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Marcelyn

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Blog Entries posted by Marcelyn

  1. Marcelyn

    My Animal Farm

    By Marcelyn,

    Yesterday was another big day for Anouk, our two year old Husky rescue dog. All three of us: Bud, Anouk, and I walked along the road to Dra Chely's clinic. This was the time for removal of stitches from Anouk's operation at the spay/neuter clinic (July31st) plus getting her first vaccinations. We think it was to be her first shots, but she is a rescue dog, so can't be certain. Dra Chely cleaned Anouk's ears, checked her feet, checked some rough skin areas (dermatitis), gave the dog a big hug and administered the vaccines. Then weighed her....Anouk has gained a pound during her first month with us.? This in spite of all her running in the yard plus chasing the cats.
    Anouk slept most of the afternoon (I think from the vaccinations). But she did take time to interrupt mamma cat from a nap, on Anouk's bed, of course. Mamma wouldn't budge, so Anouk grabbed the bed and pulled cat and bed along the patio. Looked like fun for both animals.
     
  2. Marcelyn

    A Guy Named Roberto

    By Marcelyn,

    Do you know Roberto Rios? He's the owner of "The Dog Spot". His business card reads "Where Dogs Hang Out".  We took our two year old rescue Husky (Anouk) to Roberto's place for a bath and nail trim, ear cleaning, etc. What a great job he did! Said Anouk was a perfect lady and she enjoyed the extra hair brushing.
    The dog did look especially beautiful, but what impressed me the most was the hug Roberto gave Anouk as we were getting ready to leave his place, and then Roberto said to Bud "thanks for rescuing her". 
    I wish everyone could know a person like Roberto.
  3. Marcelyn
    Anouk, our two year old rescue Husky, is a wonder. Last week two neighbor kittens (tiny, maybe 5 weeks age) came to our back door (small enough to crawl thru the fence) and spotted Anouk's bowl of food. The dog sat and watched these "visitors" eat her breakfast.
    Later in the day a visiting big black cat we've named Sambo chased Anouk around our yard. Yup, the cat was chasing the dog. Maybe they were just playing, but the episode was fun to watch and worth a laugh.
    Last night I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Anouk was sitting on the patio bench and two cats were sound asleep in her bed.
    I plan to get up early tomorrow morning just to observe what is happening around here.
  4. Marcelyn
    Yesterday, July 31, Anouk (our 2 year old rescue Husky) was scheduled for the Amigos de Animales spay/neuter clinic. We arrived an hour and a half earlier than the appointed start time and discovered other pet owners with their animals already waiting in the parking lot. Anouk was excited. A novel car ride, no food or water since last evening, and other dogs barking caused her to jump around inside the vehicle. Not an easy task trying to calm her. Finally she takes a nap.
    We were fortunate to be assigned a low number for the surgery line. Bud waited in the registration area and I stayed with Anouk in the car. Some drivers came speeding into the lot and parked close to the building to unload their crates containing dogs and cats. The scene that caught my attention and touched my heart was the Indigenous family that walked to the clinic with the little boy carrying his special pet dog.
    At the appointed hour, volunteers put equipment (e.g., cages, etc.) in place, opened the doors, and the program began. First step was a short registration procedure, which Bud took care of while I sat with Anouk in the car. Lots of people, noisy animals, and all kinds of activity -- but well organized. I was impressed how helpful and friendly all volunteers and team members were. Mr. Huff (don't know his first name) explained the routine.
    We watched and accompanied Anouk as she started through the process. That the helpers knew their role and the routine of animals moving along the surgery line was obvious. A well organized and trained staff of people were at their assigned stations, starting with Dra Chely administrating the anesthesia, others shaving the animal before surgery, tattooing the letter "S" in the animal's ear, hand carrying the dog or cat to the appropriate surgery table for the operation, and then making certain each patient received an injection of vitamins and antibiotics before receiving individual monitoring and rubbing on the "wake-up" blankets.
    Dra "Ingrid" (don't know her full name) was the vet that operated on Anouk. Sigrid was the attendant who took good care of Anouk at the recovery station, petting her, checking vital signs, etc., until Anouk was awake enough to go home. A "trolley" carried our 40 plus pound dog to our vehicle and placed her (half asleep) in the back of the SUV for the trip home.
    Anouk doesn't like it, but after getting her home we placed a bonnet (parabolic collar) around her neck to keep her from scratching or licking her wound. We had already purchased such a collar at Melo based on recommendations of some friends. We hope this helps in the healing process. Now the job is trying to keep her quiet (no cat chasing) for the next several days!
    Here are some pictures that Bud took with his iPhone during our time at the Clinic.

    The shaving/preparation station. (That is Anouk, out like a light).
     

    The tattoo station (that is not Anouk, but another pet, and another awaiting the procedure).
     

