A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-21-03....All Creatures Great and Small...FreeperPets

Dutchess and Billie | Gizmo,Codee and FredtheCat

[dutchess]

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, daisyscarlett, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear

How precious we "creatures" big and small are. We bring fun, laughter and comfort to you, our human family and friends. . .. and yes . . . aggravation too! We hope you enjoy this weekly thread and also hope you will allow us the honor of featuring your special furry (or not so furry) FreeperPets.

All Creatures Great and Small...Our FreeperPets

Welcome Freeper Friends. I'm Gizmo and with me are my sistahs Codee and Fred the Cat. Today....we'll tell you a little about us....in the coming weeks and months we hope to feature many more of our FRfinests "gifts from God"

Why Are We Doing This????

Gizmo: We came up with this idea as we live in Mom's study anyway; at least since she discovered FreeRepublic! She is always telling Dad to come in and read various FR Threads AND ALWAYS the Finest. We decided it's about time to feature us....the finest FreeperPets and praise our own. After all, it is FreeperPets (ALONG with FreeRepublic) that keep our human Freepers sane!!!

The Beginning

Gizmo: It all started with Dutchess in 1975. Mom and Dad just graduated from college and were getting married. They didn't have much but got a shot at a free dog named "DUTCHESS" (thus mom's screen name). Dutchess was a University of Michigan college pup who was "found out" by administration, was banned from her owner's dorm and sentenced to the dog pound. My folks adopted her and shared a wonderful life with her for the next 13 years.

Duchess died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 14 from cancer that no one knew about. She seemed healthy until the end. They were devastated and decided no more pets for them.

Enter Codee...

Four weeks later Dad saw an ad for a Shelty pup in the local newspaper . . . a breed he always was fascinated with. He brought one home and put it in bed with mom. Mom and Dutchess LOVED to cuddle. She expected that with Codee right from the start. NOT!

Codee: I was a pretty rotten puppy. I was too energetic, hated cuddles and got along well with dad but mom and I were not a mix.

Gizmo: Then one day mom was cleaning out files in her study and started reading the daily letters she wrote to Dutchess in the days after she died. (that was before the internet and "RAINBOW BRIDGE." She still has these letters and sends them to friends when they lose their pets)

Codee: I heard her start to cry and went into the study. I felt so bad I laid on her feet and looked at her face . . . she looked at my face . . . and . . . we finally bonded. We have loved each other ever since.

Gizmo: Codee and Mom insist that Dutchess did that devine intervention.

and then came....Fred the Cat

Gizmo: Okay . . . then Fred shows up as a kitten. Mom and Dad are not big cat lovers and tried to ignore him but within two days mom started sneaking bowls of milk outside. (you all "know the drill") Turns out "him was a HER" after she gave birth to 4 kittens. Good homes were found for all, Fred was immediately "fixed" and worked HER way into the house within the year. She now is a fixture on couch and bed!

And....My Story….

I was a "dumped dog." Don't know why, but I was. I was lucky that I was dumped by someone who cared enough to find a neighborhood of doglovers. I started my search for a home at "mom's" house. Just started throwing myself on her screen door. She came out, gave me some water and then shooed me on my way figuring I belonged to someone.

Two days later, after they made lots of calls to the humane society, newspaper, and radio, it was obvious I was an orphan. I was running down the middle of the street in circles when Mom said "I can't take it anymore" and brought me in. That was six years ago. This family has been a blessing for me . . . and I HAVE BEEN A BLESSING FOR THEM TOO…

So that's our story...the next step

Now...I'm packed and ready to go….to meet and profile some of our special FreeperPets. I just ask that when I come knocking on YOUR door…you make sure to have LOTS of doggie treats and a warm lap to rest my weary head….THIS STUFF WEARS ME OUT….Until next week…this is Gizmo signing off.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-19-03...Military Monday 05-20-03...EnviablyRabidRalph

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[barker]

Yes they have personalities. Velcro would run all over the sofa and when she wanted off she would roll up into a ball and just roll off the edge onto the floor. Then she got to where she would roll off whereever I put my hand so I could catch her.

Very popular garden pets in England. In the wild they eat insects and snakes. They have special hospitals over there just for hedgehogs.

[MeekOneGOP]

Harold always cracks up when he sees Smiley !!

ROFL !!

[DollyCali]

Dolly was also the first clone.. the sheep in early 90's.

I took lots of flack over that one.

Thanks for the welcome angel

[kanawa]

Ping

[dutchess]

Goodmorning Meekie...That picture of smiley cracks me up LOL!

[E Rocc]

One time we had a couple over and the woman DID NOT LIKE DOGS...she had a bad experience as a kid and was quite fearful of them. Well here's little Gizmo who was still a pup. The first thing he did when they walked in was lift his leg and pee on her foot! (he NEVER did that before or since!)

When Slash was a semi-kitten my brother brought over his somewhat prissy girlfriend, and proceeded to fight with/rile him up. Slash trotted over, scratched the girlfriend on the leg, and bolted. I busted up, explaining to him that "even the cat has you figured out".

-Eric

[martin_fierro]

Gutenmorgen aller!

Dieses war mein kleiner hund.

(For some inexplicable reason, I'm compelled to talk about my dearly-departed hund in what is probably poorly-translated German)

[dutchess]

Slash trotted over, scratched the girlfriend on the leg, and bolted. I busted up, explaining to him that "even the cat has you figured out".

That's way too funny....also like your tagline LOL!

[dutchess]

Hi Martin...what a sweet picture!

[dutchess]

That is fascinating. You have freepmail!

[dutchess]

Hi lovely sistah! Yes...I'm taking notes LOL! Thanks for all your help!

[dutchess]

Happy 5th Anniversary MusicMan. How time flys!

[ironman]

My dog Kona.

[lonestar]

I sent Weinie's picture.

She is so excited! However, she's outside chasing the hated squirrels!

[TechJunkYard]

Here's Larry from a different server.

[Aquamarine]

Small Towns and Big Dreams

Click on the pic

Have to go for a while...be back after lunch. Don't want to miss any of this happy thread. :)

[dutchess]

LOL...Larry looks like definately has a personality!

[The Thin Man]

Very cute Dutchess. I'm quite impressed on how articulate your pets are. When I had a dog all he could say was "roof! roof!."

[dutchess]

Hi ironman. Kona is very handsome! Thanks for sharing him with us!

[ValerieUSA]

Great thread! Here's my big brave hero, Yoda, after conquering the evil vacuum cleaner and saving us all.