Wordless Wednesday: Our Best of 2015 on Instagram: Cinnamon takes the lead!

Look who got all the likes? It isn't Francesca!

Fireworks are NOT allowed in Vancouver, Washington on New Year's Eve

After I worked so hard on a fireworks ban for the City of Vancouver. And after I celebrated when the Mayor and City Council voted to approve the ban beginning in 2017, I read this disturbing announcement from a nearby city:

The Battle Ground Chamber will have its annual fireworks stand open, and selling pyrotechnics now through Thursday, Dec. 31, at the corner of W Main St. and 12th Ave., across from Fred Meyer and Riverview Community Bank. This is one of the chamber’s biggest fundraisers of the year. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, and from noon to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (New Year’s Eve).

Now Battle Ground is not all that far from where I live. I wondered if they had dogs there and people who are disturbed by personal fireworks. I wondered how they could sell fireworks knowing how terrified dogs like me are when we hear the pop, bang, roar of fireworks. Is the money worth it?

Now I'm glad I live in Vancouver. In Vancouver you can't shoot off stuff on New Years Eve. It's against the law! So don't go shopping in Battle Ground and bring that horrible stuff into MY city. Why don't you stay inside and have a great little party?

Enough said,

Cinnamon the Coonhound
Executive Director
Dogs Against Fireworks

Cinnamon's Year in Review - 2015

It's getting to be the end of the year. It's a time I reflect on what brought me here... the times alone, on the streets of Santa Fe as the snow fell and it was getting very cold. I was adopted in the winter and so that is what I think about when I am alone in my cushy bed having trouble getting to sleep.

Life has been good since then. I've traveled across the country and had some wonderful experiences. 2015 was another good year. Here are my top memories of 2015:

THE BEACH! I love the beach with smells of dead crabs and drying seaweed. I love getting the sand between my toes. I enjoy going to Long Beach, Washington because they are very dog friendly. I've stayed at several places that accept dogs. My favorite things to do are to walk the Discovery Trail and run on the beach avoiding the waves. I don't even mind when the wind kicks up and I get sand in my eyes.

Here I am at the beach checking out the razor clams.

The Farmers Market Vancouver, my home town (now), has a great Farmer's Market. The best part about the market is that they allow dogs! Of course I am always on my best behavior there. I look longingly at each booth as we pass by in hopes of getting samples. And sometimes I do! My owner's favorite things are the flowers, jams and local produce. I like Olympia Provisions and the salmon people!

Here I am hoping for Salmon samples at the Farmer's Market

Dog Parks! This year I continued to enjoy the Clark County dog parks. Clark Dog Paw, a non-profit, works with Vancouver and Clark County to maintain the best dog parks I have ever seen. I like the Brush Prairie Dog park with green grass, lots of running space and a view of Mt. Hood. It's my happy place!

Here I am looking all gorgeous at the Dog Park.

Francesca I'll bet you are surprised that I would mention Francesca in my list of memories, but I have to. From the day we picked her up from Animal Control, she's been a problem. I've worked hard to train her... to let her know what is mine and what is hers. And to let her know when she has to stop bugging me! But now I call her my buddy. When she goes to Day Care (because she can't be trusted home alone), I actually am happy to see her when she gets home.

Here we are bringing Francesca home.

Christmas Christmas was pretty special this year. We had a visit from our Country Cousins which includes Indy! We also got PRESENTS! Christmas day was spent doing things we enjoy like opening gifts, playing with new toys, going to the dog park and getting some treats. I like Christmas!

Here I am with my Christmas gift.

There was much more going on in 2015, some good and some bad, but all in all it was a very good year. I am hoping that 2016 brings more travel, food testing and more toys!

Love, Cinnamon

Cinnamon and Francesca's Excellent Christmas

Hi everybody. I sure hope you all had a Feliz Navidad because I sure did. It all began with sleeping in. That's my favorite thing to do! It was chilly outside so I wasn't in a hurry to get up. And, I didn't know that we would have presents! (But we did!)

Sleeping is a very good thing on a chilly day.

So after I woke up, we both went outside and checked for squirrel trails in the yard. We were very surprised when we noticed the scent and sound of a big dog right next door.

Now we are used to the teeny little dog named Cheri. But this was something new.

All of a sudden the dog charged the fence barking at us. Imagine, barking at us in OUR yard! So what did we do? We forgot all our Christmas kindness and charged the fence right back at him barking and baying. Francesca even summoned up her bouncy super powers and jumped at the fence. Soon he was gone. I guess we scared him!

