Thanksgiving 2011

It is the eve of Thanksgiving Day and I have spent the evening doing laundry and keeping a snarky, heat-ridden bitch too busy to care what her impotent buddy is up to. If she's not in her crate, Poppy has been occupied with a new brain-teasing toy, a rawhide chew or (sssshhhh), soon, a bath.

There has also been time to reflect on how much my four-legged companions contribute to my quality of life. They're loyal, affectionate, cuddly, and utterly forgiving of my inept care-taking.

Love my 4-leggers!

Pet Perks

My son and I enjoyed a good laugh at the antics of our four-legged pals, Poppy and Oliver, on Sunday night.

Dog and cat have had an interesting relationship. When she came home with me, Poppy was the same height and weight as Oliver. She behaved as puppies do, assuming the play position while Oliver sat back and observed the audacious pup through narrowed eyes. If Poppy became too rambunctious, he'd wallop her with a velvet paw, claws sheathed. Poppy would back off for a few seconds and try again only to receive the same response from Oliver. Eventually she'd get bored or frustrated with the uninterested and decidedly aloof creature and run off to take up the game with Jimmy. You could almost hear Oliver snicker as he sauntered, unscathed, into another room. 

At six months, Poppy weighs about thirty two pounds and is nearly eighteen inches at the shoulder. As she's grown in size, she has yet to grow in her understanding about the difference between herself and Oliver. Needless to say while pup and cat are no longer equals, she still tries to engage him in play. Oliver has a great deal of tolerance for her pouncing on, pinning him to the grass, carpet or couch, but only for a brief time. He really doesn't appreciate being trapped by a creature three times his size. Amazingly, I've never seen him use his claws to defend himself against her playful overtures. He simply yowls loudly enough to startle Pops and high tails it to the top of his cat tree, safely out of reach.

Delinquency and Legitimacy

I started this blog believing that I could just copy old journal entries onto a page and eventually catch up to the present. Ha! There's too much going on in our lives to write down a quick note and then try to remember all the nuances later. There will be some back-dated posts appearing in the coming weeks and, hopefully, I won't forget all the details. The present is hard enough to recall...

Confessions of a Idle Pet Guardian: 

While our family has had pets for the past six years, we (me, my ex-partner and son) have not been what you'd call model pet guardians.

Don't let this complacent posture fool you.
He's just waiting for food to drop.

Our beautiful nine year-old beagle, Jimmy, is not walked regularly nor have we been consistent with training. He sits readily for treats or a meal and reluctantly cooperates with "go to bed" but still pulls hard on a leash and plays dumb when confronted with the "down" command. Forget "stay." He's had no shots or veterinary care, with the exception of being treated for a rattle snake bite four years ago. His hips and knees are becoming arthritic, and this year he has officially gained "senior" status.

Oliver, my three year-old orange and white tabby, is neutered but has never had shots. He's thirteen pounds, healthy and active - one of the best mousers I've ever had. Interestingly enough, Oliver thinks he's a dog. He fetches Nerf balls, chases and takes turns tackling or being tackled by the beagle, and has been known to sack out on the dog bed with his buddies after a busy afternoon. He also insists on going outside and coming in with "the pack." It's wonderful that they get along so well but the dogs won't keep him healthy if he gets sick. They also won't protect him from a rabid rat or rabies carrying fleas. That's something his humans need to be taking care of.

L-R (clockwise) Jasper, Joy, and
Jimmy, with Oliver in the middle

Finances (or lack thereof) played a big part in excusing our past delinquent behavior. When there's not  enough money for annual exams or shots when they're due, it's easy to make excuses for not getting your critters to a vet. Yeah, you can hear it coming, can't you? "If you can't afford to have a pet, you shouldn't have one." That particular criticism didn't hinder our acquisition of two dogs and a cat as it should have, nor did it make the correct impression about why it might be wise to set aside a little bit of cash every month to save for their care.

People love their animals until they become too expensive or inconveniently disabled. People make excuses for not taking proper care of their animals or training them. People can be really blind and willfully ignorant about finding ways to make their "best friends" comfortable and keep them healthy. People are really good at making excuses. I know. I've used them all.