The Ace of Spades Pet Thread, May 7

Good afternoon and welcome to this weekly respite from most of the outside "civilized" world -- the Ace of Spades Pet Thread.

Thanks for stopping by. Kick back and enjoy the world of animals.

Reminder: For current events and politics, the Thread before the Gardening Thread (a couple of threads below) is almost always an Open Thread.

It's Mother's Day Weekend! The photo above comes courtesy of CBD. Misanthropic Humanitarian passed this one along.

Pet Literature

Some cross-over information for fans of both the Pet and Book Threads from Hrothgar:

KT,

I just finished reading "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" by Farley Mowat on Kindle. I am sure you and almost all readers of the Pet Thread would like it. To be fair, I laughed many many times while reading this. I think it is almost the perfect Pet Thread book!

I'll probably be sending this to the Book Thread as well.

Thanks for picking up the Pet Thread, I stand in awe of the august body of COBs that help keep the wheels of the AoS empire turning, even though I know you are probably just in it for the Ace Dental Plan!

Take care, stay safe, and be well!

Regards
Hrothgar

-- This is the day that the Lord hath made,
treat His "present" to you with the respect it deserves!

Thanks, Hrothgar! Our first Pet Book Club book candidate!

From Kevin:

Attached is a photo of our almost ten year old Angus, a ten pound Home Protection Chihuahua. He's a fearless guardian of our 2.4 acre fortified compound in Northern Virginia.

Looks fearless!

Longtime Lurker and never commentor. Love the weekly Pet Moron posts and everything Ace has built here. Finally decided to introduce my buddy.

I always had dogs growing up. Usually multiple Golden Retrievers, but never thought I would have another dog since my wife, 1) Is allergic, and 2) Hates all dogs after being attacked twice when she was younger. However, a few years ago, one of my sons had two major health issues, and all he wanted was a dog. So I started to look at Doodles due to their hypoallergenic qualities.

Since I always had Goldens, I figured I would end up with a Golden Doodle, however they were/are stupid expensive. So a friend introduced me to Aussie Doodles. I was unfamiliar with the breed, but after talking to someone who adopted one from the breeder we got him from, we pulled the trigger and brought him home.

Buster (Not my name choice.) is awesome and has been a great addition to the family. He has made my dog hating wife his biggest fan; to the point that she is considering adopting a rescue. Aussie Doodles tend to be velcro dogs and Buster is the poster child for this. You will never be alone with an Aussie Doodle in your house, even when you really, really want to be.

What a delightful dog!

The second photo looks better than the first one here. Whew! Sometimes being a pet parent has its tough moments.

I'll share a moron pet story. You can refer to me as Wilbur.

So whenever I would hang with my cat, a 16 year old torty named Ebichu (after the hamster), we usually would sit in the same spot every time, and I would usually pet her the same way every time.

But one day, I started petting her ruff on the opposite side as normal and found something disconcerting. It was a solid mass where no solid mass should be, with an irregular shape, and didn't appear to be attached to anything firmly. It was mostly in her fat/skin layer.

Now, it's not the first time I felt something tumor-ish on her. A few times I had felt what turned out to be fatty tumors in the same layer of her coat. But fatty tumors are not hard and irregularly shaped, they are soft squidgy round things. No, this tumor was not a fatty one. The only question for me at the time was how bad this could be.

I got a vet visit at the earliest available. The vet examined her and let me know he felt it was a vaccine sarcoma. A type of tumor that can show up in animals at vaccine sites. Fortunately, it's not a malignant tumor. It doesn't shed little baby tumors that, once big daddy tumor goes away, suddenly sprout up everywhere. But, a sarcoma, my vet said, is still bad as it is invasive. It grows through other structures in the body. And this one was high on her shoulder, less than an inch from her spine.

The vet said there were two courses of action we could take. She's 16 and not too much longer for the game. We could let it continue to grow, and eventually it will be the cause of her death. Or, we could do surgery, which would entail cutting out the tumor and a fairly decent amount of tissue surrounding it, as these tumors will grow back if you leave anything behind. My girl is old, but she's pretty damn spry still, so I definitely wanted to take a chance with surgery and get her the most out of the rest of her life.

I fully expected the surgery to be expensive. I had decided to go for the surgery no matter how much it cost, two or three grand, whatever, all while my vet continued to talk about the procedure and what to expect. And then he came to the point where we had to talk cost. He hemmed and hawed and explained there's the labor costs, the full examination prior to surgery, the costs of anesthesia... yeah, it was gonna be top dollar, I knew it. And then my vet busts out the final cost.

Probably around 300 dollars.

I looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Oh, in that case, we should probably put her down now. How much does that cost?"

