Raising Romero

June 8, 2011

141 - One Puppy's Trash ...

... could be your treasure! Romero has been helping us with the final preparations for our garage sale this Saturday - stop by if you're in the area. All funds raised will go to Dog Guides Canada in support of Romero.

Black lab Romero is decked out in his green Future Dog Guide jacket and thick red leash, sitting near the front of our open garage. He looks unusually young in this picture, with his head slightly tilted and his wide brown eye staring curiously towards the camera. Behind Romero is a large pile of STUFF stacked on and around a big plastic table. These items have all been sorted and priced for our upcoming garage sale. The pile contains, among other things, a red metal desk chair, a blender and other kitchen supplies, two bags of kids' golf clubs, shoes and boots, a Barbie suitcase, a humidifier, a push lawnmower, boardgames, a small blue bookshelf, and many miscellaneous decorations and office supplies.

June 7, 2011

140 - Long Day At The Office

Black lab Romero is lying on the beige tile floor of my office near the corner of the L shaped wooden desk. In the nook behind him are several translucent green plastic containers filled with puppy jackets. Romero's thick red leash is looped over the back of my empty pinkish-red office chair. There is a brown dog bed at the foot of the chair, but Romero prefers to keep cool on the tile, and to make things difficult for me by lying directly behind the wheels of my chair.

June 6, 2011

139 - Stuffed Kong

Black lab Romero is lying in his open wire crate on a comfy bed of a brown mat covered with a bunched up red blanket. The crate is on the white carpet of my bedroom, and is surrounded by a cloud of black dog hair! Romero is happily working away at a medium-sized black Kong that is stuffed with wet dog food and frozen. Romero's tongue is out, licking the opening of the Kong. His ears are pulled back and his eyes are closed in bliss.

Yum!

June 5, 2011

138 - Outdoor Baseball

On a sunny day, Black lab Romero is lying near the bottom of a grassy hill with a baseball diamond behind him. The baseball game is in progress, and a group of pitchers in blue jerseys can been seen chatting just beyond the short metal fence that surrounds the field. A few spectators are leaning up against the fence watching the game. Romero himself is a very happy baseball fan. He's facing towards the camera, looking slightly down and to the right, with a huge smile on his face and his long front legs stretched out in the grass in front of him. He's wearing his green Future Dog Guide jacket, a blue and grey patterned collar, and a black leather leash.

The Blue Jays were out of town today, so Romero and I headed to a different ball park in Toronto to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League play a double header.

June 4, 2011

137 - Hand Height

Romero has just reached the perfect height - I can pet him without bending down!

Black lab Romero and I are at the top of a mint-green carpeted staircase. I am standing and Romero is sitting on my left side in the heel position. The photo is taken from my chest level looking down at Romero. His blue and gray patterned collar is clipped to a thick red leash that is slung over my shoulder. My left hand is resting on Romero's head - he's just at that perfect height where I don't have to bend down to reach him. Romero is looking up towards my face. He looks rather comical with his big brown eyes rimmed in white and his helicopter ears sticking out from his head. With the angle of the photo, his front paws look tiny and delicate at the end of his long legs, and they are slightly turned out like a ballerina.

June 3, 2011

136 - 7 Months, 54.6 Lbs

Seven month old black lab puppy Romero is sitting on the metal platform of a vet clinic scale, raised about an inch or two from the floor. He is looking forward but with his body facing slightly to the left. He has a gentle face, his dark brown eyes looking pleadingly into the camera. His head is slightly tilted and his right ear rests against his head while his left ear is slightly folded back and sticks out to the side. He is wearing a collar patterned with blue and gray squares. To the right of the picture is a wood-paneled counter, and Romero is now about 3/4 of the height of it. The scale's display is mounted on the wall well above the counter, and it reads 54.6.

June 2, 2011

135 - Garage Sale Prep

Black lab Romero is lying on the floor of our bedroom in front of a very big cardboard box filled with items for our upcoming garage sale. Only Romero's head and shoulders are visible. He is looking slightly off to the side with his silly left ear folded back against his head. The objects in the box are pretty random, but visible is a chair for a doll, a stack of clothes on top of a blue pillow, and a big white stuffed bunny sitting in a small wastebin decorated with pictures of poodle puppies. Behind Romero and the box are two bookshelves filled with books.

We'll be continuing our fundraising for Romero's "scholarship" with a garage sale this month. Romero and I are looking forward to getting this big box of STUFF out of our room.

June 1, 2011

134 - Are We Going for a Walk or What?

Black lab Romero is lying on the white tile floor at the top of a small staircase leading to the front door. He is staring seriously into the camera and has his front paws hanging over the top step. Behind him on the left side of the picture, collie Tanner is relaxing in the corner right by the door, also staring inquisitively into the camera. A pair of running shoes is sitting by the door, all ready for an evening walk.

