Dogs

[Minnymouth]

Yep, it was 8 degrees here in KY this morning, wind chill even lower..... still only 28 outside right now....at 4 in the afternoon. Then this weekend its supposed to be back up to almost 60.....STUPID WEATHER.... no wonder everybody is sick............

Thank goodness my girls have a covered/enclosed porch and their dog houses out of the wind, rain, and snow...... I'd give them heaters if I wasn't afraid too.

They are so GLAD to hear me coming in and ready to take their afternoon "couch potato" naps.... lol

At least they don't have to be out all nite like some animals. I'm thankful for that.

I fixed another dog house out front for "guests" if they stop by - dog or cat - to get out of the weather. We have a little neighborhood beagle "Tilley" about 12 years old, that will not come in at all. I worry that we'll find her frozen somewhere but she's a SURVIVOR and has been for years. I've known her 10 years and she belongs to NO ONE..... the entire neighborhood feeds her and everyone puts out water for her......
She is our "greeter" when we get out of the car or go to the mail box......
She lives on hugs, pats on the head, kind words, and a milkbone and rawhide now and then......
She wants NO PERMANENT master...... she loves everybody!!

Take care of them "babies"..........their our friends, and companions, and would fight to the death for us......to protect us..

Let's protect them too.....................

[HeatherB]

PeeVee,

Thats an excellent idea about the TV..........

My dogs sit and watch TV with me when I'm home........ they love the animal stations (Meercats) and Funniest Animal Videos.... their even CSI buffs!!!

I always leave the TV on. Usually the only time it is off is if I get tired of my daughter pushing the buttons on it or if I have a bad headache.

Okay, as far as the dogs watching TV with animals on it.... I'm curious. When we are watching TV and a dog on TV barks, my dog goes crazy and runs to the windows and door barking back. Does anyone else's dog do this??

[One Half Full]

It's blistering cold outside up here in the northeast...if you own a dog or other domesticated animal for that matter keep them in the house!

The people 3 houses down have some hunting dogs in an outdoor kennel who are overweight as well and only get out about 2-3 times a year. It is so horrible to think those dogs are outside in frozen weather with only a plastic "igloo" doghouse. Their used to be another one, a husky, behind my house, which they never let in It was matted and uncared for. They put it down because it cried at night too much. Even big dogs should be in a garage or a basement or a laundry room. I really do not respect those who feel dogs are outdoor animals. most Domestic dogs need insulated shelter, at the very least (I leave out husky type dogs because they can take pretty low temperatures). A piece of cardboard or plywood is not enough.

[Peevee]

My dog prefers a show that's steady talking like cartoons or a news channel like CNN.

[Minnymouth]

HeatherB,
My girls used to bark at the TV at first, then they realized there was nothng outside and that it was coming from the TV.....THAT'S when they really started watching TV a lot.....especially the animal shows.

In my neighborhood if a neighbor neglects there dogs or animals, the other neighbors ARRANGE for it to find a new loving home somewhere...... We also find homes for all the strays that we can't find their owners.... They only go to LOVING HOMES..... have to be animal lovers!! In 10 years there have been about 8 dogs we have MOVED OUT because of neglect by the owners. One neighbor I told her everytime you get a dog, I will find it a home!!! You don't need an animal to abuse!!! She got mad - BUT SO BE IT...... Said she would sue.........First she has to PROVE what happened to it, and who did it,,,,lol. What really got me about the situation was this woman is a paramedic..........takes care of human life, but not an animal.

People will spend $250-$500 for a pet, then abuse and neglect it just to say the own one. Some folks can't afford a fenced yard, that is understandable, but a tied dog NEEDS water/food and a warm place to get out of the cold and a place to sleep. Dogs and cats will hunt warm places (under bushes, cars, etc) if they can, but tied out away from everything they are at natures mercy..... And I blame that on the owners!!

I've even gotten barrels and made dog houses for some of the neighborhood dogs owners who are so stupid............ and I check in the summer time to make sure the animals have water.

I believe humans will be held responsible for how they treat their animals. They are a responsibility - just like kids are. They didn't ASK for us, we went and got them....

We have a neighbor right now that has a female dog that runs loose thru the neighborhood. So far this dog has bit a 10 year old and has just about killed another dog fighting with it. The neighbor was told "tie your dog" or it will have a new home. We'll see if she LISTENS...... or if Sparkles is on her way to a loving home that will teach her some manners.....

In our neighborhood its very dangerous to tie out a dog with no place to go or a place to hide..... we have coyottee's (can't spell)...... its terrible what they can do to a domestic animal that is tied and can't run.... or has no place to hide.... its' so sad and unnecessary.

As you can see, I'm very much a dog/cat lover and believe in taking care of all animals. Even farmers put their horses/cattle in a barn if they can when the weather is bad.....

[danaf]

The tv is a good idea. I will try that today.

I live in the SW and have a doggie door and a large back-yard. It's pretty warm here so they are in and out all day. They do love their doggie door. No birds allowed in my back-yard! They are always on patrol...lol.

