The Daily Echo

In Memory

2011-04-07T16:53:00.003-04:00

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said - "It is not the length of life, but depth of life". I attribute many of my life lessons to the privilege of spending some very special days with my precious boys - Meeka & Echo. They each came with a story and maybe a little baggage. Though some might perceive that as daunting we never did. In fact, we were always amazed at the wisdom that came with their trials in life. It was ingrained in their souls and made them who they were. Each day was a new adventure and my family and I represented the "extras" in their cast of characters. Some may have found that to be unacceptable - we however, were honored. It is this attitude that is required to successfully coexist with a Siberian. The mere fact that they often would lie next to us, sometimes even touching a paw to our hand communicating something far more that only we could understand.

We always knew one day we'd have to say goodbye. It was just something that would enter your mind and you'd quickly push it aside. Meeka's demise came quickly leaving us a mere 2 weeks to come to grips with the inevitable. A mass was discovered and it swiftly grew. As gut wrenching as it was we made that excruciatingly painful decision that many pet owners must make. A final gift to the one that gave you the best years of his life so that he would not suffer and could leave with dignity. He passed very quickly which to us was his way of saying that he was tired and so ready. Echo left our world on his own terms, sparing us the pain of making that final decision. He was happily playing in our home one minute, and was gone the next - collapsing in front of me, dropping his favorite bone that he had been carrying. I've spent many years pondering which would be worse - having to make that fateful decision for them, or having them make it for me. I still don't have that answer.

Life has changed since they have left us. Many, many tears have been shed. I can barely say their names without noticing the lump in my throat. This ride is over and it was such a good one. The boys were my family's introduction to the concept of rescue. It taught us that the world can be a cruel place yet we are surrounded by compassionate, caring people and have watched so many dogs overcome so much. It has taught us resiliency. Each dog has a story and their gentle faces are haunting, reminding us that no obstacle is worth giving up the fight. We've made many friends along the way. Meeka and Echo's legacy will not end and on their behalf we will continue to devote our efforts and time to rescue. They will forever remain in our hearts and one day we'll see them again.

This will be my final post on Echo’s blog. Although his life has ended, his spirit is alive and is bright. He made so many precious friends through his blog and we have treasured their numerous adventures and comments and will continue to visit their blogs. We hope that Echo’s story has touched some hearts along the way and will encourage others to become involved with rescue even if for just an hour. We ask that in his memory, please donate a small moment of your life to a rescue or shelter. Volunteer for a few hours....ask what you can do to help whether it be transporting, walking, brushing, or stuffing envelopes. Spend a moment petting a rescue dog looking for his forever home.... look into his eyes and tell him that he's special and that he's loved. Tell him he’s beautiful and didn’t do anything wrong. Tell him he’ll find his forever family, and that they’re worth waiting for. Then tell him Meeka and Echo sent you.

With all our love -

Sweet Meeka

2010-07-10T07:56:00.004-04:00

Meeka 2001-2010

On Thursday, July 8th at 7pm we sent our sweet Meeka on his final journey. Although we knew in our hearts it was the kindest gift we could give our beloved friend the pain for us is overwhelming.

Very recently Meeka was diagnosed with a mass in his abdominal region. Within a very short period of time it had grown extremely large. Rather than subject this proud boy to painful surgeries and treatments none of which came with any guarantees, we opted to bring him home where he belonged so that he could spend his final time with his pack. Sadly our time was very limited. We barely had time to come to grips with the reality of life without him. His mind was intact....his body was failing. I don't think there's anything more heart wrenching than that. I have to say that Meeka handled all of this much better than I. To the end he maintained his Alpha status and I could see the others communicating with him. It was subtle but it was there if you watched. They rarely left him alone yet respected his space, lying a few yards away.......ever watchful.

Our hearts are broken. The pain is tremendous. I feel him everywhere yet it's not a comfort yet. I want to reach out and pull him back to me. But I can't. I know that in time it will get easier. Every second feels like hours. I miss his gentle nature. I miss the way he took your breath away when you saw him. I miss his joy when you came through the door, even if you were only gone for 10 minutes.

The outpouring of kind words and prayers has been amazing. One never knows what to say when this happens. I read every email and message left, sometimes only a few at a time because my tears get in the way. I will save them all and will put them in his scrapbook. One of the most profound messages came from a close friend of mine. It's from a book called The Art Of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein. It is written from a dog's perspective:

"My life seems like it has been so long and so short at the same time. People speak of a will to live. They rarely speak of a will to die. Because people are afraid of death. Death is dark and unknown and frightening. But not for me. It is not the end.".......... "after a dog dies, his soul is released into the world around us. His soul is released to run in the world, run through the fields, enjoy the earth, the wind, the rivers, the rain, the sun, the - When a dog dies, his soul is released to run until he is ready to be reborn. "

For now I'll hold on to that thought. It will get me through the day. I thank all of you for loving Meeka as much as we did.

Sibe Vibes ROCK!

2009-08-08T15:47:00.004-04:00

We have FANTASTIC news to share! Meeka's surgeon called first thing this morning with some amazing news. Meeka's pathology report came back.....apparently he put a rush on it. Much to the surprise of the surgical staff and vets, Meeka does NOT have a malignancy!
We thank everyone for all of their kind and encouraging words, prayers, and those very precious (and quite effective!) Sibe Vibes!

"My buddy's gonna be OKAY!"

An Important Message From Meeka

2009-08-06T09:16:00.004-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

This is Mom speaking - Echo was kind enough to lend his blog to me for what we feel is a very important post.
As per our last entry, we've been busy. What I didn't share was the situation we've been coping with regarding our beloved Meeka. It's time to share his story.

A few months ago we discovered - quite by accident - a small mass on his upper gum. It was tucked away from sight so was easily missed upon quick inspections of his teeth and gums which we all routinely do from time to time. We have no idea how long it was there, nor had we ever seen anything quite like it. The next day we were in our vet's office. Meeka patiently let techs and 2 vets pull and tug at his muzzle, tilting his head one way then another. He seemed to know this was important. No one was really able to draw any conclusions as to what it was for sure. It could be a benign epulus....or perhaps something worse however all agreed they'd never seen a malignancy look like that. Several options were presented and we went home - our brains spinning, searching for the right thing to do. Unfortunately any mass in the oral area presents quite a challenge for getting clean margins. The only hope of doing that would be to remove significant bone mass in his upper jaw which would then require reconstruction. To even find a surgeon qualified to do that would be difficult. That meant our best hope would be to reduce the mass, then have it biopsied. The procedure was scheduled. Days later Meeka had a severe allergic reaction. His face quickly swelled and it moved dangerously lower, towards the throat region. This happened twice and despite my best efforts with Benadryl, Prednisone, and some major prayers I could not reverse the reaction. That meant 2 emergency trips to the vet to have an injection to reverse it. We had no clue what was causing this however none of them felt it was related to the mass. Unfortunately this made anesthesia extremely risky for him. We concluded that we need to wait several week to be sure we wouldn't be facing any more of these mysterious episodes. After an extensive blood panel and a chest xray, Meeka had his surgery yesterday morning. We opted for laser surgery since that was our best chance to remove the most tissue. He is recovering here by my side as we wait that painstaking wait for the biopsy results. I look at him and choke back the tears as he stares back at me with those soulful eyes. He's telling me he's okay for now and that I need to be brave. We always knew Meeka had an important job to do in this world. He's been a wonderful ambassador to the rescue world. Countless people have admired him at Meet and Greets and he sent the message that rescue dogs aren't just castaways with baggage. He became the Alpha of his pack. Always mindful of what the others are doing, scolding as needed and making sure they all stay safe. It came to mind that his work is not yet done. As I pray every moment that the biopsy won't indicate a very aggressive Sarcoma, even willing to settle for a malignancy....just please God, let it be a slow growing one - I realize this is yet another task for our proud Prince. He needs to let others know the importance of checking the mouths of your babies very carefully on a regular basis. Our vets have indicated they're seeing more oral malignancies now. Don't just quickly scan the lower gumline when you admire their healthy teeth. Pull up those lips and really look! Look for color changes, texture changes, swellings - and if you see a change, take them in to be checked. This is the message Meeka sends.
We ask that you keep Meeka in your prayers.

We Are Here!

2009-07-26T17:18:00.002-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Wow! Life seems to have gotten away from us! We're sorry we dropped out of sight. It really wasn't intentional - it just sorta happened. Everything's fine and we are touched by the notes many of you have sent through wondering where we went. We're sorry if we worried anyone and feel we really do owe our friends an explanation. So here it is:

That's our girl and Logan! Mom has learned that this horse ownership thing occupies a lot of time. We don't keep Logan in our backyard so that means Mom and our girl have to drive a little ways to get to him. Logan has made so much progress in the past several months that our girl decided to show him this season. That has turned out to be a very good idea because the big guy really seems to like it. And look....he won his first ribbon last week! We're all very proud and are encouraged that there's a bright future for this pair. Unfortunately the barn where he is boarded doesn't have wireless internet. She said she could get alot of blogging done if she could just get that wireless thing going. In the meantime we're taking a bit of a hiatus. She doesn't think it's fair to ask everyone to read our posts and not have time to visit theirs. We really do miss blogging and promise we'll be back as soon as we can. In the meantime we'll be visiting your blogs when we can.

Your good buddy - ECHO

Breakout!

2009-04-09T08:52:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Do you remember Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog that apparently has the ability each February to determine whether winter will come to an immediate halt or whether it will linger for an additional 6 weeks? If the fuzzy fella sees his shadow he concludes that winter will continue. Obviously not alot of technology goes into that. As a matter of fact we suspect Phil really isn't a willing participant. Think about it. If you were napping quite happily and were abruptly pulled out of your nice warm den to face this:

....how would you feel? I can think of about a million other things I'd rather do. Despite his protests which you can clearly see here:

"I see common sense eludes you"

....these stupid people continue to perpetuate this ridiculous sport each year. So is it any surprise Phil tried to make a break for it this week? Yep - poor Phil tried to escape 3 times from his man made den in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately he was unable to scale a wall which surrounds the enclosure. I'm thinking it might have something to do with his rather portly stature but I could be wrong:

"I'm just big boned"

We need to help this poor guy! In order to fully understand his plight I decided to pretend I was being held captive:

"This could drive a fella nuts!"

Since I do my best thinking after a brisk play session I knew what I had to do. There was no holding back. This calls for some serious thinking:

We need to put our paws together and help poor Phil out. Does anyone have a ladder?

Where's Your Peeps?

2009-04-06T13:33:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It's that time again - the Peeps are here! We love Peeps. Mom loves Peeps too. For those of you who don't know what a Peep is take a look:

They're very yummy I'm told. Luscious globs of marshmallow covered in fine colored sugar and are traditionally enjoyed around Easter but can now be found in all sorts of holiday shapes and colors throughout the year.
Mom has them stashed all over the place in hopes that no one will find them. She's not very good at sharing her Peeps. She really needs to work on that. The National Geographic channel (one of our most favorite channels I might add) is running a contest. They want to know where you take your Peeps. They ask that you post a picture of your Peeps visiting someplace interesting. You can read all about it here. Here's some pictures they used for inspiration:

I couldn't let this opportunity go by so I asked Dad to fire the camera up. We let a Peep out of the package and he found all sorts of places to visit. Take a look:

Who knew they liked to swim? :

Ruh Roh.....we had to rescue the little guy when we saw this:

I'd like to add that no Peeps were harmed during this demonstration......just so you know.

