Abby

Don upped Abby's meds today.  I am just buying time.  I know that.  But I really need that time.  I went to visit my son over Thanksgiving.  I won't leave again until Abby is gone.  She was so depressed when I got back and I was only gone 4 days.  She went with me today to pick up the grandkids.  She has been following me around since I got back.  She makes every step I make.  I know they have short life spans, but even though my head knows this, my heart does not accept it.  It damn well hurts.

Abby

Abby's heart condition is getting worse.  Of course, I knew it would.  She is 14.  But that does not make it any easier.  It will break my heart when I have to let her go.  She has been with me since she was 6 months old.  She has been my comfort when it felt like the end of the world.  She has been with me when I was happy and so sad I didn't feel like I would ever smile again.  She has watched me cry and comforted me.  I will make her as comfortable as possible, but when Dr. Don tells me to let her go, I will.  I will not make her suffer and hold on to her when it becomes quanity over quality.  I love her so much.

The comedy of politics

I am now seeing where Scott Walker from Wisconsin is planning on running for President.  If he is elected, then the Koch brothers will have what they have always wanted--they will own the White House.  Scott Walker is so deep in their pockets, he will strangle on the lint.  Haven't heard much from Cruz recently.  That is one scary dude.  He follows his father's beliefs and his father cloaks his communism in religious rhetoric.  He pretends to be a religious dominionist.  when what he is really espousing is communism.  And Ted got his beliefs from his father.  Also, Ted was raised to believe he was the chosen one.  He is all bluster and has no character. And he makes jokes about the WW11 generation.  This crawls up my spine like nothing else.  The joke about his stupid speech being his Bataan Death March was about as low class and tasteless as he could get.  It certainly told me how he regards those who gave everything for this country.  I guess unless you are a Cuban terrorist, then it does not count.  I just can't let go of the face that we allowed a domestic terrorist into this country.  And don't forget that he lived here off the taxpayer for 47 years without applying for citizenship.  That tells me he had no interest in this country until Ted got into politics.  Then he saw a change of finally running a country.  Self-serving and dangerous.

Dog food

I still haven't found anything claiming a recall nor an investigation into Nutro.  I am, however, still seeing post claiming dogs getting sick from it.  I would have just ignored all this except I can look back and possible see a problem for mine.  I would put out dry food for the little guys to snack on while I am gone.  They would not eat it.  And a few times when I have set Daisy's food dish down, she has just looked at it then at me.  It would take her longer than normal to eat it.  At lest twice either she or Missy have thrown it up.  And Daisy was always eating grass.  Well, to be on the safe side, I switched to Purina One Venison and Chicken.  Not crazy about some of the ingredients, but the meat is the first ingredient so the food has to be 95% meat.  My little guys love it.  Daisy and Missy have no problems and Daisy almost takes the bowl out of my hands.  And no one has thrown it up.  Jock would always throw up the Nutro kibble if he ate it.  So in view of all this, I am withdrawing my endorsement of Nutro.

I also called Purina to ask where they got their ingredients.  I was told that they buy from the local farms near them.  They do not use processed chicken.  That was a plus since all our processed chicken is now coming from China.  The Environmentalists are right.  Think globally, buy locally.  I also add vegetables to my guys' food.  I will always chop tomatoes or add some spinach or basil. No onions or garlic though.  I have always had the cats on Purina because that is all they will eat.

The two foundlings

My two foundlings.  This is Jock and Duncan.  Notice Duncan has no problem playing now.  He has made Jock his best friend much to Jock's dislike.  Neither are groomed by a groomer.  I take the clippers to them about every three weeks.  Toenails and ears are the difficult part.  Jock hates to have his ears cleaned and his toenails clipped.  So I get snapped at a lot.  Other than that, he is the sweetest little guy.  Duncan just curls up into a ball so I have to kinda unwind him.  He takes me longer than Jock to clip and he has less hair.  Notice the concrete floor.  I am thinking I will put down brick and clearcoat it.  I think that will hold up to my friends.