After the laugh we scheduled the procedure. It would be a couple weeks. At this point the waiting game began.

Now I was paying lots of attention to her. Coincidentally, my work decided that, unlike the last two years, covid was now dangerous and ejected me from the office I had been working at, every day of the pandemic.

For safety.

Depressing to me as it was, at least I could now watch over Ebichu all day. Well, except for the parts of the day where I would hang out at my local pub maskless sitting shoulder to shoulder with other maskless drunks.

And it was a good thing. I noticed she was eating less and less, and I was worried she was deteriorating in a way that was accelerating in front of my eyes.

She eats tuna. From a can, packed in water, in the mornings. Not the whole can, but it better be at least a third. Thats what she does. If you think otherwise, you get the claws. But she had stopped eating more and more of her tuna every day until she barely ate any of it, other than licking up the juice. It was harder to tell but I was pretty sure she was off her kibble as well, due to the level of it rising over the days, and her never finishing it off by the end of the day. Also, the litter box doesn't tell any lies. It was high on liquids and low on solids. She was not feeling well.

I was contemplating calling up the vet and asking for an accelerated surgery, but was afraid if she truly is going downhill fast that the surgery would be rougher on her. I wanted to try to get her eating and thereby as healthy as possible for the procedure.

I figured if she was still licking up the tuna juice, I'd make it all tuna juice. I started adding more water to the tuna and pureeing it before feeding her the all juice tuna in the morning. It worked great. She lapped that stuff up, finishing off her morning food and that rejuvenated appetite held over for the dry food as well. And the litter box started looking normal.

The day of the surgery, I packed her in her carrier (she wasn't happy) and I handed her over to the vet (I wasn't happy). About cracked when I told her I'd be back later to pick her up. I didn't ask about where I could get her cremated if things went south, but the thought was in my head. I returned home and went to work.

The day drug along. I was in constant contact with her mom, an ex-girlfriend of mine who I told in no uncertain terms when we brought Chu home from the adoption agency that I had paid for her, and she was mine, and while she had mom status the girl was staying with me no matter what. The consensus between us was that the longer we hear nothing from the vet the better. An early call would mean she didn't make it through. I didn't want to hear from them until late afternoon when they said I would be hearing from them.

Later that afternoon I did get a call. She had... passed ...

...with flying colors.

I picked her up and she was rough. They cut my girl open from elbow to spine and scooped her out. In addition, the doc found another small tumor on her leg that he didn't like, so he plucked that out as well, gratis. She was rough. And high af. She tried doing her normal routine, but much much slower, and with lots of blank staring at things. Like the litter box.

The days passed and she continued to improve. And not be so high. Although she had this gigantic incision on her back, she left it alone and it healed up. I went from avoiding the area to gently massaging the scar to actively scratching the area, breaking up and removing scabs.

Today is about two months after her surgery. She's better than she has been in months and months, maybe even years. Going up and down the stairs, coming to hang out on my work desk, pestering me for her tuna if I slept in...

I luckily made the right decision, and the vet did his job well. I've got hopefully many more years with my little girl, and her mom won't drive down from NY to murder me in my sleep. And, to the horde, make sure you make sure to pets all the places on your furry ones and feel for those hard, oddly shaped masses forming on your pets.

What a story! And what devotion to your kitty!

From Jewells:

This is Bacon a 10 year old male pointer mix. He ended up at a shelter because the owners were moving and the apartment complex wouldn't take dogs. As Russell said.. blah blah blah. I think he gets tired of the lame excuses. Bacon is very overweight so no treats. He loves belly rubs and playing with stuffed animals. He's very sweet but his curiosity of the other dogs could be a problem. He won't just sniff a few times and say ok.. we've met. He keeps coming back and annoying any dog we try to introduce him to. So for now.. he's isolated in the back room. We are working with him and hopefully he can be integrated soon.

Bacon looks like a nice guy for the right family. Great work you are doing there at Shep's Place, Jewells!

Hi there!

PaddyBeaner here. Most of the time I just lurk, but I love you people and still miss Oregon Muse. Someday I hope to attend a MoMe. Meanwhile, here's "Pearl." She's our 4-year-old Great Pyrenees. She's a rescue dog, and she manages to look svelte even at somewhere between 85 and 90 pounds. She's gentle with almost everybody but will launch into that resonant bark of hers when Amazon or UPS trucks roll a little too slowly down our street. Pearl's a soulful girl who quickly found a place in our hearts. If she likes you, she'll lean into you.

Not sure why I like this dog so much.

What great PetMorons! Thank you for sharing your pets with us. We have a couple left over for next week, but we will take more.

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 at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Until next Saturday, have a great week!

