Last week we talked about the joys of having pets.
But if you’re a loving and responsible caregiver they are a major commitment:
My daughter gets up at 5:30 on workdays to walk Sammy and Banshee. Her husband walks them again in the evening and they pay someone to take them out in the middle of the day. Then there are the costs of veterinarians, dog care if they go on a trip without their four-legged family members, their new car, etc.
Are Sammy and Banshee worth it? How could you doubt it? Still, there are moments… 😉
As I’ve mentioned before the four of them drive from the Chicago area to Ann Arbor, Michigan every time there’s a home football game at the University of Michigan. Torben’s family lives in Ann Arbor and they’re all football fans. So a couple of weeks ago they left at 4:30 in the morning to get there in plenty of time for the game. Needless to say they were exhausted that night and went to bed early. Then around 3:45 a.m. Sammy gently woke Kaitlin up by touching her face with his nose. When she woke up enough to figure out where she was, Banshee started vomiting. Presumably Sammy was trying to tell Kaitlin his sister was sick.
So Kaitlin and Torben went into action. He took the dogs outside, in case Banshee had to vomit more, while Kaitlin started cleaning up the mess. Unfortunately in the confusion they forgot to check the yard for skunks. Sammy tangled with one last year so they usually try to be careful it doesn’t happen again. Sure enough, there was a skunk, Sammy chased it, and he got sprayed once again. (He’s a sweet dog but not a fast learner.)
Torben grabbed him by the collar and rushed him into the bathroom so Sammy couldn’t contaminate any porous, nonwashable surface, and Torben and Kaitlin scrubbed Sammy good with their deskunking cleaner…which they were careful to have on hand. It took a while but they eventually could go back to bed and get a bit more sleep.
They woke up to a horrible stench, of course, made worse by the fact that Sammy had been like Duncan in the cartoon above. He had crawled onto the bed between them. That is never allowed, but presumably he needed some reassuring closeness after his ordeal. They were not pleased. Even if the dogs were allowed on the bed, that was not the time. Sometimes you don’t want them to snuggle. 😉
Well, it’s like that with everything really. Everything is okay if the time is okay!
.-= gaelikaa´s last blog ..An Alternative Profession =-.
We don’t have pets, so we don’t have these “adventures” — generally.
However, both of our daughters have large inside dogs and both are coming to visit us at Thanksgiving — with their dogs, who have never “met.”
This could be interesting.
Hopefully, no one will be sick — including the dogs.
.-= Mike Goad´s last blog ..Windows 7 isn’t bad at all =-.
Today I don’t like dogs or their owners. As you all know I am still learning to walk properly without the aid of crutches. I tried a walking stick but it gave me a pain in my back. I tried a hiking pole and it had the same effect. I live on a hill and to walk anywhere I need to walk down that hill and back up again, the height of a three story building with gable roof.
We had our first frost this morning so I didn’t go out early. The paths and roads are tarmac so the slightest frost turns them into a hazard for the most able bodied, never mind me.
I went out this afternoon, and the whole way down I was watching where I put my feet, for uneven pavements or loose stones, damp soft leaves AND dog turds! Some of the people before me were not so careful where they put their feet so my plan for a walk, exercise and to purchase a loaf of bread, became a nightmare. My two mile effort did nothing for my health except cause frustration.
I have no love for selfish dog owners.
.-= Grannymar´s last blog ..Food Monday ~ Parma Fish with Tomatoes & Basil =-.
Sorry for your day Grannymar (which started in Ireland 8 hrs. before ours).
We always took our son’s dogs to our cabin. They both tried to tangle with a porcupine—two different times; dogs are slow learners. They got a dozen or so quills in their mouths & noses. Vet had to sedate them to get quills out. Quills have a barb on the end which makes it difficult to pull them out.
well first up – we don’t have skunks or porcupines running around here at ALL!
I have recently seen a porcupine at the zoo though 🙂
Grannymar: I can understand your dilemma I have to be careful when I’m out walking as well, as I have wonky ankles!
here it’s illegal to just leave dog turds – if you are walking your pooch you need a little bag.
Some of the ‘lead’ companies have some dandy add-ons – there will be a little dispenser attached with plastic bags, even little zipped purses for keys etc 🙂 {I know this because Noni up the road is looking after her daughters tiny little thing and she was out strolling with it the other day!}
Jean: if you daughter has a big yard maybe they could invest in one of those running lead things – that means the dog is secure but they can run up/down and get there own exercise…
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..I’ve regained that nice brain again =-.