After all that excitement it was time for Christmas breakfast. Well, if kibble can be considered Christmas breakfast. We ate it anyway.

We'd been eyeing these two presents
hoping they would be for us!

Then our owner went to the radio cabinet and picked up two turquoise gifts. We were getting really excited. They were for US!

She gave us the gifts and we tore into the wrappings.  As soon as we saw what was inside, we high-tailed it for our room carrying the gifts.

Francesca took hers to her bed to unwrap and I took mine under the table.

These were really GOOD gifts! And we didn't want to chance it that the big dog next door would see them and steal them!

So we got them totally unwrapped and I had a new moose toy that sqeaked. My old one got torn up because we both played with it all summer. And Francesca got a grey squirrel toy that squeaked. We love those squeaky toys. Also in the present were two new squeaky balls. But we were so excited about the toys, we ignored the balls.

Here's Francesca ripping into her present

Here I am with my new squeaky moose!

After we played with our toys for awhile, we got to go to the dog park! Everyone there said Merry Christmas to us. Francesca went squirrel hunting and I went around saying Merry Christmas to all the people. I was full of Christmas cheer and grateful for the gifts and the outing.

After that we went home to take a nap. The house was nice and warm and we enjoyed our nap and dreamed of Christmas dinner!

And we got just what we dreamed about! We had kibble topped with cut up chicken sausage. We had smelled the sausage earlier when our owner was making her special breakfast and had hoped there would be some for us. And there was!

After dinner we were having such a great time. We went into the TV room and played tug-o-war. We got all our toys out including the new ones. It was a great toy time!

Here we are playing. You'll notice how seriously I take this game.
And, I won!

By then I was getting really tired so I trotted off to bed. That's what I do when I'm sleepy. Francesca stayed up and then fell asleep with her head on our owner's lap. She's a big cuddle bunny. Me? not so much. She was full of Christmas cheer and ended her day just the way she wanted to... cuddling.

Francesca falls asleep after a great Christmas day.

So I think this was one of the best Christmases I have ever had. We got to do DOG THINGS all day. Isn't that the way it should be?

Love, Cinnamon

Cinnamon's Night Before Christmas

It was the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
(or a squirrel!)

I was in my cushy bed

And Francesca in hers

When all of a sudden
I heard such clatter
I rose to see what was the matter

And what to my eyes did appear?
A miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer!

Santa was making his rounds
To see all the good animals
And in his sleigh was something for us hounds!

He left us two presents in our home
One for me and one for Francesca
Christmas morning we'll find out
Whether it's toys, treats or a bone

So back to bed goes the hound
Dreaming of Christmas morn
There is such joy in our home
Where love and treats abound

A Happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night
Love, Cinnamon and Francesca

Wordless Wednesday: Using Super Photo for a Painting Effect

Francesca cuddles up!

Cinnamon goes shopping!

We made paintings out of photographs using a painting filter from Super Photo! You can do this if you have an iPad or iPhone.

Wordless Wednesday: Dog Park, Chasing Squirrels... then NAP!

Francesca: Hey, don't bother me during my nap!

It’s a day for the dogs at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona

I, Cinnamon, am getting tired of the rain here in Washington state. How about a trip to the desert?

January 23^rd, 2016 is the date set for a special Dogs’ Day in the Garden at the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden. Wander the desert paths with your best friend from 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

I'd love to walk here!
(Photo Credit: Adam Rodriguez/DBG)

This is one special day set aside for dogs and their families. Spend time in the “doghouse” with vendors sampling the best dog food and treats. Sit and listen to special presentation ranging from health dogs treats to keeping dogs safe in the desert environment.

Go for a walk on Garden trails, heel for family photo opportunities, and participate in craft activities for both children and dogs. Don’t miss this tail-wagging good time at the Desert Botanical Garden!

Of course dogs must be on a leash and remain on marked trails. If you’ve ever had an encounter with a cholla like I have, you’ll know how important this is!

The Desert Botanical Garden also asks that dogs be up-to-date on all vaccinations and registrations. Handlers are required to pick up after their dogs and properly dispose of their waste. Desert Botanical Garden reserves the right to refuse entry to or remove any dog thought to be dangerous to other dogs or visitors. Dogs will only be admitted to the Garden between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

It’s not free. Even dogs are charged $4.00 each. Humans pay the regular admission. Oh yes, the $4.00 is donated to the Arizona Humane Society. That’s a good thing!

