I’ll admit that I love a good ol’ moon bounce. I’m sure that all of you parents have may have, at one point or another, had the opportunity to drag your child to one of those inflatable, bouncy contraptions. However, when I was growing up I always wanted a trampoline. Trampolines were always the ‘thing’ that the cool neighbors had, their kids would be hopping and flipping, spinning and cackling in air borne ecstacy.
Me? I got to throw around apples and pears that fell from the fruit trees behind my house. Ye. Ha.
Anyhow, even though I’ve grown older and I sometimes think that trampolines are an injury waiting to happen (especially with the thought my old, fragile bones trying to do anything more than lay down and take a nap on it) , I still can’t escape the joy that this apparatus brings to the users.
Cesar Milan and his pit bull, Daddy. File photo from National Geographic
It was reported recently that Daddy, Cesar Milan’s beloved companion (pictured above), passed away on February 19th at the age of sixteen. As almost every dog owner knows, raising and training a dog can be pluck every last nerve in your body the way that one would play the harp. It was always refreshing to see Cesar and his ‘right hand man’ Daddy get to work. It was almost formulaic:
Troubled dog has behavioral issues
Cesar assesses the dog
Cesar brings in Daddy to act as a role model
Very difficult dogs go to L.A. for rehabilitation time with Daddy and the rest of the pack
Success!
However, the reason that this calmed our nerves was because of Daddy. He was a breed of dog that had become notorious in the United States and yet, from our glimpses of him on National Geographic’s ‘The Dog Whisperer’, we were able to see a very well behaved, even tempered pit bull.
According to the Daddy memorial page:
He lived each day of those sixteen years happy and fulfilled as Cesar’s right-hand-“man,” helping to shape the behavior of entire generations of dogs by showing them the way to balance. He stood as champion for calm-submissive pit bulls everywhere, and was instrumental in helping to repair their image as violent, savage, uncontrollable beasts. He successfully battled cancer and weathered chemotherapy, and even got the opportunity to present at the 56th Annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards!
Daddy gave us hope that the problem dog on the television would miraculously be rehabilitated. Daddy gave us even more hope that our dog could be as well behaved as he was. Sadly, we knew that Cesar’s calm role model wouldn’t be with us forever.
We’re thankful for the time that he spent with us, helping countless dogs and soothing the fears of the viewer’s of his television show.
I’ll admit that I know that I can’t save all the animals that need help out there but when I see that such a young girl – 12 weeks! – has such a malady then I just want to make sure that I can give these innocent animals a good life. Look how her handicap doesn’t even seem to phase her! It reminds me of the dog that only has two legs and was in the area recently.
I know that it’s hard, too. Caring for a family member like this is difficult but, as the report says, it seems like the reward is almost immeasurable.
As I write this heavy snow and blustery winds are oppressing us Northern Virginians and it seems like it was an eternity ago that the following has happened. In fact, these events transpired less than two weeks ago.
Recently, we were confronted with an emergency situation. A townhouse in Ashburn had caught fire and it was threatening to take down the entire phase of homes. As the fire grew it fire and rescue teams attempted to contain the situation and kept residents and onlookers at bay. Unfortunately, there was a problem: in the block of townhouses that were in danger of being destroyed by smoke and fire were two of our clients.
Lara, the daughter of our clients (dogs are named Kip & Duffy), attends Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Someone sent her a text that said there was a fire on her block of townhouses. Understandably, Lara was completely panicked and distraught and she called one of Woofie’s owners, Leslie.
Leslie in turn called Woofie’s other owner, Amy, and they both went over to the neighborhood. It was total chaos and they weren’t going to let us in at first but they finally let them in.
According to Amy:
Leslie and I were really worried about smoke inhalation for the dogs. Fortunately I had their [house] key with me so I was able to go inside with the person from animal control to get Kip and Duffy and they stayed with me in my car until their owner was able to get home from McLean. The main thing was that we were right there in the neighborhood and able to get kip and duffy out safely because we had their key.
Anyone with a pet should always have a back-up plan in place – a way for someone to access their home when they are not around in case of an emergency such as a fire. If you don’t have an extra key to give, make sure someone has the code to get in via your garage door and then either leave a key in the garage or leave the door going into the house unlocked.
You just never know – it was definitely an eye opening experience for us. People should always have their leashes and collars handy in the event of an emergency so someone can get the pets outs as quickly as possible. Luckily, Kip and Duffy were fine – there was only a little bit of smoke coming into the townhouse so they weren’t in grave danger but it definitely gave Lara and her parents peace of mind to know that they were safely taken from the house as quickly as possible. You never know how quickly a fire can spread.
If you let your pets sleep on your bed it is almost a given that they will find the optimum position to make you feel uncomfortable. Your comfort decreases proportionate to the size of the dog as well as the number of pets allowed on the bed.
If you’ve been cruising on the internet you’ve most likely run across several oddities from Japan. Game shows, happy-go lucky music videos featuring energetic young adults, and of course anime. One thing that has jumped out at me recently are the various interesting cat videos that are out there.
One of the best known Japanese cat stars is Maru. Maru was originally made famous when he would dive head first into a box. From those humble beginnings we got to see even more of Maru and he’s become a YouTube superstar.
