| Author | Message | ||
     Pwnzor |
Man... you guys made me sad this morning, got me thinking about my Sam and his recent departure. Rest in peace to all the best friends out there who are no longer with us. | ||
| Pwnzor |
On a happier note, last weekend was Adelaide's first time being off-leash with a strange dog, and it went very well. The other dog, Maya, is half Whippet and half something-else-I-forget-what... was a lot of fun! | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks Pwn- a clear reminder of what real, simple joy is, a couple of dawgies playing! | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
I'll stop after this I swear..... First day home with my daughter.... she came 7 weeks early, weighting in a 3lbs 12oz..... 1 month in the NICU.... doing awesome now, actually never really had a problem just small I don't like posting a picture of myself but Banjo makes it worth it.... Cheers all - pete   I'll post my new 4 legged family member when they arrive.... | ||
| Vampress |
So, being up to our eyeballs in work, house reno, car/bike fixing, Xmas prep, birthdays and weddings...what do we do? Take on more of course! And when I say more, I mean a whole LOT more. Meet MORPHEUS, the latest addition to our foster folio. He is a big bear weighing in at over 40kg and likes to 'chat' for food and butt scratches.  So far all has gone well with intros to the girls and we are working on the cat (who is still a little wary of the new 'pony' in the house)  Chili really wanted to test run a Malamute, and with no male in the house, we have the chance. Things are pretty hectic, so hopefully he finds the perfect home soner than later, so we can take a well deserved break, but til then.... | ||
| Hughlysses |
Vampress- that's funning about the "chatting". Years ago, we had a 1/2 Malamute (his mom was full blooded; his dad must have been a yellow lab or something similar) named Buck. He did the same thing- this low growl that he "talked" with. I saw him scare the crap out of a vet once when he did that. I had to explain that Buck just "talked" like that while the vet looked at me VERY skeptically. Some bastard shot Buck with a bow some years later on my father-in-law's farm. He was a good dog.  | ||
| 86129squids |
Wooeee, that's a HOSS! You can just look at his head and paws and know he's a big-un. We had a good laugh last nite as I came home- my GF had her best buddy over, both on the couch, with D'Ogee in between- I managed to keep things quiet until I got to the front door, then busted in... He sounded off like a bluetick (they ARE hounds after all), jumped simultaneously, got tangled in a hoodie, flopping on the couch between the girls, then finally got off the couch and recognized me... I got SUCH a look from him as he came over to welcome me home, a look that said "yeah, dad, you punked me, punked me good..." I swear that dog honestly has a sense of humor! | ||
| Vampress |
He's Hoss alright.  He's pretty slow and placid though, so not too much of a handful to deal with. He has just been desexed and coming to terms with his loss, so Issy is sticking firmly to my side while he is around, as he has taken a shining to her  The cat is yet to determine whether he will go near him and we are not pushing the subject. Torino makes his mind up about the new dogs, and I think this one is a little big for his liking so far. He gets his chat growl going if you scratch his butt (and buries his head at your feet and rolls over) and when the food comes out, and he will have a little howl if you leave him alone too long. He seems pretty comfy here and no drama so far | ||
| Ratbuell |
Beautiful animal. Be warned, though - if he's anything like my Husky/Samoyed mix, he'll want to wander. A lot. Make sure you have a good fence, and that he's wearing a good collar or is microchipped. My husky (Kayla) used to go over...under...even THROUGH my fence just because she was bored. I'd pick her and Calvin up as far as 15 miles away sometimes...in a single day. | ||
| 86129squids |
OK, the day has finally come- yesterday, the GF and I adopted a new mutt! She had taken a sick day off, and we decided to go look around at the local shelters. Went to Knoxville, got lost looking for the old shelter location, then I remembered where the new one was... lots of nice dawgies, none for us. Went to the Blount Humane Society, saw a few nice ones, and one guy in particular... decided to take one last look at the Blount Animal Shelter- they had NO dogs... Came home thought about it a bit, went back to the Humane Society with our Basenji, and did a trial with "Pinky", a Chihuahua/JR terrier (?) mix... and took him home with us! The little guy is LOVING the fenced in yard, has NO problem handling the 3X bigger Basenji, runs ALMOST as fast but turns like the TRON bike-  Having a little trouble re-naming him, "Pinky" just WON'T do. The GF likes "Rocky", because he instantly stood up to the bigger Basenji... my first pick was "Beavis", but she shot that down. Guess we're rolling with "Rocky". Now, we're trying to teach him about the doggie doors. Let the fun begin! | ||
