Pets

I’m glad both dogs are deaf

2 Comments / Day to Day, Pets /

Last month TW started saying Jake was also deaf (Jake is the black dog, his mother Chanel is the old and very deaf almost dead blonde dog).  I didn’t believe her because he mostly responds to your voice and he was barking when people he did not like came to the door.  Stuff like that. 

On New Year’s Eve, when the fireworks started, he didn’t make a sound.  Hmm, maybe she’s right.  But no, he barked at the doorbell on Sunday.  Last night, when the Gator Mania started, he never made a sound.  For 3 hours while the city celebrated (and I tossed and turned and could not sleep due to all of the celebration) the dog never made a sound – except for some snoring and deep breathing.

The dogs, they’re both deaf and last night I was glad – fireworks and horn honking and airhorns are bad enough, dogs barking outside your bedroom door are worse.

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It’s another one of those holidays…

1 Comment / Holidays, Pets /

You know, the kind when dogs eat chocolate and people surf the web looking for information about how horrible this is, how quickly their dog is going to die and how big the vet bill is going to be.  While Christmas isn’t quite as big for dogs and chocolate as Halloween, it’s been busy around here with the search engine folks.

There have been more cats ingesting chocolate and candy than in previous candy-filled holidays, (at least based on the numbers of people arriving here via search engines).  So far, none of our cats have had any chocolate.  Megan was eating a plastic bag that held chocolate but she always eats plastic bags, so that’s not really anything unusual. 

Also, it seems some dogs have been getting into the Christmas ham and this is troubling to some people.  It’s troubling to me to see TW tossing scraps to the dogs but I don’t really think a bit of ham is going to be a problem for most dogs (or cats).  It never has been for any of ours.  Jake will sometimes open the refrigerator door and nibble from the ham or turkey if it’s on the bottom shelf and not in sealed tupperware.  He’s still alive and well and here to nibble on RJ’s Christmas candy without any ill effects.

Happy holidays to all of you, and to your pets, too.

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How Many Dead Dogs?

3 Comments / Holidays, Pets, Questions and Answers /

There is not a day that goes by without at least one person arriving at my blog through a search for dogs eating chocolate (though the actual search phrase varies, and is often interesting like the one who said “how long do I have to wait until my dog dies from eating chocolate”). Tonight, in the last 2 hours, I’ve had five people visit in search of the answer to the dogs death by chocolate question.


While I did have folks assure me that chocolate is toxic to dogs, I stand by my belief that it’s a myth. None of my dogs has ever died from chocolate and believe me, they’ve eaten a LOT of chocolate. I wouldn’t stick the cute little orange pumpkin full of candy on the floor in place of the dog food or anything like that but I’m not going to lose any sleep over Jake grabbing a snoutful before I can stop him.


Now if anyone stumbles on some study that shows how many dogs day in the aftermath of Halloween chocolate madness, then I’d consider changing my mind.

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Daily Dose of TV – Dr Who and K-9

3 Comments / Memories, Pets, Sights & Sounds /

K9I was a pretty big Dr Who fan back in the late 70’s and early, early 80’s.  I loved Tom Baker and I adored K-9.  I sooo wanted to name a stray puppy we found in a box after Dr Who’s canine robot but I was out voted.  Apparently my vote counted less because I had previous dog naming experience so it was not my turn to name a dog.  I was out voted again during the naming of the next dog too because Jennifer’s vote counted more than mine.  I even attempted to name a cat "K-9" and Christopher had a FIT because nobody should have a name with just one letter and one number.  (The boy was weird even then)

I’m pleased to see someone has found K-9 rusting in a cabinet and he’s being brought back to life – even if it is only for one episode and a cartoon series.  I’m pleased even if I never get to see his return to Dr Who or his cartoon-self.  Memories of Dr Who marathons and just knowing K-9 is alive and well is enough for me.

