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

[The Wizard]

but you'll have to love the puppy all year

[Flyer]

Get a Rott

Ah, I've got my heart set on a Golden. I have met my share of really wonderful Rotties though.

Oh well my apt's small enough with just my big a$$ in it

[Comment removed by Flyer]

[maxwell]

[Comment removed by Flyer]

LMAO! It's OK, I laughed my a$$ off so it ain't here any more. Now, what was that you were going to say?

[Flyer]

but you'll have to love the puppy all year

I try to squeeze 7 years of love into every year, you know, to make up for that 'dog years' thing.

[Flyer]

I'll still keep the comment to myself. Go get that dog now that you have room. BTW. . . Greyhounds make great indoor dogs and it would keep up with your running.

[maxwell]

Hmmmm... Nope, greyhounds are girly dogs. I need something virile and macho that'll reflect me, haha. At least make me look like a geek nobody wants to screw with.

Hey do you know RikaStrom? Or any other Houston FReepers? When I get down to visit my Large Luscious Cupcake in central Texas area we should find a honky-tonk and have an impromptu FReeper party and get trashed...

\_/ \_/ \_/

[Flyer]

do you know RikaStrom

Sure don't. We are just organizing a Houston Chapter so I hope to know some of them soon. Holler at us when you make plans and who knows. . . ?

BTW, I lost track of my "Spinal Tap" video. Do you have a copy?

[maxwell]

Sorry bud, I'm a cheap bastard, I rent 'em and move on... The only flick I've ever actually gotten around to going out and purchasing was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Comes in handy for when you have company over. Haha. The last time I was high, I mean mellow, I nearly busted an artery laughing at that damn thing...

That's really cool about that Houston chapter thing. Good luck to y'all, and be sure to ping RikaStrom about it. I guess I should see if VA has any active chapters... If they meet at a bar I'm there...

[Hildy]

Here we go:

about two years ago, God sent Lilly into our lives. A month after she came into our lives, my Mother and Father both got sick and moved in with us. It was a very difficult time culminating in the death of my Father. This little angel dog was the only thing that brought us laughter during those terrible months. And to this day, brings me so much happiness, I can cry. I used to laugh at people like the person I've become. But I don't care. I love my dog in ways I can't even describe. And, for the 100th time on FR, here she is:

[Flyer]

I used to laugh at people like the person I've become

I used to just think dogs were dogs, too. But then one like your Lilly comes into your life and changes you forever. Cute, cute little Angel you have!

[Hildy]

Thank you. She's a joy. The funny part is that I never had a dog in my life. My mother never let us have one and until two years ago, I never wanted one. But when I decided to get one, it was like an obsession. I HAD to have her. That's why I believe God sent her into our lives just when we needed her. Just as a PS, my Mother lives with us now, and she ADORES Lilly. Says she made a mistake all those years by not letting us have animals. Lilly keeps my Mother company all day while I'm away at work.

[snippy_about_it]

Imagine, if you let the dog in to sleep with you, there is someone to sleep between the two of you. You can all stay warm and still be mad for a little while. :)

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you, now I need a packof6!

It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

[dr_klein]

A very blessed one as I also got a dvd player & a new receiver :)

[doubtfire]

bump

[doubtfire]

bump

[EnnisExile]

I hope everyone who participated in the "I want a Puppy for Christmas" and the "Tribute to Brunna" threads will stumble across this post which I'm directing to just a few people for brevity's sake.

You may be pleased to learn that I was joined by a new doggie companion yesterday. I found 'Paddy' through a local rescue society website. He's a 7+ month-old Border Collie/Brittany Spaniel X whose history of neglect is now at an end. Already, he has brought a measure of peace and healing to my broken heart.

You will probably never fully appreciate how much all of your interest and understanding helped me in those first painful days. Technochick's Tribute to Brunna has been saved to my hard-drive forever, as well as having been shared with friends and family all around the world.

I wish you all Peace and Joy at Christmas and throughout the New Year.

[HairOfTheDog]

YAY!!!! - Need help posting a picture? let me know. We would all love to see the pup!!!

[HairOfTheDog]

New puppy Ping and a bump!!

[Artist]

"And all my hair back."

My hubby says he's got plenty....the color's just "clear."

;^)