Personal companion animal stories

[dreamer]

How did you come to be the caregiver of your companion animals?

What cute things have they done?

In other words, happy stories about the furbabies in our lives:yea:

[thevegantwins]

My vegan coworker (yes, there is 1 other vegan in this agency of 500 people) told me about a shelter being closed down due to horrific conditions. Our lease stated no pets allowed but we decided to go to the shelter just to have a look. My husband had asthma (which has since disappeared after he went vegan :) ) so he waited outside. I went in to this dungeon. One of the assistant's asked me what I was looking for. I told her a cat that would be good for a small apartment. She bent down and pointed at a cat that was cringing in the back of a cage on the floor. She told me that she thought this cat was very nice but everyone overlooked her. I was so grossed out by that shelter, I said I'd look at that cat but outside. She brought the cage out. I called our landlord and told him we were at a shelter and the cat would be killed in a week (true). He said that he had no choice, couldn't let the cat die so we could have her. :thumbsup: When we brought Felíne (pronounced Fellini) home, I honestly didn't like her. She was in heat and scared so she just made noises and hid. After she was spayed, Felíne gradually became comfortable and soon developed into the BEST CAT IN THE WORLD, the title she's held for the last 7 years or so. :D

[dreamer]

I have a toy poodle (Buddy), cat (Buffy), and 2 house rabbits (Esther and Mordie) as my furbabies. I bought the toy poodle from a breeder about 6 years ago ( :sorry: ), which was probably really a "rescue" considering his condition. I chose to get a toy poodle because I had a dwarf bunny and that was one of the few non-ratter toy breeds. He showed his intelligence and caring so quickly that he was my true baby...to me he's the best pup ever. About 2 years later, someone abandoned a kitten on my property. Though I never intended to have a cat (being VERY allergic), she captured my heart by purring at everything--I mean EVERYTHING (even getting shots, her temperature taken you-know-where, etc)--and following me around when I went outside. So I fell for her too and soon had her inside as part of my brood:princess: She's the best cat I've ever known, the sweetest and most laid-back. (Vets are always shocked by how she just lets them do what they need to!) Then almost 2 years ago, I came to be without bunnies and swore I would never go through that pain again. After less than a month, I missed the joyful bunny dances and learned of a rabbit rescue a few hours away. I went and immediately fell for two sisters there and took them home. They were skiddish at first and still only occasionally grace me with an "allowance" to pet them, but their cheerful demeanors (including the bunny dances) and excited treat-taking are a gem in my little family:beanie:

People are often surprised that they all get along, but they really are a big part of what makes my house a "home." I think my poodle thinks he's part bunny and the bunnies show him "respect"--they aren't afraid of him and yet don't "challenge" him ever. The cat actually gets chased by the rabbits--especially Esther, even though she's about 5 times bigger than either of them...she's so laid-back she doesn't like confrontation. But my pup and cat love playing together, even though she does act tough then.

[dreamer]

That's so cool, thevegantwins:) But you know I can't agree with you about Fellini being the best cat in the world;)

[dreamer]

A funny story about Buddy when he was a pup, about 4 or 5 inches tall tops...I only had him a couple of hours and was keeping him in a "pin"--about 3 feet high--in my kitchen when I went to bed (planned until I got him housebroken). I wasn't even asleep yet when I suddenly heard whining that sounded REALLY close...my bedroom is about 12 feet down a hallway from the kitchen. I tried to ignore it, but continued to hear it. I got up and opened to door to see Buddy, who immediately started wagging his tail and jumping. I put him in my bathroom, but he kept scratching and crying, so I took him into the hallway bathroom for the night--no way he could climb out! I eventually had to put a sheet (safety-pinned) on top of the pin to keep him in. Eventually he even figured out how to go in-between where the pins were! It's amazing how your furbabies become quite ingenious to be with you:colors:

[thevegantwins]

Yes, the do. We had about 2 weeks where we had decided that Felíne was not allowed in our bedroom. Felíne decided otherwise and has slept on our bed at night for the last 7 years +. :) It's nice having a cat hat in the winter but in the summer, she can be a bit suffocating. :flame:

[Phoenix]

Ollie is our feline neighbour - we are sadly cat-less at present. :(

Ollie likes to visit us a few times a week and he dropped in yesterday - my house-mate let him inside - while I was on the floor exercising. He was clearly delighted to find me at his eye level. :agree: I was on my back and he came and stood over me and looked down into my face and began to purr. Then he sat on my stomach while I was trying to do sit-ups :rofl: so I reached for the dumbbells but he began trying to catch the dumbbells I was using :laugh: So I gave up on the dumbbells and thought I'd do a few stretches, until Ollie lay down accross my outstretched arms, purring like mad the whole time!

