“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
The day is uninviting. The flags in my front yard are flapping and whipping in the wind. In my back yard, the pine tree trunks sway and almost bend. We haven’t any sun. It rained last night and the clouds just stayed around. Bleak comes to mind except for one amazing spot in the front garden where my forsythia has bloomed in the brightest yellow. It is the most hopeful sign of the progression of the season, of the emergence of spring.
We had a very small kitchen when I was a kid. The table was sandwiched against the wall and at best five chairs could be set around it. There were six of us, but my mother never sat with us so five chairs were enough. My mother was an at the counter eater. Even much later in a kitchen with plenty of room, my mother liked the counter. I never thought it was strange.
My parents never mentioned their pets. I think maybe my mother had a dog, but that memory is fuzzy. I know my dad didn’t have any pets. His parents were not pet people. When I was five, we got our first dog, a Boxer need Duke. From then on our house always had pets, usually a dog and a cat or two at the same time. I can’t imagine a house without a pet.
I don’t know how my parents became pet people. I’m thinking it was just in their natures. They had no history of loving dogs or cats, but they surely loved theirs and mine. Every dog I had was spoiled when visiting my parents. My dad would get a bowl of ice cream for himself and one for the dog. I’d bring up treats and dog food, but each dog turned its nose up at its usual treats and would stand by the fridge patiently waiting for my mother to give it some cold cuts and cheese. She thought it was funny. For Christmas one year my mother gave my dog homemade biscuits. Maggie thought they were manna from heaven. My father never met Maggie and neither of my parents met Gracie. My dad would have been roaring laughing at Gracie and her sass. Maggie would have followed him around and sat with him in the yard. She loved her leisure. I’m sorry that Maggie and Gracie never got to be spoiled by my parents. I, however, fill the gap. In my mind, pets are meant to be spoiled as sort of a small thank you for what they give us, for the love which is immeasurable.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: being a pet person, bleak, Clouds, cold cuts, dogs and cats, eating at the counter, forsythia, growing up with a dog, small kitchen, spoiled pets, spoiling dogs, Wind
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
April 28, 2015 at 12:38 pm
We cannot kennel Maggie the Westie anymore. She is an older dog, she sometimes hurts her leg leaping off the chair and going greyhound, but most of all we don’t want to.
So when we travel, someone stays at the house with her, usually our oldest and he is bombarded with texts asking how she is and what she is doing and he responds with a series of photos.
Maggie is 13. She knows that when I leave for work, she will receive her breakfast from Mrs MDH, so she sits under the kitchen table and grizzles for me to go. God forbid that I am still in the house when the Today Show starts.
Maggie is Mrs MDH’s dog. I am good for a few cheerios and her chores, but there is no doubt where her affections lie. Maggie sleeps more these days. Me too Maggie, Me too
April 28, 2015 at 12:47 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Gracie has never been kenneled and none of my other dogs were either. I always had someone stay here, usually paid for babysitting. My last sitter, for my 3 week trip to Ghana, got over a $1000 from me. I paid her the rate my friend the dog sitter gets when she stays overnight. I never worried about Gracie that trip. She was totally spoiled.
I know about older dogs. Gracie at 9 1/2 is in the very golden age for boxers who generally live 8-10 though I have seen 10-12, my preference. My last two has just turned 8 when they died.
Shauna, my first boxer, adored my father. She followed him everywhere, and he even babysat at his house when my mother and I traveled. He slept on the couch so Shauna could sleep with him as his cats slept on his bed upstairs. She looked everywhere for him when we got to the house just after my father had died. It was so sad watching her.
Gracie still thinks she is a puppy. She is a ball of energy for part of the day but never turns down a nap with me. She sleeps with me at night too. She and Fern leave me little room.
April 28, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Hi Kat,
I truly think a house is not home without pets. I grew up with animals in the house all the time.
My mother was not a pet person. She would just as soon have done without the animals. When she was a kid her youngest sister had a cat that got rabies and scratched the sister who then scratched my mother. They both had to have the horrendous rabies series of the time.
But then again, my mother had a pet fox. Go figure.
My father’s father was from Ireland and there had to be dogs in his house. He raised wire haired fox terriers and schnauzers. My father’s mother always had canaries in whatever kitchen they occupied. My dad trained white rats for fun.
My mother was afraid of dogs but she accepted that there would be dogs and other animals in her house because my father needed to have them. However, my father thought a kitchen was not a kitchen unless it had canaries in it and my mother had to draw the line on that. Birds in the house were bad luck and there would be no birds in her kitchen. End of discussion. So we got guinea pigs instead. Hey, they chirped. It was all good. 🙂
My pets have all been spoiled. The dogs and cats sleep on my bed with me. They get treats. I laugh when they do something sassy, if not right away then eventually.
Today is a mix of cloud and sun. It’s fine when the sun is out but cool when the clouds come by.
Enjoy the day.
April 28, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Hi Caryn,
I too grew up with animals all the time, and all of us when we grew up had and still have pets.
That’s really awful about the rabies. In the Peace Corps, during the first week we were there, we had to have a series of shots. One was so painful I fell to my knees. It was a rabies shot meant to give us more time if we got bitten.
We had hamsters once but they finally passed away, one bite the dust by what we called suicide by electrocution. It got loose and bit the stove wires and was shocked to death. We use to call my mother the Happy Executioner.
My pets too are spoiled. My dad used to say he’d like to come back as a pet in any of our houses. My last bill for food, treats, bird food and litter was $163.00. Gracie eats the best food. The cats love their treats.
The sun s out now, but it is still chilly.
Enjoy the evening!
