HA . .. I knew that would grab your attention!! ;D
Since so many of us own pets or have owned pets in the past, I thought it would be fun to start a thread about animals. I've heard members talk about their horses, miniature donkeys (how cute! :D), cats, dogs, birds, turtles, rabbits, and the list goes on and on. Nows your chance to do a little bragging about your animal. I would bet the top four things people talk about most are: children / grandchildren, PETS, their health and the weather. Well, this thread is about our furry (or not) friends we call pets. Although, they don't HAVE to be our "pets", it could be about animals in general. For instance, I think penguins are so cool . . . however, you can't have one as a pet, so I will just have to observe them at the aquarium or at Sea World. ;D Did you ever notice they are always dressed for a party?? ;D ;D
I'm sure we have a bunch of "lurkers" on the board, maybe this non threatening topic will lure them out of hiding. ;D
Have fun and share your story!!!
Since I am starting this thread, I get to go first!! Na, Na, Na!!! ;D Right now, I only have one pet. Spooky, is a long haired , tortoise colored calico who lives outdoors. She's three years old and the daughter of "Mama", another cat we had for 10+ yrs. until she passed away two years ago. Due to allergies, our cats have had to be outdoor animals. Although, we do let Spooky in - let me rephrase that, she "sneaks" in each day and ends up coming in one door, thru the living room and out the front door. LOL Like clockwork she will come in the door, stretch, plop down and roll on the carpet. Never fails!!! I've almost tripped over her on several occasions!! ::) Spooky is a trained cat. Well, actually, she has US trained . . . in the evening she will jump on the outside door and that means one of two things: "I'm hungry, feed me" or "Hey, let me in!!!" Silly cat!!!
That's my story, what's yours??
Bucky
Hey Bucky,
Well, we have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 5 chickens, 5 guineas and 6 miniature donkeys (trying to sell one jack).
Karyn
Bucky, what a wonderful idea for a thread. Thank you!
Karyn, that sounds like a menagerie ;D
We have a very aged black cat called Sooty, and an elderly ginger terrier called Jaffa (yes, he's a seedless orange ;) Jaffa thinks everyone loves him and is a real softie. He was a recue dog. Anyway, a couple of days ago, I bought a large shaggy rug for the lounge. As soon as I laid it, Jaffa sprawled out, and I could swear he was smiling. He obviously really liked it. However, it was a white back ground and, although it looked nice, I didn't really think it was very practical, so I rolled it up to take it back to the store to exchange. Jaffa was really upset, and when I looked in the lounge he had his head on the rolled up rug! It made me feel a bit mean, but I've decided to buy him a much smaller version of the same rug for his bed.
Yes, the animals certainly rule the roost.
Kathyx
I have 3 dogs ;D Sinbad is nearly 13 years old, black & white smooth fox terrier, Gemma is a chocolate labrador cross (we think), she's a rescue dog and around 3 years old, and Chloe is a Whippet cross Greyhound, and she'll be a year old at the end of this month.
Here they are ;D
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/wozzersphotos/DogShow001.jpg)
I also have a PRE Andalusian horse, named Enebro X (Spanish horses always have a roman numeral after their name, as they re-use names. His name means Juniper the 10th in Spanish ;D). He is 9 years old :D
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/wozzersphotos/DSC_0267.jpg)
And my other horse is Lincoln, a KWPN Dutch Warmblood, who's now 16 years old ;D
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/wozzersphotos/DSCF0021.jpg)
Hey Bucky,
I have an overgrown black and white cat who thinks he's part dog/part human, and can't quite figure out that he's a cat. He's a goofy guy, but a total love bug!
Patze
HI All - - I have a VERY spoiled and adorable Sadie. She is a black miniature schnauzer who LOVES people. Since I teach about 24 private voice lessons in my home each week, she sees tons of people on a daily basis. She likes to come into the voice lesson and hop on the chair to listen. When she hears me say "ok, great, I'll see you next week," she knows the lesson is over and she hops off of the chair and goes to the door to greet the next person :) I don't have children so she is the love of my life :) She appreciates me when I feel well, but she's especially loving when I don't - - plus, when I'm fatigued, she LOVES that we both lie on the couch together and take naps :)
Voiceteacher
VT
That sounds a wonderful little pooch :)
Kathyx
We have two dogs - a collie/shepherd mix named Kayle that we adopted from the Humane Society. She is a neurotic mess who can never get enought attention and barks at everything, but we love her to death! And a big goofy chocolate lab. He was part of a litter that half of the puppies died from dehydration when the mother got a kidney infection. We're pretty sure he suffered a little brain damage, but he is the sweetest dog on the planet. He just loves everybody!
Hi Roetta,
That is so neat, I like the descriptions of "a neurotic mess" and "a big goofy chocolate lab", that is so neat that you've adopted them into your home and hearts!
Patze
Lovin all these pet stories,
Jaygee, I love horses, and would love to have them a part of my life... but never had that privilege. I think they are beautiful.
Good Idea Bucky.
Otters... I think they are adorable. I have nagged my boss (dentist) to land scape the back of our office to create an otter sanctuary. Yeah... its not happening. :(
We had a ground hog family that ate clovers at the back side of our office the Hygiene side. Hygiene patients loved this and were always watching for them.