| Ninefortheroad |
86129squids... Bring on the pics!!! | ||
| 86129squids |
Now that I've got a "smart" phone, my dumbaiss might try to post some pics... | ||
| Kenm123t |
Squids your post is useless with out pics YOUR a DOG teaser! | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Squid's Rocky, since his smart phone won't put the pic up for him, you're welcome buddy!   | ||
| 99savage |
Ratbuell Beautiful animal. Be warned, though - if he's anything like my Husky/Samoyed mix, he'll want to wander. True dog story, neighbors had a sled-dog who took off; she was gone for 6 months. Driving home one day see her in the fields hunting mice, told the neighbor but they couldn't find her. Day following she come trotting home, skinny but looking great. | ||
| 86129squids |
Wow... I have a habit of listening to Garrison Keillor's "Writer's Almanac" when I can... this will be two days in a row that he recited a poem that really touched me... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shackleton's Decision by Faith Shearin At a certain point he decided they could not afford the dogs. It was someone's job to take them one by one behind a pile of ice and shoot them. I try to imagine the arctic night which descended and would not lift, a darkness that clung to their clothes. Some men objected because the dogs were warmth and love, reminders of their previous life where they slept in soft beds, their bellies warm with supper. Dog tails were made of joy, their bodies were wrapped in a fur of hope. I had to put the book down when I read about the dogs walking willingly into death, following orders, one clutching an old toy between his teeth. They trusted the men who led them into this white danger, this barren cold. My God, they pulled the sleds full of provisions and barked away the Sea Leopards. Someone was told to kill the dogs because supplies were running low and the dogs, gathered around the fire, their tongues wet with kindness, knew nothing of betrayal; they knew how to sit and come, how to please, how to bow their heads, how to stay. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
almost time for supper...  | ||
| 86129squids |
Hmmm- well, folks, I now have a new Samsung Illusion 'tard phone, been taking pics like a fiend (and the GF has with hers too)- what's the routine to post here? Frogs had mentioned it's pretty easy with an Android based phone, so- maybe FINALLY I can advance with the rest of humanity? Holla! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Dog news in my house... Matti went as a werewolf for Halloween:  While Hunley got a new bed on black Friday. I think she likes it:  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
"Dog Photo Bomb"  a local news channel had this on their facebook page and I thought I would pass it along.... | ||
| 99savage |
Hughlysses Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime But old dogs and children and watermelon wine  | ||
| Dwardo |
I lost my boy on Monday. I had to put him down. He had been sick since about January but seemed to be happy and in no pain other than some arthritis but on the previous Monday he was having trouble urinating so I took him in. I learned that he was in end stage renal failure, which is one of the reasons he went from 60 pounds to 36 in less than a year. They gave me bags of fluid to put into him every two days to flush the toxins and some Valium to relax his muscles so he could urinate. It seemed to work fine for a week and then Sunday morning he started to have trouble again. I knew that it was time but it was the hardest thing I ever did. What really killed me was that I suggested to the vet that she drain his bladder just to make sure it was really full again, and it was. But then once it was empty he was all happy and frisky again and it just made it harder. She said that she could give him a different drug that would help his urination but that he would only last another week or two in any case. So, I did it. I am very unhappy with that outcome. I really wanted him to pass at home on his own terms but it was not to be. I cried like a baby at the vet's office and I'm still crying. I buried him like an Egyptian king with his Simpson's blanket, food bowls, treats, sweater and all other dog necessities. I put him under his favorite tree where he used to get tangled up and bark for help until I stopped what I was doing and fixed it for him. I'm sad. I may post pictures if I feel like it. Thanks for reading. | ||
