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!!

Eco-Tours of South Mississippi--rivers, swamps, bayous and birdlife!

One of the local attractions that we wanted to experience was the Eco-Tours of South Mississippi (228 297-8687 http://www.ecotoursofsouthmississippi.com/). We were a bit worried that the tours wouldn't run in February, but a quick call settled that.  Of course they went year-round! And certainly Maggie would be welcome as long as she stayed calm and didn't bark.

We booked the 2:00, hoping that the sun would have time to warm the temp over 50 degrees, and sure enough, Capt. Kathy Wilkinson was ready with her nifty tour boat--right at the new City Park in Gautier.





The fishing pier is for fishing, crabbing...or just hanging out!




Maggie started up front in between me and Nancy.




A brown pelican swooped by....




and we happened on a large flock (?) of white pelicans.


Nancy got this great close-up!

Osprey nests were quite a presence.

We meandered though Buzzards and Whisky Bayous...swampy and fun!

Towards the end we were chilly (and very grateful for Capt. Kathy's blankets and tarps), but her knowledge of the Pascagoula River, its history and ecosystems kept our attention the entire time. We especially loved the swamp!

Do Bud and Cloyd look a little chilled?

Maggie behaved like the lady she is...not a single bark!



If you're in the area any time of year, this trip is very worthwhile!

A dog's life...neat local restaurants and lazy afternoons reading!

With friends here this week, we've slipped into a laid-back routine of getting up late, doing a bit of touring, finding fun restaurants for lunch then reading/napping in the afternoon before the evening activities.

It's a lifestyle that Maggie is loving!

Some local restaurants that we've found and enjoyed are The Buttercup on N. Second Street in Bay St. Louis (228 466-4930).  This is a wonderful sunny place with tables out on the porch as well as inside and great sandwiches/salads. The breakfast menu looks great too.

Cafe New Orleans (http://www.cafeneworleansdiberville.com/) in D'Iberville (pronounced Dee-Eyeberville) is a local place featuring Cajun/Creole and local southern food like fried pickles.  Bud enjoyed the Shrimp Creole--and the portions are immense!

 The Ole' Biloxi Fillin' Station (http://www.olebiloxifillinstation.com/) is actually an old gas station from the 30's and 40's that's been converted to a pub/restaurant. We ate there last June and loved it and found the food just as good in February. The walls are lined with old black and white photos of the place when they served gasoline--not Po Boys.  Great atmosphere!  We'll return when it's warmer next week and let Maggie join us at the outdoor tables.

Today we are off to research gator farms and eco-tours!

Kitesurfing in Mississippi Sound

Yesterday a storm blew in--nothing like other parts of the country are getting, but the wind came up.  Around here when the wind comes up the kitesurfers come out.  There were three fellows just off the beach in front of our house, so we went out to watch.

Waters in Mississippi sound are shallow and winds kick up a chop--no deep rolling waves.

It turns out that the idea of kitesurfing or kiteboarding has been around since 1800, but wasn't refined to the current sport with high-tech gear and equipment until the late 1990's. Outfitting yourself can cost $3000--a notch up from boogie boarding!

Getting the equipment reeled in requires buddies, it seems.

This fellow's kite took off across the street, heading towards the huge live oaks that line Beach Rd. Stopping was a challenge, especially considering his bare feet. It was dicey for a moment--he could been pulled right out into traffic.

It all worked out in the end!



Houses (mansions?) and hurricanes...loving the Gulf Coast!

Where have I been, you might ask?  No posts since Sunday night...and here it is Wednesday morning!

Well...the sun came out, the temps warmed up and we took a day to drive east through Ocean Springs on Monday, and then west through Long Beach, Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis and a bit north yesterday. Combined with stops here and there at our favorite casinos, the days just flew by and we plopped into bed by nightfall--no time to post!

Friends Cloyd and Nancy wanted to see the Friendship Oak, which is just down the road from us. legend has it that those who walk together underneath its branches will remain friends forever. 

Here we are!

Another view of this 500-year old Live Oak gives a bit of perspective...but you really have to see it in person to get the full effect. A word about Live Oaks--they are so called because they have evergreen characteristics.  Leaves (and acorns) are much smaller than our oak trees up north and they stay green and on the trees year-round except for a short time in the spring when they drop their leaves and grow new ones right away. They give a wonderful ante-bellum feel to the whole area.

I have seen this area of the Gulf Coast referred to as the Garden District--perhaps a new term for them, but it certainly applies. One especially lovely stretch in Long Beach (a mile or two down the beach) has wonderfully restored historic homes.

Palms line the walkway...hence Les Palmiers!



Some are two-story beauties!



Some have second-level galleries overlooking Mississippi Sound

The porches are designed for outdoor living.

It's very interesting listening to residents talk about Hurricanes Camille (1969) and Katrina (2005). Camille came at night, so people could hear the destruction, but didn't get to see the extent of the damage until the next morning.  Katrina came by day, so people got to see Mother Nature in action. The subject of hurricanes is a common element of conversation--clearly these storms are a huge part of the local culture.

Route 10 is the main east-west highway, and is set quite a ways in from the coast--5 miles in most places. We saw this marker for Katrina's high-water mark at an interchange in Bay St. Louis. Our GPS set the level at about 23 ' above sea level!



 

Fort Bayou Slim at the Shed...the sun comes out and a dolphin comes to play!

Here's a clip of Fort Bayou Slim...a marvelous blues band we heard last night at The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint. The food was awesome (though be warned if if you get the Jumbo Sampler--it could feed 6 normal people!). There was a toasty bonfire, children dancing to the music in front of the stage...we loved it!

Maggie was a hit and friends Cloyd and Nancy approved of the food and the music!





But that was last night....today the sun came out and temp climbed up to 60.  We set out on a drive to Ocean Springs, and got waylayed at Ken Combs Pier in Biloxi.

We thought we would take a stroll with Maggie out to the end of the pier (a classic Gulf Coast fishing/picnic pier) but never even made it onto the first board. Next to the pier is a small boat launch area that leads out into Mississippi Sound.

Some people behind us shouted "Look...a dolphin!"  Sure enough, a large dolphin had followed some fish into the small (and very shallow) area.  Maggie watched--but not too closely. Nancy got this great shot of her keeping her distance.

The dolphin spent a good 20 minutes fishing in very shallow water.

And while Nancy and I were snapping away, Maggie decided to head down the beach at warp speed.  Luckily, Bud and Cloyd enticed her back...but not before she took a dip.

Bad Maggie!