Woof

Rebel                                        Kali

Rebel is a Strooch (stray pooch) who joined the family at about age 4 months. Best guess by the vet is that she is a mix of red Queensland Heeler and Pit Bull. She looks like she could back any stranger out of the yard, and she can accomplish that with a single bark. People mention - cautiously - that Rebel looks like a "junk yard dog", but in truth, she has a very mellow disposition.

Kali is a Chocolate Labrador Retriever who could care less about birds, but she thinks that snoozing in front of the hearth on a cold evening is bliss.

Rattler Duty

June 1999
Kali and Rebel tangled with a rattlesnake in the back yard.
The snake was killed by Rebel, but both dogs were struck by the young diamondback.
Rebel was struck on the tongue. Kali was tagged 3 times on her nose.

The photos below were taken about 18 hours later, moments after the dogs returned home from the emergency vet clinic. The anti-venom worked quite well to save Rebel, whose swollen tongue was essentially back to normal size within 12 hours. Kali's swollen nose, after inflating up and out, drooped down ... but that odd appearance was gone in about 4 days.

This is the same back yard where Jade plays
when she comes to visit.