PAREIDOLIA | SUSAN PHILLIPS

During the last days of 2005, a young blue cattle dog found herself alone in the world until she was picked up and hauled to the Louisburg, NC pound -- frequently a worse fate than being a stray. She was driven through the county landfill gates to the pound building and spent the holidays on a cold cement floor, wet with disinfectant.

Members of a local rescue group took her photo and posted her on Petfinders, where her plight was documented on the ACD-L and plans were made for her transport out of state to a proper foster family. That plan was interrupted within days of her release from pound custody when she proved herself to be beautiful, charming, of excellent temperament and exceptionally entertaining to the local pack that bailed her out of jail. She never made it across the state line.

April 1, 2007

Zeff eviscerates the Grinch to celebrate her second birthday. The day bed's quilts have been
replaced by a tarp (See photos below). She loves the crackling noise when she rampages
across it.

January 3, 2007

December 25, 2006

September 23

Uh oh. It's been six months since I posted a Zephyr update, largely owing to the fact that we have been under attack during that time by the massive amounts of shredded detritus that Zeff has produced. No roll of paper towels left unguarded on the counter or hapless stuffed animals, purchased for a quarter at the flea market, has been left unscathed. She has learned the DropItDammit command very well but she is left to her own devices occasionally and does not fail to entertain herself during those times. (See her efforts at quilt modification below and notice that she is not merely charmingly using it as a coverlet.)

We no longer see evidence of her former life. The dog that preferred spending time in the backyard is now the first one at the door, and when she and Smokey were left out for a few hours on cool days this week, she was overjoyed to see us. There was no casual Hey, How Ya Doing? greeting when called back in.

(Click photo for larger image)

March 4

The counter surfing has continued unabated, and there is what we are attributing to an adolescent reluctance to accept responsibility for the act, or even the slightest hint of understanding that it is a felony. Maybe we're not saying it properly. Perhaps she doesn't understand: "Zephyr, nobody likes a thief."

So we made the decision to once again enrich PetsMart by buying one of their Snappy Trainers, an old-fashioned mousetrap made PC with the addition of a plastic flap that should surprise the perpetrator without causing injury.

We haven't tried it out yet. Zephyr stole it from me as soon as I got home with it. Yes, I took it back and attempted to assemble it, but I'm waiting for the right time to set up the ambush properly. What I imagine will happen, though, is that she will be momentarily surprised by the snap, and then delighted by the new toy.

Feb. 27

We thought we were being funny when we ordered Zeff's ID tag with special tagline (see below). Until, that is, she trotted in tonight with the kitchen scissors she stole off the counter.

Today was the day the cattle dog head swiveled around and firmly and finally snapped into place. She repeatedly stole things off the kitchen counter, including a cup of chopped apple that she skimmed off the cup of carrot below it -- both waiting to go in a muffin recipe.

She had the last of her puppy shots today, including Bordatella and she didn't get enough exercise, but there seemed to be a definite change in her behavior for the worse. And worse, too, she showed absolutely no remorse when caught in the act.

It's time for a penny can, and if that doesn't work, mouse traps.

Jan. 26, 2006: In a little more than three weeks she has received an official nickname (Zeff) and a handmade name tag, featuring her very own "tagline." She also has her first scar, a spot just outside her eye where the skin is missing. That would be Smokey's M.O. Both the scar and tag are featured prominently in the photo; neither seems to impress her much.

Jan. 17, 2006: Beginning Week Three

Zephyr had her first photo today taken as a bonafide member of the family. She is not as much of a camera ham (yet) as the other two.

After an enthusiastic welcome, Mars the red dog spent last week with a couple of scratched corneas from all the roughhousing in the underbrush and a bit of a bruised ego when the possibility occurred to her that she was no longer the most beautiful, brilliant dog in the house.

Over the weekend she regained her mental status as supreme leader and resumed eager
play with Zephyr. When trying to take the photos (below), the official pack photographer frequently found herself focusing on one set of dogs at play but ended up with a different pair in the photo.

The saga of the traveling canard began here in Apex; the lovely duck is still on her goodwill duckdog tour of the states. However, the ultimate alpha male of the pack brought home this sad, goofy-eyed imposter one day recently, and it was decided that it would remain in seclusion. Zephyr found it on its hanger and pulled it to the ground. She is not particularly pleased with the reward for her curiosity.

Week Two:

Zephyr and the formerly dog-aggressive Smokey (almost 11) have become one two-headed
monster of almost constant play. Smoke had no idea that another dog could just smell and
taste so good and be so open to his advances.