Tag Archives: animals

Preserving

Posted on May 5, 2015 | Leave a comment

My husband just got me a new hard drive and it messed some things up, sorry!

I remember when I first got bay leaves off a tree in Northern California. It was a revelation. Nowhere near there now, once a year I find fresh bay leaves at the market, rinse and thoroughly dry them, bag and freeze them. They’re so much better than dried bay leaves.

In addition, with the reboot/computer overhaul today I found a photo of my father and I, I was about five months old, given I was born in November and we were picnicking in short sleeves (ok, I was in a onesy and not standing).

Dad was seated behind me on the blanket and was making sure I was safe by having his arms around me, yet a dog came up to me and I had my arms out to pet the dog and he let me reach out and connect.

All my life I’ve always reached out to people, dogs, cats, anyone in need. I just didn’t know until today when it started. I thank my Dad so much for keeping me safe and letting me go. This is about preserving memories, Dee

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Routine

Posted on September 6, 2013 | 2 comments

When I was in college my parents bought my younger brother and sister a Collie, who kind of herded around the house.

My first dog was a retriever and she would look at her basket of toys by the front door anxiously to pick the right one with which to greet the friend or family member whose car she heard outside.

For the past ten years I’ve had an Aussie/X herder, also from the shelter. She has one bed with a view of the front door so no-one can leave. Every so often if she’s up around 4:00 in the morning she’ll come up to my pillow and lay her spine along mine so I can’t leave without her knowing about it.

Today I gave her a bath. She loves baths and has one at least every two weeks. Hair dryers are a no-no so I let her air dry for 24 hours then comb her out with Dee’s Torture Chamber of Horrors. Furminator, horse curry combs, oh no!

What herders love is ROUTINE. Also, if a herder likes something, once is not enough. So we go out before and after breakfast as she holds on for the second trip for me to bag the prize. I used to drive my husband to work in the morning in Texas, because it was so hot and he needed to be fresh for meetings. It became ROUTINE to take Zoe in the back of the car. My husband would get out across from his building by a bus stop. Zoe would jump into the front passenger seat and sit down like a human. Inevitably, everyone at the bus stop would point and burst out laughing. One time two police horses were behind us and she was in back. She looked back and freaked out as they were huge and about two feet from our rear bumper. That may have been the day the Federal court sentenced the Enron thieves.

After the bath, she gets to go for a quick walk as her prize. We just returned from that trip. Her daddy gets back this afternoon from a week on business so she and the house must be clean. Now all I need to do is fix myself up and figure out what to get for dinner.

I don’t know what I’d ever do without Zoe. We got her from the shelter at six weeks and she’ll be ten years old in January.Her routines have become mine. She knows that I’m the morning walker and Jim is the late night walker and knows how to set the stare, whine or paw. She knows I’m the food wench so twice a day I’m always on the hook.

While no dog can ever replace her or my first dog, I’m thinking no undercoat (fur all over the floor, tumbling tumbleweeds). Jim’s allergies are always an issue. Labradoodle? Portuguese Water Dog? I’m loving these little French Bulldogs but don’t want an accessory, I want a dog. Sorry, Frenchies, you can still call me Aunt Dee.

Not to worry. Zoe is healthy, and the happiest dog I’ve ever met in 20 years of working with pets. She’ll be around for years. Now she just has to dry so she can be combed out. Right now she’s on the floor six inches behind my office chair. Yes, try carrying an armload of laundry with her doing a serpentine in front, ready to trip you at any moment! But we love her. Tell me a story. Dee

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Happy

Posted on August 27, 2013 | Leave a comment

No, she’s not sick or anything but Zoe, our dog nearing age ten, is the happiest animal I’ve ever met. I’ve worked with thousands of dogs and cats over 20 years and even though we had to take her hips out as a pup she grew her own and just is happy, sleepy, hungry or needy every day.

I can’t think of what to do without her or in her final days. Years ago before we married my husband said let’s have babies. I said OK but first we have to get a dog to find out how bad you are. He’s horrible. He is the “fun guy” dad who lets her off leash and tosses the ball and lets her eat icky stuff off the road or in the bushes that she tosses on the bed and I’ve five loads of laundry to do.

Disciplinarian and food wench am I.  Guess who she waits at the door for when I’m out shopping for groceries on the weekend? Me. She loves him. She really likes and tolerates me. My husband would disagree as he believes I’m her sun and moon as he is mine.

