“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
This was a put a mirror under her nose to see if she’s breathing sort of morning. I stayed up until close to three and didn’t wake up until nearly 11. I think it was the, “No joy in Mudville,” which kept me awake watching really bad movies. The Sox are done for the season, no more baseball. Summer is officially over. Oh the pain! Oh the agony!
Today is cloudy and will probably rain some more. It rained some time last night, and the day is too damp for anything to dry. Cold air is on its way, possibly down to the 40’s at night.
Gracie has fleas. She is the first dog I have ever owned who has picked up riders. She has been scratching, and her fur was sensitive to the touch so off to the vets we went yesterday. She’s now on an anti-itch medication, more anti-flea medication and I bought some for the cats as well. The bill was over $300.00. I am still in shock.
We always had pets when I was growing up. I think my mother’s family once had a dog, but I know my father never had pets when he was a kid. His parents were not pet people. We got Duke when I was five. The first cat didn’t arrive until I was 16 because my father didn’t like cats, but that changed quickly once he met that first kitten. After that, he and my mother always had two cats. They had Beebe, a dog who was found as a puppy at the dump, and she was their last dog. My father doted on Shauna, my Boxer. He’d get a bowl of ice cream for himself and Shauna after dinner. On St. Patrick’s day she had a boiled dinner, compliments of my Dad. When he passed away, Shauna roamed the house, the yard and the garage looking for him, and she’d stand the foot of the stairs whenever she heard footsteps from upstairs. She’d wait to see if it was my dad then walk away slowly when it wasn’t. It was as sad as anything to watch Shauna miss my Dad.
We all have pets, my sisters and I. One sister has 3 cats; she did have a dog, but he passed away and they were heart-broken and decided not to get another. My other sister has 2 cats. My nephews have a dog and one cat though at times they have had multiples of each. Another nephew has two dogs. He always has rescues, and he always chooses the ugliest dogs. Now he has Jack and Elvis. My niece has a dog and either two or three cats I forget which. Her roommate moved out and just left the cats. Sarah adopted them. Our family has a tendency to do that. One of my sister’s cats used to be her father-in-law’s. After he passed away, she adopted Tommy. My sister’s dog came from golden rescue, and both my cats were 5 when I got them from the MSPCA.
I think my family being pet people says a lot about their capacity to love.
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September 29, 2011 at 1:37 pm
It has been a glorious autumn day over here with temperatures over 70’s. I don´t need a fire in the stove tonight 🙂
We had lots of pets when I grew up, mostly hamsters and birds with the occasional cat and dog. One of my brothers has dogs just like me and I have a sister that tries to have dogs as well. She really wants it to work but it is always something that doesn´t work. I think she shpould be happy with her cat and stay away from dogs to be honest.
I have actually only bought two dogs, the rest has been born in my home or as in Novas case through a rescue centre. I always have more than one and they really need to have different ages so that I won’t have to be without one. It is easier to deal with the sad part as well with anothet dog in my home 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
September 29, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Cgrister,
Still the gloomiest of days here. I iwsh it would either rain of clear up!
I had hamsters at one point but they got loose and the cat caught one and the other disappeared in the house somewhere.
The sadness of losing a dog is soemthing I hate. My boxers havenever gotten older than 8 and Gracie will be 6. It is on my mind a lot.
September 29, 2011 at 1:54 pm
My mother-in-law says she can’t trust people animals don’t trust and doesn’t like people who don’t like animals. There are probably worse criteria to use.
We’re a three-cat household, with the latest arrival coming home with us after a wedding last fall. My folks have two cats and a dog. My MIL has two cats, down from ten when we first met. My FIL and his girlfriend have at least three, although there might be more because they feed the strays that live in the woods.
Good luck with the flea problem. We got them when we lived in a multi-family apartment building (other families let their cats out to wander in the woods, and fleas apparently do not feel it’s necessary to recognize unit boundaries) and found the back-of-the-neck medicine to be effective nearly immediately.
September 29, 2011 at 3:39 pm
sprite,
I agree with your mother-in-law, and I wonder at people who have no use for pets. I understand allergies and such but to say they could care less about having a pet gets me to thinking.
You and I are from multiple pet families. We’re all suckers for strays.
The medicine the vet has her on goes on four spots across her back once a month. She got her first treatment yesterday. I gave Fern hers and she disappeared for a lobg while. All i did was put liquid on her neck-you’d think I’d beaten her.
September 29, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Ditto ! As you know Maggie plays a big part in our household. This morning additional joy was brought to our first trip outside by the arrival of the truck bringing our NYT. Maggie was excited enough to slip her collar but still knew that she was required to go back in to the house.
Now that the Sox have returned to their customary role of last minute swooners, perhaps you will join Justin and boys in NYC
September 29, 2011 at 3:42 pm
My Dear Hedley,
As well as Maggie should! I envy that Maggie goes in the house. Gracie thinks the game is keep away and off she goes down the street. Luckily she’ll go to any stranger or neighbor she they hold her for me.
Last night for the first time in my life I was rooting for the Yankees-never again! I will accept your invitation to root for Justin and the boys!
September 29, 2011 at 6:29 pm
It will be Verlander on Friday, so here we go!
September 29, 2011 at 3:12 pm
“Somewhere the sun is shining”. Here in North Texas we are celebrating the Rangers clinching home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs by defeating the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth by a home run.
