Understand when adopting young animals can be destructive.

July 12, 2009

Having an inside cat has been a new experience for us.  It’s been sixteen years since I’ve lived with a cat in the house.  Not because I don’t care for inside cats but because sixteen years ago I made the jump from small and medium size dogs to big dogs, and I was afraid for their safety (the cat, not the dog, but I may have to rethink that).  Every young animal we bring into the house has been destructive in some way (the very reason I prefer to adopt adult dogs from a shelter).  Jack chewed the weather stripping off the door, went through the screen door, then chewed up the metal guards I bought to protect the new screen door, then went through the new, new screen door that lasted about a week.  Then he ate my glasses that although I could still see out of them I couldn’t read the small print.  I needed a new pair but they weren’t in the budget.  But I know and accept these things about one year old animals.  Last Saturday we had thunderstorms all day long so it was a noisy day but in the background I heard something that sounded like I may have a mouse in the house.  I wasn’t sure where I was hearing it from so I didn’t get up to investigate, a mistake I won’t make in the future.  You can imagine my surprise when I got up to let the dogs out the side door to find that Booger had shredded the carpet about 1-1/2 inches into the room.  I’m surprised he was able to shred all 36” of doorway because any time I happen to get a toe on the carpet tack it stings so bad I don’t want to be anyplace close but it didn’t seem to phase him a bit.  Maybe he was trying to help me out by trying to remove the offending tacks.  I’m going to take the high road and think positively about his actions, but we’ll never know.  I expected big destruction out of a big dog but I didn’t expect it out of the cat.  The carpet needs to be replaced but it really isn’t in the budget right now.  Fortunately our nephew moved into a new home and is replacing new carpet with hardwood floors so we are the beneficiary of his carpet just in our time of extreme need.  I’m grateful it was the carpet and not the furniture but since I’ve been down that road before I now I keep a cover over my couch and chairs.  The days of my naiveté of having naked furniture have been long gone since the days when Wolffie first ate my prized white couch.  This is the price you pay when you bring a young animal into your home.  If you think you’re going to get away unscathed you are sadly mistaken and another animal will find its way into a shelter.  You must understand the consequences of your actions when you adopt.  If you don’t take responsibility for the bad along with the good you are part of the problem and we will never overcome the need for shelters.  Be realistic in your expectations when you see that cute little puppy or kitten and understand they go through a very destructive stage before they become the greatest love of your life, but once they get there you are given the greatest unconditional love you will ever experience.  If replacing carpet isn’t a small price to pay for years of unconditional love and devotion I don’t know what is.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

Will we ever love the shelter animals as they should be?

July 4, 2009

I was sent a poem by Judith Lohinski titled “Will Somebody Love Me” about abandoned animals and shelter volunteers, and I thought it was thought provoking and worth sharing:

What have I done wrong? Why am I here?
I’ve lived my short life knowing nothing but fear.
I asked very little and tried to be good
But a kick; then a car left me lying in blood
Cradled in her arms on the day I arrived
I thought I was dying but she helped me survive.

She must be an angel sent down from above
To take us all in and treat us so good.
I see her each day looking tired and worn
With another like me in her arms, so forlorn.
Two meals a day is what I get fed
and, if I get lucky, a pat on the head.
Oh, I’m not complaining, it’s more than I’ve had
But not to be wanted, then, I must have been bad.
I greeted each day with a wag and a lick
So tell me, why was it, he needed to kick?
Someone is out there, I know, just for me.
Oh, why won’t they come, I’ll be loyal, you’ll see.
We all have a story that sounds quite the same
Some were abandoned, and some have felt pain.
Still we put trust in the humans around.
There’s kindness in here, and we feel safe and sound.
Strangers come in, they stare and are sad.
I’d shout if I could “I’m a great dog to have!”
Just give me a look; a few kind words will do,
Rub my nose, scratch my ears, we have feelings too.
I think I’m quite handsome, despite my bent leg.
And I’m all skin and bone, because the lady had said.
I know that I’m lucky, I’m here and survived,
But for some it’s too late, it reflects in their eyes.
So on reading this, come look and see
You might be the one who’s just waiting for me.