We’re on our own this evening and she stays right by me and barks at any noise. She takes good care of me. And it’s nice to have someone to talk to, even though she doesn’t really talk back. She probably has beaten a monkey with word knowledge, however. Even if we spell something out, she knows what it is. Ball is now “spherical device.”

I always adopted the unadoptable animals. My first was abused by a law enforcement officer so was afraid of men, children and men in uniform. I cured her of that and she was the sweetest dog, beloved by all the kids in our park. They all gave the park a tree in her memory.

For once, I wanted a pup who could be normal. Of course she wasn’t because she had the worst hips her vet had ever seen. But she got over it, and a couple of days later was happy as can be. I bought an E-Collar (in “Up” they call it the Cone of Shame) and it is still taped to the back of a picture, unused.

Yes, I let her get up on the bed and she’s remained there ever since. She’ll go with either who will lift her up and sit for a while sleeping or watching tv. Why? Because even though the hip surgeries hurt and I was worried she’d get at her stitches, she had razor burn and that was her primary concern.

I left her at the grocery store the other day, tied her to the bicycle rack and was in the store for just a few moments. I walked home and thought I forgot something. Oh, no! I ran full-out until I got to the street she was on, about three minutes, then took deep breaths and walked slowly and calmly to get her.

Yesterday there were three men and I walked Zoe on a 6′ leash held between my fingers at 2′ and one man recoiled in horror at the sight of a dog but she was several feet away from him. His friend said “He’s afraid of dogs.” I said I was sorry to hear that.” Friend “He’s a human being.” Me at my mailbox with short-leash dog 20 feet away “So am I, in case you haven’t noticed.” Then he told me my dog wasn’t human and I said she never got anywhere near him and was under my control at every moment.

Zoe knows who likes her and who doesn’t.  People in the neighborhood know her name, not always mine. I can tell you that if you want to meet a perfect “starter dog” pick Zoe. A two-year old could take food out of her bowl and she’d just look up at me and question, will I get more? Here’s to happy dogs, from a secret cat lover too, Dee

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Men and Dogs

Posted on July 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

Last week my issue to solve was that of a utilities billing error that was rendered 100% in our favor and it didn’t cost us a cent, except 18 phone calls/emails and much research. That doesn’t cost a thing. I’m a wife so my time is not billable.

In this post in no way do I assume that men and dogs are incompatible. Certain dogs are bred in certain neighborhoods to scare people. Many other dogs are loving family companions and that is my goal.

We currently live in a tower. This evening, I was in the lobby taking my 31 lb. Australian Shepherd dog mix out for a walk. A group of people walked by, four couples. The men went to the other side of the lobby, the women came by my and another woman’s dog and said hello and one petted Zoe.

When we got outside they were awaiting transportation and I picked up Zoe, who would let a 2 year-old steal food from her bowl and just look up at me with sad eyes. The men recoiled, one woman petted her and asked her name, which is the same as her dog. One of the men said “She’s not like the dogs in my neighborhood.” He reached out and petted her back while I was holding her.

This is only part perception, mostly reality. If Maddie’s Fund and ASPCA and the Humane Society want to really stop animal abuse and irresponsible breeding and dog fighting rings our human culture must change. Not just for the dogs, for the people. Just as our business model is, you do what you do to go out of business and have people fend for themselves.

Twenty years ago one of the first programs to shelter dogs from abuse was a beacon to me as a behaviorist and humanitarian (petarian?) as they took in animals and held them without threat of euthanasia where the spouse/children were abused and in an anonymous shelter. They knew that abusers start on small things (pets) and graduate to children and spouses.

I would go a step further and allow families in domestic violence shelters to keep their dog or cat or fish as a symbol of family stability during a crisis. In hurricane Katrina no pets were allowed to be saved and even the inept government rescue agencies have changed that policy, so should domestic violence shelters.

Getting the abusers off the streets is paramount, but education is the key. One does not need to breed aggressive dogs to fight each other or attack humans in order to gain dominance in society.

How can we do it? Unless I was Mother Teresa (I’m not) as an old white lady there’s no way I can go into gang neighborhoods. As an engineer my husband does not like top-down solutions and would rather create from the ground up.

That’s how this must be done. I once read a story of a gang neighborhood with regular drive-by shootings into homes. The ladies installed speakers and played opera music very loudly and the gangsters left. If I could find these ladies, we’d have a solution today. Cheers, let’s hear your solutions, Dee

ps Yes stop drugs, gangs, cock fighting, dog fights, animal abuse, child abuse, spousal abuse on a continuum. If we don’t nip it in the bud, we end up with people who hold girls for years aka A. Castro. Up the ante in jail time for animal abusers and you’ll have your people abusers at bay. Case closed.

