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.

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.

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 =-.

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.

@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 =-.

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 =-.