This morning, before I left for Symphony rehearsals, Ziva played run and fetch in the yard with me. Then we came in the house and played tug o' war (she always wins, but she has to work for it). When I was almost out of time, I saw her standing at the storm door, looking out at the brightening day. I ran for a camera and grabbed a few shots. I'll show the last one first, because I think it makes a good representative portrait of Ziva.
Here are some other shots, in chronological order, with a little variety of expression. Note in the first one how the glass bears evidence of canine exhalation.
And here's the first shot again, to round the form (sorry, I think like a composer of music, what a surprise!).
Yesterday Ziva was introduced to some of the folks at our favorite animal hospital, where they still fondly remember our late Photon, who breathed her last in July of 2013. Ziva's medical checkup was positive all around. A close examination of teeth and other indicators showed that she is likely between a year and 14 months old, which is consistent with a September 2013 date of birth that was listed in her adoption papers. She is not expected to grow significantly taller, so we will work to keep her weight where it is, or even shed a pound or two.
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Oh, how can you even leave for work in the morning! She is soooo adorable!! That face!!! She is looking quite lithe and so incredibly happy. She is quite the lucky lady!! Keep the photos of Ziva coming!!! More!!! More!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I need to train our new personnel manager: "Hi, it's Jess, Ziva is just too cute this morning for me to come to work, I'll call you to let you know when I can come in!"
DeleteYes, yes...after seeing pictures of Ziva I"m sure he/she will understand!!!
DeleteI like how you talk about Ziva in the active voice (e.g., she played with me vs. I played with her). I enjoy your posts about her as a respectable creature to be presented in the best but realistic light possible. I do see similarities with Photon...oh, how old Photon looks in those photos. Does the contrast between Ziva now (young) and Photon then (old) give you pause and any thoughts about the meaning of life?
ReplyDeleteThere are always thoughts about the difference in lifespan (on average) between humans and dogs and other animals. Of course, I also think about the brevity of our lives in the context of human civilization, and even more so the contrast with geologic time scales. The meaning of life, for me, is what we choose to make of it. Having some influence (one hopes a good one) on lives that will play out after our own is over can be seen as an important part of that meaning. It occurs to me that Photon's positive influence continues now, and will affect Ziva because Photon made such important changes in us during the fourteen or so years that we shared our lives. Ziva never met Photon, but she has the family that she does because of her predecessor.
DeleteZiva resembles il Prete Rosso.
ReplyDeleteAntonio Vivaldi? Interesting! Maybe she could publish a few hundred concerti under my name!
DeleteCheck this out (from Salon.com)!
ReplyDeleteWhen I attempt to communicate with a dog, it typically involves me staring deep into his or her eyes and imagining a conversation we might have: “Are you afraid of outer space?” I would ask. “What is outer space?” he would answer.
Anyway, all of that is antiquated because researchers at North Carolina State University have invented a dog harness called the Cyber-Enhanced Working Dog, which uses sensors to analyze a dog’s “behavioral signals” and lets humans send more accurate commands. The harness was invented to help with training and search and rescue operations, among other uses.
“It’s a communication platform that is designed specifically to provide two-way remote computer-mediated communication between handlers and their dogs,” said David Roberts, an assistant professor of computer science at NC State, in an interview with NPR.
NPR’s Samantha Raphelson explains how the device works:
...http://www.salon.com/2014/11/06/harness_lets_dogs_and_humans_communicate_via_computer/?source=newsletter
I think the device, when sufficiently developed, will be a tremendous aid to the safer and more efficient use of dogs in potentially dangerous rescue missions. It doesn't sound like an increase in the actual ability of humans and dogs to communicate at this point, but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that as we find more ways to monitor and "read" the minds of dogs *and* humans, we could enable closer direct communication.
DeleteToday, it's hard to beat the non-verbal communication that takes place, even if we can't get verbal confirmation from our canine companions that we understand them. There's a lot of joy in the trying for me, and I am sure I sense more than a modicum of joy in Ziva, at times.