More Information
Desert Botanical Garden Website  

Farolitos or Luminarias: My homies discuss

You probably know that I was rescued from the streets of Santa Fe New Mexico. I was taken to this shelter where I was adopted. I speak Spanish. I know the customs of my homeland. No one here in the Pacific Northwest does. What do you call these lights? My homies discuss:



Love, Cinnamon (Canela)

Wordless Wednesday: Cinnamon's Dishes

How do you like my dishes?

Cinnamon Weighs In

Well, today I went over to the vet's office to weigh in. I have been on a diet since November 20th. My meals are smaller and I get less treats. It's tough!

I've been doing a lot of this!

I also committed to exercising more. I planned to go on one 5K volksmarch per week plus frequent trips to the dog park and lots of playing with Francesca.

So, today, after being really sedentary during our rainstorms, I weighed in. What did I weigh? Well, I'll tell you in a bit. First of all I want to tell all about how I did or did not stick to my diet plan and give you the reasons.

1. Food: That went well. I didn't like it.
2. Dog Park: I don't think we made it to the dog park very often. Recently my owner got sick with flu symptoms after she had a flu shot and just laid on the couch alot. Then once she was better it rained and rained so we didn't go outside much.
3. Volksmarches: Well, we didn't go on even one volksmarch. I attribute that to my owner's workload and the weather. Goal not met.

So after reviewing my diet and exercise plan, how much do you think I lost? You'll be surprised....

I GAINED A POUND AND A HALF!

I am so upset! After the weighing in, we went to the dog park and I did two laps to work off my frustration. Grrrrrrrr!

It's Flooding and We Got New Raincoats!

Well, you all know that Cinnamon and I live in Southwest Washington right across the river from Portland, Oregon, right? Well, in case you haven't heard, we've had so much rain that it's flooding in some places, including streets near me. So we've been sticking close to home lately.

I don't mind the rain. I pretty much ask to go outside whenever I'm bored. That can be about 10 times in an hour! So my owner has let me out in the rain and has a pile of wet towels to show for it.

Ding Dong... the doorbell rang. And on our porch a package appeared. It was from Lands' End. We opened up the package and saw two yellow coats. Oh no! Cinnamon had told me about coats. She doesn't like them. But our owner thought having us wear raincoats would save on towels.

I was the first to try the yellow and blue coat on because Cinnamon was sulking in the corner. She knew what was coming. It fit perfectly. It is held on by velcro. Now I wasn't sure I liked it when I first went outside. But when I realized that my whole back was kept dry, I decided to allow the wearing of the raincoat. I posed for a picture in my new coat:

Here I am looking all nautical.

Then Cinnamon tried hers on. She wasn't pleased. Here is her picture (check out her expression!)

"Get this thing offa me", she said

So we walked around the yard trying to get used to the coats. Miracle of miracles, both of us found out that we weren't so wet. We could stay out longer and sniff around for wet squirrels and such!

Here we are all suited up for whatever the storm will bring.
Cinnamon thinks her coat makes her look fat!

When we went back inside, our owner took the jackets off and hung them up to dry. No towels! So that's my rainy day story.

Love, Francesca

I'm so Impressed! - Hounds Working the Scene at San Bernardino Shooting

Look who's leading the way!

Did anyone see this? I was lazing around with my toy when my owner turned on the TV. Terrible news in San Bernardino, California. Another mass shooting. Why humans can't do anything about these crimes is beyond me. After all, they are supposed to be so smart and all powerful.

Anyway, enough human slamming. I looked up from my toy and saw this. A Treeing Walker Coonhound just like Francesca was leading the deputies as they marched to the crime scene. And behind the TWC was a black lab like my cousin, Samson!

And then I found this! The sheriff's department has a Bloodhound Unit, which includes two bloodhounds and two deputies. They assist law enforcement in locating missing children, adults, objects, and suspects who flee.  Bloodhounds are one of the oldest breeds of dogs that hunt by scent.  Along with the efficiencies a dog can provide, the Bloodhound, in particular, is an adorable sight and they draw the attention and affection of most people.

Well, I suggest they get on it and name a "Coonhound Unit." It's evident they value us!

Love, Cinnamon

Wordless Wednesday: Rainy Day Means Indoor Play

I'm so bored. Please play with me!