Happy New Year

Roadie and Bacari wanted to make sure they sent their wish out early as neither will be up late enough to watch the ball drop and ring in the new year.

So Happy New Year from DaBoyz.

Merry Christmas....

From my family to yours! May all of you have a wonderful day today - surrounded by family and friends. Please give all of your pets a hug and kiss from me. And Tori says "extra treats for all!" :)

Here in the House

Here in this House....I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs out there.

I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.





I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.





I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.





I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness,and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.





My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.



Here in this house...There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.






I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words.





I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.





My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!



Here in this house...I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.





I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.





I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.





I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.





I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all. If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.



Here in this house...I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me;





If I am ill, I will be doctored.





If scared, I will be calmed.





If sad, I will be cheered.





No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of value.





I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or notcute enough.





My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.





I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.




Here in this house...I will belong.

I will be home.



Author Unknown

Fun In the Snow!

Arnie and Zembwa playing in the snow - 8 1/2" - this is Zembwas first snow. Arnie was not real thrilled but he played with her to amuse her for a little while. When they were done, they both crashed in their favorite places

SNOW

CHLOE WANTED TO SHOW EVERYONE HOW MUCH FUN HER AND HER SISTER ARE HAVING IN THE SNOW. LAST YEAR WAS CHLOES FIRST WINTER WITH US AND THERE WAS NO SNOW AT ALL. CHLOE BEING FROM THE SOUTH I DONT THINK SHE HAD ALOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE FUN WHITE STUFF. BUT TODAY SHE QUICKLY GOT THE HANG OF IT.

SNOW

NO WAY! Not even with my coat . . .

Alright everyone! I showed off my RED coat not so long ago, but now I'm satying in BED!! It was -5 F this AM (not even including windchill . . .). How do these people LIVE here?

I'm not moving - unless it's to the kitchen for a treat! Clifford (my brother) is dumb enough to go OUTSIDE! Not me, I'm staying in BED!

Duke

I've been a good girl

My new family is so awsome! They love me so much. Every Sunday they take my sister Kona and I to the dog park where I get to meet all kinds of new friends. In the picture above you can see me playing chase with my new friend Sophia. All the dogs at the park are so cool and interesting and I love meeting everyone...even the humans are friendly! Everyone tells me how pretty I am and always ask about my breed...thats when mommy and daddy step in and tell them all about the RRUS and how they are so wonderful! Mom and Dad are always telling me how proud they are of how well and fast I have progressed with my taining and listening skills in fact, they keep telling me that if I continue to be good the man in the red suit that I visited at the mall (I think his name is Santa) will bring me lots of toys and yummy treats for Christmas.

Kona and I were able to meet Santa at the mall...mom and dad said they have connections! We had our picture taken with him and we told him everything that we wanted but I already got what I wanted this year...a loving family and a stable home. In case you don't know thats me on your left in the picture and Kona on your right, my ear is flipped back but it always is! We had an awesome time and I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

Nala

Update from Amali

Hi Everyone,

I am posting a Holiday greeting for Amali's new family. They have tried to sign onto the blog w. no luck- some snazzy spam filter is preventing the fun.

So welcome to the RRUS family- Debbie, Buck, Zari and Amali (former RRUS foster dog).

Amanda

Hi, and Merry Christmas to the RRUS Extended Family!

We are extremely thankful that Amali chose us and her sister Zari, to be her forever family. We were able to capture our Christmas picture of the girls in their Christmas scarves; that’s Amali on the outside and her sister, Zari (behind her) take only a brief minute to let Dad snap a picture, while Mom is standing in the background with treats in hand. The girls confess, they will do anything for treats!!!

Amali and Zari are happy-go-lucky, romping, stomping Ridgeback puppies who love each other’s company. Although Amali has been with us for just a little over 7 weeks, she thinks that she is the Queen of the castle, but there are those few times when Zari steps in to let her know otherwise; like who will great mom first when she comes home from work.

