Life with Dogs and Cats

A New Book Sure to Please

2010-05-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Divine Life of Animals: One Man's Quest to Discover Whether the Souls of Animals Live On

This awesome book, releasing June 8, 2010, can be preordered through Amazon. Check it out!

Dogs Just Wanna Have Fun

2010-05-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

DOGS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Rex loves the beach...and the park...and long walks around the neighborhood. All he wants to do is have fun. And I can't blame him. Too bad I have to work, or I'd be out there at the beach, and the park, and walking in the neighborhood with him all the time. We have to settle for squeezing it in when we can. But we don't mind. When we do get to have fun, we're loving it!

Letting Go

2010-04-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

Diamond -- a little girl with a big heart -- hid from strangers, but showed us an abundance of love when she did come out of her hiding spot in the back of the closet. Her motor purred so loud in bed at night you'd have to tell her to hush so you could get to sleep. And she was always right there, with a head rub against your leg or a soft paw touching your face, when you needed some comfort or reassurance.

No one knew of her huge capacity to give love except us. And we miss that now that it's gone. Diamond lived a long life and is now over the Rainbow Bridge in animal heaven. We'll see you someday, little girl. Til then, happy frolicking!

2010-02-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

HE'S GOT IT GOOD

Some days he barks up a storm, usually at nothing I can understand. I'm sure he thinks it's important to let the guys roaming the neighborhood putting flyers under front door mats that he's here and he's watching. At other times, a dog out on a walk with his/her owner must be told "Hey, this is where I live! Remember that!" And still other times I think he barks just to hear himself bark.

But on most days he's content and quiet. A real peach under all that barking fur. He's good at giving me that cute stare from the end of the sofa, or stretching out in a patch of sunshine for a long nap. Oh, how I envy him those moments of blissfulness. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes, I will stretch out beside him on the floor and relish a respite from my work. Ahhh....he's got it good!

I Solumnly Swear

2009-12-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

I wish the cats would take this oath!

A NEW FRIEND

2009-11-16T18:39:00.001-08:00

A NEW FRIEND

Mom has a new friend. So does Molly Magee. They'll be good for each other. Mom wanted a friend she could talk to. Someone to keep her company. Molly is five years old and needed a new friend, someone to live with again like in the home she used to have. She's a sweet girl. Mom is, too. They'll be good for each other. : )

SEND SUGAR

2009-10-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

SEND SUGAR

"Have you got some sugar?" Dad asked over the phone. "I'm all out and need some for my coffee."

"Sure," I replied. "I'll send some right up." I popped open the canister on the kitchen counter, filled a small Tupperware container, secured the top with a burp, then tied a ribbon around it and knotted it tight. "Dusty, come here," I called out. He came running into the kitchen, ever eager to perform any task I asked of him. He sat quietly when I told him to sit, his mouth hanging open and his pink tongue lolling out. His brown eyes sparkled.

"Grampa needs sugar this morning." I tied the container's strong ribbon to the collar around his neck. It jostled below his strong jaw when he walked, but he didn't need to go far. Dad lived just up the street, a mere eight houses away, but neither of us wanted to go out in the cold, misty morning in our pajamas. It was only 7:00 a.m. and he needed his coffee.

"Dusty, go up to Grandpa's. Go on, he's waiting for you." I opened the back door and in rushed a gush of cold air, but Dusty didn't mind one bit. With his thick brown and gold flecked coat, he was armed for the weather. And he knew his job. He'd done it many times before.

A few minutes later the phone rang. "Got it," Dad proclaimed. "You're a lifesaver."

"Not me, Dad," I replied. "That would be Dusty."

"Oh, I've already thanked him with a few treats. He'll head back down to you in a couple of minutes, I'm just petting him for a little while."

"Enjoy your coffee. See ya later." I hung up the phone, picked up my own steaming cup, and waited near the door for my best friend. Dusty was always there to lend a helping paw. Truly a friend indeed when there was a need.

Best Friends

2009-10-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

BEST FRIENDS
Red has always been a big boy and Diamond a little gem of a girl. We rescued them together on the same day from two different places. Instant buddies from their first week as kittens learning to use the litter box to snuggling in the folds of the comforter now from morning light to darkest night. Best friends indeed.

An Early Goblin Visit

2009-10-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

AN EARLY GOBLIN VISIT

Who walked into our garage today bearing gifts? Nancy, Rex's second mommy! At least that's what I call her. She's operates a Doggie Day Care where Rex became socialized to other dogs, learned manners, and grew up into a full-blown dog.

Nancy's backyard was Rex's training ground. I knew he needed an outlet for all of his energy almost immediately after bringing him home as a pup. He was wild and filled with piss and vinegar, shredding toilet paper, sneaking off with slippers, and dashing madly through the house. Day care was just what he needed.

Rex is 9 now, and doesn't go over to Nancy's house for play days as much anymore. In fact, he's "out for the season" as my husband calls it, since his torn ACL surgery six weeks ago. He's mending well, though, and should be back to his frolicking romps soon.

Nancy walked up to the garage this afternoon and Rex went into full wiggle-waggle mode. She wanted to inspect his rear quarter to see how his surgery had progressed, but his rump was moving so fast she couldn't get a close look. "He loves you, Nancy!" I gushed. "And he's missed you, too." She had a package in her hands. A gift. It was homemade doggie biscuits cut up and baked in the shapes of bats and pumpkins and altogether ghostly images.

After Nancy left, Rex got one of his favorite treats. I'd already had mine. Seeing Nancy again brought back all of the memories of what she has done to help me raise this rambunctious puppy that I love. She's fantastic and I love her to pieces.

Is there someone in YOUR DOG'S life that means the world to the two of you? Share with us.

2009-10-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

Chumley loved to race through the streams and around the tall trees on the path through the forest behind our house.

Love at First Sight or Something Else?

2009-10-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT OR SOMETHING ELSE?

We weren't looking for a dog, we were looking for an old, rusty car. A junkyard car. And we found it. It had the parts we needed for my then husband to rebuild an old Chevy or Pontiac or whatever it was at the time. I don't remember the specifics of the car, only that I fell in love with the dog.

He was a scruffy little mutt who ran behind, between, inside and out of the acres of junked vehicles. He followed us as we perused the rows looking for the right year to match the parts my husband needed.

He was black, brown and white, about 30 pounds or so, with medium length fur. And the cutest face you've ever seen. Being the animal lover that I am, I couldn't stand that he lived there in that boneyard. I kept my eye on him during the two hours we walked around. Finally, we found the parts we wanted.

"We'll take this (whatever-thingie-majigy: carburetor or some such thing)," my husband said to the owner.

"That all?" the burly, bearded, dirty man replied.

"No, that's not all," I replied. I swallowed hard and knew my husband needed what he came for, but I needed something too. "We'll take the parts, but only if you throw in the dog."

"Hmmpphhh," the gruff man replied. "Got no use for him anyway. You can have him."

My then husband paid the man and I scooped up the furry creature into my arms. He wiggled a little, and seemed perplexed, but I held on tight. "What's his name?" I asked.

"Don't have much of a name. I call him Muttley," the man replied and pocketed the cash my husband paid him.

"Muttley," I whispered in the car on the way home. The dog sat calmly on my lap and looked up at me with big eyes. "We can do better than that."

"Let's not change it too much," my then husband replied. "We want him to recognize his name when he's called."

"Okay, then let's call him Chumley." And so it was. The best chum and friend I had for many, many years.

And you? How did your first or last pet or any of them in between come into your life? Was it love at first sight? Love over time? Rescue? Found wandering the streets? Helping out a friend? Share YOUR story. We want to know how you fell in love.