Category Archives: editorial pets

What She Brings

Posted on March 28, 2016 | 1 comment

is way more than we ever could have expected.  Of course Zoe is a herder. She is so kind with adults, kids, other dogs and in her lifetime has always liked cats as well. Sorry, two mice digging out from winter snow out west.

She’s getting old but is healthy. I’m calling her vet to ask if she needs more that the kennel cough vaccine as to a postcard reminder.  Another senior blood panel may not be warranted as yet.

I’ll check my Dallas vet. She’s my husband’s cousin, who excised Zoe’s hips as a pup. Yes, our Zoe had the worst hip dysplasia in a 24 lb. pup she’d ever seen on an x-ray. She grew her own hips and at age 12 is 32 lbs. They never made hips for dogs under 6o lbs. back then so we had to give our girl a chance. I don’t know what she could do today but back then when she recovered she could corner around a tree, get a ball, bring it back to me and the Retriever or Lab would be looking around clueless. Who got the ball?

Hips from one’s own cartilage. It took a while to heal. When she stole a pound of prime steak off our counter I thanked my husband for putting it away because he doesn’t go into my kitchen except to get ice or Dr. Pepper and he said “I didn’t do it” then we looked at Zoe and she was licking her paws. We laughed.

Zoe brings joy to our days, life to our years. Everyone in the neighborhood knows her name (not usually mine) and they introduce their kids and dogs to her, knowing that she is cute and friendly.

In olden days she, at age 84 in “people years” may be called the Grand Dame, the highest status, but she is a dog. I prefer to call her my, our, Zoe and leave it at that. She herds us in the house and makes friends with everyone out on a walk. She brings love to our home and life and is family. Please adopt and spay/neuter. Cheers from D and Z

ps Thanks to Nathan, Chani and Mick Dundee (Mickey) as well. They were also my rescues over the past years I worked in shelters and spay/neuter clinics.

pps Someone asked me while I was volunteering at a community services event for a shelter showing a pup years ago why I was so mean that I couldn’t adopt this cute puppy. I told her if adopt all of the unwanted and strays that would be an untenable situation. I’ve had four wonderful pets over 30 years.

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Posted in animals, Editorial, editorial pets, Family, loving life, Zoe

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Here Comes The Sun

Posted on March 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

As the Beatles sang, I never imagined my life as it is. When my husband is home and we’ve our old dog Zoe I lift her up to the bed at night, all 32 lbs. of her. If the shades are up when the sun starts coming up (in summer before 5 a.m.) she jumps down and becomes UBD.

UBD is under bed dog. She comes to my side so I can’t get away as I am the morning person and food wench, and she crawls underneath our sleigh bed to get her beauty sleep. I don’t know anything that 20 hours of sleep per day wouldn’t cure as she’s gorgeous. In “people years” she’s got nearly 20 on me.

This morning at 6:45 a.m. I felt a paw holding onto my arm. Lo and behold, it’s guest dog L. Zoe was sound asleep on my husband’s pillow. Yes, shades were down halfway so they can see and I protect the art. “Hey, Aunt Dee, get up, I want to go out and have my dinner!”

I got up and took them for a nice walk and fed them then they played and went to separate rooms to soak up the sun (they heard you, Sheryl Crow). Zoe asleep, no sun. Zoe awake, all sun until noon when there is no direct source, only reflected.

Husband will be back this weekend, so will L’s mom to take her home. I was wondering how we would all sleep together but there’s no need. They return on the same day. How’s that for planning?

Our guest, I looked up the breed, is a mix of Borzoi and Whippet. When Zoe and I are alone on a walk everyone pets her and says this Aussie mutt is cute. When we’re with L everyone says “She’s beautiful, what kind of dog is she?” I’m expecting a rush for purebred dogs like L in our neighborhood shortly. Perhaps I’ll stop saying exactly what breed she is.