Thank God for concrete

I am so glad I do not have carpet.  It has been raining all day.  That means that Duncan and Abby will not go outside.  As I said, thank God for concrete floors.  I just mix bleach and water and mop.  Whoever invented bleach, gotta love them.  Jock, Daisy and Missy have no problem going outside.  They are loving it.  They are not liking the swarms of mosquitos though.   And living in Texas, I will never complain about rain.  I'm loving it.

My housemates

It's raining again.  I had not realized it has started to rain.  Duncan was going nuts trying to climb in my lap.  I thought he wanted to go outside.  He did, but when he discovered it was raining, he tucked tail and ran back into the house.  Guess I will be mopping up this afternoon.  He has come so far since he came to live with me.  He is no longer afraid of my son.  He loves my grandson and sleeps with him whenever he is over.  He demands to be fed.  He demands to be put on the couch when I am sitting on the couch.  If he gets off the bed at night, he stands by the bed and barks to be put back on the bed.  I cannot even imagine what this little guy must have endured most of his life.  As the saying goes, the more I see of people, the more I like my dogs.

Dog Food

Upon hearing that our great agriculture companies was going to be shipping our chicken over to China for processing and then shipping back here, I got worried about my pet food.  I called Pedigree and asked point blank would they be using any of this processed chicken.  What I was told is that Pedigree sources their ingredients from local farms near their plants.  They did not use any products from overseas and knew the source of each ingredient.

I have not called Purina yet.  I do know that they have their own farms, but I want it from their mouths and will post as soon as I talk to them.  As to Nutro, I am confident that they will not be using any processed chicken except what they themselves process, but again, I will talk to them.  As to the others, I don't trust them.

Wildlife

I don't know what kind of wildlife I have in my backyard, but they are nocturnal.  I have a Burr Oak and it has huge acorns.  I was not seeing any acorns under the tree.  That tree is in the dog yard.  Well, two days ago, I went out to the compost which is in the back of the yard.  Right outside the gate leading from the dog yard, was the remains of all the acorns from the Burr Oak.  I don't think it was squirrels.  They would not have eaten them on the ground.  Maybe coons?  Whatever it is, they make sure to take those acorns outside the dog yard.  Guess Daisy has made a believer out of all the wildlife.

Ozark Mutts and Stuff

I don't know if I have recommended this rescue or not, but if I have, I apologize.  I don't think the woman running it is really interested in animals.  Her facebook page is all about her and no animals are featured.  If you do a company search, you will find that she is a go between for fosters and those interested in adopting.  In other words, she has a non profit to make money.  Also she uses her facebook page to post political opinions.  This is a no-no for non profit.  So, if I have recommended this rescue, I am withdrawing my recommendation.  As to Rocky Ridge Rescue, from what I can find out, this is legit.  This woman pours everything she has into this rescue.  I should have checked this rescue (Ozark Mutts and Stuff)  more thoroughly.  I  apoligize.

People are idiots

I work with a woman whose daughter found a Yorkie.  She brought it home to mama.  Mama did not want him.  However, she decided to keep him.  He was left outside with her other dogs.  Well, two days ago, he followed one of the daughters' cars and has not come back and she is really upset and crying.  Hello!  This little dog was new to the house.  He was left out with the other dogs who chase care.  What would the Yorkie do?  I just home someone who will love him and treat him the way he deserves to be treated gets him.

Another one of the women I work with has two little dogs.  They stay outside because they need clipping and they are dirty. So are they supposed to clip themselves?  Are they supposed to bathe themselves?  One of those dogs is also a Yorkie.  Her husband is a driver for a delivery company.  On one of the really hot days last summer, the little dog just got in his truck and wouldn't get out.  So he brought him home with him.  He doesn't want the little dog.  And now she tells me her husband is going to take the little dog and dump him in another neighborhood.  I told her that I would report the two of them to the city police and that they would face felony charges.  The very least they can do is contact a rescue group.  I hate people.  Yes, I gave her the name and phone number of a rescue group.  Will they call?  Probably not.  If my husband dumped an animal, I would divorce him on the spot.

Thunderstorms!