"I know the perfect place!"

Here it is. The perfect place for a Peep to visit:

My crate! I promise to take real good care of it! Where do your Peeps go?

The Squirrels Have Landed!

2009-03-30T09:06:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

They're heeeere! I knew they were coming but I'm finding this season's gathering slightly disturbing. These squirrels are not to be confused with the Squirrel (with a big "S") that our sweet Khyra encountered this past weekend. After some intense surveillance this past weekend take a look at these highly sensitive surveillance photos:

Apparently they've brought the older/wiser generation along too. I'm thinking it's all a strategy for their advanced operations training:

Here we have a shot from Squirrel Boot Camp:

This next one is quite disturbing. Look if you dare! It clearly shows we really need to start preparing:

I don't know what was in their acorn stash over the past winter but this is alarming! Meeka has a few words to share regarding the possible invasion:

"Woo...Wooooooo....Woo!"

If you ask me I think there's just one solution:

Fellow blogger buddies - we must prepare! Woo!

Mission Accomplished!

2009-03-26T20:13:00.003-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

We're quite proud of ourselves. A long time ago Mom commented that we had the uncanny ability to encourage Siberianlike behavior in every living thing around us. She might be right! Look who's blowing his coat:

Although it's not nearly as impressive as our coat blowing skills Mom says this week will require much more barn sweeping. That's her job.

Bones Aplenty!

2009-03-22T15:51:00.009-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Did you know we have a star among us? Yep - we sure do! I am very proud to announce that I know a real author! Many of you may already know Ari and her blog - Out With Ari. Ari has written a book about her explorations with a little help from her Mom, Kathryn of course. It can now be found on your local bookstore's shelf as well as purchased online.

We'd like to congratulate both of them on this impressive accomplishment. You can read about it by clicking here. We've placed a link to the book on our sidebar. If you're looking for a great read, please get your Mom's plastic card and buy a copy!

Now, I'd like to know....who doesn't like bones? I know Shadow loves bones:

I certainly enjoy a good bone:

This weekend I learned of an astounding opportunity for all of us blogger pups. On Saturday a very unique auction was held. The I.M. Chait Gallery was trying to unload a 9 foot dinosaur skeleton. You heard me right! Are you thinking what I'm thinking? This could mean an endless supply of bones! Take a look at the big fella:

Unfortunately for them, the highest bid of $220,000 fell short of the required minimum bid they were hoping for. That means the 150 million year old bag of bones is still available! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?? Apparently they intended to ship the big guy in his constructed glory. I suspect if we saved them the trouble and told them they can just toss the bones in a box we might be able to strike up an attractive deal. Anyone interested? Incidentally, a 7 foot tall baby Woolly Mammoth also went on the auction block and sold for a mere $45,000. What a bargain! It was proudly purchased by a private collector who will be placing it in the lobby of his Los Angeles office. I wonder if it sheds.

For The Big Day ........ Getting Ready...Hmmm?

2009-03-18T17:57:00.008-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Wondering just what the big day is, are you, hmm? Quickly approaching, Yoda Speak day is! Until May 22nd to become fluent in Yoda Speak, have we. Of the most fascinating creatures in the Star Wars sagas of course you all know and love the cute little green guy who's one. Of the cute little guy (kind of like me) Yoda put a slight spin on the English language and in honor, of Yoda Speak we make our blog posts in on May 22nd I propose, we study the art. Hmmmmmm?

Translation: Are you wondering just what the big day is? Yoda Speak Day is quickly approaching! We have until May 22nd to become fluent in Yoda Speak. Of course you all know and love the cute little green guy who's one of the most fascinating creatures in the Star Wars sagas. Yoda put a slight spin on the English language and in honor of the cute little guy (kind of like me), I propose we study the art of Yoda Speak and make our blog posts in Yoda Speak on May 22nd.

I'll bet I kind of had you wondering for a minute there! Since I'm a cute little guy myself I feel compelled to honor one of my heroes - Yoda. Please join me in making your post in Yoda Speak on Yoda Speak Day - May 22nd. You can watch the countdown gadget on my blog to see how long you have to brush up on your Yoda Speak skills.

To my buddy Maverick The Pirate, you'll find Yoda quite amusing as well. Look:

Yoda has something to offer everyone. From his endless wisdom and charming sense of humor how can you not love him? Besides, you have to admit - endless wisdom and charming sense of humor does sort of remind you of me doesn't it?

"Learn Yoda Speak - I will!"

Donut Destruction

2009-03-16T12:16:00.010-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

As you all know our Shadow is stuck wearing a horrible inflatable donut around her neck. The good news is that her nightmare should be over within the next few days and she'll be set free from the giant donut. In the meantime she's stuck with it. In a show of support for her plight I valiantly offered to devour almost an entire box of donuts. Take THAT donuts!!!

"Woo! Be careful!"

"It's a tough job but somebuddy had to do it!!"

No amount of danger is too great for our Shadow's honor! I urge my blogger friends everywhere to show your support......eradicate donuts everywhere!

**We would like to thank our girl for making this donut destruction possible. Thank woo for leaving the box where I could reach it. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Note To Self.....

2009-03-13T10:12:00.004-04:00

.....do not pull out your stitches. Plan B isn't very fun.

"Yes you morons - it's really me!"

Wrong..Wrong..Wrong!

2009-03-10T21:15:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today was not one of my most favorite days. It all started when Shadow - who's recovering from surgery and has amazingly figured out a way to lick her stitches despite the fact that it's in a spot that made that task very challenging - needed to wear the dreaded tshirt. Mom figured an E-Collar would totally freak her out so she decided to try a tshirt instead. Shadow wasn't too sure this was a good idea:

"Does this make me look fat?"

Then it happened. Dad got the bright idea that I needed to wear a shirt too. I heard him digging in the bag trying to choose the perfect one. Oh yes - I heard his snickering and his plotting. I did what any good Siberian would do. I went upstairs. I figured he forgot about it so I decided to take my chances and go back downstairs. BAD idea!

"It's PINK - what are you thinkin?"

"Hurry up. Take the stupid pictures."

"Hey big guy - I think that's enough don't you?"

"Time's up pal!"

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Hey - dude - do you like your slippers?"

"Oh you have SO had it!"

So there you have it. The terror has ended and I broke free from the humiliation. It's okay though. Revenge is sweet.

Icing & Shadow

2009-03-05T11:51:00.002-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I am pleased to report that Shadow is back home where she belongs and is recovering nicely. She is now less lumpy than she was and I think I heard her bragging about her new girlish figure! Amazing what a day at the spa can do for a grrrrl. She's a bit sore today but still manages to climb into her throne and bask in sun.

I wanted to share a lovely work of art Jack Frost left outside for us to admire. I had to send Mom out fast because it's dripping in the sunshine as we speak. Enjoy:

We're Breakfastless

2009-03-04T07:38:00.006-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today has not started out well. Something is not quite right. See for yourself:

"Hey - where's our breakfast?"

"Ummm...what's missing from this picture?"

"Did somebuddy eat my breakfast?!"

"Did you forget something Dad?"

Ummm.....excuse me but......where's our breakfast??? This is a travesty! It just cannot be! Meeka discovered empty water dishes too! He protested and dragged the entire wooden thing that holds our water bowls out from where it belonged and then tipped it over. Can you believe Dad came along and just put it back - without filling it?? What's going on? We're Siberian Huskies and we need breakfast! Our strength is fading:

Finally Mom reminded us. Today's Shadow's Spa appointment. Well - sort of. She's having some lipomas removed and Mom told her she's having liposuction and a pedicure at the spa (she's getting her nails clipped when she's under anesthesia since she fusses so much when she's awake). She couldn't eat breakfast and Mom didn't want to torture her by making her watch us eat. She made sure Shadow had an extra bedtime snack last night though. The limo left to transport her to the spa so Mom finally fed us. We'll be thinking of our Shadow and will see her later today. I guess this means we have to be extra nice to her.

SNOW!!!

2009-03-02T17:43:00.000-05:00

Snow is definitely WET!

Can Wet Be Dry?

2009-02-27T09:03:00.006-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I realize it's Friday and my brain is tired from an entire week's worth of thinking but I ask you - can wet ever be dry?? This may seem like a very strange question to you. Take a look at this morning's weather forecast and you'll understand why I'm asking:

Check Sunday's forecast out. I don't know about you but my experience with snow (which hasn't been much this season) has taught me that snow is always wet! This makes me wonder......just what kind of snow are they saying is possible? I'm not sure I'd like to have dry snow. Have any of you experienced dry snow? I think I might have to consult Ari. She's paw deep in snow right now and maybe she can do some experimentation to help us solve this weather mystery. Woo - this is all pretty heavy for a Friday morning. I need to ponder this some more. Wish me luck!

It's My Day!

2009-02-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Shyla here. It's not everyday we can persuade Echo to give up his blog posting privileges but today is a most special day! It's my GOTCHA DAY! Two years ago today my Dad set eyes on me and knew I needed to be a part of their pack. Mom and Dad came to the shelter to spring me for a rescue and as soon as my eyes met Dad's - that was it. I was scared and very hungry and didn't understand why I was in that noisy place. I was very happy to find a forever home that loves me and I love them just as much. Since we don't know when my official birthday is we've decided to make this my birthday too. I'm 3 years old today! So in honor of my big day - dog cookies and cake for everyone! Woo!

Getting Ready

2009-02-24T07:56:00.004-05:00

Psssssst - I have a secret! Tomorrow's a BIG day so I'm resting up! See ya!

It's George's Birthday!

2009-02-22T11:27:00.010-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It's a big day today. It's George Washington's birthday! He was quite a notorious fella who had many accomplishments.....sort of like myself. George was the very first President of our country which is what he is probably the best known for. He had a lovely wife named Martha who I'm told like to bake cakes. I know I would have loved her. We know George was popular because of the way we remember him. He's honored in many ways. He has had many wonderful portraits painted. We like this one in particular because it has a horse that resembles our Logan in it:

George's image appears on various forms of currency....like the quarter:

and the dollar bill:

George even appears in the side of a mountain....Woo! :

I will agree that my accomplishments probably aren't considered as noteworthy as George's. I have not served as President of our country (yet). I have not led any troops into battle or had an opportunity (yet) to make any laws. My accomplishments are impressive nonetheless however. For instance, I'm a pro at emptying the dishwasher. I can grab something out of the trash can before Mom even has a chance to stop me. I relocate a glass full of a beverage from the counter to the floor without spilling a drop. I can swiftly grab somebuddy's sandwich right off the plate the minute they turn their back. I think these skills certainly qualify me for some type of national honor. I thought about it for awhile and came up with the perfect thing:

Now I need to figure out how to convince someone to carve my likeness into the side of a mountain....Woo!
Until then, take the day to appreciate all George has done for our fine country and take a little time to appreciate your own accomplishments.

Gotcha!

2009-02-16T09:14:00.002-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today's a special day....it's Meeka's Gotcha Day! He has proudly proclaimed that he's been the household Prince for 7 years as of this morning. We asked him what he planned to do to celebrate his day. He got an early start:

Looks like an appropriate celebration to me! In honor of his Gotcha Day this is what I plan to do:

Happy Gotcha Day Meeka! Treats for all!