If you start feeling nostalgic, here a link to last week's Pet Thread, April 30. The comments are closed now so you won't accidentally ban yourself by trying to comment on a week-old thread, but don't try it anyway.

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Pets!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 07, 2022 03:17 PM (+cjrd)

2 Nooded before 1st post.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 07, 2022 03:17 PM (+cjrd)

3 Beautiful pets

Posted by: CN at May 07, 2022 03:18 PM (ONvIw)

4 I think you got off easy on that surgery. Cost twice that to have three of my cat's teeth removed. Happy that everything turned out okay.

Posted by: Notsothoreau - look forward at May 07, 2022 03:21 PM (YynYJ)

5 People without cats or dogs should get some.

Posted by: Eromero at May 07, 2022 03:22 PM (gktX6)

6 Happy Caturday everyone
Monorail cat and kid

Posted by: Skip at May 07, 2022 03:23 PM (2JoB8)

7 Pearl looks quite majestic.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at May 07, 2022 03:26 PM (PoPnB)

8 I think the book sounds great.

Posted by: KT at May 07, 2022 03:27 PM (rrtZS)

9 What a story Wilbur, hopefully will have a few years with Ebichu, our cat Cinnamon lived 19

Posted by: Skip at May 07, 2022 03:27 PM (2JoB8)

10 Oh dear that picture of the kiddo imitating the cat laying on the armrest is so cute I may melt away.

Posted by: PaleRider, Simple Irredeemable at May 07, 2022 03:28 PM (3cGpq)

11 And what is going on in OK with dog packs? There was a video a few weeks ago about a 65 year old man that was mauled by a pack. Today there was one about a woman in her 60s killed by a pack. I don't know if these are in the same part of the state or not.

Posted by: Notsothoreau - look forward at May 07, 2022 03:29 PM (YynYJ)

12 Angus the chihuahua is adorable! Love the name! lol!

Thanks for including Bacon to the thread K.T. We tried some integration Wednesday with another new dog (be still my heart I'm ready to steal this little guy). Bacon just wouldn't leave him alone and new guy finally snapped at him. He'll learn lol!

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 03:30 PM (nxdel)

13 Love the pic of rhe boy and cat up top.

Posted by: t_bodie - Lurker. Unless you are reading this. at May 07, 2022 03:31 PM (OPTvA)

14 Nice Pets Y'all!...

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 07, 2022 03:31 PM (R/m4+)

15 I think you got off easy on that surgery. Cost twice that to have three of my cat's teeth removed. Happy that everything turned out okay.
Posted by: Notsothoreau - look forward

ya shoulda called NGU !

Posted by: JT at May 07, 2022 03:31 PM (arJlL)

16
Thanks, KT for bringing the pets.

Delilah underwent insemination surgery yesterday. We are trying a two-sire litter by implanting frozen semen, one sire's contribution in each horn of the uterus.

One of the owners of the semen has been a prick. He went radio silent when we tried to contact him about our using his boy (who has been dead for 30 years). Then when he surfaced, almost too late, he wanted a stud fee (all right) and then a second identical fee for another straw that could be used for the DNA typing that he really should have done himself.

I'll spare you the rest of the fiasco, which ended up with our having to pay for two overnight shipments of liquid nitrogen dewars, plus the surgery.

Delilah did not react well to the whole process. She's been unhappy about going to the vet to get blood drawn every couple of days. Add to that the pain of the operation and a bad reaction to the anesthesia and we have one sad-sack girl.

Crossing fingers for beautiful babies in a couple of months.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 07, 2022 03:32 PM (/U27+)

17 Wilbur, Conor's recent vet blood test adventures cost more that.
Glad you had a good vet at any price!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 03:33 PM (hOUT3)

18 I love Pearl! She works hard to look svelte. I feel that!

Posted by: Jmel at May 07, 2022 03:34 PM (bVhJi)

19 Enjoyed seeing a neighbor's sun conure on her shoulder outside, really stunning colors, and happy little bird gurgles. Gave her the obligatory cautions about hawks and falcons, told her about the Newcastle bird disease and how "authority" was culling pet birds to protect the poultry industry, how mailmen were ratting out pet owners to animal control. 20 years ago and ii comes back every 20 or so.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at May 07, 2022 03:35 PM (m51hW)

20 Cute photo of the little boy and the dog on the couch and nice pictures of the moron's animals. Thanks for your story about Ebichu. Wilbur. I think that was a pretty inexpensive surgery. The vet sounds like a good, caring one and I hope you and your furry friend can spend more years together. You sound like a good soul.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 07, 2022 03:35 PM (fF2aM)

21 Animal themed books are great. I bought many for the grandsons. We recently read Black Beauty which taught about kind v evil masters.

Posted by: CN at May 07, 2022 03:35 PM (ONvIw)

22 "Not sure why I like this dog so much."

