Foster Dog: Cooper the Frenchie!

As I mentioned in this post Bird and Bug, not so much the Pug, decided to become doggie foster parents for the same rescue group we adopted Mr. Duke from.  

Allow me to introduce Cooper:

Meet another one of S.N.O.R.T.’s city dogs, Cooper! A 25-pound male French bulldog, Cooper has been spending time in the Big Apple just waiting to find his forever home.

Cooper was surrendered to S.N.O.R.T. through no fault of his own. His owner, a nurse, came to the difficult conclusion that her long shifts weren’t fair to Cooper. That, combined with her upcoming cross-country move, prompted her to contact S.N.O.R.T.

Cooper is overall a healthy dog but has been diagnosed with having allergic contact dermatitis on his front paws. Basically, his front paws flat-out hurt! He is currently being treated with a topical medication that will only be continued until his paws heal. (His paws are doing much better, but his foster parents are continuing his full treatment course as prescribed)

However, because of his current discomfort, he has yet to enjoy taking long walks to enjoy all that New York City has to offer! Cooper has been able to take several short walks, though, and there is some thought that he has not been a highly socialized dog. He does well on a leash and does not bark or lunge at other dogs but has displayed a bit of fear when meeting new dogs. His former home believes he might do well as an only dog, but his foster family is inclined to think he’d do well with a small, mild-tempered dog (and maybe some obedience training although he doesn’t know that yet!). He has been very good with the resident pug in his foster home.

There are few things Cooper likes more than his toys; actually, there may be nothing he likes more than his toys except perhaps belly rubs! He has gotten snippy a few times when the resident pug has gone near his toys so his forever home should be aware he may display some guarding behavior.

It is obvious that his paws are causing him discomfort and preventing his true Frenchie personality from showing itself in full force, but he certainly has Frenchie tendencies as he is an absolute cuddlebug. He and the resident pug respect each other’s spaces and he has adapted quite well to apartment living.

Cooper would likely thrive in a home, apartment, city or rural setting. Of course, as a Frenchie, he has energy to spare so there is no doubt he would love a fenced-in yard to run around in but it is not a requirement.

His former home had a four-year-old child with whom he got along quite well with so it reasonable to assume he would fit right in with a family that had children.

There is some question about whether he is fully house-trained. He’s had a few accidents first thing in the morning.  It seems likely Cooper may be trained to go on piddle pads but he has quickly learned to do his business while walking the city streets!

Cooper adores his crate – that’s his “safe zone” – and prefers to sleep in there at night with the door open so his forever home should ensure they make room for Cooper’s crate!

If you are able to provide Cooper with a stable, loving home (one that includes toys and belly rubs, of course!), please submit a SNORT adoption application! 

Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds

This past Saturday with a voucher purchased off Gilt Clay and I took a day trip out of the City with our former Connect Group leaders to go clay shooting at Orvis Sandanona.  The hour and a half ride to Millbrook, NY was gorgeous as the fall leaves were at their peak.

Orvis Sandanona Shooting Lodge

We were pleasantly surprised to find that our location had a country club style set up-- with an Orvis retail store, restaurant, plenty of seating around wood fireplaces, complimentary beverages, a member's only lounge, cigars for sale, etc.  Our Gilt package included a 3 course lunch, safety gear and an introductory lesson for 4.

The ladies shot a 28 gauge shotgun and the gentlemen shot a 12 gauge.  It was K's first time shooting as he grew up in Malaysia then lived in both Australia and England.  Us ladies also each purchased Barbour coats while we were there-- Clay is hoping to get one later this year!

Afterwards, since we had the luxury of a car, and K+C had recently just purchased their own home in the City, we took the glorious opportunity to stop by Target!  (Where 3/4 of our purchases were dog related...)  Target is just the best.

Fall Weekend in the Catskill Mountains

This past weekend we took Mr. Duke to the Catskills for a fun filled fall weekend!

Our first stop was a late breakfast at the Art Cafe of Nyack where we both enjoyed a Sabich: a warm pressed pita pocket filled with boiled egg, homemade hummus, pickles, eggplant, cherry tomato and chopped red onion.  YUM.  We still can't get over it.

Art Cafe of Nyack

Continuing our travels through the countryside we drove to the top of Bear Mountain, a spot on the Appalachian Trail, where we fought our way through crowds of tourists for photos.  (More to be added later when Clay edits his pictures.)  We later learned Da and Dy had their wedding reception at Bear Mountain!

Then onto the Fiber Farm in the Catskill Mountains!  Instead of produce and livestock, this fiber farm sells angora rabbit, angora goat, and merino fiber products.  Here is the AirBnB listing.  This fiber farm is known as The Outlier Inn. The term for our stay there is 'glamping' (glamour camping.)  From their website:

One room cabin with two twin beds OR one full bed. Adjusted per request.

