January 2020 – Layla's Woof

A letter to Layla on her Gotcha Day

Posted on January 31, 2020 by admin — 32 Comments ↓

TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!!! But most important Happy Gotcha Day to my best friend, my partner in life and most of all to Layla.

Today we are going to dedicate this blog to Layla, who is my Boss, the owner of this blog as I am her secretary.

Dear Layla,

I am so proud to be your Mom, to be able to keep you healthy and happy but most important of all am so blessed to have you in my life.

I am once again going to share your Gotcha Story here so that others will realize rescuing is so worth it and that is why I speak out for rescues, as like you, they all need a home with a warm bed to sleep on.

I remember when your sister passed away, I waited about 6 weeks and then decided my home was too empty without the pitter patter of paws so the search was on. I ran around to all the shelters in the city but could not find a little fluffy at the time, which is what I wanted.

So Uncle Michael introduced me to Aunt Cindy by email, told me that he would be in LA for a week so I had a week to search online for a new fur kid and he would bring her home to me.

I sat 24/7 on Petharbor and Petfinder and was nearly giving up when I saw you sitting in a cage in the Carson Shelter. Your look on your face said to me take me home. I immediately emailed Aunt Cindy with your information and photo and she went to the Shelter on the Saturday to fetch you for me. I remember her calling me from there telling me she had a smelly matted mess kissing her, that sealed the deal.

You arrived on the Sunday evening, the 31st of January 2011, I had got the house all ready for you, bought you a new pink bed and was so excited. Yes, you were smelly and dirty but I did not care as there are washing machines, and for me what was important was you were finally home, safe and sound with a nice warm bed.

Your dumping papers said you had been an outdoor dog, you bit when groomed and in a nutshell everything negative a person can say and OH What A Lie. You are the opposite. I am ashamed to even say what your name had been.

I waited a couple of days and then met a friend of mine, a vet, Dr. Phil in the dog park, he looked at you, checked you and said I had won, and he was so right.

Your first couple of days you slept and ate, I had to teach you to climb the stairs, potty outside and am proud to say you had one accident inside. You did no damage and I did not crate you as I do not believe in crates but as far as I remember you chewed a tissue LOL.

You overcame your fear of men, your fear of so many things but with love and patience we did it together and you succeeded.

You have come a long way Layla, 9 wonderful years with me, we have moved, you have become one of the most happiest waggy tail dogs I know, friendly, full of love and I could not ask for anything more.

So as you grow older with me, nearly 13, and Mom is growing older too, I could not ask for a better way to grow old but with you, you make me laugh, shower me with unconditional love, and even when you are naughty I giggle as it is so seldom.

Thank you for rescuing me Layla, Mommy is so proud of you, so blessed to share my bed with you and most of all, Mommy loves you very much.

Happy Gotcha Day Sweetheart, my Lullybelle (her nickname) and I promise today, we are going to do something special.

Hugs and lots of love Mom

PS. I can honestly say On Line Love Affairs do exist.

January is flying by

Posted on January 24, 2020 by admin — 30 Comments ↓

TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!! We cannot believe that we are in the third week of January, this month is flying too fast.

In the Layla Neighborhood we have been busy dog sitting, Gidget spent the weekend with us last week which was exhausting and she was here yesterday and today Louis is here.

Mom is really working hard looking after all of us and I am sure by the end of the day is exhausted. One good thing I think Mom is losing a lot of weight from all the walking so she will be a skinny old lady now like me.

Last Saturday we went to the Women’s March which was amazing, it was smaller than last year but still awesome to see the women, men, children and of course dogs there all standing up for our rights. We wandered around, listened to the speakers and chatted with different people. We did not do the March as I had left Gidget at home and did not want to be away for too long.

The organizations there were Animal Liberation, Climate Change, Women’s organizations, Domestic Violence and so much more.
Below are some of the photographs from the March.

When we got home, Madam was exhausted LOL, I walked Gidget and spent some quality time with her on the walk and then we all relaxed.

Sunday was a slow day just having fun all of us together, Monday more or less the same and then Gidget went home in the evening.

LOL Tuesday Layla slept all day and I think she needed it.

Yesterday Madam went for a bath and I forgot the camera oy vey but she has a new thing of moaning while being bathed and giving miserable looks as if she is being punished, it is quite funny. I compensated her of course with lots of treats so she cannot complain, I am a softy and actually feel guilty also as I know she hates it.

