YABBA COCOVIEW, ROATÀN, HONDURAS JUNE 1994 No matter where in the world we travel, I find dogs (or do they find me?). This is Yabba, a Golden Retriever who lived at CoCoView Dive Resort. He liked to accompany the divers (and me, the lone snorkeler) out to the dive platform. He definitely added to my vacation -- give me a dog, a beach, a book, and a reef, and I'm happy!

It is not so much that I acquire dogs as it is that dogs acquire me. Maybe they even shop for me, I don't know. If they do, I assume they have many problems, because they certainly arrive with plenty, which they turn over to me.

-- E.B. White, The Care and Training of a Dog

DOG AT PLAYA BAY ROATÀN, HONDURAS APRIL 1995 Playa Bay is a beautiful resort-in-the-making, but I was more interested in this dog, wandering around, looking for someone to play with. Luckily, he wasn't a stray -- I think Playa Bay belonged to him!

Why is it that my heart is so touched whenever I meet a dog lost in our noisy streets? Why do I feel such anguished pity when I see one of these creatures coming and going, sniffing everyone, frightened, despairing of ever finding its companion? -- Emile Zola

Animated Graphic ©1996 Kitty Roach

ROATÀN, HONDURAS APRIL 1995
	I often treat wild animals as though they were domesticated, like dogs. This snake was just sleeping in the road from Playa Bay to CoCoView Dive Resort, when I decided to pick her up so that my companions could get a better look. Not a good idea! The poor snake took umbrage at being startled out of her sleep, and let me know this by biting up my hands -- three times! Remember -- when picking up a moving snake, grab for where the head is going to be, NOT where it was, 'cause it moves real fast!
Considering that we were in a third-world nation -- no 911 to dial, no doctors to be found, and a two-hour drive from our resort -- this incident ended well. My hands bled a bit, but I survived to tell the tale -- not even any scars. Our guide, Harold Ebright, was sure glad to see me the next morning, though!

ROATÀN, HONDURAS JULY 1996
	Blenny is one of the two new dogs at CoCoView Dive Resort. (Yabba went to live at the home of the dive instructor.) Managers Betty & Scott Lumbert adopted him & Reggae, teaching them to trust people, as the Hondurans aren't particularly nice to their dogs.
	Reggae is definitely Betty's dog -- she nursed him back to health and he is devoted to her. If you see Reggae on the Resort grounds, you know Betty's in the area! He has a nice little den dug out by Betty and Scott's house, and he's the only dog I know who decorates  his den -- look at those conch shells!
Reggae returned to the United States with Betty & Scott in November 1996. He now ranges over an 80-acre farm in Arkansas, "helping" Scott build their new home.
Reggae shown with the kind permission of Betty & Scott Lumbert

 DOGS (& SNAKES & KOALAS & KANGAROOS & BATS) AROUND THE WORLD - AUSTRALIA - 1995

 STEVE IRWIN IN MEMORIAM - SEPTEMBER 2006

dogs have joined Misha (@RB), April, Cari & Rico on the couch since 16 AUGUST 1996. We hope you all were comfy!!

Please stop and leave a message on the

 INTRODUCING MISHA (@RB), APRIL, CARI & RICO

Remember to bring along your virtual pooper-scooper!