ALEXANDRIA NICHOL ELYSE 06/02/1996 - 08/24/2007
Photo by Nancy Hicks
Borzoi Alexandria (Alex) knew that she was going to be going home with me before I did. I had been at the breeder's house with three of the dogs getting to meet and play with them. After hanging out with everyone, I was getting ready to leave when Alex came up and gently put her front paws on my shoulders and gave me a look that said don't leave without me. The following weekend, I was back at the breeder's home picking up Alex. My daughters and mother had acquired her as a father's day gift for me.
Alex was a very sweet and loving girl who had made her own running course in the backyard, loved her fuzzy squeaky toys and always greeted you with a huge smile. When you woke up in the morning she was right there and when your eyes opened you got a huge smile and a big kiss. Wherever you went she was right there with you and wanted to do whatever you were doing. Alex had trained my daughters that first thing they had to do when they got home from school was give her a doggy treat and then they could do their homework. Alex tried to train anyone that came over to the house that was the protocol.
She was a joy to have in our lives and is missed everyday.
Keith
Alex was a very sweet and loving girl who had made her own running course in the backyard, loved her fuzzy squeaky toys and always greeted you with a huge smile. When you woke up in the morning she was right there and when your eyes opened you got a huge smile and a big kiss. Wherever you went she was right there with you and wanted to do whatever you were doing. Alex had trained my daughters that first thing they had to do when they got home from school was give her a doggy treat and then they could do their homework. Alex tried to train anyone that came over to the house that was the protocol.
She was a joy to have in our lives and is missed everyday.
Keith
4D RANCH THE BANDIT OF 4D 09/21/1993 - 04/13/2009
Photo by Jack Kenner
Bandit and Bullet were born at my mother's house, the result of WTCH Twin Oaks Bull Whip x Draguida's Dream Catcher, so they were 3/4 working lines + 1/4 "show" line. With nine Aussie puppies, just walking through the backyard had to be carefully executed as they would, fuzzballs en masse, herd you.
They went everywhere with us and were joyous companions. And as with most Australian Shepherds, they were ready for anything.
Bandit would purr and wiggle the back half of her body in greeting. She knew when you were sad and would try to cheer you up with lavish attention and antics. She could herd sheep, ducks and cattle. She enjoyed hiking, running at the ranch, agility, performing tricks and cuddling. She would always ask to be invited up on the couch and if she wanted attention, she would give us what I call her "Lauren Bacall" look, she was irresistably adorable.
For some reason, coyotes were enamored of her. We went to the Big Bear Zoo and walked the dogs afterward. The coyotes at the zoo are only separated from the walking path by a chain link fence with slats in it. They followed and flirted and tried to invite her over to their pad. We had a similar encounter at dawn in Utah while walking the dogs, a coyote kept yipping and singing at Bandit and would turn and try to invite her to follow, this went on for about 15 minutes until we left. Every time the coyote would yip & sing to her, Bullet would respond with an older brother's protective bark.
Bandit brought light and kindness into our lives. She was never sick, and enjoyed life right up until she left us. Everyone thought she was much younger than her brother and that she acted more like a dog of 6 yrs. than 15. We miss her everyday.
Jolene
They went everywhere with us and were joyous companions. And as with most Australian Shepherds, they were ready for anything.
Bandit would purr and wiggle the back half of her body in greeting. She knew when you were sad and would try to cheer you up with lavish attention and antics. She could herd sheep, ducks and cattle. She enjoyed hiking, running at the ranch, agility, performing tricks and cuddling. She would always ask to be invited up on the couch and if she wanted attention, she would give us what I call her "Lauren Bacall" look, she was irresistably adorable.
For some reason, coyotes were enamored of her. We went to the Big Bear Zoo and walked the dogs afterward. The coyotes at the zoo are only separated from the walking path by a chain link fence with slats in it. They followed and flirted and tried to invite her over to their pad. We had a similar encounter at dawn in Utah while walking the dogs, a coyote kept yipping and singing at Bandit and would turn and try to invite her to follow, this went on for about 15 minutes until we left. Every time the coyote would yip & sing to her, Bullet would respond with an older brother's protective bark.
Bandit brought light and kindness into our lives. She was never sick, and enjoyed life right up until she left us. Everyone thought she was much younger than her brother and that she acted more like a dog of 6 yrs. than 15. We miss her everyday.