Now, if a magic elf (not the funny, enigmatic Will Ferrell) could somehow do our taxes all would be well. Cheers from Dee, Z and L

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Posted in editorial pets, Family, food, job description, loving life, Recipe Ideas, Zoe

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The Best Sound

Posted on March 6, 2016 | Leave a comment

in the world for me is my husband snoring. If he’s not snoring away, he may be dead. I wouldn’t want that.

The best sound for a dog is that of a stainless steel bowl being placed on the counter and kibble being measured in, plus Zoe’s frozen medallions and the “special sauce” which is a tablespoon of boxed chicken broth.

Zoe stays by me 24/7 but rarely touches me or wants a pat on the head. She loves my baths, rather than hubby’s, because I do more of a spa massage and he does the “manly man” gotta get everything you’ve picked up in the past two weeks.

Now I’ve two. Our guest dog spends a few hours of the day alone, on my pillow or on Zoe’s bed, on the rug at the foot of our bed. At night she sleeps on my husband’s pillow and keeps her face an inch from me. Sometimes she holds my arm or hand. Zoe’s at the far corner of a king bed so she can see squirrels. A lotta luck there, babe, hermetically sealed in here and you’ll never leave my side.

No matter where they are, they hear their bowls at dinner time. Water first, then their individual food in their other stainless bowls. Do they come running? You bet. I’ve made our guest into a chow hound, must be the special sauce. Also Zoe eats in a minute and it takes guest L at least eight minutes so Zoe goes behind closed doors, then I open up and they play, sleep and then go out for a walk.

As an adult human I wish my day were that easy! Cheers, and here’s to coming back to life as a lucky cat or dog with a loving, caring family and not a cabbage or a steer. Dee

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“Sisters”

Posted on March 4, 2016 | 1 comment

Dog Zoe and I took on another companion for a few days, a gorgeous American Silken Windhound, L.

There’s a silly song that’s in one of my favorite movies, White Christmas. First it’s sung by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, then later in drag by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

They started with mild confrontation, play, sleep, repeat. Then Zoe listened for every possible sound and protected L. Then we went out for a last chance walk before bed.

I have to lift Zoe to our bed because she’s old and has no hips. They slept in the exact same position, eight inches away from each other. If one got up and stretched and changed position, the other would do so. L was propped up against my husband’s pillows and at one point she grabbed my thumb between her front pads and held on a while. Zoe likes the bottom of my husband’s side for the view. Better squirrel viewing.

It was an interesting night, like sisters. Love her one minute, mess with her the next. At least that’s how I remember it. Cheers! Dee

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Doors

Posted on February 27, 2016 | Leave a comment

I always see doors, even windows, as opportunities. Herding dogs see them as a hindrance.

Our old Zoe loves it when my husband is home on weekends. She likes to sleep with whoever is in bed, and the highest spot with the best view possible. If my husband has a blanket over the comforter, that is the highest spot. It’s only 5 a.m. for him right now. We’ve been out and Zoe’s been fed and I’ve “Otis’ed” her back up there, where she is content for now.

For the few years we’ve lived here the bedroom door has squeaked but I could leave it open a few inches to minimize noise from the kitchen and living room and allow Zoe to nose her way out to check on the rest of her pack, that would be me.

About a year ago he stopped at a hardware store determined to allow the door to flow freely and no longer squeak. It worked but the inches are no longer allowed as it opens all the way and I can’t let him sleep, so I have to close it all the way and Zoe hates that! She wants her pack to be together.

I’m sure they’re both sleeping soundly. It’s 7:30 now and I’ve things to do and will try to keep quiet. She misses him so I’ll give them some sleeping/bonding time together. Cheers, happy Saturday, Dee

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Knock Knock

Posted on February 17, 2016 | Leave a comment

Who’s there?

It is young visitors A and C who come to call on Zoe, our old dog. They had her do a couple of tricks then grandpa showed up with breakfast. They disappeared next door in their PJ’s. So cute. I got hugs. So did Zoe.

Zoe’s friends are in from another state for a sad occasion, their great grandmother passed away yesterday. The funeral is today. I don’t know what they know about death or funerals but hope they ask a few questions. These rituals have always been a mystery to me.