It was a strange work-out, but Ollie is just adorable. :D

[thevegantwins]

That's a cute story, Phoenix. Sounds like you could incorporate Ollie into your fitness routine. Isn't there a yoga move involving cat stretch? :)

[dreamer]

Anytime I do Tai-Chi in my living room, all my furbabies look at me like I'm nuts. Sometimes Buddy even tries to discourage me by clawing on my back and Buffy sometimes looks at me with a confused expression while other times she meows pitifully. I guess that shows I don't do Tai Chi enough for them to get used to it:rolleyes:

[Phoenix]

That's a cute story, Phoenix. Sounds like you could incorporate Ollie into your fitness routine. Isn't there a yoga move involving cat stretch? :)
:rofl: That's an interesting idea VT :agree: but I don't do yoga :no: I'm more into weight training. (I'm strong but I don't have the grace or the flexibility for yoga.)

[Cherie]

I got Freesia, my girl cat, when she was 1 year old; I was 18 (now 26) and had just moved out of my parents' hosue. I actually got a dog at first but quickly returned him when I realized that he didn't have enough space or attention from me (yeah, it should have been obvious but it wasn't), since I was going to high school during the day and working at night and on weekends. So I had a huge credit at the store and chose the prettiest cat I saw. I wasn't conscientious at the time of rescues and how bad pet stores are, et cetera.

Anyway, so I get her home and give Freesia a bath. She gets dirty immediately after by going behind the bathroom sink. I give her another bath and wrap her in a towel. I don't see her for a while; seh kind of hides from me. Gradually, after about three nights, she started sleeping with me, which I loved. There is nothing comparable to a cat snuggling with you. I don't care how much you love your guy; the cat's love is like a baby's love.

She has been my confidant, with me through thick and thin, many moves. She does the most adorable things and has the cutest fur hanging off of her feet, since she's a long-haired cat. She brings me toys sometimes, crying with them in her mouth and dropping htem at my feet. I adore her.

I also have Pepper, my younger one, who is almost 2. I got him from the Humane Society. He's been a challenge but I love him to pieces. He was mean to Freesia at first, so much so that I thought I would have to take him back, since he was causing her stress and pain. Eventually, he stopped and/or she fought back and got pissy with him as well.

They have such unique personalities and things that they do, but they are both loving and fun to have around.

[BabaGhannooj]

This is one of my favorite memories of my baby girl Dax. She was probably about 6 weeks old. So tiny and so cute. I took her to the pet store to buy her a new toy. I picked out this stuffed green fish that was almost as big as she was. I showed it to her and aked if she wanted it. She reached out and took it. I was holding her in my arm on her back, like a baby, and she had her tiny paws wrapped around the fish and was chewing it. Some woman walked by and said something like, "Isn't that the cutest thing?!" She was absolutely adorable that day.

[dreamer]

Those are such great stories:yea:

I agree that our furbabies are just that...our babies. I know I wouldn't give up any of mine for some "guy," because that would be against my nature.

[Potty]

I'd just like to tell a story that has just happened to me and my hooman.

I climbed on to the tv, then tried to jump down, missed my footing and landed on Tiggerwoo's l brand new laptop and snapped the m key and alt key so they don't work properly now!

I thought it was quite funny. She didn't!

[veggiesosage]

No Potty, she didn't think it was funny, you're in the pooh :D

[Ped Ant]

I thought it was quite funny. She didn't!
humans are weird. :no: :dunce: i thought your story was funny, potty. :agree: :lol:

[Tiggerwoos]

What she forgot to tell you was that she also put a lovely long scratch down the screen! That darn cat!

