Ace of Spades Pet Thread, October 17

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Good afternoon and welcome to the almost world famous Ace of Spades Pet Thread. Thanks for stopping by. Kick back and enjoy the world of animals.

Would you like a treat?

Let's relax a little with the animals and leave the world of politics and current events outside today.

But as you are savoring your treat, wash your hands if you have been handling a pet turtle with a shell under four inches in length. The CDC reported an outbreak of salmonella in August.

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Can you protect the frogs above from these owls?

I’ve said it before, Owls operate on Cat software. Go ahead and try to prove me wrong! I double dare you! https://t.co/iS6uulSmGB
— Trucker Dan (@TruckerDanUSA) October 15, 2026

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Husky pup meets kitty for the first time https://t.co/ecP9obJANP
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) October 15, 2026

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A newly emerged butterfly from the genus Morpho tests its wings
📹butterfly.eden https://t.co/Nzw5iRtDBy
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) October 17, 2026

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Meet The PetMorons

This is Coco, our new 5 month old. She was just adopted from the rescue shelter on Sunday. We’ve gradually introduced her to new things: first puppy chow, then walks. Today was her introduction to baths…..

The information on this adorable puppy was sent in from a mysterious member of The Horde to Misanthropic Humanitarian. Maybe we'll learn who owns Coco sometime today.

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Oblio has appeared in the pet thread previously. I found bloody urine next to her litter box Thursday morning. Not good. Trip to the vet. In addition to the chronic kidney disease she has suffered for about a decade and the thyroid problems with which she was diagnosed earlier this year, it looked like she had a carcinoma in her GI tract. Time to let her go. She was 19 years old, remarkable for a cat, never mind one with kidney disease.
She went to sleep in my lap, tail lazily swishing, just as she spent many an afternoon. I miss the fuzz face so much. I don't think I can go through this again.
Butch

So sorry that you have lost wonderful Oblio. I found an older photo that you had sent in of her relaxing on a blanket. Please stay in touch.

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Thank you for sharing your pets and animal photos and stories with us today.

If you would like to send pet and/or animal stories, links, etc. for the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, the address is:

petmorons at protonmail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Until next Saturday, have a great week!

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If you start feeling nostalgic, here a link to last week's Pet Thread, the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, October 10

I closed the comments on that post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

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Question: When is this a positive and when is it a negative?

A 2023 cognitive study conducted by researchers at the University of Helsinki using the "smartDOG" testing methodology evaluated over 1,000 dogs across 13 different breeds.
The Belgian Malinois scored the highest overall, achieving 35 out of 39 possible points. https://t.co/q4gd663O4b
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) October 11, 2026

Posted by: K.T. at 03:02 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Meow!

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 17, 2026 03:06 PM (yEz+x)

2
Pets are better than most people.

Posted by: four seasons at October 17, 2026 03:07 PM (/QHx4)

3 Centaurus Prarie-doggus

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 17, 2026 03:10 PM (l3cgK)

4 So sad about Oblio.

What a sweet kitty. We are so blessed to have our fur friends.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 17, 2026 03:13 PM (yEz+x)

5
* peeks in *
* backs out *

Posted by: That Guy who always says "Nothing will happen." at October 17, 2026 03:16 PM (0sNs1)

6 Belgian Malinois scored the highest overall, achieving 35 out of 39 possible points"

The Shih Tzu, of course, would do none of this, and would be bored in approximately 2.5 seconds.

They're very smart. They just don't care to listen...

Posted by: man at October 17, 2026 03:17 PM (pfXMo)

7 I thought gophertaurs were extinct.

Having to dig a burrow wide enough for those horns lets a lot of predators in.

Posted by: mikeski at October 17, 2026 03:19 PM (VHUov)

8 Gators!

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 17, 2026 03:21 PM (yEz+x)

9 Husky....it's official....annoying at every single age. But, still a wonderful dog.

Posted by: Orson at October 17, 2026 03:22 PM (dIske)

10 Haha UTexas

Florida!

Posted by: one hour sober at October 17, 2026 03:23 PM (J4Dwc)

11 Meow....

Posted by: Puddleglum, drive by meow at October 17, 2026 03:26 PM (sAmhv)

12 Let’s go Hoosiers.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 17, 2026 03:26 PM (yEz+x)

13 So sorry to hear about Oblio.

She looks like she was a very sweet kitty right up until the end.

