Mia and her last journey

Some of you have met Mia, a Bassett Ariegois - or seen this photo of her in exhibitions.  Sadly, today she was put to sleep.

It's been a bad few weeks lately.  First, my oldest dog, Beau - a black and tan Bruno du Jura, had to be put to sleep. It was his time. Indeed the deed was done not a day too early or too late and I was okay about it. He'd had a good life here and lived far longer than he would have in the particular refuge he was in.

But Mia, who had a dreadful early life (as did Beau) didn't deserve to have been so sick for the last two or three weeks of her life. She'd had an ear infection for six months, nothing would clear it up and the skin deep within her ear got so thin it started bleeding.  At this time I changed vets, not because I didn't have the best faith in my old vet but because Mia was so car sick every time I drove a distance to her and she understood and agreed. The new vet gave me product for her ears that went into her blood stream and caused massive inbalance and semi-paralysis -  and ever since then we've been trying to get her right. And I changed vets again, of course.

Last night she became totally paralyzed and so this morning she went to the vet on her last journey.

When I got Mia around 7 years ago she'd been living in a filthy 2 metre square run with another dog, Mistral. She'd obviously had several litters of puppies and was thin as a stick and with bleeding skin. They'd been living on top of years of excrement and having food thrown over the fence. The owner died and the son wanted to shoot them.  So, they came to me. Mistral lived only 3 months because she had cancer, but Mia put on weight and was in excellent health, except mentally and emotionally. All her years with me she was terrified of any visitor, especially men.

 Mia was a wonderful dog, so kind, so sensitive. I miss her like crazy. 

So, now, this house is very empty. I have this photo of Mia hanging on my wall. And another of Beau hangs elsewhere. I'll show you Beau's photo another time.

(the second photo shows Mia with her friend, Maggie in the background)

Mia

This is my old dog, Mia, squeezed into a little dog's bed! She's not well at the moment - with something I'd never heard of before. She's had an ear infection for six months which wouldn't clear up despite analyses, antibiotics and drops.  Unfortunately the skin, deep within her ears, had got so thin, that one particular medication got into her blood stream, totally upset her balance, she walks with difficulty, sometimes falling over, and her rear end has no strength.  Since I took this photo, she's been at the vets each day from 8 till 5 on a drip and does seem a little better and starting to eat again. Who knew that some ear drops could do this! The vet says she will hopefully improve but she'll never completely get back her balance - it's now a neurological problem. Fingers crossed.... back to the vet this morning.

Prickle

This is Prickle, who lives at one of Menton's famous gardens, Le Clos du Peyronnet.

Exhausted

Larvotto Beach, Monaco.   Don't we all feel like this sometimes...!

Elegance

Elegance at Casino Square, Monte Carlo. Woof!

Pakkun

Last time we met Marley, an adorable French bulldog puppy.  This is her housemate, Pakkun, who is 4 months old - a handsome chocolate labrador. They live in Monaco.

Marley

Is there anything more adorable than an 8 week old French bulldog puppy!

This is Marley and she lives in Monaco with a 4 month old chocolate labrador. We'll meet her next time.

Waiting for Mama

This lovely Bernese Mountain Dog was 'waiting for Mama' and as you say, she had soon finished her shopping and he was a happy dog.

Play ball!

This playful Boxer belongs to one of the shop owners along Larvotto Beach in Monaco.  I had to keep putting down my camera, throw the ball for him and then try and take a shot as he rushed back for more! He was so friendly, I didn't want to leave.

As you can see much of Larvotto is boarded up against possible bad winter weather, but there are openings for for anyone who wants to have a swim or sunbathe.

Wura

Meet Wura.  She's an 11 year old long-haired dachshund I met at the Fete du Citron in Menton.  She was being carried around in her owner's bag as dogs are not allowed in the Jardin Bioves.

Wura lives in Holland.

Richard and Halloween

We've met my fabulous friend Richard and little Halloween on this blog before but here's another shot of them.  I love the tender moment they share.

Sisters!

It was a glorious day here yesterday and these two little Maltese terriers were having the best fun on the Promenade le Corbusier at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. I nearly got run over!
~
Hier ici, c'était une journée magnifique et ces deux petits bichons maltais s'amusaient énormément sur la Promenade Le Corbusier à Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. J' ai presque failli me faire renverser!

Naya

Last night, after going to the vernissage of Roch Chinchila's beautiful photography, my friend Sylvie and I went to one of our favourite restaurants in Menton, the Volcano, for a plate of pasta and a glass of wine. Great pizzas and pastas here, cooked by chef owner, Driss. And very reasonable.

This little love was my neighbour.... well how could I resist! Her name is Naya, she's nearly 5 and was rescued by her owner - and plainly, they adore each other!

A Night Stroll

A night stroll with the dogs along the pedestrian street of Menton. 