She's lying asleep on the bed at the moment, looking so innocent as if she wouldn't dream of breaking a PC. Bless her... She's such a sweetie, even if she does cost me money!

[dreamer]

I think all of our companion animals "cost us money" in some ways, but they're more than worth it, aren't they:colors: I know my neighbors and some of my students have teased me about how much I've spent on vet bills, especially for my bunnies' vet bills. They'll say stuff like, "I'd just buy new ones, it'd be cheaper":mad:

[Alistair]

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e148/veganblue/Animals/Sleeping.jpg
Chloe and Cloud - sleeping.

(This wire is for their protection - not to lock them up - but keep others out!)

[Bowwowmeow]

Oh, that's a beautiful picture veganblue! :smallheart:

[Oracl]

Snuggly bunnies! Very sweet. :colors:

[dreamer]

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I bought my bunnies a new, bigger cage. I thought when I bought it that they'd be very anxious about it, as generally bunnies don't like change. However, they immediately seemed to LOVE it! They checked out every inch, marked their new territory;) and started eating hay almost immediately. My cat was much more upset by the whole "new" thing than they were!

[thevegantwins]

That's great, dreamer.

I have a cute Felíne story. The kids' bedtime routine is that they get bounced first (a Winnie-the-Pooh thing personalized for them) and then the lay down in their beds, one parents sits between the two beds to read a story and the other parent is at the end of the beds. For the last few months, Felíne always joins us for story time and now the kids will call out, "Felíne, story time!" and she comes. :book: :cattail:

[dreamer]

That's so cool!

[Gliondrach]

She's obviously a real hep cat.

[my3labs]

Cute little Feline!

[my3labs]

Carson is sleeping right next to me and he's snoring, twitching and growling.
He's so dang cute!!! I love him so much. :beatingheart:

[dreamer]

Watching furbabies sleep is really a blood-pressure reducer, isn't it? I love watching my bunnies, kitty, and pup when they sleep...though I think my kitty has a sleep disorder:rubchin:

[Gliondrach]

Carson was probably dreaming just then. Did he have REM?

[my3labs]

Watching furbabies sleep is really a blood-pressure reducer, isn't it?
It sure is. It's one of my favorite things.:cloud9:

I love it when they growl in their sleep. the gums go up and twitch. It's so cute.
And how about when dogs stretch while lying on their side? The back arches inward and the paws curl under. Are my dogs the only ones that do it?
It's adorable.

If only I could speak "dog". That would make me happier than just about anything.

[my3labs]

Carson was probably dreaming just then. Did he have REM?
His eyes roll back when he sleeps. He looks like a devil dog when he's asleep cuz his eyelids don't come down all the way and you can see the blood vessels.
It's kind of freaky.
do we have a devil dog smilie?

[my3labs]

Dan and I were out talking on our back today when Ginger started growling and barking at something. We couldn't figure out what she was barking at for a long time (I thought that perhaps she had seen a crow on our neighbors roof) but it was the type of bark/growl that meant that she was serious about something. I happened to glance up toward the sky and noticed a plane...a big plane, about 35,000 feet up. We watched her track this plane over a large span and she barked at it the whole time.
It was really interesting and made us laugh. She's soooooo cute!!

[Gliondrach]

She might have thought it was a bird of prey coming to attack you.

[my3labs]

She might have thought it was a bird of prey coming to attack you.
I think she did. It was hysterical.

[thevegantwins]

Good news on the Felíne front. Mr. TVT weighed her this morning and she's up from 13lbs 6oz to 13lbs 8oz. She had been consistenly losing weight for the last year or so, coming down from 16lbs+. We switched her food again. This time to Pet Promise wet and Wellness dry. We tried vegan kibble a few months ago. She wouldn't touch it. She also stopped eating Wysong. We stopped the Lysine thinking it was effecting her appetite but her hair started falling out again so we started it back up again. She seems a bit friskier now. :yea:

[Gliondrach]

Great news.:)

[my3labs]

I cooked about three pounds of kidney beans for the dogs last night (to serve with their dinner over the next few days). I put them out on the deck since it's cold enough to safely store them, and at some point Ginger opened the french doors (she's smart like that) and the three of them licked the pan clean.
I was afraid that I'd come home to some pretty sickly feeling dogs but they all seem fine.
Silly puppies!

