A Caturday in Remembrance of Desmond

Note: Adam here. One of my friends from Hipmunk recently lost one of her best friends, and she asked me if she could do a caturday post in memory. How could I say no? So here is Devin, with some pictures her kitty, Desmond Decker.


Desmond Decker, named after the late Jamaican singer and songwriter, came to us after being bounced around between three or four short lived “homes”. At the time, we already had a cat, but when our neighbor asked if we had room for one more, there was no way we could say no. He was a charming orange tabby estimated to be around three years old (he had no records). He was very nervous, shy, and anxious. It was understandable. But after being a part of our family for ten years he no longer was the nervous cat that was scared to be moved around. He was vocal, affectionate, and a brother to two other family cats (Cyclone and Canary). His favorite pastimes were looking out the window, getting belly rubs, clawing the scratching post, and well, catnapping.

It is with the heaviest heart that I must announce the passing of our Desmond. On January 19th, 2016, Desmond had to be put down for liver failure. It was obvious that he was in pain. And although his sudden change in health came unexpected, we could not bear to see him suffer. We love him and miss him very much.

Thank you Desmond, for bringing us so much joy.

Always balled up together, Desmond loved napping with his sister Canary.

Desmond loved it when I worked from home.

Desmond and his older sister Cyclone (Cyclone passed in early 2016 at the age of 20).

Desmond always wanted to know what was going on outside.

Desmond and his two sisters, Cyclone (left) and Canary (right).

String was one of Desmond’s favorite things to play with.

Desmond loved his little sister Canary.

When I had surgery last year, Desmond was by my side.

 

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DoggiEvent: Bow Wow Film Festival Review

Just got back from the Bow Wow Film Festival. I’m not going to go into it too deeply, as I didn’t take notes or anything. But in brief: it’s kind of fun, as long as you do not expect the Sundance Film Festival going in. The quality of the video, the quality of the writing, and the quality of the material all varies extremely widely, from quite amateurish and downright poor videography with simple (yet often engaging) storytelling, all the way up through some very polished and very, very effective videos.

The film project as a whole could have been much better set up: the transitions between different shorts are often so abrupt that you literally are unable to tell that one has ended until you are well into the next one. Half of them have credits, the other half do not, and it’s not always the half you’d expect. They really cried out for title cards between the featurettes.

Oh, and a couple of the shorts kind of read like blatant ads for specific products. (One example: a particular video camera, and no, not the GoPro.) I have to admit I did find that a little annoying. Several of the others were sponsored by a given company but didn’t actually push their products (e.g. the first one was sponsored by Vasque but aside from some people wearing hiking boots which may or may not have been made by them we didn’t see anything particularly Vasquian) which didn’t particularly bother me.

Honestly? It was a fun set of movies, and it’s a good cause. But I can’t help thinking that, considering how professionally the event itself was put together, the presentation of the videos seemed… much less so. Still, it was well worth seeing. And not just for the silly cartoons.

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Dog of the Day: Ranger the Maybe German Shepherd Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix

This is Ranger number 2! Or possibly number 1, since I took his picture first. Or possibly both rangers are number 1, since they are both awesome. This one is an unknown mix: the shelter said German shepherd/Rhodesian ridgeback, but I’m not sure about that since I have almost never seen a half-German-shepherd that doesn’t have saddle markings. But I could definitely buy the ridgeback part of the equation.

Oh, did I mention he’s a puppy too? 10 months old.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix Making A Goofy Face And Showing His Teeth

This is not a vicious dog. He just made funny faces.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix With One Ear Half Flopped

And goofy ears.

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DoggiEvent: ANOTHER Film Festival??

I already mentioned one San Francisco dog film festival (on the 19th of February). But it turns out that there’s another one going on this Friday! I mean… two dog film festivals in San Francisco in one month! At this rate, I’m going to have to take March off to decompress.

