Pets are good therapy

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited December 2011

    Nancy I am so glad you got your kitty back.

    HUgs

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited December 2011

    Oh how I wish I could have a dog but I live in an apartment that allows only one animal and I do have Mister Oliver (cat).  Besides, with my current health situation I couldn't walk a dog.

    Kiley ... good luck finding a sweet dog - whichever you choose he or she will have a great home!

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  • kiley56
    kiley56 Member Posts: 164
    edited December 2011

    Ha, Ha, Chabba so true !  Buttons is a very sweet dog, but I can see she is sooo worried about being separated from rescuers family.  She has abandonment fear in her and I feel her Pain.  I will go visit this week a rescue house, see if she warms up to me.  Shelby is a pure delite.....Never thought I'd consider a pup again, but she is so good and already protective of me !  Hugs, Kiley

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited December 2011

    Dear Kiley, Sawyer had separation anxiety when I brought him home, he had lived his who;e life with an elderly couple and apparently never left alone.  I had to retrain him so he didn't feel like I was abandoning him when I left the house.  It took awhile, with me leaving for 5 min., then coming in and giving him hugs and a treat, and ever so gradually lengthening the time.  It took awhile but he really did well and bonded to me like he was alittle puppy, all 85 lbs. of him!!  It sounds like you have a delightful visits coming up, I am so very glad.  Karen

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  • 3jaysmom
    3jaysmom Member Posts: 4,266
    edited December 2011

    good wishes, Koley: i let them decide to come to me.. iits worked for the 2 out of 3 i've had.. i didn't want one after i lost my coc, many years ago, but a dear friend paid WAY too much money for my little blindie.. it WAS the best thing for me. i love her, and know she's not going to be here for much longer, but she;s so good. she's gone totallyy blind now, but all its dome is slow her down. she used to tear thru the rooms, but, now, if she bumps into somethhing, its an easy bump.. we try not to change the furn for her, but we have boxes everywhere, while christmas is going up..

     i will try to write a story or two for you, also, as soon as i can get the oomph to do so. we had our 2 babies trained to be sevice animals, and their love have sooo seen me thruu so much!!!esp my "littlr man"  he;s neurotic, but fights it, to be with me.. a brave little soul, bc he was previously terrorized, bf he came home to us!.......3jays

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited December 2011

    3Jays

    Sounds like you are going to have some great stories, I will look forward to them

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2011

      Have any of you ever heard of a Thundershirt or seen the commercial for it on TV?  One of my friends called and told me about it....she was thinking of Harley and how he had his little shaking fits...that's the reason he is is Xanax, but actually he has not had it for a long time mainly due to the fact I forgot his pills when I was at my Dad's.  Anyway, this shirt is supposed to take the "pet" out of petrified.....is good for anxiety, aggressive behavior, helps self esteem, you name it.   So I told Tim about it, but he decided to get one for Brattie instead of Harley since Brattie is afraid of EVERYTHING and rarely holds his ears up any more....it is sad and I do not have the time or the energy to work with him and Tim, who is is his actual owner, is too lazy.  So he ordered the thundershirt.....I measured him for it.  Well, I was not here when it came and I guess he wore it for about 2 1/2 hours and then Tim said Brattie came charging downstairs and was running around in circles like he was chasing his tail and Tim said you could just see he was dying to get out of that shirt so he took it off of him and then he settled down.   So much for that....maybe you ease them into it, I don't know.   So he is going to send it back and I am going to tell him to exchange it for one in Harley's size....I think Harley actually kind of likes wearing clothes at least he always seems to love having his little sweater on.  As of yet I am not endorsing this product, but you have to admit it's a cute name. 

    Kiley, Good luck with your decision....I am thinking maybe you need to get both of them.....one for you and one for your BF and both of them for each other.

    I want to add that Murphy has a beautiful face, one that looks like it is difficult to say No to.

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  • Mimidi
    Mimidi Member Posts: 231
    edited December 2011

    Back in May I posted about getting a cat.  I really wanted one but my DH does Peritional Dialysis at home and there is a consideration of his getting peritiontnitis from germs; I just put the idea on hold and told God if He wanted me to have a cat give me one.  Tonight during supper I heard a cat outside.  I went to the patio and there was a huge grey male cat.  I think somone threw him away;  I fed him and gave him some warm milk.  I also placed a rug on the patio for him to sleep on.  I will keep check over the next few days and if he stays I will make him mine.  I did notice that he wanted to come inside.  I let him and he checked out the house.  If he decides to adopt us is will have him neutered and keep him inside as much as he wants to stay.  We in in a rural area and folkes are always throwing away their unwanted pets at my house.

