Gizmo - the shelter dog

This is Gizmo, an 8 year old apricot poodle, given a home 6 months ago. Prior to that he'd been in the SPA refuge in Nice and now - as you see - basks in the sun on a bench alongside his new and forever owner at Cap Martin.

Note he wears the medallion from the SPA and also a St. Christopher (I think?) to protect him.

I heard President-elect Barack Obama talking about the new puppy he will be getting his daughters and said he'd like the dog to come from a shelter. I do hope that happens. T00 many puppies, as well as older dogs in refuges. We should always give unwanted dogs a home, where possible. There are so many of them.

Nico

We've had storms for ten days now. Suddenly this morning, after early rain, the sun broke through and I drove down the valley to the sea. Who should I meet but this little cutie...

Meet Nico. He's a 5 year old Miniature Pinscher from Pisa in Tuscany - on holiday with his owners. I don't believe I've met a brown and white Min Pin before - they are normally black and brown - at least the ones I've met on the Riviera are.

That's the Old Town on Menton you can see in the distance.

Beau Votes!

Meet my dog, Beau - happy to loan one of his long ears to support Obama on this, America's election day.

Beau lived in a refuge in the Var for four years - he was called Bimbo then but I changed it to Beau the day we drove home together. He is a Bruno de Jura - a Swiss hunting dog - and the origin of the Bloodhound (you can see the resemblance I think). Three weeks after coming home Beau had both ear drums removed to try and cut down on the massive infections he had. He was four and a half hours on the table. He still gets abscesses from time to time but now he's a pretty healthy dog and this is his chair - which used to be 'my' chair. Huh! He's happy and so am I to have him here. He's a wonderful, funny dog with a howl you'd not believe. He's lived with me in Gorbio for 18 months and is probably about 10 years old although really no one knows his age or history. Taking him from the refuge was the best thing I ever did. Always rescue a dog from a refuge - there are so many and they reward you a trillion-fold.I adore this funny ol' boy.

Happy Election Day, America! Beau and I will be sitting up late and watching the results. If the polls are right, we want to be part of history in the making and welcome President Barack Obama, who I know is going to so good for America and the world. It's time for CHANGE!

(This is the same post as is on Menton Daily Photo today - something I don't usually do but today is an important day!)

And to see how you can vote with candies, please go to Monte Carlo Daily Photo.

Alpha, who loves water...

Alpha, 3 years old, is a Berger Blanc Suisse (White Swiss Shepherd Dog) who lives in Monaco but had been in Gorbio for a run. Hasn't he the longest tongue - he's a hot dog (!) - this is before he cooled down in the area next to the washhouse in the village. Note the plastic bottle used as a tap.

You can read more about this breed - the origins of the German Shepherd Dog by clicking on the link - and for more photos of Alpha in the water and to see the washhouse, go to Menton Daily Photo today.

Altesse, the Market Dog

Altesse, (Highness in English) the Brittany spaniel lives in the Var and once a week, on a Friday, comes to Menton to sit with her owner at the antique fair there. Such an alert and intelligent look.

Patience

Another dog sitting patiently with her owner waiting for the Blessing on the Animals in Menton. I don't know if she is a Boxer, a Mastiff, or a mix of the two. In the first photo she looks to be a boxer, in the second, that width of jaw and longer muzzle, she looks a mastiff. Anyone an idea?

I don't know her name - just loved that she sat so patiently with no lead - waiting - and such an intense expression as if she knew every word that was being said.

PS: Thanks 'Anonymous' who thinks she is a Dogue de Bordeaux and I totally agree.

Chanelle

Chanelle has the right name, doesn't she? She seems to go with her owner's beautiful jewellry. Chanelle is 3 year old, lives in Menton and was sitting on her owner's lap waiting for the Blessing of the Animals held near to the Sablettes beach. More dogs who were there - tomorrow.

Yorek

How would you like this doggy sitting on your lap?! Meet Yorek, a Saint Bernard puppy of 8 months - yes, just a pup and already weighing 72 kilos.

You can see his meeting with yesterday's bull terrier, Nanou in the middle photo.

Nanou

Nanou is a bull terrier of 15 months. Just after I took this photograph he met a Saint Bernard - come back tomorrow and you'll meet Yorek.

Nanou comes from Genoa in Italy.

Gucci

The second Welsh Terrier on Riviera Dogs.

Gucci is an adorable, naughty Welsh Terrier puppy - he's 7 months old with not a nasty bone in his body. Loves every one, loves other dogs, just wants to play. One high energy bundle.

Lara

Lara simply wouldn't keep still so I'm sorry her foreface is rather fuzzy. And she's the old lady! Lara is a 12 year old Welsh Terrier who lives with Yelka, who you met yesterday - also in the lower photograph. Welsh terriers obviously have energy to spare all their lives. Taken in the pedestrian street in Menton.

Yelka

Yelka, a beautiful 17 month Airedale terrier. She lives with her American owner in Luxembourg alongside an older Welsh terrier, which we'll see tomorrow. Here she is walking in Menton.

Attika

A beautiful Leonberger in Menton. She's 3 years old and her family moved to Menton only one month ago - they live in the Old Town.

Sweetie Pie

This is Sweetie Pie at the toilettage before her haircut. She lives in Menton and belongs to an English lady.

Coquinne

Coquinne was holidaying in Menton from Cologne in Germany. She's 5 years old and suffers from a condition where the eye is always dry and so she needs daily eye-drops - for life. Her owner said she is also rather hard of hearing.

So a couple of problems for this lovely Cavalier but isn't she beautiful. I love that soft sweep of jaw.

Betty

Sometimes you look at a dog and think you know the mix. Now this one has Corgi ears, doesn't she? Or so I thought. Her owner tho, who lives in Rome and was on holiday in Menton tells me she is a mix of a Bassett and a Pinscher.

Betty 6 years old. Look at the hearts on her collar and lead - one adored dog.

Dolly

Meet Dolly, a two month old English setter puppy. She lives in Gorbio village, near to Menton. She attracted lots of attention as she was carried around the village during the recent Fête de la Branda - the annual festival that celebrates the distilling of eau de vie or Grappa.

How adorable is she!

Sandy

Isn't she gorgeous. This is Sandy, a mix from Milan in Italy. She's 4 years old. She was in a refuge before her family found her. Lucky dog, lucky family. Don't you love her beautiful eyes.

In these photographs she was walking around Menton with her owners.

Vasco

This 5 year old poodle, who lives in Menton, was being carried around the plant fair that took place a week or so ago.

Pablo

Meet Pablo, a gorgeous smooth haired dachshund. He lives in San Remo, across the border in Italy. I met him in Menton.