We have been pretty dry in Texas this year.  Well, on Friday  the thunderstorms rolled in in the afternoon.  Duncan is deathly afraid of thunder so I had to just drop everything and sit and hold him.  He was so scared he was trembling.  Jock was scared.  Both of them were in my lap.  Abby, well not a lot bothers Abby.  She slept through it all on her pillow on the couch.  During a lull, Daisy wanted to go outside.  Ok.  So I go through the house, still holding onto Duncan, and let her and Jock outside.  She marches out and sits down, surveying her domain.  I was still at the door.  A loud clap of thunder rolled.  She was off that ground and in that door in a second!  She almost ran over me.  She did run over Jock. She wasn't interested in her domain anymore.  I love animals.  They all have their own personalities.  Daisy is happiest when the grandkids are her.  She loves it when they are in the floor with her and loving on her.  And Jock.  Jock, Abby and Duncan are usually up and down all night.  Jock runs to the living room window every time a car comes into the cul-de-sac.  He lets the world know that he is on duty.  Duncan is right there with him.  Abby sits on the bed and barks.  Needless to say, I don't get a lot of sleep.  However, when my grandkids are here, Jock climbs in bed with my granddaughter and does not move all night.  Duncan sleeps with my grandson and Abby sleeps with me.  It just amazes me that Duncan and Jock do not move all night.  

Rocky Ridge Rescue

If anyone is looking for a good cause, check out this rescue.  This rescue is based in Mountain Home, Arkansas.  This woman does astonishing work with very limited resources.  She is all about the animals. www.rockyridgerefuge.com and the woman who runs this wonderful place is Janice Wolf.  Check out this site.  The donations she received do truly go to caring for the animals.  This is just one  of may good rescues.  When considering donating, always check out the non-profit.  It may not always be what it seems.

As to my little guys, Duncan got a haircut last night.  I'm not really good with the haircuts.  I botch them.  But I would rather do it than subject them to a groomer.  It would terrify them.  I hauled Daisy and Missy out in the back yard a while ago and gave them a bath.  They loved it.  I will be doing that again this weekend.  My little guys get put in the bathtub.  My granddaughter bathes Jock and Duncan for me but informed me I was on my own with Abby.  Funny how a little 6 pound, 13 year old poodle can intimidate every one around her, but she does.  She is doing good.  We see the vet next week for another checkup.

Duncan

Ok, so Duncan is the little Maltese that came to me in 2011.  He was not socialized, scared to death, didn't know what a bed was.  Fast forward to now.  He sleeps on my bed.  He demands his dinner.  My grandson has a twin bed in my sewing room.  Duncan likes to lay on it when I am sewing or on the computer.  Well, Monday afternoon I put him on the bed and went back to my sewing.  Around 8, I went to my bathroom to get ready for bed.  I kept hearing this very indigent yap.  So I came back through the house to see what was going on.  Duncan was standing on the bed, looking down the hall and waiting for me to come and get him off the bed. Yep.  He definitely does belong and he has got me trained.  I did not want another dog but now I wonder what I would do without him.  Love him dearly.

Missy

I have to take Missy in to see Dr. Don this week.  She is 14 and having drop seizures.  My son thinks it is her heart.  If so, and we can give her meds to help her, yeah I will get them for her.  These guys keep me sane.  I would be lost without them.  I could do with Duncan learning to not mark everything, but hey, I'll just keep using bleach.  I'm looking at flooring materials.  I did want to stain and finish the concrete, but I have to vacate the house for 3 days.  Not gonna happen.  Then I thought about tile. Ok, but the grout gets nasty and has to be professionally cleaned to keep mildew from forming.  It is really humid here.  Then I considered Pergo.  It looks good and the ratings are great.  However, I saw a picture of a floor today done in brick pavers.  They were laid down with concrete, then sealed and clear coated.  It looked great.  I'll have to talk with my son about this.  This may be what I do.  Wish me luck.