[my3labs]

Update:
Carson has been farting all night. My house smells bad right now.:psing:

[Bowwowmeow]

:rofl: It'll take a while for them to get used to digesting beans. Try black beans. They are the most full of phytonutrients on account of their color. Even the cats try to steal black beans from other people's dishes.

[Oracl]

Update:
Carson has been farting all night. My house smells bad right now.:psing:
:blecch: :rofl:

[Gliondrach]

Serves you right for not securing the beans properly. You'll know better next time.

[my3labs]

:rofl: It'll take a while for them to get used to digesting beans. Try black beans. They are the most full of phytonutrients on account of their color. Even the cats try to steal black beans from other people's dishes.
I'll definitely try black beans. Thanks, BWM.

Serves you right for not securing the beans properly. You'll know better next time.
Actually, I blame it on Dan. He went out to wash my car and didn't lock the door. :whistle:

[thevegantwins]

What is it with kidney beans lately? My3labs 3 labs eating 3lbs and thevegantwins' eating 2lbs in 2 days.

Ben has diarrhea right now, wonder if the beans caused it.

[Gliondrach]

Quite possibly.

[thevegantwins]

Can anyone say 'My3labs 3 labs ate 3 pounds of kidney beans' 10 times fast?

[Gliondrach]

I said it fast and perfectly.

[my3labs]

Can anyone say 'My3labs 3 labs ate 3 pounds of kidney beans' 10 times fast?

:rofl:

[Oracl]

I said it fast and perfectly.
:rolleyes:

[Gliondrach]

How about 'Oracl's metaphorical coracle', ten times fast?

[1vegan]

I love kidney beans :)

[Gliondrach]

That's easy to say.

[Oracl]

How about 'Oracl's metaphorical coracle', ten times fast?
:laugh:

[thevegantwins]

Felíne's latest cuteness involves nightly storytime. :reading: We've always read to the kids at night before bed starting when they were in cribs. Now that they are in toddler beds, the designated parental reader sits between the kids' beds and the kids sit in front to hear the story and look at the pictures. For the past few months, Felíne sits on Ben's pillow once storytime begins and she listens as well. Once storytime is over, Ben gets into his bed, he kisses Felíne on the head and tells her, "Get off my pillow, kitty, it's bedtime" and she leaves. Though sometimes, Felíne needs a little prodding. She's such a cute cat.

:sleeping: :kittypet: :sleeping:

[Bowwowmeow]

:colors:

[Gliondrach]

A literary kitty.

[Soynut]

Awww, Feline is too cute. A bed time story can be a "feel good time" for the whole family. I used to love that as a kid.:)

[my3labs]

We currently have a HUGE bag of carrots on the deck. Tonight, Ginger was sniffing them and pulled one out with her paw. She picked it up and trotted in the house all proud of herself for getting a carrot (which, of course, the other two dogs didn't have).
It was so cute to see Carson and Lacey looking at her like she had some cool treat and then looking at us to see if they were going to get one.

I love my doggies so much.

[Bowwowmeow]

Haha! Stealing and showing off! I used to bring a bag of dog toys to the park, and some clever dog would figure out how to get into it and steal a toy, and then run the circle of all the other dogs making damn sure each and every one of them saw and was made jealous. They would look at their owners too, wondering why they didn't have anything as good as that toy. Dogs are so funny. :colors:

[Gliondrach]

And clever.

[thevegantwins]

Felíne just did the cutest thing. Ben hurt his thumb, we think he got it squished in a toy fire truck ladder. He was crying for about 5 minutes. Mr. TVT and I were comforting him by kissing his booboo over and over. Ben calmed down a bit and sat on the floor. Felíne walked up to Ben and kissed Ben's thumb. Ben petted Felíne and thanked her then Felíne walked away and got into her bed. :colors:

[Gliondrach]

Cats are clever, too.

[Oracl]

Felíne walked up to Ben and kissed Ben's thumb. Ben petted Felíne and thanked her then Felíne walked away and got into her bed. :colors:
:)

[my3labs]

I have three dogs in my bed right now. Two labs and one great dane. I have a tiny spot for my feet and my laptop.
Sad, but well worth it.