We are located on a farm in beautiful Sullivan County, close to Bethel Woods and the Catskill Park.

High-speed internet is Outlier Inn Guests.

There is access to a communal outdoor firepit, 6 burner stove and grill, a hot double outdoor shower and an outhouse.

There are many animals on the farm. Merino sheep, alpaca, angora goats, angora rabbits, alpaca, oberhasli dairy goats, chickens (running free so please leash dogs!), one cat and a dog named Lali! There is a greenhouse and vegetable garden with seasonal produce available for purchase. There is a pond here for the kids and doggies to go swimming in as well as the park and lake across the street.

There is a full-service recording studio on the premises outlierinn as well as a fiber-arts workshop space, where fiber from our Angora bunnies is shorn and hand-spun into winter accessories ambikaboutique. No animals are harmed in this process!

Guests are encouraged to explore the 12 acre property, relax by the pond, cuddle the bunnies, sheep, alpaca and goats (please ask how to turn off the electric fence), and go for a hike on the 6 mile rails-to-trails path across the street.

Our sink was behind the table, our bedroom the open door on the right.

Our bedroom with electricity and a heater.

The outdoor kitchen: sink, fridge, and grill around the corner.

The green house where our hosts shave their angora bunnies, plus a pug tail!

Our hosts installed this lake last year.

Outdoor double shower and sink, there was also an outhouse.

There was a  marketing team staying in the dome shooting a commercial for the Volvo seen above, it's 1 of 2 models currently in the USA.

Overlooking the butternut squash garden area towards the shaving shed/kitchen.

That evening we drove to nearby Ellenville, NY -- Clay enjoyed seeing how fast the Fiat could take us -- for dinner at Aroma Thyme Bistro, a Green Certified restaurant.  (Green certified by creating less waste, using sustainable resources, etc.)  Their menu isn't listed, probably because it changes so quickly with seasons and resource availability.  Clay enjoyed some delicious fish over vegetables and I enjoyed local organic sweet potato and yellow curry soup, a side of edamame and a local Hudson Valley Cider called "Naked Flock." Food photos are so embarrassing to take but:

After dinner we joined our hosts and all their other weekend guests for smores around the campfire :)

We enjoyed sleeping in and waking up to the sunrise, misty wet grass, and our clothes smelling like campfire. After getting ready for the day we headed to Catskill Harvest Market for breakfast and ended up purchasing locally produced scones, apple bread, roasted coffee, jam, honey, a pumpkin pie, a butternut squash, and an acorn squash.  It's very easy for me to go crazy in these places!

On our drive back to the farm we stopped by two scenic locations for Clay to take some pictures, these are my phone pictures:

Mr. Duke!!!

Returning to the farm we decided to hang around in the sun watching the day go by--

Check out time was at 2 pm so we packed up the Fiat and drove around leaf peeping and visiting West Point before dinner in Piermont, NY and picking up our foster dog at Newark's airport.  So there is our weekend!  I hope you enjoyed and I will do an updated post when Clay edits his pictures.  Also, more on Cooper the foster French Bulldog to come!

Hudson Yards & Habitat for Humanity

So I work on a real estate development named Hudson Yards.  Here is the theme song video:

This year Hudson Yards is a Platinum Hammer sponsor for Habitat for Humanity's 2013 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project where we are assisting in building homes in Queens, New York.  Yesterday I learned to measure, cut, and install sheetrock, I loved it and was pretty good at it!

Our team at the beginning of the day, note my pink work boots!

During our tutorial on how to measure, cut, and install sheetrock.

Cleaning up at the end of the work day.

Adopt-a-Dog Month & Becoming Foster Parents

October is the American Humane Association's Adopt-a-Dog Month!  Coincidentally this Bird and Bug, not so much the Pug, have decided to volunteer and become foster parents for S.N.O.R.T. (Short Nose Only Rescue Team,)  the same agency we adopted Mr. Duke from.  SNORT rescues Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and English Bulldogs.  They say the average time a foster dog is kept before adoption is 1-3 months.

From their website:

SNORT is an all-volunteer registered 501(c)3 non-profit rescue based in the Northeast.  Its purpose is to rescue brachycephalic dogs (mostly French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and Pugs) from shelters and owners who can no longer keep them, and place them into loving homes.  We believe all dogs should be given a chance and fair evaluation.  Man's best friend sometimes does not communicate in ways which we would like, and we pride ourselves for taking the time to understand their needs.  Through education, training and matching dogs to the right homes, we hope to reduce the number of brachycephalic dogs that are euthanized unnecessarily.

Very soon we will be adding a foster dog to our family, stay tuned for details and plenty of pictures!  I've already purchased this leash to help advertise his/her availability for adoption with this fun leash: 

  

Also feel free to follow Mr. Duke on Instagram at #MrDukePug.