Abby

Getting old is a bitch for any life form.  Well, maybe except for trees.  They seem to revel in growing old.  Anyway, we made a mad dash to Dr. Don't last week with Abby.  I could tell she was in pain.  I felt her anal glands and she didn't make a peep.  But when I would pick her up, she would cry.  So off we go.  Yep.  She had impacted anal glands.  $91 and a bunch of medicine and a little more hatred for Dr. Don, we came home.  She is doing fine now.  She bit Dr. Don twice.  I have instructions to bring her in every three weeks.  I need to win the lottery to afford my vet bills.  But,. hey, they are all worth it.  Love them all.

Rabbits

We have kinda recovered from the misery of 2011.  And with this recovery, the rabbits have returned to my yard.  Daisy, Missy, and Jock just know they can catch those rabbits.  Jock came really close the other day, but the rabbit got through the fence before Jock could get him.  Abby and Duncan could care less.  Those rabbits are limitless entertainment for the others though.  Even my Siamese cat, Sally, has gotten in on the fun. She stalks them and does her best to get them.  The fence always gets in her way and she won't go outside the fence.  Love my friends.  Daisy goes next week for shots and a check up.

Duncan

In the two years I have had Duncan with me, I have never figured out why he will not eat kibble from a bowl. He tips the bowl over and spills the kibble and eats it from the floor.  It finally dawned on me today that probably he did not know he could eat from a bowl.  He had probably just had food thrown into his crate and he had to eat it off the floor.  It was probably also thrown in in urine and feces as well.  I have learned tp really dislike people.  

Death of a K9

I read on the internet today about the death of a K9 in Georgia.  His handler left him in a hot car with the windows up.  He died of a heat stroke.  That was a horrible death for that baby.  That officer should be prosecuted for animal cruelty, negligence, hell I would like to see him prosecuted for manslaughter.  In my book it was manslaughter.  This no different than leaving a child in a hot car.  The temps in that car can very quickly reach 120 degrees.  I can't stop thinking about that baby.

Abby

I had to take Abby to the vet Sunday night.  I am so glad I use this vet.  I can get someone 24/7 and they are reasonable and good.  Well, Abby had an impacted anal gland.  The vet checked her over, said her heart murmur was still with her but her lungs were clear and she was looking good.  She is so used to this procedure, she did not even make a sound while he drained that anal gland. Don said he was going to teach me how to do this.  No, that's ok.  I'll just pay him to do it.  Other than this, we really have a flea problem this year.  Coming off a  couple of really bad years as far as drought and then having a really wet spring has brought out the fleas with a vengence.  I am using Confortis along with Advantage.  Or I had been.  Now I am using Confortis and spraying with Adams weekly.  They are still bad.  I may have to spray the yard and I hate to do that.  However, I do have wildlife in my yard.  I have rabbits, coons, possums and squirrels.  I have not seen any coyotes yet, but I have been told they are in the neighborhood.  We have several wooded lots and plenty of places for them to hide out.

Son's new kitten

My son took the new kitten to the vet this morning.  The vet told him it was only about 5 weeks old, not even old enough for a rabies shot.  He also told my son that he didn't think he needed the rabies shot.  He is keeping the kitten,of course.  I finally got the details.  He was rushing to his ex's house to drop off his son.  The kitten was just sitting in the middle of the street.  He slammed on his brakes, got out to catch the kitten.  It ran under his truck and climbed into the wheel well.  He got scratched and bitten when he dragged it out.  He wrapped it in his shirt and took it with him.  With a kitten that small just sitting in the middle of the street, I figure my son came along immediately after someone just stopped in the street and put it out.  Anyone who does that should be stripped naked, staked out near a fire ant hill and left to suffer.  Sorry.  I have no patience with anyone who mistreats the defenseless ones-animals, children, or old people.  And that kitten will be with my son for the rest of it's life.  I raised a wonderful human being.

Lost Dog

I did not see the dog today.  I was really looking for him.  I so hope the animal control office got him.  He will be taken to the Aggie animal shelter and fostered out until adopted.  My son, however,did do a rescue today.  He came upon a kitten sitting in the middle of the road.  He stopped and the kitten ran under his truck and tried to get in the wheel well.  When he dragged it out, he got bitten and scratched.  He took it home.  Tomorrow vaccinations and de-fleaing.  Now he is deciding if he should get a rabies shot.  I told him it is a good idea because he will not stop picking up animals.  Nor would I want him to.

