when he is on the bed or trying to get my attention. Basically, I think that Darshin is happy to be back with me and not that bothered by Caineal. I actually think Darshin likes her. Whenever I go near Darshin, he purrs and rubs against me. He hisses or growls if I am petting him and Caineal comes close. He is a silly kitty. The two main problems with Caineal right now: she digs in the litter box to eat Darshin's poo and has peed on the floor yesterday but has done better today. She is also jealous of Darshin.

Today Susan, John and I went on the Wicklow/Powerscourt/Glendalough tour. It was nice but a little long. We hiked a little and got to see some pretty scenery and finally got out of the city. I took some pictures which I will post another day.

I am really tired since Darshin woke me up last night to be pet and sleep around my head. He also kept licking my face.

cat and dog

Today I got my lovely white Siamese kitty. He had to wait an extra day because the vet signed the flea and tick treatment wrong and it was done 22 instead of 24 hours before he got checked in at the airport. So, it cost me an extra 60 Euros to have the flea and tick treatment redone and stay a night at the vet/quarintine. But my friend M and her boyfriend J came to the place to get me and we took my kitty home. Darshin and Caineal met on the street and growled/barked at each other.

We separated them into different parts of the apartment so they could get used to being near each other and smell each other but Darshin pushed the door open and entered the dog territory after less than an hour. They growled, hissed/barked and then were OK. Now the dog follows the cat around all over the apartment. Caineal smells Darshin and growls and barks if Darshin is out of her reach. Darshin hisses and growls and swats occassionally but doesn't put his claws out. Darshin is quite good with Caineal and I think he doesn't see Caineal as a threat.

The dog and cat also like each other's food and water. So, Caineal eats Darshin's food and vice versa. Good thing that Darshin needs to loose weight and Caineal needs to gain weight. :)

Susan got here yesterday and travelled with Darshin. She is a very good friend. Today we went to Malahide castle and tomorrow we are going to Glendalough and Powerscourt gardens. It should be pretty and a nice day.

Update

 This moring, I got to the bus stop as the bus that goes the 1 route to get to where I was going was loading people. Unfortunately, as I was getting on, the driver said that the bus was full and we couldn't get on! A mate had been told that on the previous bus, too. So since there were 4 of us, I decided we should take a taxi. So we did and got there in 30 minutes instead of the hour the bus takes. :) We would have been quite late if we hadn't taken the taxi becuase that route only runs about 2-3 times an hour. It is the worst service I have encountered here in Dublin.

Yesterday it rained off and on all day and was a little chilly. I was trying not to wear a real sweater until Oct. 1st but I gave in today and wore one of my nice fuzzy sweaters. Today was cold, too, actually. I have been wearing sweaters and my spring jacket. I can see my breath later at night when walking Caineal. Brr. I turned on my heat in the bedroom today, too. Today rained a bit, too.

On Sat I get Darshin. I am very excited to have my furry big fat kitty again. Tomorrow John is supposed to go to the store to pick up the litter box and cat climber thing that I ordered on Sunday. I didn't want to pay 40 Euro for a litter box so I ordered one from Argos for 14! I had to wait a few days for it and hopefully it is actually in or I will have to get the one from the pet shop for more. I am getting a covered one for him even though I am usually against these. I want the covered one so that Caineal doesn't eat Darshin's poo.

Pampered pooch

Today Caineal had to go to the vet to have some infected teeth extracted. John took her in the morning and he said she didn't want to go inside and was shaking by the door. So he dropped her off and then we went after I got home from work to get her. We walked a little ways and she seemed to be having a bit of trouble and the vet said not to have her walk around a lot because she had to be under anesthesia. So, we picked her up and put her in my purse/bag. She didn't fit very well but settled in as we walked her. John and I each held a side of the bag. We looked funny and people looked at us and lauged. One lady laughed and said that Caineal looked happy. When we made her get out of the bag, she didn't want to get out. She did but walked stiffly. I think she appreciated being carried. Now she is licking her bandage on her leg (lavedar colored no less) lying in her little dog bed.

Caineal

Here are pictures of my little Caineal. She's so cute...