All this past summer we had a couple of road runners that entertained our office. Boy / girl .... we know this because we witnessed them indulging one day. It was truly a national geographic moment.
My Otter picture taken on 25th anniversary trip this past summer, at the Seattle Aquarium. I could have watched them all day.
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/dd355/klfowler7/?action=view¤t=IMG_1372.jpg
Our Dog, Elroy with Grandaughter.
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/dd355/klfowler7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2278.jpg
Elroy brings great joy to our lives.
kimbo
Ah Kimbo, your grand baby is adorable!!!!!! And the puppy is cute too! :D
Patze
Thanks Patze,
My grandbabies have moved to Georgia. And we miss them soooooooooooo much. :'(
This child loves Elroy and always asks about him on the phone.
We have a cat Willow (who is half our kid and half a dog.. she's very confused!)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1061287/P8080145.JPG)
She can be a handful!
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1061287/001.JPG)
I have 5 cats and not I am not a "weird cat" lady. I know I am part mush though.
I volunteer for a group that helps elderly disabled low income people keep their companion pet. We take food out once monthly, do spay/neuter, and help with some vet bills when we can. We just got 501c certified this year!
As to my indoor only felines: (1) Jiggs 'like Maggie & Jiggs comic strip" big baby & the friendliest & the inquisitor. No cupboard he can't get into. He is the only one I got as a kitten at 5wks old "supposed to be 8 wks but vet said no" (2) LilliBelle - Miss Southern comfort and Miss manners in a kitty suit. She will get a queen bee attitude and swat another cat if they misbehave or don't treat her like a lady. (3) Tessa - the "special needs" cat who had 4 yrs in a no kill shelter before I got her. She was scared to death w/tummy upsets but has turned around beautifully in my care and now I call her the kitty with the heart of a lion. (4) Rose aka Rosebud - 4 lb little pest who will always stay that size. She was a stray I rescued. (5) Augie aka Augie the Mush. Also a stray I rescued and a big ole mush of a cat - talks a blue streak, head butts, purrs. I am trying to get him to lose wt as while the others are fine he is 15 lbs. Colors are grey ; black/white, calico/siamese; tiger white and brown tabby.
I work long hours at times and do have a social life. But I usually get bawled out if I get home late or their breakfasts are late. A coworker asked me once why I had to have 5 cats "thought that was too many I guess". I just told her they were cheaper than a psychiatrist or Prozac. ;) :D
OH FYI: we did have a pet fly named "Herman" but a cat finally caught him. RIP
Hi Pisces,
You're so right, they are much cheaper than a psychiatrist or Prozac! They sound absolutely wonderful, and yes, I get "chewed out" if I come home late too - it's got to be in the kitty union I figure! ;) ;D
Patze
OK...I'm late on this one (busy week)...but here goes! I currently have Sedric who was a rescue and badly neglected and abused with his whole litter of brothers and sisters. He is part Shar-pei and lab ( I think he has more whippet than lab look...but who knows). We also have Bobby a rat terrier who's owner didn't want him anymore...rat terriers can be a handful and are full of energy! :D And to round up our current animal family we have Spooky...a huge water turtle that we have had for many years!
I just recently in the past year lost my two black kitty's Bella and Sophie. Bella was rescued close to death and she only lived with me a little over a year.....she never did get very big and had some illnesses and I guess she wasn't strong enough to go on when the last virus hit her...the vet thinks she was probably born "not well and in bad conditions". Sophie was 11 years old when she passed (another one whose owner didn't want her because she thought it would save her marriage if she got rid of the cat that her husband was abusive to ::)).... she went in to kidney failure...kind of young for a cat but they are like humans...when its your time to go there are no rules. I still miss them both so much!
Already in animal heaven are my other furry kids..... Shana (my 21 year old tortoise shell kitty who I rescued from a shelter) and Tasha (my 16 1/2 year old darker tortoise shell kitty who was a stray). We also had 2 shar-peis Sadie and Bogie (Bogart) who were from the same breeder and both had Shar-pei disease and kidney failure at young ages. Those people were turned in as I believe they were doing a lot of interbreeding that shouldn't have happened. Bogie was 7 and Sadie was 5 when they passed but we nursed them along with blood transfusions and IV's in the home as long as they were doing ok and still had the will to live.
Also in heaven is our little Miss Maggie (the alpha female llasa apso) who was with us through so much....another one the owner bought her from a pet store and then didn't want her as a puppy....she was with us for 15 years and the queen of the family!
We cant forget Smurf ( our 12 1/2 year old Shi tsu) and Tiger (another 15 year mixed doggie from years ago that I my family got from a shelter). They were both part of the family for a long time!
Over the years add all of the fish, turtles, frogs, gerbils we have had growing up and into adult hood too! And don't forget Sniffy...our big white furry rabbit we had for many years!
Whewwwwww...that's a lot...makes me sound like some kind of weird animal lady...but it covers many years....just don't ever forget any of them...we love them while they are here no matter how long or short of a time that is and miss them forever but hold them in our hearts when they are gone!
Thanks for this thread Bucky!
Lynnmarie
I think we should call you MiIssy Doolittle - what a fabulous family of furry friends you have had. You deserve a medal for your kindness and caring for all those 'unwanted' ones.
Kathyx