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Animal companions in our happy homes

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  • Graven Image, that same toxic blue green algae has killed dogs in a neighbouring area. It's a horrible thing.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    That's horrible GI, especially as dogs and water go together so well. I know there was something similar where my family live. My Sis-in-law has 3 dogs that had a miserable time for a while. I think she bought a child's paddling pool, but of course it wasn't as enjoyable for them. At least they are in a high rainfall area, so water is in reasonable supply.
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    edited September 2019
    It’s that time again, we are saying goodbye to Spencer today. His bag is packed and he’s going on to start his formal Guide Dogs training at Big School in Leeds.

    We loved every minute with you, Spencer, you are a real character and such a happy, clever boy.

    Work hard and play lots, handsome boy.

    Have a great time at Big School with all your new friends, then change someone’s life completely. We will always love you and can’t wait to hear how you are getting on xx

    Go well Spencer.

  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Oh what a beautiful boy.

    Well done Boogie in preparing him for the next stage of his life, knowing he will go on to give someone more freedom and more choices than they would have otherwise had.

    You have reminded me it's time to put more money in the hollow plastic dog that sits in our local supermarket. Your posts about the puppies you have raised have increased my awareness of how these dogs enrich lives. Thank you.
  • I am bowled over by what you do Boogie. I could never love and let go like that (probably a good thing I don't have any children...). Spencer looks adorable, and I'm sure he will go off, do the rest of his training, and then revolutionize someone's life with his love and bank of marvellous skills. My thoughts are with you, and with this amazing dog ♥
  • jedijudyjedijudy Heaven Host
    Well done, Boogie!! Thank you for giving Spencer the beginning of his life of learning and serving!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Congratulations Boogie, and good luck, Spencer! ❤🐾❤
  • Good luck, Spencer and thank you for the service you will give.
  • Last week I was sitting in the lobby of my hotel, having had to check out at the specified time, but too soon for my shuttle to the airport. A woman came through with a nine-week-old, adorable, black lab puppy wearing his "service dog in training" vest. Then yesterday my page-a-day dog calendar featured "Russell," another adorable black lab puppy in training for Guide Dogs of America. Every time I see one of these I think of you and the dogs in whose lives you've played such an important part. Good luck, Spencer! And best wishes for you, Boogie, as you have to say good by once more.
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    Bless you, Boogie, for all you do, and bless the dogs you train.
  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    It feels as if it was just yesterday that I was looking at pics of the new arrival puppy Spencer. Bless you, Boogie.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Has he got a successor yet?
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Maybe Boogie could break ranks and train the world's first cat in the same role. Aroha needs a challenge. :wink:

    I celebrated Spenser's promotion by donating some change to the hollow plastic dog at the supermarket. It's not much, but Boogie's posts have made me more aware of the work that goes into training these dogs and the difference they make to people's lives.
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    Our longtime vet, an excellent physician to animals and a lovely human being, volunteered to make a house call so that I wouldn't have to find someone to take me (in transport chair) and cat (in carrier) to the office. I decided that I ought to put Miss Beatrice in my bathroom (equipped with a litter box in the tub and a bowl of water near the sink) so that she couldn't twig to what was coming and do a disappearing act.

    I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get her in there, though, having only one hand to hold her whether I'm walking with a cane or running the wheelchair. Then I went into the living room, and my heart sank: She had vanished from the cat stand, where she'd been curled up just minutes before.

    I called to Beatrice - and she appeared, running up the stairs. She preceded me to my bedroom, and jumped onto the bed. I gave her some fuss, and then picked her up and transferred her to durance.

    The vet arrived, with a scale and vaccines; she examined and inoculated Beatrice on my bed. Miss B was exceptionally well-behaved.

    The doctor stayed for a chat; she and her husband and some other couples are going to Italy next week, and she wanted some advice. We had a good natter, in the course of which both cats came by to rub up against their vet. (Beatrice doesn't hold a grudge.) It turned into a really pleasant hour.

    I just had to share that!

  • jedijudyjedijudy Heaven Host
    That's such a great story to share, Rossweisse! Your vet is a peach!
  • I'm just heading to bed here and that has brightened me up a lot! Thank you. That's how things should be done!
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    edited September 2019
    Thank you all for your kind words.

    Spencer is very happy at big school with his new best friend Bradley.