May 31, 2011

133 - Monster Under The Bed

This picture is taken while I am sitting on my bed. Black lab puppy Romero is tucked partly under the bed, with his tail and backend curling out onto the white carpet, and his nose poking up towards the blue blankets that are hanging off the bed. Black lab Dallas is lying nearby, with her right arm and shoulder visible in the bottom left corner of the photo. At the top of the picture is a set of clear plastic drawers containing my dog supplies. You can see various dog toys including a stuffed tiger in the bottom drawer. Romero's red leash and green jacket are resting just beside the drawer.

May 30, 2011

132 - New Friends

This picture is taken inside the Blue Jays shop at the Rogers Centre. The main focus of the picture is a large, probably 6 foot tall, statue of Ace, the Blue Jays Mascot. Ace is a Blue Jay who wears a white Jays jersey and blue and white running shoes. Black lab puppy Romero is lying down on Ace's right, and his friend Rafiki is sitting on Ace's left. Rafiki is a slightly younger black lab puppy with brindle markings. Both dogs are wearing their green future dog guide jackets. Behind the dogs and Ace are several tables and shelves covered in Blue Jays merchandise, and various racks of Jays shirts and jerseys.

Romero poses with friends "Ace" and Rafiki before the game

Our Seat: Section 524A, Row 4, Seat 106

Our Record: 5-3

Memorable Moments:

- Taking Romero's friend Rafiki to his first baseball game

- Red and white hats for Memorial Day (even though it isn't Memorial Day in Canada)

- Only one Blue Jay home run (Jayson Nix), but lots and lots of Blue Jay hits

- 11 batters batted in the bottom of the 4th inning (scoring 7 runs - most in one inning this season)

I knew going in that we'd see history - either Jojo Reyes would get his first win as a Blue Jay, or else he'd break the record for most consecutive starts without a win. Thankfully, it was the former! And a complete game for him at that! I have been a fan of Jojo since he joined the team, so it was great to be part of the crowd cheering for him and also to see his teammates congratulating him after the game.

May 29, 2011

131 - Walk For Dog Guides

Black lab Romero is sitting on the stone pathway out front of the Dog Guides training facility. He is wearing his green future dog guide jacket and a red and black training leash. He is looking very proper, sitting up straight and facing the camera, with his eyes like little black marbles. Above him, hanging from the overhang of the red brick building is a large white banner advertising the Purina Walk for Dog Guides.

Romero didn't get to participate in the Walk for Dog Guides this year (still recovering from his neuter) but he did get to pose with the sign once all the excitement died down.

May 28, 2011

130 - Lucky Pennies

Black lab puppy Romero is lying on the floor of my bedroom at the end of my bed. He is on the left side of the picture, wearing his Blue Jays collar, and looking slightly up and off to the side. His left ear is sticking out of the side, while his right one hangs down beside his head. Next to Romero are 4 jars full of coins. The first is a big white bucket with DONATIONS written across the front. The lid is resting against the bucket. It has a whole cut in the centre, and PENNIES FOR PUPPIES written around it. Next is a big blue Maxwell coffee can. Finally, a big peanut butter jar filled with pennies, and a smaller jam jar filled with silver coins.

A successful penny and bottle drive left us with several jars full of coins. Off to the bank tomorrow!

Thanks to everyone who donated, and thanks also to yellow lab Expo who joined me for the event since Romero is still resting up from his surgery (I figured if I couldn't take a dog named after a baseball player I'd take one named after a former baseball team).

May 27, 2011

129 - Penny Drive Prep

Black lab Romero is lying on the floor of the bedroom next to a big white bucket with a lid and a handle. The lid has a round hole cut in the centre, and around that is written Pennies for Puppies. A large label on the front of the bucket says DONATIONS Thanks for your support! Below that is a panoramic picture of eight black and chocolate labrador puppies wearing brightly coloured bandanas. The bucket is also decorated with red heart stickers (the same ones that come with Heartguard medication). Romero is facing the camera and leaning slightly away from the bucket with his front legs stretched out in front of him. He is wearing his blue and gray Blue Jays collar. His sleepy brown eyes are partially hidden in shadows. His floppy velvet ears are hanging down on either side of his head.

We're nearly ready for our penny and bottle drive tomorrow ... here, Romero poses with our newly-decorated penny bucket.

May 26, 2011

128 - Recovery

This is a close-up of black lab Romero's head resting on my leg as we cuddle on the floor together. We are sitting on a cream-coloured carpet and he is lying on his side with his head resting on my left knee. I am wearing beige corduroy pants and a red sweatshirt. My left hand is reaching down and rubbing Romero's head. Romero's brown eyes are slightly open, he looks quite relaxed.