Free Kibble Update

2009-02-12T19:18:00.003-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It's time for another update on one our most favorite websites - Freekibble.com.
This is the website launched by a brilliant 12 year old girl named Mimi. It was her attempt to raise funds to feed the dogs and cats in cash strapped, overcrowded shelters in the United States. All we have to do is visit her website everyday and play a fun trivia game. Each daily click results in 10 pieces of kibble donated to the country's shelters. Take a look at the recent statistics:

Date:	Pieces of Kibble:	Additional Donations:
Year 2008	48,421,910	17,188,160

January 2009	9,683,240

February 12, 2009	292,930
February 11, 2009	359,960
February 10, 2009	361,050
February 9, 2009	363,850
February 8, 2009	268,780
February 7, 2009	262,330
February 6, 2009	343,130
February 5, 2009	388,110
February 4, 2009	353,580
February 3, 2009	359,960
February 2, 2009	336,810
February 1, 2009	241,340

Totals All Dates	62,036,980	17,188,160

TOTAL	79,225,140

Woo! This girl is on to something BIG! Since it's launch in April the site has raised over 50 tons of kibble!! Our shelters need us now, especially as many of their budgets are stretched even thinner than before. Please remember to visit this site daily to donate your 10 pieces of kibble. You can download a badge for your blog or website here to remind your friends to participate too.

We had a meeting to discuss Mimi's latest figures :

No doubt about it - Mimi deserves 2 paws up for her efforts to help homeless dogs and cats everywhere!

Let The Flirting Begin

2009-02-09T16:27:00.008-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Did you know that it's International Flirting Week? I didn't either. But apparently our Shyla sure did! Take a look at what's been going on today:

You'd think she likes me or something! It's been positively exhausting. I had to pretend I was asleep to get a break!

Then I woke up to see this:

I should have known. Meeka sucks up the attention like a sponge. That'll teach a guy to take a nap!

For Those Who Suffered

2009-02-03T11:00:00.003-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

This is Michael Vick:

We're pretty sure most of you know who he is. For many years he struck fear in the hearts of many, many innocent dogs. Many suffered tremendously while on his property......some died horrible deaths. You can read about him here and here. We have opted not to post pictures of his dogs. It's disturbing to see them and has brought many to tears. Some of the lucky ones were rescued and are now living wonderful lives thanks to the kind hearts of many. Best Friends Society in Utah took in several that were deemed"unadoptable" with the hope that with extensive rehabilitation they could eventually be placed into loving homes. Some have - some will stay with the folks at Best Friends since their mental injuries were so severe that they cannot be overcome. You can read about the Vicktory Dogs here.

Mike Vick was found guilty and sentenced. Sadly, his sentence which consisted of several months gives him the right to be released very soon, possibly within the next 2 weeks. He will then be moved to a Halfway House where he'll serve another very modest term. The UFL has allegedly expressed great interest and is willing to negotiate (many reports state a lucrative contract has already been agreed upon) for a spot in their league immediately upon his release. He will once again have the potential to earn millions with speculation that the NFL may then consider him once the UFL's contract has expired. Although the Atlanta Falcons have stated in the past they would not be interested (we'll see), the NFL has left their options open. In the name of the dogs that have suffered we ask our friends to monitor this situation carefully. If petitions come your way which may allow you to express your feelings please consider it. The football world needs to know that we will not forget and this man does not deserve a second chance for the atrocities he has been responsible for.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

2009-01-30T09:07:00.007-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

We hope all our buddies are enjoying the teaspoon of snow we were bestowed with a couple days ago. Unfortunately it rained alot afterwards which really tends to spoil our fun. We're trying to remain optimistic that one of these days we'll get some real snow. Mom still stands by the theory that we'll need to move North in order to experience that. We're thinking she just might be right. In the meantime, we've been spending some time observing the world around us. Here I am hard at work observing:

The rainy weather has offered us an opportunity to study that subject in a bit more detail than we typically do. Recently a couple very amusing recalls ended up in Mom's email box. (I've been helping her out with her email because she's been busy doing weird things like stress over paint colors for the kitchen). I should note that we've always questioned the intelligence and common sense of mankind but these two recent recalls just seems to drive that point home a little bit further. First there's the recalled home improvement book. Here it is. It doesn't look too threatening:

Why was it recalled you might ask? Despite the fact that the main topic of discussion in the book was how to safely wire your home, it was recalled for........ready for this........incorrect wiring information. Need I elaborate any further on that one??!

Now let's take a look at the next one. Ice Boots. Apparently the humans invented a boot which allows them to walk safely on ice. The point of course would be - to keep them safe.

Unfortunately these boots were recalled this week. Why? Because there's a risk of falling. ::gasp:: Of course! Why didn't I think of that??!!

All of this information left me wondering.....what does the future hold for these humans? It would seem to me they're their own worst enemies sometimes. It's so much easier to be a Sibe!

Land Of The Giants?

2009-01-27T11:49:00.004-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

There's something strange going on around town. After giving it some thought and studying the photographic evidence I have come to the conclusion that the giant that hangs around the AO4's Headquarters has decided to visit us here in PA. What do you make of this? :

I don't know about you but I think that looks like a giant igloo! Here's a closer look :

Not too far away from this mysterious igloo we found this :

It's a giant paint can! And if that's not perplexing enough, take a look at THIS :

I know what you're thinking ............ this might not be a bad thing. Can you just imagine the bar-b-que we......okay - nevermind. I won't say it. I was just thinking. Look real close. Can you see the giant container of ice cream??! We just love ice cream! This cow really has our attention now!
Do you suppose there's a giant eskimo lurking around who is planning on doing some interior decorating? I'm thinking I might offer my assistance because it appears as thought there might be a party afterwards....burgers and ice cream.....mmmmm!

Official Siberian Cabinet

2009-01-24T21:05:00.011-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It has been a very busy week for our country! In the spirit of our Presidential changes I decided I should appoint my own cabinet - an Official Siberian Cabinet. Without further ado I present to you some of my blogger buddies:

Secretary of Education - Stormy:

My pal Stormy of the AO4 has conducted several educational training sessions over the past year. She has successfully trained many of us on the proper photographic protocol where our humans are concerned. This made her an easy choice for the position of Secretary of Education.

Directors of Central Intelligence - Steve & Kat:

My pals Steve & Kat regularly patrol their yard looking for squirrels and other intruders. Kat's agility training will be a great asset to the position.

Secretary of the Treasury - Maverick the Pirate:

Well let's face it......Pirate/Treasure - it just goes together. His experience will be most beneficial to this position.

Attorney General - Meeshka:

Meeshka's legal advice has been utilized by many of us so we're sure her skills would be beneficial for this important position.

Secretaries of Homeland Security - The A04:

This was a no brainer! Their military precision made them the perfect pick for this very important position.

Secretaries of Commerce - Sitka & Cornelia Marie:

Who better than two sweet Southern Belles to oversee our nation's commerce?

Secretary of Health & Human Services - Holly & Khady Lynn:

Who could say no to Holly? She and her understudy (Khady Lynn) are ready and able to squish anyone who isn't interested in staying healthy!

Secretary of Housing & Urban Development - Khyra:

Our good friend Khyra (aka MFT) is the perfect pick for this job. Her Walking Wednesday segments have provided her with a solid understanding of the urban way of life.

Secretaries of State - The OP Pack:

This stealthy group is always on the lookout for any threat to our country. Who better to oversee this important position?

Secretaries of Veteran Affairs - The Kapp Pack:

Our buddies Skye, Canyon, and Meadow are the perfect blend of personalities to handle the important task of making sure our nation's veterans are taken care of.

Secretaries of Energy - Shyla & Meeka:

Clearly this pair are pros at energy conservation. What better team for this job?

Secretary of the Interior - Shadow:

Shadow's area of expertise is most certainly the interior. I can't think of a better pick for this job.

Secretary of Defense - Summit:

Ummmm - can you think of anybuddy who would defend our nation better than this big fella?

This concludes my selections. Except for me of course. I'm still thinking about that one. In the meantime now that I've gotten these important appointments out of the way I can get caught up on visiting everyone's blogs.

Sunday Snow

2009-01-18T11:51:00.009-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I decided I'd dedicate today's post to snow. Amazingly, the snow gods took pity on us this morning and did bless us with a slight dusting. Just enough to keep the memory sharp in our minds. That's a good thing because it was fading fast here in our house. We've had plenty of frigidly cold temperatures but no snow. I personally think that should be illegal. Here's some photos of us enjoying our ever so slight serving of snow this morning. Here's Shyla pulling on my leg. Mom loves the expression on my face:

Here's Shyla making a general announcement to the neighborhood that everyone should come out an enjoy the ever elusive white stuff before it disappears:

Here's Meeka doing what Meeka does best:

And here's Shyla and I enjoying one of our most favorite treats - lawnmower snow:

And here we are back at it again:

We really do appreciate any snow that we get but it would be nice to have more than an inch that is measurable only by piling it up on one spot. So in an effort to give us all our snow fix until we do get that wonderful snowstorm I will provide you with a way to make your own snow! Enjoy.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2009-01-13T11:56:00.004-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

We hear people comment quite frequently on how keen a dog's sense of smell is. This is true. But sometimes we hear things that may be ignored by a human's ears. Take this morning for instance. We were leisurely lounging outside, commenting on how nice it would be to have some snow when all of a sudden Shyla noticed something:

She decided to move in for a closer look - or listen as the case may be:

Cautiously she proceeded to move closer:

This had me amused. I decided I needed to check it out:

"Oh yeah - I hear that!"

What we didn't know was that many miles away, our Delaware buddies were busy too! Take a look:

Looks like we might have some company soon! Woo! Keep digging guys!

Lego Me

2009-01-10T18:50:00.009-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today I spent some time surfing with Mom. I've been pretty bored. We had our hopes up for a snowstorm here in PA and unfortunately it seems to be fizzling out. We're very disappointed so Mom let me help her surf to pass the time. We discovered something that was published in the 2008 Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog. For those of you who aren't familar with Neiman Marcus, it's a very exclusive store and their annual Christmas Catalog is enjoyed by many merely for it's entertainment value. They offer things like custom made vehicles, an equestrian farm completely stocked with a stable of thoroughbreds (it's a good thing our girl didn't see that one!), and other items that most of us "normal folks" wouldn't be putting on wish lists. Something intrigued us. For a mere $60,000 one could commission a very talented artist to custom build a life sized Lego sculpture. Take a look:

Pretty cool huh? I think some of you know where I'm going with this! The artist - Nathan Sawaya - has also created other things with Legos. I wonder what Santa would think if he found this on one of his stops:

Huffle, this reminded me of you.....Woo! :

Then there's this coloful looking fellow:

Nathan Sawaya can be found in his New York studio creating some very unique works of art constructed completely out of Lego building bricks. His art has captured the attention of many and he currently has a tour which has appeared in many North American museums. Who knew that disorganized box of plastic squares had so much potential? This got me thinking..........this one should do:

Now all I need is a check for $60,000. Wait until Mom sees what it's for!

Santa's Surprise

2009-01-08T15:21:00.004-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I'd like to share with you a picture of Louey. He'd be the fella covered in white feathers .............

