Holidaze...

Aaahh... seven days until Christmas! The tree is up and decorated with ornaments strategically hung above tail whipping height. (Just have to watch those near the window sills as Oliver likes to swat them.) All the garlands and shiny or sugared faux fruit have been hung - it's a different world to come home to - I love it! To the animals, it means nothing except a time of warmth indoors, more treat-filled toy fun, and less access to the back yard due to inclement weather.

To keep them both from wailing on each other and otherwise experiencing the negative effects of cabin fever, I have obtained lots of toys to occupy their little mouths and brains. (Happy early Christmas, critters!)

Poppy's favorite of these toys is the Kong Genius "Leo." It looks like a miniature bowling pin with openings in both ends and on one side. I put kibble or dry treats inside and it keeps her busy for an hour or more as she works to get at the tasty morsels. Even Jimmy, who expects treats to come only from your hand, has begun to enjoy the challenge of nosing this clever toy for his reward.

This season of change, as we move from the long dark into the light of a new year, also brings a change for Poppy. On December 13, she went to the clinic for her long anticipated spay surgery. I dropped her off at 8:30 a.m. and was told to call at 4:00 p.m. or just show up by 5:30 p.m. She was just waking up when I arrived and still wobbly from the anesthetic so I carried her from the clinic to the car where she slept for the hour long ride home. Once home, I lifted her out of the car and watched her weave across the lawn to the front steps... like a drunken sailor. She ate a little and had some water. Then, having been advised to put a cone on to keep her from chewing on her sutures, I did so... She was not happy to wear the "cone of shame."

The darned thing scared her silly. (Look at those eyes!) At first she stood completely still with her head down and tail tucked between her legs for a good three minutes. When she moved the cone jiggled, making a rattling noise that had her backing up frantically trying to get away from it. When that move didn't rid her of the frightening thing on her head, she began to buck and scramble on the kitchen floor. Fearing she might rip her stitches trying to get out of the cone, I caved and took it off. At this point, as long as someone's at home to supervise, it stays off. Fortunately she doesn't seem interested in licking or chewing on the incision right now. When we're not home, she goes into her crate with the cone on (a negative association that we'll have to deal with later).

Stuffies take away the post-surgery blues...

Kind of a crumby way to spend the holiday but it's such a relief to have this procedure behind us!  In a couple of weeks, she'll have her stitches out and then donate the evil cone to another post-surgical patient at the local shelter. Sharing the love!

Frog and dino didn't stand a chance!