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No animals anywhere in sight!

After a few weeks of traveling through Portugal, I am once again astounded how few animals I encountered. A few stray cats in the Azores, and perhaps a dozen dogs in all. But they have that peculiar way of looking straight through me that I find so unsettling. I love traveling but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to go without animal contact for so long. Perhaps I'll start a new service for small dogs - Come With Me - for those who wish their dogs to become more culturally well rounded. A week in Aix de Provence, or 10 days touring the Greek Isles. Hmm, I may be on to something here...

Jimbo

I met Jimbo while staying at the incredibly beautiful Chamounix Mansion Hostel in Philadelphia. I think he's the owner. We met only briefly, but I could see that he works very hard. Greeting the guests takes up quite a bit of his time, and he seems to spend an equal amount of time frolicking in the grass. But his most important job is pictured above - herding the trio of resident cats - until they turn on him, of course.

Fact Finding Mission

As a strictly indoor cat, Bruno gathers information about the world outside wherever he can, willing to brave even the most dangerous of terrains in his quest for knowledge.

Nights in Potrero

Late on these balmy summer nights Daisy Dorables loves to relax while watching an old movie, but Lil' Nikki Snikki prefers being read to - nothing scary for these tender hearted girls though or they simply cannot sleep...

Ida

Although I've cared for Ida several times now, she never loses patience with my inferior ball throwing abilities. " Just watch me," she"ll say sweetly, gently wresting the ball from my hand. " With time and practice you're sure to improve. Don't worry, you'll get it." It's so heartening to be believed in...

Chloe Meets a New Friend

Ming

My former next door neighbor, the heartstoppingly handsome Ming, has hated me for years. As a serious guard dog, he would snarl and bark at me every time I passed his gate. So when his owner asked me if I would stay with him for two weeks this summer I said "Yes, certainly, I'd love to", because I try to accept what is offered to me in life, all the while ignoring those shivers running up the back of my legs whispering "Run as fast as you can and get the hell out of here!".

Ming suffered a stroke last year, he's deaf now and almost completely blind, but his sense of smell is still intact - and there's nothing wrong with his teeth either.

I spent the night before she left there, because, quite frankly, I was afraid to enter the house after her departure.

At every step of the way, I worried. When I left the house, would he let me come back in? - Yes.

Would he let me walk into the back of the house? The bedroom? The deck? Yes Yes Yes.

I quickly came to realize, Ming no longer hated me. In fact, he kinda liked me, and it was a pleasure to see his tail wag as I scratched his back and neck. I don't know what changed. Perhaps he's decided to retire from a long guard dog career - or maybe he just realized I was there for him. Within a matter of a couple of days we became good friends, although I admit I was always intensely aware of my ankles every time I had to pass by his slumbering body, lest he forget our new relationship.