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Daily Dose of Dogs, Cats, Candy & Questions

7 Comments / Foodie, Holidays, Kid Talk, Pets, Questions and Answers /

They say dogs should not eat chocolate.  They say it’s not good for them.  They even sometimes say it will kill them.  Those dog lover fanatic people get all hysterical if you talk about dogs eating chocolate.  I think its bull.

I think chocolate is only unhealthy for dogs in the same way it is unhealthy for people.  I think it will only kill them in the same way it kills people.  I think those dog lover fanatic people who get all hysterical are like the food nazis who get all upset about kids eating chocolate. 

The reason I think this is I have dogs eating chocolate experience.  Tons of it.  Every single holiday – from Halloween to Christmas to Valentine’s Day to Easter the darn black dog eats an abundance of candy – generally chocolate candy.  And he’s not dead.  Yet.  In fact, he has not even indicated he has a stomach ache after eating almost a full basket of Easter candy yesterday on top of eating a half dozen chocolate covered peanut butter eggs TW and the kids made the day before on top of eating a 1/4 of a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips that fell onto the floor the day before that.

So – if dogs do, in fact, die from eating chocolate – why hasn’t this one died?  Or why hasn’t his much older, much more fragile, mother who has also indulged in a good bit of chocolate every holiday since she came to live with us fallen ill?  And why didn’t the black lab who lived with us before these two cockers die from eating chocolate?  And what about the white spitz we had before that?  Or the mutt we had before that?  What kind of dogs get sick from eating chocolate? What kind die?  Is it a certain kind of chocolate and chocolate eaten on holidays doesn’t cause illness or death?

And while I’m questioning the truth vs myth factor of dogs eating chocolate – do cats get sick from eating chocolate? Do they die?  Because I’ve got one who is working on eating her weight in chocolate… and she’s showing no ill effects.  Sigh.

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Daily Dose of Dogs – Age

12 Comments / Day to Day, Pets /

chanel.jpgChanel (and Big Jake) came to us by accident. We’d had a black lab for several years but a kid crisis and an open gate left us dogless at just the moment when a tragedy struck another family.

A friend of my son’s commited suicide. Chanel and Big Jake belonged to them. I discovered when I went to work at the kennel, where Chanel and Big Jake often stayed, after a mini vacation that the family was going to take them to the animal shelter for adoption because they were moving away and could not take the dogs.

I could not imagine those two dogs being separated from their family and from each other. We were dogless. The dogs knew me and I rather liked them both. I volunteered to take them. This all happened 5 1/2 years ago and Chanel, mom to Big Jake, is now almost 14 years old.

I rant often about these dogs. Taking them was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Jake is mean, mean, mean to anyone who does not belong in his home or his yard. He loves his family and anyone he decides is ok to add to his family. Everyone else, watch out! Chanel is, well, not the smartest cookie in the world and now, almost overnight, she’s aged and what was cute in a dumb blonde dog sort of way is becoming just plain sad.

She doesn’t hear well. She doesn’t see well. She is easily confused. She has forgotten all bathroom habits. She simply goes whenever and wherever (and it’s rarely outside). And if all of that wasn’t enough, there’s now the mobility factor.

The couch has always been her domain. She was raised to be the princess in her first family, a lapdog through and through. I never could train that out of her so I gave up. Now she has trouble getting onto the couch and trouble getting down. It hurts her and it hurts us to watch. She wandered upstairs yesterday afternoon. I have no idea what she was looking for but about halfway up she changed her mind and promptly tumbled down the stairs. I was afraid to get up and check on her. In fact, as I was dreading opening the bedroom door I heard her get up and walk away and only then was I able to move and really check on her.

On Monday morning, the normal jockeying for position outside of the bedroom door that is done every single day by all 4 cats and the dogs happened without her. She slept through it all. I had to actually wake her up in order to take her outside to not use the bathroom and eat. Helping her off of the couch, watching as she attempted to make her legs work, seeing her confusion about which direction to walk to in order to get outside – I almost cried.