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  • Mimidi
    Mimidi Member Posts: 231
    edited December 2011

    Went back outside and call the kitty.  He came back up and I have invited him in.  He has decided to cozy down in the bed with mel  I might have to let him back outside.

     Litter box and litter tomorrow I hope;

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  • 3jaysmom
    3jaysmom Member Posts: 4,266
    edited December 2011

    mimi; try to keep him brushed, and they make stuff to spray on them to keep dander doen on them.. if the germs are a problem, fi he does his business outside, it'll help greatly...

      im actually very allergic to cats, and as long as i kept the dander down, vacumned a lot, i did fine with two. we lived with them, for many years. and i kept my allergies at bay.. they're gone now, we just have our dogs, but i still miss a cat..we live where we can't have snother pet; but my neighbors cat makes a house call to my patio everyday for treats.. i hope he works out for you!

     Marybe: ive been thinking of getting my "little man" one of those.. he's terrified of everything, esp thunder.. he wants to be held by ME;; so maybe it;ll work.. try it, he may like it!!!oh, Juan loves his shirts, too.. prancers around in them, so i think he'd be ok with wearing it.. at least part time. i think a little bit at a time, and they'll get used to it...3jays

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited December 2011

    MIMI

    Thank you for taking in the throw away kitty. May your life be blessed with good karma for doing so.

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited December 2011

    I had a dog that was afraid of thunder and would tremble and shake for hours. I heard of these swaddle shirts for dogs and wrapped mine up in an old tee shirt and held him close to me. It seemed to help him.

    An earlier dog had such fear that is we weren't home and a storm came he would lock himself in the bathroom, or powderroom or bedroom and then frantically try to dig his way out through the door or the wall beside it. WE HAD TO LEARN TO ALWAYS PUT HIM IN HIS CRATE WHEN WE WENT OUT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS YEARS PAST being destructive in the house. Sorry about the caps I dont touch type and fatfinger the keys too often.

    My dogs are getting hair cuts today. I hope they have a pleasant time. I will drop them off at 10:30 and pick them up as soon as they are done.  Stewie is huge now and dwarfs Harry. 

    Laters GInger

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  • Mimidi
    Mimidi Member Posts: 231
    edited December 2011

    My kitty slept at my head all night long.  He is now napping in a chair next to the Christmas tree.

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited December 2011

    Dear Mimidi, I think he has adopted you right back.  He is just dreaming of the wonderful home he has found.  Rescues seem to come with an extra portion of love to give.  My younger rescue, Sophie, thinks the decorated tree is her gift for Christmas, I put all the unbreakable ornaments at the bottom.  As she frees them from the tree branches i move them higher up out of her reach.  By Christmas the lower third of the tree has no ornaments at all.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited December 2011

    I have 4 rescue kitties and they are so full of love it is beyond words. They purr at me just for entering the room. LOL

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  • lizcarolan
    lizcarolan Member Posts: 46
    edited December 2011

    I'm so glad your baby is back. Wish I would have been there. I'd have gone back to my drill sergeant days.

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited December 2011

    Mimidi ... that is truly heartwarming - you saved him.  I have always thought that when you take a cat in the they have all their creature comforts they believe that is the way it should have been all along!  I rescued everyone of my cats and gratitude was not in their language!  I don't  care, I loved every one of them and hope someday when I go to that great cat box in the sky I am reunited with all of them!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited December 2011

    The last stray kitty I took in came in deaf and with one eye turned in toward her nose.

    She was also pregnant and gave me 2 other kitties that I have kept. My kindness to her resulted in her giving me two very special gifts.

    One of the kittens has become very attached to my son who has Down's. There is a very special bond between them which is a beautiful thing to see. The other kitten thinks I am her 2nd  mama and is very aware of my ups and downs. Any time I am feeling even a bit low, she will be on my lap purring and rubbing her head on me as if to say, "it's ok."

