Goodbye, FoohFooh

Fooh Fooh Fontenot von Fry,
American Dingo (aka  Carolina Dog)

FoohFooh left this world today at 3:45 p.m.  He could no longer walk nor hold his water, but he ate his last hamburger and fries with relish on the way to the vet, then went peacefully within a few seconds of getting his shot.  John and I were both with him and while sad, we are satisfied he left as he lived . . . with dignity.  We'll scatter his ashes in his woods behind the bonfire area in a few weeks. He was 15.



Living with, raising and training a dingo has been a rewarding but very challenging experience. I'll let the first post of this blog, which was named after him and Maxie (foohmax), serve as his memorial. I'd like to add that I asked him to do a last trick, a Fay-Do-Do, on the table while waiting for the vet, and he immediately laid down his head and held the pose, like a statue, probably waiting for a treat.

Here's a great quote from a dingo website that expresses our feelings for FoohFooh:
"Dogs give us their absolute all. We are the center of their Universe.  We are the focus of their love and faith and trust.  They serve us in return for scraps.  It is without doubt the best deal man has ever made."  Roger Caras

Here’s an article published in the Smithsonian Magazine about this semi-wild breed. http://www.carolinadogs.com/smithsonian.html

We didn't know FoohFooh was a dingo when we adopted him at 12 weeks of age, just a lively little puppy with floppy ears who needed a home.  We identifying him much later as a Carolina Dog (American Dingo).  Here are some website photos that leave no doubt about his breed. Check them out.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/dingo.htm

We’d like to thank all the wonderful friends/family members who have taken care of and shown such patience with Fooh Fooh over the years (Audrey, Laura, Schuyler, Nathan, Garret, Portia) when we've gone out of town to agility trials or on trips, coming at 8 a.m. and/or 8 p.m. to feed him, as well as mid-day to let him out and play with him awhile.

Upwards and onward!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

L to R:  Pepper, Lucky Lucy, Maxie

Here's our very first doggie posed Christmas Card!  I sent it out to family in magnetic frames, and to the dog's teachers and friends in a big card.  Of course the question was "Where's Willow?"  All I can say is Willow doesn't do agility and didn't attend the trial where the photographer was.  I posed the dogs I had with me.

Christmas was fun.  Jonathan came into town, we gathered at Audrey's house Christmas night with all the usual peeps.  I made a double batch of Seafood Gumbo, Audrey made her Oyster Dressing and Sweet Potatoes, other people brought salads and desserts.  Yum!   Then Nathan, Jonathan, John and I all went to see Hobbit II 3D the next night (John's treat).  The dragon was the most awesome ever, but my assessment of the movie was . . . . .  too loud, too long, with too much dragon, and too many orks . . . . . and 28 minutes of previews).  They overdid everything.  I had to make earplugs with my napkin to survive the high decibels.  Movie theatres seem hell-bent on making the populous deaf.
 
New Year's Eve . . . after 15 straight years of partying around a bonfire in our yard, writing our resolutions on a cabbage leaf, and all jumping the fireline and walking the labyrinth at midnight, we didn't do anything this year.  The energy just wasn't right.  The lawnmower broke so we couldn't vacuum the leaves nor even see the grass labyrinth, John pulled his back and was (still is) moaning with acute pain, my knee prevents me from walking much, Schuyler had the flu, the kids all had young people plans, and Laura's sister, Julie, came to her house to get some rest (she's going to have a baby in 25 days or so and is exhausted). Besides which, it drizzled all day and evening in 45 degree weather. Everyone hunkered down at home.  We all talked on the phone, though.  Audrey and I made sure to be talking together at midnight, and I went outside with towels and wiped the wet dust off my car, with fireworks exploding everywhere, so numerous it sounded like a 3 hour air-raid! And fireworks are illegal in Baton Rouge!!!!!!!!

John and I sat on the front porch sipping hot chocolate, discussed our resolutions and pretty much agreed on a direction for our new year, health being a top priority, financial stability,  family & friends, of course. Following our passions, enjoying each and every day.  And then, of course, being useful,  minimizing stress, etc.

His passion is astronomy, mine is my home, my dogs, and recording audio books for Librivox. 2014 will be interesting for both of us because there's not enough time in the day to learn or do all we want to learn or do, and that's a very good place to be.

Today was the LSU/IOWA game at noon (we won), and Laura made it over for cabbage and black eye peas!  I'll build a fire tonight in my newly repaired fireplace, and we'll look for a new series to watch on Netflix while we recover from our injuries.

My best wishes to everyone out there, and I'll now share my favorite recent fortune cookie wisdom with you: 

"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

Upwards and onward!