Ceniza

There is yet another Oaxaca fair at Parque de la Paz, which if you don't know quite where it is,  it is on Avenida Itzaes across from Parque del Centennario (aka the zoo).   These fairs used to always be at Parque Santa Ana.  At some point in the last year and a half they were moved to Parque de la Paz, we don't know why.  Parking is especially difficult on the weekends when the ample parking normally available is chock full of cars for sale.  If you are looking for a used car this where you go on Saturday night or all day Sunday!

Back to my story - Tom and I decided to go over to the fair last night, after the evening started to cool things down a bit.  We walked around, looked at all the stuff, the same stuff they have every year and that you can buy cheaper in Centro it seems to me.   There was a time when these fairs were a great adventure and you good wrangle a good deal on some stuff.

We bought a ball of fresh Oaxaca cheese for Tom, and a bag of pan de nata cakes for breakfast.  If you haven't tried pan de nata I highly recommend you try it.  The texture is a bit like a scone, and the flavor is slightly sweet with hints of vanilla and something else...Nata by the way is the heavy film that forms over the top of whole milk when it sets up, so sort of like a condensed milk???   Well anyway, we bought cheese and pan de nata.    Then on the way home we stopped in at Chedraui to pick up a few things, we were both hungry and there was nothing really quick(not needing cooking, prepping, thinking about) to eat at home.  Now why we didn't just go out for something is one of those mysteries of 'US'.   We'd rather eat a bag of chips at home than go out most times!   Weird!

So anyway, again, Back to my story!    We get home, start putting our stuff away, and start assembling the stuff we bought to eat, now normally the first thing we do when we get home is open the back door and let the pups in - tonight however we well we just didn't, neither of us really know why.   So we assemble our sandwiches, Tom had deli meat with lettuce and tomato, and I had sliced roasted chicken with lettuce and tomato.   We take our sandwiches and drinks (iceWater) in to the TV and set up our trays; American Idol was already on so we wanted to see that.   THEN we finally open the door for the poopies!

OMG!    Now you've seen Ceniza and Tech - I blog about them a bit too much!  Well for some!

So here for your memory is Ceniza, - Normally

                                                  

Now look at this!

She got bitten/stung by something, we pried her mouth open to check her tongue and throat  which didn't seem to be blocked, then managed to get a Benadryl down her and held ice packs over her eyes and snout.  She really seemed to like the ice packs.   Or maybe it was the extra attention.  Tech was really concerned - it was very interesting to see the dynamic.  Tech hovered and prodded...at one point Tatie, the cat, walked in Tech herded him around and away from where Ceniza was laying.   Really interesting the dog dynamic.  Reminded me a bit of the video  going around and on the news about the dog in Japan that would not leave its wounded buddy.

Well anyway, Ceniza is much better today, she still has some swelling, but it is greatly diminished.

These photos don't quite capture what her face looked like, her lips and jowls were so thick and tight, her eyes were just slits, under her neck was all thick and lumpy...   but well what cha gonna do!

That 'uh-oh' moment explained

Friends who have owned and visited their house here in Merida for many years have FINALLY retired and have recently made the move along with their dogs Sam and Lucy.

They are settling in to their new lives and routines here and are both figuring out what stuff they want to do, where they want to expend their boundless energy and which projects appeal to them.. - additionally they are doing some remodeling of a few things at their house that were fine when you are here for just a few weeks but daggummit  just won't do for the long haul. So getting out of the house is a good thing right now; workers, debris, dust....

So anyway, to that end Deb decided she wants to assist with one of  the local dog shelters, evolucion.   As I already assist there we decided to go together 2 Saturdays ago.   

As soon as I said 'Let's go together' I knew, nay I felt a little something in my subconscience, a kick a tickle a warning - I don't know what exactly but someting was trying to warn me.  I didn't listen, ask my dear hubby, he'll tell you  - I don't always listen, and most especially not to him.

So anyway, I picked Deb up and off we went, sunscreen, bug spray, sweatbands, sunglasses, ball caps, water, coffee, and clean wipes. We were ready for anything!    

What ever happened to the days when you just walked out the door with a few bucks tucked into the back pocket of your jeans?

 

This was the first time I'd been back down to the dog shelter since we returned the two puppies we had fostered.  I've still been helping, but just in other ways.

I decided not to actively search out the puppies, just to go about the business at hand and hope for the best. My friend and I started about the business of herding dogs out of the way for the film crew, then on to scooping poop!

At one point I saw what might have been, but I wasn't 100% sure Netira - She had grown quite tall and lean, and all in just a month. I said her name and she responded enthusiastically to my voice and climbed all over me.  I thought Ceniza must have been placed because I couldn't see her anywhere.

As we continued on with our rounds we entered one area and I saw a scrawny little reddish grey puppy with ears plastered against its head and round sores all over.  A rather subdued little thing.  I don't know which of us had that uh oh moment, but I think we sort of recognized each other about the same time. I was in tears.    She has some sort of fungal infection and scaly patches all over, along with hair loss, her gums were pale, her eyes sad, and she just seemed a bit drawn out.  I tried to put her out of my mind and go about business. We worked our way through 2 more pens and were starting to refill watering stations when she came scurrying over for water.

I couldn't help myself.  I scooped her up and bawled like a baby. A short while later I saw her and her sister wrestling like they used to, it was heartening, then someone yelled at them to stop and they drifted apart.

I continued with watering and she came into my view again.  I looked at my friend and said we had to leave, and I was taking her with me. 
I searched out the founder, and advised her I was taking Ceniza home with me.

So here she is, at our house once again.  We don't want another dog, and especially a puppy, but what can you do?  She's had several baths already, and is getting slathered with a local remedy lotion for all types of skin problems. We are getting her back to 3 feedings a day, she is getting B-complex with the morning food, and fish oil with the dinner food. I am also treating the fungal infection with essential oils and getting her ears cleaned out.  We're trying to teach her to walk on leash, and to stop peeing on the patio. She will be going to the vet soon for a full eval.