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
She's went there a puppy and came home a star. Best dog I've ever owned.
We have a Shih Tsu as well and it's comparatively aloof and cunning.
Yes, and they make difficult boarding clients because they aren't willing to readily accept a new, temporary alpha.
No crocodiles . . or rhinocerussesses
The only pets worth having . .
Are hippopotamussesses!
And as for TABITHA, she's on ignoressess!
Well, you know that business about old dogs and new tricks. Cody likes the classes, mainly because it's positive reinforcement training, and that means lots of doggy treats. But learning anything? Not hardly.
Yes, they can make the best of the worst day.
I have a 6 year old Female (neutered) She is an "outside "cat..has her claws..well in the last year she has taken to spraying (marking??) on my dining room table y in the center of it around the flowers or centerpiece. ..usually when I am not home (a temper tantrum?)
I thought I had solved it by using that "keep away"spray..but she did it again today..
I do not want to put her to sleep ..but this is starting to get to me
Any ideas?
My beloved 10-yr old Chow-Keeshund cross - Brunna - dropped dead in my back yard just after midnight this morning. I'd just let him out, as requested, of course, and went to bring him 10 minutes later. I couldn't believe my eyes. I found him lying by the back fence and immediately called the police. However, they (and later the Vet Hospital) found no signs of injury or other exterior trauma. The (un-autopsied) conclusion is 'natural causes,' probably massive heart attack.
I have not slept and I'm running on adrenaline. Knowing that when that subsides my heart will surely be ripped from my chest.
I am an older (59) woman who lives alone and has no family on the NA continent. I am bereft. I dread Christmas. I dread my birthday tomorrow.
Would appreciate prayers.
I would love to post a pic of my Brunna but don't know how. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Well Flyer??? She does look like a mountain goat doesn't she!?!?! hee hee
A laptop seems to be some sort of shepard.
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.