(via clumsy-odd-stubborn)
Tag Archives: Pet
4.3.12 Immobile Me
I am immobilized by my animals when I am working. I have a rolling chair at my desk. Both Sofie and Louise like to lie as close to me as possible, so, as you can see from the pictures (which were taken yesterday), one is on one side of the chair and one is on the other.
If I move even the slightest bit I will end up running over one or the other of the dogs. This is a conundrum that happens a lot around here. I do not realize that they have settled in and fallen asleep like his until, it is too late.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
3.31.12 Bathroom Etiquette
Mommy - are you done yet?
Do you ever wonder why children and pets hate when you are in the bathroom with out them? I was going to take a shower. As you can see 3 of the pitiful zoo creatures were camped outside my bathroom door.
Nine and I will just lie on your PJs
Silly me, I let them in.
Can I jump into the bathtub with you, Mom?
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Nine likes to eat the plants (and so does Sofie when she can) – so when you get out of the bath or the shower, you are lucky if you do not step in dirt with you clean feet. Hahahaha. Silly goofies! They just want to be wherever I am. But, just when you are finally settled and soaking nicely in the tub, someone wants to leave. Oh my – now you know I am not getting out to open the door.
Nine & I want to leave now can you open the door plz?
It does get kind of embarrassing when people come to visit us because my house is old and the doors do not close well and the animals all like to barge in on anyone sitting in the bathroom. I try to discourage that behavior but we do not get many visitors…. Oh…. maybe that is why?…. Just realized that.
The dogs and cats all like to lick the water from the shower basin (that is probably bad, right?). What’s a PetMom to do? It keeps them busy and I can keep an eye on most of them.
Excuse me visitor, but why are you sitting there?
Can we jump on you?
Just another DogDaz morning at our house ❤
3.21.12 I am better because of them
I am a better person because of my dogs. I have had to learn a lot over the years about caring, and sharing, and patience. The gifts that they have all brought me have been immeasurable. My first rescue, Jazmine, taught me humility. I had her for 2 days. I had just graduated college (I thought I could take on the world), when I rescued her. She ate my comforter and my hairbrush in the first 24 hours. I learned I was not as all knowing as I thought and had to rehome her. My second dog, Nikki (many years later), taught me that I could actually be a good parent. Nikki was a pure bred Cocker Spaniel who I adopted at 8 weeks old. Together we had 18 years of caring and sharing and kindness. Nikki was my first baby. I spent hours everyday training her for off leash control and when she was about 4 I had my daughter. The love and devotion Nikki gave me over the years was wonderful. When the kid’s found Squash E Bear walking along the road and he came to live with us, he became my greatest teacher. He taught me unconditional trust and love in a way I never knew. Giving him shots twice a day, he never complained or questioned my purpose, and always was by my side in return. He also brought the family together at a time we really needed it. Louise (Lulu Bell) has taught me patience and quiet control. She is fearful and needs time to handle the world. I have learned to be quiet with her. Sofie is teaching me persistence and consistency. I must stay on task and must work with her in a repetitive manner. Lessons, lessons, lessons. Thank you all. I am a better human because of all of you. Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
3.19.12 Smilin’ Dogs!
Sunshine and happiness! There is nothing like a smiling dog on a sunny day. The dogs and I took a great walk in the woods and went exploring. We had a great muddy time.
It is so much fun to romp through the leaves and jump over branches and through trees. The dogs help me remember what is important! It is the simple things: the smiles, the smells, and the sense of adventure that keeps my heart pounding. What did you do just for you today? I went walking with my girls and smiled.
Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo ❤
3.18.12 Louise, The Shy
Louise's Adoption Photo
March 2010
We adopted Louise in April 2010, when she was about 6 months old. I decided that her birthday would be Oct 31, 2009 so she could be my Halloween Dog. Squash E Bear was starting to really slow down by then and he was totally blind. I thought that getting a companion might help him on our walks and keep him company. I went on http://www.PetFinder.com and other dog sites and started to look for my next love. After several false starts (one being a shelter adoptee that bit me and Squash the first night she was here), I was ready to give up. Late in March we stopped in PetCo to buy guinea pig food on a Saturday and happened upon an unexpected adoption fair. I was immediately attracted to this medium size male dog with long hair (like Squash’s), but the rescue leader tried to talk us into this very fearful little black labby thing. I never thought about a black dog before, or a lab, and I was not interested in a short haired dog (I like the furry kind). We took Louise for a little walk and she was timid and fearful. I really was not interested. After a while her foster family came to pick her up and I saw a different dog emerge. She jumped on the kids and was really happy to see them. We talked to the foster and went home to think about it.