    Piglet wrote: »
    Has he got a successor yet?

    Yes, he is arriving on the 24th September - a seven week old Golden Retriever fluff ball.

    One of these.

    🐾🙂
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    Oooops - wrong second photo.

    One of these.
  • How adorable, Boogie!
  • Awwwwwww! Goldens are just about the cutest puppies. (My dog, even though no longer a puppy, is of course THE cutest.)
    :heart:
  • Molly ran out the back door into the back yard barking. I did not pay much attention as she is fenced in and sometimes people, usually children take a short cut behind our property. I could hear her for several minutes and was just about to call her in when the phone rang. It was my neighbor who had left their gate open and now had a deer trapped in their fenced yard. They were trying to coach the deer back out of the gate but every time they would get him close it seems Molly would bark and send him back. Sorry neighbor. Molly is housebound until deer has departed. We thought of handing Molly across the fence and let her herding genes take over but decided to just be patient with the deer.
  • I have a fool dog much the same who has been chasing bucks down the street with Mr Lamb in a bathrobe in hot pursuit.
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    Boogie wrote: »
    ...Yes, he is arriving on the 24th September - a seven week old Golden Retriever fluff ball.
    Exceptionally cute, Boogie!

  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    What lovely puppies. I gaze adoringly, but I am not active enough to have a puppy and I won't have an animal I can't do justice to.
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    Huia wrote: »
    What lovely puppies. I gaze adoringly, but I am not active enough to have a puppy and I won't have an animal I can't do justice to.

    Consider a rescued greyhound, they need very little in the way of activity and just love to snooze with you. :blush:

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited September 2019
    That surprises me, Boogie - I'd have thought that greyhounds by their nature would need lots of exercise.
  • BelisariusBelisarius Admin Emeritus
    Most of the rescues are retired from racing (a friend owns two); I checked Wikipedia for more details, and read that a retired greyhound can sleep up to 18 hours a day (they actually make better apartment dogs than smaller, more active breeds).
  • I've known people with rescued greyhounds* -- they're famous for being couch potatoes.

    (*Interestingly, they're known in the U.S. as "greyhounds," not "grayhounds." Maybe I should post that on the "different language." :smile: )
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    That's a good point - the eponymous bus is a "greyhound" too, isn't it?
  • Yes, they are really quiet at home and great at walking nicely on a leash.
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    Lily Pad wrote: »
    Yes, they are really quiet at home and great at walking nicely on a leash.

    And they have such beautiful natures and faces. 💕

  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    (PS @Lily Pad we flew right over you last night. I waved lots. :smiley: )
  • Boogie, your left wing tip went right over my house! I often look up at the contrails and wonder where all those people are going and do they know they are flying over me! :) Amazing! Next time, stop off and say hello.

    On Friday, my dog and I went to the university to offer support to the students as part of a gathering of therapy dogs. On Saturday, we were evaluated for the higher certification level. Proud to say that we passed and now can visit with children and teens - not just adults. It was really hard but it all went very well. We each got a pewter tag for our collars. :blush:
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    Marvellous @Lily Pad well done both of you!

    Mr Boogs is coming there next summer, but without me as he’s cycling the Cabot trail with friends. :) I tried to work out a way of coming along with them but they are cycling from the airport.
  • Boogie, the airport is a three hour drive from my house. That is like a ten minute drive over there. You had better come! The Cabot Trail is almost as good as cycling on PEI. :) I hope he likes really steep hills. Seriously though, you would be most welcome. It would be fun to give you the grand tour. Does he know about Warm Showers? It is like Couch Surfing but for touring cyclists.
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    Thank you so much @Lily Pad I’ll give it some serious thought!
  • I stripped my bed this morning and, to avoid cat hairs on the bare mattress I put a throw over it. The throw covered all but 6 inches of the mattress. Guess where Elizabeth is currently sleeping??
  • Can’t work that little puzzle out at all. Not likely. Shut the door next time.
  • Betsy is notorious for sleeping in the airing cupboard, so we have hairy towels and duvet covers. (No, shutting the door isn't an option. She'll only dig it open) I had a brainwave - sets of sheets/pillowcases/duvet covers in those bags stuff comes back from the dry cleaner's in. A furry throw on top, and problem solved.
    I'm wasted on this - why doesn't someone make me and Betsy dictator for life of the country? Can't be any worse than...
    Oops sorry. Wrong thread.
  • //Tangent @Fredegund . My kitchen calendar has the poet Fredegond Shove featured for September. I keep thinking of you as I pass it. End tangent//