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Mixes

Posted on July 10, 2013 | 2 comments

I’ve never gotten a pet from a breeder. I usually go to the shelter and see what I get. My first was a cat, transported in my brother’s pocket across the country because he was kicked off the 7′ shelf he was born on and my sister had to bottle-feed him.

Then I got a dog. She was abused by a deputy sheriff for a year and in a shelter for a year. I started volunteering there the week she arrived and spent time with her every week. When there was a discussion to determine whether to euthanize her the following week, I had her home, for ten years and she led a good life.

Please tell Maddie’s fund that I’m not asking people to have puppies or kittens so their kids can see the cycle of life. Grow up and do it yourself. Ten years ago we got a six-week old pup from a shelter and a few months later had to do the research to get her hips excised which we did at six and nine months of age (thanks, Val).

We tend to live in nice places where I walk the dog several times a day. This morning we met a papillon/chihuahua. Mine is an Aussie mix. I’m seeing mixes in the nice areas of town, which means we’re adopting from shelters. Yea!

I’m glad that 20 years of volunteering, spaying and neutering over 2,000 cats has finally hit and our work is not done but is still in progress.

Soon we’ll make a guessing game of what breed(s) we have! Mine herds me everywhere as I’m the “food wench” and my husband is the “fun guy.” We know she’s a herder but haven’t spent the $60 to test her genes. After ten years, who cares. We know her, I know her from tip to tail. It doesn’t matter what breeds she represents. Please adopt from your local shelter. Dee

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Dog Buddies

Posted on July 9, 2013 | Leave a comment

For the past year, I’ve run in to this older couple with their two dogs, always on a walk. For some reason I was drawn to them and ask how they’re doing from time to time.

Over the past year we’ve run into each other 8-10 times and something was familiar. I found out today that they were neighbors 30 years ago. The story gets better than that but I need to introduce myself first and see how it goes from there.

Many things change over 30 years. I grew up and got older. They were already grown-ups but I recognized them from home. I didn’t piece it together until today because I knew (or thought) they lived elsewhere. Let’s see what happens. Dee

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Dog House

Posted on June 3, 2013 | 1 comment

Yep, I’m there, where I’ll remain for the forseeable future.

I’ve worked with shelter dogs, Greyhounds just off the track, and owned two dogs at different times, first a desperate rescue for ten years until she died and now Zoe. We’ve had Zoe for nearly ten years and had her hips taken out as a pup because she had the worst hip dysplasia her surgeon had ever seen.

Cats are in my purr-view as well, both canine and feline volunteering and ownership for nearly 25 years. Spaying and neutering over 2,000 feral cats over a six-year period was a milestone.

I like to walk to the grocery stores around here. Often I take a bag with my wallet, over my shoulder, for small items, or a rolling cart when I need to purchase heavier things.

Zoe does not go with me unless my husband is there and stays outside with her while I shop, even though she’s nearly ten years old and has been with us since she was six weeks of age. I’m always afraid someone will give her a treat and she is so trusting that she’d go with anyone or run out into traffic.

Today I went to our local “convenience” market for a couple of little things I needed for dinner. The butcher had to grind some meat for me so I took a few moments longer than anticipated, so rushed home to get groceries in the frig and start dinner.

En route, I realized I left poor Zoe tied up to a bicycle stand outside the grocery store! She was only there about four moments longer and was sitting patiently awaiting my arrival. I feel horrible! She’s asleep on her big bed by my desk right now and has probably forgotten about it 1/2 hour later because she’s only dreaming of squirrels and thinking about her dinner, but I feel awful.

Please, Penny, Clouseau, Nike, Chani, Nathan, Mick and now Zoe… forgive me. Also Val. I’ve never done this in all my life and if I did have a defense it would be that I never take her and leave her outside the grocery store. Car is OK if the temperature works for her (high of 50 and out of the sun with windows open for no longer than ten minutes). She loves the car and no-one can easily steal her.

Mea culpa, Dee

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Bad Dog!

Posted on April 25, 2013 | 1 comment

Our Zoe is nine years old now. As a pup she had severe hip dysplasia and we had to have her hips amputated at six and nine months of age. After aquatic therapy (my husband sneaked her into the community pool every evening) and much walking she got better. She’s small so they don’t design titanium hips for dogs under 50 lbs. and she had to grow her own.

