Site Content

Raffi, The German Short Hair Pointer   Years ago, before I moved to the Palace Pier,  I had a beautiful German Short Hair Pointer. These are one owner, fine-tuned hunting dogs, very smart, sometimes difficult to train, and control, especially  in the Fall when they instinctually start sniffing the air  and want nothing better than to run free in the woods after any kind of game.   Nevertheless, they are the best house pet. They become very attached and protective of their owner and love to play with them and their family just like children. They are on the big side but as pets think they are lap dogs. One day while I sat reading by the fireplace, up came Raffi, jumped into my lap, put one paw on my right shoulder then the other paw on the left, gave a deep sigh and settled in. Just like a child! But…..  On two occasions,  Raffi showed her breed‘s temperament that sadly led to my giving her away to friends who owned a farm. Living in a condo is not fair to these beautiful dogs.  When I moved from the country to my condo, I would leave her alone for some hours with food and toys until I returned. She did become used to this. She also learned to „answer“ the phone. Well, she didn’t really answer it but each time the phone rang she would run to it.  Then she figured out that with a certain number of rings, soon after, someone might come to the door.  Therefore, off she went to the door and waited. Imagine! Move over Pavlov. Sadly, this fun, at first,  became pay back. When I was away, I’d return to some misdemeanour or other.  Covering things with plastic did not help. She made sure to shred it all and more.  I then began leaving her with my parents. They had a big back yard and even lived next to a nice green space on a ravine. They loved taking Raffi out on walks. She loved it there, sniffing out rats near a creek and chasing after squirrels. All was fine, at first. Then it became more and more difficult for them to keep up with her and when off leash to get her back.  One day while playing in the enclosed backyard she decided to run away. She jumped a five foot fence!  Off she went.  My parents looked for hours in the usual place but no Raffi. They were devastated.  Evening came and a phone call.  (I must add here that Raffi being a breed dog was tattooed and registered.) They were my emergency contact for Raffi. When I returned they told me everything. Off I went to the address given to get her.  Where had she gotten to?  Down the creek and up the ravine, through the bushes and onto the next neighbourhood where I drove to for about 10 minutes looking for the address. If you know Etobicoke then you have an idea. I knocked on the door and was welcomed by very nice people and what a story. Raffi, it seems, arrived at their backyard wet and dirty where the children were having a ball playing in the water sprinkler.  It was a hot summer evening. She just joined in the fun. They loved it! They played and played.  As it grew dark, mother opened the door to call them and before she could do anything, the dog rushed in past her and up on the couch.  Well! What a surprise. They couldn’t believe it.  There was this dog making herself at home in their living room. It wasn’t until they dried and fed and couldn’t stop hugging her, of course, that they discovered the number tattoo in her ear. Sadly they knew they must try to find the owners. And so I arrived to pick her up. As I listened to her story, she just jumped and yelped all over me.  As much as they wanted to keep her, how could I possibly leave her?  I thanked them and off we went.  I had serious thinking to do. Raffi could not go on living in a condo, no matter how big and not in the City no matter how green.  It was no place for this dog. I could not move. So…. Luckily a family member with a large farm and children who loved animals volunteered to take her in.  Off we went to visit. They got on „like a house on fire“. When it was time to leave, they came to the door to wave good-bye.  There was Raffi sitting right beside them on the door step looking at me. She just stared and stared but did not move. She knew and I knew she had found her place.  What’s a smart dog!

It was meant to be: After losing our 14 yr old Boston Terrier, I have made a promise to myself: "no more dogs, EVER!". I suffered and cried inconsolably for weeks when Lola passed away at the beginning of the COVID-19 isolation period in 2021. Months went by and my son started to talk about puppies, looking at pictures, and reading some information about different dog's breeds. I was still very clear, I did not want a new puppy. In his search, my son became clear that he did not want a chihuahua. I had a long list of reasons why a new puppy was not a good idea: my son was leaving to go to University soon, training the new puppy and taking care of it was going to be completely my responsibility. Most importantly, I did not want to feel the pain of losing another dog. My son had met different chihuahua dogs and did not like their personalities. He did not want a dog that was so little and fragile. I got a call from a friend asking me to go over to her house because she had a friend over in her house . She wanted me to go over and see the two puppies her friends brought. She was thinking about taking one of them and wanted some support. I asked my son to come with me to see the puppies, before we left, we both agreed that we were not going to bring home another dog. We went only to help and support our friend.  It took around 5 minutes after we arrived and met the two puppies to realize that Chico was coming home with us! He jumped on my son's foot right away as if he was going hunting for a giant. He was playful and funny and completely took over my son's attention. He was as big as my son's hand but was not afraid to play with him. Once in his arms, I knew the dog was coming home. Chico the chihuahua is now 9 months old and has completely melted our hearts. Every preconceived thought we had about having another dog or about chihuahuas disappeared immediately when we met him. I did not want another dog, my son did not want a chihuahua but we are both very happy with Chico in our home!

