I Want A Puppy For Christmas!

Flyer and Gilligan ^ | December 13, 2001 | From the heart

[Flyer]

I want a puppy for Christmas!

Okay, I don't really want a puppy for Christmas. Yes, I do want a puppy, but not quite yet. My last three dogs have come into my life as adults. I haven't had the joy (and aggravation) of raising a puppy since 1986.

I had four dogs until just a couple of years ago.I had to put one to sleep due to trauma injuries, and another that was old with failing health. A third I put to sleep just about six weeks ago. She had severe spondylosis, but lived 3 - 4 years longer than the vets had expected. I cherished every extra day we had together.

I have mentioned here before that I used to work with dogs (and cats), up until a year ago. I worked at an animal shelter for 3 years, a veterinarian for 6 years and 2 years at a first class boarding kennel. During those eleven years I touched the lives of about 10,000 different dogs. That's not an exaggeration. I crossed paths with about 100,000 dogs, but I'm just counting ones I, in some way,  have touched their lives. (yes, much of this was from the work at the shelter. We took in 35 - 40,000 animals a year) Of the ten thousand there were probably 500 that I knew very well from seeing them over and over at the vet and the boarding kennel. I loved them as my own dogs and they loved me as their own 'person'.

My new puppy will be a Golden Retriever named Re-Boot, in hopes of filling the shoes (paws?) of the Golden I recently lost. My remaining dog is a Golden and yes, they are my favorite breed. There any many other breeds I like, though. Border Collies are very smart and I will probably have one some day. Corgi's have taken a piece of my heart, too. I will probably never own a Standard Poodle but they are very fun dogs once you get to know them. Over the years it was quite an experience spotting the common traits in the different breeds.

I want a puppy for Christmas. So why don't I get one?? Raising a puppy properly requires time and money. The time I have now. The money - I don't. So I will wait. My puppy will be there when I am ready. (and please reconsider if you are thinking of giving a pet as a Christmas gift - but that's a chapter in itself)

So why am I posting this frivolous little story? Because I hope to get the attention of all of you that read these animal threads and ask a favor of you. Lately Tabitha Soren   has been a pest on these innocent, "G" rated animal threads. I want to ask you to join me and just ignore her and not give her the dignity of a reply. I know, she gets us all PO'ed, but if we just ignore her she will lose the satisfaction of the attention she gets, and she won't have replies to reply to.

BTW. . . post your pet stories here and we won't let this warm and fuzzy thread get hijacked!

 

Merry Christmas,

Flyer and Gilligan

[Flyer]

here is a nephew of my Weim, at four weeks

I bet that 'pup' is at least 60Lbs now.

[HiTech RedNeck]

ROFLOL, it had me going at first! I thought: what a clever idea! Then I saw "Fighting B*tches" on the list.

[alcuin]

I thought I had you on ignore!

What witchcraft are you working you, you . . .

DISRUPTER!

[apackof2]

Old Dogs Do Not Die

We have a secret, you and I,
That no one else shall know,
For who but I can see you lie
Each night in the fireglow?
And who but I can reach my hand
Before we go to bed,
And feel the living warmth of you
And touch your silken head?
And only I walk woodland paths,
And see you ahead of me,
Your small form racing with the wind,
So young again, and free.
And only I can see you swim
In every brook I pass...
And when I call, no one but I
Can see the bending grass...

--Author Unknown

When the time comes, you will get another.

[illstillbe]

Flyer ... when our kiddos were young we always had dogs and I thought of them as just another face to feed ... or so I thought ... until our family dog had to be put down just before Christmas last year.

My youngest was 19 at the time and I could not believe how much I felt the loss. To cut to the chase ... my family organized and brought to me a St. Bernard ... all the way from So. Dakota.... for Christmas.

He arrived shortly after the 25th ... and was the size of a large cocker spaniel. Very shy ...

He turned a year in October ... and weighs in at 237 pounds.... though he is expected to finally reach over 250.