    Elizabeth is no longer sleeping on the six inches of bare mattress; she is now on my desk and I am typing round her.
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    I neeeeed a cat! 💕💕
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Boogie wrote: »
    I neeeeed a cat! 💕💕
    What would all your doggy charges have to say about that? :wink:
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    It could be good preparation for the puppies - some may have to learn to worship live with cats. :smiley:

    Yesterday my kitten Aroha, and Spooky, the cat from down the road, slept on the cats' bench in the sun together! They were at a right angle to each other, and their tails were touching. Given the amount of growling and paw waving that goes on between them. this was amazing.

    I noticed that when Spooky failed to turn up one morning Aroha was restless, so I think she enjoys the chase, while Spooky enjoys sneaking in to nick her food and sleep on the chair out of the wind.
  • @Boogie - wholeheartedly agree. It's all part of the socialisation process for your next puppy. But you're not having Betsy, even though she's a cog. Your local CPL will have a suitable candidate. Go for it!
  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    edited September 2019
    Fredegund wrote: »
    @Boogie - wholeheartedly agree. It's all part of the socialisation process for your next puppy. But you're not having Betsy, even though she's a cog. Your local CPL will have a suitable candidate. Go for it!

    I agree! Sadly Mr Boogs has a strong dislike of cats :confused:

    Years ago I sneaked one in - Smudge. She arrived in my classroom and used to sleep in the bookshelf. She became the school cat and I cared for her and fed her. She began ‘disgracing’ herself in the children’s sand trays so she had to be found a home - mine. :mrgreen:

    Mr Boogs just ignored her. She had just one kitten and he fell for him! I foolishly found a new home for the kitten. If I’d kept him we’d be a cat family now for sure. Ho-hum, hindsight.

  • BoogieBoogie Heaven Host
    edited September 2019
    Our new Guide Dog puppy, Echo has arrived. He’s an eight weeks old Golden Retriever and a little sweetheart. He’s puppy number seven - that time has simply flown by!

    He arrived just a week ago and is sleeping through the night apart from one wee break at about 2:30am.

  • Boogie wrote: »
    Our new Guide Dog puppy, Echo has arrived. He’s an eight weeks old Golden Retriever and a little sweetheart. He’s puppy number seven - that time has simply flown by!

    He arrived just a week ago and is sleeping through the night apart from one wee break at about 2:30am.

    What a sweetie,such beautiful eyes.
  • Oh, Boogie, that is a precious video. I can almost hear an audio description of the thought process of each dog. That is one cutie you have on your hands. If you think that you got lots of attention with Labs, just wait. Nothing beats a Golden for attracting comments. What a good little fellow.

    We have no cats here either as I am much like your husband and don't care for them but my dog adores cats. I do feel guilty about it but not guilty enough to invite one in.

    My dog and I have just completed the process to be certified to visit with children. She's been an adult therapy dog for the last year and a half. We can now take part in a reading program for children and can go with the team to public events where there are children. I believe our main area of work will be at the local hospital.
  • Any advice about kittens? Our beautiful cat Alfred died a couple of weeks ago age 14 (he had liver problems) and the house seems so empty without any animals. Thinking about getting a pair of kittens from same litter as we have plenty of space and they would be company for each other. But it's over 30 years since I looked after a kitten, and neither of us have ever had more than one cat at a time. So where to start...what's the best place to find kittens (UK), are there combinations of sexes that work better than others as siblings ie boy&boy, boy&girl or girl&girl. What age should they be when taken home. Etc etc
  • PM me! Can talk kittens for England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and assorted dependencies. Based Warwickshire.
    Start with a few questions - pedigree/moggy/rescue. L/H v S/H
    hang ups over preferred colours - rescue organisations tend to have lots of black and white. If you're determined to have a long haired grey prepare for a wait.
    Do you get to meet them and preferably Mum beforehand. Will current people provide advice on character etc.
    What is your house like, access to the great outdoors, arrangements for holidays. All questions Cats' Protection will ask.
    Should be vaccinated before you get them. If via a charity, do they ensure you promise to neuter at months of indiscretion.

    I could go on, but need to get back to work.
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