......... not the guy in the red and white suit. Louey is owned by one of our girl's good friends. He lives a very good life - for a goose. Note the festive scarf. He's a very dapper guy! We just love the expression on Santa's face! Ho-Ho-Ho!

1st Wednesday Of The Month Pose

2009-01-07T08:11:00.002-05:00

It's that time again! Shadow is making her Wednesday debut. You go grrrrl!

Add Glitter to Pictures

In With The New

2009-01-05T10:01:00.008-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Since it's a brand new year, we've decided to try some new things - expand our horizons a bit. We're quite satisfied being the Siberian Huskies that we are but just to keep things interesting we think it would be fun to spend some time seeing the world from another perspective. I thought this critter was pretty amusing:

That's a Giant Anteater. Woo! I see some similarities don't you? Look at that fluffy tail......look familar? He's got big swappers - just like me. I chose him because I thought it would be pretty nifty to have a snooter like his to suck up all the crumbs around here. He's got a long tongue that comes out and slurps up ants and other insects. That works for me and Meeka's been known to enjoy the occasional earthworm that he finds outside underneath the doormat. We could put ours to good use slurping up cookies, and pieces of kibble that escaped from the container - useful things like that. So I bring you the Siberian version of the Giant Anteater:

"I'll be sitting this one out" ::sigh::

The Sky Is Falling - We Hope

2009-01-02T13:02:00.005-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

We've been busy this morning. It all began when I saw Meeka outside:

What do you suppose he's doing? I watched for awhile then decided he needed help:

"Meeka - what are we looking for?"

He needed a break so he explained. Apparently there are some very odd customs in our country for New Year's Eve celebrations. I'm sure you've all heard about the giant glass ball that drops in Times Square, New York. Evidently that's not the only thing that gets dropped. In Key West, Florida they drop a Pirate! Woo! I'm going to have to warn my buddy Maverick the Pirate to avoid that city on New Year's Eve! We don't want him to get dropped from the sky. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania they drop a 25 pound Peep. Peeps are those wonderful marshmallow things that appear around Easter. Apparently the Bethlehem Peep is made out of fiberglass and not marshmallow though. In Ohio they drop a 600 fish and an 18 pound sausage.....now THAT is one I'd like to see! In North Carolina they drop a 3 foot glowing pickle. We know that's the truth because our Grandmom verified it. They also drop a 1,250 pound acorn. We should let our good friend Khyra know about that. Maybe she can get rid of the pesky squirrels that have invaded her yard. But the one that really caught our attention was Wisconsin. Those folks drop a giant hunk of cheese! That's right - cheeeeese! According to our calculations taking into consideration wind speed and the rotation of our planet, Meeka thinks we should see it pretty soon. Come on over - we'll share!

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T08:49:00.004-05:00

Create cool Profile Comments

We wish everyone a happy, healthy New Year!

Trivia Answer & Super Sleuth Me!

2008-12-28T13:56:00.008-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are enjoying what Santa Paws brought for you. We must have been extra good because we got new Nylabones - a "chocolate" flavored Wolf Nylabone and a gigantic Galileo bone - both our favorites. Santa must have noticed our Galileo bone was getting pretty small. He also left us some bags of yummy organic cookies. That Santa Paws is one nice fella! I'm sure my investigator skills helped boost our rank on Santa's list too but more on that in a minute. First I must reveal the answer to last week's trivia question. The question was, after Christmas and Thanksgiving what occassion ranks the highest for the most consumption of food? The answer is - Super Bowl Sunday. Congrats to all of you that got it right!

A few posts ago we mentioned that Mom's snowman pillow was missing. I used my stellar Siberian investigation skills and guess what? Take a look:

"Mom - did you check all the way in the back?"

"Meeka - I think this is it!"

"Oh yeah - this is the one!!"

"Look what I found Mom!"

Need I say more? Mom was very pleased with me. I know she put in a good word to Santa Paws. Another day - another deed for a working dog hard at work!

From Us To Woo......

2008-12-23T08:36:00.002-05:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Trivia Answer & This Isn't Snow!

2008-12-22T08:33:00.009-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Did you all notice the countdown widget at the top of my blog? Winter has arrived! It's official - we can now expect mass quantities of snow! Mom said it doesn't quite work that way but I like to remain optimistic. I'm thinking at this point she might be right however. We got some winter weather here in PA this past weekend. But it sure wasn't snow.

"Excuse me but this isn't what I ordered!"

We got ice. Lots of it. I don't like ice. It makes stalking Meeka and Shyla very difficult since I can't aim my Siberian body slams. Today it's windy. I told Shyla she needs to be careful outside because the wind will push her right across the ice...Woo! In light of the precipiatation order debacle, this is what Meeka and I opted to do this weekend:

Maybe Mother Nature will get our order right next time around. Too bad she doesn't have an exchange policy!

It's time to reveal the answer to last week's trivia question. The question was, what is the most popular tree topper in America? Many of you voted and the votes were split between.....

and .........

The correct answer is - the Angel. We found this to be a timely trivia question since our boy has been debating the issue with his girlfriend for the past 2 weeks. They are enjoying their first Christmas Tree together and were having a hard time agreeing on what belonged at the top. Our boy wanted a star and she wanted an angel. Mom settled it with a compromise. She bought them a bow.

Take a look at this week's final Christmas trivia question and be sure to cast your vote!

Eau de Echo

2008-12-18T15:56:00.008-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Somehow, just when I think I don't have anything interesting to woo about - something comes along. This one was just too good to ignore. Have you heard the news? Our friends at Burger King have just released a new fragrance. It's called FLAME......

........... and it features the lusty scent of a flame broiled burger. Oh yeah - that'll be a big seller fur sure! I'm thinking it would be perfect for any guy that would love to be chased by a pack of wild, hungry animals. I'm not quite certain that's what somebuddy would have in mind however. Here's a sample of their advertising campaign:

Alrighty then! You can see their sales pitch here on the FLAME website. This got me thinking. I think I could have my own fragrance. We could call it Eau De Echo. How about this sultry mug for the advertising campaign:

I think that should do it. Or how about this one?

The options are endless! As for scent, how about Sultry Salmon? Or Come Hither Kibble. Now all I need is a marketing campaign and a sales manager. Any interested applicants?? Woo!

"Now I've seen everything"

On a much more serious note - please see the picture of Andie on the sidebar of my blog. Andie ran away from her foster home shortly after arrival in Germantown, Maryland. If you are in that area, PLEASE watch for her. More information can be found here.

Jackpot! (Almost)

2008-12-16T10:59:00.010-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It was almost a day that we were able to take advantage of Mom. Note the operative word here is almost. It's not everyday that Mom slips up and makes it easy for us to get into trouble. Usually it requires a great deal of effort on our part. She was busy wrapping presents under our supervision........

"Ummm...that bow isn't quite in the middle Mom"

........... when all of a sudden she walked away and left something ON THE FLOOR! WOOHOO......JACKPOT! She left the trash can on the floor....within a Siberian's reach! Need I elaborate on what happened next? I did what any respectable Siberian would do. Inspect and redistribute the contents:

Mom! Would that be a box of Chocolate Covered Cherries???! :

Mom! You ate them all! Every last one of em! :

She's so boring. The least she could have done is left something interesting in the trash can. I think I'll take a nap and rest up for her next mistake. Tis the season!

Pee S: Don't forget to cast your vote for our Christmas Trivia Question found on the right sidebar. Only 4 more days left!

Trivia Answer & I'm A Good Boy!

2008-12-14T12:43:00.006-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Time's up! I will now reveal the answer to last week's Christmas Trivia Question. The question was - What character played the innkeeper in the Christmas play on Charlie Brown Christmas?. The answer is: Pig-Pen.

Many of you thought it was Linus however he portrayed a Shepherd and commented on how each year he was always selected for that role. Be sure to check out this week's trivia question which is found on the right sidebar of my blog. Good luck!

Now onto my BIG news! I've been very, very busy this past week. Take a look here. Imagine Mom's surprise when she learned the jolly guy himself acknowledged my outstanding behavior this past year.

"I'm a GOOD boy!!"

Missing In Action

2008-12-12T09:23:00.008-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

We have a bit of an emergency on our paws. At least that's what Mom says. Apparently one of her favorite Christmas deocrations is MIA. For whatever reason, she's pretty flustered over it. She's been going through closets, drawers, and boxes and has found lots of interesting things but not what she's looking for. I hear her muttering something about how things just disappear in the attic. I'm thinking that's a place I don't want to go! Do you recall this post earlier in the year? Take note of the snowman pillow.......it's gone. I promised Mom I'd help her look for it today so this is what I came up with:

And what better help could I enlist but a snowman himself?

Obviously he has a much darker theory. He thinks someone broke into the house and stole it. Woo! I think he's been watching too many episodes of CSI. Even Logan has gotten in on the action:

"Mom needs her pillow!"

Shyla is meditating to see if she can solve the mystery:

Shadow is trying hard too:

"Have you seen Mom's pillow??"

And who can resist this plea? :

"I'll trade my stuffies for Mom's pillow"

Anywoo - if anyone has seen Mom's Snowman pillow, please inform me ASAP!

"Do woo know where Mom's pillow is??"

Website Wednesday

2008-12-10T10:30:00.008-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It's been awhile since we've had a Website Wednesday but today I have an interesting site to share with you. I would be amiss if I didn't dedicate this post to my khool friend - Khyra, who has had an ongoing battle with the furry little critters for some time now. Khyra - this one's for your fabulous fluffy tailed self. You no longer have to worry about what to get the army of squirrels that has invaded your yard (tis the season of giving remember). I bring you......... Squirrel Underpants.

Yes indeed. This would probably come underneath the premise that somebuddy has waaaaay too much time on his/her hands. But it does indeed exist and thanks to me you now have the link to the website. Perhaps they'd give you a discount for ordering in bulk.

"I can't believe it!"

Pee S: Don't forget to take your best shot at our Christmas Trivia question on the right sidebar.

Trivia Answer & He Made Me Do It

2008-12-08T07:41:00.011-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Time's up! I will now reveal the answer to my Christmas Trivia question. The question was, What Christmas icon was originally developed to boost retail sales? The answer is Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. In 1939 Montgomery Ward enlisted one of their employees to create a book for them to boost sales and draw children to the store.

34 year old Robert L. May wrote the original story and 2.4 million copies were handed out to children that year. Despite a war time paper shortage over 6 million copies were again distributed in 1946. Although he has had a few makeovers since then, the beloved character remained in hearts and homes ever since.

Take a look at this week's trivia question on the right sidebar to see how much you've paid attention to a popular Christmas cartoon we've all seen and still enjoy.

Now on to the newsflash! Yes folks - Meeka DOES misbehave, and we have EVIDENCE! Take a look:

"Echo made me do it"

I rest my case. Okay Mom - what do we say to Echo for blaming him every time the TP got nailed? Hmmmm??? Looks like I'm not the only shredder in the house.

1st Wednesday Of The Month Pose

2008-12-03T12:33:00.003-05:00

It's the First-Wednesday-Of-The-Month Pose time. Stand back ladies - Meeka has entered the room....Woo! All this boy needs are some blinking lights. (Note: you can't really see it very well but that's a heart on his belly).

How much??

