A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day...2-1-06...A letter to My Pets

DollyCali | February 1, 2006 | dollycali;

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

The other animals in the house are ALSO family. We do not eat, torture, kill or hurt them. This also goes for “little people”, whom we call children



I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.



When I sit at the computer that is NOT your clue to jump in front of the monitor, walk or sit on keyboard or decide to begin licking my face. I know I spend too much time there but give me at least the first half hour.

It is not a good idea to roll in dead “anything” or some other animals poopie. If & when you do, a bath will follow. NOT fun for either of us. Hope you are a fast learner on this one.



For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur";niture.)

3. I like my pets a lot better than most people.

4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly. Dogs and cats are sometimes better than kids .they eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, and don't need a gazillion dollars for college - and if they get pregnant, you can sell the children.



With thanks from your loving owner

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-30-06 Military Monday 01-31-06 Ladies & Gentlemen, the President of the United States

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Xenalyte]

This is the Dread Boston Salty, 27 pounds of sheer Boston goodness and every inch a terrier, my husband's Christmas present in 1998. He always has a lecherous look to him. He's a major flirt and here is saying, "Howa YOU doin'?"





This is my alpha cat Sabrina, whose everyday name is Dolly. She rules the Ferocious Feline Bebop Trio with an iron paw, and keeps everyone (including Salty) in line. Her litter was her and two coal-black brothers, and when I went to pick one out she was beating the hell out of the two of 'em. I had to have her. Her coloring really is that variegated - she looks like someone took a calico, shaved it, put the hair in a bag, shook it up, and glued it back on.





This is Tabitha, familiarly known as Spot. (This picture doesn't show it, but she has a big circle on each flank.) She was a feral kitten (I had to pounce on her and jam her inside my jacket to get her home, and to this day have the scars to show for that maneuver) and at 12 is still half-wild, and doesn't like to pose for pictures. She knows how gorgeous she is.





And this is Dennis, a hugh and series lover boy. He taught Salty everything, including the fact that showing your belly fur gets the ladies every time. He walked in one Friday morning back in 1994 while I was painting the kitchen and had the doors and windows open, and started eating the girls' food. He got his name because that night I was leafing through the name book drinking a glass of merlot and had Dennis Miller on for background, and I found the entry for "Dennis" that said it meant "lover of fine wine," and just then the cat came over and knocked over my wine glass. It was a convergence of circumstance that could not be resisted.





And just to be gratuitous, this is Dennis practicing the art of not being seen. Now stop looking, or he'll show you his belly fur.

[Mama_Bear]

Chachi looks like he might be Corgi and Taco Bell's ankle-biter....

Close. Taco Bell is in his genes, but the other component is Pomeranian. His ears are pure Chihuahua - he is known as a "designer" dog, a "PomChi".

Mama_Bear is that the little cutie that you had in the playpen at the FReeper picnic last Fall? Sure is a cute little rascal and sure has grownl!!

Yes, that's him. Almost all grown up. We are the proud parents of a PomChi going through his difficult "teenage" years. We are just crazy about him, but what a challenge this head-strong little guy is sometimes! We start intermediate classes with him at PetsMart next week. I have little hope that a whole lot is going to change though. He will do anything we ask him to do when we have treats to give him. When we don't, his attitude is "forget it! Not doing it and you can't make me". LOL. (Of course, we DO make him, but it has no effect at all on the next time we show up treatless and give him a command.)

[DollyCali]

Pinging Kitty Mittens ... kitties galore!

Xena.. wonderful pix(like your camera).. what is the breed of pooch? some kind of pug? I see Boston terrier from your description but is that a pug? I don't know dog breeds very well. I think My aunt & uncle years ago had one that looked similar.. & they just loved that pup. Small as I recall (I am talking about 40 years ago & so things are "cloudy" ..(as I am only 39, ah hem,,,)

:-)

Tabitha & Sabrina(Dolly? good name!) Ha.

I never realized that cats could be alphas in household. for the most part our must be betas. My oliver who died in Dec I guess was in charge of the household & Toby when he joined us, but Oliver was always the Beta w/other dogs.. even little tiny dogs.

[Dashing Dasher]

Dolly,
Is that your dog and kitten?

If so, is that a French Mastiff (aka Dogue de Bordeaux)?

