Here's something a little out of season for today's Tater Tot Friday photo. And here's why: I don't know about where you live but it has been brutally hot in Seattle this week. I'm talking north of ninety degrees with unusually high humidity in a town where very few of us have air conditioning. No please.
So Donna went to the Tot Archives, where she works as a curator, and found this action shot from one morning last winter. Tater loves playing in the snow so much and just looking at her makes it feel a few degrees cooler here today.
Tater Tot Friday Bonus Bulldog! Thanks to Heather, the first of several readers who sent me word of Napoleon, the Hero Bulldog. Here's the story from a terrific English Bulldog website called BulldogAbbie.com.
"English Bulldogs are notoriously bad swimmers. With a giant head and chest compared to a lighter tail end, they have a tendency to go bottoms up in the water. It’s hard to keep that head up above the waves when it’s the largest part of your body!
Most owners are very aware of this problem, and will take care to see that their dogs have a good life vest on if they’re going to be boating or there’s a chance the bulldog could end up in some deep water without someone right at hand to save them if they look like they’re starting to struggle.
Because of the breeds history of poor swimming ability, this morning’s news came as a bit of a shock to me! Napoleon, an obedient and well behaved two year old white English Bulldog in Michigan abruptly left his master’s side yesterday and raced out across a road and into a nearby lake.
Napoleon’s owner met him in the driveway as the bulldog came back up out of the lake dragging something in his mouth. It looked like a burlap sack, and Napoleon appeared determined to drag it up from the shore and back to his master’s side.
It was then that Napoleon’s owner heard the meowing and realized that there were abandoned kittens inside the bag! Six kittens in total, although two of them didn’t survive and the remaining four were in bad shape. Napoleon’s mom cared for the survivor’s for the next two weeks until they could be taken in to the city pet adoption center and found new homes.
Napoleon got a much deserved hero’s welcome at the adoption center as crowds gathered to praise the brave bulldog and cuddle the rescued kittens."
I have not seen any follow up on the bastard that threw the kittens into the lake but hope Napoleon gets to use him as a chew toy somewhere down the road. Happy weekend, y'all!
TGITTF! Great story on Napoleon.
Posted by: LiLa | August 08, 2008 at 05:07 AM
Really cool snow pic. He looks like the happiest dog.
Posted by: Raul | August 08, 2008 at 06:22 AM
Great shot of Tater Tot!!! I hope someone finds the bastard, too. Go Napoleon! :)
Posted by: Ana | August 08, 2008 at 07:22 AM
Really? Snow pictures? Come on Gene.
Posted by: The Secret | August 08, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Thanks to you and Napoleon for reminding me why I like most dogs more than most people.
Posted by: Diane | August 08, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Kitttttiiiiieeeeessssss!!!!!!!! I love kitties. Kitties are the greatest invention since sliced bread.
Dogs are OK. They're no Kitties, but they're OK.
Posted by: Edmund F | August 08, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Ugh, that is disgusting that people could do that to kittens.
I never heard of a dog that couldn't swim, interesting!
Posted by: Nicki | August 08, 2008 at 10:57 AM
What a touching story. Go Napoleon!! I own basset hounds and they despise water as well (unless they are following a scent ... LOL). I want to snuggle Tater!!
Posted by: Debbie | August 08, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Hot? This ain't hot, Bean. I just came back from central America. Seattle never really gets "hot". At least not like that.
Posted by: Rochelle | August 08, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Great photo of Tater Tot! Nothing beats the happiness that a frolicking bulldog can bring. A bulldog has an array of expressions and antics that can bring a smile to your face after the worst of days. They expect nothing from you, yet shake their entire backsides when you walk through the door -even when two hours late getting home from work. A brief belly rub causes grunts, snorts, leg kicks and happy noises that simply embody joy. All the audio and frequencies that exist could never improve upon these sounds. Anyone who has owned one can tell the cadence and sound of their nails on a hardwood floor from any other breed. Sure, my Lily will never be a Frisbee dog. She can't swim a lick. And yes, she snores sometimes. As a matter of fact, it's even a real pain to take her out to pee if it's even remotely (what she considers) raining. But to have a bulldog is to love a dog. God bless Tater Tot, and I don't even believe in deities.
Posted by: Russel P | August 08, 2008 at 08:14 PM