Because she's just a big, fluffy puppy. You can sense the tail wagging.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 07, 2022 03:36 PM (dNqv+)

23 I should have warned potential readers that, as is typical in pet biographies, the last chapter is a real punch in the gut, but it a great read!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 03:38 PM (hOUT3)

24 Wow Ebichu is one awesome kitteh with a great support staff.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 07, 2022 03:40 PM (5Ek1Y)

25 Let me just say: getting rid of a older pet because the apartment complex will not take dogs.

You fail as a Human.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 07, 2022 03:41 PM (dNqv+)

26 Afternoon, Horde...How goes it?

Very nice story about Ebichu. I'm glad things worked out well.

I would totally be up for doing an animal-themed Book Thread one of these days...Would not be hard to do at all.

My own kitties are doing well. I'm still a bit in shock that two of them (Penny and Jasmine) will both be ten years old this year. Where does the time go?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 07, 2022 03:41 PM (K5n5d)

27 I usually go to sleep before the wife and one night Molly (Black dog three) ran in, jumped onto the bed, stretched out beside me and made me rub her belly until she fell asleep. Not sure if it was for her benefit or mine.

Posted by: Mister Scott (formerly GWS) at May 07, 2022 03:42 PM (bVYXr)

28 PaddyBeaner
DaughterH had a rescue Pup, a lovely laid back girl GP, but the "Woof!" From that dog could shake the walls!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 03:44 PM (hOUT3)

29 Our girl Luna has only two faults: she doesn't do well with other dogs and reacts poorly to thunderstorms. (Oddly, she doesn't seem so bad with fireworks.)

After two very bad nights this week due to thunderstorms, I am trying a Thundershirt on her. Today is her second trial run and she's passed out. Hope it works as well during "battle conditions."

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at May 07, 2022 03:44 PM (fTtFy)

30 I didn't read the book, and possibly it wouldn't have punched as hard but the Marley and Me movie ending really got me. They really captured how the older boy knew that Marley was crossing the rainbow bridge.

Posted by: PaleRider, Simple Irredeemable at May 07, 2022 03:44 PM (3cGpq)

31 Happy Saturday, one and all. My pack is currently snoozing, we have a guest who is a half brother of one of my dogs (Greyhound genealogy can be fun to track) and I have nothing going on today.

Posted by: NR Pax at May 07, 2022 03:44 PM (lFQWf)

32 What a great looking group of moronimals.

Bacon reminds me of my Dixie.

Posted by: olddog in mo at May 07, 2022 03:45 PM (ju2Fy)

33 I should get a pet, since I am apparently terrible with and repellent to people.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 03:46 PM (II3Gr)

34 That couch photo is cute. I wonder who's imitating who there?

Wilbur, sorry that your kitty had to go through that ordeal, but glad to hear that she's well and feeling so much better now. And your vet did good work for a bargain price.

Bacon looks like a very sweet boy. I hope he finds a good home with people who will treat him like the treasure that he is. Thank you Jewells for working with him, and making a good boy even better.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer--FJB at May 07, 2022 03:51 PM (k4dH2)

35 Beautiful pets.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 03:51 PM (eGTCV)

36 You should get a pet Insomniac, but you are certainly not terrible with people. And pets aint a cure all for feeling rejected by folks.

Posted by: PaleRider, Simple Irredeemable at May 07, 2022 03:51 PM (3cGpq)

37 Great photos. Love the story about Buster and Angus.

Posted by: Mrs. JTB at May 07, 2022 03:52 PM (7EjX1)

38 I should get a pet, since I am apparently terrible with and repellent to people.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 03:46 PM (II3Gr)

Adopting three cats was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Seriously changed my life for the better. No regrets.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 07, 2022 03:53 PM (K5n5d)

39 Yay petzzzz!

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at May 07, 2022 03:54 PM (kf6Ak)

40 should get a pet, since I am apparently terrible with and repellent to people.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 03:46 PM (II3Gr)

Yes you should get a pet. Since when are you terrible with people?

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 03:54 PM (eGTCV)

41 My pretty white Paisley has been enjoying rolling in the bare patches in the lawn. Oh her poor white coat.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 03:57 PM (eGTCV)

42
Very hot today in Brazoria County. We have a fountain and a birdbath in the garden and they're both in heavy use today by the locals.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 07, 2022 04:00 PM (/U27+)

43 You fail as a Human.

I know right? We hear them all and except for the older people who have to go to a nursing home my scorn knows no bounds for the other asshats.

Sadly Lily and Roscoe did not work out at the memory care center. They were just too active for the staff and patients. So they are back at Shep's. lol.. these 2 goofballs are 10 years old, act like they're puppies.

