Lemon Drop: We're Back!

awwwwwhoooooooo humans!!

I'm back, we're back .... milkshake and I are back!!

As milkshake might have told you a few months ago, we were both very poorly as we came down with a bad case of Babesia (tick fever), especially milkshake .... I'm sure it's because she doesn't scoff down her food in 30sec, unlike me, so she's not as strong and resistant to diseases. oh, whilst we're barking about scoffing down food, I won the fastest hot dog eating competition last week ... awwwwwhoooo!! how cool is that?! my mommies were so proud of me, but how could anyone doubt that I would lose ... have you not seen my "Me & My Steak" video??

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=420488773688

here's me with my competition, the big black lab. see how focused I am?:

and here's me in action & being victorious:


there were lots of yellow balls at that park too, I was delirious:



but it was all a bit overwhelming for milkshake, she went to hide in the bushes:


I still remember how I had to be couped up indoors for a long time after I was sick, so now that I am back to my normal self, I am taking every chance to explore and run wild. A few weeks ago I chased monkeys across the mountain, howling to my heart's delight. That was fun, it took mommy w a long time to find me. She could hear me as I was barking (even though she was very very far behind, I have a loud voice) so I don't know why she was so worried .... and the monkeys, they try to taunt me but they are no match for me!

Then there's the other time when I learnt to herd cows with my new friend Martin on a secluded island. we herded them all across the island, they were so obedient. after a while, it wasn't that fun anymore so I left Martin to it, and I went off sniffing in the undergrowth. eventually I heard mommy vy calling. I wasn't ready to go back yet, I love my freedom! I knew she would find me soon or later, so later is always best.

Yesterday, I wanted to get a head start on the hike, so I ran up this really steep mountain as soon as I attained my freedom. there were lovely, gorgeous scents everywhere so I followed them thinking my mommies & milkshake would follow in time. but they didn't. there were lots of humans around but my mommies were not amongst them. I finally stopped and tried to listen out for them but I couldn't hear them calling either. then these nice looking humans came up and petted me (I let them pet me as they smelled like food). one human must really like my handsome squirrel collar as he kept looking at it. I then saw him poking his mobile phone (I know these things as I'm super smart, it's in my beagle genes). I didn't want to go back to look for my mommies as I didn't want to lose the lead and I was sure they would catch up anytime soon, so I just stood and waited. the humans sat and waited with me. eventually I saw mommy vy and I was so happy ... she must have been walking really really slowly as she took forever to catch up with me!! for some unknown reason, I lost my freedom for the rest of the hike ... I was confined to the same fate as donny. I wasn't allowed to chase the monkeys .... I could only look on longingly as milkshake ran them up the trees. I don't think the humans understand us beastie beagle boys.

photos courtesy of Mandy Chu

Milkshake: I have tick fever

Last Sunday I didn't feel too good so I refused to eat dinner. Mommy v was already worried because I hadn't been eating much for two weeks and she got even more worried then. The next day she took me to the vet. I was feeling even worse than before but I followed her because I am loyal to her.

I was very frightened at the clinic. I had to be up on a table and two strangers started prodding me with needles everywhere. It was painful but I put up with it. The big man said something to both mommies and they looked sad. Apparently I have tick fever.

I had to eat some funny medicine at home. I still had no appetite so I didn't eat any food, and of course I started losing a lot of weight. Look how thin I am.



I cannot help it as my stomach feels all weird, I get tired very easily, my legs hurt and I just feel unwell.

On Thursday I was brought to the clinic again. This time only mommy w went with me. She looked even sadder after the big man spoke to her. I was given even more medicine.


I don't like the yellow medicine but mommy w said it is good for me. She uses the syringe to squirt it into my mouth - ugh - and I will have a yellow tongue after that. She said it is very expensive medicine and that I cannot waste it.

After one day on the medicine, I started to feel better. I can eat a bit of beef now but I'm still being force fed because I'm not eating enough.

Lemondrop has been very nice to me all this while. He can be quite sweet and has been sitting next to me to cheer me up. He also had a bit of tick fever but he is stronger than me and has fought the infection off. He told me there's nothing to worry about and soon I will be running with him again with mommy v. I hope so too.

