Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Trees and Rolling Hills

One doesn't like to think about ... the end. You know, when the grim reaper comes and delivers you to your fate. In this pic, Carmie, our dog, passed on... and left us bereft for two years. Wabby, the cat, is still with us but...at 19, who knows how much longer we will have her.

Our pets force us to think about the end, don't they? Despite the best in healthcare, our pets do not live long enough. Whatever pet you have, it's likely that he or she will pass on before you do. I know, some birds live forever, but...for those of us with warm-blooded animals (dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, etc), we will face their demise at some point in time. 

That is not to say one or more of us won't go first. It happens. And, there is a movement to give pets protection by creating trusts for them. I approve. I have not done this, but I approve it. I wonder why pet insurance companies don't partner with the legal firms offering pet trusts - and give folks a way to combine the two. Seems like that would be in the pet's best interest, yes?

Happy Treat Day!

We were lucky enough to receive some fancy new treats from the good folks at Beneful, recently. I was concerned because my dogs are pretty fussy about their treats. Especially that Chester!

Also, Olive has to have soft treats because of her lack of teeth (regualr readers will remember that Olive comes from a puppy mill and after we adopted her, we had her teeth cleaned but... she came home with 17 less teeth than she went in with - they were so rotten they had to be pulled!)

Here's what happened with the Beneful Baked Delights when they were left unguarded on a kitchen counter. (unfortunately, Chester missed out... you'll see how and why on Worldess Wednesday!)

Hey, that's my Mom!

Does your dog recognize you... on TV (well, in a video) or in a picture hanging on the wall?

We catch Emily watching TV all the time. I know many people don't think dogs watch TV. They think the dog may be interested in it because of the noise or the movement and that the dog's eyes can't really see the images. Well, that's just not so at our house. Emily is clearly watching TV. I don't know what she thinks of what she sees, but she likes shows with people and, of course, dogs. And, it's obvious to me that she's not just watching flickering objects on the TV monitor. She's engrossed in whatver is going on there - she is watching.

Animal Planet recently published this article, Would my dog recognize me in a picture? by Alison Kim Perry and it struck a nerve with me. In a good way.

The research done by Veterinary Behavior Solutions DVM, Beth Strickler, seems to show that yes, our dogs can recognize us in pictures. Sometimes. "Dogs can distinguish between different people based on the person's appearance at that time, meaning that sometimes a dog can identify his owner's head in the photo. But if in another photo his owner's head is blocked, the animal might have a problem figuring out who she is."

She goes on to say that dogs generally depend on more than 'sight' to identify things. Hounds, like our Chester and Emily, may use their nose more than their eyes. I know Chester is always sniffing - us, our clothes, our furniture, the air... and he certainly needs to use scent as an identifyer. Emily is supposedly a sight hound, however. She watches...everything. Her expressions are amazing!

When she's watching TV she's totally engrossed. I can talk to her and I know she hears me because her ears will move or she will blink, but she will not move her gaze from the TV.

We've only had our 3 precious pups for a year or so, so I don't know if they'd pass the picture test of ID. I do know they are so happy whenever we go out and come back (whether we're gone for an hour or 5 hours - which is our limit); all three dogs act like we're turning voyagers who left them untended for weeks on end. Mind you, they get treats and toys and have warm, soft beds to sleep in, and windows to look out and all manner of comfort. Not enough, if they're Mom and Dad are not home. :-)  Oh yes, we love it!

Life Unchained, at last

Thank you to Andrea Arden of Animal Planet. I saw her post this video on Facebook and I had to share. To me, this proves the undeniable fact that animals not only think, they have feelings. Humans are pompous and overbearing to think we are the only species on the planet with intelligence.

Have tissues at hand. Know your tears will be the good kind.

 

Domestic Abuse bill protects pets, too!

I want this bill in CO! As I've written about before, pets can be injured in abuse cases involving wife or children, just as humans can. And, often, the pet is hurt to inflict psychological pain on the other humans - as if the physical pain they feel isn't enough!

 In Florida, State Senator Mike Fasano introduced an Animal Abuse Registry Bill to get animal abusers registered, which is about time, isn't it? Kudos to him. Well, he hasn't stopped there. He also just introduced another bill to hold  people accountable when they abuse the family pet in a domestic violence case. 

I Love My Dog So Much...

that, if I die before he does, I want him euthanized to save him the misery of living without me. 

Seriously? Did you read that right? Yes. I did not say it, I just wrote it. In The NY Times, The Ethicist received this question:

I am a veterinarian, and one of my clients is an elderly woman who loves her 8-year-old Pomeranian dearly but has no family or friends who might inherit it. She wants me to sign a legal document stating that I will euthanize it if she dies before the dog does. What should I do? NAME WITHHELD, BOSTON

Who is not appalled? The vet, in my opinion, should ask this person - "Do you not have guests in your home? Would one of them be able to help find your dog a new home? Do you suppose that you are the only human being that your dog may find it in his heart to love? Perhaps you might begin to look for a second home, now, before this happens?"

Don't Give Your Pet Away "Free"

from Mia Anelli of the LA Animal News Examiner

Mia shares reasons we should never advertise a pet as "free to good home." In the unhappy event that you cannot keep your pet, please be careful and thoughtful before 'giving' him or her away.

Sad as it is, the kindness of being able to offer a pet for 'free' is fraught with issues these days. Oh, to go back to the simple days of my youth when people offered puppies and kittens for free to good home everywhere! Maybe it was just as dangerous then, but we didn't know. Maybe it's better than we know now.