    Anouk on the operating stand with Dra "Ingrid" and a helper.
     

    Some of the volunteers at the recovery station with a small kitten.
     
     

    Magaly, part of Anouk's "rescue team". Magaly is super nice and so helpful. (Well, actually all the volunteers were wonderful!) Magaly is very special to us because she is one of the people who brought Anouk into our lives.
     

    Marcelyn looking after Anouk at the post-surgery clean up station, and also where some shots are administered.
     

    Sigrid helping bring Anouk back to the real world, and checking vital signs, etc.
  5. Marcelyn

    Flower Pot Toy

    By Marcelyn,

    I'm looking for a dog toy in the shape of a flower pot. Why? Anouk is the owner of a variety of toys. Chew rag, ball, plastic bone, and the latest addition is a squeaky giant hamburger about the size of a dinner plate. All of these hold her attention for a few minutes, then off she races to tackle one of my flower pots. True, a couple are favorites but none is safe.
    Good food recommended by Dra Chely, freedom to run in a fenced yard, and medicine to cure her health problems seem to give her energy....and she has lots of it! 
    We gotta protect our flowers, especially the orchids. They don't have a chance with Anouk "playing" with them.
  6. Marcelyn
    Yesterday (Wednesday) we walked the muddy road (again) to Dra. Chely's clinic. With written results from Laboratorio Clínico Biomedica's analysis of Anouk's blood, Dra. Chely gave us the good and bad news regarding the health of our dog. First of all no really serious issues. Ears bad from infection and fungus on her feet, collar burns on both sides of her neck (remember Bud and Ray had to cut and remove her old collar), and Anouk has a slight liver problem. 
    Dra. Chely wrote prescriptions for medicines and demonstrated procedures for administrating. She suggested giving Anouk carrots. But guess what, Anouk absolutely is not a vegetarian--no carrots!
    Workers from Planet Teleacom were at our home installing antennas for Bud's ham radio hobby (it's only taken three plus years to secure permits, work thru complaints, etc.) and they enjoyed playing with Anouk. She slept well last night!
    We definitely like Dra Chely.
  7. Marcelyn
    Here is a picture of the before and after conditions for Anouk. The picture was provided by Javier and Magaly. They are super nice people. And thanks also for their volunteer helpers, Kirsten and Ray Quimby. (Ahem, Bud should have tucked in his shirt! )
    We understand that Anouk was kept on a short chain in her prior "residence". Now she has full run of the yard, which is obviously fenced.

  8. Marcelyn
    Bought "Bags to Go" at PriceSmart yesterday. These are plastic bags where you can put your hand in bag, pick up waste, invert bag inside out, then tie. Dispose of bag into garbage. They work perfectly as described. Cost: $12.99 for quantity of 300 bags.
  9. Marcelyn

    New toy for Anouk

    By Marcelyn,

    A friend suggested a new chewing toy for Anouk would be a twisted rag "thingy". Couldn't find one here in Boquete at the logical places to look, so I visited the garden section at Melo to make a substitute. The salesman got a big laugh about my 2 foot rope purchase ($1.00) and he helped tie the rope into a tight knot.
    Anouk enjoyed her tied in a knot rope toy. However, I think it lasted only about 15 minutes and then the rope was unraveled and in pieces.
    Yeah! We found the sought after rag chew in David yesterday afternoon. Of all places at El Rey. A monster of wrapped material with both ends of dangling pieces. About 18" long, and cost $7.59 (ouch). Anouk loves it. Maybe we should buy several more... this one is lasting longer than a few minutes, but it too will probably succumb to her energetic playing.
    Here is a picture of her new toy:

  10. Marcelyn
    The noise got me out of bed early today, just before sunrise. The strange sound was Anouk "playing" with my (ex)beautiful orchid. The plastic container has more holes now thanks to her teeth. See the below photos of her "work".
    I'll replant the orchid (one more time) after I visit Melo garden shop and purchase a bigger and heavier container -- maybe one made out of cement.

     