[Tails4wagging]

Sophie sat on my lap, dribbling as I drank a small glass of sherry. I dipped my finger in the sherry and let her lick it. She begs for it!

Never had an alcoholic dog before!!

[Oracl]

:D :D

[thevegantwins]

I was on the phone with Mr TVT. He had just remembered that he forgot to give Felíne water today so he filled her water dish. I heard Sarah talking in the background to Felíne so I told him to tell Sarah to remind Felíne to drink some water. She did but Felíne did not move from her cat bed. I then told Mr TVT to make the sign (American Sign Language) for water. He did while Felíne was looking at him and she ran to the water dish. I know it was just a coincidence but that's pretty cute.

[Gliondrach]

There could be more to it. An anagram of Feline is Life en, which you will know is short for 'life energy'. And that is water.

[thevegantwins]

If Mr TVT used Scottish sign language for water, would Felíne have gotten up for scotch?

[Soynut]

Ha, ha, that's too funny TVT! My dog stars at things until he get what he wants; If he wants the blanket on top of him, he sits down in front of it and STARS at me, until I make a move to cover him with it. The same goes for his soccer ball which I keep on top of my book shelf... he sits down in front of the shelf and acts like a psycho. For cookies and food he sits in front of the door and communicates from there with his eyes, of course. You get the drill. He also knows everyone by name, but that's another story....

Animals are amazing communicators if we only take time to pay attention.

[Soynut]

Sophie sat on my lap, dribbling as I drank a small glass of sherry. I dipped my finger in the sherry and let her lick it. She begs for it!

Never had an alcoholic dog before!!

You know, I think many dogs are born alcoholics - mine would do anything for alcohol! I'm worried that i'll leave a wine bottle or something by accident and that he'll drink it all. I used to leave empty beer and wine bottles in recycling bags and when I came home they were all over the floor (and this is not a dog who usually makes a mess). He was trying to get the last drops out of them. Luckily, there was NOTHING left!

[thevegantwins]

:D Feline is a bonny wee lass..

She might be a bonny lass but she is certainly not wee :D

[thevegantwins]

A bonny big lass! :nanakiss: :cattail:

[Oracl]

Patrick looks as big as a lion in that photo! :D

[Oracl]

:)

[Fauxmage]

Awww, but he looks worth every pain, though, doesn't he. :colors:

[Gliondrach]

He looks big. And very cuddly.

[Gliondrach]

He'll appreciate it once the work's done.

[Gliondrach]

Tails, how is Sophie's leg?

[Gliondrach]

I've just seen the latest in the Sophie saga in the Sophie thread.

[Gliondrach]

She'll soon be on the mend. I know about these things.

[Gliondrach]

I hope Tippex soon settles in. It's a pity he couldn't be with the other whippet.

[thevegantwins]

I found a flea on Felíne this weekend. I sprayed her with herbal stuff again then gave her a bath. We're going to try Fleabusters powder on the carpeting once I get paid. Fleas are pesky little buggers.

[Gliondrach]

Where do the fleas come from? Feline doesn't come into contact with other cats.

[Gliondrach]

Simple Simon met a pie man.

[Gliondrach]

As the Shakers used to sing: 'Tis a gift to be simple'.

[Gliondrach]

But I bet you will.

[Gliondrach]

I won! Oh, it's the wrong thread.

[alisont]

Jed has a bad paw at the mo, seemed fine last night after his walk but this am he was on 3 legs and very off colour. Tonight Its very swollen.

Got vets tomorrow night, just hope Its nothing serious- Jed has had an op in the past on the cruciate ligament so always a worry.

He will be hard workto get to the vets too without making things worse.

Wish I knew what it was:no:

[alisont]

Poor lil Jed. Perhaps hes getting a bit stiff in his old age, bless him.

He will be 11 next Feb

Inflammed joint?. Does it feel hot?

Yes It feels hot and is swollen, just hope it is better soon, we had a horrible spell when he had an op on the cruciate ligament,guess vets will give anti inflamatorys?

[alisont]

I think, If I recall well, its called osteo malacia. Yes needs anti inflam, and possible painkillers. Also perhaps bandage?.