Truth is - as Mia notes - "There have been many people placing classifieds ads to warn people of the dangers that listing your pet as free could bring, But are people taking it seriously? Probably not, since the amount of dogs being listed as free on sites like Craigslist doesn't seem to be slowing down. It has a lot to do with people thinking that 'free' will give them a better chance of them getting rid of their pet quicker, without care as to what fate they might endure."

Here are some of her reasons and my thoughts - do hop over and read her entire post: 

Some folks answering the "Free to Good Home" ads really are loving, responsible pet owners. Many--perhaps even most--are not. There are steps YOU can take to help end abuse:  from saveofshepherds.org

• DON'T advertise Free pets; DO convince others not to. Some people even take the time to phone owners of pets advertising Free to Good Home and warn them of the dangers. (indeed - free to good home is no longer the simple kind act it's meant to be)

• DO spay/neuter to keep from creating possible Free to Good Home situations or condemning your pet to a short, miserable life in a puppy mill. (I am amazed at how many people still don't do this! Why?)

• DO write letters to the editors of your local newspapers warning of the dangers of Free to Good Home. (many places recognize the value most of us put on our pets and will welcome your letter)

• DO charge at least $25 to discourage resale of pets to labs. (Mia says, Some sources suggest charging no less than $100 for pure-bred dogs.) (I say, at least $25 - maybe more; make sure the people you interview recognize the needs of the pet - collars, leashes, beds, food, vet visits... it's not cheap to own a pet! Shelters ask these questions, so should you! In this pic, our Chester has given the 'bed' to Emily - or, may she stole it, I can't remember! We now have three beds, one for each dog.)

• DO take the time to interview every prospective owner. Ask for vet and personnel references, and check them, then visit the new home where your pet might be living! (home visits should be a requirement for sure! Fenced yards and a commitment to the animal's happiness as well as its health, seems important to me)

I hope you'll share these points and the rest of Mia's post with your readers, too. It's one way to keep pets safe. 

Pets are...not property - are they?

The on-going controversy of whether or not pets are people (that's how I describe this dilemma) continues, with TX chiming in and declaring pets as having more value than just being "property."

The discussion can get heated, at times. I know most of the people associated with the pet groups I belong to, including BlogPaws, are on the side of legislation supporting the idea that pets are people - well, that they are living, breathing, sentient beings and should be afforded many, if not all, of the same rights as people. 

By that, I take it to mean pets should be treated as having the same value as... well, to make it easy, children. My pets are my children, in my home. However, I admit to becoming a bit tongue-tied when actually put up against that concept: are pets really the equivalent of people? In some given situations, do dogs and cats (and other animals) deserve the same rights as people? I would like to think so but I'm torn. There are a lot of pitfalls. Pitfalls that could go against the pets well-being. (and to my children who used to ask me, "who would you save first, in a fire, Mom? me or the dog?" my answer was always, "the dog - you know how to get out, he doesn't"... after all they were old enough to ask, which means they were old enough to know...)

New Year's Resolutions from the Dogs and the Grumpy Old Lady

Chester says:

I resolve to sleep more. When Emily bites my ear or sticks her cold nose in my belly, I will not get up. I will give her my best evil stare and go back to sleep.

I resolve to eat more of Emily's food. She's been stealing MY food all year. If I turn my head to see what Mom is doing, Emily sticks her nose in my dish and eats all the good stuff. ARRRGGGHHH!

I resolve to sniff more stuff on walks. That Olive gets in my way sometimes - and what's up with her kicking dirt and grass in my face all the time? I hear Mom say lots of dogs do that - they pee and then kick dirt on their pee. Why? Waste energy, I think. Well, not anymore... next year, I'm standing my ground when Olive starts that!

Emily says:

I resolve to be better. More energetic, more in Tom's face, more at Mom's elbow... somehow, this year, I got distracted a lot and couldn't give them all the attention they really need. I don't know what those silly machines are that they sit in front of all day, but I'll get'em away from them... definitely!

I resolve to give Chester more exercise. Honestly, I eat a little of his food every day so he won't get fat, but he doesn't spend enough time running around the backyard barking. I'll get him out there in 2012!

I resolve to be nicer to Olive - at least, when I make her get out of her bed and into my bed (her bed is so much nicer - it's red and soft and cuddly, and mine's white and soft and cuddly, but honestly, hers is just better), I'll be gentle about it. I won't push her out without a word. I'll softly stick my nose in her ear and give her a big snuff! That'll do it.

Olive says:

I resolve to keep doing what I do. Loving my Emily and my Chester and making sure the cat is okay. I don't mind if Emily wants my bed. I don't mind if Chester sleeps a lot. I just want everyone to be happy.

I do think, though, that I will assert myself on the bed at night, with more determination. I am not at all sure why they allow that cat up there, after they've scooted all of the dogs down. I mean, why does she get to sleep on the bed even after hours?

Oh, and one more thing - I resolve to hide more of my treats. I love Emily and Chester, but treats are treats and mine are mine and I'm tired of them trying to take my treats away just cause they can! Huh! (plus...toys - fluffy, stuffed toys on the floor are ALL MINE! That's it - treats and toys, I will not give them up, even to Emily!)

And, the Grumpy Old Lady says:

I resolve to keep being me. Like my Flat Pet version, below, I will stand my ground!

I resolve to taking over the big bed like I used to.

I resolve to wailing even louder at 5 a.m. so Mom will get up and take care of me.

I resolve to start insisting Tom or Mom carry me around more - since arthritis is really bothering my hips and all. And I like having my own in-house taxis.

I resolve to playing up the kitty looks - giving them more of my big, sad eyes, along with snuggling up to them in the big bed. That works every time!

From Tom and Yvonne, we resolve to make sure the pets are happy and healthy - because we love them to pieces! 

Let it snow! Let it snow! Make it stop!

Thursday morning in Frederick with the dogs and some snow.