Well what a day we had yesterday. We had our obedience lesson. And as always, our life is far from boring…
Month: April 2016
Frogs and Vets…
April 30. The last day of April. And today is Save the Frogs Day. A day to recognize and appreciate hoppy amphibians. Here in Nova Scotia, the peepers have arrived. Peepers are tiny little frogs whose chirping heralds the arrival of spring. They sound a bit like crickets. They are a welcome sound at this time of year.
Today is also World Veterinary Day. A day to celebrate the veterinary profession. So I pulled out our trusty Merck Veterinary manual (because yes, we DO have one) and also looked on-line found some veterinary terms to quiz you on. So let’s go – try and match these terms and definitions!
Paw-ternity leave.
So my human heard this interesting story on the radio on her way in to work the other day. Velcro dog and I heard it too – we were listening at home. It seems that a few companies in the UK have started a new practice – they provide “paw-ternity” leave to new pet owners. It allows new pet owners anywhere from 10 hours up to 3 weeks to help a new pet settle in at home. So far it looks like all the companies who provide this paid time off are businesses in the pet industry.
In the US, not everyone even gets human maternity leave – so this pet leave idea may be hard to argue. In Canada, the benefits for humans seem to be better – so I think I need to start the paw-ternity campaign here. Especially when I get my new puppy. Whenever and whatever that may be. There have been LOADS of suggestions for my new puppy. My human is afraid that if any breeder of ANY dogs, reads my blog, we will never get a puppy. She said I had better start behaving – a lot of breeders would think our home is too crazy. I think that’s nonsense – I would be an excellent big brother to a puppy. OK. Maybe Frodo would be excellent. I would be an entertaining, adventurous big brother. Now I’m not so sure any CAT breeder would place a kitten here though… with good reason…And bunny breeders….fat chance on that one. Which makes me wonder – is the paw-ternity leave ONLY for dogs? Do cats count? I think they should. But I’m not so sure about pet lizards. Or pet tarantulas. Or fish… I’ll have to figure out the rules for this leave thing. But if we exclude certain pets, is that being prejudiced? Oh maybe this is going to be more challenging than I thought…
Anyway – it’s Friday – so two days of freedom with our human.
ALTHOUGH…there IS that obedience lesson…
© Linda Wozniak
Pay it Forward Day!!
April 28. The last Thursday in April. And today is Pay It Forward Day. A day to do some random act of kindness. Like pay for a stranger’s coffee. Donate to a charity. Provide something to a homeless person – whether it’s a bit of change or a sandwich. Drop off some supplies for pets at a shelter. Give a PON a treat for no reason. It’s kind of sad that humans need to be reminded to be nice, but hey, if it works, I say go for it. Remember- your act need not include money – it can be as easy as letting another car in a traffic lane – or saying good day to a stranger. And do you know what? When you do the act, it not only helps others, but you will feel good too! According to the Pay it Forward website, over 75 countries will be taking part – and they are hoping for 10 million acts of kindness.
Mundane news: Banana racing, hair "matters" and bunny trading.
Besides wild squirrels, what’s new around here….well first off, with the warmer weather and daybreak getting earlier every day, Velcro dog has decided that our normal walk is JUST not long enough. I think he figures that since my human ONLY needs to take one walk in the morning instead of two now, the one should be longer. So he won’t poop unless it’s an extra long walk. He is basically making her get up earlier and earlier. Wish I had thought of it.
He has also in the past two weeks, started a new routine – the banana race. He has always loved bananas- but now he started this thing where he wolfs down his breakfast- even faster than normal – which is hard to believe is possible- and then he RACES to the cupboard for a banana. Whether my human is there or not. He just races there and stares at the bananas. Now bananas are a good source of Vitamins C and B6 and potassium and other good stuff – but because of the sugar content, some sources say we dogs should only eat them in moderation. Tell that to Velcro dog! One banana is shared between me, Velcro dog and my human. When that one is gone, he still keeps staring. Until my human says “give it up.” His new nickname is KK. Short for King Kong.
The title for best Find-the-Bunny finder is at a tie right now. I think I’m better than KK, but I must admit, he IS getting better. And my human is hiding the bunny in more obscure places. But we find him. Every time. However, I suppose KK IS better at giving the bunny up once he finds him. Me? Not so much. And if my human attempts to trade some treats for the bunny, well she has to throw them at me- I get so excited I nearly take off her fingers.
