Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound

Check out the link...it's a really sweet story.

Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound

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I Love Sea Otters!

Monterey Bay sea otter finds video camera, turns tables on photographer
By Stephanie Pappas
Santa Cruz Sentinel

Posted: 02/19/2009 09:02:32 AM PST
Updated: 02/19/2009 12:51:59 PM PST

Professional photographer Enrique Aguirre took this photo...(ENRIQUE AGUIRRE/Special to MediaNews)

Wildlife photographer Enrique Aguirre makes a point of visiting Monterey Bay once a month to capture images of herons, seals and sea otters.

But on Feb. 3, the San Francisco-based freelancer found himself on the other end of the lens -— with an otter apparently looking at the photographers through a video camera viewfinder.

Aguirre was on Capt. Yohn Gideon's Elkhorn Slough Safari boat with several other professional photographers when the group spotted an otter in the distance. Gideon steered closer as Aguirre framed the shot. Then, Aguirre noticed something odd.

"I was like, did I actually see an otter with a video camera or was I hallucinating?" he said.

The screen on Aguirre's digital camera soon confirmed what he'd seen: an otter floating on its back, video camera grasped in its paws, lens aimed at the boat of excited photographers. The humans had a bad angle, but Aguirre managed to snap a single clear shot before the otter dived, video camera in tow.

"He's the only one who got the photo," Gideon said.

Judging by the rust and seaweed adorning the camera, the otter probably wasn't getting much good footage. But Aguirre, who has photographed animals all over the world for more than a decade, said the otter aiming a camcorder was the "craziest" thing he's seen an animal do in the wild.

The otter never resurfaced, leaving the photographers to speculate on the make and model of the animal's gear. Aguirre suspects that the camera was dropped by a kayaking tourist and then picked up by the curious creature.

"I know I can go down there another million times and I will never see another otter with a video camera," Aguirre said. "I think I have more chance of a penguin coming up to me and actually speaking English."

http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_11739616?source=rss

Dog Park

Kings Park Dog Park, Brentwood

Timber was usure at first about the other dogs....but as the numbers of dogs reduced, he grew more comfortable and played harder. If he wasn't playing, he was hiding behind any pair of legs he was closest to!

San Francisco Botanical Gardens

Since I arrived early to see my doc in SF, I decided to take some time to myself to explore and take some photographs. Last time I was in SF, I didn't get to take all the pics I would have liked to since I had the entire family in tow. . .they don't have the patience that I do for exploration, photography and simply wandering about enjoying the scenery! It's hard to share my views with 5 and 7 year old boys and my folks! :-)

I explored The San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. I wish I had more time, but I spent a lot of time goofing around with the local "wildlife"! If you can call domesticated squirrels "wildlife"! You'll see what I mean with the pics...they aren't great, but the best I could get under the circumstances. I will for sure go back again, probably after I buy my new camera of which I covet and save for...until I had to pay the doctor in SF that is!!! *crossing fingers* I hope to have the money saved in the next 2 - 3 months.

*Hard to believe that all this exists in the midst of all the skyscrapers and concrete!*

"The Bully aka the food hog!" He was a mean little bastard! Guess you can't really blame him!
This poor little guy was getting bullied away from the stash of food!....So I grabbed some and tossed it his way! :-)

Cute, but also sad how they have no fear of humans...and it's our fault for feeding 'em! I'm guilty of it too! But they're so cute! I couldn't help myself!

Little buggers were crawling all over the strange guy who held the large bag of garlic-dusted peanuts! They thought I had some. . .maybe I do, maybe I don't!

Yes. . . I had some, thanks to the "squirrel man"! Didn't take a pic of him though, he and his strange woman friend wouldn't even take a pic for me, so I doubt they wanted to be a subject in my camera lens!

He was looking at me like I was Nuts! Maybe just a little... :-)

Jade meets a horse

I'm so proud of my big, goofy dog Jade! She met two white horses on one pasture and then another two brown horses a few pastures down. She like the white one's better, they were more friendly to her. One brown and white horse put her ears back and stomped her hoof hard! Jade put her tail between her legs and backed up. Jade proceeded to drag me back to the other pasture with the white horses, where she finally gave me a perfect picture...at least the best I could do trying to hold her leash and step back to take a pic with a camera phone! Every time I tried to step back she tried to follow me...I was her safety zone.

Eventually Jade got so comfortable that she sneaked under the fence and stood right next to them. Eventually they were more interested in her than she was in them!