If you are unable to adopt a new best friend from the shelter at this time please support events that support the shelter.  On July 12th the Wellhungarians are putting on a concert at the Water Street Bar and Grill on the Kaskaskia River in Evansville, IL, and the ticket sales will benefit the Randolph County Humane Society.  Tickets are $5 per person and available at the door, a small price to pay for a wonderful afternoon of camaraderie and music on a summer afternoon on the river that will do so much to benefit the animals that have no one.  The concert starts at 2 pm, so call your friends and make a point of doing something for the animals while having a rip-roaring good time in the process.  And when you have a moment to spare, stop in the shelter and visit with the animals that have found their way there for whatever reason.  You may find that your newest best friend is waiting for you but unless you make the effort you’ll never know.  How sad to miss out on years of love and companionship because you failed to make the effort.   It doesn’t have to be that way.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

Dogs and Cats and Perfect Harmony

June 27, 2009

Ever since the heat wave struck my husband has been spending more time indoors than usual.  Tim got down on the floor to play with Budward, something he tries to do every day because we’re painfully aware that our time together is limited and we must make the most of every moment we still have.  Almost as soon as he’s settled in Jack realizes someone besides him is getting attention so he slithers in between Budward and Tim as if Tim won’t notice that suddenly there is a different dog under his hand.  But almost immediately after that here comes Booger, the dog spirit that inhabits a cat body, sliding his tiny body in-between Jack and Tim, doing to Jack the very thing Jack was doing to Budward.  Jack gets a little bent out of shape that Booger is usurping the place he just stole from Budward so I decided the best course of action is to let Jack outside to chase squirrels in the yard.  As I’m closing the door behind Jackson I hear brrrump brrrump brrrump as the cat comes flying from the living room, around the door jamb into the office, going 90 mph while almost misjudging the storm door that is closing before his very eyes.  Booger can’t stand the thought that Jack, his very best friend, is outside chasing squirrels without him.  I’ve never seen anything like it before and wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t live it.  I swear if we took Booger for a ride in the truck he would either be standing with his hind legs on the seat with his front paws on the dash while checking out the oncoming traffic or standing on the arm rest with his nose out the window.  I know it sounds far fetched but so has everything else we’ve lived since Booger became part of the household.  He likes to sit on the armrest of my recliner and pet the dogs as they come past.  He never puts his claws out but sticks his paw out in time to make full body length contact as the dogs head into the living room to take their proper resting places on the various couches and chairs.  According to a paper by Prof. Terkel, Tel Aviv University (2008, September 9 Dogs and Cats Can Live In Perfect Harmony In The Home, If Introduced The Right Way), in the first research ever done on this subject, when different species live together 25% of the homes reported indifference, 10% reported aggression and fighting while in the remaining homes the relationship consisted of a cat/dog detente.  Prof. Terkel observed a surprising behavior.  “We found that cats and dogs are learning how to talk each other’s language.  It was a surprise that cats can learn to talk ‘Dog’ and vice versa.  What’s especially interesting, Prof. Terkel remarks, is that both cats and dogs have appeared to evolve beyond their instincts.”  Our home falls into the 65% where the animals have learned to live together in harmony and although this is something I never thought I would say now is the time to enjoy both cats and dogs in your menagerie, so go ahead and take the chance on being one of the 90% that live without aggression and fighting.  You won’t be disappointed and you may find, as we have, that your life is enriched in ways you never imagined while enjoying laughter that takes your breath away while streaming tears down your face.  You can find another species to begin your personal experiment in détente right now at the Randolph County Humane Society.  Kittens are overabundant at this time of year so if your dog seems lonely because you’re too busy with work to spend much time at home this may be an answer to your prayers.  Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone and make that call to a shelter today.  Who knows, maybe if enough take the leap people will also learn to get along and we may all learn to live in peace and harmony.  Miracles can happen.  I’ve seen it with my own two eyes, and so can you.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