Thanks, couldnt get him out to the garden last night, he wont walk at the mo, poor chap tried to walk and fell over, cant see us gettign him to the vets so might for first time ever need a home visit:disbelief:

Ive worst luck got to go to work, Dads going to ring the vets at 9.

Will update later, hopefully after some anti inflams and rest he will improve, will have to see about carrying him with Dad to the garden before i go to work, hes not had a wee in many hours!

[alisont]

Just rang Dad - hes moved a little bit this am and managed to get to the garden thank goodness!

His paw has really started bleeding a fair bit so thinking this means something in there and infection (with it being hot and the swellings doubled again:no:)

Vets due at 3.30pm, students go at 2.45pm so Im going to ask if I can go early today so Im there when the vet arrives, if I get a taxi I can be home in 10 mins from here. Meant to be here til 4ish today but hope I can get away earlier.

I wonder if they will need to take him into the surgery to investigate the paw/pad as he wont let me touch it so will need sedation, they will have better facilities at the surgery than on a home visit.

Will post later when the vets been.

[Gliondrach]

Good thoughts for Jed. The vet will have been by now. Hope everything is all right and easily sort outable.

[alisont]

Thank you for good thoughts:wave:

The vet and a nurse visited today - Dad saw them, Jed during the day had been licking the paw and had managed to move about a bit, he even got to the door to greet the vet he knows!!!

The vet managed to just about see the paw, he thinks it was a seed that got lodged in his paw and was causing an infection, could be a bit of glass but he feels it was a seed, said the nature reserve we use for walks locally is terrible for seeds getting into dogs paws.

He could not find the seed thinks that Jed managed to get it out himself - the bleeding was a good sign that the seed was out - dad says his paw had swollen up to 3 x its normal size, Its now only slightly swollen and not hot now.

Jeds on antibiotics for 5 days and painkillers for another 24 hours and rest but if he is still limping after the course of tablets we have to get him in and they will sedate him and clean the area.

He looks a lot better than he did this am or last night, Im not half as worried now.

Im so glad he is looking more himself tonight,

Were going ut for Mums birthday for a pizza but wont leave Jed now so going to collect a pizza order later:)

So glad Im posting with better news!

Thanks everyone:hug:

[Gliondrach]

Good news about Jed!

I've never heard of seeds getting into paws. Do they get lodged between the pads?

You'll have to get him two pairs of bootees.

[alisont]

Bless him glad he's been fixed..:thumbsup:

Well he has the dreaded antibiotics for 5 days, but the vet thinks he managed to get the seed or whatever it was out himself!

Good news about Jed!

I've never heard of seeds getting into paws. Do they get lodged between the pads?

You'll have to get him two pairs of bootees.

Ha Mum said we need 2 pairs of dog wellies:updn: Yes Its quite common Im told for seeds to get lodged between the pads, most come away themselves or the dog licks them but some get stuck and can cause infection/allergy

Dads said it was a very expensive seed as the vets bill so far is around £100:sigh:

Cant avoid the reserve really as only quieter area to excercise Jed and hes terrible on the streets as he pulls so much til he is in the reserve but Its so overgrown in there.

Hes rolling on his back now which means hes happy - its amazing how quickly they recover - this morning he was shaking and could not move - tonight he is weight bearing and beginning to get back to his usual staffie self!

Our doggy friends dont half cause some worry!

[Gliondrach]

Our doggy friends dont half cause some worry!


That's one thing I don't miss.

[thevegantwins]

A few weeks ago, Felíne was sitting on the carpet next to Sarah. They were face to face. I saw Sarah holding a whisker and I asked her if she plucked the whisker from Felíne's face. She admitted she did. I told her that even if Felíne lets her pluck whiskers, it was wrong to do so. Sarah then apologized to Felíne. Felíne did not seem bothered at all.

This morning, I was at the table enjoying a cup of tea when Felíne came up to be petted. As I was petting her, Sarah then Ben both walked up on all fours to be petted. Then Mr TVT. They were all lined up so I kept repeating, "Good Felíne, good Sarah, good Ben, good Mr TVT" while petting them.

[Gliondrach]

:D

Strange lot, those TVTs.