Lemondrop: I look handsome even underwater!

Mommy v decided to swim with me when we went to Shing Mun Reservoir. She brought a funny-looking glass box with her and went into the creek. Mommy w then started throwing sticks for me to fetch and the next thing I knew, I saw mommy v disappearing underwater! But no time to be distracted, I have to get to the stick, quick, quick!




I can't go as fast in the water as on land, but mommy v was still very impressed with how fast my little legs were moving in the water.







I use my tail like a rudder - that's my secret! (Psst - don't tell Donny)



Milkshake doesn't like to fetch sticks so she just stood on the bank...



... until I called her in!



But she just floats in the water, as usual. As much as she loves the water, she doesn't like to swim. I think she likes it because it cools her down. She treats it like a spa.



We went to the grove soon after, and it was the Yellow Ball game again!



Milkshake always wonders what is the big deal with the Yellow Ball...



Oh, but she doesn't know how much fun it is...



We do like the same things sometimes - she likes to chase the monkeys as much as I do.



But I could not get enough of the monkey.... I kept baying and barking but both mommies ignored me and continued walking on. Don't they realize that the monkey was up in the tree?!

When they called us, onlyMilkshake went back to them. It was only much later when I knew that there was no chance I could catch the monkey that I went back to join them.


One last creek before the end of the hike. Mommy v laughed out loud when she saw me in the creek and the sign next to it. What is so funny??

Milkshake: I eat my greens

Other mommies always tell their children to eat their greens & their vegetables, so I thought I should do the same, but my mommies feed me meat for every meal. As you may know, I love the countryside, and in the countryside there is a lot of grass. Sometimes it's everywhere! So I take the opportunity to be a very good kid and eat my greens. To be honest, it's rather bland and scratchy tasting (I can understand why children don't want to eat it), but I swallow it anyway. If lemondrop can, I can! But I soon find out I cannot ...

As you can see, I threw it all up in the evening. Mommy vy gasped at me when she saw the pile of undigested grass on the floor ... I was only trying to be a good kid, Mommy.

Lemondrop: Boat trip!

Today I went to doggie paradise, but I had to take a boat to get there.

It was all so exciting, there were so many new doggie friends on board. I counted them on my four paws (luckily I had enough digits) and there were 14 altogether. Since that first time when Mommy v threw me into the sea to see if I could swim (which of course I could!), I love the sea and blowing my ears in the sea breeze.


Donny and I were checking to see if there were any fish to catch for lunch.


There was a Great Dane on the boat too. His name is Harley. He was younger than me but much much bigger.


I was wary of him at first but after he and I had a conversation on the front of the boat (which the humans found rather amusing), I realised that he's just a gentle giant who loves to hang his head out of windows and have the wind in his face too.


This is Ah Chau (means "Autumn") the boat owners' dog, adopted from AFCD. He was an extremely good host, welcoming us all onto his lovely boat.


I wish I had a boat as my holiday home .... isn't this just the life??


We arrived on Grass Island, also known as Tap Mun Island, but I think Grass Island is more appropriate as there really is grass everywhere!!!


Oh, I was loving it as there was plenty of cow poop to roll around in ... truely doggie paradise! Milkshake adores to run ... I think she enjoys the sense of freedom, so it was also her doggie paradise.


She even took time out to admire the view ....



Here's Arlo taking a breather ... or maybe he's hiding from his 2 new brothers, Bubbles the fox terrier and Custard the schnauzer.


Even the humans were enjoying themselves. Oh no, I spot a cow behind Mommy v trying to eat her food!!! Ahhh, it's only Harley.


Us doggies went down to Pebble Beach for a quick dip. Someone was throwing a yellow ball but I knew it was not mine, it doesn't have the same scents on it. I was trying to decide whether I should just nab it anyway ....


After a little misadventure where Bubbles got lost (I didn't even know as I was at the head of the pack as usual ... Milkshake told me later that she and Mommy v had to search and rescue), we ended up at a restaurant where the humans ate a lot of yummy smelling food. I of course got nothing except for being tied up by the door with Donny... I wonder why we beagle boys always get the leash treatment when there's food around. It's just not fair!