Before there was Lucci, there was Annie Page Mackey  A long long time ago, when I was thinking about retiring, I decided it was finally time to realize a lifetime dream and get me a dog!  I had been investigating this enterprise on my morning pre work walks to SunnySide for the last couple of years and had decided that a “Yorkie” was the one for me. Through one of these morning encounters I was introduced to a breeder in Pickering and one fine day I drove out for my interview.  After having passed the oral part of the exam I was allowed access to Annie. I remember her descending a staircase into the living room where she walked over to me, jumped into my lap and fell asleep. It had been love at first sight. She was mine, all 5 lbs. of her. After giving her her new legal name, Annie Page Mackey, I took her home to a condo across the city with big windows high in the sky.  Annie, who was one, had never been outside and as a first time dog owner this suited me fine. I placed 6 peepee pads around the condo, basically one in every room, and we went from there. After a couple of weeks I removed all the pads except for one beside the bidet, and the rest is history.  Annie Page had never been on a leash or even on walks, so it was a couple of weeks before she actually started to enjoy a “ walk”. Part of this process involved getting the pads on her feet toughened up.  She was the love of my life for 11 years and I suffered more than I could have ever imagined when she passed.  We went on many holidays together and most people will remember her as always being in my arms and a tongue that always hung out. Pics enclosed. She went to lots of barbecues in her large friendly backyard. Her nick name was “Annie Banannie”

After 6 month of mourning, Gary and I decided that a new baby was the only possible solution.  We found our Lucci on Kijiji, and suffice to say we rescued her. We picked her up up in Maple, Ontario, all 2-1/2 lbs. of her. She is a Morkie.  I remembered she was blondish with a little black beard and she was terrified. She slept that night between our pillows with four eyes watching over her. Very quickly she learned she was safe and in her forever home. Then she started her training programme. At first we had a few problems, but we were quick learners and soon fell into our routine. I remember her being able to walk under every piece of furniture we owned. Now she kinda swims.  She lets us know went it’s time to get up, usually around 5:30 am, then it’s off to the bathroom for the 3 of us before going into the living room to our two comfy arm chairs where she then smuggles in on her Dad’s lap for the next few hours until she decides she needs her walk outdoors. That is of course if it is not raining or snowing.  When she gets back, if its a sunny day, she will sunbathe on the ottoman in the living room front window, it’s like laying on a beach with the water in view. Failing that she will look for an available lap to pass the time until a phone rings or someone comes to the door. There is always something going on just outside her door. And if by chance the concierge should ring to announce a guest, and I don’t know how she differentiates the calls - but she does - she then proceeds to the front door bench where she sits barking until someone arrives, fully acknowledges her thru voice and pats and then they can enter. If you have experienced this you probably know that this process goes much smother if when entering you have a carrot. Upon entering the living room she will dash off to the den to retrieve a toy, ball or chew stick to impress you. If you stay and sit for a while she will periodically check you out from the ground or by walking along the back of the couch.  Lucci"s main job is to alert us to any activity in our hallway. A trip to the “dump” is an adventure. When visiting neighbours, upon exiting the elevator, we have only to say the name and she heads to the right door. At this point the door is usually unlocked and upon opening she stampedes thru the suite to make her presents known then races back to see that we are in tow.  A mid afternoon walk may be required.  Around 4:30 she lets us know its her dinner time, starting with a carrot, which is carried to the den carpet to eat.  Now it’s last walk for the day with the possibility of seeing some of her condo friends, both doggie and human.  Then it’s play ball time. This originates in the den and extends down the hall and continues until she stops bringing it back. Followed by her three finger dips of red wine from Dad.  Soon its bed time where we all snuggle in.  Then it starts all over again.  Lucci has never been left on her own, and never will be. She just passed her 9th Birthday, January 10, ( as far as we can recon). She knows a lot of words and we often have to resort to spelling and even this results in suspicious looks. She hates getting her face washed, but seems to love groomer, Laura, at PetPals.  She does not like to be brushed and allows only her Dad and one neighbour to stroke her tummy while laying on her back.  She does not liked to be petted but she loves to be kissed.  She hates wearing her coats, she would rather freeze.  She prefers big dogs to small and likes boy dogs way better than girls.  She loves to play fetch in the backyard, but only if there is an audience.  Of all her balls, she loves her green ball the best and of all her stuffed toys, she prefers her goose.  Everybody Loves Lucci!  PS. I just want everyone to know I love living at the Pier My neighbours all seem so happy to see me and some even let me stay overnight I love my big back yard and all the trails I get to explore on my walks along the waterfront. There are lots of squirrels, geese, swans and birds to watch. Lucci❤️