Tomorrow she is going to get a surprise, we are going to her favorite restaurant for lunch, it is a Syrian place with delicious food and Layla always gets a piece of chicken. They are so great there and when they bring us glasses of water they automatically bring Layla a bowl of water also.
Saturday if not raining we are doing the Shitzhu Meet up which will be good for her and Sunday I am helping at a volunteer program which she will come with me of course. So as you can see we are always busy and Monday my plans are nothing but housework and laundry.

Before we forget : January 24th is “Change a Pet’s Life Day” which was created for nationwide recognition of homeless pets in need of forever, loving homes. Whether you choose to adopt a new friend or even volunteer at a local animal shelter, it will be really appreciated by a homeless pet.

Did anyone else go to the Women’s March ? What did you do over the long weekend, lets hear from everyone ?

On this note, with both dogs now sleeping, I am going to get a cup of coffee and relax a bit,

Have a wonderful weekend all and please stay safe and warm.

With a woof and love from Layla

What a week, I am exhausted

Posted on January 17, 2020 by admin — 14 Comments ↓

TGIF and guess what ? It is a long weekend !

Lots of new happenings in the Layla Neighborhood and I have told Mom I am not really impressed as to what is happening here although I do understand as Mom wants to work more from home than run around and teach.

So this is the news :

Mom has decided to do some dog sitting for different dogs so we now have Gidget on Wednesday afternoons and Louis on Thursdays.

I love having house guests but am having to learn in my old age about puppies and although they are cute and funny they tire me out BOL. I told Mom I am an old dog and do not have the energy for them, so guess what, when the puppy wants to play I go to sleep in my box and it is the best.
As I am sleeping in my box now Louis is squeaking away with a toy and the jazz is playing in the background.

On Saturday Mom took me to the vet as she was worried that I had lost weight but the vet told Mom to stop worrying as I am really healthy. The only thing she did point out to Mom is that my eyes are really dry and that we should put drops in my eyes which Mom is doing. She is concerned that because I have a cataract the dry eyes might start causing some pain and then I will have to go on medications so we are praying the drops will help.

The plus with going to the vet is I came home yummm with a small bag of treats so I was a very happy girl.

The rains have arrived again and it has been freezing cold so we not out and about as we normally are but if there is a drop of sunshine Mom runs to the park LOL or takes me for a long walk.

So that is what is happening in the Layla neighborhood and this Saturday we are doing the Women’s March which will be interesting, we need to stand up and speak out. In next weeks blog you will see the photos.

As we said in our last blog we are going to be speaking out this year to save our climate, the animals and everything else.

**Please look after the climate for us**

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe and warm,

With a woof from
Layla

New Decade New Year

Posted on January 9, 2020 by admin — 18 Comments ↓

TGIF !!!!

We cannot believe it is 2020, a New Year and New Decade and pray that it will be a good year for everyone.

January is very important for me for two reasons, one that I ran from my ex and became a free woman and the other is that I rescued Layla in January, so we celebrate it in many ways.

Last week to celebrate my freedom, and give Layla an adventure we went to my favorite park here in San Francisco and that is Stern Grove Park. It is far from the noise of traffic, peaceful and what I really love about it is the walk along the park to the end where there is a beautiful lake which had ducks in swimming around. Just sitting there, Layla wandering around and doing nothing but staring at the natural beauty was just what the doctor ordered.

It was also great to be away from all the sad news all over the world and forget about everything. I would be very happy living somewhere in the middle of a forest with noise just from the trees, water and animals. Not sure about Layla though LOL.

Layla ambling along happy

Otherwise like everyone this week we have been watching the tragedy unfold in Australia with the awful sad fires which I feel should be an eye opener to everyone as to what happens if we do not look after the climate, care for our water as I am seeing the awful drought in South Africa where some areas have not had water for over 5 years, horrific as there too innocent animals are suffering.

I just feel that each time we put on the TV lately there is another disaster somewhere as I said above it is time for us to step back, look at the damage that is being done and fight for a better planet for future generations.
SO what is my New Year Resolution, find ways to save our planet, stop using plastic wherever possible and try turn things around. I know my contribution will be a small drop in the ocean, but if everyone did one drop things could change.

My other resolution is speak out more about abuse, both Domestic Violence or child abuse but most of all animal abuse and this something we all need to speak out about as they do not have voices. It is time to put a stop to it all.

So on this note, having shared my resolution what is yours ? How are you going to help change the world and make it a better place ?

Look after yourselves, let us pray for all the victims from the fires and drought, be safe and have a wonderful weekend,

With a woof and love from Layla