Lemondrop: I AM SAD

It's been a sad doggie week. Things have been happening to my friends left, right and centre.

Jay, my fellow HKDR inmate who was chosen by a lovely lady, Claire, and lived on that funny island called Discovery Bay, was lost at the airport on his way to England (I want to move there too!). His mommy is obviously very sad and distraught and have been searching for him every single day. I hear she goes to Lantau Island in the middle of the night with cooked chicken to try to lure him home (maybe I should get myself lost too?). The humans seem to think he is scared and hiding somewhere. I went to look for him too last weekend but I didn't catch his scent, otherwise I would have told him sternly to just go home. Why would he trade a soft, warm bed by his mommy's side for a cold, dark hole out in the wilderness where the boogie man can come and catch him?

Jay, where are you? It's time to come home!


Mommy v told me earlier in the week that little Sami is epileptic. That's a big word and I didn't know what it meant, so I cocked my head and gave Mommy a blank look. Then Mommy v explained that Sami is prone to have fits without warning and may be on drugs for life. I feel for Sami, losing control of your body is not a pretty sight, but I'm sure she will get lots of cheese to go with her medication everyday, so it's not all bad! Plus I know her mommies adore her and will love her nonetheless, if not more.

Little Sami, who's not so little anymore.



Finally, I got the saddest news of all today. My hiking buddy Spud passed away this evening. He was very sick after eating a sock, which the doctor had to remove by opening him up. But he was in a lot of pain afterwards and couldn't eat any food or take his medicine. The doctor then said he had an infection and opened him up again today. Unfortunately it was too much for him. At least he passed away at home with his mommy, and he must be happier where he is now, pain-free. Mommy w is physically very upset .... but I'm sure Spud's mommy must be heart-broken. I don't want to ever die, I don't want my mommies to be heart-broken too.

My mate, Spud - RIP. You will be missed.

Lemondrop: I discovered yoghurt

I just had a snack .... a yummy scrumptious snack ... it's white and smooth and I can slurp it up. I even got to lick the inside of the tub.


For those fellow canines out there, you got to tell your humans that the Japanese brand is the best. Sugar-free but just as tasty.


Oh yeeeeeeah ... it was just heavenly. So good in fact, that I buried my face in it! More mummy more!!

Lemondrop: Mutt Genie

I look in the mirror and I see a handsome beagle but my mommies think I may have a mixed ancestry, so they had my DNA tested through Mutt Genie.

The kit arrived in the mail ... it came with a long list of instructions and a couple of cotton swabs.


I hate being poked and prodded, and I wasn't about to let Mommy w stick something that wasn't food in my mouth.


"Come on Lemondrop, be a good boy ..." Mommy w coaxed. Uh-uh, nope, I was having none of it ...


But then Mommy w got out the cheese ... she knows I can't resist cheese ... or any kind of food for that matter. Oh alright ... I'll give you 5 seconds for one piece of cheese.


Mommy w rubbed the cotton swab around the inside of my cheek. It wasn't that bad, it was even quite chewable. Oops, I don't think I was supposed to do that!

Another piece of cheese for that 2nd swab please Mommy.



Mommy w filled in all my personal details .... see my name on the cover of the swab?


Then my mommies waited and waited ... and I just went about eating, sleeping and chasing my Yellow Ball as usual. Finally one day Mommy w exclaims to me "Lemondrop, you're a pure beagle!!! OMG, I don't believe it, I was sure there was something else in you. You don't look like a pure beagle!"

So I'm totally confused. What is a pure beagle supposed to look like anyway? Yes, I have longer legs (to run fast fast), and spots on my back (maybe from too much sun when I run on beach), and I chase balls instead of hunting animals (do they really want me to bring them back a bloody dead rabbit for lunch??!); but I have the nose of a beagle (I smell food within a 2 mile radius), I have a appetite of a beagle (eat fast, get more food) and I am capable of giving the most adorable doe-eyed beagle look (especially when my mommies are eating, it works really well).

If Snoopy is a beagle (let me remind you that he's as white as snow, not exactly good camouflage for hunting), I most definitely am a beagle too!!