A dog in cat clothing

June 19, 2009

Our newest experiment in household living with three high prey dogs and a house cat has been interesting, to say the least.  We are now convinced that we adopted a dog in cat’s clothing because Booger acts more like a dog than a lot of dogs I come across.  He settled right in, and I mean that as literally as I can.  When Action Jackson lays down for a well deserved nap Booger snuggles up in the crook of his legs to get as close to him as possible.  And for some unknown reason Puppy seems to think it’s okay, thankfully.  Booger herds Jack through the kitchen when he thinks he’s on his way to the utility room where the cat food and cat box is kept, and Jack barks at Booger to keep him off the kitchen counters.  They each have a pretty good idea of what is acceptable behavior and make sure the other doesn’t cross that line.  Booger lines up at the door to go outside with the bubs, and once outside he runs the fence line, checking out his domain just as his housemates have done every day of their lives.  Then he comes back to the deck and lays next to Jackson, their heads slowly moving side to side while they survey their domain to insure all is well.  They look like bookends; very different bookends, but bookends none the less.  Our barn cats are living the high life, stalking bugs and pouncing unsuspecting barn mates.  They don’t seem to have any interest in the mice, however, their sole purpose in coming to the farm.  But we don’t think it will matter in the bigger picture because we found out our chickens are great mousers.  After my husband disturbed numerous mice nests while moving hay bales out of the barn the chickens were on it like they were born to the task.  Life never quite turns out how I expect it to and yet all of my needs are met, just not in the manner I anticipate.  However, that makes life interesting because you never know what to expect and every day is an adventure.  I have always told my children and all who enter that our home is an oasis of love in a world where turmoil reigns, and that is borne out with the almost explicit understanding between the animals that enter our doors that we all work together and get along within these walls, even when that behavior isn’t the norm between species.  It still never ceases to amaze me when I see the cat and dogs cuddle up for a nap, acting as if they’d been together their whole lives.  Amazing things can happen if you open your heart and allow life to enter.  If you have an animal and would like to bring another one into the fold but you’re unsure how it will work, the humane society will work with you in finding a new friend that will fit the bill and then allow you to give it a try before you make your final decision on adoption.  When you see your dogs accept their mortal enemy, a cat, into the fold of their life and love it gives you the confidence and understanding that we can also have this in all areas of our lives if we work at it, just as they do, and make it happen rather than allow the status quo to remain.  There are many, many life lessons we can learn from our animals.  I have seen courtesy and cooperation at work in ways I never imagined when we first allowed Booger into our home.  Add the laughter and joy they add to your days and I don’t understand why anyone would be without a household of pets to help them navigate through life.  If you decide it is time for you to open yourself up to life lessons of the four legged variety there are many teachers waiting for you at this very moment at the Randolph County Humane Society and shelters across the country.  And never forget, it is only through you that the RCHS is able to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

Don’t take chances with pets and summertime heat

June 13, 2009

The hot weather has arrived and I felt it was important to remind us all of the dangers our pets face when the temperature rises.  My husband worked with a guy whose daughter-in-law stopped by their house when the air temperature was 105 degrees in the shade.  Like us, she has a hard time saying no to the dogs that think the best treat ever is a ride in the car.  She was only going to be in the house for 15 minutes so she left the car running with the air conditioning on, stepping outside every so often to listen to insure the motor was running.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to save her three beloved pets.  Something happened to the air conditioner and even though the car was running the air conditioner wasn’t producing cold air and within that 15 minute period that she was in the house the heat buildup in the car killed the dogs.  She is inconsolable to this day over the loss of her beloved pets and the lesson here for the rest of us is that it just isn’t worth the price you may pay to take your pets with you when go out during extreme weather.  Even sunny and 70 is too hot to leave your animals in the car.  The Humane Society of the US has some tips for us, and it’s in our best interest to follow their advice because once tragedy happens you can’t undo it, so prevention is the best course of action.

The HSUS offers these tips for pet owners to keep their furry friends safe this summer:

Never Leave Your Pet in the Car

In nice weather you may be tempted to take your pet with you in the car while you travel or do errands. But during warm weather, the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if you’re parked in the shade. This can mean real trouble for your companion animals left in the car.  Dogs and cats can’t perspire and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. Pets who are left in hot cars even briefly can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and can even die. Don’t think that just because you’ll be gone “just a minute” that your pet will be safe while you’re gone; even an air-conditioned car with the motor off isn’t healthy for your pet.  To avoid any chance that your pet will succumb to the heat of a car this summer, be sure to play it safe by leaving your pet cool and refreshed at home while you’re on the road. And if you do happen to see a pet in a car alone during the hot summer months, alert the management of the store where the car is parked. If the owner does not return promptly, call local animal control or the police department immediately.

