Charlie

Charlie, looking skeptical : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Our dog, Charlie. He's a wonderful little model and isn't often put off by the camera, but occasionally he gives a look that seems to say, "Are you kidding me?! Another photo? Ugh."

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/2013

Tourists with a Dog

Janet, Charlie, and Maya at Plitvička Lakes : Plitvička, HZ

Just a few photos of us at Plitvička Lakes. We met a lovely American couple and chatted with them on the hike back up to the shuttle bus departure point. They were kind enough to take our photo.

Charlie with Maya at the Falls : Plitvička, HZ 

We arrived early and managed to be just ahead of these crowds on the other side of the lake : Plitvička, HZ

End of the hike. Ice cream break. Look at Charlie. His eyes and face say, 
"That sucked.  You people suck! Where's my ice cream? Can we go home now?" : Plitvička, HZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Animal Shoot

Lindan : Geneva, CH

Our friends, Jason and Everett, adopted a new kitten in their lives -- a Bengal named Lindan. We asked if we could shoot a few photos as Maya wants to include animals in her photography portfolio. A couple of shots here and more to be seen here.

The Maddix-Peachey's also have an African Grey Parrot named Olive. I took a few snaps of her, too.

Pretty Bird : Olive : Geneva, CH 

Light in the Eye : Olive : Geneva, CH

And, their house has an enormously fabulous garden, which Charlie loved! He had a good time, too.

Fetch! : Charlie : Geneva, CH 

Roll! Roll! Roll! : Charlie : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/2012

Charlie's Perspective

Underside : First, CH

When you're only 8" tall (20 cm), your perspective is pretty low. Charlie is quite a trooper when it comes to going up and down various Alpine elevations. These are just a few photos of the view from his level.

Aspirational : Schrekfeld, CH

Heading down... : Between Schrekfeld and Bort, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/11

Handsome Boy

Charlie : At Paddy's Pub : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

We went to dinner at Paddy's Pub the other night and Charlie went with us. Compared to what he looked like when we first got him, he's turned out to be quite the handsome boy. He is, in a word, elegant.

Six months ago...

This is what he looked like when we got him in February. He was malnourished and looked haunted. Now, he's healthy, happy, bright-eyed, and waggy-tailed!


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Charlie Naps...

Charlie naps on my lap with his head on the armrest of the couch : Ferney, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

Lookin' Good...

On Lead : Versoix, CH

Compared to how he looked a month and a half ago, when we brought him home, Charlie is now doing a lot better. He's gained a kilo plus, he's been neutered and had his dew claws removed, he gets walked daily and is fed regularly. In general, he's a much happier dog. In this picture, he's checking out some horses and donkeys in an adjacent field. To see more photos, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/11

Charlie's Level

Charlie's level : Prevessin, FR

Yesterday, we took Charlie out to a field in Prevessin so he could run around in the open. One of my criticisms of France is, they don't have parks where you can take your dogs, because they don't have clean-up laws here. Rather than address the problem, they just forbid dogs in parks and public open spaces. I wish they were more like the Swiss--who require you to pick up after your dog--because dog poo on sidewalks and in parks is disgusting and unsanitary. In fact, dog poo was one of the detractors of visiting Marseille. Instead of looking up to enjoy the scenery and sights, you're busy looking down to avoid stepping in dog shit. Come on France, you can do better!

Anyway--I digress. We took Charlie out to run around in a cow field in Prevessin and he had a great time! This is a photo taken from down on his level--about six inches off the ground.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/11

Angle of Repose

Angle of Repose : Ferney, FR

On Monday, we formally adopted and brought home the dachshund we visited on Sunday. The next three days were spent trying to figure out a name for this sweet little guy. On Thursday, we finally settled on Charles "Charlie Boy" Bentley. This morning, I took a photo of him in bed in a classic dachshund position--on his back and twisted. It looks painful and I would wake up kinked and unable to walk if I tried that, but Charlie seems to have no problem with this!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/11

Coming to an Address Near You...

Boy : Lausanne, CH

For the last several months, Maya and I have been looking for a dog. She grew up with huskies and I grew up with dachshunds, so we've been trying to find something in between. Maya has spent a lot of time scouring websites in France and Switzerland trying to find the right dog. A couple of weeks ago, she saw an ad for a dachshund in the World Radio Switzerland (WRS) classifieds. We kept meaning to call, but then it didn't happen. By the time we checked the ad again to retrieve the phone number so we could call, the ad had been changed and said he was adopted. So, back to the drawing board.

Today, while we were in the market, we met a couple from Scotland who had the cutest little dapple dog. We started talking to them and asking them about their mixed-breed dog, Rascal. Turns out he has a brother named Poncho. The wife agreed to put us in touch with the woman caring for Pancho. We'd also seen an add for a brindle mixed-breed dog at a shelter down near Annecy. When we got home from the market, we called the shelter in Annecy to arrange to see Eden. Then, on a whim, we looked at the ads on WRS again. Oddly, there was the dachshund we'd seen last week and who had supposedly been adopted out up at the top of the ads again. We were puzzled, but decided to call just in case this wasn't a mistake.

The short story is, Boy was available again and we made arrangements to go and see him. He's with a foster mom down in Lausanne. He was rescued from a puppy mill in Italy where he had been neglected, because he wasn't performing his duties as a breeding dog. He's malnourished and weak, but his coat and teeth are good and he greeted me with a lick and a wag. He's very calm and good with other dogs and cats (there were two other dogs and two cats at his foster mom's) so we're confident he'll do well around the dogs of friends Erik and Christy, who have a Russian terrier, and friend Faith, who is getting a Bischon Havenese this week.

Here's the "whoa!" moment in the story. Turns out the woman who was handling the rescue of Boy was also a participant in the rescue of Rascal and Pancho! It seems as if the universe is aligning to bring this dachel into our lives.

A bit malnourished, but with the proper love and good exercise, he'll be good as new in no time!

Bottom line is, we're happy to give this little guy a home and hope he will enjoy many years of health and happiness.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/11

100 Strangers: Umberto and Giselle

The well-heeled Umberto and his human, Giselle : Brigels, CH

On our walk through town, we met this very handsome, standard black-and-tan dachshund, Umberto, and his human, Giselle. This had to be one of the finest standard dachshunds I've ever seen. He was quite handsome, well-heeled, and calm. His behavior seemed to indicate show quality, but I forgot to ask Giselle this. Umberto and Giselle are this week's 100 Strangers.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/10