This dog who has made so many things about my life more difficult than I’d like… this dog who I’m constantly cleaning up after… this dog who I often wish I did not have is old. It happened overnight, or so it seems. She was fine just a few months ago. Running around the yard chasing the kids, traipsing in and out of the girls’ bedrooms looking for someone to pet her, chasing the cats off of her preferred spot on the couch. Really she was fine. Now, she isn’t. I’m incredibly sad.

I didn’t think I’d feel this way. I’ve lost more dogs to age and military moves overseas than I can even count. My mom ran over a dog from my childhood in our doggone driveway. Another childhood dog squeezed out of the backyard fence and found a new home before we figured out where she was and my parents let the new family keep her. I’ve seen my share of dogs and seen them all go – but this one, this one is pretty near breaking my heart.

It’s time to let her go. I don’t want to, but it is time.

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Daily Dose of Work – Toys

Holidays, Kid Talk, Pets, Toys & Games /

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TW use to work from home but she doesn’t anymore. I feel bad about that, even when she isn’t really sick I feel bad about it. Even when she isn’t actively and loudly missing being at home with the little kids. And that. Is why. I buy. Her TOYS! Yes, toys for work. I’ve bought her lots of toys. And pets. The hermit crabs (Ellen, Spikey and Artemis) that the little kids and I got her for her birthday were suppose to go to work. That hasn’t happened and it has made me sort of grouchy.

Anyway, back to the toys.

Apparently work is suppose to be fun. (who knew???) Apparently not many people find work fun and the folks at To-Done have suggestions about how to change that. Number one on their list is TOYS! Ha, see I am smarter than you people give me credit for!

Now the real question is, should I get her another Hazel to take to work? It’s a great toy, her coworkers would love it… or should I just sign her up for an email joke a day thing instead?

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Daily Dose of Diet – Dogs

Pet Peeves, Pets /

Did you know dogs love Capri Sun? Well it’s not just Capri Sun, these dogs are well known coffee, coke and hot chocolate fans, too. Everyone knows not to leave their drink sitting anywhere near the dogs because it will be gone as soon as you turn your back or even turn your head. Many a Starbucks drink has been lost to these dogs.

Monday morning there was a Capri Sun package on the living room floor. I figured a little kid had not thrown away the package and the dogs enjoyed gnawing on it to get the residuals out. Tuesday morning, another Capri Sun grimey and wet and full of dog gnawing marks. Again, I assumed a little kid leftover. Wednesday morning, same thing and I assumed it was Michelle’s Capri Sun package because she had been drinking a Capri Sun during Gilmore Girls. But, as I bent to pick that one up I noticed the straw was intact, still in its packaging a few steps away from the dog mangled pouch. Hmmm… This morning, another dog gone mangled Capri Sun. And again, an intact straw. What the….

I was pondering this question as I headed into the kitchen to toss the evidence in the trash when my leg knocked the Capri Sun box off of the shelf by the kitchen door. Ah ha! They are taking the Capri Suns out of the box in the kitchen and carrying them into the living room without pulling the box all of the way off of the shelf!

These dogs are geniuses when it comes to getting their Capri Sun fix.

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Daily Dose of Life – Arghhh!

Holidays, Kid Talk, Pet Peeves, Pets /

It all started at 1am when I woke with a blinding sinus headache. I thought I was going to DIE. I don’t do well with OTC meds but I was in serious pain so I searched the bathroom for those little red death pills and came up empty. Settled for little pink benadryl and somehow fell asleep around 2am. Woke again at 5am still feeling the pain but dozed through it til the alarm went off.

Made it through the initial morning rounds – dogs, cats, coffee, morning posts, email, blogs. All was right with the world, even if my head felt like it was about to burst. Stopped at Starbucks for my fix, took TW to work and spent $30 to fill up the gas tank.

