Posted on 12/13/2001 12:07:14 PM PST by 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
This was a custom made alum. frame job for big dogs coming and going off of the screenporch.
Ask us long haired dog owners and we will say you got off easy. My Golden sheds about a puppy a day.
It won't be Christmas this year with him over by the Trellis-Bench I built while he watched, three years ago, instead of sprawled comfortably, one forepaw crossed over the other, in his suave and cosmopolitan manner, next to the tree. Life will go on, and gifts will be exchanged, but without Max, a spark will be missing.
This Spring, my son Jack and I are hoping to finally wear down the Dutchess to let us contact the New England OES Rescue League and see if we can get another of this marvelous breed to try and fill the paw prints that Max left in our hearts.
Merry Christmas to all of you and all of you lucky enough to have your "Best Friend" still with you, give 'em a hug for me! THANKS!
It is these type of individual mannerisms that that make the best memories of my dogs. They are all one of a kind.
May I make a suggestion? I'm not sure what the expense factor is in getting a golden retriever puppy, but there are animal rescue groups for various breeds (my brother runs a basenji rescue group) where you can get a purebred puppy that has already gotten its shots, been fixed, etc., and at a considerable cost discount from buying from a breeder. This could save you on the money factor.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
So did we-- my wife is asthmatic-- so we found the labradoodle (see link in post #53). They have the personality of a labrador and the non-shedding coat of a standard poodle.
(I've seen Keesha's picture. She's a beauty!)
g
Nice to see you here!
g
Great pic. If I ever get out of this lousy city I might give you some competition, but feel it is more than unfair to keep a big and/or "outside" dog cooped up all day in a house.
Thanks for the advice also.
prambo
If I ever reach over for her and she's not warm and soft, I think my heart would break.
g
Greyhounds, mastiffs (200 pounds), Goldens, hmmm... mutts with those mixes, might suit you just fine!!!
Some lines of labradors, like the smaller and more "traditional" labrador bred to patiently sit in a duck blind all day, would be happy to sit on the couch all day while you are at work. These dogs are different than some of the lines of big bouncier labs bred by upland bird-dog people.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.