A couple of years later I took a serious steak and marinated it overnight. We ate half of it, at 1.5 lbs. Later I thanked my husband for putting the rest in the frig (he’s not allowed in my kitchen save getting ice, water or Dr. Pepper.

We both looked at dear Zoe, with a smile on her face and licking her paws as she had just eaten 3/4 lbs. of prime steak.

Now, we think it’s cute that she takes Jim’s towel when he’s done eating breakfast at the “bar.” This morning she placed her paws up on his chair and started licking eggs over medium off his plate. She was not in my good graces for a long while this morning.

I ran into a woman with a gorgeous dog yesterday and she was so afraid he would jump on me if I even looked at him. My dog was not there at the time. I said that while our dog is nine, we never had to train her not to jump up on people because her hips were so bad.

Live and learn! I think I need higher counter tops! Cheers, Dee

ps Feels like Spring! Finally.

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Squirrels

Posted on March 18, 2013 | 1 comment

Shhhhhh, I think she can even hear me typing this word. In the winter we see their nests.  Apparently they have multiple “apartments” they use to raise their young, store food and keep safe from predators.

Yes, my dog is good, she’s killed a couple mice in another state, but there is no way she is going to catch a squirrel.

First of all, she’s on something called a leash. And yes, there are free bags around but we buy our own and I always have a roll in my pocket. We would love more dog-friendly parks here but normally they’re about a 30 minute drive away so that doesn’t work for us.

When spring and summer finally enter our world we’ll never see the squirrel nests but for me, it’s a wonderful sight to see in the bare winter trees. Zoe will continue to watch and chase squirrels but that population is safe, at least from her.

We know that life is coming back. There are more geese, and we always know about the weather from the seagulls.

I think that when we retire, many years from now, we may be………. that’s a few chapters on, dear reader. It’s late and I must retire for the evening. As always, Dee

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Napping Dog Press II

Posted on February 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

Hello there, this is Felix Cattus III reporting for Sir Nigel Davenport, who is quite tired after a romp with Zoe and a bit much catnip.

FELIX: I’m interested in your relationships with cats. Sir Nigel was not attacked and has no wounds, and thanks you repeatedly for saving him from that pesky mockingbird.

ZOE: It’s nothing. If a cat doesn’t run from me, we’re the best of friends, as you can see from yesterday’s interview with Sir Nigel. We would have had a brandy and cigar but he was keen on the catnip.

FELIX: Do you get along well with humans? Big ones and tiny ones?

ZOE: They’re so easy to manipulate, especially the big ones. The little ones are still true to themselves in every way and I respect them for that quality. I do like them, especially Food Wench and Fun Guy every day, and love going to grandma’s and great-grandma’s houses to be petted and eat stuff that falls off the kitchen counters. They even say I cut down on the vacuuming, whatever that means, it may be that loud machine I hate.

FELIX: Speaking of things you dislike about living in a human environment, what else is irksome to you?

ZOE: Balloons. Fun Guy asked Food Wench to help buy candy to keep in his office desk and she said “No, you have to do something more interesting.” So he took up twisting balloons and ordering them from Sweden, practicing at home, and doing company parties.

I hate the squeaks of the balloons as he twists them into Wile E Coyote or Elmo. I especially hate the sounds when one pops. Now I go under Food Wench’s side of the bed anytime I even see a balloon, so Fun Guy goes to the child’s family who wants the balloon.

FELIX: To end this interview, what do you like about your life?

ZOE: I’ve met up with some really great humans who’ve raised me, others who pet me, dogs who play with me and I get to sleep at least 18 hours a day. That’s minimum. I don’t arise until I get my beauty sleep. I like baths because I love being clean but hate being brushed out a day later (Food Wench knows I won’t deal with a hair dryer so I air dry like Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire).

I’d also like to thank you cats for the interviews, sorry Sir Nigel is under the weather but thank you and my buddy Dashiell for keeping me on the kitty track. And thank my buds Axl, Roxy, Jake, Truman, Bella, Bandit and many others. One for my baby, and one more for the road. That’s Frank, baby. Also Tony Bennett and Henry Mancini, who Food Wench has met in a kitchen. Hey, we don’t mess around.

FELIX: Thank you, Zoe, from Napping Dog Press. Sir Nigel will return tomorrow and now it appears I will be chased from the set. I’ve a plan. This is Felix Cattus III. Good evening.

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