Sunday Bridges: The Overtoun Dog Suicide Bridge

I thought I had heard it all, but here's something I discovered in my again-desperate search for a bridge to post on Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

I found this at this site.

"Located near the village of Milton in the burgh of Dumbarton, Scotland, exists a bridge that for some reason or another, has been attracting suicidal dogs since the early 60s. At a rate of around one a month, dogs have been regularly leaping from the bridge; an estimated 600 have been reported jumping.

Even more strange are the circumstances behind these incidents of kamikaze canines. Not only have they been plummeting to their deaths from the bridge, but many have witnessed the dogs actually climbing the parapet wall before making the jump. Even stranger are the reports of dogs surviving their brush with death, only to return to the bridge for a second attempt..."

The two happy canines in my photo are gallivanting along a wall in Kalemegdan Park, far from Milton, Scotland, and not about to leap anywhere.

A true dog lover....

Not a true dog lover because this lady has two gorgeous standard French Poodles, but if you check behind her (and I didn't see him/her until I uploaded the photo at home), you'll see she also has a mutt! I often see people here with some upscale pooch...and a street dog.

Just you and me against the world

I can hear you saying 'Awww....."

I wish I had taken this photo, but I didn't. It was sent to me by my good friend, Jasmina, who captured these two pooches in Mokra Gora (literally Wet Mountain) in southwestern Serbia.

Thanks, Jasmina!!

ABC WEDNESDAY "I" is for "incognizant"

I'm not sure if this fellow was really incognizant of these puppies following him, but he was sure trying his best to ignore them.

See other I's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Reflections Weekend: "I dig skinny guys," says she, "and their dogs!"

The girl on the poster is eying this fellow and his dog. Other dog out of sight was a greyhound, too..... They say people resemble their dogs... I'm wondering how I look like Bibi; no underbite!

Again, snapped this at a red light; reflection and all.

See other reflections at JAMES' Reflections Weekend.

REFLECTIONS WEEKEND- The doggies in the window

Not much of a reflection here, but couldn't resist posting this. Just goes to show you that you should always have your camera ready. Caught these cuties while stopped at a red light. Thank goodness for automatic windows; down mine went and snap, snap. Their owner was only too happy to have these pups pose.

See other reflections on James' Reflections Weekend.

No dogs, no cats, no pigs...

I've seen several of these signs on schoolyards, and I had never noticed them on previous trips, if indeed they were around. I haven't seen a pet pot-bellied pig in years, but apparently walking them on school grounds is still an issue! For that matter, I haven't seen anybody walk their cat in a long time either....

ABC WEDNESDAY --"F" is for "faces"

You can't make me believe, like some claim, that animals, especially dogs, do not have souls. Look at their expressions here.

This photo was taken when I accompanied a group of sixth-grade girls from the school where I teach for the second time to visit Katja, the valiant woman I wrote about here.

We gathered quite a lot of dog food, personal items for Katja, and some money to help her. But the best help would be if more kind-hearted people would adopt one of her dogs. My heart ached for the one in the middle with the straggly black hair, but Bibi would be insanely jealous.

Bibi grew up until the age of 10 months at Katja's before I adopted her.

See other F's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

It takes time to be beautiful

Near where I live there's a dog groomer who works late at night in the basement in an apartment building. He may work in the daytime, too, but I never pass that way then. He's got a jazzy salon and a fluffy clientele. I love to peek through the window at them.....and sneak a photo....

Happy Thanksgiving

No turkey for me today, since I am working and can't possibly celebrate in style, so I am doing Thanksgiving this Saturday! But I am thankful today for many things: my wonderful children, friends I've known for many years, new friends I've made through blogging and in recent years, my so-far good health, and for my husband, now gone, but who remains with me every day.

I'm also thankful right now that the little dog, Jackson, that I took in off the street has found a home. A colleague of mine adopted him, and in this photo you see him playing in his new home with her dog, Borko. The two are perfectly suited; it's a perpetual game to see who runs out of energy first. By the way, that's a happy show of teeth on Jackson's part.

Are you counting your blessings today?

ABC Wednesday--"N" is for 'nipped nose"?

My question to you is: After what incident did this couple decide to put a muzzle on their Rottweiler?

Join ABC Wednesday here !

