From a Tuscan Hillside: A New Friend at Le Ripe

Monday, February 5, 2018

A New Friend at Le Ripe

Argo the Pup

Argo on arrival, looking, listening and smelling

Ten days ago Le Ripe joyfully welcomed a new resident. His name is Argo (after the dog which faithfully waited for Ulysses to return from Troy and his Odyssey).

displaying his sniffer-hound genes

He arrived from a refuge in Siena where he was born in October 2017. After living in what amounted to a cold cage with his mother and siblings he now has a large, safe garden in which to caper, bound, pounce...

so much to do at Le Ripe

...race and chase, explore, dig and delve, slither and slide...

and generally scoot about.

so much to explore

Argo's mother is a segugio italiano or scenthound, a breed thought to be descended from ancient Egyptian hounds. His father is an American Staffordshire terrier, a relatively recent breed from the New World so he is part hunter and part guard dog, half ancient and half modern.

those genes again

Perhaps he will also keep at bay the odd porcupine so we may one day be able to cultivate Tuscan iris here again.

Argo loves Le Ripe already.

The association of volunteers who, working in collaboration with the Siena city council, find homes for stray dogs, cats and other creatures in Siena, is called ASSTA. Before handing over any animal they visit the homes of potential owners to check on the situation and give advice.
The kindest of people.

1 comment:

Lupus in FabulaApril 1, 2020 at 2:15 PM
Oh goodness!!! He really is such a pup! It would be wonderful to learn about Argo's adventures since his first arrival... and any friends he may have made along the way!
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Situated on a hillside, Le Ripe in Chianti has an orchard with heritage fruit trees, an organic vegetable garden, a row of 18 olives, wild figs, wild grapes, dozens of lavender bushes, a medieval hortus conclusus,a shrubbery, English roses and drifts of bulbs, all requiring labour and love but giving much pleasure in return.

The farm buildings, once home, stable, sty and byre, now renovated, host our friends and family. The cottage, a former barn, and two apartments in the main building, once stable and stall, are rented to guests who come by the week or longer. For more information on staying at Le Ripe, see our rental website.

A MesSy FaMily having MaSses of FUn

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From chocolate cake disasters to Komodo dragons and liquorice allsorts, pogo sticks to paragliding cats, a night at the opera to ice-cream bashing, the Savages are good value for money: there is chaos and confusion for everyone in SaVAgE DAyS.

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