2008-12-01T08:37:00.015-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

This morning the annual report of the grand total cost of the 12 Days Of Christmas was released. For a brief history of how the beloved Christmas poem came to be, click here. It has become customary for various groups to calculate just how much it would cost to present a loved one with the gifts of the 12 Days of Christmas each year. This year's price tag is $86,609.00. You can catch Shyla's reaction here:

"HOW MUCH???"

Take a look:

Can you believe it? I think I'd be willing to do without the 5 Golden Rings this year but we have to have the Partridge In A Pear tree, not to mention the Swans. A guy's gotta have some fun after all.

"Seven swans please!"

"Swans? We're getting swans??!"

"Leaping Lords might be nice"

Cake & Love

2008-11-29T10:16:00.006-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Knowing of my love for cake, many of you asked whether I got to have some cake for dessert on Thanksgiving. Actually - no. I did not. But I did virtually enjoy an AMAZING cake! You just won't believe your eyes when you see this. Look closely - it's not what you might think it is:

THAT is one spectacular turkey cake! A very good friend of Mom's made it for her family and we just had to share it. I think she should start working on an Echo cake next. Woo!

While we're on the subject of LOVE, my AO4 buddies recently shared a very important award with all of their blogger friends. We will display this one very proudly on our blog and wish to share it with all of our buddies that visit. Please do the same and be sure to follow the directions to spread the word about some very special hearts.

This lovely award is created by Crystal at Memoirs of a Mommy in honor of Noah and the donor of his sweet little heart who ENCOURAGES us to SHARE THE LOVE! Thanks Crystal! The rules for this award are to pass it along to some people whose blogs you love. They make you laugh, smile, leave encouraging comments on your blog. You would like to share some love with them because they have uplifted, inspired, encouraged or prayed for you. Please include this paragraph with the link to Memoirs of a Mommy so that everyone knows from where this award originated.

At Your Service!

2008-11-28T07:58:00.009-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I hope all of my friends and blog visitors enjoyed a restful and satisfying Thanksgiving yesterday. It was a good day to not only enjoy lots of yummy foods shared with those we love, but to reflect upon everything we should be thankful for. My day started out like any other however the smells soon began wafting through the house! It didn't take long for that to get my attention. Although I'm not of the hunting dog group who are notoriously good at sniffing, I'm no slouch when it comes to FOOD! I followed my snooter and it became apparent Mom needed help.....she needed a Thanksgiving dinner inspector. Me being the helpful kind of guy that I am stepped right up to the challenge:

"Yep - it's coming along nicely Mom"

I let Meeka help out when I needed a rest:

"Ummm...Mom - I'd say it's time to baste"

Once again we prove that the humans really can't function well without us. As the day wore on we anxiously awaited our Thanksgiving day feast. We knew what was coming.....our most favorite Merrick entree, Thanksgiving Day Dinner.

Oh boy! That sure is worth the wait!! We like to be sure we get every last morsel. Something this good requires a dish flip. Meeka set the stage and positioned his dish just right:

After inspecting the bottom for any residue from the stacked dish syndrome, we all move on to each other's dish just to double check nothing was overlooked:

"Nope - nothing here"

Sometimes a little digging doesn't hurt:

No dish was left unturned and we all settled in for a nice nap, waking up just in time for dessert - a nice little hunk of the turkey I inspected. What a great day! Now on to the next holiday. I seem to recall this one involves cookies....Woo!

The Odds Have It

2008-11-25T16:38:00.007-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I heard some amusing statistics today. It seemed worthy of sharing. Do you know what the odds are of finding a four leafed clover? 1 in 10,000. I'm thinking I probably won't ever find a four leafed clover. I'd probably stand more of a chance of trampling one or watching Shadow eat one. That's not the only statistic I learned. Here's some more:

The odds of being hit by lightening are 1 in 3,000. Woo! That's a bit concerning!

The odds of getting a hole-in-one while playing golf is about 1 in 10,000.

The odds of getting clocked by a falling coconut is 1 in 250,000,000. Considering the speed of a falling coconut can reach up to 50 miles per hour I'd say you'd be wise to avoid standing under a coconut tree - assuming you have one in your yard of course.

With all of this intiguing information in mind we decided to come up with some of our own odds:

The odds of me sharing one of these beds:

1 in 20,000,000

The odds of Meeka moving from his nap:

Slim to none

So there you have it! Interesting odds I must say.

Can It Be?

2008-11-20T17:25:00.004-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

What a glorious day it has been! Do you see what I see?

SNOW!!!!!!! Glorious snow!

Meeka gives it the snooter test. Is it the real stuff Meeka?

"Yep! It's snow alright."

Barney Did It!

2008-11-07T16:21:00.006-05:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I would like to take an opportunity to let a very powerful canine in my great country of the United States know that he deserves TWO PAWS UP! Barney - the first dog - apparently felt it was time to express his opinion to some of the reporters that just seem to hang around asking stupid questions. Like "Where's Miss Beasley". See for yourself:

So there you have it. Never underestimate the short guys! So far there has been no comment from the White House.

No Fair!

2008-10-25T14:20:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Meeka here. I need to let all of my buddies know what a horrible morning I had! Here I am sulking and ignoring Mom.

It was just awful. I should have known when I saw the cheese come out of the fridge and go into Mom's purse that something was up. Guess who's turn it was to visit the V-E-T? Mine! I didn't even have a chance to hunker down in the back of my crate and refuse to come out. Before I knew it I was sitting in the Jeep. Mom said not to worry - I only need one shot. ONE SHOT?! NOT WORRY??? What's she thinkin?? I sucked it up and decided I'd be difficult when we got into the waiting room. Yeah, that'll show them. I strutted through the front door and of course the girls behind the desk made a big fuss over me (this happens when you're handsome like me). I began to forget about the horrors that were coming. I sat down with Mom and Dad and then it happened.......I was presented with my goodie bag! I know - I love these new perks! A very nice lady walked up, sat down, and placed the bag RIGHT NEXT TO ME. How nice is that? They must really like me there. And what was in the bag? Ohhhhh, clearly they know me well. They know exactly what I like (perhaps a bit too much Mom says). A CAT! It's true - they gave me a goodie bag with a cat in it! Right next to me! I was very excited and stood up very quickly. You won't believe what happened next. MOM MADE US MOVE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM! What a party pooper she is! Then before I could protest it was my turn to go into the room to get poked and prodded. I just can't believe Mom made me miss out on my prize. If that wasn't enough they wanted to clip my nails. Yeah Mom - like cheese will make THAT better! I put up a fight and am very pleased to report that I have a new record. It took 5 people to accomplish the task. Hrrrmph! I couldn't wait to leave. I hope everybuddy else is having a better day than I had.

Halloween Humor

2008-10-23T19:16:00.004-04:00

"Hey Echo - Why did the skeleton cross the road?"

"To get to the body shop!"

::sigh::

Tis The Season!

2008-10-16T10:37:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It's time to reveal the source of the mysterious photo which appears in my last post. Here's a slightly different view which might provide a bit more of a clue as to what it is:

Give up? It's a bush in front of my house! Doesn't it look spoooooky? Mom's not quite sure how tree lights became a traditional Halloween decoration but she decided to think outside of the box this season. This happens to be our "Burning Bush" which now has some lovely red leaves. The orange lights cast an eerie glow at night so it appears as though the bush really is burning. Very clever Mom! All of this spookiness brings to mind something else that can be quite entertaining. Ghosts.....Woo! Modern technology allows us to ghost hunt without even leaving the comfort of our own homes. Shyla would like to point out that it's a much less stressful way than hunting ghosts in real time. Bravery isn't one of her strong points:

Today we'll share the link to the ghost cams set up in the notoriously popular Willard Library which is located in Evansville, Indiana. For many years there have been reports of many sightings, particularly of their most popular resident - The Gray Lady. Library historians aren't certain exactly who the Gray Lady is. Some believe that it might be Louise Carpenter who was the daughter of the library's founder. When her father passed away he left most of his fortune to the library and not Louise. It is said that Louise now roams the library protesting her loss. Through the years there have been many, many sightings and occurances attributed to Louise - books being tossed off of shelves, faucets being turned on and off, and a strange scent of perfume which sometimes lingers.

You can see some of the questionable views captured on the library ghost cams here. Watch for yourself and let us know if you see her and if you do - tell her Echo said "Woo!".

It's a..........

2008-10-15T07:26:00.002-04:00

Uhhhh.........I dunno! What is this??? Whatever it is it was spotted outside of my house last night. Woo!

The Power Of Suggestion

2008-10-12T15:42:00.003-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Many people that have met me are of course charmed by my unique personality and all agree on one thing - I am very persuasive. Notice that I didn't say "pushy". I'm never pushy.....I just seem to have a way about me that lends itself to encouraging others to do what I want them to do. Take for instance the other day. Shadow had one of my most favorite bones. Mom wanted me to mention that we have MANY Nylabones lying around the house. This one seems to be a particular favorite for all of us. I really felt that Shadow had it long enough so I set out to encourage her to let me have a turn. Here's how it went:

"Shadow - Mom's calling you! Really, she is"

"Shadow - Who's that outside??!"

Okay - so that wasn't too effective. That's when Plan B comes into play:

"I'll just lie here and wait until you're done"

Note the close proximity. The key is to gradually eek my way over into her space. She HATES that!

"Yep! Works everytime!"

Rule #5,341........

2008-10-09T08:45:00.000-04:00

.......never admit you did it.

My SMS Studly Pose

2008-10-01T17:27:00.001-04:00

Okay ladies - here I am in all my glory:

Spooookiness!

2008-09-29T19:03:00.008-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

We found something very cool and thought we'd share it with you. Just wait until you see! But beware - this is what happened when one Siberian-who-shall-remain-nameless watched the video (Please note - it WAS NOT me!) :

There's a very cool guy named Mark Gervais who created these clever "decorations" in honor of Halloween. It seems that each year many within neighborhoods go to great lengths to outdo themselves. This could top it for you this year. Take a look:

Here's another version he created:

This is all cleverly displayed through a front window of your house. You can read all about the Hallowindow on Mark's very spooky website. Go there if you dare! Now - maybe I can get Meeka out from under the bed.

Misc. Musings

2008-09-27T09:14:00.010-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Since I don't have alot of one thing to Woo about today, I'll just Woo about a little of a few things instead.

My post about Rocky the Robotic Squirrel seemed to generate alot of interest. Some of my buddies expressed a keen interest in chasing him.......for sport of course. Nothing more. As a Siberian with a very high prey drive I think that would be a wonderful idea. No squirrels would be hurt and all the squirrel lovers of the world will appreciate that. Good thinking guys! That being said, I did run across this photo from my undercover Siberian friends. I think it's an indication that we ALL need to be VERY careful when it comes to these very crafty critters! Take a look at this:

Apparently the squirrels have united and are working on their defensive tactics. So - be careful out there guys!

On a brighter (and much cooler) note - it's Fall!! Woo all know what that means. We're that much closer to WINTER and SNOW! By now you've probably noticed my winter countdown gadget at the top of my blog. We're getting closer! We just love these cooler days although we're getting rather tired of the rain. Shyla has her day planned out already. Take a look at what's on her agenda:

"Don't bother me - I'm busy"

Last but not least, I'd like to remind everyone that at the bottom of my blog there's a guest book. Lately we've made some new friends and would love it if they would please put their paws on it. Thank Woo very much!

