Category Archives: Pet

Not as first dog. But as an alarm clock your proficiency is down the toilet. I had a dream that it was 6:00 in the morning and I had to get up. It was 9:00 and you were sleeping on my husband’s pillow, snoring away.

I’m not angry at you. You missed Daddy for a few days, I know, as did I. I even realized that it’s not me that makes our hipless wonderdog go off the bed at night, it’s him. Touch her and she goes. Then, two hours later she begs to be lifted up again. No hips.

But as an alarm clock, you put in a dismal performance even though I left the shades up and the sun streamed in at 5:00 you didn’t even ask me to go out! I’m the Mom, and need to know these things and to have you on Jim’s pillow snoring away at 9:00 is disconcerting.

Zoe, as an alarm clock, you’re fired. As a dog, be ready to go out at 6:30 in the morning. Dad’s back and that’s when his iPhone alarm goes off. Disciplinarian and Food Wench Mom, Dee

For her entire life our dog Zoe has loved sleeping. We’ve had her since she was six weeks old, and had to take out her hips as a pup but she grew her own and can corner around a tree faster than any retriever.

She herds us, which is why she likes the bed or being under the bed, under my pillow. Of course I take her out during the week, but on weekends I take her out, feed her early and place her back on the bed with my dear husband.

She stays close to me because I’m her “food wench.” Yesterday she came up between pillows and placed her entire spine against mine just to prevent me from leaving without her. She hasn’t done that in a while. She stands by the door when I leave to get groceries.

Herders are interesting creatures. Years ago I lent some boys an AKC breed book so they could look for the best kind of dog that fit their family. They chose a Jack Russell Terrier and named him “Sparky.” If living with a herder makes doing laundry difficult (being in the path) those kids are probably now in college and heaven knows how Mom is doing with old terrier Sparky.

The kids came to my door and returned my book, and introduced me to their new dog the day he was brought home. I’d told them when they were younger to not get into the tot lot because they were climbing fences and there was a lot of rebar as the tot lot was refurbished. They hated me.

A couple of years later I caught them in the home of a meth dealer and summoned them all to my yard because she was giving them expensive gifts. I said do not ever deal with this woman again. If I see you there I know where you live and will tell your mother.

When my dog died suddenly, the kids in the tot lot did not call out her name as they did every afternoon. Instead, I ran into the boys who’d hated me years before and told the younger one, who really loved my dog, that she had died.

We went behind the bushes and the dear boy, perhaps eight years old, cried but made me tell him exactly how she died. We spent a few moments together and I told him to tell his older brother and friends that I yelled at him for something to explain the tears.

After a year of marriage we adopted a dog from a shelter. Ten years later everyone knows her name. She was a sleeper then, but certainly no-one can interrupt her beauty sleep now. As it is after midnight, I wish I could sleep with no concerns. By now she’s already taken my pillow.

It’s OK, I’m not that tired. Big day tomorrow. I’ve changed the coleslaw and will let you know how it turns out and give you the recipe. Dee

Dear Zoe, you’ve been with us since you were nearly six weeks old and had already been spayed by the shelter.

We took you in and you’ve had great food and companionship ever since and now it’s a few months until your tenth birthday. Of course as your “mom” I always prepare for and hope against the worst.

I think you ate something nasty off the street while my dear husband was walking you and got sick from it. I firmly believe that with the cool summer weather your body told you to grow an undercoat, then shed it, which you are doing all over, thank you very much as the downy tufts accent our wood floors.

The last time I petted my younger family member’s old dog all her fur was coming out as she neared death. My brother and sister were with her through the euthanization (said they’d never do it again), I sent Mom up front to pay the bill, got her bed and toys from the kennel, herded the family to the car and swore I’d never do it like that again. xo Zoe from the only “mom” you’ve ever known, Dee

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We helped a friend euthanize her pet a few years ago and my husband wouldn’t be with me and neither would the pet’s owner. I wanted to be there so he wouldn’t be alone. In the end the owner took my hand and both of us had our other hand on the dog and we saw him go.

I’ve done this too many times and dread the thought of our dear Zoe passing. I will assure that she will not suffer, but no matter how many funerals my husband has served as pallbearer, I know that I will have to lead the discussion on euthanasia and be the “point man” on its execution at which he must be present. Zoe deserves that both her folks be present.

It will be a sad day for us when she goes because we picked the right dog for us and they are few and far between. For now, no more cleaning and laundry for Zoe, she is hungry and sleeping as usual. It seems like a 12 hour “bug” that is working its way out. Good girl. She just moved by my desk. Always the herder.

As to euthanasia I always consider the disease, level of pain and how to control it, and of course quality of life. Look into your pet’s needs and not yours and make the decision and be there and hold them through their final moments. Tell the kids in advance and give them an opportunity to be there or wait with grandparents at home or in the waiting room.

Please make sure your vet has people on call when they leave you alone as the sedative kicks in. My old dog stood up five times and I couldn’t call out and had to be there or she would have fallen off the metal shelf they put her on right off the waiting room. Now they’ve an entire wing and each room has a call button and they have a separate checkout desk and exit so a grieving pet owner doesn’t have to walk through the lobby. If I ever move back there, that may be our vet!

In the meantime, I just had Zoe get up so I could put her big bed next to me at my desk and she hopped right up. She’s always happy, but now she’s content and when I’m sure she’s OK I’ll comb her out after her latest bath in 24 hours.

We love our dog and I want to get her blood work done just to make sure she’s OK even though she’s been through many exams over the years. Do your best. They’re called man’s best friend for a reason. Arf! Dee

Yes, we had leftovers last night, mainly mashed potatoes and heated up meatloaf with a brown gravy. Husband liked it, dog will like the last two slices of meatloaf.

I just took a survey from a travel site to which I contribute about traveling with pets. They asked the wrong questions.

When our dog was about four years old we were sent across the country for several months and had to take her with us. She flew in a crate with crazy stickers all over (LIVE ANIMAL) it and rain-proof velcro pouch for her vaccinations and health certificate and plane ticket, plus my husband added a battery-powered fan outside the crate to blow in and keep her cool.

No, she’s not spoiled. When we were sent overseas for a few months the next year a friend took her and she gained 13 lbs (she’s now 31.1 lbs and at a good weight).

Now she’s nearly ten years old and we drove her 1500 miles last Thanksgiving to see family. We didn’t have our flights two months in advance so our pet-sitting service bailed on us for another client. She’s a great car dog and loves coming with us. She’s in the back on her orthopedic bed and we stop every two hours for potty and water breaks.

The problem is that city hotels do not have the facilities needed, as one has to sign a contract that states no dog is allowed in the room alone. Restaurants sometimes don’t allow a dog on a patio and one must think of weather. In one city I called the restaurant next door and ordered food and my husband went to get it so I could be with the dog in our room.

At other times, hotels give you the worst room in the place, next to the ice maker and soda machine and parking lot access. That’s nasty so we try to stay in nicer places.

Aside from the “dog-cation” last winter I’d prefer someone to stay here with her and keep her routine. When we got to Thanksgiving HQ we dropped her off in her element with all her family around and went out for pizza without her!

We’d planned to see all kinds of historic places on our trip but could do nothing because of the dog, and because we were dog-tired from driving 500 miles a day and stopping every two hours. Our dog is so cute, drive 65 mph and she sleeps like a baby. Slow on an exit ramp and her head pops up in the mirror, and she always knows the smells of home, whether it be here or the ranch.

If you’ve any ideas or tricks for traveling with pets please let me know. Thanks. Dee