Jolene
4D RANCH 4D5 CALIBER BULLET 09/21/1993 - 06/02/2009
Photo by Jolene Hicks
Bullet was a happy boy and always looked like he was smiling. He was big for an Aussie, at 69 lbs., and had hip dysplasia. However, it didn't slow him down until he was about 12 yrs. young.
Bullet enjoyed herding sheep, performing tricks and was my only Schutzhund dog. We practiced twice each week at the Long Beach Police Academy. He was quite a talker and would have full conversations with us. When we would come home he would greet us with woo-woos.
Bullet would guard the backyard and Bandit would lay in the front window box and alert him.
Since we took them to my mother's ranch every weekend, they were very used to coyotes singing. They developed their own version of this when we would leave the house or go out front without them. It was the most hiliarious thing I have every heard to date, because they would take turns yipping, barking and then "sing" the chorus together.
Bullet was supplemented since he was 5, for his dysplasia. When he was 13, he lost the nerve endings in his hind legs and had difficulty walking/standing. We had him acupunctured weekly, then gradually every other week and his nerve endings regenerated after 5 months. We also took him to physical therapy where he did the underwater treadmill and we did physical therapy on him twice daily at home. We learned a valuable lesson, do not listen to other people, but follow your heart and your vet's advice because older dogs take much longer to recuperate. When they were 14 yrs., we had stem cell done for arthritis in their hips on both. Although Bandit barely had any in one hip, I couldn't do one furkid and not the other. I cannot say enough about this procedure. If you are ever in need of it, please do so, as it is the fountain of youth. It took Bullet three days to manifest a difference, while with Bandit it was immediate. My mother has been doing it in her race horses for injured tendons since it first became available but it also works well on joints.
We had many good years and good times, but my Bullet told us it was time to go, seven weeks after his sister went, and we were with him as he crossed over. We miss him every day.
Bullet enjoyed herding sheep, performing tricks and was my only Schutzhund dog. We practiced twice each week at the Long Beach Police Academy. He was quite a talker and would have full conversations with us. When we would come home he would greet us with woo-woos.
Bullet would guard the backyard and Bandit would lay in the front window box and alert him.
Since we took them to my mother's ranch every weekend, they were very used to coyotes singing. They developed their own version of this when we would leave the house or go out front without them. It was the most hiliarious thing I have every heard to date, because they would take turns yipping, barking and then "sing" the chorus together.
Bullet was supplemented since he was 5, for his dysplasia. When he was 13, he lost the nerve endings in his hind legs and had difficulty walking/standing. We had him acupunctured weekly, then gradually every other week and his nerve endings regenerated after 5 months. We also took him to physical therapy where he did the underwater treadmill and we did physical therapy on him twice daily at home. We learned a valuable lesson, do not listen to other people, but follow your heart and your vet's advice because older dogs take much longer to recuperate. When they were 14 yrs., we had stem cell done for arthritis in their hips on both. Although Bandit barely had any in one hip, I couldn't do one furkid and not the other. I cannot say enough about this procedure. If you are ever in need of it, please do so, as it is the fountain of youth. It took Bullet three days to manifest a difference, while with Bandit it was immediate. My mother has been doing it in her race horses for injured tendons since it first became available but it also works well on joints.
We had many good years and good times, but my Bullet told us it was time to go, seven weeks after his sister went, and we were with him as he crossed over. We miss him every day.
RIATA aka FERRET FAWCETT RESCUED 07/26/2004 - 02/14/2010 (7 YRS.)
Photo by Jolene Hicks
Riata chose us by coming into Keith's racetrack barn area office one dark, Sunday evening in July. She jumped into his locker, onto his boots and peered out at him between his shirts. She had escaped from a drug-addicted exercise rider who kept her in her backpack while she worked. We didn't know this at the time, so Keith brought her home and our love of all things ferret began. How a domestic ferret survived in this environment for even a couple of hours is beyond us. The barn area not only houses 2,500+ horses but is surrounded by a defunct golf course and is home to coyotes, red fox, skunks, opossums, etc.