| Hootowl |
Since we're posting dog poetry... Caught you smiling at me That's the way it should be Like a leaf is to a tree, so fine All the good times we had I sang love songs so glad Always smiling, never sad, so fine As we walk down the country lanes I'll be singing a song Hear me calling your name. Hear the wind within the trees Telling Mother Nature 'bout you and me. Well if the sun shines so bright Or on our way it's darkest night The road we choose is always right, so fine. Can our love be so strong When so many loves go wrong Will our love go on and on and on and on. As we walk down the country lanes I'll be singing a song, Hear me calling your name. Hear the wind within the trees Telling Mother Nature 'bout you and me. My, my la de la Come on now it ain't too far Tell your friends all around the world Ain't no companion like a blue eyed merle. Come on now well let me tell you What you're missing, messing 'round them brick walls So of one thing I am sure It's a friendship so pure Angels singing all around My dog’s so fine. Yeah, ain't but one thing to do Spend my natural life with you You're the finest dog I knew, so fine When you're old and your eyes are dim There ain't no Old Shep gonna happen again We'll still go walking down country lanes I'll sing the same old songs Hear me call your name Led Zeppelin. Old Shep is a reference to an Elvis movie where he puts down his aging dog. The "brick walls" are the walls of the house in the English countryside where they recorded the album. Robert Plant would take long walk with his dog, Stryder (Plant is a huge lord of the rings fan) in between sets, and that was the inspiration for this song. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Louis- Nice looking Golden in his "golden years". Sorry about your pup, Edward. It's a hard thing to put a pet down. | ||
| Ninefortheroad |
Dwardo All concerned human/animal partners have to deal with the end of life of their animal family member, the best they know how to. I know what it is like, and all anyone can do is try to keep the suffering of your friend to a minimum, quality of life and best interest in mind as you go forward! Prayers and best wishes and know you will do what is right for your friend! | ||
| 86129squids |
Ed- hang in there, sorry to hear about that, friend. The time since 9/23, the date that we lost Chloe all too early, has begun passing easier, but- just remembering the whole trauma of the event is still hard for me. Not to say that PTSD is a factor, but for a while, it seemed to be... We've been enjoying D'Ogee and Rocky together in the fenced-in yard now- Rocky, being the newest, will need more behavioral mods, but the new furkids are helping make our home a happy place. Chloe was dang near the "perfect dog", and philosophically I don't believe in perfection- but we've gone forward, and it does get better... Ed- if you can, when the time comes, see if you can rescue another fuzz-buddy in honor of the one you just lost. Your life WILL improve. | ||
| Dwardo |
Thanks, Sqids. As to getting another ... I thought about getting another dog for a good while because I knew Max would eventually pass and I thought that would make it easier. But, Max was a once-in-a-lifetime dog who had big paws to fill and I'm not sure he can be replaced. Also, I am a single man and I am at work and other places a lot. I have decided that unless I retire or somehow manage to get married, there will be no other dogs unless God sends me one that cannot be denied. | ||
| 86129squids |
In that case- I've always said that birds and fish are the easiest pets. Fish are just fun and relaxing, but I once kept two hand-raised female cockatiels, and they were enormous fun. Best thing, if they're in the cage, they're furniture, and with enough food and water, you can go away for a few days- let them out of the cage, and they're pets! Decide whether/how to trim their feathers though, to mitigate the escape risks. I do miss my bird buddies- may get one or two more one day. Good luck to you... | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
If you need a dog fix, you can always go to your local shelter and become a "walker" I would love to do it, but I would end up with a dozen dogs and divorced. | ||
| Midnight_rider |
This one's for Joe  |