My parents never had any pets in the house. My father would jokingly tell us that he didn’t need a pet because he had children. We have three dogs. Our oldest is a 13 year old male retired racing greyhound who is barely holding on to life. I don’t have the gonads to have this sweet dog dispatched. We also have a lab mix who we think is about 12 or so since she is also a rescue. Our pack is rounded out by another rescue who is a short hair dachshund. The greyhound and the dachshund are best buddies and the smaller dog always cuddles up with the big dog. My wife is deathly allergic to cats so we went have dogs. Statistics show that people who own pets live longer although they may not have as much money. I think that dogs in particular add to the quality of your life.
September 29, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Bob,
You have my congrats on the Texas win! I am bemoaning the Sox and their mighty fall from Grace. When the series rolls around, I will root for the American League team, well maybe not the Yankees, but definitely the Rangers if they appear.
I totally understand the reluctance about your 13 year old. Losing a member of the family is about the worst thing I have been through. One year my mother, whom I adored, passed away in October and un January my dog Maggie had to be dispatched. I wondered if i would survive the loss of both of them.
September 29, 2011 at 4:37 pm
My daughters dog came from a shelter for abused dogs. Six weekends over in Tampa to train with Willow. She would never give him up. He’s now a DC transplant. My two Himmies never had fleas until we switched groomers. Won’t do that again. It took six months and $200 to get rid of them. What was bad is both cats were scratching their ears till it bled. Very bad. But that’s what to expect I guess, if you love animals. I see the Pat’s lost their first game too. What’s going on up there?
September 29, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Z&Me,
I think it would beharder to give up on an animal from a shelter. Sending him back would be the worst of all fates.
Gracie is far less itchy so the pills are working. Now I just hope those pesky fleas go next.
I have no comment as to the fate of our teams!
September 29, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Whew, I was scared when I saw the quote about loving an animal, and when I saw the first line about putting a mirror under your nose. I thought something serious had happened to Grace, Fern or Maddie. I am still taking deep deep breaths. Well look on the bright side ( a new one from me ) if you had a child that wasn’t a furkid, the costs would be oh so much more. We had a Saint Bernard in our family for the longest time. My mother was terrified of him, and my dad and that sister of mine were the only ones who could handle him and walk him. I loved him though I wish my dad had taken him to training school. We got him when I was sick and my dad thought I would like a puppy. I am a cat person in my old age, and grateful that Jewels is here to share my life.
September 29, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Lori,
Sorry I scared you. They are all well except maybe a bit itchy. Fern has gotten over being angry with me for putting the flea med on her neck and Gracie seems to scracth less.
You’re right about a human kid though some vet bills haveput me back for a long while. Maggie’s was over $10,000.
I think I need one of each to make me happy though cats are far easier than dogs.
September 30, 2011 at 7:23 am
When Kevin and Lisa were young, we had shelter dogs, including Dusty–1/2 Afghan and 1/2 huskie–who died of cancer at 8 years, and Boomer, who got hit by a car. In Bolga you remember we had Lazarus and Boomer; one day Boomer disappeared, and the talk was that he ran off and was captured to make puppy-dog stew (no lie). Our last dog was Cleo, 1/2 beagle and 1/2 spaniel. A couple of kids had found a litter in the woods, and she was the last to be adopted. Best dog we ever had, and our hearts broke when the time came…….
If I had another dog, I would call her “Stella”, so that I could go out back and yell “Stella! Stella!”
September 30, 2011 at 10:10 am
Bill,
Thanks for ending the comment with a laugh for me.
I’m guessing you’re right about Bolga Boomer. Dogs are still not held in high esteem there though I did see far many than when we were there. They look all alike: skinny brown dogs with skinny tails. I didn’t see a single cat so maybe dining preferences have changed.
My Boxer Shauna died at 8 of cancer and Maggie, another Boxer, died at 8 of cardiomyopathy: both are scourges of Boxers. Gracie came from a breeder in Maine how tests for heart issues before she breeds her dogs. That is the reason I bought Miss Gracie from her. Gracie is a brindle Boxer about 20 lbs lighter and much smaller than my other two. She is almost 6, and I’m getting nervous. Dogs do easily break our hearts!
September 30, 2011 at 7:52 pm
A lovely post, Kat!
SInce my move I have begun to share a 9 year old mostly black lab named Haley. (or maybe Hailey). She is commonly refered to as The Best Dog Ever. What a sweet disposition! She is a shelter dog who was picked up on the streets of Newark, NJ as a puppy – – we also think this is why she HATES dog food. Will only touch it if it is the last thing handy. People food is her favorite.
She wasn’t quite sure what to make of me when I first moved in, until one night when I brought home a ham and cheese sandwich I got from a local deli. On a whim (and with permission) I started to feed her a couple pieces.
Instant friendship.
I debated for a long time whether I wanted a dog to go with my house. In the end, I decided not to as I was not home a lot. Good thing I didn’t – – losing the house its nothing compared to giving back a pet.
I am not ashamed to say I brought home a WHOLE ham and cheese for her to munch on recently. It’s worth it (I took out the bread).
And the Sox? I can sympathize…don’t forget, I am a Mets fan.
Waving from Jersey – –
Coleen
September 30, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Hi Coleen,
A dog has this way of grabbing your heart and never letting go. Gracie is always happy when I get home; she’s even happy when I wake up and she can wag a good morning. I feed her the best opf all dog food, better even than what I eat, but she also loves people food. I always save her something from whatever I have for lunch or dinner. Nothing wrong with bringing Haley her own sandwich, even without the bread. We were brought up to share.
I can’t believe how the Sox imploded-the worst in baseball history. Their coach was essentially fired today: not optioned was the polite way they put it. I am rooting for the Tigers against the eviil empire!
Waving from the cape where the weather today was a delight!