She left knowing she was loved.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 17, 2026 03:27 PM (FZ29D)

14 Is the top pic a shot of the elusive Jackalope?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 17, 2026 03:29 PM (vBZcw)

15 Texas will be playing in Shreveport bowl game

Posted by: MAC V SOG at October 17, 2026 03:31 PM (P4Pk9)

16 Happy Caturday everyone
As brought up on a previous Pet thread, the animal Hospital in Newtown Pa I worked at is open
Freinds Veterinarian & Specialty Emergency is open now.

Posted by: Skip at October 17, 2026 03:33 PM (Ia/+0)

17 The more I learn about Malenois dogs, the happier I am that I never had one. Two Shelters and a GSD were bad enough.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin at October 17, 2026 03:34 PM (dAnLf)

18 Is the top pic a shot of the elusive Jackalope?
Posted by: Cicero

Steerodog. ( it's a photoshop )

Posted by: weft cut-loop at October 17, 2026 03:37 PM (nEUC6)

19 Oblio is one of a kind.

Posted by: Eromero at October 17, 2026 03:37 PM (VbKQ1)

20 Seen (Scene?) at the MoMe: bunch guys gathered around a computer screen, watching the end of the Ohio State - Indiana game 😂😂😂

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at October 17, 2026 03:39 PM (6d1q1)

21 Would it be too cynical of me to say that malinois video is AI?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 17, 2026 03:41 PM (RIvkX)

22 TiFW

Of course they are!

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 17, 2026 03:45 PM (yEz+x)

23 Got to drag that right foot, my man

Posted by: one hour sober at October 17, 2026 03:49 PM (J4Dwc)

24 Butch,

I'm so sorry about Oblio. She was beautiful and sounds like she had a wonderful life. Sending hugs.

Posted by: Joyenz at October 17, 2026 03:52 PM (2F0/Y)

25 That is one large antlered "Jack-O-Lope..

Posted by: Jackson K. at October 17, 2026 03:56 PM (WoQyw)

26 Buckeyes! Great game.

Posted by: Tuna at October 17, 2026 03:56 PM (lJ0H4)

27 Cute husky and kitty video. The kitten looks like it's thinking, "Who the hell brought this guy here?"

Posted by: Reader at October 17, 2026 03:58 PM (JrHfD)

28 Woof!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at October 17, 2026 03:58 PM (vlv2+)

29 Sorry about Oblio. Long time to have a good friend.

Posted by: Reader at October 17, 2026 03:59 PM (JrHfD)

30 Afternoon, Pet People!

Butch, Oblio knew she was loved. Cats assume it when they are with people they trust. Nineteen years is a wonderful life -- nearly 100 in human terms. You gave her the best life she could have had.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 17, 2026 04:03 PM (wzUl9)

31 @Butch: "I don't think I can go through this again."

Yeah, that's about where I am too. They're wonderful when you have them, but the heartbreak when they go... One can only take so much of that in life.

Beautiful cat, treasure her memory.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at October 17, 2026 04:06 PM (O7YUW)

32 My two furry thugs are well. Stirling has gotten used to his diet, which is really just two small meals a day instead of nearly three (he was stealing a half bowl at each meal from Dagny), and the little Siberienne is doing better on two meals instead of a little over one.

She has been a bit more sociable lately. Maybe in a few more years she'll be a sit-next-to-me cat. I doubt I can hope she'll become a lap cat.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 17, 2026 04:06 PM (wzUl9)

33 Nineteen years is a wonderful life "

Indeed. Our domestic shorthair lived to two weeks shy of his 20th birthday...

Posted by: man at October 17, 2026 04:07 PM (pfXMo)

34 Beautiful pet Morons on the thread today, as always.

So sorry for the loss of Oblio, Butch. I had to put down Harli for this, too.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at October 17, 2026 04:15 PM (w6EFb)

35 @Butch: "I don't think I can go through this again."

After a moment you may be ready to give some more love.

We lost our best buddy, Shade, a chow cross. I said never again, we are too old.

Then I saw Bailey's smiling mug on the local shelter webpage.
A 10yr old great dane/huskie mix that had spent her past 3 years in a 4'x10' cage.

It's now been 4 months, and she is living her best life for as long as it's granted and we love her to pieces for as long as we are blessed with her.