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:00 PM (nxdel)

44 So glad to see the recommendation of "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be". I can't count the number of times I've read it over fifty years, still laughing every time. It's "Marley and Me" without the pathos.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:01 PM (cTCuP)

45 should get a pet, since I am apparently terrible with and repellent to people.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 03:46 PM (II3Gr)

You are not repellent to us - and the last time I checked - we're people. Yeah, so not much to go on, but there it is.

Good luck with your new goldfish.

Posted by: Boswell at May 07, 2022 04:02 PM (5iUNf)

46 Bacon looks like a very sweet boy. I hope he finds a good home with people who will treat him like the treasure that he is. Thank you Jewells for working with him, and making a good boy even better.

Thank you for the kind words. Jan, our adoption coordinator is tireless in her pursuit of forever homes for these old doggies.

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:02 PM (nxdel)

47 Nice-looking bunch of Moronimals this week. The dog on the cover of Mowat's book looks a lot like my Pogo, who is outside now, barking to keep the hoodoos away.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 07, 2022 04:02 PM (e1yJj)

48 33 I should get a pet, since I am apparently terrible with and repellent to people.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 03:46 PM (II3Gr)

Seriously? Here I've been avoiding recommending that because I figured you'd reject it out of hand.

Start looking.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:03 PM (cTCuP)

49 Good luck with your new goldfish.

lol!!! *gives Insomniac a hug*

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:04 PM (nxdel)

50 Bacon seems like he might be a backseat driver.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 07, 2022 04:04 PM (EZebt)

51 . Thanks for your story about Ebichu. Wilbur. I think that was a pretty inexpensive surgery. The vet sounds like a good, caring one and I hope you and your furry friend can spend more years together. You sound like a good soul.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 07, 2022

***
You did indeed get off pretty inexpensively -- but your return was far greater than the outlay. Ebichu sounds like a tough cat!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 04:04 PM (c6xtn)

52 Very hot today in Brazoria County. We have a fountain and a birdbath in the garden and they're both in heavy use today by the locals.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 07, 2022 04:00 PM (/U27+)

By "locals" I assume you are talking about the neighborhood kids?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 07, 2022 04:04 PM (K5n5d)

53 33 I should get a pet, since I am apparently terrible with and repellent to people.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 03:46 PM (II3Gr)

We enjoyed visiting with you at the 2020 TXMoMe. You didn't repel us even once.

Posted by: Emmie at May 07, 2022 04:05 PM (t62xj)

54 "Wilbur", if you're not a writer you should be.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:06 PM (cTCuP)

55 Critters!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 07, 2022 04:08 PM (u73oe)

56 Whoa! Almost napped through the Pet Thread once again.

But I have a good excuse. We have a new dog, young and active, and she's kind-of worn me out today. Going for a walk first thing in the morning instead of just feeding the cat and having my coffee. Life just changed.

Apparently a dumpee, collar but no tags and no chip. The kids who found her toured the area looking for a possible owner. I fell for her at first face-lick.

Smaller than our old pal Gimli was, German Shepherd and something, with beautiful big perky ears, narrow snout, black in the face with a cute thin white streak from nose to the top of her head. Some white on the chest, and black on the tip of her tail, but mostly just a light brown, which is why I'm thinking about the name Honey. Among other possibilities.

Biggest problem is, the cat, Ony, is in hiding. She'll have to come out sometime. She's lived with lots of cats and dogs before. She'll come around. Or starve. (No, really, it's sad, but I'm sure she'll adjust.)

Pix for next week, if I can get to it.

Now to read the post and comments.

Posted by: mindful webworker - Honey Rosie Baby Littlegirl Streaky Miss Wiggles...? at May 07, 2022 04:09 PM (+Mvzu)

57 Insom, if a French Bulldog doesn't make you laugh at least once a day, then I will agree with your diagnosis!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:09 PM (hOUT3)

58 I should get a pet, since I am apparently terrible with and repellent to people.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 03:46 PM (II3Gr)

A small dog will force you to go outside to walk and not cost a lot to eat. And any dog will love you to bits.
*gives vdoggeh's bottomless stomach the side-eye*

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at May 07, 2022 04:11 PM (kf6Ak)

59 Seeing Jewells' posts has had me thinking about adopting a dog. Babysitting my neighbor's pittie has reminded me why I don't. The house is ankle-deep in mud and drool. And he snores.

Yah, I know. You can get dainty little dogs. Forget it. Nothing less than forty pounds. If you're gonna get a dog, get a DOG. This guy is dog personified.

My remaining cat approves of the decision to remain dogless.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:11 PM (cTCuP)

60 beautiful pets, and the box of chocolates is exactly what I want for mother's day!!!

