Pets are good therapy

karen333

LOL, as i type this I am sitting on about a third of the computer chair, Sophie has the rest and she is none to thrilled to have to share.  Mr. Oliver seems to share her sense of it's all mine.

karen333

Hi all. my poor kitties, this heat is just oppressive.  Sophie moves from room to room to sit in front of the fans, Emma is sprawled out on the linoleum under the claw foot tub. Cannot wait til tomorrow when it is to be in the 70's.  Karen

Anonymous

Karen......tell me you aren't without AC!!....the heat index here yesterday was 110 and the dogs don't  even want to go out.....the cat has no choice as I am afraid he would run away so he doesn't get outside at all. 

karen333

Hi Marybe, no AC here, usually we only have 1 -4 days in WNY when the heat is like this, so it is bearable.  This summer has been unrelenting, same here no one wants to go outside and hardly eatting, water bowl is constantly being refilled.  Karen

grdnslve

and here i sit with my quilt over me all day long.  really feeling sorry for you..........

karen333

Thanks for thinking of us grdnsive.  Today is beautiful, in the 70's with a nice breeze. We all feel human again.  Supposed to be back in the mid to upper 80's for the rest of the week and weekend, so we got 1 day reprieve and for that I am thankful.  Yesterday, sleeping was ridiculous, tonight, perfect!  Karen

Alpal

Haven't posted here before but received this email today and wanted to share with all you animal lovers. I'm an animal lover also. Down to one dog now  - Aly, an almost 5 pound Yorkie. She may be small but she rules over this house!

The following is posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes on the floor with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate does not mean that is suddenly your food, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the top of the stairs is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It Is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space that you are taking up, is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door: TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here....you don't. (2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it "fur"-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they: (1) eat less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don't hang out with drug-using people; (7) don't smoke or drink, (8) don't want to wear your clothes, (9) don't have to buy the latest fashions, (10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and (11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children.....

---

.
Allison
Diagnosis: 7/2008, IDC, Stage IV, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2-

3jaysmom

AlPal: thats hilarious.. thanks for coming here, pull up a chair,and enjoy all our furbabies with us!!

  Marybe, Karen, so glad to see both of you.

   am spending a lot of time in bed with my little man. he's back to threatening any human who comes near me; and that INCLUDES Murray (DH) i wish my kids were so faithful.. but, thats a whole other story... night.....3jays

Gingerbrew

Stewie now knows the "leave it!" command. This is good because he had already acquired a new skill, he can unplug lamps.

Stewie is 9 1/2 weeks old now and is just about bigger than Harry. He waits to go out to the yard to go potty and I am thrilled. His teeth are so sharp that an accidental contact has left me with some shallow wounds on my forearm.

 Stewie doesn't know how to jump up or down from our bed yet. ( It is a really high bed.) This turned out to be a very good thing today when I forgot to put him into his kennel and went off to the doctors office with Stewie and Harry still sitting up on the bed. I came back about 2 1/2 hours later to find Stewie still up on the bed, patiently waiting for me!  I will feel guilty about that forever I think, I am so grateful he wasn't hurt. Now chemo brain seems to be being replaced with Arimidex brain.  They were both fine and Stewie was happy to go outside. Whew! Stewie really does need supervision because he likes to taste everything and has even climbed from the couch onto the end table!

Harry continues to try to assert himself as alpha dog so we will see how that plays out when Stewie out weighs him by 50 or 60 pounds. 

karen333

Dear Gingerbrew, I'll bet you Harry continues in the alpha dog position, it is a funny thing to watch.  Once had a Schnauzer and a brown Lab, the Schnauzer ruled the roost.  Would get under his chin and nibble at the Lab's ears, the Lab would lay down in an effort to cover his ears, had to really lay down the law with a firm "no stop" and push him away.  I think he thought his name was "no stop" for awhile there.  I had forgotten all the lovely puppyisms that occur.  Poor Stewie stuck on the bed, he must have looked so forlorne and so glad to see you!!  Karen

3jaysmom

when i used to raise Dobies, i had a chiahua, and she would tell these huge, "dangerous" dogs where they could, and could NOT sit.. its a riot!!!     3jays

karen333

Hi all, have to have my daughter help me apply Sophie's Advantage, one to hold her - one to squeeze the little vial.  Have tried doing it by myself, but she goes wild on me, all 7 lbs. of her.  Already did Emma, no problem.  Sophie acts as if I am trying to perform some medival torture on her.  Karen

karen333

Hi all, it is so hot for my furbabies, I took a lukewarm washcloth and wiped Emma down, she was in her position under the tub but was looking very warm to me.  I think she knew what I was doing, she just stood there and let me do it.

karen333

AC installed, all are thankful!!!!  Karen

3jaysmom

wanted to tell you  guys, my old "blindie" girl has a bone bruise, her tail isn't  broken..she even wags it for me  now. since i'm the one who dropped her, she's pretty forgiving......3jays

Maya2

Alpal: I loved the "rules" too. I'm working on translating them into "cat."