I saw a dog on the highway today

I was going to work this morning and there was a beautiful brown, short hair dog sitting on the side of the road between the feeder road and the highway.  I was not in a place to stop, so I called it in and went on down the road.  The only place for me to exit was about 3 miles on down then I had to drive 5 miles back to get to him.  I went to work and got the work van and started back.  He was still there.  So I called again.  The animal control officer called me back.  She has been trying to catch this dog for 3 weeks.  Apparently someone has dumped him and he is being fed from some of the restaurants near there.  She has set 3 traps and checks them several times a day.  He won't go in the traps to get the food.  She has even put cat food in them.  No luck.  She says she is not going to give up.  She says she has tried every day to get him to come to her, but he just runs off.  Keep your fingers crossed she gets him and he does not get  run over.  I will try to get him if he is there tomorrow.

Nature at it's best

I was over at a relative's house this morning.  She lives in a wooded area.  As I walked up on her porch, a squirrel was sitting on the banister.  He sat there and fussed at me.  He made no move to leave.  She and all the other condo owners put out cat food for the feral cats.  The squirrels help themselves.  One of her neighbors told us this morning she had had to buy a different brand of cat food.  The squirrel came up on her porch, tried the new cat food, spit it out and fussed for a few minutes and ran to another neighbor.  There are birds everywhere.  They have a colony of feral cats.  They have trapped every one but one and had them spayed and neutered.  The cats live there around the complex.  They keep the area free of rats and mice and also snakes.  And in return, they have warm houses in the winter.  They are given shots every year.  They are caught and defleaed regularly.  Those cats have it good.   A new one has shown up.  He is a young, intact male.  They were talking this morning about how to catch him and take him to the vet to have him fixed and get shots.  They take good care of their colony.  And I am so glad they do.

Colleen

I let Colleen go today.  I took her back to the vet.  She has eaten nothing since last week.  She was only drinking small amounts of water.  She would lay on her cushion she shares with Abby and I would carry her to the back to the food.  She would just sit and look at it.  So I knew.  Well, when the vet examined her today, she had lost more weight and this time he found a mass around her kidneys.  He asked if I wanted to do and ultrasound.  No.  She has had a wonderful life and it is time to let go.  I held her while he put her to sleep.  I have cried all day.  She will be missed.  She has been my baby for 13 years.  May she rest in peace.

Colleen

Colleen is still not eating.  I'm calling Dr. Don tomorrow.  I have tried to tempt her with tuna, sardines, even dog food.  Nothing works and she is getting thinner each day.  Dr. David said there is nothing wrong with her, but there is.  I don't know what, but there is definitely something wrong.

Colleen

I'm still worried about Colleen. She is not eating like she should.  Maybe when the vitamins kick in, she will be more hungry.  I bought sardines today to hopefully tempt her.  She ate more than usual.  I have tuna for tomorrow.  Not a problem with the other cats.  And it looks like the vet was right.  I have Advantage on all the cats and Advantix on all the dogs and still am having trouble with fleas.  My son bought a flea comb and is coating the comb with Adams and combing them in addition to using the Advantage.  Gonna be a rough summer.  I'm gonna shave the little dogs and just keep bathing them along with the Advantage.  Hopefully, I can keep them at bay.  I haven't seen it this bad in years.

Happy day

I did not have to put Colleen down!  I spent the day being miserable and took off at 3:30 to take Colleen to Dr. David.  I cried all the way there.  Dr. David did blood work and gave her an examination.  He told me that all he found was mild anemia.  He put her on vitamins, told me to add Adams flea spray to my flea arsenal, and told me to take her home.  Since she stopped eating dry cat food she is losing weight.  That is all.  I was so happy!  I really hate to lose one of my friends.  On a down note, Dr. David told me that this is going to be a really bad year for fleas.  We have had several years of really dry weather and this year has been really wet.  The Advantage by itself is not cutting it anymore.  So it looks like it is going to be a long hard battle with the fleas.  But hey, I can handle anything now.