April 28, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Hi Kat,
The title caught my eye. When I was about 7, I was ill and in bed for what seemed a very long time. It wasn’t serious. My dad, ( with my sister) decided maybe a puppy would cheer me up. So, he went out and bought a cute LITTLE puppy– A Saint Bernard, who we named Brandy.
Brandy grew to be a very big pup and only my father and sister could handle him. My mother was so afraid of him, although he was very gentle, no one had the time to train him. I know he was really my dad’s dog.
My dad didn’t especially like cats–but I like to think both of my parents would have loved mine.
I’m off to nap and read. Cookie cat is sleeping in the hall closet on top of a basket of clothes. Her nose is getting better, and I need someone to help me put up the paper on the window to keep the UV rays out, so she doesn’t get anymore sun on her little nose.
Take Care,
Lori and the Crew
April 28, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Hi Lori,
Nothing like starting with one of the biggest of all dogs! Duke was stubborn which used to drive my dad crazy. That is a boxer trait as all mine have been stubborn though they all gave up to me in the end. I was alpha, and they knew it.
I just got in from PT and errands so I’m going to get comfortable and read. Gracie is out and the cats are both sleeping, as cats usually do.
Sweet dreams,
Kat and the kids
April 28, 2015 at 3:00 pm
I do not have any pets for myself, but I find I am enjoying my landlord’s girlfriend’s dog more and more. Hercules the boxer is a hoot. When he greets you, he always has to have something in his mouth. You’d think he’d love a chew toy, but instead of chewing it like a normal dog, he throws it up in the air. Repeatedly. Funniest sight ever. KLUNKKLUNKKLUNK.
I am reminded of you all the time because you have a boxer, too. And Herc covers me in doggy kisses. What’s not to like?
Have a great day.
Waving,
Coleen
April 28, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Coleen,
Gracie too will greet you with toy in her mouth. I guess it is her way of saying welcome. Boxers are funny dogs. Gracie is sassy and talks back to me all the time. I make her obey so she’ll sit but still complain. She loves fetch so we play inside in the winter and outside in the summer.
Boxer kisses are the sloppiest, but they love people. I think they are great, loving, sweet dogs.
Waving back from a chilly Cape Cod,
Kat
April 28, 2015 at 8:21 pm
Joni Mitchell in Hospital in coma. Oh no!
April 28, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Morpgy,
I found some conflicting reports. I want to believe the more hopeful:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/04/28/joni-mitchell-unconscious-unable-care-for-herself-friend-says/g0RS8zmHRF7EUgnvXGK3oL/story.html
April 28, 2015 at 8:58 pm
Fortunately it’s apparently just a rumor, see
http://jonimitchell.com/news.cfm
April 28, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Birgit,
I now many singers from the 50’d and 60’d are passing, but I can’t comprehend the loss of Joni.
April 28, 2015 at 8:30 pm
We are taking a hiatus from pets. After we had to put our last dog down I sugessted we take a break and find exactly the right dog for our family. We just moved into a condo and would like to get everything settled before adding another family member. Without having a back yard a dog means walking him twice daily and picking up poop in snow, ice, rain or shine. Regardless how much the other members of my family love having a dog they make no attempt to help out with the walking and picking up the poop. I’m voting for a robotic dog that plugs into a charger instead of eating and doesn’t pee or poop. 🙂
The sun finally made an appearance late today and the high temperature was 57 degrees.
April 28, 2015 at 9:11 pm
Bob,
I waited between my second and third dogs, but I could’t wait for my new puppy. The house was too lonely without a wagging dog to welcome me home. I am breed faithful so I always get a boxer. I figure you need a small dog for a condo. one of them are darn cute ut many of them are dippers.
I remember the robotic dog on Battlestar Galactica, the original. It was really sort of ugly but it did wag its tail.
Your day sounds like mine!
April 28, 2015 at 10:57 pm
When you have kids you never come home to a lonely house. Parents bear children, bore teenagers and board newlyweds. 🙂
April 28, 2015 at 11:24 pm
Bob,
I had the dog for company, and I was fine with that.
April 29, 2015 at 7:42 am
Yes, dogs are cheaper and they say “How could you live so long and be so stupid” around 16 years. 🙂
April 29, 2015 at 9:59 am
The favorite dog in my family was Corky, an Aussie that we got as a puppy. He was a wonderful pet, dearly loved by all. My best memory was watching him round up my kids in the back yard when they were small. Watching him work as if he were herding sheep instead of children brings a smile to my face now.
April 29, 2015 at 11:56 am
Bill,
I have some memories of Duke which also bring a smile, but I do love that Corky was doing his job with kids! That’s funny!!
May 3, 2015 at 12:09 am
Sorry for the late post; I’ve been travelling.
I didn’t grow up with animals, but my kids sure did. My family had two Goldens and a Chocolate Lab, plus two cats. All great companion animals (except for the one feral cat), but all are gone now.
I truly believe that children who grow up with pets are different (in a better way) than those who don’t. They are more aware of an “other” outside themselves. They understand the realities of uncompromising love and responsible care and death.
I’m pet-less these days (apartment restrictions) and dislike the lonliness, though not the hassle (daily dog walks, vet bills, etc.)
May 3, 2015 at 12:26 am
Jay,
Welcome home!
Having grown up with turtles, cats and a dog who was part of my life for almost 14 years, I can’t imagine being without a pet by choice. I even had a cat in Africa and brought him home, couldn’t bear leaving him.
Now I have Gracie and two cats from the animal rescue league. Fern and Maddie were brought up together and were 5 when I adopted them. They are now 16 and still don’t like each other all that much. They hiss one another on the way by.
I am always leery of people who say they don’t like animals. I figure they are missing an important part of their humanity.