Our Vineyard Animals

~ 

RustyOur Tribute to Rusty

Our most favorite and best friend died in January 2008 after a long bout with cancer and just old age.  She was probably close to 17 and had spent the last 14 years with us.  Wow – what a great dog and a huge loss for us.  We miss her but always have wonderful memories.

 

 

Pang Pang looking out Pang Mao (“Fat Cat”)

Pang continues to bring us a great deal of happiness and can be seen in the Malbec portion of the vineyard. 

 

Introducing Vino – our new vineyard dog

VinoVino came to us in October 2008 as a “rescue” dog from a family unable to take care of her.  Reported to be about 2 and a half years old, we chose April 2006 as her “birthday”.  She is mostly a very sweet dog, but has been through a lot this first year.  Vino has learned to stay away from our neighbor’s sheep and cattle, and learned the hard way about rattlesnakes after being bitten on the nose this past summer (she pulled through after a night on an IV at the vet’s and then for a week had a head as big as a basketball).

 

She had also had a couple of tough bouts with the skunks and a battle with either a bobcat or raccoon.   She’s strong and loves to run; full of energy and now is mostly content to stay within the 13 acres, although chasing the resident jackrabbits and squirrels is the best in her mind.  Vino is part Rhodesian Ridgeback, part Walker Hound and has been great with our cat, Pang.  She doesn’t like the rain or the irrigation canal (which is a good thing) and absolutely hates the shotgun and the propane canon we use to scare the birds.  She is a great companion, especially for Pat who is here alone a lot, and “helps” each day we are out in the vineyard.  At least she does not eat the grapes!  We look forward to many years with Vino.