Some People Like Lots of Kids. I like Dogs. I am a NUT!

[cupcake]

Thank Goodness its people like you and me that gives these "babies" homes..... I feed my two "girls" (dog pound rescuses) + "Tilly" (our neighborhood beagle stray of 12 years - no permanent home) + a Mommy Cat and her 3 babies (all wild) that live in the drainline in front of my house. I throw apples accross the fence for the 6 deer that live in the field behind my home, and unfortunately I do run off the coyotees that still come around each year...... but I've also been known to catch a mouse and tell him to live "under the house", not upstairs....

If I lived on a farm, it would be "unreal" the animals I would have and feed each day.

Each of God's creatures serve a "purpose" in life. From the cattle in the field, the bird's in the trees, to the "little skunk" that wants to have her young in the old shed in the middle of the field out back.

I had company one weekend from Ohio...... we looked out the patio door and my "girls" were having guest too for the evening..... a baby possumm was having supper with them (wedged right between them and chowing down). My "girls" were very hospitable and shared!!! They had no intent of hurting the little fella...... just sharing their food with him.

Yes, I'm a little extreme when it comes to "my girls"...... they live the life that many "kids" dream of.... They have "feather toddler beds" to sleep on inside on a cold nite, blankies all their own, feather pillows in their daytime doghouses, and lots of toys they share with all that visit. They are given sooooo much love and attention, they aren't even aware they are animals.

Society will not let single people like me adopt children..... we don't have the "money resources" that society demands. So a child is set aside and people like me bestow our love and affection on our animals.

I firmly believe there is a "special place" in Heaven, for folks that take care of God's creatures and appreciate the beauty of them all.

Each creature is unique and special in their own way.... each has a given purpose. From the little rat, to the big dog, to the horses that we ride.

God's creatures are all beautiful, and they rely on us to take care of them (tho many are very self-sufficent)

Every child should learn safety around animals, and the love and affection of having a pet around. It makes them a more stable, and well rounded person in life.

I firmly believe that a man that will kick/beat his dog, will kick/beat his wife and kids...... If they have no compassion for an animal, normally they have no compassion for another human being.

And as Bob Barker would say.... "have your pet neutered or spade" to help control the population of homeless animals!!

Not all of us "love animals".......................

Minny, I loved your post and couldn't agree more with everything you said. I've always said something along these same lines, using nearly the same terminology, but about people who abuse animals. I firmly believe there is a "special place" in Hell for people who abuse animals (and children). Animals are innocent and lack free will. What they do is usually out of instinct, how they were raised or what they have learned from humans. And, I can honestly say that I love my cat (and most other animals) more than a lot of people I know.

I also loved what you said about each creature being unique and special in their own way. Up until four months ago, before I moved out of my husband's house, I had kind of a stray-cat rescue operation going at the house. I had been feeding strays for around five years and during those five years I successfully socialized and rescued 13 cats, which were taken to the no-kill shelter where I volunteer. They were neutered/spayed and all but two were adopted by loving families. One was FIV positive so he lives at the special shelter for the remainder of his life - no cages - just lots of couches and cubbies for them. The other had some health issues so he'll probably live at the regular shelter for the rest of his live unless someone wants to adopt either of them. There were two cats that I was unable to socialize because they were semi-feral; the two I'd been feeding the longest. They are both neutered and they still live in the neighborhood and the neighbor (who is also an animal lover) took over their feeding. As you can imagine, I attracted all kinds of critters with the cat foot bowls: possums, skunks, raccoons, etc. Everyone coexisted and it never bothered me knowing that I was feeding the entire neighborhood of animals. Most people think of skunks, possums and raccoons as pests but I never did. They got named just like the cats did.

Second to the cats, my other favorite were the squirrels. I knew almost all of them by sight and they ALL had names. Most of them were tame and sat next to me on my front porch and ate from my hand. When I opened my front door in the morning they would all come running for peanuts. I actually spoon fed one of them a couple years ago when she had a wound on her mouth. I fed her babyfood, peanut butter and applesauce on a spoon while her mouth healed.





Hats off to all of you animal lovers!

[Minnymouth]

FANTASTIC SQUIRREL PICS.............

I too have had the pleasure of feeding squirrels out of the palm of my hand..... Its a blessing to know that " little creature TRUST ME ENOUGH to come close and sit on my fingers and eat out of the palm of my hand. It's a fantastic feeling to know that a wild animal senses that you won't harm them..

A friend of mine (her husband) can walk up to almost any animal (wild or tame) and lay his hands on it, pet it, and often pick it up.... It is amazing to see him do it. I've seen him catch birds on the fly (never hurting them), let them go, and then they come back to sit on his arm or shoulder. He seems to have a real "calming" affect on animals and people too...

Many folks have "the touch", they just don't know it.....

[fltoo]

My dad would catch flies in his hand and release them outside.

When neighbors would set up cage traps to catch animals going in their gardens, he would, in the middle of the night, get the traps and bring them to the dumps in the morning. For years, eveyone discussed the missing traps and wondered what happened to them. LOL

Careful with the wild ones though, especially squirrels. Rabies.

[danaf]

Picture

Here's a pic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3029973922_b2d993c02a.jpg?v=0

thanks to Ephiphany for helping me with the pic. We both tried uploading to the site but had issues for some reason.

Picked her up last nite. So far so good. She didn't cry in the car on the way home. My dogs took to her. Even my yorkie was nice to her. (she's submissive and my yorkie isn't). I fed them all a special ground turkey dinner. Never having been allowed inside, she was sitting in Dad's chair in no time.

She definitely needs to be housebroken. We taught her the doggie door. She will go in and out of it when coaxed so at least she isn't scared of the door. But I think she's been stuck outside for so long she is hesitant to go outside because finally she's in.

She also barely slept last nite. I know because she kept waking us up by licking on us. I got up a few times to take her out. Hopefully her excitement will wear out today or tomorrow.

Oh - and my husband renamed her Millie in honor of my mil who did not want me to get another dog.

[cupcake]

^She's absolutely beautiful. Bless you for taking her into your hope and making her a part of your family. I will never understand why people have pets only to leave them outside and ignore them. BTW, she looks like a "Millie" - I love how your chose the name. She will be eternally grateful to you for saving her, too.

[banca rotta]

Just remember what D.O.G. spelled backwards is....


I luv em too!!!

[liz417]

Oh, she's sooo cute!!! Bless your heart for taking in this beautiful dog and giving her a "real home"....

[FLBK7]

She's so pretty, Danaf!!! Thanks for giving her a stable home and more than anything, love. It may take her a few days to get accustomed to her new environment and to your house rules, but I'm sure you'll succeed and very soon it will feel like she's always been part of your family. Please keep us posted on Millie!