April Theme Day-Yellow/ABC Wednesday "K" is for "Keepsake"

Yes, I know there isn't much yellow on this photo, but I just couldn't resist bragging about how Bibi made this month's cover Belgrade's new English-language publication, Belgrade Mutts. For me, it will be a Keepsake. Created by several ex-pats here who are concerned with Belgrade's stray dog population, the magazine features Mutts of Interest and their stories. In this issue, Bibi tells her heartbreaking story of her life at Katya's (see icon on sidebar) and how she was rescued by the City Daily Photo blogger who uses her name...and photo. Belgrade Mutts is available downtown at your newsstand or to those of you in blogland by subscription. Oh, yes, and by the way....April Fool.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Join ABC Wednesday here

Waiting for a handout

I caught sight of this little fellow who was staring intently up at a window on a building on the left. I imagine someone throws him a morsel from time to time. I whistled to him, and he posed for the photo. This lot just off the center of Belgrade, and is a real eyesore. Real estate prices being what they are, I imagine the City is holding out for top price. Note the old and new architecture behind. Hotel Moskva is just behind the brick building on the right.

(Please drop by tomorrow for Yankee's one-year anniversary...)

A caramel Bibi

Last Sunday a friend and I paid another visit to Katja , the lady with nearly 300 dogs at last count. Katja has been working with a French friend of mine to help her home these dogs in Europe, and has had some success so far. Approximately 10 of her dogs leave each month for new homes in primarily France, Belgium, and Germany, and the nicest part is, these are very often dogs with some sort of handicap. The plan is for Katja not to accept any more dogs, and to home the ones she has. Unfortunately, Katja often wakes up to new dogs that have been thrown over her fence, tied to her front gate, or abandoned as puppies in a box.

Bibi came from this place, and I couldn't help but notice a resemblance between caramel-colored "Nena" in the upper photo and Bibi.

I've posted more photos of the dogs on Flickr and I hope you can connect to the link. If not, contact me through my email under my profile. If you're interested in helping Katja, write me there as well, and I will put you in contact with my friend (French, English, and Serbian-speaking.)

Two walkers in the snow

I'm always intrigued by people using umbrellas when it snows. For me, umbrellas are just for rain, but then a bumbershoot IS perhaps practical for snow. Try as I might, I just can't get the smaller walker shown here to carry an umbrella.

Dogs on Thursday: 250+ and counting...

Meet Katja, who lives on a strip of land about 12 x 80 meters (approx. 39 x 263 feet) outside of Belgrade with over 250 dogs that she cares for by herself and with the help of a few occasional volunteers. Katja has a heart of gold, and cannot refuse a dog. Some are left at her gate, some are thrown over the fence (yes...) and some she finds while walking to buy her bread. Conditions are pretty bad, and worse, it's almost impossible for these dogs to find homes, for few people would want to brave entering to choose one. Katja knows all the dogs by name, and they respond to their names. By law, she has to have them vaccinated and neutered, though accidents happen. She feeds them largely through donations of bread, bones, and fat. Believe it or not, this place was Bibi's first home. She was abandoned here with her two sisters as puppies, and an old female developed milk to nurse them. Then along I came, and the rest is history.

Some say these dogs would be better off fending for themselves on the street. (Belgrade has a stray dog problem, and there are many strays.) What do you say?

"Dogs on Thursday" -- Who goes there?

I'm back in Belgrade and it's Dogs on Thursday. Here are two fellow (or maybe girls or one of each) who were very intrigued when Bibi and I walked along in front of their house near the town of Zrenjanin. They were very quiet; just stood and looked.

See the sidebar if you'd like to participate in Dogs on Thursday.

Dogs on Thursday: And you're worried about YOUR wrinkles!

Many visitors to Belgrade's recent Dog Show thought this Shar-Pei puppy was awfully cute. He'll grow into his skin a bit as he develops, kind of the opposite of humans, who are born nice and smooth, but develop wrinkles as they age!

Want to participate in Dogs on Thursday? Click the icon on the sidebar.

Dogs on Thursday--Out on a ledge

This dog looks pretty scared up there. He doesn't even have room to wiggle.

If you'd like to participate in Dogs on Thursday, click on the icon in the margin. Woof.

Dogs on Thursday "Waiting for a bite"

It's getting cold....and I guess the fish are still biting. I think both the man and the dog are waiting for a bite here. And speaking of bites, Happy Thanksgiving to you who celebrate. I do, but only this Saturday, since I don't have off today.

If you'd like to join Dogs on Thursday, click on the icon in the left column. Woof.