Posted by: Moki at May 07, 2022 04:11 PM (JrN/x)

61 It cost me more than $300 to try and figure out why my cat is limps occasionally... never figured it out.

Posted by: lin-duh at May 07, 2022 04:11 PM (UUBmN)

62 AOP
as you probably know Mowat is a canuck and the story involves his youth there!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:12 PM (hOUT3)

63 I'm definitely not deserving of Paisley's love but I will receive it anyway.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 04:17 PM (eGTCV)

64 Creeper, I should have known you had good taste in literature.
I hope i did not damage my credibility by posting about a book on the pet thread, it seems so close to crossing the streams!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:18 PM (hOUT3)

65 Cats are weird. I'm in my library playing a computer game. Jasmine and Penny both like to hang out with me on my recliner. Kaylee, on the other hand, prefers to lay outside in the hallway and watch me from there. She doesn't like to climb in my recliner...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 07, 2022 04:18 PM (K5n5d)

66 AOP
as you probably know Mowat is a canuck and the story involves his youth there!
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:12 PM (hOUT3)

Pretty sure i read that book years ago as a yute.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 07, 2022 04:19 PM (e1yJj)

67 Insom, there's a great series of videos on YT by a guy who adopted a lobster from the supermarket. Named it Leon. He's had it for almost a year now and it turned into a surprisingly interesting pet.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:20 PM (cTCuP)

68 I remember reading something Mowat wrote about wolves. I don't remember if I read this doggie book.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 04:21 PM (eGTCV)

69 64 Creeper, I should have known you had good taste in literature.
I hope i did not damage my credibility by posting about a book on the pet thread, it seems so close to crossing the streams!
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:18 PM (hOUT3)

Not to worry. Actually, I was thrilled to see that post. This is one of my top five favorite books, along with "Time is Short and the Water Rises". That one's not about pets but it is about critters, rescued from the rising waters behind a new dam.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:23 PM (cTCuP)

70 Oh! Son just came by with his big ol' Husky, Jarl. Suddenly our dog looked even littler. They got acquainted and then played.

Getting to nose you
Getting to nose all about you
Getting to lick you
Getting to hope you like me...

Posted by: mindful webworker - Honey is a handful at May 07, 2022 04:24 PM (+Mvzu)

71 surprisingly interesting pet.

Well, that's a new one!!

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:24 PM (nxdel)

72 Went to the local gub store today and it had a sign saying "Please do not let Siva outside!"
I entered carefully to meet a simply gorgeous blue Eoropean Great Dane that graciously allowed me to give her ear skritches. I wish I had taken Conor to meet her!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:24 PM (hOUT3)

73 68 I remember reading something Mowat wrote about wolves. I don't remember if I read this doggie book.
Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 04:21 PM (eGTCV)

Never Cry Wolf

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:27 PM (cTCuP)

74 NLU
This is not the wolf book, but your obvious love of Paisley makes me think you would enjoy this book!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:28 PM (hOUT3)

75 A pet lobster? Does it play fetch?

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 04:28 PM (II3Gr)

76 Insom, a dog would help. Hot and cold running Love and devotion, 24 hours a day.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 07, 2022 04:29 PM (dNqv+)

77 Creeper, I will have to look up that rescue book,thanks

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:30 PM (hOUT3)

78 Lucy the cat has been a hellster all week.

Apparently we've had daily earthquakes for the past week plus.

Kitties know these things.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 07, 2022 04:31 PM (U2p+3)

79 A pet lobster? Does it play fetch?

It will go get your drawn butter right before you prepare him for dinner.

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:32 PM (nxdel)

80 Commissar,
How is sweet Conor doing?

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 07, 2022 04:32 PM (U2p+3)

81 Chekov's breeder has pics up of 2 of the 3/26 litter:

https://www.facebook.com/Sibirskiysiberiancats/

One of the brown tabbies and the black torbie. They are starting to look like cats now!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 04:33 PM (c6xtn)

82 A pet lobster? Does it play fetch?
Posted by: Insomniac

I'm rethinking my recommendation for you to get a pet!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:33 PM (hOUT3)

83 Wilbur, I love Ebichu's story! Hugs to both.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at May 07, 2022 04:33 PM (kf6Ak)

84 75 A pet lobster? Does it play fetch?
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 04:28 PM (II3Gr)

Only catch, when the guy drops a shrimp in the tank. Leon's really good, though, about taking out the dishes (empty shells) after he has eaten. He hauls them to the far end of his tank, where he also poops. He has molted once and that was something to see. And he'll play tug-o-war with the food pincers.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:34 PM (cTCuP)

85 It will go get your drawn butter right before you prepare him for dinner.
Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:32 PM (nxdel)

