Tail Talk

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.