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Dog of the Day: Ranger the Maremma Sheepdog

Last weekend, I ran into two ‘Rangers’ in one day! This one is a big-un. And believe it or not, he’s only 7 months old.

Maremma Sheepdog

So floofy.

Maremma Sheepdog

And such soulful brown eyes.

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Dog of the Day: Klee Kai

Autumn and I were outside a restaurant in North Beach (which I will be posting a different picture from on the next Sunday Switchup) and we happened to look through the window and who should we see but this happy couple? (There was also a human man at the table but I can only assume that was a coincidence.) Look at them gazing lovingly into one another’s eyes! Is anyone else reminded of ‘Lady and the Tramp?’

Woman And Klee Kai Staring Into One Another's Eyes In Italian Restaurant

This is at Fior d’Italia, a little restaurant in North Beach. Supposedly they used to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States… but aren’t any more? I’m not quite sure how that works…

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Dog of the Day: Beacon the 7-Week-Old Miniature Australian Shepherd

So we had a mini-Aussie last week, and we had a puppy last week, but there’s no WAY we had a Beacon last week. Beacon was 7 weeks old when these photos were taken (she’s now about 3 months). Autumn got drafted to dogsit her, and, as you can probably guess, was not entirely displeased with the idea.

Australian Shepherd Puppy Giving The Most Ridiculous Puppydog Eyes Ever

I am here to tell you that it is VERY hard to resist giving Beacon anything she wants.

Ridiculously Adorable Australian Shepherd Puppy Getting Her Tummy Rubbed

This of course includes plenty of belly rubs.

Ridiculously Adorable Australian Shepherd Puppy Trying To Reach Through The Bars Of A Cage To Get A Treat

She actually quite likes being in her little cage/crate/den thing… except when there’s a treat RIGHT outside it.

Ridiculously Adorable Australian Shepherd Puppy Sleeping In Woman's Arms

Puppies sleep just as hard as they play. And just as cute.

Ridiculously Adorable Australian Shepherd Puppy Napping

Say it with me now: EEEEEEEEEE!

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Sunday Switchup: Funny Little Hill

San Francisco is a funny little place, with some funny little hills. I think this one might be ‘Mount Olympus‘.

Mount Olympus In San Francisco

Rather a grandiose name for a hill not all that much taller than some of the structures built onto it.

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Caturday Supplement: Long Macy’s Window Kitten

Streeeeeetch.

Kitten In Macy's Window San Francisco

Someone’s practicing to be the new longcat.

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Dog of the Day: Boots the Miniature Australian Shepherd

Autumn asked me to do her a favor over the winter break, and dogsit for one of her clients. You may recall this, since I posted some pictures of that ridiculous humongous goofball. She also asked me, in the middle of dogsitting him, to run out and walk an adorable little bitty goofball. And once I saw a picture, how could I refuse?

Boots is a little over 4, and is a mini Australian shepherd with a great deal of fluff. He is also a blast to walk. He completely tired me out, but it was well worth it. And it sounds like I might get to walk him again tomorrow. Yay!

Miniature Australian Shepherd Staring In Perplexity At A Solar Panel

Took him down to the Embarcadero near the Exploratorium…

Exploratorium Sign With Miniature Australian Shepherd Standing In O

…as you can see!

Miniature Australian Shepherd Standing In Giant O

(Not shown: me standing behind the wall holding the other end of the leash and being VERY careful to keep him within easy grab, just in case he decided to leap off.)

Miniature Australian Shepherd Next To Fire Hydrant And No Dogs Teacup Poodles Okay Sign Mural

This is a rest stop for dogs, halfway up Telegraph Hill. I was panting by this time, but Boots wasn’t. Kind of a funny reversal.

Miniature Australian Shepherd In Front Of View Off Telegraph Hill

Top of Telegraph Hill. I made it up all those steps, but I was regretting not bringing my heart rate monitor. Kathump kathump kathump.

 

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