All of our heartfelt thanks to Amanda for her patience in working with us to find just the right RR to join our family. Our two girls are the “light of our life”.

Our Christmas wish is for all Ridgebacks in RRUS to find their forever home.

Thanks RRUS members for all of you do…. It would not be possible without your countless hours of volunteer work.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!

Buck, Debbie, Zari & Amali

The weather outside is FRIGHTFUL!

BRRRRR!!!!

Did anyone mention to me that Minnesota was COLD in the winter??? I think not, but my momma bought me a new coat! Red, unfortunately, was the only color available in my RR size! Aren't I striking in it, Dad say I look like a firetruck - what does he know? I'm pretty resilient, and I am VERY good about getting my coat on!

A Southern Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to All. Here's Roadie, posing w/ Santa for a Humane Society fundraiser.

TJ and Taylor's first big trip

TJ and Taylor have travelled to Alabama from Arizona. They both started in the south - TJ from Tenn and Taylor-Sue from Birmingham, AL. TJ was a hero one night as somehow Taylor got out of the motel room (I had to go back and forth to unpack through those darn locked interior corridors) and TJ was obviously upset in the room. He refused to leave the door and sure enough I opened the door and Taylor was way down the hall at the exit door.

The above picture is our answer to the 'crate' requirement. Didn't have room for two crates so Taylor and TJ said, what the heck, we can fake this. Are all ridgebacks so 'close'. They are always sleeping right together or lying on the same side of the seat in the car - always snuggling. Taylor, who was never ever aggressive will get her hackles up (no ridge) and start growling if anyone seems to threaten TJ. She is really quite timid so this is quite brave for her.

We head home Monday and I'm sure they will be happy to be able to run full out again. They love to ride, but I think this trip may have dampened that thrill. Going across Texas is no fun.

Don is still recovering from a very serious event so this trip was probably crazy, but we are trying to live our lives. We got to eat seafood in Louisiana and that was wonderful, but the crowds and the traffic and awful USA roads are major negatives. Unbelievable how terrible the freeway system is - specifically I-10. We need to concentrate on our country. Also went through the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. It looks like the hurricane was yesterday. Unbelievable.

We feel so blessed to have completed our family with lovable TJ. I wonder if he thinks we are going to leave him somewhere because he came to us via pet transport from Terri in Indiana. We hope he knows he is forever for us.

Oh, the biggie - our rabbit Harvey is now allowed out with TJ and he is so gentle with him - thank goodness - as he rips up furry toys - but he is really good with Harv.

Happy holidays - Merry Christmas to all,

Jackie

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

CHLOE AND CHEYENNE WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. CHLOE IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT WITH THE LONG SUPERMODEL LEGS. I CANT BELIEVE THEY STAYED STILL LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE THIS PICTURE, I THINK I HAD A BIG COOKIE IN MY HAND.

THIS YEAR CHLOE ASKED SANTA FOR LOTS OF TOYS AND CHEYENNE WANTS WHAT SHE ALWAYS WANTS........... COOOKIES. THEY LOVE EACH OTHER AND LOVE TO RUN IN THE YARD. I LAUGH WHEN CHEYENNE HAS HAD ENOUGH AND STOPS RUNNING BUT CHLOE KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING. IN CIRCLES. BUT SHE USUALLY GETS CHEYENNE TO START UP AGAIN. THEN THEY COME IN AND RACE FOR THE BEST SPOT ON THE COUCH. TO CHEYENNE THE BEST SPOT IS WERE CHLOE IS. THAT IS WHEN HER BIG SISTER IM THE BOSS ATTITUDE COMES IN. NO BIG DEAL SHE SITS ON THE OTHER SIDE. (UNTIL CHLOE GETS UP)

THERE CHRISTMAS WISH IS FOR ALL THE RIDGEBACKS IN RESCUE TO FIND HAPPY LOVING HOMES WITH LOTS OF TOYS AND COOKIES.



LOVE CHLOE AND CHEYENNE