Posted by: old chick at October 17, 2026 04:17 PM (F3Dlr)

36 Bunny the cat is feeling under the weather. Last night she was making some pre-puke sounds, maybe a fur ball, but I didn't think so. She made a face and looked exactly like White Cat.

This morning she didn't eat and was looking uncomfortable in her biscuit station. I wonder if she ate something that disagreed with her, like a lizard.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at October 17, 2026 04:18 PM (w6EFb)

37 Sorry about Bunny the cat, Miley.

Lucy the Fink had her annual check up and bloodwork yesterday. I heard her yelling from the waiting room when they drew her blood. She was not happy.

Hopefully her thyroid, kidneys and liver tests all come back wnl. She’s been very affectionate this morning.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 17, 2026 04:22 PM (pP7rZ)

38 Git along, little prairie dogie.

Posted by: Ken at October 17, 2026 04:30 PM (vxSYT)

39 I'm not sure I'm capable of living without a dog. That said, Piper (the dog, not the commenter) woke us up at 2:00 am to inform us of the moose in the back yard. At top volume. Our favorite mama moose has twin yearlings with her this year--she's a very good mama. They cleaned up the crabapples and the twins went after the raspberry bushes. Mama jumped the temporary fence to check out the dog yard, and Piper objected. Ruby, OTOH, knows enough to shut up and stay out of sight. Some people's dogs...

Posted by: tcn in AK at October 17, 2026 04:31 PM (fOTAm)

40 OT, Mama Publius has an amazing life force. She's still hanging on, but I think we're nearing the end.

Let go, sweet girl. Joy is right around the corner.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at October 17, 2026 04:32 PM (w6EFb)

41 @Butch: "I don't think I can go through this again."
*
After a moment you may be ready to give some more love.

We lost our best buddy, Shade, a chow cross. I said never again, we are too old.

Then I saw Bailey's smiling mug on the local shelter webpage. . . .

Posted by: old chick at October 17, 2026

***
Yes. After losing first Wolf in October of '21 and then Chekov in March of '22, I was not ready for another cat. Nor was I ready to start looking.

My place seemed empty. Then, in June, I *just happened* to be looking at Petfinder, and after seeing no longhair cats locally, set the range to farther afield. There was Stirling or one of his sisters at a shelter in Vicksburg, and . . . the rest you know.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 17, 2026 04:33 PM (wzUl9)

42 I hope Lucy passes her tests with flying colors, nurse.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at October 17, 2026 04:33 PM (w6EFb)

43 I don't want to think of losing my two kittehs anytime soon. They will be 9 years old shortly and doing well but I know time is undefeated.

Posted by: polynikes at October 17, 2026 04:42 PM (KC5Lt)

44 . . . After losing first Wolf in October of '21 and then Chekov in March of '22 . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 17, 2026

***
I hadn't realized. It's been five years this month since big black Wolf passed on. Next spring it'll be five since Chekov D. Siberian trotted off to the Rainbow Bridge.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 17, 2026 04:48 PM (wzUl9)

45 Then, in June, I *just happened* to be looking at Petfinder ... Wolfus Aurelius

The heart tugs ... and what a wonderful gift for the animals waiting for us to find them.

Posted by: old chick at October 17, 2026 04:49 PM (F3Dlr)

46 Miley,
When my father and much more recently my husband were at that stage I retold to them stories of their childhoods. It seemed to comfort them.

It certainly comforted me.

Posted by: Wenda at October 17, 2026 04:53 PM (J5E68)

47 Then, in June, I *just happened* to be looking at Petfinder ... Wolfus Aurelius

The heart tugs ... and what a wonderful gift for the animals waiting for us to find them.
Posted by: old chick at October 17, 2026

***
The kitten who caught my eye looked as if he were posing, standing on all four legs and deliberately challenging someone to like him. The listing said the kitten was the last of the litter. I don't think the pic was of Stirling; the ears and paws were smaller than when I met him in person, and the black fur more tinged with silver. It might have been one of his sisters. But it definitely caught my attention!

Then, in person, he nailed his audition as if he'd been rehearsing for it. That was that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 17, 2026 04:53 PM (wzUl9)

48 She's not really conscious, Wenda, but it certainly couldn't hurt to try.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at October 17, 2026 04:56 PM (w6EFb)

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