I can’t believe it’s been five years since I adopted Porter from Homeward Trails.

He has been a wonderful companion all of this time. As I added another dog (and then another), he gracefully and gradually slid lower and lower the pack’s totem pole. As the most omega of omega dogs, he is super pleasant and accommodating to everyone. Even though it makes me sad from time to time when Pearl gives him the occasional dick-bite, he is the most gentle dog I have ever been around.

Sometimes the topic of “which dog would you save first in a fire” comes up, and I immediately answer “Porter,” every time. He’s my number one hombre, and besides, he couldn’t really save himself. Rosie and Pearl would build a fire engine out of their water dish, some paracord, and a pack of zip ties.

I am so glad I adopted him, and highly encourage anyone who is thinking about a dog to please please please adopt one and not buy a dog from a breeder. There are so many wonderful companions out there. Porter and his littermates were discarded hunting dog puppies, and if no one adopted them they would have been put down.

My best four legged friend Porter is five years old today. He’s been such a great dog, and after losing about ten pounds since this time last year he’s feeling a lot better, too.

Last month:

and almost five years ago:

I wonder sometimes what became of Porter’s littermates. When I interviewed him in Maryland there were two of his brothers there. He’s such a good boy, I hope they are making someone else’s lives better somewhere else.

I love you buddy. May you live to be eleventy-billion.

My dog Pearl likes to eat things she shouldn’t. Whether it be batteries, mobile phones, DVDs, stuffed animals, or paper, it’s mostly just an annoyance and I worry about things getting stuck in her stomach. One thing I really don’t like her eating, however, is poop. I have often looked out of the kitchen window to see her wolfing down some doggie leftovers. I have even caught her waiting, MOUTH OPEN, underneath Porter or Rosie.

What’s worse is that she’s taught Porter that eating crap is a great idea, so now he’s doing it, too.

I researched this online, and found a few suggestions on adding things to a dog’s diet to make their deuces less tasty. I thought this was kinda odd, since I figured droppings were nasty to begin with. But after reading reviews on Amazon.com and a few pet Web sites, I decided to give For-bid by Alpar Labs a try.
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I am sure this happens other places in the United States, but Virginia has more than its fair share of crazy weather swings. A week ago yesterday, we got pummeled with eight to ten inches of snow that shut down most of the city for a few days. We don’t really get snow here at all, let alone that amount, so it hit the area pretty hard.

By Wednesday, however, things were heating up. By Friday, the high was in the 70s. I rode to work for the second time since we switched to standard time last fall. I sure as hell missed it, and I was smiling when I walked into work.
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Four years ago I adopted this little dude:

and he has given me joy every day since. Well, except for that time he jumped on the bed and pissed on it while staring at me. He was mad. We had a “talk.”

Sometimes I get grumbly when I am out messing around on the bike or want to go take a trip. It’s hard having three “kids” at home, especially since I have to crate Pearl and feel guilty about leaving her caged up for long periods of time.

But none of that matters when I am having a bad day and Porter jumps on the couch and sits next to me. He sits right next to me, like another person, sighs, and leans on me.

I love you, buddy.

I wrote a post about Sergeant’s SentryPro XFC topical flea and tick product almost a year and a half ago. The treatment threw Porter and Rosie into an allergic reaction that consisted of trembling, panting, scratching, and “air licking.” I made the post because I was upset. I was upset at Sergeant’s for putting the product out. I followed the directions and BOTH of my dogs has an adverse reaction. I was also upset at myself for not using my usual Frontline (which I’ve never had a problem with before or since the SentryPro incident).

So, I made the post in May of 2007. I had no idea that thousands of people would read the post, hundreds would comment, dozens would email me personally, and the post would be the number one Google search result for “SentryPro XFC.” I got mentioned on The Consumerist. Some of my readers started a class action lawsuit.

It took all of that an sixteen months, but Sergeant’s finally responded.

People who have posted a comment in the past are automatically emailed when someone makes a new comment, so hundreds of people got an email tonight with Sergeant’s reply. A few people have already started to reply …. I have a feeling this isn’t over by a long shot.

My best four-legged friend turned four on Monday. Actually, I have no idea when he turns four exactly, just sometime around now. Here are some important snapshots from Porter’s life. Warning! Lots of pictures :)
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Every good horror film (and most bad ones) gets a sequel. Less than a year after the first installment, my dogs are somehow killing birds in the yard again.
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Last of my ongoing photographic and gibber-acular tribute to my home office, now that I’m moving back into a cube farm.
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I’m up in NYC on business for the day, so no real updates. Here’s a nice shot of Porter and Pearl cuddling up on the couch: