Clancy and The Blarney

Top o’ the Day from Roscoe O’Dog and Coco O’Dog! We’re taking over JerseyLil’s computer while she’s busy eating Irish chocolate to wish everyone good cheer on the Feast of St. Patrick!  In true Irish tradition, may the celebrating continue throughout the month of March, or until you run out of pints to drink and stories to tell.
  
Dogs are quite fond of St. Patrick. Legend has it that he chased away the snakes from Ireland, and we enjoy chasing reptiles and critters, too. 

Have you heard the story of the Irish dog named Clancy who came upon a leprechaun one glorious morning and had the most exhilarating chase of his life? Well, sit back with a pint and we'll tell you the tale.

Irish ancestor’s dog. Name lost to history but we’ll call him "Clancy."
(From Mannix/Rivers/Leonard Family Genealogy, circa early 1900s)

Once upon a charmed morning on the Emerald Isle in a place only glimpsed for brief moments when the mist of dawn lifts to reveal a golden sunrise, a handsome and spirited canine named Clancy was enjoying the start of a new day. It was shaping up to be a beautiful morning and Clancy's keen sense of smell could detect the aroma of breakfast sausages in the air. Lazily digging around in the green clover for dog bones he had earlier buried, Clancy suddenly sniffed out a wee man wearing a worn but bright top hat and smoking a clay pipe. What a surprise, it was a leprechaun. Startled, the leprechaun hurriedly ran away, puffs of smoke and bits of gold dust trailing behind him.

Excited by the thrill of the chase, Clancy ran after that swiftly fleeing leprechaun, over hill and dale, until he cornered the wee trickster at the end of the rainbow. Once there and cornered, the wee fellow was compelled, upon the oath of ancient laws, to hand over his pot of gold. Clancy's chase was rewarded, he had the pot of gold! Oh, but that's not the end of this dog's tale. 

Running happily through fields of shamrocks carrying his treasure, Clancy came upon a bushy-tailed red squirrel native to the land. Eyeing that shiny pot of gold, the squirrel began chattering loudly at Clancy, trying to get him to drop the gold and pursue a chase through the fields. Clancy pondered the situation...oh, how he loved a good squirrel chase, but he was not about to part with his hard-earned prize.  

Irish red squirrel (Clancy's nemsis)
(photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Determined not to give up on the much-desired gold, the clever squirrel then claimed to have a tasty stash of corned beef-flavored dog bones hidden among the shamrocks. That got Clancy's attention; he was hungry after chasing the fleet-footed leprechaun over hill and dale. While Clancy was momentarily distracted by the thought of delicious corned beef-flavored bones, the squirrel quickly grabbed that pot of gold from Clancy and ran off, chattering away with glee and waving his bushy, blow-dried tail behind him. There was no stash of dog bones to be found. Clancy had been tricked…by a squirrel. That old squirrel was full of the blarney!

Feeling dejected and about to bark at someone, Clancy brooded in his dog house, then wandered over to the local Watering Bowl Pub to drown his sorrows. While lapping a pint and exchanging miseries with his canine buddies, he suddenly caught a glint of something out of the corner of his eye. Curious, he sniffed around and "Praise be to St. Paddy," there in the corner of the room was the pot of gold!

After running off with Clancy's treasure, the wily squirrel had scurried over to the Pub to rest and celebrate with a pint. Having a bit too much of the celebrating, the squirrel meandered off accidentally leaving the gold behind. So Clancy got his paws on that pot of gold again...that lucky dog! 

And that's no blarney tale!   

May your dog bones be plenty; May your troubles be few.
May the paw-fect good fortune of the Irish Dog be with you!

An original fable ©2013 JerseyLils2Cents

Leprechaun image from public domain clipart

Meet my Sweet (and Smart!) Adopted Pups!

I've had three dogs in my life, all of whom have been adopted. When I was younger and single, I had cats, so I am fond of cats, too. My cats passed on many years ago and are now in that Great Catnip Garden in the Sky. Now I'm very happy with my dogs, and my very first one, adopted in 1999 and still with us, is Roscoe. In 2009, we adopted Coco as a companion to Roscoe (and us!) when our husky-mix Princess passed away. I am joining in Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue and sharing photos and stories of each one.

This Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue event is on July 23, 2012, but every day a dog or cat is in need of a forever home, so please check this link for information anytime. The heart you save adopting a pet may be your own!

Roscoe

Roscoe is a collie/shepherd/chow mix adopted as a puppy from an animal shelter in 1999 after he was found abandoned and crying in an alley. Even though he was a puppy, he had already been returned once to the pound before we adopted him. The previous adoptive couple returned him because he was so scared of everything, all he did was shake and cry, and they didn't know what to do. Roscoe just needed lots of love, patience and quality time, and that's what my husband and I have given him. In return, he has given us years of love and companionship, and taught us how to play and have fun!

When Roscoe was a young pup, he chased squirrels all over the yard, loved to play ball, liked to dive in his water bowl tossing the ball and splashing the water (so entertaining!), and once ate half a Frisbee...lol! Now Roscoe is 13 years old with arthritis and some health issues, and although he can't chase squirrels around the yard the way he used to when he was young, he gives them a good stare and a bark just to let them know he's still boss of the yard! He will always be my sweet baby!

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Coco

Coco is a German shepherd mix and was adopted at age 7 from the animal rescue group, PAW (Partnership for Animal Welfare) at a Petco Adoption Fair in February 2009. She had been found abandoned in the yard of a vacant home and lost nine teeth trying to gnaw her way out of the wooden fence surrounding that yard. Someone heard her cries and took her to the PAW rescue group. She was very malnourished and ill with digestive problems and Lyme disease. When we saw her at the adoption fair, she was very skinny and withdrawn. We looked in her sweet eyes and knew we wanted to take her home. Plus, we had brought Roscoe with us to the Petco adoption fair and he liked her right away. We were looking for a companion for him after our Princess (see below) had passed away.

Within a short time, with love, good nutrition and veterinary care, Coco gained weight, joined Roscoe playing ball and running around the yard, and she started to trust again. We could tell she had been abused because when we first got her, she would cower whenever she saw anything with a handle like a mop or broom. Now long-handled objects don't frighten her anymore. All she needed was a forever home to bring out her good-natured, affectionate and playful personality.

Coco is thriving, a real sweetheart, and I call her my "Happy Dancer" because she jumps around and wags her tail whenever I turn on music. Oh, she is a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, of course!

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Princess

RIP my sweet Princess! She was special. Princess was an Alaskan husky-mix rescued at age 8 when I spotted someone apparently dumping her off at the cul-de-sac where I live! From my kitchen window, I saw a man leading a dog out of his truck and she had no collar or leash. I went out there and he looked at me sheepishly and said he was just letting her out to do business, and that he was on his way to the pound with her because he had to move. When I looked at her, I could tell she was an older dog, her fur was matted, she was full of fleas and ticks, and seemed lethargic (and where was her collar?!). Being taken to the pound in that condition, she would have never found a home to live out her days (plus I had my doubts that he was really taking her to the pound at all). So I asked her name, he said it was Princess, and I told him to leave Princess with me. I believe he was grateful that I was taking her (at least I hope so).

Princess got a good flea bath, a new pretty red collar, and she was taken to the Vet where she was treated for Lyme disease, arthritis and Cushing's disease. We gave her lots of love and had five wonderful years with her! Princess was a gentle, free spirit and she could run like the wind (and boy, did she love chasing rabbits and squirrels)! In December 2008, at age 13, she passed away and is now running around and having fun in the Great Doggy Park in the Sky. We miss her big time!

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Please support  Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue. This link has resources and a community of bloggers who love dogs and animals. Every year, millions of dogs (cats too) are euthanized or die of starvation or just plain heartbreak after being abandoned because not enough people are adopting pets through shelters and local rescue groups.

Some pets are brought to shelters because, even though their owners may have loved them, they are unable to continue caring for them due to illness, moving, or other life events. Others are brought to shelters and rescue groups after having been abandoned or abused. Please remember that rescued pets may have had a hard life and will need extra TLC. In return for your love and patience, you will receive joy, companionship and unconditional love.

Big Thanks for stopping by and Four Paws Up from Roscoe and Coco!

©2012 JerseyLil’s 2 Cents.
Dog photos (and text) are properties of JerseyLil's 2 Cents. Please do not copy without permission. Thanks!

Irish Dogs and the Blarney

Coco O'Dog and Roscoe O'Dog

Top o’ the Day from Roscoe O’Dog and Coco O’Dog! We’re taking over JerseyLil’s computer while she’s busy eating Irish chocolate to wish everyone (cats too!) a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Dogs are fond of St. Paddy. He chased away snakes from Ireland, and we chase reptiles and critters, too!

Have you heard the tale about the Irish dog named Lucky who came upon a leprechaun on a glorious St. Patrick’s Day? Lucky, a handsome canine with a toothy grin and keen sense of smell, sniffed out a leprechaun while digging around for dog bones. Excited by the thrill of the chase, Lucky ran after that leprechaun, over hill and dale, until he cornered the wee trickster at the end of the rainbow and got his paws on the pot of gold.

That’s right, Lucky found the pot of gold! Then he unwisely bartered with an ornery Irish squirrel who claimed to have a nice stash of dog bones hidden among the acorns. The squirrel grabbed that pot of gold from Lucky and ran off, chattering away and waving his blow-dried tail behind him. There was no stash of dog bones to be found. Lucky had been tricked…by a squirrel! That old squirrel was full of the blarney!

Feeling down and about to bark at someone, Lucky walked over to the Watering Bowl Pub to drown his sorrows. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw it…a glint of gold. Curious, he sniffed around and Praise Be to St. Paddy, there was the pot of gold! The ornery squirrel had scurried over to the Pub to celebrate with a pint of Guinness, scurried off and left the gold behind! So Lucky got his paws on that pot of gold again…that Lucky Dog!
And that’s no blarney tale!

May your dog bones be plenty; May your troubles be few.
May the paw-fect good fortune of the Irish Dog be with you!

©2012 JerseyLil’s 2 Cents. All rights reserved.