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  • grdnslve
    grdnslve Member Posts: 310
    edited December 2011

    Marybe--RE: the thundershirt .. the trainers I took the Buckmeister to recommended the thundershirt.  The second one uses it when working with her 'snarky, scardy' dogs.  Although, she first does a wrap with ace bandages which does the same thing.  Using it for a little while at a time to get them use to the pressure & also to see if the dog responds.  If not, you save the $$$ you would have spent on the shirt.  I don't have the info with me, but you may be able to do a search for the method of wrapping.  The buck is doing much better this year, so it would be worth a try.  I didn't/don't leave it on him all the time.  Oh, and she also uses this special massage which i do use on him.  You use a couple of fingers and make small light pressured clockwise circles slowly about a circle & a quarter moving to different spots continually.  It is suppose to be calming & I really believe that has helped a great deal.  Can't remember the term she used for it.

    Good luck.

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited December 2011

    What a wonderful idea, I will relay it to my girfriend as they have an older dog who is jut terrified by thunder.  Thank you ladies.  Karen

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  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited December 2011

    Hi, all!

    We have a black lab mix (now 13 months old) that we adopted in August.  I had big plans for him.  I was going to take him running with me every time I ran and train him to heal, like I have never done with any dog before.  It was okay that we were seeking out a high energy dog because of all that running I do.  Three weeks later, I got the bc dx.  I trained him for the next three weeks until my umx, but then had to rely on my 7 and 11 year old children to keep him moving.

    He is, as a result, a little nuttier than I'd planned.  He is downright bonkers.  I have finally been given the go ahead to walk him myself and endure the pulling, darting and dragging that I must endure.  And the starting anew on training... 

    But...I am ever so grateful he is here with us.  He tries ever so hard to control himself to do what we need...and he is funny and entertaining and wonderful to watch running at full blast through the woods.  He is cause for a little extra guilt on my part, but we are getting back to normal slowly and, in the meantime, he is still great to have around.  Today, we went for a hike through the woods and he was just so darned tickled to be alive.  Makes me feel darned tickled to be alive too.

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited December 2011

    Labs are such oodles of energy, I think they outgrow puppyhood later than many dogs.  But they are also the only breed I have ever seen that are just happy, happy, happy to be alive.  My chocolate lab actually smiled when you are around him.  Happiest dog I have ever had the pleasure of being owned by.  I am so glad you are well enough to begin training him again, Sawyer failed obedience training, he was 7 when we got him, and the presence of all those other possible doggie friends was too much for him.

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  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited December 2011

    Well...Sawyer is par for the course in a lab, then...I don't think I could do classes...Either Sam or I would have a nervous breakdown...:)

    You are right...they are just darned happy.  When I was trying to explain to my children why I thought we should get a lab, I said they are just happy go lucky.  Never stressed, always even tempered...except for unleashed energy, of course!

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited December 2011

    Stewie my standard poodle is getting neutered next Thursday! When my husband let him out this morning he took off and DH found him in the neighbors compost pile. Stewie resisted coming home and that was that. So sooner rather than later he is getting fixed.I expect this will slow him down a little bit. Heis not at all agressive unless you are the UPS guy and they always have a door between them. 

    Stewie is 7 months old and is showing his masculine traits more and more. He still doesn't lift his leg and I will be happy if he never does. He is tall enough that if he lifted his leg in the house it would be a gigantic mess.

    I hope to post a picture of Harry our little dog and Stewie the big guy soon. 

    Hugs GInger

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  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited December 2011

    Gingerbrew...I have never known a standard poodle...but I have always admired them and have thought that I might want one some day...Best of luck with the neutering...

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited December 2011

    Ginger- I had a toy poodle as a child. She was my best friend and companion for 17 years. They are so smart and engaging. She was always waiting in the window when I would came home from school and when she saw me she would jump straight up and down for about 5 minutes.Then she would fall over wagging her entire butt not just her tail. Just the cutest little thing ever.

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited December 2011

    We had miniature poodles.  They are smart!  As a kid, we had a poodle we would confine to one room when we went out.  The minute we got home and left her out she would go pee on my brother's bed.  We stopped confining her and she stopped wetting the bed.

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited December 2011

    Stewie stole my coffee cake this morning. He also ate it!

    Ginger

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited December 2011

    HA! I once had a beagle who ate a whole pizza when I stepped out of the room.

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  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited December 2011

    Stewie's snack was way more appetizing than Sam's this morning...while running through the woods...nothing like a little deer poop...yuck...

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