Beach walk (well...run, dive, swim) for Maggie

One of the things we love most about this area (other than winning at the casinos--which have been very kind to us this week!) is the wonderful beach. It stretches from Biloxi to Pass Christian (some 20+ miles) and is the epitome of the term "sugar sand."  It is largely man-made, which isn't a bad thing, actually. The maintenance program is superb.

Walks always start with Maggie chomping at the bit to have Bud throw her favorite ball.

Before things get serious she looks like a perfect lady.



Then things go downhill.



She gets great exercise.











We are learning how important it is to have an outdoor shower or hose! If we ever got a beach house, it's the first thing we'd build into the plans.

At last...a truly dog-friendly Gulf Coast restaurant!

New friends Donna and Keith introduced us to Shaggy's (click her for direct link) a beachy restaurant down on the harbor in Pass Christian yesterday. It was a delight to be able to waltz up the stairs with Maggie in tow and pick a table looking out over Mississippi sound. What a view! We had the tuna dip, grilled fished sandwiches and the fish of the day--Amber Jack, a halibut-like very mild white fish.  Awesome!

Donna snapped this shot of Maggie charming Keith into samples of the yummy tuna dip.



Can I please have more?

Today we're heading for the beach...tomorrow we'll take Maggie to the Mardi Gras parade in Ocean Springs.  Can't wait to see the floats and such. Maybe we can find a costume for Maggie!

Happy endings at the South Mississippi Humane Society!

 Every story needs a beginning, a middle and end...and the story of the 75 dogs surrendered by a woman in Mississippi has a happy ending indeed.  Over 100 people wanting to adopt the dogs started showing up at 5:30 AM for the 10:00 opening of doors. Everyone was given a number and had to fill out paperwork.

WLOX was there again, recording the community response and interviewing the Volunteer Coordinator.  Click here for the news segment video.

This pug will have a wonderful home!

The humane society has worked hard and has a magnificent facility!

There are lots of other animals that need homes too, including this fellow.  He's been waiting a long time, poor thing. While the focus was on the 75 dogs brought in from the hoarder, many of the animals that had waiting longer also found homes yesterday...over 90 in all!

This is a section of the cat wall...appealing display for the kitties.

For any one who has forgotten yesterday's feature shot...this is Bennie--now adopted into a loving home!

Woman surrenders 75 dogs to South Mississippi Humane Society--and I get to help out!

Our ears perked up at the local WLOX news yesterday evening—a woman had voluntarily surrendered 75 dogs to the South Mississippi Humane Society (http://hssm.org/). She had been a groomer/breeder of small dogs like pugs, maltese, Boston terriers, dachshunds and such and after the death of her husband she kept acquiring more and more. Her hope seemed to be to fill the void, but things got out of hand. She became what is often termed a “hoarder.”

Family members convinced her it would be best for the dogs and puppies to be surrendered for adoptions, and by Monday afternoon, all had arrived at the shelter here in Gulfport.

Click here to see a video of the newscast.WLOX news segment

Some hoarding situations are tragic for the animals—living in horrible conditions with illnesses, injuries and lack of basic care.  But in this case, the woman loved each dog.  She knew them all by name and veterinarians certified their health over the weekend.

The news segment called for volunteers to help bathe, groom and assess the dogs and get them ready for adoption.

I showed up at 10 this morning, ready for anything!

As I drove into the parking lot, I could see volunteers lined up waiting for the doors to open—but I heard a squeal and looked to the side and saw a man with a pot-bellied pig standing by the “surrender” door. “Are you giving her up?” I asked. “Have to,” he said and kneeled to pet her.

Inside, the volunteer coordinator was racing to accommodate all those who wanted to help. Those with grooming experience were sent to the bathing rooms. Those with handling experience were sent to the indoor and outdoor exercise areas to “love on ‘em”—snuggle and pet them and let them know all will be well. Others dove into the reception area—crates as far as the eye could see—to help with feeding and cratecleaning, a constant process with 75 dogs!

A small section of the many crates!



Watching and waiting...where am I?


















I was assigned with two others to begin the photography/documentation process.  Once the dogs had baths and basic grooming, they would be ready for the photo shoot. With so many dogs, it’s vital to make sure each one is identified, tracked and properly photographed—appealing shots can increase the chances of adoption, the goal for all the dogs.



Volunteers helped from beginning to to end.