Came home and went into the bedroom to read my blog feeds on the laptop since I was ahead of schedule. Finished that and headed back to the office to get back to work. Uh oh. My computer screen was black. Power light was on but the pretty blue windows wallpaper and my cluttered desktop were nowhere to be seen. Just blackness.

I moved the mouse. Still blackness. I clicked the keyboard. Still blackness. I fiddled with the monitor settings. You guessed it, blackness. I turned off the power button, waited a minute and turned it back on. Blackness. Turned it off and fiddled with wires. Black, black, black. (insert profanity)

It’s an all in one that TW’s mom bought me a couple of years ago and I love it or I did until this happened. I had 3/4 of a report on that thing! I had my metrix for the report on that thing. I had work for next week half way completed so that TW and I can take the weekend off and hit the beach before Michelle comes home next week. All of that work and on a kid crazy, school pick up, little kid birthday day!

(insert a lot of profanity)

I went back to the laptop in the bedroom and struggled along. Recreated my report. Scraped up an old metrix spreadsheet and recreated. Struggled along some more. Wrote to Gateway about my poor black screen computer. Worked some more. Took a break to wrap birthday presents for E. Worked some more. Took a red pill of death that TW found this morning before she went to work. Struggle, struggle, struggle.

1:15, time to drive across town and pick up the girls from their school. Got disgusted with a woman who sought my white face out of a crowd of non-white faces to complain about the way folks triple parked during pick up. I love NYC, triple parking doesn’t faze me a bit but her assumption that another white face would agree with her – well that bugged me. (I hope it is not her son’s birthday party we are suppose to attend next weekend)

Got home at 2:30 and struggled through work for another 45 minutes while assisting RJ with homework, fixing snack for both girls, talking to E about her birthday presents and just general life with kid stuff.

Drove to the other side of town to pick up J from school and from there picked up TW at work so she could come home and make E’s birthday cookie with her. Ha. We hadn’t been home long when E discovered the evil dog who ate the cuties earlier in the week had EATEN HER BRAND NEW BACKPACK! sigh

I shut down the work I had been trying to do and jumped in the car. “I think we got that backpack at Target, or maybe Walmart” says RJ. I figure Target. I figured wrong. Luckily Walmart is in the same vicinity as Target so I head there. Target was empty. Walmart was PACKED. No Lisa Frank backpacks! No cutie backpacks at all! They couldn’t have gone to Kmart, it’s not their style! Where did they get that thing???? I was about to give up and head to Kmart when I saw a huge bin of backpacks near the electronics with some bright pink and bright blue in the middle. Paydirt. Lisa Frank – but no pink ones with some funky looking girl and a poodle. I grabbed a light blue one with a CUTIEEEEEEEEEEEE dog on it and hoped for the best.

Drove home, showed it to E, apologizing profusely when she said “I like this one better!” Yea! Crisis averted. So I’m repacking the new backpack and say “Where’s your lunchbox.” Silence. He didn’t. Yes, he did. He ate that too.

Back in the car I go. Back to Walmart. By now it’s 6pm and traffic is umm bad. Walmart is even more crowded than before and again, no Lisa Frank lunchboxes! grrrr! No cutie lunchboxes AT ALL. I’m thinking I’m going to have to drive in the other direction across town and try the other Walmart when I see a wee bit of pink underneath the Spidey lunchboxes. Ha! A Lisa Frank lunchbox just like the backpack Jake ate! It’s not the ugly purple Lisa Frank but surely she will like this since it is the same design as the original backpack, right???

I pay. I drive home. She giggles. Funny. Oh yea, I’m laughing my rear off here as my head threatens to explode some more.

We light the candles on the birthday cookie. We eat. I make a wish that she really was still 4 as she blows out her candles. I don’t know what she wished for but it had better not be another Lisa Frank backpack or lunchbox. I don’t think I can handle that.

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