On the topic of ears

Our friend Barley blogged about his ears. Actually about how his H-Mom calls his ears "potato chip ears." That made us laugh. Sometimes Booker's ears look like potato chips, too.

They don't ever stand up -- he's got floppy hound ears -- but they twitch up and down and back and forth and they are remarkably communicative. The wrinkles in his forehead and his soulful hound dog eyes help with Booker's tendency toward overemotional expressiveness.

But WAIT! Check out Copper's ears! If you are looking for a dog with absolutely remarkable ears, Copper is your guy! He is up for adoption through the American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue. He is a liver Bloodhound. He rocks. He has some tracking experience, too. Those long ears help "sweep" scents up from the ground so that they go in his nose, where they are essential for doing things like tracking. Or "mantrailing." They are very useful ears, if you are a Bloodhound.

H-Mom is in love with Copper. She can't stop looking at his ears.

Of course, Booker has great ears too. Booker's ears even turn inside-out and then go back to right-side-in all on their own. Not Bloodhound ears, but EXCELLENT ears, right?

Inhumanity of Man

When Maple Sugar first appeared on the ABTCR site, I was enchanted. Look at her face. Look at those eyes. What a gentle soul this dog seemed to have. She needed saving, critically.

"How about a bloodhound?" I asked David, only half kidding.

I keep flirting with the thought of a second dog, and I know that it would be a hound. The thought of two dogs in a condo is daunting. Impractical. Insanity. Still, Maple Sugar had a hold on my imagination. Then she disappeared from the Rescue site. "Wonderful," I thought, "she has been adopted! She wasn't meant for us ..."

I read this the other day. It is heartwrenching. David teared up when I relayed it.

"Maple Sugar is at peace. She was a red Bloodhound who spent almost all her life tied up and forgotten. Finally at 2 years of age, her owner abandoned her to fend for herself. Maple had a long road ahead in her recovery from chronic emaciation and heartworm disease, but she maintained a very loving and gentle personality and was so grateful for any small kindness. Maple experienced the joys of a soft bed, regular meals and love for the first time in her life during her short time in foster care. She gave up her struggle today, while being held by her foster mom."

Some of these gorgeous dogs can be saved. For some it is just too late. Who could be so cruel as to let this happen to a living creature? Furious, sad, astounded ... there is no list of words expressive enough ...