I'm making sure Romero gets lots of rest and TLC as he recovers from his neuter.

May 25, 2011

127 - Boxes of Bottles

I will be conducting a bottle and penny drive in my neighbourhood this weekend for Romero's sponsorship (and am continuing to collect bottles and change throughout the year ... let me know if you have any to donate!).

Black lab puppy Romero is posing in front of a pile of empty bottles which are waiting to be returned to the Beer Store. This picture is taken in the garage, where the cement floor is covered with streaks of paint. Romero is in the foreground, attached to a red leash and looking up into the camera. His silly left ear is sticking straight out to the side as usual. Behind him are two boxes containing 24 beer bottles, several smaller boxes of beer bottles, and about twelve loose wine bottles.

Here, Romero is posing with the bottles that we have collected so far ... this is what about $11 in returns looks like!

May 24, 2011

126 - Neutered

6 month old black lab puppy Romero is lying on a big, light pink fleece blanket in one of the large recovery kennels at Dog Guides, just after having his neuter operation. Romero is still a little out of it - his ears are pinned back against his head and he looks like he's feeling pretty sorry for himself. His blanket is all bunched up around him on top of the white tile floor of the kennel. The walls of the kennel are covered in larger beige tiles, and there is a glass door at the front of the kennel. In this picture, the door is unlatched and opened in towards Romero, so that you can see his reflection in the glass.

May 23, 2011

125 - He Can Sleep Anywhere (and Anyway!), Kennel Edition

Black lab puppy Romero is sleeping upside down in his wire kennel. The kennel is up against the blue painted wall in the corner of my bedroom, next to a cylindrical brown laundry hamper and a wooden bookshelf. Romero has gotten himself into what appears to be the most uncomfortable position possible. He has pushed both his blankets up against the walls of the crate, and is lying flat on his back on the metal floor of the crate. His head is resting near a small metal bowl and a bone. His tail is sticking out the corner of the crate closest to the camera, and his back legs are resting against the bars of the crate. His front legs are tucked against his body like a kangaroo. Somehow, he finds this comfortable and is currently fast asleep.

May 22, 2011

124 - Covered In Confetti

Black lab puppy Romero is lying on his side on the ground amid the blue plastic seats in the 500 level at the Rogers Centre. His head is lifted off of the floor, looking up into the camera. He is wearing his Blue Jays collar, red leash, and slightly dirty green Future Dog Guide jacket. His jacket and shiny black fur are sprinkled with small white paper circles, which have been punched out of All Star game voting ballots.

Our Seat: Section 519, Row 8, Seat 102

Our Record: 4-3

Memorable Moments:

- Second game in a row, and third in four days!
- A family affair ... all 6 of us (including Romero) attended the game today
- Punching our All-Star Game ballots ... those are the white dots all over Romero in the photo
- Two Blue Jay home runs
- An exciting bases-loaded bottom of the ninth, though unfortunately nothing to show for it

May 21, 2011

123 - Baseball With A Side Of Bagpipes

Black lab puppy Romero is intently watching a bagpiper playing outside the Rogers Centre. Romero is in the bottom left corner of the picture, wearing his Blue Jays collar, black leash, and green Future Dog Guide jacket. He is facing away from the camera, looking across a wide dirt path to the male piper, who is dressed in full scottish attire including a green jacket and kilt. On the right side of the photo there is a shadow of a photographer who is capturing a shot of Romero. Directly behind the bagpiper is a small white canopy tent set up as a first aid station, with a couple people sitting on chairs inside. Behind that, a big white bus is parked on the road that goes around the stadium. A few people are walking along the sidewalk in front of the road. Across the street is a larger white tent that is set up as a temporary theatre, and behind that four tall apartment buildings can be seen against the clear blue sky.

Our Seat: Section 525, Row 14, Seat 101

Our Record: 4-2

Memorable Moments:

- No guests today, just my pup and I enjoying an afternoon game
- Our first interleague game (it would be more exciting if the pitchers hit)
- A slow start for the Jays, but a come-from-behind win in the end

- 2 more homeruns from the major league HR leader Jose Bautista!

- And for good measure, another from Junel Escobar too
- Some post-game entertainment outside the park, including the bagpiper above

May 20, 2011

122 - Too Tired

A very sleep black lab puppy Romero is curled up on his dog bed at the end of a long day. The thick rectangular dog bed is light mint green on the side, and beige with a leafy pattern on the top. Romero is lying right in the centre with his head resting on his front paws. His eyes are half closed with just a sliver of brown showing, and his soft black ears flop on either side of his face. A textured yellow nylabone ring toy is resting against Romero's front paws, just near his head. He's too tired to chew on it anymore!