Ozzy corgi wasn't quite 9 months old when he broke his leg. Playing ball on the stairs, his Wichita, Kansas, guardian/owners told the vet.

Adorable Pembroke Welsh corgi Ozzy came close to not being in Kansas anymore.

In the words of his rescuer, who got help from CorgiAid: "Ozzy [had been] brought in to a vet clinic with a badly broken front leg. His owners were unable to afford the surgery necessary to help him so opted to euthanize. Thanks to two caring vet techs who were able to convince the owners to sign over custody, Ozzy's life was spared. They contacted me and I agreed to help out. He has now had his surgery which was successful. We are on the long road to recovery of 3 to 6 weeks of cage rest. . . ."

Fast forward several weeks: X-rays showed that the surgical pins are doing their job and the leg is mending. Ozzy gets to have short, calm walks on leash several times a day. Poor Ozzy has probably been going bonkers being crated. His rescuer says, "He has gotten really good at unstuffing Kongs and treat toys. He has also started hydro-therapy and is quite a good swimmer and it wears him out. He feels great and would like to run and play but is still not allowed. He will go in for another set of x-rays in three more weeks and if he continues to progress as he has then he can resume normal activity at that time.

"I am looking forward to hearing that he is allowed to play like a puppy again. . . . Ozzy has a sweet temperament. He is just a goofy pup. . . . I suspect he is a dog that loves to fetch as he drops a ball and assumes to 'ready to fetch' position, but we are not allowed yet."

Thanks to his kind rescuer, Ozzy corgi will be available for adoption once his orthopedic vet releases him from care. He'll be available through ForPaws rescue.

Pawnotes: A rather long time ago, I too was a rescue corgi. And like Ozzy, I recently needed emergency surgery. . . . I wonder how many dogs and cats go through similar experiences.

Visit these websites:

* CorgiAid ~ www.CorgiAid.org ~ a small volunteer-run operation that depends on donations to help fund rescuers like Ozzy's who provide wonderful care to dogs in need.

* ForPaws Corgi and Corgi Mix Rescue ~ http://www.forpaws.org/ ~ a small, ethical rescue organization run by knowledgeable volunteers.

I've discovered that Anisonya Siamese, my fast young feline, is a fierce fly shredder. And she has a pawtner in crime: Jack-be-nimble, Pembroke Welsh corgi buddy.

Nature's way, is this? . . . Nature's way for flies to be in a house? . . . Nature's way for a pussin to fly at window panes and across counter-tops? . . . Nature's way to cause me to constantly be distracted from blogging and sleeping?

Oh howl! Why don't Anisonya and Jack go bug dog-ma for a while? They don't realize that a dog like me who's recuperating from surgery needs rest, not a couple of crazy fly shredders jumpin' around.

I don't drink wine, but my dog-ma teaches me wine lingo. Most people who live and visit here drink wine. When I say "here," I mean appellations and sub-appellations around Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Coast and the Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley and Napa Valley, "that other valley."

Here are grown and crafted great reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Malbec, and of course Pinot Noir. And lots of others like Barbera and Mourvedre. . . . Then there are the great whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and of course Freestone Fogdog Chardonnay. And some other whites like Muscat and Rieslings.

I know more about wine and winemaking than most dogs. Not that I'm the Jancis Robinson of the dog world or anything, but I do do my homework, so to bark.

I drink a little beer. It helps me when I have muscle spasms. My dog-ma will search for a lovely pilsener like Blue Paddle, or a pale ale like Mendocino Brewing Company Blue Heron, or sometimes Rogue Brewery HazelNut Brown Ale. According to Rogue's Brewdog, their ales are made with "coastal free range water." Woof?

People in winemaking are often beer aficionados who know more about beer making than the average bear. Try asking 'em when they're not being bears, like when they're bored from working long harvest hours hand-sorting grapes or doing punch-downs.

Or go to the annual Sonoma County Harvest Fair and change the subject from wine to beer. You can change the subject to anything you want by the end of the winetasting day. You can even sneak in with me, a Welsh corgi, and your dog, I bet.