Don’t Put Your Pet In the Back of a Truck

It is very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injury, but a dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

Watch Out For Fertilizers and Deadly Plants

Summer is often a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. But beware: Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them. In addition, more than 700 plants can produce physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.

Stay Bite-Free

With people and dogs spending more time outside, dog bites are likely to increase in the summer months. Spaying or neutering your dog reduces the likelihood that he will bite and provides many other health benefits.

Pet Care 101

Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar and identification tag. If you are separated from your pet, an ID tag may very well be his or her ticket home.  Keep your pets on their monthly heartworm prevention medication. Heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal in both dogs and cats. Another summertime threat is fleas and ticks. Use only flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Some over-the-counter flea and tick products can be toxic, even when used according to instructions.

Water Wisdom

Pets and pools can equal disaster. Prevent free access to pools and always supervise a pet in a pool. Provide plenty of water and shade for your pets while they’re enjoying the great outdoors so they can stay cool.

Travel Tips

If you plan on traveling with your pet during the summer, take the time to prepare for your furry friends in advance. Many airlines have summer pet embargoes, and most trains and ships do not allow pets other than service animals. The HSUS has information on traveling with your pet that may make the difference between a pleasant trip and a vacation nightmare.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat…

Pets need exercise even when it is hot, but extra care needs to be taken with older dogs, short-nosed dogs, and those with thick coats. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws. Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips. Pets with light-colored noses or light-colored fur on their ears are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer.  Your pet can suffer from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These conditions are very serious and could cause your pet to die. You should be aware of the signs of heat stress, which could include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue.  If your pet does become overheated, you need to immediately lower his body temperature. Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water over his body to gradually lower his core body temperature. Apply cold towels or ice packs to your pet’s head, neck, and chest only. Let your pet drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. Most importantly, get him to a veterinarian immediately.

Play It Safe on the 4th

Don’t take your pets to crowded summer events such as concerts or fairs. The loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat, can be stressful and dangerous for pets. For your pet’s well being, leave her at home. Be especially aware of these threats during holidays, such as the Fourth of July.

Keeping our pets safe must remain first and foremost in our thoughts because the consequences of not taking care of business is the difference between life and death.  If you see someone that is not taking care of their animals and the animals are suffering, please contact your local animal control office or the humane society.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

Every day is a new day with kittens in your life

June 6, 2009

During our first week after the return of the big (relatively speaking) cat to the fold, we’ve had many memorable moments but none so surprising as the fact that he is now our house cat.  The three kittens are perfectly happy playing together, rolling around like they don’t have a care in the world.  And I guess in the bigger picture of things they don’t have a care in the world and are extraordinarily lucky to have a bowl of food at their disposal, proper veterinary care, and a shelter that keeps them safe and comfortable.  They even managed to uproot a nest of hours old mice.  But Booger, the big cat, seemed to have a little more difficulty making the cut to official mouser of the big barn, the same place where all those scary chickens hang out all day.  He’s been very vocal in his displeasure, but we were at a loss as to what he wanted until today.  And now we know.  Booger was a house cat before coming to us.   After my husband brought him into the house today Booger got up into my arms and hasn’t gotten down until I put him in the chair so I could write.  We brought in the cat box and he immediately went in and used it like he’d been waiting for weeks not to have to degrade himself by doing his business in the yard.  I really didn’t think the three inside dogs would ever be comfortable with a feline companion, but so far things are working well.  Jack needed a couple of squirts with the water bottle but considering the first thing Booger did was climb over Jack and jump up into bed with me for a nap I thought Puppy took it quite well.  Budward’s bottom jaw goes 90 miles per hour like he’s trying to tell me of his extreme displeasure at having another animal in the house, and a cat no less.  Dogs are one thing, but a cat?  Girlie Sue hasn’t looked in his direction yet.  Apparently in her world what she doesn’t see doesn’t exist.  Right now he’s lying on the arm of my chair, pulsing my hand with his paws as I attempt to type.  He missed out on getting a good name.  They were going to be Thomasin and Senor Doncato but after he ran away the kittens got those names plus an extra for Black Bart because we had to adopt two more to keep Thomasin company.  But I guess it worked out for the best since the kittens spend their days in the joy filled play of childhood.  Booger is older and more mature, and he thinks he should be the only pet of the house.  We did everything wrong in introducing the animals so I looked it up so I could tell all of you how to do it correctly if you should ever have the same occasion arise.  According NARFrescue.org,:

  1. Keep your dog confined until the cat feels secure in his new home.
  2. Introduce them indoors with the dog under control on a leash.
  3. Do not allow the dog to chase or corner the cat, even out of playfulness or curiosity.
  4. Supervise them carefully and don’t tolerate any aggressive behavior from your dog.
  5. The cat should have a safe retreat, either up high or in a room inaccessible to the dog. An adult cat may swat a dog to set limits.
  6. Allow your animals to accept one another in their own time and don’t leave them alone together until this is accomplished.
  7. Never push them toward each other or force interaction. Many cats and dogs become companions and playmates while others simply tolerate each other.
  8. Be sure to give your dog lots of extra attention to avoid jealous reactions.

Well, I guess I’ve devoted enough time to finding out how I should be doing things and I need to get around to actually doing them.  I think there are three bubs that need a lot of lovin’ so they know this new upstart isn’t going to take anything away from them but will in fact enhance our lives.  It seems like the more love we have the more we have to give away, and our lives are enriched by the unconditional love of the animals that surround us and share our existence.  And if you’d like to experience the joy we have in our lives make a visit to the Randolph County Humane Society where there’s plenty to go around.  And never forget, it is only through you that they continue to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

Living life in a Disney movie

May 31, 2009

Ever since our move to God’s country our plot of land has steadily become a working hobby farm.  I believe “hobby” is a misnomer though because nobody would work this hard at a hobby, and the word “hobby” makes you believe this is anything but the lifestyle change we have dreamed of and finally made happen through years of planning and a whole lot of work.  After O’Fallon grew by 41 subdivisions over 10 years without a like increase in infrastructure to take care of the additional families, we couldn’t take it anymore and knew it was time to make our move.  As blessing sometimes happen in life, the most beautiful 25 acre property I’ve ever laid eyes on came available at the very moment we were ready to make our move.  It only had one small problem, it didn’t come with a house but it did have an old dirt floor pole barn and an 8’ X 12’ wooden storage building, so we purchased a 5th wheel as temporary housing and made our move.  After a few visits to town to do laundry we decided to run water to the storage building and put our washer and dryer back into use because there wasn’t room in the 5th wheel to hold all the dirty clothes generated during the 105 degree heat wave that happened the entire month after we made our move.  The building was full of mouse poop but after a lot of elbow grease it was finally clean, right up until the next morning.  I noticed immediately there is a difference between city mice and country mice, bringing me to my first moments of understanding that we all live in a Walt Disney cartoon if we take the time to really look at our surroundings.  Every time I took a load of clothes and my magazine to do laundry the mice would sit on the rafters and watch me, as entranced with my actions as I was with theirs.  I decided to name our laundry facility the Mouse House.  A snake made his hole at the front leg of the Mouse House, patiently waiting for whatever delectable meal happened to come his way, and from the sheer number of mouse turds that appeared every morning there was no shortage of dinners available.  Throughout our three years the sheer numbers of mice have continued to be a problem but with our animals we did not want to use poisons to control the population, but when one dismantled the 4-wheeler seat from the bottom up my husband finally had enough and said it was time to add a barn cat to the mix.  In the years since we moved in the old pole barn has gone through numerous incarnations depending on the immediate need, but with the addition of a new pole barn it finally settled into a workshop/storage/cooler building and could comfortably house a cat, and since my husband spends every day working in the barn the cat would probably see more of him than the rest of us.  We went to the humane society and brought two males home, one a young adult and the other an older kitten.  I wanted to insure the cats would understand that in the farm hierarchy the chickens are important and to be protected, so I took the crates into the big barn where the chickens spend their days pecking around when they’re not out in the garden.  I put the food and water bowl in front of the crates, then spent a good hour telling the cats what their farm lives would be and how much fun they would have being part of our bigger family.  When I felt they had calmed down enough I opened the crates, and to my surprise they ran out of the barn so fast I almost didn’t see which direction they went except I figured it was towards the door.  After a couple of hours I found the kitten but the older guy was no where to be found.  We looked and looked, called and looked some more.  In the meantime the kitten settled into his new life as Thomasin, barn cat.  He’s very friendly and just what the doctor ordered, a new love monkey to share our lives.  But it soon became obvious that Thomasin needed more in his life than an occasional house mate dropping by to play so after days of not seeing the big cat we went back to the shelter and adopted two more male kittens, Black Bart and Senor Delcato.  The three kittens settled into play time in their huge play room, running to give us kisses and love every time we walked into the barn.  Life was perfect.   Right up until I looked out the front window last night and there was the big cat sitting on the front porch, looking at me as if to say “I give up and want to be your cat now.”  I walked out with a bowl of cat food and he hasn’t left since, deciding those scary chickens are well worth the price of having a full bowl of food at your disposal.  So we are now a family of four male cats, three dogs, eighteen chickens, one rooster, two steers and a pregnant cow.  And it just doesn’t get any better than this.  We just hope one of the four cats will be a mouser, but if not that’s okay also because they are just too much fun to have around to limit their worth to the work they do.  The joy they bring to our tired souls is worth more than a 4-wheeler seat any day.  If you are ready to bring laughter and joy into your life with a minimum of work involved, think about adopting a cat, especially a house cat but barn cats are good also.  As with our other four legged friends you will be rewarded with a smile so big your jaws will hurt from their antics and you’re doing a good deed at the same time by offering a poor soul that has no one a home where they can be cherished as they should be in a perfect world where there are no shelters.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