3jaysmom

this one looks JUST like my blindie..thought it was fitting...hahaha3jays

Anonymous

Here is the neighbors' dog I was watching last weekend.....such a good girl compared to mine. She will just hang out in the front yard and not run away. 

cat54

      Hello Ladies and pets am so glad I found this because after surgery chemo rads and still herceptin...my adopted cat TIGER has been there for me all the way...he was the victim of a divorced family across the street and ended up abandoned in the neighborhood, the wife did tell me if I could...to take him  in as the house was in foreclosure  and the husband was leaving him in the streets...I began feeding him because he was starving for food and attention...he is a very beautiful gray tabby...we developed a relationship but as I and my husband are allergic he would remain an outside cat....until a very bad cat fight left me with a 300.00 bill my husband was ready to send him to animal care...then the next day I got the news of BC and I could not loose the cat, my husband agreed and to make a long story short we trained him to come in every night and he cuddled with me after chemo and difficult times he just seemed to know...we now consider him our beloved pet and he has made our lives richer and got me thru a very difficult time...still have some allergy problems but clean him and the kitchen every day because we LOVE him!!!Hope all you Ladies and Pets are doing well...L Cath

Anonymous

I used to be allergic to cats, but found they only really bothered me if I would touch my eyes after petting one....then came George.  I did not want a cat, never was really crazy about cats and always considered myself a dog person....but I sort of had to take George (he came with his name) since I was desperate to find  good homes for the lab pups up the street who were not being taken very good care of and I was also sure were not going to good homes......so in order for this young couple I knew to get a dog, the husband told the wife she had to get rid of at least one cat.  This one didn't get along with her other two anyway and supposedly spent most of his time under the bed hiding.  So George came to my house and at first he spent about 8 hrs wedged between the desk and the wall and no amount of coaxing would get him out....then while I was sitting here typing away later than evening, he came and stood up and put his paws on my knee and we have been in love ever since.  He is the smartest, cutest, handsomest cat ever.....and he actually minds and is a very talkative cat and good company....much better behaved than the dogs whom he has finally gotten to the point where he pretty much ignores them.  At first he was sleeping with me, and I woke up one morning with my eyes swollen shut.  I went to the doctor and he said I am not going to tell you to get rid of the cat, just don't sleep in an enclosed room with him......and then when we got the silky, Harley who does sleep in the bed with me, that put an end to George even entertaining the idea.  So Kathy, I am happy you have Tiger and he has moved inside.   George with his catnip pickle....I am growing some catnip for him this year along with my other herbs.

cat54

    Hello, Marybe , OH!!! how cute is George... and yes I also was told not to sleep with the cat as I did  in the beginning to convince him to come in at night but I was swollen eyes every morning and not good for work...my cat is also very talkative and smart so we are lucky to have most easily trained  him...so nice of you to take in such a lovely animal and give him the best he certainly looks so happy!!! I would like to grow my own catnip have an herbal garden where do I find catnip seeds etc. Hope you are doing well I am so far so good ....((( Hugs))) to you and George:) Cath

karen333

Hi cat54, I too have rescue cats, Emma and Sophie who took care of me after rads when we would take our naps.  Emma at my head and Sophie behind my knees, they do seem to sense that something is wrong, and would get into their positions.  They now sleep in bed with me, although in this heat they have taken to sleeping on the floor where it is cooler.  What wou;d we do without them.

Anonymous

  George hasn't been eating and when he does it is only the canned food he will eat.  I thought he was bored with the Iams hairball formula so added something to it , Friskies and at lst he ate it, but now he's back to ignoring it.  I am afraid it might be a dental problem.  Sooo, am going to have to try getting him into the cat carrier again, but this time I will wear long sleeves and gloves.  He can't afford to lose much weight.....looks big with all that hair, but really only weighs about 10 lbs. 

karen333

Dear Marybe, how is George feeling today?  Hope he is better.  Karen

Anonymous

The vet who makes housecalls is going to come take a look at him Wed. morning.  He will eat most of the canned food I put out for him, really liked the FancyFeast the neighbor gave me to try and ate a little chicken that I cut in tiny pieces, but he will not touch the dry stuff.  Also I noted this morning he had not done anything in his box.  I cleaned up a huge hair ball last night so am thinking that was part of his problem.....why do they call them hairballs...they look more like hair turds.  I gave him some milk thinking that would at least give him some nourishment and then my freind who has several cats told me it isn't good for them.....learn something new every day.   I just hope my husband keeps close tabs on him while I am here at my Dad's.  Also hope Harley gets his pills. 

holdingon

I'm Kathy, just trying to make some sense of this thing called cancer. I have a gorgeous very playful Rotti she's my pride and joy. She always jumps on my bed and lay on her back with her feet in the air as if to tell me to have some fun and kick up my heels.

Anonymous

    My dogs sleep like that also.....except for the rat terrier, he likes to get under the covers and curls up.   Cancer makes no sense, doesn't follow the rules, and it totally unpredictable.  At least pets are pretty uncomplicated....they eat, drink, sleep, go to the bathroom and give us lots of unconditional love. 

3jaysmom

hey gals, just wanted to say hello. have talked on the phone 2xs marybe; forgot to ask how george is... my little blindies bum is still sore.. a bone bruise. it may never be right. it doesn't bother her, except when i try to raise her tail and ck it. THEN she screams.. you know the old joke.. then, don't lift it.... hahaha she can lift it herself, and wags it fine, so im leaving it alone!

   welcome to the new gals both kathy>? right? my dogs are what sees me thru all my health issues. i don't know how id face the day w/out them. they're firmly planted on the bed with me. right now, its' almost all day, but they're happiest when we're all snuggled together!!.............3jays

Anonymous

The vet who does house calls is coming to take a look at George tomorrow morning.  If he needs his teeth cleaned or some exts, I will have to take him to the office.  I am hoping it is his teeth and not something more serious.  He won't eat anything...will lap up the gravy off of the cat food, but won't take anything solid, not even a little shredded chicken which he always loved.  He comes when I get food out, seems very interested in it, but is unable to eat it.  He just sort of licked the chicken when I held it out in my hand. It breaks my heart because I think he wants to eat, just can't. 

chabba

  Marybe, I think any of us that have had ailing pets understand.  You feel so helpless and that just intensifies the hurt.  I do hope the vet can help him.