When we first decided to skip the regular rescue show at the PetSmart and go touristing downtown, we felt a little guilty. How are we to get Gonzo Bunny-Ears adopted if we don’t give him any exposure? And yet, the cherry blossoms were calling. The weather oracle said it was going to be in the 60s and sunny, and the blossoms were at their peak. We decided we deserved it. To make ourselves feel less bad, I brought a bunch of Gonzo’s business cards (with our blog URL and the rescue’s info), decked him out in our cute “adopt me” vest, and loaded two dogs into the car.
Well, we need not have worried. Mr. Gonzo Bunny Ears and brother Sir Loverboy Chick were such a hit that people were literally stopping us every ten steps to ask about them. Everybody loved Mr. Ears in his vest, and a few people even wanted to adopt Sir Chick! The two dogs were petted by hundreds of hands, kissed by dozens of faces, and got to lick drool and baby food off the little fingers of several babies. Several people took photos of the dogs — sometimes with their children, sometimes all on their own. We were showered with compliments about our handsome and well-behaved dogs, and handed out business cards to a bunch of interested families. It was a blast!
In between the photo ops and meet-and-greets with new friends, we showed Mr. Ears the sights. There were some oddities that Gonzo found very curious, like this pink princess in a giant dress:
"Dad, what the heck is that about?"
And this weeping willow that was tickling Gonzo’s butt when it swayed in the wind, making him very nervous:
But mostly, we took in the classics. The National Mall, the Washington Monument, some climbing of cherry trees in bloom, admiring the flora, and the Lincoln Memorial.
grass smells like yum.
"part bunnyrabbit, dad, not part cat. sheesh!"
"i dont know what those are, but i hope they don't bite..."
noncooperative family portrait after a long day
Gonzo and Chick were both so pooped by the end of our visit that they both actually layed down in the middle of the grass, amidst the crowds. This is otherwise unheard of for Mr. Ears, who only sleeps in dog beds and laps.
too pooped to poop.
Our visit to the heart of our nation’s fair capital made such an impression on Gonzo, that he has made a very important decision about his life. A decision that he will share with you all tomorrow.
For more info about adopting Gonzo Bunny-Ears, contact us at DCpetographer [at] gmail [dot] com or through Partnership for Animal Welfare.
As it turns out, Gonzo loves stuffed animals. Come to think of it, he loves all toys. He likes to toss them in the air and then pounce on them, and to prance around proudly with them in his mouth. His favorite game of all time is “chase” — in which he is the chasee and you are the chaser. When he is feeling rompy, he will scamper about until he finds the nearest toy, pick it up, and approach you with a very cute and very devious look in his mouth — almost as if he is daring you to follow. The second you make a motion or take a step toward him, he whirls in place, and goes bounding away, stopping just before he’s out of sight to make sure you’re coming. He loves this game. But he also loves his girlfriend, Claudette.
Love and a Six-Foot Leash 