Colleen

Today is the day I have to kiss my baby goodbye.  I will miss her.

My guys.

Duncan does not know how to jump.  He cannot jump on the couch.  He cannot jump on the daybed.  When he irritates Jock, Jock just jumps on the couch.  Duncan can't reach him.  So he walks around in front of the couch whining.  For a little dog that was so scared of even being held, he has made a place for himself.  Now he loves to be held and cuddled.  he loves running around the yard and barking at the birds.  He takes great pleasure in barking at Daisy's squirrel.  I have to go out and pick him up and put him in the house.  My back door has a step that is about 10 inches from floor to ground and he can't jump into the house.  Likewise, when he goes out, I have to pick him up and set him on the ground.  He must have had a miserable life before he got to me.  Not miserable now.  He eats the best dog food, has great snacks, lives in an air conditioned house.  He sleeps on a quilt folded and put on the floor while I am at work.  And I cannot get him house broken.  I spend a lot of my time mopping.  Luckily, I do not have carpet.  My floors are concrete and tile.  I go through a lot of chlorox.

Colleen

Colleen is one of three kittens I rescued in May 2000.  After a night of thunderstorms, Marie, my tortie was just going nuts.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  Then I heard a very faint mewing.  I went out to the side yard.  I had a lot of shrubs there.  I found in a pool of water three week old kittens.  I picked them up, dried them off and called my vet.  His response was, "They are too young.  You can't keep them alive."  My response, " So you are telling me to just let them die.  No way.  Tell me what I have to do to save them."  So he told me I had to get some KRM, kitten replacement milk.  Ok, where do I get it.  He had it in his office so I made him meet me there.  It was 7am.  They had to be fed every 2 hours.  I worked a 10  hour day.  So I took them to my daughter.  She hauled in a friend and they fed them round the clock every two hours with an eyedropper.  The lived and grew.  All had problems.  Sylvester, she saw ghosts.  She would sit on her back legs and just paw the air.  She had to be put down at 8 because of cancer.  General Lee was a beautiful gray.  His mama just had to put him down about 2 weeks ago.  Cancer.  Colleen. Colleen has those deer-in-the-headlight eyes.  When she was younger, she would curl up next to my side at night and knead her claws all night.  She is very shy and will let no one pet her except me.  Now it is time to let her go.  She is going into renal failure.  Since Christmas she has lost a lot of weight.  I called Dr. Don yesterday and talked to him, describing her symptoms.  Yes, he told me I am right.  So next Wednesday morning I will take her to him and let him put her down.  She will join Marie and Max waiting for me at the rainbow bridge.  I will miss her.

Essie, Van and Picasso

The top picture is of Daisy's squirrel.  She was sitting on the point of the roof and watching me prune the roses.  The bottom picture is Picasso and Van Gough.  Picasso weighs in at 17 pounds and Van weighs in at 15.  Both are about 2 pounds overweight, but they are big cats.  They are so sweet and they love boxes, open drawers, closets and my bed.

The princess

This is Daisy enjoying herself on my leather couch.  Hard to believe that three years ago, we had to decide whether we would be able to find the money to fix her leg or put her down.  We pooled our finances, charged the surgery at the vet's and spent a year paying it off.  It was worth every penny.  I would guess that the surgery and all the follow ups cost around $1500.  My free dog is very high maintenance.

Bathing the little guys.

Sunday was bath day for the little dogs.  Daisy and Missy will get it next weekend when it is warm enough to bathe them outside.  I can't handle the bathtub with those two.  Anyway, my granddaughter helped me with Jock.  He was upset but well behaved as always.  We cut his toenails, cleaned his ears and bathed him.  Then we dried him with towels.  Next came Duncan.  Repeat of Jock.  Very docile.  As we are drying him, my granddaughter tells me that I am on my own with Abby.  I asked why.  Her reply,"Because I have seen her turn into teeth and fur.  She is your problem."  And she took off back to the video game and left me to bathe Abby.  You wouldn't think that bathing a 6 pound, 13 year old poodle would be a problem.  Well, my granddaughter is right.  She turns into an erratic bundle of teeth and fur, bouncing off the sides of the bathtub.  When I finished, I was a wet as she was.  Then I trimmed her nose and under her eyes.  Yeah, that took half an hour.  For awhile there, I wasn't sure who was winning and I could have sworn I heard the clippers whimper.  That little dog has attitude.  So I won't have to do that again for at least a couple of weeks.