Gorgeous! I love big dogs - and Mastiffs steal my heart.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Oh, okay, thank you.

[DollyCali]

I didn't realize chachi had pom in him. After the empty nest my parents got a pom.. loved that little fuzz ball so much. I am thinking that if I come across a rescue(like free) I would get it for my mom. As she is bed ridden, she would love the little one for more company.. cats are cute & wonderful pets, but "limited" in their interaction as compared to dogs.

Does chachi bark a lot? that is what I recall about my folks dog.. barked all the time.. high shrill.

I have been fortunate so far my dogs aren't truly barkers.. if someone at door, come to yard, approach car(even cops)..yes but those are good "watch dog" types of barks.

The last year Oliver barked more in car at all.. cyclists, runners, cows & horses (we live rural).

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

ping for terrible towel explanation

[DollyCali]

no.. not mine. The dog is so ugly it is adorable. I am not sure I ever say one in person. At one time in NC, I bred persians & exotic shorthairs.. the persian kittens were about the cutest thing imaginable. Do you have a dog? cat? what kind?

[DollyCali]

hehehehe.. towel. I suspect in church Sunday morning we willhave a lot of Tshirts & Sweat Shirts for Pittsburgh.. we have a lot of folks from there in our area & congregation.

[Xenalyte]

Thanks!

Salty is 100% Boston terrier. He's just a mammoth one. Pugs are usually brown, and have curly pig tails and ears closer to their heads.

[Mama_Bear]

I didn't realize chachi had pom in him.

Yep, half and half, from what we were told. But we didn't see his parents and I see very little Pom in him. He is trying real hard to grow an impressive Pom tail, but it isn't happenin'. LOL. He has a Pom face, and the beginnings of a ruff around his neck, but I see mostly Chihuahua in him. Poms are wonderful little dogs, we had a purebred black Pom years ago.

And yes, they can be yappy. Chachi has started barking more and more, and that's one thing we need to start breaking him of. It's a high pitched hysterical bark that will just drive you up the wall. We're NOT rural and I'm sure the neighbors don't want to be listening to him barking every time he hears a sound on the other side of the fence. LOL.

[Dashing Dasher]

I raised Rottweilers all my life and usually had one or two cats at the same time. Because of my travel schedule - I'm down to one cat, Psycho.
Darling Precious was my last Rottie - and she is pictured below as a puppy. She owned the remote - and the couch.

[Dashing Dasher]

Oh - and a French Mastiff is what Hooch was on Turner and Hooch. Gorgeous....Drooler!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Wow, the poor pooch wasn't even able to take time to use the stinking, I mean the sweet smelling ooze to hunt and bring back a prize...

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

cute!

[DollyCali]

beautiful Darling Precious..

The man I got Josy(yesterday) from said that there might be a little rot in Josy as she has a dew(due) whatever TOE.. my Toby has it also.

I wondered what it was on Toby as my first dog was Oliver & he did not have it.

do you know what I am referring to? are there other breeds who have that? I am just trying to determine her "components. The markings seem to be like Oliver... very german shepherd.

How long ago did you loose DP? Travelling is harder with dogs.. I try to take mine almost everywhere wiht me.. Everyone refers to my van as the Kennelvan!

[DollyCali]

Some day when I have some extra time & it is crumby weather out so I cant be doing yard work or playing outside I will go to some dog sites & try to learn more.

thanks for info & pix!

[DollyCali]

I recall my parents dogs bark being annoying. But we weren't here that often. Lived out of town so it was a few days here & there a year.. do you have a full view standing of chachi?

[Mama_Bear]

do you have a full view standing of chachi?

But, of course! My photographer husband is making sure that Chachi is one the top ten most photograhed dogs in the world, I think. LOL.

BRB with a full body shot.

[Dashing Dasher]

Shana was my first Rott, Abby was my second and DP was my third. Precious was lost about 18 months ago.

Dewclaws are usually removed when they dock the tails. They are like thumbs and have no real purpose - and can get caught on things when get older.

My friend has a Dobie and her dog has serious Dews - very pronounced - usually they are very small.

About the travel..
I travel about 50% on business - can't quite take a Rott with me to business meetings. I also don't live in a conducive environment (Condo). When I had Precious - I had a large house with a large yard for her to run around.