And I should probably pick them up a few new toys tonight. They have some but have chewed up most of them. If it has stuffing, forget about it - they de-stuff everything.

Boy that's a good side business to get into - doggie toys. Even at half the price Petco charges, one could make money.

[Minnymouth]

CHEERS to making money off doggie toys..........it is a good market I'm sure..........

Danaf, what is it with dogs and birds? No birds in my yard either. They chase them out and I have one beagle that catches them on the fly (makes me so mad at her - I beat her over it).

And the stuffing in squeeky toys............YEAH THEY LOVE TO DE-STUFF them too!!! They don't eat it, just rip it out, lol...........

I guess since kids will be kids, dogs will be dogs, huh.....

New toys???????????? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, something like a "stick???" Looks like wood, taste like wood, but won't harm them???? (they love to chew on a peice of wood).... OR a rawhide/bones that doesn't make a mess on the carpet???

[danaf]

I do not know Minny. But personally I don't mind them running the birds off. It's really funny to see these guys running after roadrunners which are huge! And the hummingbirds just ignore them since they never land on ground anyway.

[FLBK7]

Go ahead and laugh, but I admit that when I leave the house to go to work I leave the TV on for my........... CAT.

I always had dogs until I downsized and bought a condo. By then my last dog had passed away. I live alone. I'm divorced and my children are grown and living on their own. The thought of getting even a small-breed dog didn't seem fair, since my work hours are often unpredictable and furthermore, I don't have a yard (the condo is a 2nd floor corner unit, with a huge balcony). So I got a cat from the pound and he THINKS he's a dog! He follows me around, sleeps under the covers next to me, and is always by the door waiting when I get home.

One day at the vet I mentioned how I felt so bad about leaving him alone all day, and the vet replied that I could always leave the TV on, and that he recommends that to his clients. So I leave either the cartoon channel or Animal Planet on for my kitty. You can laugh and call me eccentric... it's okay!

[ssdsco]

My wife drives around in the winter looking for people that leave dogs out and blows them in to the SPCA(?) with address, breed, time frames outside, temperature. They're very good about following up with the dog owners but my wife also continues to check on the dogs.

My wife always has Animal Planet on the TV for our dogs and cat when we leave the house. The dogs only eat home cooked dog food, baby food, veggies and fruit. One loves apples and the other bananas. The blankets in the dog beds are nicer than ours including pillows which they put there heads on. It's funny to see. Occasionally she takes them to McDonald's drive-through for a cheeseburger and a few fries. They freak when they see the golden arches. They have sweaters and boots for winter walks. One dog who's about 12 years old plays dead every night and goes limp when we turn the TV off to go to bed so my wife will carry him to his bed and tuck him in. This dog is very healthy and active. I just shake my head and laugh at all this.

[danaf]

ssdsco - good for your wife! In her own way she is trying to make this world a better place and there is nothing wrong with that if it makes her happy. Everyone has to have a cause.

I always say, I'd be better off to come back to this world as a dog in a home that loves dogs. No bills, no responsibilities, my meals done for me ect. My husband spoils ours, I am more the disciplinarian (but I discipline with love). They need to know that I am the top dog or else they will gladly take over and we can't have that.

[Minnymouth]

Yeah, I'm told MY GIRLS live better than most kids do.......

They are "couch potatoes, eat the best (with me),sleep with me in a featherbed (have their own also), have pillows and blankies of their own....

If some people took care of their kids HALF AS GOOD as I take care of MY GIRLS - their would be a LOT of happy kids in this world.

Yeah, my girls are spoiled rotten, they check the grocery bags out for their "treat" when I go to the store...... I tuck them in every nite.....

I appreciate the love/devotion/companionship/humor/protection they give to my life and give freely to them in return any way I can. In return they are there for me in sickness and health, always by my side...... my buddies.

Shame I don't live on a farm......... imagine how many animals I could have.................wow.... just thinking about it..... would love it!!!!

I love the new PetSmart commercial where the Great Dane takes up over half the couch and half of the King Size Bed.....!!!

[BKOnce]

I strongly believe in Re-incarnation, Karma, and retribution effects. I also believe in animals can advance or reborn into human forms, and evil people can be re-born in hell or become vicious hungry animals too.

So, that also means that... well, if you treat dogs that good, good karmic/deeds will mature later, and the dogs could kinda become your human children/girls later in future lives, never know ... and never say never....

[Minnymouth]

BKONCE,
I learned a long. long time ago not to ever say "never" or I'd be eating my words.......

My favorite saying is "nothing is forever, and most things are just for a short time"...... so you best enjoy while they are there!!

And I beleive in "karma" also......

If you love animals...... they sense it!
If you are at peace with yourself..... others notice it!
If you are a happy person.... others notice your attitude!
If your "hatefull" person - the whole world can see it in your face and your actions!
Your actions determine how others think of you and react to you.......

[jane taylor]

I don't believe in reinacarnation, but if I did, I would want to come back as my English Springer Spaniel. He is the sweetest dog and a CLOWN! He doesn't have a clue or care in the world and has a two acre yard/bathroom!

He has been very good therapy for me during BK, illness, etc.

jane