It’s A Girl!

Craig Herrera:
Well, a female pup!  She is such a sweet and loving dog!  Meet Kaia.

She is a four month old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and we adopted her from the Mendocino Animal Care and Control Shelter in Ukiah on Saturday.   We found her online after searching so many humane society and rescue sites and when her picture popped up, that was it!  She doesn’t have the ridge up the spine of her back, but has all the other characteristics of a Rhodesian, including the playful, yet loving personality.  She loves to play, and she loves to be comforted.

She did great on the trip home in the backseat of the car.  We didn’t have a crate for her at the time but she has one now.  She was fine and slept most of the way home.

First stop, lunch for us and a pottie break for her and Sasha, about 30 minutes into the trip south on Highway 101.  We stopped at a great winery for lunch and she explored some of the grounds with Sasha (our 10-year old Lhasa Apso I adopted in Denver) for a bit.  The sun was so nice, but hot.  Bellies full and happy we continued on our journey south.  We made our way across the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was such a gorgeous day!  It was incredible to see all the walkers going across the GGB for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk.  We cheered them on and took another pottie break a few more pictures.

Next stop, home!  Kaia was a little shy to walk into the house but she followed Sasha inside anyway.  It was like Sasha was telling her to follow her inside.  I wish I knew what they were thinking, but sometimes it’s easy to make it out!  Kaia explored the house and quickly found a spot she has now made her own.  It is a big and soft dog bed sitting under the stairs.  It is where Tess (our Rhodesian Ridgeback we lost to cancer a few months ago) used to nap.  It was so sweet.

She and Sasha played for just a few minutes before Sasha decided she was done so Kaia just left her alone.  Kaia loves her new toy, a Kong! It is a large plastic toy and it holds treats inside.  Kaia has to work that toy with her teeth and paws to get the treat out.  She loves it! Now we are working on some commands like “sit” and “down” and she’s learning quickly!  Next, we are going to get her ready for Walk ‘n Wag in San Jose on October 4th.  It’s an event benefiting the Humane Society Silicon Valley and I have the honors of leading the walk again this year.  NBC Bay Area is again the proud sponsor of the event and we  have information on our web site at http://www.nbc11.com/community/1490247/detail.html.

Also in late October, I will get to lead the Howling Halloween pet parade in Los Gatos!  I did it last year and that was so much fun.  Just imagine a few hundred pets all dressed up in costumes walking from store to store for treats.  It’s great!  I’ll keep you updated on that event too as we get closer to the end of October.  I’m looking forward to spending so much time with the new pup.

Happy Tails to you! 🙂

Craig Herrera
NBC Bay Area Weather Plus Meteorologist