Now that's both incredible devotion and self-loathing at work.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 04:34 PM (II3Gr)

86 *both of you

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at May 07, 2022 04:35 PM (kf6Ak)

87 A pet lobster? Does it play fetch?
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022

***
One nutcase of a French poet -- Baudelaire? -- used to walk the streets of Paris with a lobster on a long ribbon. Must have been a slow walk.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 04:35 PM (c6xtn)

88 . And he'll play tug-o-war with the food pincers.
Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:34 PM (cTCuP)

Fascinating. And really weird.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 04:35 PM (II3Gr)

89 77 Creeper, I will have to look up that rescue book,thanks
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:30 PM (hOUT3)[/i}

You're welcome, Hrothgar. I hope you like it. The author's name is John Walsh but no, not THAT John Walsh.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:36 PM (cTCuP)

90 I picture the pet lobster with a bow tie.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 04:36 PM (eGTCV)

91

Oh, shit.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:36 PM (cTCuP)

92 Phew! Thank you, whoever.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:37 PM (cTCuP)

93 Fascinating. And really weird.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 04:35 PM (II3Gr)

Yes, it sounds like a great idea...until you price saltwater tanks.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:38 PM (cTCuP)

94 Wilbur: Congratulations! I hope Ebichu I continues to demand tuna for many years to come.

It's so hard when they develop issues that late in life. What is best? Taking the risk? What if it's for nothing? What if the pet's quality of life is so low you feel guilty. But if you don't risk it, you may be depriving your pet and yourself a couple more years of love and happiness.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- I wasn't particularly fond of the '70s the first time around at May 07, 2022 04:38 PM (zmUR/)

95 I take that back. I picture a lobster with a wee keg of drawn butter at its neck.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 04:39 PM (eGTCV)

96 Insom, there's a great series of videos on YT by a guy who adopted a lobster from the supermarket. Named it Leon. He's had it for almost a year now and it turned into a surprisingly interesting pet.
Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:20 PM (cTCuP)
---
Homer Simpson did that as well. Then "Pinchy" got dirty while playing and Homer gave him a nice, hot bath! He was delicious!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 07, 2022 04:40 PM (K5n5d)

97 Yes, it sounds like a great idea...until you price saltwater tanks.
Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:38 PM (cTCuP)

There's always the bathtub.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at May 07, 2022 04:40 PM (II3Gr)

98 Nurse, Conor still not quite himself and I'm awaiting more discussions with the vets regarding blood test levels (which are improving but still way out of range). Thinking about getting a second (more like a third) vet opinion!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:40 PM (hOUT3)

99 Dr Zoiberg's genetic line started with an ancestor being turned into a pet.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 04:41 PM (eGTCV)

100 Thinking about getting a second (more like a third) vet opinion!
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:40 PM (hOUT3)

The older I get the more I realize good vets are priceless and all too rare. Kinda like people doctors.

Posted by: creeper at May 07, 2022 04:42 PM (cTCuP)

101 Wolfus
Are not "nutcase" and "French poet" redundant?

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:44 PM (hOUT3)

102 Wolfus, the Siberian kittens look great. That little black one sure has the tortie stare so different from the other two!

Posted by: skywch at May 07, 2022 04:45 PM (uqhmb)

103 100
Is it a job or a calling?

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:46 PM (hOUT3)

104 It's so hard when they develop issues that late in life. What is best? Taking the risk? What if it's for nothing? What if the pet's quality of life is so low you feel guilty. But if you don't risk it, you may be depriving your pet and yourself a couple more years of love and happiness.

Yeah that's a tough one for so many. Our Moose is still healthy but he'll be 9 in November and he has the long body of a dachshund. Daughter said Mom I don't know what I would do if he needs surgery. Many don't have the financial means to help their pets.

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:46 PM (nxdel)

105 I told her.. we consult with the vet. We get their opinion and we just go from there. If he or she says surgery will definitely help then we freaking find a way. Depends on the age too of course. Chiweenies life expectancy is around 12-13 years.

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 07, 2022 04:48 PM (nxdel)

106 It gets really creepy when you wake up and your pet lobster is staring at you an clicking its claws.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 04:52 PM (eGTCV)

107 {{{Jewell}}}

Yes, it is a tough emotional and financial decision.
I'm at the "junker car with Conor" or "newer car without Conor", but it is not an easy choice !

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022 04:55 PM (hOUT3)

108 Insom,
If you're not ready to commit to a pet right now, why not volunteer at a shelter?
Something is better than nothing.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 07, 2022 04:56 PM (U2p+3)

109 Insom,
If you're not ready to commit to a pet right now, why not volunteer at a shelter?
Something is better than nothing.
Posted by: nurse ratched

Yeah; and paint the ceiling !

