Sunday Switchup: Two No-Longer-Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

I found these two in a pet store. (Not for sale, for adoption, from one of the local rescue groups.) At first I was sad to hear their story: apparently they had some health problems that meant that they couldn’t return to the flock of parrots on Telegraph Hill. But after a little thought, I came to the conclusion that if someone can give them a happy home, and give them medicine once a day, well, maybe they wouldn’t mind it too much.

They sure seemed happy in the cage, chirping away and fluttering around and playing. Until I came near, and then they were… less thrilled.

Two Cherry-Headed Conures In A Cage

Cherry- or ruby-headed conure. Quite a pretty name, for quite a pretty bird.

A Closeup Of Two Cherry-Headed Conures Smiling For The Camera

I’m sure they’re just nervous, but I can’t help but think they look like they’re posing for the camera.

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Caturday Supplement: Blue-Eyed Labrakitty

Well, lookee what we have here: a kitty that would get along great with yesterday’s rather shocking-looking lab. I know, I know, the kitty doesn’t look like she’d get along with anyone, but trust me… any cat that is as sweet and gregarious as she was in an outdoor cage in an unfamiliar environment in the middle of a noisy street fair is really something.

Cream Cat With Orange Tail Stands In Cage

She was older, and I seem to recall a health issue. Hope she was adopted.

Cream Cat With Faint Tiger Markings On Face Stands In Cage

Fortunately, she was in no danger: she was at a no-kill shelter in Berkeley.

Cream Cat With Faint Tiger Markings On Face And Hilariously Disgruntled Expression

I just adore this expression. Looks like me before I’ve had a shower in the morning.

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Dog of the Day: Blue the Labradoodle Puppy

I am not sure what to say about Blue (aside from the fact that he’s 8 months old). I think I will just let him speak for himself.

Brown Labradoodle With Tan Markings

I saw Blue and I went, “AWWW, what an adorable…”

Brown Labradoodle With Tan Markings And Disturbingly Bright Blue Eyes

“…er…” I was definitely taken aback.

Brown Labradoodle With Tan Markings And Disturbingly Bright Blue Almost-Human-Looking Eyes

Those disturbingly ALMOST-human eyes…

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Dog of the Day: Rocky (Road) the Bernese Mountain Dog

This is the dog I met just prior to meeting Dexter. I hope the two found one another and hit it off! (And yes, Rocky Road is named after the colors of the ice cream. I’d forgotten about the marshmallows!)

Man And Bernese Mountain Dog Sitting Next To One Another, Dog With Paw On Man's Leg

They were sitting just like this when I walked up. How adorable is that?

Happy Bernese Mountain Dog

He took down the paw in order to pat some attention to me.

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Dog of the Day: Dexter the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

I ran into Dexter last month, immediately after I ran into another Swiss dog, a Bernese mountain dog. They were like two blocks apart, and I mentioned that if the couple walking Dexter hurried they could catch up with the Berner. And they did hurry. So I’m not the only one willing to chase dogs for fun.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Being Goofy

He was a huge goof, but this was the only picture that came out. Fortunately it did capture his full goof.

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Dog of the Long Day: Pax the American Bulldog

So, this happened today: Concur buys Hipmunk to add search to its travel and expense management platform. Don’t worry for me, everything’s fine. Just… shaken up quite a bit.

It’s been a long day. Yes. Quite. So here’s Pax, aka pax_the_americanbulldog on the magic instamagrams. Pax means peace, which is what we need a little more of. Also, please adore her ears, for that is what they are there for.

American Bulldog Puppy

Go look at her instagram. It is magnificent.

Brindle And White American Bulldog Puppy Sitting

I feel like she has a map of some undiscovered world on her side.

Woman Petting Brindle And White American Bulldog Puppy

You can always tell when someone knows exactly how to pet a dog.

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Dog of the Day: Indy the Yellow Lab Puppy

I’m calling another puppy day. Partly due to stress, sure, but partly because I just can’t sit on this little guy any longer. Indy was 8 weeks old when I took these pictures, still too young to interact with other dogs. And, quelle horreur, that meant that, because I had been running around petting all the dogs I could see, I couldn’t even pet Indy! The sheer injustice of it all takes your breath away! (Well, okay, it’s not ‘mass graves’ levels of injustice, but it’s still pretty bad.)

I had a nice vacation. Aside from all the work emergencies during it. And all of the non-emergency work I had to do during it. And the classwork I had to do during it. And all of the life maintenance stuff I had to do during it. And some other miscellaneous stress I will have to talk about some other time. But in fairness, it really was a gorgeous little cabin, and there really was some wonderful hiking, and there really were some lovely little restaurants… mmm… now I’m hungry.

8-Week-Old Labrador Retriever Puppy In A Purse

I think this was Indy’s first time out and about for just a casual walk around the neighborhood.

8-Week-Old Labrador Retriever Puppy In A Purse With Woman Holding Both Paws

Mom was still getting used to the high-pitched squealing sounds and the people keeling over in a dead faint.

Woman Holding Purse Containing 8-Week-Old Labrador Retriever Puppy

He was a little wiggly. Not as much as you might expect.

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Caturday Supplement: Artist Cat

There’s a local gallery that sometimes has a kitty gracing their front window.

Tiger Tabby Sitting In A Window

Very ostentatiously looking the other way.

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Dog of the Day: Shetland Sheepdog

This poor little pup was shy, and was at the same time tied up outside of my favorite little cafe on Chestnut street. So he had to endure the adoring glances of not only myself but of everyone else who passed by. So cute!

I’m somewhere quite chilly today: I’m hanging out up in the North Bay. I decided to nearly take a few days off. And what I mean by that is, I had a couple of days off of my class, so I decided to work remotely for Thursday and Friday (and take Wednesday off) and hang out in a nifty little rental cabin in the woods near Point Reyes. Since I haven’t taken any significant leave OR trip since my medical leave at the beginning of the year, I figured I was due. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it.

Most of the North Bay is quite hot this time of year, though it does get down into the high 50s at night. Here, it’s going to get down to the mid-40s and may get up as high as 70 tomorrow. But probably not. And, well, cabins aren’t terribly well insulated, and I’m too stubborn to turn on the heat unless it dips below freezing, as long as there are sweaters and down comforters.

But damn, is it hard to get out of bed in the morning.

Sheltie Leaning Casually Against A Wall

He was hiding behind a table. Not that that prevented anyone from noticing him, and squealing.

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DoggiEvent: World Surf Dog Championships

For those of you near San Francisco, you may well see me this coming Saturday if you happen to drop by the World Surf Dog Championships in Pacifica, CA. I gather this isn’t the one that’s been around a while — that’s down in Southern California — but I’m hoping there’ll be a good canine crowd, and I’m bringing along my long lens to see if I can catch any of those puppies hanging… um… two? Four? Eight? Sixteen? Anywhere up to twenty-two (in the case of double dewclaws)? Your guess is as good as mine.

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