Cats

There is never a dull moment in my house.  One of my cats has put something in one of the commodes.  Now I have to pay a plumber to come pull it off the floor and find whatever they have dropped down.  I could do it, but I refuse.  This is not the first time.  Once before, I had to get a plumber to pull one of the commodes.  One of the cats had gotten under the sink and gotten a shower curtain ring and dropped it down the commode.  That cost me $275.00.  Sometime I will learn to always leave the seat closed.

Missy

Missy has started having drop seizures.  My son says it is probably her heart.  So off to the vet with her next week.  She is 13, or at least we think that is her age.  My daughter came carrying her in back in 2000.  She had found her on the side of the road.  Missy was loaded with fleas, dirty and malnourished.  We already had several dogs, rescues of course.  My first reaction was, "Oh, she will go to the shelter."  Well, my baby girl of 23 started crying.  Missy has been with us ever since.  She has dug up the yard.  We still have a 2 ft hole in the back.  She has eaten the sheetrock in the dining room.  She has chewed up the bottom of an antique china hutch.  And I will miss her terribly when I have to send her to be with Max.  But I will not keep her and let her suffer.  When Dr. Don tells me it is time, then it will be time.  It really hurts to lose one of my friends.  I was once told that they don't have to stay here as long as people because they already know how to be good.  And that it takes people longer to learn that lesson.  I am sure Max is waiting for her.

Jock

Jock had to go see Dr. Don again last week.  Impacted anal glands and he showed no indication before they ruptured.  He really has a problem with this.  I had a relative pick him up and take him in to the vet.  She said he was scared to death and shook like a leaf.  When she got him home and inside, she took the leash off and he was stuck to her side.  He was afraid of being thrown away again.  I guess he has not forgotten that fear he felt when he was dumped.  Well, he is home now.  At the moment, he and Duncan are asleep on the bed. Now if I could just get Duncan housebroken.  Not having a lot of luck in that department.  He has, however, settled in in his home.  He demands petting.  Last night we had thunderstorms move through.  He is terrified of storms.  I spent most of the night just holding him.  Needless to say, I was exhausted today.  Life wouldn't be much fun without them.

My squirrel

I walked out front this morning to the garbage can.  After I dropped the garbage and started back in the house, I happened to look up. Someone was staring at me.  One of the squirrels was sitting in the gutter staring down at me.  He or she just sat there staring at me.  I started talking to her and she just fussed at me. So I went on in and left her alone.  They really are cute.

Lost my Perspective

I hit hard times with money recently.  I have been dwelling on my problems.  I finally realized that things will work out the same way whether I worry or not.  But what has rocked me is that I forgot for a short time how very important my creatures that share my life really are.  I;m back in tune now.  Abby is doing good for being 13.  She still rules the house.  Duncan, God love him, has discovered how nice it is to be held and comforted.  Now every night after feeding them and taking care of chores, I have to sit on the couch and hold him in my lap for about an hour.  Then he is ready get down and play with Jock.  He and Jock are asleep right now on my bed on an antique quilt.  Abby has her very own blanket on the cedar chest behind me.  We have rabbits back in the yard now and they are great entertainment for Daisy and Missy.  They just know they will catch one.  I doubt that is going to happen.

Cold weather in Texas

We are finally having a winter.  Duncan hates it.  I had to get him a sweater.  I put it on him and he did not know what it was.  He walked around on tiptoes.  But he got used to it and I think he liked it because he was warm.  Abby is a whole nother story.  Abby loves her red turtleneck when it is cold, but God help you if you try to put it on her when she is not cold enough.  If she was a bigger dog, she would be dangerous.  Jock never gets cold.  I never knew that that breed had such thick coats.  Ok, bedtime.  Duncan is asleep on my pillow.