I need to rest up now. I have to save my energy for later. I heard Mom has some baking to do for a picnic at the stinky horse club tomorrow. Maybe she'll drop something! Woo!

A Robotic Me

2008-09-24T18:47:00.006-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Did you know that there are robots among us? That's right! Creepy huh? I could actually be a robot - Shadow could be a robot - Meeka or Shyla could be robots. Think about it! Let's move back a few steps. You may be wondering what has perpetuated all of these robotic thoughts. I heard about a little fuzzy guy named Rocky.

Rocky is a robotic squirrel. He was developed as an important part of a project to study squirrel behavior. Now, I'm not quite certain why anyone would be interested or even need to know more about how squirrels behave. All they needed to do is talk to some of my Siberian buddies. Some of us consider ourselves to be experts in the squirrel department and we certainly never needed the assistance of a robotic squirrel. That being said, this whole robot theory got me thinking. Apparently there are many robotic critters throughout the land who work hard to teach researchers more about their counterpart's natural living habits. Who knew?! Now this brought to mind an entirely different pondering. Could I possibly be living with robots?? I think we need to take a closer look. Here's Shadow. Does she look robotish to you? :

Or how about Shyla:

And then there's Meeka:

I really don't think they're imposters. I think they're who they claim to be. But at this point I'm thinking the world could benefit from a robotic ME! Think of the possibilities - my robotic self could be very instrumental in - ummmm - errrrr - well - I'm sure there's many things. For now I'll need to choose some pictures for a prototype. I think this one might do just fine. Stay tuned for more on this exciting new prospect. One of me might be coming to your town real soon!

My Chauffeur & Some Awards

2008-09-21T08:15:00.014-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Do you remember my buddy Moose?

I'm so pleased to report that he's settled in so well with his new Mom and Dad. They've gotten to know each other very well and they really do love him. Moose is very cool. Mom says he is "high spirited" - like me. I have no idea what she means by that but it sounds like a compliment. Although Moose is not a Siberian Husky - a working dog - he has many similar traits. Mom thinks he might have some in there somewhere which could account for some of his amusing antics. We have found a great job for the handsome lad. He is now my chauffeur! That's right, he's now an official "working dog" - I can now be driven just about anywhere. Take a look:

Isn't that great?! His very kind Mom has even provided us with a GPS device so we won't get lost. That's a whole lot easier than finding one of these to ride along:

We would have gladly invited one to join our adventures but none of us knew where to find one. If you know of any that would be interested, please let me know. So if anyone is up for a road trip just let me know! We're ready to roll!

On another note - I'd like to thank my good buddies of The Thundering Herd. They've presented me with this wonderful award:

Thank woo very much guys! Here's the rules:

The rules of the award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on his or her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 (we shared it with 4 in order to leave sharing options open for other good blogging friends) other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you have nominated.

Without further delay I'd like to share this award with:

The OP Pack at The Chronicle of Woos

MFT - Khyra

Sitka, Tia, & Cornelia Marie

MayaMarie

I am also proud to announce another great award that we received from the OP Pack. Thanks guys! This one is to be shared with anyone who hasn't already received it that visits my blog. Display it proudly!

Now back to our road trip possibilities. Here's Moose waiting patiently for his next driving assignment. We will now be taking reservations!

"How far to Alaska????"

Kibble Counting

2008-09-12T07:42:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

A couple months ago we talked about a great website called Freekibble.com which was launched after a very generous and enterprising 12 year old girl named Mimi decided she wanted to do something to help feed the staggering number of dogs and cats in shelters across our country. Recognizing that these shelters were on such limited budgets she took her plea to the public. It was a very simple concept. All anyone had to do was click on the link shown on her website and 10 pieces of kibble were to be donated by various manufacturers to shelters for dogs and cats. As a result she has singlehandedly changed the availability of food for homeless pets.

The numbers speak for themselves. When her site initially launched she began generating numerous hits and was quite pleased with herself. In April of this year 170,850 pieces of kibble were donated. By May word started to get out and her number increased to 188,160. In July her concept hit MSNBC and CNN. By the end of July her number increased to 9,462,720! She was a HIT! Needless to say, Mimi from Oregon is ecstatic. I am so pleased to present to you the latest statisticstics from Mimi's website. The numbers have increased to the point that they're now listing them by DAY! Take a look:

September 11, 2008 202,830

September 10, 2008 204,990

September 9, 2008 206,340

September 8, 2008 203,040

September 7, 2008 149,140

September 6, 2008 146,500

September 5, 2008 192,460

September 4, 2008 199,470

September 3, 2008 197,560

September 2, 2008 196,250

To date a total of 28,259,810 pieces of kibble have been donated since April 1, 2008. We are so proud of Mimi. It gives us hope that there are still many people that care about the pets that are in need and the future holds promise. Please visit Mimi's website each day. Click on the badge found on her home page and play a fun bow wow trivia game and at the same time guarantee that another 10 pieces of kibble are donated for the day on behalf of you and your pets. You can download your own banner to donate dog or cat kibble to place on your blog or website here. Please help Mimi to continue her project. You can find a badge on the right sidebar of my blog, or - download your very own. Now, I've got some counting to do!

"1, 2, 3, 4.......Woo!"

It's a Shadow Day!

2008-09-08T07:54:00.006-04:00

It's Shadow's big day! Our pretty girl was adopted from our local SPCA 8 years ago today. Sadly, the people that turned her in never bothered to give very much information so we had to guess at her age. Our vet thinks she's around 10 years old now but nobuddy told her that. She's still very active and spry and manages to tolerate our rough and tumble Siberian antics. Today we celebrate her happy, loving soul and enjoy her very unique personality. Happy Gotcha/Birthday Shadow! We hope you have many, many more!!

Cause For Concern?

2008-09-01T08:07:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I'm a little worried. Dad took a quiz this morning and the results were less than comforting. I'm wondering if he's qualified to be the leader of the pack. Here's what it revealed:

Dad's ideal pet - a guinea pig
Dad's ideal car - a Checkered Cab
Dad's ideal job - a crook (!!!!)
Dad's afterlife will be spent as - a mouse

I was curious so I took the quiz. Here's MY results:

My ideal car: Mercedes E320 Limo
My ideal job: a lumberjack
Historical figure I am similar to: Christoper Columbus
My afterlife will be spent as - an oil sheik
The band I should be in - Snow Patrol (how appropriate is THAT??!)

Alrighty then! Clearly you can see who has the most potential here! Dad's a bit humbled. You can take the quiz here.

Somebuddy's Gotcha Day

2008-08-29T09:59:00.006-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

This morning started out with the discovery of an interesting new collar that ended up in our house. It's like nothing I've ever seen. Take a look:

I thought maybe Mom was taking another stab at getting a halter for me. She seems to think she can make me stop pulling when we go for walks. Silly her. So, I decided to help out and try it on for size:

"Something's amiss Mom"

I was about to chalk it up to another gadget Mom found in the store when I heard it. A new pack member! Woo! What?? It's a boy?

Yep - it sure is! Meet Logan, our girl's new horse:

Logan is a 10 year young Quarter Horse gelding - he's trained English and jumps, and he also knows Western. Our girl has unveiled his new show name - "Dad-Said-Yes". Welcome to the pack Logan!

Friday On Thursday

2008-08-21T15:55:00.003-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Many have asked me just exactly what I am finding so interesting on the other side of our fence. Here I am back at it again this morning:

"There has to be a way over there!"

"Echo - give it a rest!"

I won't keep you all in suspense any longer. Meet Friday:

Friday is staying with her grandparents while her Dad gets settled into his new home. Mom went over to let her cousin Maverick (not to be confused with our blogger buddy Pirate Maverick) outside while his parents were away on a day trip and found Friday lounging underneath the table. She figured this would be the perfect opportunity to let everyone see what has captured my attention for the past week. Mom said Friday is leaving tomorrow so I can't gawk at her anymore. She doesn't think my intentions are very honorable - whatever that means. So there you have it. The answer to what all of your inquiring minds have wanted to know!

Is The Grass Always Greener......

2008-08-17T18:42:00.005-04:00

....on the other side of the fence???

What could Echo be looking at? He's been out there all day long! Even Meeka gave up:

Mysteries Of The Deep

2008-08-14T17:21:00.006-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today I'd like to introduce some of my pals to you - meet Lucy, Calvin, and Kosmos. They have a cool pool in their backyard. As you'll recall from some of my previous posts, I'm not much of a water guy. Although I do find it amusing when Shadow walks a bit too close to our little pool that Mom sometimes puts outside in an effort to make her feel as though she's doing something to keep us cooler when it's a bazillion degrees outside. Sometimes I walk too close to Shadow and accidentally push her into the pool. That's always good for some new entertainment. But the pool I'm about to show you is WAY more fun than ours! Their Mom forgot to post a "No Critter Crossing" sign near their pool so they find all sorts of interesting things in there. Every morning they race out to see what wayward critter may have taken a wrong turn overnight. Take a look:

"Do you see it??"

"Lemme get a better look"

"Do you think Mom will let us bring it inside?"

Unfortunately for them, their Mom's fishing/critter catching skills were much more polished than theirs were. Better luck next time guys!

Pirates and a Cottontailed Messenger

2008-08-09T10:23:00.009-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Before my family left on their vacation - you know - the one that I stayed in jail for, my buddy Maverick asked if they could watch for Pirates. Imagine Mom's surprise when early one morning she saw this outside:

She would probably fall under the the landlubber category and certainly isn't what we would consider sea worthy, but she recognized this to be a ship and she felt since it was a mysterious dark gray color and not a bright, cheerful color, it must be a pirate ship! Woo! She decided to keep her distance but a little later that day she knew for sure that the Pirates had landed. Take a look:

He said to say "Harrrrr!" to Maverick and thinks he's the perfect Siberian Pirate. We liked his purple coat.

Moving right along, we'd like share with you our little visitor. Mom felt we were a bit too interested in the front porch yesterday afternoon so she took a look. Woo! We have comapany:

Mom thinks he's awfully cute and he didn't seem very concerned about our snooters working overtime on the other side of the door. We got to thinking - could this be a messenger sent from the AO4's Oswald? Before we had a chance to ask, he hopped away.

"I think he may have hopped through here!"

"Wait! Is that him??"

"He got away Mom!"

We'll just have to keep a sharp eye out for the fuzzy little guy. He could be a spy - you never know! I may have to have a constulation with my buddies at the AO4 so that I can be briefed on his habits and possible strategy. I might have to give my buddies Calvin and Kosmos a call. They're in charge of bunny control at their house. I'm sure they could help us out. Woo!

Not MY Vacation - Continued

2008-08-08T12:32:00.017-04:00

Hi Everybuddy - Despite the fact that I spent vacation in jail, I will share with you a short video of my cousin - Murphy. You might remember that I introduced you to him in January. He's a cute little fella but quite clearly not a Siberian. Can you see why?

Other than the fact that he doesn't have a coat that sheds profusely, no poofy, curled tail (which can best be seen here, attached to my friend Khyra), and no "woos", one of the most obvious non-Siberian traits - is the fact that he retrieved the ball - and then even dropped it! WOO! Somebuddy needs to let the little guy know this is completely un-necessary. Obviously if I had been there (which I was NOT - remember????), I would have clued him in. Anywoo, he's a delightful guy that came from an all breed rescue in Virginia. Mom and Dad took him some of our most favorite Merrick canned food as well as some delicious Pumpkin/Apple biscuits and at last report he was enjoying all of it.