Zoe has offered, if events go long, to play with the kids. I said OK as long as I can “snoopervise.” Too bad my husband is not here, he’s made the kids balloon animals with great grandma in attendance.

Recently I wrote about a childhood neighbor who asked “what are you?” A six year old girl, a student, “no, what ARE you?” I didn’t even think of it. I was Catholic. She was Protestant. We came to that situation with armed guards, horses, SWAT teams when a soccer match was on in Scotland. Rangers vs. Celtics. They had a parade that marched below our windows and I think every police officer in Scotland was there to make sure there was not a ruckus. Ask Gordon Ramsay.

A and C’s family are Jewish. I looked up information, and the florist did as well and said that if this is the location where the family is sitting shiva it is not appropriate to send flowers. While there’s a mezzuzah on the door frame I do know that they’re reform and wanted to give this lapsed Catholic’s condolences. K saved Zoe’s life, it was the least I could do.

Yesterday I went to a great flower store and even though it was not 50% off Friday I brought my own vase and picked up a few spring blooms. I’d heard the reception would not be here but at the nursing home. When I got home there were flowers from great grandpa so I felt OK to leave them across the hall.

At my age, having two kids under ten years old knock on our door to visit our 12 year-old dog is fantastic. They gave their Aunt Dee a hug and put Zoe through her paces. She was so excited after our walk she asked for Precious, her only toy, and gleefully squeaked it. She’s now possessing it in her sleep, happy that her friends have returned for a day.

Death and dying are universal things. How we go about ritualizing them is personal. I spent an entire week halfway across the country with my mother eight years ago. She said these words and these only, to me. “Get me some water, please.” My gift to her after she died was to have her body removed and use her eye tissue to help another. My family fought me all the way but that’s what she wanted before cremation.

In the end, we do what we need to do. She had walked the breeding seeing eye dogs for a decade. Dee

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Zoe is 12

Posted on February 3, 2016 | Leave a comment

Our pup lived a filthy existence before she left her “home” for the shelter before she should have been weaned, or spayed. We met her and asked for her and she had a hold at the shelter by someone else. We met other dogs but no-one like her.

The next morning we were called with a lift on the hold so she could be ours. She had an unfortunate name I’d gone to lengths to correct after we finally adopted her, she jumped out of the box at just six weeks and sat on my lap in the car and looked out the window.

Coccidia, hookworms, done asap, then double hip dysplasia several months later and she had to go through six months of surgery and rehabilitation. Before surgery she would roll down the hill if she felt threatened and just give up her tummy. No-one took it. She is a sweet, beta girl.

We have a herder. She’s still a pup in our eyes. I gave her three little glusamine/chondriotin/sea cucumber bits yesterday atop her food.

Yesterday our Zoe, Greek for life, turned 12 years old. She’s still great with adults, kids and other dogs. Kids call on her. She loves being in my car, and has a 4″ orthopedic bed in there with a net and dog bowls et al. On the highway she sleeps, and only pops her head up at an off-ramp or street light.

We’re going on 14 years of marriage and Zoe took a lot of work but turned into a really great dog. January is always a great month to say what we are grateful for. Dee

 

 

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Two Incidents

Posted on January 14, 2016 | Leave a comment

Forget that, let’s make it three. My dog of nearly 12 years ate dinner off my plate while I was eating. That is unacceptable.

Then a neighbor tried to give back a collar from a teething pup I’ve taken care of and I’ve bite marks and blood all over my arms and hands.

Then I saw a huge dog that has grown at least 6″ taller and 20 lbs. bigger since a couple of days before Christmas. I want to send a silly note about what was done with the dog I once knew because he’s HUGE!

He saw “Aunt Dee” in the elevator, laid down on his side and gave me his tummy to pet. Sir W is a patriot, a gentleman, and an all-around good dog. Bully for his owners. They’ve a lifetime of grooming ahead of them but that’s OK. Our neighbor is younger and needs a bit more training to stop biting Aunt Dee. It’s OK, they’re working on it.