Riata was a playful girl, who would boink around the house, loved to play with jingle balls, play in the bathtub, chase your feet and her most favorite pasttime of all, exploring the back yard. She would climb on the waterfall and nap in the sun in the daylilies or in the hidey-hole which we made by covering Bullet's digging pit. She could make off down the hall with the remote control by holding the buttons in her teeth, which is no easy feat when you only weigh two pounds! Riata loved all toys and often napped with her little "babies". Bandit loved the ferrets and treated them like puppies.
Ferrets are crepuscular and would play all morning and then I would put them in their separate mansions (they were raised as only ferrets so they weren't bonded) on our patio and they would come in at dusk to be free range in the house or if I had to go back to work at night, after playing, Riata went in her playpen and Sparky went in his room.
She developed insulinoma and died on Valentine's day. We are thankful that she came into our lives and introduced us to these wonderful, joyous clowns and we made some wonderful new friends in the ferret world thanks to her.
Riata was a playful girl, who would boink around the house, loved to play with jingle balls, play in the bathtub, chase your feet and her most favorite pasttime of all, exploring the back yard. She would climb on the waterfall and nap in the sun in the daylilies or in the hidey-hole which we made by covering Bullet's digging pit. She could make off down the hall with the remote control by holding the buttons in her teeth, which is no easy feat when you only weigh two pounds! Riata loved all toys and often napped with her little "babies". Bandit loved the ferrets and treated them like puppies.
Ferrets are crepuscular and would play all morning and then I would put them in their separate mansions (they were raised as only ferrets so they weren't bonded) on our patio and they would come in at dusk to be free range in the house or if I had to go back to work at night, after playing, Riata went in her playpen and Sparky went in his room.
She developed insulinoma and died on Valentine's day. We are thankful that she came into our lives and introduced us to these wonderful, joyous clowns and we made some wonderful new friends in the ferret world thanks to her.
SPARKY aka SPARKY'DUDE'L & LITTLE MAN RESCUED 01/15/2008 - 02/19/2010 (9 YRS.)
Sparky Steer Wrestling....Photo by Jolene Hicks
Sparky came to live with us after being surrendered to us by a family of seven. He weighed 3/4 of a lb. and was in the early stages of adrenal disease, so he had lost much of his fur. After surgery, lupron injections, melatonin implants and proper photo period exposure, he quickly recovered and grew in his luxurious sable coat and acquired his optimum weight (2 1/4 lbs.).
Sparky behaved much like a dog - he would follow you from room to room, look up at you with soulful eyes, loved to be held and cuddled and came when you called him by name. He would fall asleep in your arms. Sparky had a special bond with Bandit and we often found them asleep together in a dog bed. Sparky would play tag with you in the house or backyard. He would chase and do a war dance when he "caught" you and then I would chase and he'd leap and war dance all over again. He never really played with toys like Riata (I don't think he had any where he came from). Their room had a dutch door and when he'd wake up in the morning, he'd thump a back foot on the floor, like a rabbit. I'd let him out and he'd come over to the side of our bed and stretch his front feet up and "ask" to be invited up. He'd curl up on a blanket on the top of our bed until we got up for the day.
He was a treasure and every day we said to each other that we couldn't believe that anyone could give him up. He was so sweet and loving and although we only had him for two years he filled them with a lifetime of love and joy.
Ferrets don't entirely recover from adrenal disease, although he didn't show any more symptoms until his last two months, because we kept him on Lupron and melatonin implants. He also, as many do, contracted insulinoma near the end. He didn't wake up five days after Riata died. The night before I had cuddled him in his favorite sleeping bag and I thought he acted like he was having trouble seeing. I gave him to Keith to cuddle and Keith tucked him in. We are thankful he came into our lives and we are still careful to watch where we walk so we don't step on him.
Sparky behaved much like a dog - he would follow you from room to room, look up at you with soulful eyes, loved to be held and cuddled and came when you called him by name. He would fall asleep in your arms. Sparky had a special bond with Bandit and we often found them asleep together in a dog bed. Sparky would play tag with you in the house or backyard. He would chase and do a war dance when he "caught" you and then I would chase and he'd leap and war dance all over again. He never really played with toys like Riata (I don't think he had any where he came from). Their room had a dutch door and when he'd wake up in the morning, he'd thump a back foot on the floor, like a rabbit. I'd let him out and he'd come over to the side of our bed and stretch his front feet up and "ask" to be invited up. He'd curl up on a blanket on the top of our bed until we got up for the day.