A squirrel named Nutso.
A colorful subject.
I want a puppy…
We went for a long walk with Jackson and one of his humans yesterday. Velcro dog was able to run off leash. But for SOME reason I had to stay ON a leash. Go figure. This time I was the one giving my human “the face.”
A friend asked my human if we will get a puppy any time soon – because this household has had three dogs FORVEVER. I vote yes – then I won’t have to be the baby any more. Mind you- I do enjoy being the baby because I think the baby CAN get away with things… But I sure would like to have a puppy. I would like a Bernese… but I’m not so sure my human can be convinced. She loves Bernese and it’s been more than 20 years since this home has not had a Bernese. But they don’t live very long….and it’s hard on a human’s heart. NOT that she regrets ever having been owned by any of her Bernese – but I don’t know if she can live with the constant worrying about their health. I think having one go to the Rainbow Bridge at just 3.5 because of cancer was extra hard… My human lived in constant fear with every Bernese – and I’m not sure she’s up for the gamble again. But if it’s not a Bernese …what would we get? Maybe another PON?! Or an entirely new breed! But WHAT would it be? I’m open to ideas. I want one NOW. My human says MAYBE SOME day… As long as she’s not thinking of trading me in!!!!! Hmmmmm…..I hadn’t considered that. I guess I had better behave. At least for a day or two… Anyway, if you have suggestions about what puppy I should get, let me know. Because this will be MY puppy- and I will be SURE to train him ALL my tricks….can you IMAGINE?!!!!
If you get lost…
There are all kinds of wonderful stories about dogs and their humans being reunited. In the news recently was the story of a family who lost their dog during a move in South Carolina. They looked for him and couldn’t find him and eventually gave up hope. Get this – they found Buddy 2 years later at a mall where pet adoptions were going on by an animal care Center. Buddy even remembered his family.
Another story is of a Lab who went missing during the California wildfires in 2007. He was found – 7 years later, and identified by his microchip. But get this – this dog was named Buddy too!!! I am not joking. The moral of the story, watch out if you name your dog Buddy…
Today is also English Language Day. English is a VERY tricky language. Pronunciation and spelling can be SO strange. For example, these words SHOULD rhyme, but they don’t: bead/dead; flood/food; how/low; tomb/comb; some/home. And then these SOUND the same – but sure don’t look the same – or mean the same thing: beet/beat; ate/eight; cell/sell; bare/bear; peace/piece. And if that’s not confusing enough, then we have these dog terms – which can mean different things:
Dog term Other meaning
Weedy -lacking sufficient bone and muscle A lawn filled with weeds – like ours!
Mops – lots of hair on paws Something to clean the floor!
Flag – long fringe on a dog’s tail Something every country has!
Bitch – a female dog A not-so-nice thing to call someone!
Honestly – this is just a TINY example of how confusing the English language can be. No wonder I don’t behave – I can’t understand what my human is saying!
Well, it is thyme to go and take my human for another wok. The weatherman is calling for son with no reign in the forecast. Have a grate day!! I no I will!
The box….
My human had been waiting for the phone call. From the Vet. Letting her know a box was ready to be picked up…
It’s very hard to go and pick up that box. It’s a very sad reminder…. But the box also contains so many wonderful memories. In fact, no one could ever fit all of those memories in a box. The box would be bigger than a football field…
We are adjusting to our new life…adjusting to being a two-dog household. Velcro dog and I have worked out the new rules and honestly, we are doing OK. I even let him sleep on my human’s bed with me…
And speaking of the bed…my human found me there the other morning. I looked all comfy, cozy, lying with my head on her pillow when she emerged from the bathroom after her shower. But when my human went to make the bed…she found a surprise. SOMEONE had torn a large HOLE in the pillow cover. Velcro dog was at the end of the bed – and since yours truly WAS closest to the scene of the crime – you can guess who was blamed. I suggested a DNA test…
Anyway, spring is really here. You can feel it in the air. Although signs of change are all around us – things are feeling more “settled.” The grass is getting green, and the weeds are emerging. The trees are budding. The birds are singing loudly in the morning. The loons have returned. And very importantly, Paxton is once again home….