Stay tuned for my next post which will please my buddy Maverick. He asked if Mom and Dad could look for pirates on their vacation (the one that I didn't go on - remember?).

Mom's Mad!

2008-08-07T07:02:00.001-04:00

Apparently Blogger decided to lose almost all of the great comments made to my last post. She didn't want anyone to think WE deleted them. Hopefully they'll reappear sometime today.

My Vacation

2008-08-05T17:16:00.012-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Well - I'm back from vacation. Where did I go you might ask? Here's a clue:

Ruh Roh! That was definately not a good sign - literally. One could argue the fact that it's obviously not a Siberian shown there. Apparently Mom and Dad fell for it and sent us to this resort instead:

Hrrrmph! Can you believe that??!! While we were sent to jail, they went here:

and here:

....but decided to trade this:

for this:

....because of this:

Woo!

Hmmm. Maybe we were better off in jail after all. Anywoo - we're back home now and are very busy making Mom feel extremely guilty that she left us behind. The extra attention and treats are almost worth the horrible conditions she forced us to endure. (Shhh! Don't tell her they were real nice to us there!)

Be back soon!

2008-07-27T20:09:00.001-04:00

Bag That!

2008-07-25T07:55:00.012-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Have you heard? In an attempt to "go green", many stores in our country are banning the plastic shopping bags. These innocent bags may soon be a thing of the past.

To some this may not seem like a big deal. In fact many may see it as a positive step to reduce landfill waste and all that. The only problem is...........we have our own landfill and the plastic grocery bags are a key part of the solution! We're worried!

"Woo!"

Meeka brought up a very good point. He's worried that will mean we will be asked to reduce our "output" - if you know what I mean. Good point Meeka! I think the time has come to send your Moms to the local pet food and treat store NOW! They need to buy everything on the shelves so that they will be placed in plastic shopping bags. We need to start stockpiling these bags before the delicate balance of poo disposal is interrupted. Woo!

Big #5!

2008-07-24T15:33:00.003-04:00

Anybuddy know what day it is? I'll give you a hint. That's right!!

"It's my birthday!!!!"

Cake and frozen peas for everybuddy!!!!!

The Clock Is Ticking!!

2008-07-23T19:20:00.005-04:00

"Pssst - Shyla here! It's almost time! Tomorrow's the big day!! Is everybuddy ready?!"

It's A Sizzler

2008-07-19T17:34:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Whew! It's really hot out there. Take a look at this:

Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower to mid 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Afternoon heat index values around 100.

That does it for me. When I see the triple digit heat values I make sure my outdoor business is done in record time. There's only one smart thing left to do. I'd say we do it pretty well:

And what is Shadow doing you might ask? Here she is in all of her cleverness:

She's got the best bone in the whole house. Who's the smart one now?!

Cool Cat Award

2008-07-17T07:25:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I'm very honored and excited to say that my pals over at the AO4 have given me an award. Check it out:

Now that's pretty cool! The award is presented to pups and kitties who are very cool and do awesome and fun things on their blogs. Thanks guys! Who knew that this cool award would lead to other great opportunities. Take a look at this:

Who knew??!!

Now my task is to choose 5 more bloggers. This is never easy since there's always so many to choose from. Here's the list:

Khyra - She and her notorioulsy poofy tail are always up to something interesting! She kept us interested posting great updates of her Falcon friends when they were hatched.

Cornelia Marie - She's the new kid on the block and we love watching her grow up.

Maya Marie - We love hearing about her Mom's new Happy Hearts business! YUM!

Biloxi - He's the little tyke staying with the Kapp Pack. We love watching his very large personality emerge. Be sure to check out their upcoming Blogathon while you're there.

Wilbur - Mom thinks Wilbur is very cool and should get an award for living with 2 Siberians. Wilbur, Steve, and Kat are also hosting a Blogathon to raise money for one of their favorite groups so be sure to check that one out too.

Good work guys! Now you can pass the award on to 5 more bloggers.

Peas By Echo

2008-07-14T21:40:00.008-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I have come up with what I think is a brilliant marketing plan. I recently read about a plan for Disney to market it's own line of vegetables which will be endorsed by some of their popular characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. See:

This is in an effort to encourage children to buy and eat vegetables which are very healthy for them. I already know that peas are quite yummy. Especially frozen peas. Anyone who knows me well can tell you that they're one of my most favorite treats! This got me thinking. My blog has launched my friendly mug far and wide. I should endorse my own peas! Brilliant! Take a look:

What do you think? I think the options are endless.......dental floss, cookies, CAKE! What a wonderful world we live in.

Pee S. I'd like to send a huge congratulations out to my blogging friends Sitka and Tia. They have added a bouncy new member to their family - the most adorable Cornelia Marie has arrived! Welcome to the pack Cornelia Marie!

Website Wednesday

2008-07-09T10:02:00.008-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It's that time of year again. It's HOT outside! Sadly, Mom has been noticing many cars in parking lots with pets inside. This reminded her of a website that we featured last year called My Dog Is Cool, but it's an important one and we think it would be beneficial to feature it again. We suspect that those visiting our blog are quite pet savvy and know how dangerous it is to leave a pet in a parked car. This website would be helpful in suggesting ways to respond and educate those that may not be aware of how dangerous it is. We can't imagine anyone would purposely bake their beloved pet so this leads us to believe some people simply don't realize how quickly their vehicle becomes an oven. The facts and figures speak for themselves and can be seen here. It's pretty alarming. A study at Stanford University indicated that even on what humans might consider a cool day such as 72 degrees, the inside of a vehicle will skyrocket to 116 degrees within an hour. Keeping the windows open slightly makes very little difference at all. That would also put your pet in danger of being stolen which is another very real danger. The statistics are bleak and the risk is great. Please spread the word to anyone that might not be aware. Flyers can be ordered or downloaded here and you can get a graphic for your blog or website here. Together if we can save even one pet from dying a horrible death, it's worth it. Tell them Echo sent you!

A Difference Of Opinion

2008-07-08T08:26:00.006-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

A few days ago our friends at D'Azul Siberians were kind enough to post a couple instructional videos on how to groom your dog's feet. Their Mom has lots of experience and was able to explain things so well and even included some great videos so us rookies would be able to see exactly how to do it and make our pup's feet look like her bewootiful pup's feet. You can see these helpful tips on their blog, here. Dad decided that he was ready to give it a go with Meeka. Perhaps this wasn't the best choice to start out with. Take a look:

Obviously Dad realizes approach means everything and will definately not *ask* for Meeka's thoughts next time. Meeka's a very opinionated fellow and a direct, confident approach usually does the trick. We just thought this was very funny after watching how cooperative Penny was in her grooming video. Two paws up for the gang at D'Azul for taking the time to show us the right way to do things!

My Own Stuffy

2008-07-06T15:58:00.010-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today I learned that Bindi Irwin now has a doll modeled after her. The proceeds will go to various charities that she supports. Bindi Irwin is the young daughter of the late Steve Irwin - better known as the famous Crocodile Hunter who recently passed away during a tragic accident.

Bindi decided that she wanted to carry on his legacy in some way and is doing her best to educate young people on her late father's passion - Crocodiles - as well as other wild animals and the environment. For that, we give her 2 paws up! This doll got me thinking. I'd kind of like to have a stuffy designed to look like me. I would be glad to donate all proceeds to various Siberian Husky rescues and places like Best Friends. I decided to take a look at Dad's stuffy collection. He says they are his obedient huskies that always behave and don't shed. Hrrrmph. What fun would that be? Let's see if any look like me. What do you think?

Do you see any in this pack that might do?

Or how about here?

Whew! This is hard work. Mom said it will be very hard to capture my unique and charming personality in a stuffy. Meeka said he can't wait until he gets an Echo stuffy so he can de-squeak it. Hey! That's not very nice! I have alot of decisions to make. This calls for one thing. A nap.

Shyla Gets Some Bling

2008-07-03T17:15:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

You may remember when we blogged about Santa Claus bringing me a replacement Dude charm for my collar bling. We all have a collar charm, except for Shyla. That was because she joined our family after we had already gotten our bling. Mom was trying real hard to find some for her but wasn't having much luck. Those that she did find just weren't quite special enough for our pretty little Princess. Here she is dreaming about her very own collar charm:

"What? Mom found one??!"

"I just knew she would!"

Drum roll please..........here it is:

Perfect!!

We Got More Mail!

2008-07-01T09:51:00.012-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Can you believe it? We got another box from the UPS man! That guy is really pretty cool. Take a look:

Meeka wasn't real sure about that box coming his way but once we told him what was inside he felt much better. Our blogger friend Maya Marie is one lucky pup. Her Mom bakes the best dog cookies in the Universe! Maybe even further than that! Here we are supervising Mom while she opened our box:

Finally it was open and ready for inspection. Here we are scrambling to get a better look:

Our snooters were working overtime to smell the amazing aromas wafting from those bags! Is that Blueberry/Banana and Three Cheese in there??? Oh my dog it is! They're wheat free so Shyla can have them too. I believe I can smell some Peanut Butter/Bananananana too. And ohhhhh - do you smell that Salmon/Cheddar?

Here we are in perfect cookie formation (sort of like Banana Formation at the AO4's house):

Shadow and I were going to make sure we didn't miss anything:

We give all of the biscuits 16 paws up! Thanks Maya Marie's Mom!!!

Not Easy Being Short

2008-06-29T16:21:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

It's a hot one here today - in the 90s and very humid. Storms with the small "s" are coming they say. We decided a little bit of outside time might not be a bad thing. As you know, one of my strong points is my gardening skills. Apparently, these skills aren't appreciated by Mom! I really am very puzzled by this. Look at what's going on out back:

What's up with that? I mean literally - up! How am I supposed to reach them when they're up there? I don't really care for the one on the chair but there was still one hanging that I think if I stretch reeeeealy hard, I can reach.

"Uh oh! You better not do that!"

A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do! And on that note, I retreated back inside where it's cool.

Mail Call!

2008-06-24T19:12:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I got mail! Look what arrived:

"To Echo - That would be ME!"

"This is one of those times a thumb would be nice"

"Woo - look at all those instructions"

"What's under here??"

Does anybuddy know what all of this is? It's Mom's new computer parts! It's her new hard drive and a new DVD Burner thingy. Our boy said that would encourage her to make copies of all of my pictures so we wouldn't lose them again. We're trying not to talk alot about that because Mom is bummed about that. I promised her we'd try to sit still so she can take lots more. I'd better get cracking on this! I think it might take awhile.

"Woo!"

I Help Some More

2008-06-21T15:34:00.006-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Recently you may have noticed I've been taking matters into my own paws. I'm being much more pro-active and self sufficient. I'm thinking this is a result of the Siberian wisdom that increases as we get older. Anywoo - you all know that Mom's computer got sick and we've been waiting for our boy to fix it. Apparently there seems to be some delay. Something about a "hard drive". I don't know what's so hard about driving. Mom and Dad do it all the time and I've never heard them complain - well - except for the time Mom said some words I've never heard of before when she was driving once. I figured in light of the fact MY pictures were stuck inside of that box and my blog seemed to be getting neglected, I needed to get them out. Take a look:

"Watch my tail - I'm goin' in!"