That cat is almost as sweet as saccharine, isn’t it? But what if the cat isn’t so sweet and cuddly? What if, just by chance, the cat hates you? With that, I present to you Sashimi. And wouldn’t you know it:
Sashimi hates Shingo
There’s an entire series of videos which show Sashimi being really pissed off at Shingo Soejima. And could you blame the cat??
A while back I read the following comic from XKCD (it’s a pretty geeky comic strip written by an engineer so you may not understand some of the other strips:
Why am I posting this? Because recently I stumbled onto the following video – The Cat House on the Kings:
I think it’s wonderful that she’s able to transform 6 acres of land into a no kill cat sanctuary…that has dogs! If you are curious or if you would like more information, then please visit their website at http://www.cathouseonthekings.com/.
I am the owner of a new pup and, as such, I have succumb to the trials and tribulations of owning a small, four legged shark with boundless energy. We come to love our furry little ones and they become part of our family. They are a part our lives and a part of ourselves. However, sometimes there are situations when we can no longer keep our babies; circumstances come which we cannot avoid the harrowing prospect of giving up our babies.
On June 17, 2009, the following appeared in the Seattle-Tacoma Best of Craigslist section -
Ten years ago, in tears, you turned your beloved dog over to the Bellevue Humane Society. You had to move and your 3 year old dog could not go with you. The workers said that you (a man) cried as you left her there. You even told the folks at the humane society that she was half chow, half lab…One look at this fuzzy brindle pooch and you knew there was no such thing as a brindle chow OR lab..but there are brindle pitbulls…with a pit face, funny looking tiger stripes and lots of fur, I’m certain you thought this was going to be the end of the line for her.
What you need to know is that my best friend adopted her. My friend called me and said, “now, you have to get past her looks…she REALLY is sweet.” Sure enough, she was sweet and for the next 10 years of her life lived the life you had hoped she would have. Her life was filled with swims, playmates, early morning walks, car rides, hikes and lots of love. She died in her bereaved owner’s arms last Saturday, succumbing to the affects of advanced liver disease.
When she was adopted, it was obvious she had been loved and cared for..impeccible manners, good basic training and she really wanted to please. I hope you see this post so that you know that you did the right thing in surrendering her and can stop wondering. She lived the life she deserved.
Here is the original link to the above post – http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sea/1226773949.html
I know that those of you that read this blog and also are clients of Woofie’s love your pets with all your heart. If you should ever have to unwillingly part with them then keep in mind the above post. All stories don’t end badly and your precious one may end up living a long, happy, fulfilling life.
Now, just to bring this to an even more personal level: I once had a black labradour retreiver named Zoe. She was absolutely gorgeous! She was all black and to make things even more special her birthday was on Halloween. She was my little goblin. I was living in an apartment complex in Cetnreville and one of my neighbors complained that she was too big: I had to find her a new home. At the time I couldn’t afford to move and my life was a complete shambles.
At the time it was one of the most painful experiences I’ve had. I was giving away my little girl. Through the Labradour-L emailing list I found her a new home on the Eastern Shore. I bawled my eyes out drivng home and there was an emptiness in me that I never thought I’d be able to recover from. As time went on I got updates from her new owners. My little Zoe, who had a penchant for eating my shoes and destroying my couch, was trained to get the newspaper by herself at the end of the long driveway of her new family. She had also become quite the accomplished swimmer and took boat rides, went fishing and had become quite enmeshed in her new family; her new life.
I was both happy and sad for her. As time went on I got fewer and fewer updates from her new family. I have faith, though, that she is in good, loving hands.
There are always going to be videos and images on the web. As a personal policy, I try not to post pictures which are controversial or shocking. There’s enough going on in the world these days, isn’t there? We really don’t need anything to bring us down.
In one of my last posts I wrote how easy it is during my down time to get lost in the internet’s web. Videos, songs, interactive sites and pictures seem to bombard most of your senses. However, every once in a while you find that gem of a picture; something that makes you look at it and at the very end say ‘Awwww!’.
I found the picture to the right on one of the various news sites that I frequent. When I saw it I did exactly as I said – “Awwww!”. There are so many facets to this image which make it so adorable:
It flies in the face of the stereotypical antagonistic behavior between cats and dogs
The puppy seems so young and innocent
Are the puppy and cat merely attempting to stay warm or is there more to this? Is this a cure for lonliness?
Growing up we’re all faced with believing that cats and dogs have a hard time coexisting. We learn this from cartoons, movies, television shows, books and magazines. It has been drilled into us so much that we begin to believe it. Those of us who have a multi-species home no that both of these fine, furry friends can love each other and coexist under the same roof.
It’s a nice lesson to learn, isn’t it?
Regardless of species, this cat and dog get along well
I have seen this floating around the net and via emails. With all the trials and tribulations that we’ve had in the past few years I thought it would be nice to repost it here. retreived this version from The Examiner at http://www.examiner.com/x-677-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m3d1-A-Dogs-Prayer
A Dog’s Prayer
Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.
Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.
When it is cold and wet, please take me inside… for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements… and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth… though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land… for you are my god… and I am your devoted worshiper.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.
And, beloved master, should the Great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest…and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.
Comments