Enjoy them while we have them

May 23, 2009

Action Jackson, the half-starved shelter puppy we adopted last year from the high kill shelter, has made the leap from Shelter dog to farm dog like he was born for this life.  He has a gravelly voice that could easily be misunderstood as aggressive if you didn’t know this is his sweet voice.  My husband calls him Joe Grumblebub because he sounds like he’s complaining the entire time he’s giving him kisses.  When we lived in the city, our king shepherd that crossed the rainbow bridge used to howl at police and fire whistles while Budward howled at train whistles.  Once we moved to the country we thought we would never again hear the sweet howl of a bub but we were wrong.  Lately Jack has taken up howling at the end music of the TV shows Sex in the City and Two and A Half Men.  Except his howls don’t sound like the howls I remember from the past, his howls sound like he spent too much time at the tavern smoking too many cigarettes, a sound I vaguely remember from my many years past.  In the evening we like to turn the TV timer on with the comedies playing as we fall asleep, yet there we are with our heads bobbing like prairie dogs as the music begins so we don’t miss anything because it is just too funny to not enjoy.  There’s something about the sound he makes coming out of the little “ooooo” of lips you only see during a canine howl that is as addictive as anything I’ve ever experienced.  Now when we have friends over we change channels on the TV just so they can enjoy the spectacle normally there for our enjoyment only.  You remember the dread you feel when people get out home movies of their vacation?  That’s us about our dogs.  Not our kids and grandkids, although they have their day also, but mostly it’s the bubs.  Budward, our crippled husky-mix, can no longer go down the three steps into the dog yard so we have a sling that goes around his belly to help him.  As he navigates through the house looking more like a drunken sailor than the fine specimen of dog he is he sometimes leaves little presents in his wake.  Years ago I worked with a guy whose wife worked for the Eukanuba, a rather pricey brand of dog food.  I asked him what made the difference in price worth paying and he said it’s because the food has the right amount of fiber that leaves neat little packages rather than large messy ones, a distinct advantage at this stage of life.  Some things are worth paying for, and firm, compact packages out of a 100 pound dog are one of them.  He still insists on drinking only toilet water out of the guest bathroom toilet, the one that has the very slow leak so it’s always full of fresh, cold well water.  I tried substituting water from the sink faucet but there was no fooling him.  Whenever I fill his bowl he keeps an eye on me to insure I’m hand dipping from the toilet and not cheating him out of the special nectar that only toilet water provides.  I know we’re getting to the end of time we have together so it’s a small price to pay for his companionship.  Last week I spent three days in the hospital, leaving my husband to perform the tasks that I take care of.  I guess Budward wasn’t sure he could be trusted because as Tim turned around with a fresh bowl of toilet water there was Budward, leaning so far over he looked as if he would topple over any second, making sure Tim was dipping from the toilet bowl.  It’s funny when even your animals are looking over your shoulder to be sure you are performing tasks to their specifications.  As it is with everything in life worth having, nothing is easy but the payback is enormous.  Girlie Sue is our sweet, deaf girl that gives us no trouble at all.  I don’t know whether male dogs are more gregarious by nature or if Girlie Sue is just especially sweet, but it seems as if my stories are all about the males.  She spends her days quietly trying to please, right up until an unwanted critter gets into the yard and she turns into Girlie Sue, warrior princess, while the boys sit back and watch. She still takes care of business, insuring the area around the house is free from harm’s way.  Girlie Sue and Budward are old for big dogs, and their time with us is short.  We take special care to insure quality of their lives is good and that every day they play, have fun and take joy in their existence.  When that no longer happens it will be time for us to put aside our selfishness but the decision is difficult with much second guessing.  The Veterinary Medicine Guide offers these suggestions for when it is time to say goodbye to an old or terminally ill pet:

  1. Is my pet enjoying the activities that s/he used to? Eating, walking, playing, interested when you leave or come home?
  2. Is my pet able to eat and drink? If my pet needs to be assisted, is my pet getting adequate fluid and nutrition?
  3. Is my pet able to urinate and defecate ok?
  4. Is my pet in pain often? Is pain adequately controlled with medication?
  5. Is my pet part of the family, or alone most of the time?
  6. Does my pet now become stressed or afraid when left alone?
  7. Does my pet continue to recognize me?
  8. Does my pet seem to enjoy interaction with other pets and family members?

It will never be easy, but after all the years of joy they give us the least we can do is insure they don’t suffer at the end.  Then we start the cycle all over again, opening our hearts to another even though we don’t think anything will fill the void we feel from our loss.  The heart has an amazing capacity to love, and when your new friend comes into your life it completes the circle as we begin the cycle anew.  If you are ready to bring a love monkey into your life to help fill the void that seems to permeate the world we live in please visit your local shelter.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

Dogs and children and such

May 15, 2009

While watching the news about the 3 year old Missouri boy that had disappeared into the deep woods one recent rainy afternoon, one news station mentioned that the rescuer that found Joshua noticed two dogs in the woods in an area he thought unusual to see dogs. When he checked them out he found the boy that had been missing three long, rainy days. The same boy that if not found soon would certainly not survive the wilderness he was lost in. What I found most interesting about this is that the dogs did not belong to Joshua or anyone in his family or any of the many rescuers scouring the woods. They were shelter dogs that belonged to a woman that lived in the area. Apparently the dogs found Joshua while playing in the woods and stayed with him. There is no doubt in my mind that without those dogs to keep him warm and protected in an area inundated with coyotes and bobcats the story would have had a very different ending. There is a special bond that happens between animals and children. I believe it is because children have the generosity of spirit that allows them to accept the love pets have for them unconditionally without obligations and time constraints getting in the way. A child would never worry about whether or not dinner is on the table when they’re caught up in a moment of play with their very best four legged friend. When I think of saving shelter dogs my first thought has always been that it is the adults of the world that offer the caring and support the animals that have no one need, but I am beginning to change my thoughts on this. Since writing Tail Talk I am confronted with story after story of kids that give up everything in order to help the animals that have nothing. Again this week it happened. The National Honor Society of the Sparta, IL High School spearheaded a school wide bake sale to generate money to purchase dog and cat food and treats for the Randolph County Humane Society. The school’s SKILLS USA Industrial Arts club built a beautiful dog house and donated it to the cause. Speaking with the Sparta National Honor Society moderator, Connie Frederking, she said every year the kids decide on a need they are going to address and the RCHS was the lucky recipient this year of their goodness. She said the program was so popular this year with teachers and students alike that they are considering honoring the RCHS in future fundraising events. Jeanne Fithian, V-President of the Randolph County Humane Society, mentioned the entire Sociology class of Sparta High School, in addition to individual students, volunteer to walk the dogs for the shelter three days per week. This is just one school. If every school was involved in helping the least of them among us, the shelter dogs that have no one, think of the mountains that could be moved. The kids of this world certainly have the capacity to work miracles. The dogs they help save are adopted out into families, just waiting for the day when they get to be the savior of a little three year old boy, lost in the woods in the rain, or the mother suffering from post-partum depression that believes suicide is the answer. You never know whose life you’ll save when you help in the rescue of a shelter dog. But never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