As you can see from the adoption picture above, Louise was not in the best of shape when rescued. They were having trouble placing her because people were scared off by the condition of her skin and her shyness, When you rescue an animal, you don’t know a lot about their beginnings. I was told that she was rescued with her sister, Thelma, at about 4 months old. The rescuers (MJ’s Sanctuary) went down to pick up a bunch of dogs from a kill shelter in North or South Carolina (that is where Maryland gets a lot of dogs) when 2 men drove up with 2 puppies in the trunk. The rescue team tried to talk the men into releasing the dogs to them but these guys did not want to, so the team kind of liberated the dogs somehow before they could be taken into the shelter. Hence her name, “LOUISE” (from the great liberation movie, “Thelma & Louise“). I figure Lulu’s Mom was maybe a hunting dog who got pregnant and gave birth in a barn. Somebody put flea collars on the pups and threw some food at them but I don’t think they interacted much with them because she appeared to not be socialized to people, and definitely not to males. The flea collar was embedded in her neck and her skin was covered with terrible dry mange when they rescued her and she shied away from everyone.
Lulu trying to cuddle with Squash
April 2010
I decided that I would spend some time with Louise and see how it work with Squash. As you probably figured, it did not take long for me to fall in love. Though it has taken 2 years of work (which continues) to help her over the anxiety of life, I could not have been chosen by a better dog. Today she is a loving and special girl, with a shiny coat and adoring eyes.
Louise Today
March 2012
Just another DogDaz morning at our house ❤
3.9.12 Princess and the Pea
I don’t sleep well. I have not slept well since, I don’t know, maybe ever. Come to think of it, my life began with a dog on the bed. And then, it moved to cats and dogs and cats and more cats. Now the dogs are not allowed on the bed, because there is just no room for the humans with all the cats (and the pillows of course). Dogs have to sleep in their kennels at night, and the kittens sleep in the safe room, so that we minimize night time stalking and cat fights. The other night we fell asleep while everyone was still out and when I awoke around midnight I found Sofie fast asleep with her head under the bed next to me. Stella was under the bed (hence why Sofie probably was in that strange position). Louise was asleep in her kennel with the door open (remember this is Lulu, the angel dog), What woke me was Nine scratching my feet (because I am a constant foot mover, even when sleeping, and the cats absolutely love to attack them). Muffin always sleeps next to me between the pillows (so close that when he stretches I wake up with little scratches on my face). Noel sleeps in the hall because she is now the Alpha and has become the night watchman. Kitty is usually under the covers around the foot of the bed (how do they breath down there?) Did I mention that I don’t sleep much?
Just another dogdaz morning at our house. ❤
3.8.12 Miss Manners
May I come in please?
Some dogs have manners, others don’t. I know that it is our job to teach them what is expected, but some dogs, just like people, seem to just be, well…. more mannerly (is that a word?). Louise is very polite. She waits like a good girl until she is told to go (most of the time). Sofie is so excited when she is sitting by the door that even though she is sitting, she is ready to jump. Louise waits with patience. Now I know it is not always (sometimes she flies past me on the stairs), but in general, she just has good manners. I like that in a dog. Just another dogdaz morning at our house ❤
3.7.12 They’ve taken over!
Noel blogging
The cats have taken over my desk. They are taking over the blog.
Stella Blogging
First it was Noel and now it is Stella. What ever am I to do?
They think there is some little person in the idiot box and they try to hit at it. I actually put some moving GIFs on the screen for Stella (pic #3) and she was mesmerized. That is just to funny, but not very productive. “Sorry boss, I can’t get my work done because the cats have taken over my desk” – that will go over really well, don’t you think?
Just another DogCatDaz at the zoo ❤