[Oracl]

:agree: :D

[Gliondrach]

Dogs must know that eyes are used for seeing. If you talk to them they look at your eyes, not your mouth where the noise is coming from. If you are not looking at a dog but then keep your head still and turn your eyes to focus on the dog, the dog will respond with a tail wag. So, they must know that we see them with our eyes. It takes a lot of intelligence to be able to understand that.

[Gliondrach]

When Mandy was here I sometimes used to wait until she was looking at me. I'd close one eye. She would look at the open eye. Then I'd close that one and open the other one. She would switch her attention to the one that had just opened. I'd do that a few times and she'd always switch her gaze to the open eye.

[Gliondrach]

But when I do that on buses, people look away. Most of them get off at the next stop.

[Bunny]

I have got a new baby guinea pig. Daisy I have named her... she is a soppy thing, she lies on her back in my hand and lets me stroke her belly! I love her!

My house bunny - Snoopy- knows when I am upset and sits by me, licking me. I lvoe little furries!

[Gliondrach]

Any pictures of little Daisy? And Snoopy. Does Snoopy lie on top of a rabbit hutch?

[Bunny]

Any pictures of little Daisy? And Snoopy. Does Snoopy lie on top of a rabbit hutch?

He should, shouldn't he? He is a totally spoilt rabbit... he wouldn't know a rabbit hutch if he saw one. He does know Nintendo DS chargers. He has taken personal responsibility for destroying each and every one in the house. We have one left that we have to hide from him.


Pictures........ I shall see if I have any on Photobucket.... wait right there...

Okay... Snoopy:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/piggybunny/DSC00784.jpg


And again...

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/piggybunny/snoopy1.jpg


Will search for further pictures... :)

[Gliondrach]

Very handsome. Unusual colouring. He's definitely posing in the first picture.

[Bunny]

He is definitely posing in that first one! He's a Giant Papillon (or giant checkered in America) and he's going to be huge!! He was unwanted and I HAD to have him....

[Gliondrach]

He must be about 2 foot long, judging by the fireplace.

[gabbles]

Snoopy's a very nice bunny rabbit.

[Bunny]

He must be about 2 foot long, judging by the fireplace.


He is. And he's still growing. He's going to be enormous! Yay!


Thank you Gabbles! He is a beauty! I am deeply in love with him. :psing:

[Gliondrach]

On BBC Radio 4 today was a programme called Random Edition Outbreak of War Special. It was to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War. About half way through they talked about cats and dogs. In the first 4 days of the war about 400,000 cats and dogs were taken to vets to be put down. But there were also good stories, such as those about RSPCA inspectors risking their lives after air raids to search for cats and dogs in bombed out areas where unexploded bombs were a danger. And about people searching for cats and dogs in the rubble of bombed houses. Over 200,000 were dug out alive. Some air raid shelters allowed pets but others didn't. In Hyde Park stakes were driven into the ground so people could tie their dogs there during air raids whilst they hid in the shelters. There were also stories about cats and dogs being able to predict air raids.

You can listen to it on bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008rblp for the next 7 days.

[paul]

What a cutie snoopy is.a grand fellow.

[Gliondrach]

Not the right section but I didn't want to put it there. Good thoughts needed for my nephew's dog, Russ Bear, who is a big black labrador. At this moment he is being operated on for a tumour on his spine. The operation will take a few hours. :hug:

[Bowwowmeow]

Oh, sending them! :colors:

[Gliondrach]

Thanks. No word yet.

[Gliondrach]

Russ Bear's operation finished after 1 o'clock this morning - more than 4 hours. The surgeon said he had removed about 99% of the tumour but couldn't get it all. He said it is a slow growing type. I will continue to send good thoughts each day.

I wonder how dogs get cancer? Most cancers are caused by stress, alchohol, tobacco, pollution (in food and the air) or radiation. Perhaps his food is to blame. I've advised them to cook his food themselves and not to rely on commercial dog food.

My nephew is due to go back to Afghanistan in October and will have the added worry about Russ Bear to contend with.

[Bowwowmeow]

Raw food is even better than home cooked. I'm glad he made it through the surgery.

[Lost_in_Reverie]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6118769106_3778c7178f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67208149@N02/6118769106/)


Colt :)

I have no idea where he came from. One story is that he came from a petstore where his previous owner worked. Another is that he was found wandering loose as a young puppy.