We’ll be married a long time this month and I hope to have an understated event next anniversary because we eloped. My husband asked about kids and I said we had to get a dog first to find out how bad he is. We got Zoe 12 years ago, he was so bad, spoiling as he would with a daughter before she started dating. I was unable to have children so it’s just us and Zoe. That’s the way it is, as would Walter Cronkite say after giving the Vietnam war death toll each day. My father-in-law was in the service at the time and disputes those numbers because he saw the coffins. He doesn’t talk about it. I am not in a place to ask. Cheers, hail to the people who keep us safe from harm. Dee

 

 

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Our Girl

Posted on January 13, 2016 | 1 comment

Zoe took food from my plate tonight. She will be 12 years old end of the month, knows better and had a great meal this evening.

I had to call my husband’s mother to find out what to do with an errant child. She said to pull out Zoe’s cage and put her in it for a while. We’ll see about that. Right now she’s back in our bedroom and my husband is working and wearing headphones. Perhaps I’ll take away her bed.

She seems to know she did something wrong. She just has to not do it again. I don’t eat out of her bowl. She should not steal from my plate while I am eating. I love her and will be with her all her life but these are rules. I just took her comfy bed out from under her and didn’t “Otis” her to our bed. My husband has been on the phone and working so she’s been closed back there away from me, dog mom and food wench and taker-outer. Husband’s taking her for “last chance.”

I’ve closed the door to our office. The kitchen is closed, as is my work space. If she is mad at me for writing my first childrens’ book this morning this is no way to act. I am the food wench. Deal with it. Dee

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Is There Another In Me?

Posted on December 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

A pup, that is. Can I raise another? Today I answered a neighbor’s challenge and his pup is in my care for a few hours.

My near 12-year (dog years, in people’s she’s a great-aunt) Zoe was very kind with H, nosing him when she needed to do so  and putting a paw down on him to put him in his place. No teeth, no barking. Especially good great-aunt behavior as the pup’s needle teeth are loosening and he likes to bite on hands and arms. Mine. He also barks and does not like to be told “no.” No is a “tch” with a finger that he then tries to bite. He also chewed my Zoe’s leash. No harm, no foul.

I’ve worked with shelter animals for over 20 years. Today I got H and Zoe to a comfortable place. H peed twice in our place. Finally Zoe and H came to an agreement and they both snored away for at least an hour. Shhhhh, they’re still snoring. Let’s leave them be.

H’s pet sitter will be here soon and will re-crate him. Today he peed twice outdoors, twice indoors (I’ve the magic stuff that gets rid of stains and smells). He is sleeping inside by our balcony so he can see out the windows.

I don’t know. Between peeing and teething I don’t know if I can go through it again, especially as our 12 year-old has several years to live and I would not bring in a pup while she depends upon and herds us 24/7.

We’ll see after I get the bandages off my hands and arms! Exaggeration and elimination and eating difficulties. Puppy then dog 101. Extensive training ,food, vet bills. It’s a conundrum. I’m bleeding from his puppy teeth as he does not take no for an answer. No corporal punishment, just a firm “NO” or a Cesar “tccch” that primed him to go after me.

He tried to eat four of my shoes. One of each so four pair would be ruined.

Now H’s parents want info on pups. They’re newlyweds and have read some about breeds and training and they got a good pup. They just have to turn the pup into a great dog. He holds promise. Cheers, Dee

ps H just peed twice more in the house. Three now, one on the welcome mat. He’s going home soon. He went on my den’s carpet. Not a good thing to do to Aunt Dee.  Yes, now he wants to sleep in my office five feet from where he just peed. Go figure. He got his teeth into and ripped my brand new sweater. He swam in Zoe’s water bowl. I saw both his front paws in there.

Part of me says no. Part of me says yes, that when Zoe is gone, I’ll still be able to take a pup out 8X per day, feed her 3X per day, train her (I have male cats, female dogs). Now it’s time to prepare dinner, after taking the bandages off my hands and arms from  puppy needle teeth. He’ll be a tough one to train as he doesn’t take no for an answer. Here’s to newlyweds and puppyhood! Dee

 

 

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