Category Archives: dogs

Toes

They’re essential. I broke my fourth toe the other day on the wooden post that sits up our sofa. I think I broke a few bones but do not want even an air cast because that would be useless. Ice packs and a bit of OTC pain reliever has brought it from a sharp pain to a dull ache but stepping on it is problematic.

Don’t worry, Zoe’s going out as my husband is home for a week or two and she loves going out with him.

Not much cooking going on but before the swelling I did make some nice St. Louis style ribs with a rub and sauce. I then placed the remaining three ribs in the oven yesterday in foil, in a dish for about 40 minutes while cooking par-boiled potatoes and making a salad. That’s the least I could do. Today we had frozen pizza for dinner. It was good.

I wanted to talk about doing things and being unable to do things as I get older. This is definitely one of my five-year “klutz weeks” where I injure myself in mysterious ways. It was certainly not my intention to break my little toe.

Years ago I was a long-term volunteer at an animal shelter every Friday. I awakened one morning and could not move my neck. After seeing the doc I found that I had a congenital malfunction since pre-birth so was given drugs and a neck collar and told not to go volunteer with the dogs and cats.

When I got home I called the volunteer coordinator and told her I would not be able to resume my regular duties for a few weeks but if it’s OK I’d like to sit in her kennel with Chani because she needs me. Chani had been abused by an officer for a year then left in the shelter for another. We started there the same day and became close. We just sat with my neck brace, and talked. Soon a fellow volunteer turned staffer told me they had a meeting about her and as one of the first no-kill shelters put off a decision to euthanize for a week.

Apparently she presented a danger to men (especially in uniform) and children, who used to throw rocks at her over the fence. That was in her file. The next day I adopted her and took her home for ten years where she learned to love me, me jumping over her instead of kicking her, every child and even men in uniform. The neighborhood donated a tree to the city in her memory and I can see it on Google.earth. It is doing well and has a great view!

Change is the theme. My first kitten was flown across country by my brother at my sister’s request. Burmese mix, a talker. He was five weeks old and didn’t know how to drink water. I gave him milk and it was so hot (no A/C) that it curdled while I was at work. He watched PBS and the nature channel at night which were the only channels available while we tried to wire the city.

Nathan became a really cool cat. He was named for Kevin Kline’s character in Sophie’s Choice and the hot dog empire. He learned to walk on a leash and love my dog and never let me get the last word until the very last moment.

I like to learn something new every day, also to give back. Passion, compassion, Dee

Missing Her Already

She hasn’t left yet, after nearly two weeks but Ms. L is loved and cherished here and is welcome back as a guest anytime. Any dog who can use her paw or tail to corral the sunshine from her eyes looks good to me.

No, I can’t see her in a Stetson. Too little and bony for the hat. She’s getting along with everyone in the neighborhood except she wants to eat skittish Yorkies and teeny poodles. Luckily she’s on leash. A neighbor was caught downtown today with two dogs, one really old, off-leash and was given a warning.

Her owner and I, she’s a neighbor, met because of the dog and bonded over collars. Martingale collars, no buckle, hand made Asian silk. They each have two. That collar has kept Ms. L from squirrels, Yorkies and miniature Poodles as she is a sighthound and looks for prey.

I can control her in a heartbeat. Walking two dogs, a sight hound and a herder, would be difficult without a leash splitter that the owner holds with one hand and the dogs have to stay on the same side and walk at the same pace.

They’re  couple of pounds from each other even though L is tall and skinny and Zoe has more fat and an undercoat. They’re now separated, which allows me to write this. No roughhousing for 20 minutes!

Zoe is under the bed with the door closed. L is on the sofa sound asleep as well, wiht her tail covering her eyes. It is remarkable how similar they are for different breeds.

My mother-in-law gave us a quilt years ago, all hexagons, 100 years old from a great grandmother. She kept up the pattern until dementia set in, then started using wild colors and patterns. I tell visitors that these strange patterns on the outside (my husband and I) met in the middle and married years ago.

I think that’s what is happening with our “sister” dogs. I will miss her when her Mom comes home. Such a sweet girl. Dee

 

Digging to China

Yes, I was warned that our guest dog would scratch at the bed. It was our dog’s bed and she did it at three in the morning. From our bed I asked her to stop and she went right back to sleep.

It’s been three hours and I’m ready to take them out. She wants her mom. I’m doing everything I can to keep things on schedule and watch her every move. She and Zoe are getting along great, playing, competing and sleeping within a few feet.

They are both great individuals that feed off each other. Let’s hope they’re teaching good things and that next week our Zoe will not start digging to China. Dee

Tent City

What can I say. Our gorgeous guest for the next few days is young. Our dog is old. L (guest) didn’t like Zoe’s only toy that is indestructable. Well, Zoe’s on her second toy because the rubber just wore out after ten years.

What they decided to do is switch beds. First, L’s mom brought in her bed and favorite towel. Zoe sniffed the bed for five seconds, walked into the middle of it and peed on it. Let’s see whose house this is! Three hours later we had a clean guest dog bed. Zoe’s never done that before and we’ve had many dogs visit and stay with us over the years.

For having the two of them in our bedroom it was a quiet night. I did awaken when L jumped up to the bed and sniffed my face with those little hairs on her nose.

Today our guest found and tried to dominate “Precious.” Neither won and after I put it up high, no one can get it so they decided to sleep. We’ve had glitches with food and the wet bed and cleaning the floor and late-night laundering of said bed but all is well.

Our guest is sleeping by my desk and Zoe is sleeping outside our bedroom. Both have been fed and gone out until “last chance” before our bedtime. Watching them both can be tiring but they’re settling in. Similar instincts of dog but herder vs. sighthound. Zoe may have won sleeping up on our bed last night but L won this afternoon. Nobody wins. Establish the Pack. I was in charge until I left and hit traffic for an hour buying dog food. Then they turned to my husband, then each other.

Friends, they do get along well, like sisters. Yes, sisters can be petty sometimes! You took my bed! You took my toy! Want to fool the humans into taking us out for another walk? YEAH! Dogmatically yours, Dee

RIP Wurli

Wurli was a friend, a great dog and companion. I am so sorry to know that he’s gone.

This is for Liam:

Wurli, a treasure

For another adventure

Remembered always

This bad Haiku is from your friends across the street, OK I’m guilty. Zoe and I will pour a glass of water on his favorite tree as a tribute. We know where it is. With condolences, Dee