Posted by: JT at May 07, 2022 04:59 PM (arJlL)

110 Wolfus, the Siberian kittens look great. That little black one sure has the tortie stare so different from the other two!
Posted by: skywch at May 07, 2022

***
I've never had a tortie or torbie (tortoiseshell with tabby markings, or so I understand). They have a "stare"?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 05:00 PM (c6xtn)

111 Wolfus
Are not "nutcase" and "French poet" redundant?
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 07, 2022

***
Baudelaire was always chasing Rimbauds.

(Not my coinage; Dorothy Parker again)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 05:01 PM (c6xtn)

112 Lobsters have a hard time hiding under the floor boards when you turn the lights on.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, oops, I commented again. Sorry, eh. at May 07, 2022 05:01 PM (eGTCV)

113 Lucy is a tuxedo torbie with white feet and little tea stains on a couple toes.

I love her so much.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 07, 2022 05:01 PM (U2p+3)

114 Meant her eyes, not her coat heh. They can stare at you like no other cat, but when they love you, then those eyes will soften with all the love in the world

Posted by: skywch at May 07, 2022 05:02 PM (uqhmb)

115 Lovely group of pets today. I loved the kitty story.

Absolutely in love with Pearl.

Posted by: CaliGirl at May 07, 2022 05:02 PM (oeVy+)

116 Hobby Thread NOOD

Posted by: Skip at May 07, 2022 05:02 PM (2JoB8)

117 Meant her eyes, not her coat heh. They can stare at you like no other cat, but when they love you, then those eyes will soften with all the love in the world
Posted by: skywch at May 07, 2022

***
I love black cats. Their only problem is that they are difficult to photograph well.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 05:05 PM (c6xtn)

118 Put a miniature Krusty Krab restaurant in the lobster tank.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 07, 2022 05:21 PM (63Dwl)

119 Just got a sebacious cyst cut out of Logan, our second (chronologically) Wheaten Terrier. 5-6 inch sutured crater on his rear, but he seems ok and is improving. A bit more expensive than the kitty, but you don't leave your friends hanging, if you can afford it.

Logan was reviously featured on the Pet Thread.

Posted by: West at May 07, 2022 05:33 PM (QY+6a)

120 I love black cats. Their only problem is that they are difficult to photograph well.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 05:05 PM (c6xtn)

---
Yep. My cat Penny is black and I have a few pics where all you can see are the greens of her eyes!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 07, 2022 05:33 PM (K5n5d)

121 Wilbur:
"Later that afternoon I did get a call. She had... passed ..."

Oh, no!

"...with flying colors."

Whew! (smacks Wilbur) Don't DO that to us!

Posted by: mindful webworker - owned by the critters we keep at May 07, 2022 05:54 PM (xiqNc)

122 I love black cats. Their only problem is that they are difficult to photograph well.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 07, 2022 05:05 PM (c6xtn)

Yup to this. Most pics of Scout are an inky void with two very bright yellow-green eyes peering out. The trick is side-lighting.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Gen X Ne'er-Do-Well at May 07, 2022 05:59 PM (x8Wzq)

123 Wilbur, I'm so happy for you and Ebichu! You have a great vet. I have a bunch of cats and adore them all and everybody seems to be OK..they are middle-ageish I guess. I can only pray everybody lasts 16+ years and spry like your recovering baby.

Other moron pet people, all gorgeous babies.

Posted by: SamIam at May 07, 2022 06:01 PM (oasF3)

124 "A lobster like that, you don't eat all at once."

[Just the punchline, variant]

Posted by: mindful webworker - craw, dad! at May 07, 2022 06:09 PM (xiqNc)

125 Cats are weird. I'm in my library playing a computer game. Jasmine and Penny both like to hang out with me on my recliner. Kaylee, on the other hand, prefers to lay outside in the hallway and watch me from there. She doesn't like to climb in my recliner...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 07, 2022 04:18 PM (K5n5d)

This is pretty common in my experience - though in my case it was usually the oldest male that was on 'guard duty' watching for anything sneaking up when everyone else was relaxing.

That same guard cat would pick particular times to relax and let himself be treated like a kitten, he used to sleep across my neck like a fur collar for a few hours in the evening. He would sit on my legs on rainy days only.

Posted by: Oldcat at May 07, 2022 08:41 PM (eoQWY)

126 Pearl is beautiful!

Posted by: leber at May 08, 2022 08:36 AM (/gkdL)

127 Haven't read Farley Mowat in years but read them all when I was a kid. Now need to go back and reread. Most remembered other than Dog Who Wouldn't Be was Owls in the Family.

Posted by: Heresolong at May 08, 2022 10:51 PM (CkcJk)

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