He was a treasure and every day we said to each other that we couldn't believe that anyone could give him up. He was so sweet and loving and although we only had him for two years he filled them with a lifetime of love and joy.
Ferrets don't entirely recover from adrenal disease, although he didn't show any more symptoms until his last two months, because we kept him on Lupron and melatonin implants. He also, as many do, contracted insulinoma near the end. He didn't wake up five days after Riata died. The night before I had cuddled him in his favorite sleeping bag and I thought he acted like he was having trouble seeing. I gave him to Keith to cuddle and Keith tucked him in. We are thankful he came into our lives and we are still careful to watch where we walk so we don't step on him.
SPARKY, RIATA & ME (In a wig disguise because ferrets are still illegal in California)
Photo by Jenny Warren for LA WEEKLY
Ferrets are mustelids and belong to the same family as weasels, pine martens and European polecats. They are related to the mink, badger and wolverine. Ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years to keep their owners' homes and castles free of vermin. Noteably, the Romans kept them for this purpose as did Queen Elizabeth I (there is a portrait of her with two of her ferrets on her robes). Most ferrets sold as pets in the United States come from Marshall Farms and are spayed/neutered and have had their scent glands removed. If they are not from Marshall Farms and are intact, you should have them fixed immediately as not doing so will cause health problems if they are not bred. Ferrets must have proper exposure to natural or simulated photo periods (normal daylight and nightfall) or they will develop health issues. Marshall Farms originally bred them to be lab animals as they are susceptible to human colds and influenza. They must have premium ferret food and fresh clean water available at all times. Their digestion period is about four hours. They are easily litter box trained and instinctively go into corners to do their business, to watch for predators.
Ferrets are legal in 48 states, with the exceptions being Hawaii and California and in some cities, such as New York City, NY. Regarding California, there are hundreds of thousands of ferrets in California, and we know this because 27% of all ferret supplies (food, litter, toys, bedding etc.) are sold in this state. At any time, ferret owners can have their pet seized and destroyed due to an archaic law. Veterinarians have been able to treat them legally since 1984. They are not a threat to wildlife or our ecosystem and couldn't survive on their own. Most ferrets imprint on their food during their first year of life, after that they do not recognize any other as edible. Most ferret owners don't invite people over to their homes or become friendly with the neighbors because their pet's life could depend on it if there was a falling out or slip of the tongue.
Ferret owners are more than willing to purchase licenses, as with our canines, for their ferrets and it isn't as though California couldn't use the money. There are statewide organizations (such as Ferrets Anonymous & the California Domestic Ferret Alliance) and local clubs (such as Orange County Ferrets) who promote education to help with legalization efforts. There is a wonderful on-line community, Loving Ferrets. which can be accessed through OC Ferrets' website, which can anwer any health, training or enrichment concerns ferret owners world-wide may have.
Ferrets are quiet, joyful, fuzzy little clowns who brighten up their owners' lives and should not be illegal.
Ferrets are legal in 48 states, with the exceptions being Hawaii and California and in some cities, such as New York City, NY. Regarding California, there are hundreds of thousands of ferrets in California, and we know this because 27% of all ferret supplies (food, litter, toys, bedding etc.) are sold in this state. At any time, ferret owners can have their pet seized and destroyed due to an archaic law. Veterinarians have been able to treat them legally since 1984. They are not a threat to wildlife or our ecosystem and couldn't survive on their own. Most ferrets imprint on their food during their first year of life, after that they do not recognize any other as edible. Most ferret owners don't invite people over to their homes or become friendly with the neighbors because their pet's life could depend on it if there was a falling out or slip of the tongue.
Ferret owners are more than willing to purchase licenses, as with our canines, for their ferrets and it isn't as though California couldn't use the money. There are statewide organizations (such as Ferrets Anonymous & the California Domestic Ferret Alliance) and local clubs (such as Orange County Ferrets) who promote education to help with legalization efforts. There is a wonderful on-line community, Loving Ferrets. which can be accessed through OC Ferrets' website, which can anwer any health, training or enrichment concerns ferret owners world-wide may have.
Ferrets are quiet, joyful, fuzzy little clowns who brighten up their owners' lives and should not be illegal.