The stories I could tell of this last year!!! From not being able to get him down the front stairs ... he stayed up there for 14 hours ... afraid to tumble down the stairs ... which he eventually did .. a canine avalanche ... LOL! ... to his now riding in my truck with me ... straight forward ... just like a human ... though he has to bend his head to see out of the window ...

He is my very best friend ... I take him everywhere I go ... most of the shopkeepers I give my business to know him ... so in he goes ... as I shop.

He brings out the very best in people, he does ... you can not help but love a St. Bernard ... though his back reaches higher than my waist ... he listens to every word I say and just generally brings joy wherever he goes. *grin*

/ramble

[damnlimey]

EnnisExile's dearly departed friend,
Brunna O'Dea (trans: Gift from God).

[Flyer]

if you would like to use it whenever "she" comes around

I have had the picture for awhile, but the idea is great. No words, just that big pi$$ed off cat.

[HairOfTheDog]

Beautiful dog!... what a sweet face! Sorry again for your loss.

[HairOfTheDog]

- you want to tell me twice? since I posted it twice? ;~D

[texgal]

He's adorable. Wish I had one now!

[MomwithHope]

I had an Annabelle too, for 8 wonderful years. She was the best dog. Half sky terrier and half redbone hound. Looked a lot like a rat terrier. Had to have her put down in 1978 (cancer). Have not had another dog since but now I am ready for another (Coconut) the Bichon I want for Christmas.

[HairOfTheDog]

HOW MANY DOGS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

Rottweiler: Make me.

Lab: Oh, me, me!!!! Pleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I?

Malamute: Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.

Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Hungarian puli: Not me. Look what happened to my hair the last time I tried.

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? You can't tell I peed on the carpet in the dark.

Doberman Pinscher: While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.

Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark......

Mastiff: Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.

Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

Irish Wolfhound: Can somebody else do it? I've got this hangover.....

Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there....

Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle....

Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb?

Hound Dog: ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz

Cat: Dogs do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So the question is: how long will it be before I can expect light?

[GovernmentShrinker]

Only $1100? I'm already over $6000 this year for my dear 17 1/2 year old kitty Oliver (who I adopted from a shelter 2 1/2 years ago). And that's not counting his methimazole! And the vets still don't know what's wrong with him. They thought they'd ruled out everything except a brain tumor, but he's 1000% better than when he was first taken ill in July (they figured he have to be put to sleep within a few days), and the neurologist doesn't think an untreated brain tumor could have produced the original symptoms followed by a significant recovery, so we're not going to take the risk of anesthesia necessary for a brain scan (the expense would not be a consideration). I'd thought of doing the radioiodine therapy, but at this point I wouldn't want to leave him in the clinic for the 2 weeks necessary for getting his Geiger count down, and besides he's such a VERY good boy about taking his pills that I'd really miss the twice daily routine. He just lets me open his mouth and drop it down, and it's so nice to be reminded of the trust he's developed since I fetched this terrified little fellow out of the SPCA.

[Teacher317]

Chocolate labs? Beagles? Here's a slice of heaven that I get to play in all the time!

[EnnisExile]

Thank you through my tears for that wonderful, wonderful poem that so exactly reflects my belief and experience. Today I put my hand down and stroked his incredibly soft head. I'm printing this to keep in a prominent place. Again, Thank You.

[Flyer]

afraid to tumble down the stairs ... which he eventually did .. a canine avalanche

LOL doesn't cut it. . . I literally did laugh out loud. I hope y'all have many wonderful years together.

[apackof2]

I have been there too so you are welcome...from one "dog parent" to another

[MomwithHope]

That's OK, my last dog a terrier mutt was in puppyhood for 5 years. I hadn't heard Bichon's had a chewing problem. Are you planning to breed yours??

[EnnisExile]

Thanks for making this memorial possible. And thanks to everyone who offered condolences.

[snippy_about_it]

I'm so sorry. You will be in my prayers. I understand your loss as I recently experienced a similar unexpected loss of my beloved dog.

You have freepmail.