Sassy

My longtime friend has this mixed terrier.  She is mostly black and called Sassy for a good reason.  Sassy will wag her tail and act really friendly until some unsuspecting fool tries to pet her.  Then she pounces.  She turns into all teeth charging and biting.  Well, Sassy is 13 years old.  This past weekend, she developed a UTI.  I called my vet on call, Dr. David, and told him I had some antibiotics and could we start Sassy on them.  Yes we could.  So Sunday night I took the meds over to my friend and we gave her the first dose.  By 9 PM she had settled down and did not seem to be uncomfortable.  On Monday, my friend took her to the vet.  He agreed that she probably had a UTI and continued with the meds we had started her on.  Now it gets really side splitting.  He told my friend to get a urine sample and bring it in.  Have you ever tried to get a urine sample from a dog?  It is hilarious.  You are walking her with your little specimen jar waiting for the moment.  Then she squats and you scurry up and try to put the specimen jar under her.  She quits and moves on.  And the game continues.  Well this is Tuesday and we have yet to get the urine sample, but we have had some really good laughs watching each other try.  Tomorrow is another day.

Duncan and Abby do not like cold rain

We're having a cold front move through and it is raining, not hard, mostly drizzle.  Jock asked to go out, so of course Duncan and Abby want to go.  Jock darts out the door.  Abby goes to the porch and stops.  Duncan looks out the door and won't go any further.  I toss Duncan and Abby out in the grass.  Abby does her business and races back to the shelter of the porch.  Duncan races with her.  I put him back in the grass and he races back to the porch.  So I take him a little farther out in the yard.  He looks at me, looks at the porch, then takes a quick pee and races back to the porch.  Jock, in the meantime, is happy as can be and not feeling the cold rain and is running everywhere.  Did not know that Bichons had such thick coats. 

Shots

I found out today why my granddaughter was not coming to my house.  Her mother has adopted a little dog with distemper.  I don't generally vaccinate for distemper because my dogs are all older dogs and in good health.  So my dogs were not vaccinated.  She was very worried that she would bring distemper to my dogs and she was staying away because of that.  She finally told her dad Wednesday night and he told me.  Well, today, the little guys went to Dr. Don and got their vaccinations.  He also cut Abby's toenails and put her on lasix.  Abby is 13 and has a heart murmur.  The toenail clipping came because it takes two to hold that little 6 pound dog and cut her toenails.  Anyway, Duncan and Jock are doing ok.  They will both have their teeth cleaned when Dr. Don neuters them.  I have been putting it off because of lack of money.  This spring the deed will be done.  Now I have to take Missy and Daisy for shots. 

Home with the little ones

Been really sick and home in bed.  The little guys loved it because they had me all to themselves.  Tonight I took Jock and Abby out for the last time.  Duncan stood in the doorway and watched them.  He wouldn't go out because it was raining and cold.  For a little dog who did not even know what a bed was, he sure is spoiled now.  I'm getting ready for bed and he is on my pillow.  Love my guys and girls. 

It has been rainy and cold for several days now and Daisy wants desperately to have her sunshine back.  She goes out and almost immediately barks to come in.  She does not like cold and rain. 

Holidays

My guys and gals were so happy during the holidays.  We had a houseful of family and everyone paid attention to them.  My son-in-law is a cat person so the cats were very happy to have him here.  My daughter is both cat and dog person.  And my oldest son was in and out along with other family members.  Yep.  It was a good holiday.  My daughter bought huge pillows for Missy and Daisy.  I had been putting it off because Daisy chews up the pillows.  Well, as soon as we put the pillows on the floor, they were on them.  The slept so soundly that Daisy did not wake me up at 4am as usual.  In fact, I had to wake her up.  Wouldn't it be nice if people were more like animals.  Always happy with what they have and just want to love and be loved.  Life would be so uncomplicated.  I can dream, can't I.  She didn't get pillows for the little ones because they have the couch, chairs, and bed.  What do they need with pillows?