@BHB – Thanks. The day improved as it went along.
@Cathy – We have Dog Wardens, doggy-litter bins, fines and posters everywhere, but with shorter colder and darker days, the owners take the lazy way out and and we Joe Public pay the price. I have yet to see a Dog Warden out on patrol.
Sorry I sound so anti animal, perhaps I am unfortunate in that the owners I actually know, are the selfish kind. I did once have a house guest for a long weekend, who brought his dog to stay. Phoebe the dog, was very well behaved, never looked for human food, in fact she sat at my feet under the table and fell asleep. Once and only once did she look at an armchair with intent, she then looked to her owner, who quietly told her that she had been warned not to jump or climb on my furniture. She didn’t, and went off to her bed to sleep. It goes to show that with proper training, dogs can be trained.
.-= Grannymar´s last blog ..Food Monday ~ Parma Fish with Tomatoes & Basil =-.
gaelikaa,
Yes, timing does make a difference.
Mike,
Yes, let us know how that goes. I hope the dogs get along.
Kaitlin and Torben are bringing Sammy and Banshee for Thanksgiving. We’re curious about how bad they will all smell. 😉 The day after the skunking Kaitlin was in a store when a woman told the shopkeeper, “I just came from that aisle. It smells like skunk!” Oops!
Grannymar,
I can see why you’re upset. I used to walk 3 miles a day around here. The sidewalks were sometimes uneven, one had to be careful about slipping on ice in winter, and many of the property owners didn’t shovel their sidewalks. But I don’t recall having a problem with dog poop. I never even thought about it. It looks as if enforce that law around here.
About misbehaving dogs…people who teach dog obedience classes say their main job is to train the humans. 😉
bikehikebabe,
I’m glad Torben’s folks have skunks instead of porcupines. Skunks are bad enough.
Cathy,
At the shelter they have a container full of plastic bags for people to use when they walk the dogs. The volunteers are conscientious about that.
Kaitlin and Torben have a reasonably large yard with a tall fence, but they don’t let the dogs out when they’re not there. They don’t want barking to bother the neighbors. When they’re there they can make sure barking doesn’t get out of hand. Originally they were just planning to have the dog walker come in the middle of the day when Sammy and Banshee were puppies and had bladders that wouldn’t last the whole day. But Sammy and Banshee clearly love the midday walk, and after Banshee’s pancreatitis attack it’s reassuring to have someone check on them. Kaitlin and Torben take their responsibilities very seriously.
sounds like your people, Jean have it all under control…even if it seems like a ‘control-freak’ scenario in some ways.
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..I’ve regained that nice brain again =-.
Cathy,
I don’t think it’s about being control freaks. They’re just trying to be thoughtful neighbors and still give the dogs a good life. Have you read the description of their wedding? One fellow at the Botanic Garden said it was the friendliest, most relaxed wedding he had ever seen there. I’m still blown away just thinking about it.
sorry wrong choice of words…I didn’t mean that to sound like that. Hard to explain what I meant, though.
it’s been a hard day today…composing words in my head and have a writer put them down on paper for my exam. Hence, my head, my brain get confused
I apologise for putting it all wrong
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..Summertime is HERE =-.
I have refused to keep dogs at home as I can not give them the attention that they deserve. All the neighbourhood stray dogs however are attached to our son Ranjan and I go paranoid with him every time he enters the home after playing with them. I stand around till he scrubs his hands and face. They are a great advantage to have on our side but, I think that Ranjan carries his affection too close for comfort.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Belfast Beautician Belles Can Make Big Bucks. =-.
Cathy,
Once again I’m impressed at how much you’re doing. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!
Rummuser,
I dreamed once that I bought a house so I could have pets. There was no furniture in the house but I had a dog and a cat. I woke up happy but decided that going to the animal shelter was a better way for me to go. I really didn’t want to own a house. 🙂
We have a big house that I take seriously. The furniture is built- in walnut, huge photographs everywhere. North side is mostly glass with view of mesas & mountains; no houses in view.
BUT it’s a lot of work. We don’t hire help. (Good exercise tho’.) We keep the heat at 62 degrees F. Brrrrrr I’m all bundled up in thermal underwear, a sweater & a coat. If I weren’t such a snob (my mother taught me), I’d move to a tiny apartment.
bikehikebabe,
It will be interesting to see if you ever decide to downsize. Hopefully you’re enjoying your house, even if it is a bit frigid!