"That doesn't smell very good"

"Ruh Roh!"

"Wait! I think I've got it!"

"*&^%$^&+$#@!"

"Maybe this will help"

"Woo!"

"My pictures HAVE to be in here somewhere!"

As you can see, I've got my paws full. Check back later to see how I'm doing. Woo.

Moose Pupdate

2008-06-14T15:48:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Do you remember my new buddy Moose? Some of you have been wondering how he's doing in his new forever home. We are very pleased to report that he is settling in very well and has made great progress. He's working on liking his crate (that's a work in progress) and has been to Petsmart AND Petco for shopping trips! He rides nicely in the car and has been perfectly charming to everyone he meets. He sleeps nicely at the foot of their bed and doesn't even hog the covers. He doesn't bother the resident birds or the hermit crabs, and enjoys watching television. He even walks nicely on lead. Hmmmm. We were thinking we were going to have to have a chat with the young lad! All this sweetness was getting to be a bit hard to take and it was making us look bad. Then it happened. Moose's Mom discovered that Moose can express himself quite effectively. Take a look:

Yep! The big fella decided to let Mom know exactly how he felt about dog training! We feel so much better now. The boy has potential! There might be some Husky in there after all!

Pee S:

Shortly after the book incident his Mom bought him some sturdy new toys to occupy his time.

See Moose - smart boy! Now go for the toilet paper roll!

I Help Mom

2008-06-12T10:56:00.004-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

No - unfortunately our computer has not yet been repaired but great news! I have provided Mom with new blog material, which means new photos. I couldn't let all my blog visitors down so I had to come up with something to Woo about. I didn't actually think it was a big deal until Mom made it one. Recently she's been working pretty hard at getting all of our flowers planted and growing on the back patio. She does struggle with that so I figured I'd help her out a bit. You'll recall a previous post in which I offered my gardening skills to Mom. Doesn't this look lovely?

It didn't look quite that spectacular a short time before. It really did need some attention so I seized the moment and took matters into my own paws.

Isn't that better?! Ummmmm.......Mom didn't quite see it that way unfortunately. Here's how it went:

Mom: ECHO!

Echo:

Mom: Do you know anything about my daisies?

Echo:

Mom: Didn't we have this discussion last week after you completed your other little landscaping project? (see below)

Echo: WOOOO!

Okay - so I went a little overboard. I got carried away with that. But you've gotta admit.....that Daisy looks better! You're welcome Mom!

Computer Flu

2008-06-11T08:45:00.002-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Sick, Kaput, Dead, Crashed - these are some of the words I've heard the past few days. Ruh Roh! Mom's computer is out of commission! This certainly isn't good for my blog. The good news is that our boy is a computer whiz (thanks to Penn State!) and he can fix it. The bad news is that he's working lots of overtime right now and unfortunately Mom's computer isn't a priority. Dad has generously given her his backup computer to use in the meantime but guess what? Her computer is holding ALL of our precious pictures hostage! We've got our paws crossed that our boy can negotiate ransom to set them free. Hopefully we'll be back up and running real soon.

Happy Birthday To Woo!

2008-06-07T07:48:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today's a BIG day.....it's somebuddy's birthday! Take a look:

"Psst - I think it's your birthday today Meeka!"

That's right Shyla! It's Meeka's 7th Birthday! That means extra treats, a yummy birthday dinner, his pick of the Nylabones all day long, and CAKE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WOO MEEKA!

Moose Who?

2008-06-04T16:08:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Today was a good day! I was hearing so many flattering adjectives like adorable, cute, precious, well behaved, sweet. I know, I know - it's hard being me! But then as I listened some more I learned that it wasn't about me at all! It was about somebuddy named Moose! Shocking isn't it? Who's Moose? A little while later Mom and our girl went outside and were there quite awhile. I could hear them giggling and talking. Hrrmmmph. I can't imagine what was so amusing, especially since Meeka and I were imprisoned in the kitchen. I know! Even more shocking. Mom muttered something about not wanting us fighting to look out the window, and then something else about replacing the blinds - again. Hrmmmph again. Turns out, this is Moose:

Yeah, yeah, yeah - he's cute I guess. A friend of Mom's was looking for a dog and Mom helped her find one through a rescue. Mom -the traitor. The woman who was outside (while I was stuck in the kitchen with Meeka) fawning over this guy. But that's okay. Did I mention the powder room is right off the kitchen?

Did you happen to notice that I not only nailed the entire TP roll, I got the plastic thingy that keeps it on the wall too? Harrooorrooo! That oughta teach her!

Here we are interrogating our girl:

Yep. My work is done for the day. Justice has prevailed.

Pee S: We do wish Moose well and are very happy for his new parents. Two paws up to them for saving a dog who's time was running out in a shelter. The rescue can now take in another dog who needs a home.

Siberian Mars Mission

2008-05-27T17:39:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I'm sure everybuddy has heard all about the exciting mission to Mars that NASA has launched. The Phoenix is now on Mars and is sending back interesting pictures which will tell us all about this mysterious planet. You can read all about it here. When I heard what the Phoenix is doing right now it got me thinking. Apparently our scientists want to know what's buried deep within Mars. This requires something that we Siberians are very good at......digging! I think we could have saved NASA a whole pile of money if they sent us up there to do the job instead. All we'd really require was some Canidae and some yummy snacks - to keep our energy up of course. I hear it's pretty cold up there which beats the hot humid weather we have here at home right now. I'm thinking it might even snow up there! I'm sure Mom would lend me her camera so that we could take lots of pictures for the scientists. And I'd kind of like to talk to these fellas:

Obviously it's too late for this mission but we need to pitch our proposal for the next one. Anyone who's interested should let me know. We'll need to borrow somebuddy's GPS device so that we don't take any wrong turns. I heard my blogger friends Steve & Kat have flown already so maybe they will consider being our flight corrdinators. Woo - I have alot of planning to do!

"The sky's NOT the limit for a Sibe!"

Lawn Furniture

2008-05-21T07:34:00.005-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Despite the fact that it's been unseasonably cold here in PA, they claim spring and summer is coming. I am a Siberian which typically would indicate that I'm less than amused with summer, but spring I can handle until the novelty wears off and my DNA kicks in and tells me it's time for ice, sleet, and SNOW! This is the season that we see everyone outside trying to revive what's left of their yard. This always amuses me. The humans rake up their lawns, dig in the dirt, sprinkle seeds, and complain when the birds eat them. What did they think would happen? Birds - seeds - you get the picture. So they run back outside and sprinkle more seeds. Miraculously at some point the seeds turn into vibrant green grass. It grows and grows. Then what do they do? They cut it! I will never understand the logic of the human mind. This obsession with grass led me to an interesting discovery. Grass chairs. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a guy that appreciates a comfortable chair. Here I am folded into one of my favorite living room chairs:

Mom has come to the conclusion that it's not that I find it comfortable since it's pretty obvious in her opinion - I do not fit. She thinks I do it just to bug her. We won't comment on that. Anyway, I have found the perfect option for the yard this year. Take a look:

Grass chairs! Isn't that amazing? I will no longer lament over how to persuade Mom to place my favorite living room chair in the backyard! All you do is order the frame, place it in your yard, cover it with soil, and sprinkle the grass seed on it. You can order it here. You might note that the soil is not included in the kit but I'm quite certain you would be able to hire a willing Siberian to do some excavating in your yard to come up with some. So grab Mom's plastic card and order your very own Lawn Chair today!

Japanese Name Game

2008-05-18T07:58:00.003-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

I have a fun new game for us to play. I saw it on a blog that belongs to my pals - Crikit, Sparky, and Ginger. Simply spell out your name using the following key:

A - ka, B - tu, C - mi, D -te, E - ku, F - lu, G - ji, H - ri, I - ki, J - zu, K - me, L - ta, M - rin, N - to, O - mo, P - no, Q - ke, R - shi, S - ari, T - chi, U - do, V - ru, W - mei, X - na, Y - fu, Z - zi

These are our names:

ECHO = Kumirimo
MEEKA = Rinkukumeka
SHADOW = Aririkatemomei
SHYLA = Aririfutaka

Woo! Now you must tag 6 buddies to share their Japanse names with you. I am tagging:

Kelsey Ann, Khyra, Sitka, Stormy, Thor, and Flurry. Have fun!

Sayonara! (That means goodbye in Japanese)

Moving To The Head Of The Class

2008-05-15T10:08:00.008-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Although it's nearing the end of the school year for many, we have been quite honored to be studying the correspondence course at the Stormy Zoluschka Kryschtal School of Siberian Studies - Cooperating for Photos 1. It would appear as though our resident redhead has taken her studies quite seriously and is ready for the advanced lessons!

Hmmmm.....I think I might need tutoring from her!

A Mom's Day

2008-05-10T18:12:00.013-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

Tomorrow is a very special day. It's the day we think about how lucky we are to have our Moms. I have two Moms - my fuzzy canine Mom, and my Gotcha Day Mom. This is Sissy, my canine Mom:

Sissy was found in deplorable conditions, very pregnant and very hungry. She never gave up and made sure she kept us where we belonged until it was safe for us to be born. We wish everypup could have a Mom as caring and loving as that. Happy Mom's Day Sissy!

Shortly after I was born somebuddy else came along who fell in love with me. That would be my HuMom - my Gotcha Day Mom:

She loves me VERY much so I gave in and decided to let her have a good picture with me. I didn't let it happen right away though. Here's how it really went:

"Ummm...no....I don't think so. Not today!"

"Will not smile! Will not look happy!"

"Woooo! Help meeeee!"

As you can see, I eventually gave in and gave her what she wanted. It is Mom's Day after all. In fact - we all decided to surprise her (except Shadow who wouldn't stay still) :

" Happy Mother's Day!! "

We would like to wish all of our visitors and friends a very Happy Mother's Day! Whether you're Mom to humans, dogs, cats, birds, or other, it's a day to celebrate the unconditional love we receive each day and a day to say thank you to those that love us the most.

Memoir Meme

2008-05-07T07:17:00.007-04:00

Hi Everybuddy -

My good friend Marley tagged me to play a new game - the Memoir Meme. This is a real fun one so I couldn't wait to get started! Here's how it works:

*Write your own six word memoir.

*Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.

*Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.

*Tag at least five more blogs with links.

*Don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

*Have fun!!

Without further delay - here we go:

1. Cute - Mom's a bit biased but she couldn't help but post one of her most favorite pictures:

2. Power Sleeper - I take my naptime very seriously. It's a sport and I'm a pro :

3. Sense of humor - It takes a lot to get me riled. I tend to laugh at just about everything:

4. Dapper - There are fleeting moments when I actually sit still long enough to allow Dad to take a picture of me without my fur being ruffled or other dog's drool embedded in my coat:

5. Caring - I'm always very concerned about my pack mates and will always be by their side comforing them if they need it:

6. Playful - I'm always up for a brisk romp! But look out - I like to play hard!

Wasn't that fun?! Now I need to tag 5 of my friends so they can do their own Memoir Meme. I would like to tag:

Thor, Steve, Ari, Cosmos, and Maya Marie. Have fun!