Either way, the owner he ended up with didn't want him, and gave him away. This next owner kept him for a couple of months, then abandoned him. The first owner took him back, and somehow, he ended up going home with my dad.
That was four years ago, and that's how ended up here, with me.

He's sleeping by feet right now. He makes a good foot warmer, actually. Very fluffy and squishy.

[Gliondrach]

Colt's very handsome. And his eyes look very bright and alert.

[Pantera]

I have two cats and they both have really long back stories, but I'll try to be quick!

I have a male cat named Keaton who was born with cerebellar hypoplasia, which means his cerebellum didn't develop properly in the womb. It has a bunch of different causes, but we think his mother had an infection while he was in the womb (he was born to an unvaccinated barn cat and had 5 siblings, 2 of which also had symptoms). So he has some motor control issues - he is a bit wobbly and can sometimes fall over, and can't perfectly control his movements, especially when he is excited or scared. He came from my friend's farm because the gf thought it was cute that he 'walked like he was drunk' so she wanted him, but couldn't be bothered to care for him properly. He was very small and couldn't get over the edge of her adult-size litterbox so he was peeing and pooping on her floor, and she didn't give him food that was soft or small enough for him to eat, or a water bowl that he could drink out of properly. She had him for I think 2 weeks (I had no idea any of this was going on :() until one day I happened to be with my friend and we stopped at her house... when I saw him he was clearly sick and slowly starving to death... he was sooo tiny that I could hold him curled up in one hand (and he was about 11-12 weeks old). So I told her (as nicely as I could manage) that I was taking him, and she said she didn't care because he was a pain in the ass anyways and was going to the bathroom all over the floor. I had to feed him with a suringe at first and hold him up when he went to the bathroom because he was so weak (and of course I made him an improvised cardboard litterbox with 1" sides; :disbelief: she was an idiot).

And, the rest is history; he is now healthy and happy, and got stronger and better able to compensate for his wobbliness as he aged. The only complications he's had were 2 occasions where he cracked a tooth - the first time they pulled just the one tooth, and the second time we decided it was best to pull the rest of his upper and lower canines so he wouldn't have to go through another surgery later (and the vet broke his jaw during that surgery so he needed additional work, which is a whole other story; poor guy). It turned out his teeth had never developed and hardened properly because he was so malnourished as a baby, so he was cracking the front ones really easily by bumping his face. He does fine without them though, and he is the happiest, most affectionate cat you will ever meet. He has no idea there is anything different about him, and our apartment has been cusomized for him (special litter box, raised food dishes, no sharp edges on furniture or things like coffee tables in the middle of the rooms, carpet and rugs so the floor isn't slippery, etc.). He's my little prince. :smallheart:

My other cat's name is Ivy, and she came from a neighbour who's cat got pregnant (another irresponsible pet owner). She allowed her 2 and 5 year old kids and all their friends to play with (and probobly maul) the babies without guidance or supervision. One day the mama cat attacked her daughter (I think she was just being protective but can't know for sure), and bit and scratched her back and arm... so the lady took the mother, drove out to the country and let her go at the side of the road. :mad: I didn't find out until after she had done it so I couldn't stop her, but needless to say I was pissed... So I took the 4 week old kittens from her and raised them, and found all of them homes except for the one I kept. :psing: I didn't get her in trouble because our boyfriends were good friends, but I really wish I had called the police on her.

Keaton is an orange tabby with gorgeous amber eyes, and Ivy is like a tortie on her back and head, but has white under her belly and on her legs (and she has one arm that is striped :crazy:), with green eyes. They make a very cute couple, and she is very gentle with him and seems to be understanding of his disorder. She is really petite, about half the size of him, so they look really cute when they curl up together. :colors:

So they are my 2 companions, but I recently had a whole family of rats as well. I'll tell you about them some other time 'cause this is long enough already! :) *smiley overload* :catface3: :colors: :cats:

[Gliondrach]

They are both very lucky that you were on hand to save them. Especially Keaton. He definitely owes his life to you. :yea:

Keaton and Ivy were unlucky to have first encountered incredibly stupid, thoughtless and ignorant people.

Looking forward to hearing about the rats.