  11. Marcelyn
    On Tuesday, yesterday, we took Anouk for a physical check-up with Dra. Chely here in Boquete. Bet this was Anouk's first visit to a vet. Not sure who was more apprehensive--me or the dog.
    Dra. Chely was wonderful. I can understand why she has a very good reputation with the animal lovers in the area. She drew blood samples from Anouk's right leg, checked her eyes, teeth, paws, ears, coat and inspected for fleas and ticks, etc. We then took the blood samples to Laboratorio Clínico Biomedica for analysis. Dra. Chely had the lab results later the same day in preparation for discussions at today's meeting with us.
    More to follow.
  12. Marcelyn
    Anouk started chewing on our plastic flower pots, actually destroying them. Oh, oh, not good. I got Bud out of a sick bed (bad cold) and off he went to Romero's to purchase dog bones from the meat market. Cost of 88 cents per pound. He brought them home and I "cooked" a couple of the bones in the microwave for a few minutes. My vet from the US recommended this process.
    Believe it or not Anouk didn't know what the bone was. I've never heard of this before. Anyway after about 10 minutes Anouk took the cooled bone from my hand and started to gnaw timidly at the meat section.  After another several minutes Anouk stared to enjoy the experience and ate bone, meat and then wanted another. Nothing remained of her "treat" when she decided to nap.
  13. Marcelyn
    We had scheduled a grooming session with Casandra at Veterinaria San Jose for this morning. We believe it was the first time for Anouk to experience a grooming session. We had no idea how she would handle it. Getting Anouk into the car was not that difficult, but keeping her calm during the short 5 to 6 minute ride was a bit difficult.
    Bud took a picture of the ride just before departing our driveway area. He was to drive, and I opted to sit in the back seat with Anouk to help her through the car ride, her first in our car.
    Anouk really was dirty. We may have to burn the car now from the residue odors.   Strong is a gross understatement. I am going to put some deodorizers in the back of the car to see if that will help.
     
     
    And then here is a picture of the Veterinaria San Jose where the grooming took place. Casandra and Ruby took very good care of Anouk. Ruby speaks pretty good English, and Casandra only a little bit. Bud did his best with his Spanglish. Everything worked as described.

     
    I posted this after we got her back home. Casandra did a good job. She believes Anouk is a bit younger than the other estimate. She thinks possibly a year to maybe 1.5 years old. The actual age is not that important; we know she is a young animal and a full life ahead of her. Anouk's hair did not need to be cut, but a lot of brushing was needed after the bath. Upon picking up Anouk after this experience, she seemed kind of okay with it. That is good because I think she will go through the grooming thing rather routinely.
  15. Marcelyn
    Anouk spent all last afternoon exploring around the yard and got along just fine during the night. I admit I checked on her several times during the evening--but no problems.
    I fed her a small amount of Science Diet dry food for dinner. Then this morning she ate dry plus canned food and some of Bud's famous scrambled eggs. Lots of water too.
    Interesting that Anouk and the mamma cat seem to becoming friends. The cat took a couple of paw air swings at Anouk, but there was no contact between the two. Both animals seem content with their situation.
    Taking Anouk for a bath and brushing at 9:30am this morning. Appointment is with Casandra at Veterinarian San Jose here in Boquete close to La Posada Restaurant. We've asked that the groomer treat Anouk for fleas, ticks, etc., and trim her toe nails. We'll visit Dra. Chely as soon as we can get an appointment and get Anouk a complete health check.
    There are some free wandering dogs in the neighbor that are chased away by Anouk. She is getting lots of exercise running along the fence and barking (not a loud bark). I think these neighborhood animals will stay away from our yard. Yeah!
    Thanks for the pictures. We'll take very good care of Anouk. She is a beautiful dog and doing well here in our yard. She seems excited and happy (I know I am thrilled to have her join Bud and me. )
  16. Marcelyn

    And Now I Know - Garbage Pickup Anomaly

    By Marcelyn,


    main thread
    For several years early on Tuesday mornings our garbage has always been collected from the elevated wire bin with lid container in front of our electric utility meter. We pay for that contract service through the Municipio de Boquete.
    Today going outside our gated yard to install the new 2021 garbage contract placard we noticed our garbage in black plastic bags had been removed from the bin, but stacked in a pile near the paved street. That has never happened before, and certainly made no sense to us. The local stray dogs could scatter the rain soaked contents and make a big mess.
    We called Rodny Direct and requested his help to resolve this mystery. This was our first ever request of Rodny to assist with a routine city service matter. Within an hour Rodny called back saying he had talked with the garbage pick-up supervisor.  We checked the street scene and our big pile of garbage was gone!
    No reason was given for this strange situation, but we are happy. Thanks for great service by Rodny Direct !!
    For newcomers who are unfamiliar with Rodny Direct (Rodny Moreno), we recommend that you subscribe to his 24x7 Rodny Direct Chiriqui Helpline. Click here to read more about Rodny Direct.
     


  17. Marcelyn

    And Now I Know - Box Shop Boquete

    By Marcelyn,


    main thread
    As long term customers of the Box Shop in David, we are happy this service is now available in Boquete.
    Box Shop Logistics for delivery of packages is now open in Local #5, Plaza Los Establos, Bajo Boquete. Phone 778-0595. www.boxshoplogistics.com. (To WhatsApp the David office, use +507-730-1041 or +507-778-0270.)
    Arial, the friendly staff person, speaks excellent English. No charge for registering for an account. Credit card accepted for payment.

     

     

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