We set up a background and welcomed rescue dog # 1, Bennie, a young Boston Terrier. She was very sweet and calm, but also scared. Once she acclimates, I am sure she’ll make a devoted addition to a family.

Volunteers try to soothe Bennie so she can show herself off!



 SMHS staff were wonderful...well organized and efficient, grateful for all help and most of all, completely focused on doing the very best for these dogs.  All, of course, in addition to taking in the black pot-bellied pig and a number of other less high-profile animals.  They are great bunch and I'll be right back there tomorrow morning at 10!

WLOX ran a follow-up story this evening--one of the dogs, a very sweet paraplegic pug named Sophie, captured the hearts of several viewers.  I got to see her in the exercise yard and she is full of spunk--in spite of needing a doggie wheelchair. See the news segment here!

Sophie is a special needs pup--her back legs don't function.

Valentine's lunch at Leo's--bistro setting for Calamari and Pizza in Ocean Springs!

The weather has turned glorious--high 60's and bright sun, and it's only due to get better this week. The water is all sparkly and blue...the sand just perfect. Locals and visitors alike have come out of their houses, taken off their jackets and smiles are everywhere.

We planned our day around lunch in Ocean Springs, thanks to the advice of a couple we met last night playing Mississippi Stud (a novelty table game, a bit like Let It Ride) at Treasure Bay Casino a few miles down the beach from us.(Click here for casino info) They are transplants (and happy ones!) from Georgia and couldn't say enough about the restaurants in the quaint downtown area of Ocean Springs. They especially recommended  Alfresco Italian Bistro and Leo's Wood Fired Pizza.

But first...Maggie's exercise! As ususal, Maggie started her day at the park a couple of blocks down on Second Street. She is loving the "chuck-it" ball thrower that Bud found for her and races through the park like a bullet!

After an errand or two and losing stop at a couple of casinos, we headed east over the bridge to Ocean Springs, and soon found Alfresco--but it was closed.  Next stop...Leo's!

The menu explained that the wood-fire pizza oven was imported from Italy, as is the flour for the made-from-scratch pizza dough. We ordered the house pizza and added roasted garlic and portabella mushrooms--one of the best pizzas we've had anywhere, even in Italy!

Maggie thought our calamari starter was yummy!



Our server, Tory, snapped this shot. Maggie was quite the hit!





NOLA (New Orleans, LA) City Bark--Maggie visits an extraordinary dog park!

As were driving along Route 610 through New Orleans yesterday (the best route to the airport ), we noticed what seemed to be a large dog park just to the north of the highway—just near the Canal St. exit. As soon as we dropped our friends of for their homeward flight, we made a beeline back. We (and Maggie) had been missing the dog parks in the Florida Keys…could this be as much fun?

Turns out that the City Bark, an “off leash” dog park in New Orleans’ lovely and historic City Park (click here for the direct link), is far and away the best dog park we have ever seen. And it’s got an inspiring history. A group of local dog-lovers conceived the project after Hurricane Katrina.

They got organized and started raising funds and exploring designs in 2007. After crafting a joint venture with the city, hiring a “zoo specialist” to landscape and mold the 4.6 acres and researching dog parks across the country, they raised the several hundred thousand necessary to begin building.

It opened in March of 2010, and was chock full of dogs playing in yesterday afternoon’s toasty-warm sun!

Like all well-designed dog parks, it’s double-gated, has several watering stations and a separate yard for small or special needs dogs. It also has tons of glorious shade, restrooms (human) and even a raised dog-washing station so you can clean your pet off before heading home.

We were able to chat with a couple of board members as well as some regular City Bark members (a $35 annual fee allows up to three dogs—they were expecting to sell about 500, but are now up to 3000!). All were beyond thrilled at the result. 

Dogs were romping everywhere—Maggie was off like a shot to find some playmates. People of all ages and from all walks of life grinned and chatted. (Special thanks to board member Mary Ann Cardinale for being so gracious and sharing a bit of the history as well as her enthusiasm.)

Maggie joins her new friend, Simone--a silver Standard Poodle--in a game of chase.

A local shelter group was holding an adoption day, too. It was really, really hard to pass these guys up!

Which one could you love?










City Bark has also made news in trade magazines. Click here for the full story!

Bud and I left dreaming of having such a facility in Concord, New Hampshire--if only!!