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.

Joy, "China Girl," "Pretty Princess"

When our little Joy died in May, I had to face a both my procrastinator's and excuse-maker's guilt. "I should have done more to care for her. I should have had her spayed and maybe she wouldn't have been so dog-aggressive. I should have been saving money for emergencies..." Should'a, would'a, could'a. No amount of guilt was going to bring Joy back. No amount of self-recrimination was going to keep Oliver or Jimmy healthy or help them if they became ill. Nope. That ball lay squarely in my court.

Enter Poppy. Not only did I have qualms about her genetic disposition but I was feeling very guilty about saying, "Yes, I'll give her a good home," when in my estimation, I had not been a responsible pet guardian. Major guilt. And that guilt (not shame) may have been the deepest and most significant reason for diving into research about pit bull type dogs and trying to figure out how to become more responsible for my all of charges.

Back to yesterday: 

On Saturday morning, I escorted Jimmy and Poppy to PetVet Pet Food in El Cerrito. PetVet provides and excellent selection of reasonably priced, high quality pet food and toys. They also offer low cost exams and shot services on Friday and Saturday mornings. They have an efficient and caring staff of vets and techs, all of whom demonstrate professionalism and knowledge about the West County pets brought to their facility. I am so grateful to have found a clinic that can help me take better care of my currently healthy pets. 

Jimmy was slated for an exam since he's been favoring his right hind leg lately. We'd been told at the time he received the antivenin that the rattle snake bite might contribute to early onset of arthritis. The vet and I engaged in a brief but thorough discussion of Jim's painful joints and she prescribed an anti-inflammatory to reduce the discomfort of his arthritis. The only way to accurately diagnose the cause of his pain or eliminate a cause was with x-rays, the money for which is not in this month's budget. However, I have begun putting aside a little cash every month so that, within the next few months, I'll have enough to schedule an exam with a full-service vet clinic or keep adding to it for emergencies.

Oliver will have his turn at vaccinations next month, then Pops will be spayed (hopefully) in January, and, by February, I should be in a position to have Jimmy's arthritis assessed. 

With both dogs sporting the green tags which tell the world "I'm vaccinated," I have begun to feel a little more like a legitimate pet guardian by taking the first of many steps toward becoming truly responsible for their health and well being. Quite a landmark for all of us.

P.S. 11/19

There's come-uppance for not being responsible early on. I had hoped to have Poppy spayed in October on a voucher but it didn't work out. Now she's gone into heat and I'm trying to find a vet who will take her while she's uber-hormonal. Not many will due to the additional bleeding and  risk. A few more calls to make... 

~ L