The life I saved was my own

May 6, 2009

Last week I wrote about our great sense of loss in having to return Vinson to the shelter, and in particular about my grief over my promise to give him a forever home that I was not able to keep. There are people out there that wonder about statements like that and why someone would feel this way towards an animal. I was raised with pets my entire lifetime. I don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t have a dog to share my life, and I remember many, many times growing up when the only understanding and acceptance I felt came from my four legged furry friend. That’s not to say there weren’t people there that tried, but they were there with words like “oh it’s just in your mind” and “you shouldn’t feel that way” among others. My dog, on the other hand, was satisfied to lay next to me, watching me, waiting for me to talk while always letting me know they would be there no matter how horrible the situation I was dealing with. That comfort and compassion has lasted through to my adulthood, bringing me to my story about my very first shelter dog. After my first husband (you’ll understand in a moment why he’s no longer in my life) and I were married we took our wedding money and went out to purchase items necessary to our daily living. But after walking past a pet store we came home with an 8 week old female Cocker Spaniel instead. Then we purchased a male with the grand idea we would raise puppies. Great idea except our puppies were ready to go around the first of September, the same time everyone was broke from buying school supplies for the year. I finally called around to the pet shops in St. Louis and found one that was willing to purchase our puppies. Fast forward a couple of years and on the evening news I see that they’re closing down the pet store we sold our puppies to because they were a puppy mill, and in the arms of a reporter was the most beautiful cocker spaniel and I knew immediately that was one of our puppies. I applied for and was approved for her adoption through the Humane Society. During the years between we had three children, all boys, the oldest and twins that were born 18 months later. After the birth of the twins I began to suffer from post-partum depression, something that was unheard of 34 years ago. It was the most horrible time of my life and I knew I needed help, even asking for it repeatedly, only to be told to just buck it up. As my depression got worse our lives suffered dramatically until the tipping point when I began to save dirty diapers, an unimaginable mess with three babies going through at least six diaper changes daily. But it was finally enough that my mother took me to the hospital and I was admitted to the psychiatric ward for a three week “vacation.” It was the best thing that ever happened to me, and after three weeks of therapy and medication I was ready to come home and greet the challenges that I thought would be waiting for me. But upon my return home I found my babies preferred to be with my parents’ and my husband had started an affair with my best friend. During my three weeks away my world fell apart. While I had the tools to overcome these obstacles it was too much for me to handle all at once, and I decided the world would be a better place if I wasn’t a part of it. My kids preferred being with my folks, my husband preferred my “best” friend, and my best friend was no longer someone I could talk to about what was happening in my life. I had lost it all. I had a brand new prescription of antidepressants sitting on the night stand and I got out a pen and paper to write a letter to my children to explain to them why their mother had decided to kill herself. While lying on the bed, crying, composing the letter in my head before putting it to paper, my shelter dog jumped up on the bed and licked the tears from my face. At that moment I knew I couldn’t die because I knew there was no one that could love that dog like I could, and with everything she had been through I knew I had to live to take care of her no matter what my new life would be like. I got up from my bed with a new conviction to do whatever it took to get better and make the best life I could for myself, my children and my pets. If it hadn’t been for that shelter dog I would not be here today. There is never a day that goes by that I don’t remember that it is through the unconditional love of an animal that I am here to share the blessings of life with my family and friends, and now all of you. I know the rewards of adopting a shelter dog better than most, but I feel that all of our pets make that kind of impact in our lives every day. We may not realize that they are there to help us through life and death situations but they are, and there will never be a time when I will be without the love and companionship of a pet because I know my life depends on it. If you don’t have this generosity of spirit guiding your daily lives there are shelter dogs waiting to help you through the very worst of times at this very moment at the Randolph County Humane Society and other shelters in your area. Don’t delay in bringing this love into your home because your life or that of a family member may be saved through their unconditional love, just as mine was. If you are unable to adopt at this time then think about making a donation in appreciation of all that your pets do for you and your family on a daily basis. And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

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Posted by tailtalk

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