Puppy heaven!

Yesterday I was in 'puppy heaven!'  This is one of a litter of 6 week old puppies in the village of Gorbio.  Mama is a Boxer and Papa is an American Bulldog.

There are still two that are unreserved!

Hunique and Vanessa

We met Hunique when she was a puppy. Now she's all grown up.

Hunique lives at the Bar/Restaurant Les Terrasses in the medieval village of Gorbio.  You can see her with her owner Vanessa in the last photo.

Like a Baby

A cute little poodle that is being carried like a baby, perhaps he's old or sick - or perhaps just lazy!

Two by two

A couple of beautiful Saint Bernards and their family at the Monaco Dog show last year.

Je suis Charlie

Je suis Charlie. A little Shihtzu at the march for freedom of expression in Menton yesterday. This following the horrors in Paris over the last few days.

Loki - American Bully

This is Loki - only four months old. I met him in Menton where he lives.  His owners told me he is an American Bully, a breed that isn't yet registered in France.

I thought he must have American Pitbull in him, but his proud owners tell me the breed is a cross between a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and an American Bulldog.  There's a lot of information on line and it's a little confusing on this.

There is a kennel for this breed in the Herault region of France who breed small, medium and large varieties of the American Bully.

Chihuahua in Menton

A cute Chihuahua in Menton.

Rajah

This beautiful Afghan hound poses amongst the ornamental bananas (or are they Strelitzias?) in the Casino gardens in Monte Carlo.  I did ask his name and can't find where I wrote it, but  think it may have been Rajah. Anyway that seems to suit him, don't you think?

Pom in Waiting

Looks like a little Pomeranian (or tiny Spitz) patiently waiting whilst his owner reads a real estate magazine.  Note the orange trees laden with fruit.  Not long now and Menton will be celebrating the Fete du Citron.

Market Dog

This lovely dog is a Menton market dog.  Tied up to the owner's stand and doing his job as a guard.  With the Christmas rush and a busy stall, I didn't stop to ask his name. He's a beautiful deep  brown and is some kind of setter, perhaps an Irish setter but the head doesn't look quite right and the colour isn't perhaps red enough. Perhaps a mix? Perhaps someone knows. In any case, he's beautiful!

Sense of Direction ...

Place du Cap, Menton 

Not quite sure who is walking who in this photo!

Conversation with a Whippet

I wonder how many people know their dogs have private conversations with strangers behind their back.

I met this lovely Whippet in Dolceacqua. 

Indy

Let's have another dose of cuteness.  Meet Indy.  He's a one year old Papillon who lives in Nice.  I think he knows how cute he is!

Abby and Roxy

Abby and Roxy are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Abby lives in Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Roxy lives in Monaco.

Halloween (2)

Here's another photo of little Halloween, who we met yesterday.  She's with her co-owner Richard (well half of him!) sitting on steps in the medieval village of Gorbio.  Halloween lives in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Halloween

This is beautiful little Halloween.  She lives in Villefranche-sur-Mer with my friends Tim and Richard.

Next time I'll show you the photo I took of Halloween with Richard and used in my display at PhotoMenton.

It goes without saying Halloween is a star!

Olive and Jack at play ...

On Saturday I had to leave PhotoMenton to go and feed my meter. On the way I couldn't resist snapping these two playing in the Jardin Bioves.  The German Shepherd mix is called Jack and he's 5 years old. The Jack Russell terrier is called Olive and she's six months.

Don't you love it when the big dog gets down to the level of the smaller dog so they can properly play - even if it does look a bit like a fight! It's not!

First Outing for Lola

Dogs are not allowed into the Palace de l'Europe in Menton but much depends on the security guys. On the day this Miniature Pinscher came to visit 'PhotoMenton' with her owners, they allowed small dogs in, provided they were carried.  So meet tiny Lola, only 4 months old and on her very first outing. She lives in Menton.

Black and white in the water

On Saturday the Festival PhotoMenton opens its doors to 110 photographers. This year my theme is 'dogs' and here's one of the photos I'll be exhibiting.  If any of you are living near to Menton, do come along. You'll see so many varied and wonderful styles of photography from so many talented photographers. 

See www.photomenton.com for more info.

This is Joe, the cocker spaniel, along with his co-owner, Emmanuelle. We saw him in a beautiful old car, a 1968 Renault 4L in a recent post.   This was taken at the Coulée Verte in Nice.  Of course Emma is the perfect model and, indeed, she ruined a pair of tights to make these photos.  Thank you, dear Emma! xxx

Haston and Larry

Meet Haston and Larry, two English bulldogs who live in Menton. Bulldogs are such fun and have the most beautiful temperaments and of course are such clowns. Look at the expression on the faces of these two! 

Thanks so much to my friend Sylvie who arranged for me to meet these two and their lovely owner Celine in the Parc de Pian in Menton.