A Cat-Food Intervention

As usual, it's the end of a crazy busy and cold week that I'm glad is over! I worked every day, and Carl left early each day because of a class. Today I doubt I'm even going to leave the confines of our property!! It's too cold anyway, and that gives me the perfect excuse to not venture out and maybe take a nap later.

I do want to thank those of you who left comments about Maguire; they really were a big help and helped me to see in my heart what is best for both of us. I do think I know what I'll do...However, out of some sense of fairness, and my commitment as a foster home, I feel like I need to see this whole thing through with the couple that are interested in him. If Maguire responds to them, and there is a real connection, I will consider letting him go....Stay tuned...

I did have an interesting conversation yesterday with one of the employees in the shop where I buy dog food. About 8 years ago, I committed myself to feeding our dogs a good quality and healthy diet. However, in all my efforts to make sure the dogs are getting a good diet, I've totally neglected our cat, CC. I won't tout any brand names here, but only say that I've been feeding her a very well known and popular brand, which is a food that she loves! "Jon" told me that the reason why she probably loves it so much is because it's full of carbohydrates and she's probably addicted to them. What?! My cat a carb-addict? Does she need an intervention and rehab program? He told me "yes" that at her age of 8, I should probably switch her to something that's a better quality, with very low carbs--So, yes, it was indeed intervention and rehab time for CC. I was given some samples to start her detox...I filled her bowl with one this morning. When I went back a few minutes later, she was sitting on the counter, (where she's fed) and the food was untouched. Determined to not give in to the very hungry cat that was no doubt planning which chair she was going to shred with her claws if I didn't feed her what she wanted, I didn't give in. Another trip back to the kitchen a bit later I found Rudi (looking a tad-bit guilty) with CC's empty bowl on the floor...Do you think that CC deliberately gave Rudi her food in hopes that I'd and fill it with her usual cuisine and also give me a second chance at not having my drapes shredded? Well, it worked, because that's what I did, and CC was very happy about it. She is now napping on our bed...I know I have to be strong, so we'll try it again later, yeah later...

A Dog-Dilemma

In January of last year I picked up a new foster dog named Maguire, who is about 12 years old. He was an un-neutered boy that came in as a stray to a shelter about 2 hours from where I live. He had a tennis ball size cyst on his neck that had ruptured and it was of course infected. I have to say, I've never seen anything like it, and neither had my vet!! If you are curious and have a strong stomach, and want to see what it looked like, here's a link to the shelter's website that still has pictures of Maguire on it and shows the cyst--scroll down to the bottom of their page for the photos, and you can click on them for a "better view."


http://www.humanecampbell.rescuegroups.com/animals/detail?AnimalID=1166033

Of course because of the size its removal required extensive and reconstructive surgery of his neck. When it was all done, Maguire had staples from ear to ear and I'm not kidding, it looked like a zipper! After several months of recovery, he was as good as new!

Maguire was posted on the rescues website to try and find a new forever home for him. He's a gentle, easy going and quiet Golden, that is a very comforting companion. He's not playful, despite our best efforts to get him interested in a tennis ball, rope, etc.. Maguire really just wants to be by your side. He doesn't bark much (just when we get ready to feed him, he'll woof a time or two) but he quietly, and I mean quietly wags his tail; there's no jumping on you when you come home, or getting crazy and excited. He's just laid back and just takes life very slow and easy. I don't think he'd ever been in a house prior to coming to us, so of course we've taught him everything that he needs to know about treats, and he's learned about warm dog beds, (the down-filled dog bed is his favorite!) and from the other dogs he's learned about ripping up soft-toys and what look to give you when he wants a nibble of what we're eating.

It goes without saying that I think Maguire is wonderful and Carl and I both adore him! But I've not had many calls about him--Actually, we've had only 2-3 in the last 9 months that he's been available for adoption. Right now there is a couple in Washington DC that has applied for approval for adoption from the rescue, because they are specifically interested in Maguire. Of course I know they may not be a fit for him, but it does bring up a dilemma and all of my emotions...

Right now we are approaching a year that he's been with us. I've been on the fence for a few months about just adopting him and making him a permanent member of our family. I think he's genuinely happy and settled in here. He follows me all over the house, and he gets along very well with the other dogs. However I ask myself if I'm being selfish to want to keep him for myself--Maybe he needs a place where he can be more of a "star" and not just part of the whole cast of characters in our household--I am really torn...But this morning before I got up, he was standing by the bed quietly wagging his tail and looking at me with those sweet soulful eyes...As I gave him a hug he gave me a tiny lick on my face--Of course my heart melted and I wondered "how can I turn Maguire over to another family and walk away from him?"

Cold, Cold, and more Cold!!

We lived in Alaska for 10 years before coming to Virginia and Wisconsin before that, so I know what cold feels like! And "COLD" is exactly what we've had the last few days! Making it worse are high-bitter winds that blew down 2 sets of windchimes (what a noise they made when they fell) and lots of branches down around the property. We took the dogs out this morning, and for some reason, I didn't put my mittens on, which made it a quick walk! They say that if you want the best spot in the house to sit, move the cat. When we came back in our cat CC was on top of the stove--I had turned on the oven, so it was warm, and it was indeed, the best spot in the house!!

Glad It's Friday

I'm so glad that it's the end of the week and we have a long weekend!! It was a crazy week at work--But then it always is when I'm "front desk girl" and the office manager is on vacation. Of course we were busy with college students home for the holidays. We had one college aged patient come in on Tuesday who was 35 minutes late for a 45 minute appointment. Just before she arrived the next patient came and was taken back a few minutes early. But the "late patient" argued with me that she should be seen despite being late--A long story short, I tried to accommodate her,with another appointment, etc., but it wasn't good enough...Then we had 2 college boys named Ryan come into the office to have their teeth cleaned--Not so unusual except one came on the wrong day and he was the one that was accidentally seen--We figured that out too and both patients never knew--I blamed it on 2 substitute hygienist and the office manager on vacation.

The dogs had a quiet week too. I think they were glad that we went back to work--However Carl was off on Monday and is feeling pretty crummy with a bad cold (that he got from me!). But I think they like being able to sleep their days away rather than feeling like they have to follow us everywhere.

I did take Tanner to the ophthalmologist for his last post-op appointment. There was NO change in his eye pressure and he is now off ALL his glaucoma medications!! Of course we're thrilled!! Because the condition (uveitis) which triggered the glaucoma is chronic, he'll always have to be on eye medications to prevent it from happening to the "good eye." But being down to 3 medications instead of 6, and only having to spend about $35 instead of $240 is good news for our wallet too!! When I got home I left Tanner outside while I went in to let the other dogs out. When I came back, I couldn't find him. He always stays close to the house, but I didn't see him in his usual places. I finally found him tangled in some vines--I've no idea what he was doing or where he thought he was going. But I pulled him loose, and he promptly rolled in the snow--I think he was celebrating being free and the good news from the ophthalmologist! I was so happy with his good news, I could have rolled in the snow too!