Mum is having a nap in the lounge so Ellie & I are playing frizzbee in the garden. Everything was fine until a mis-aimed throw by Ellie has landed the frizzbee in the field adjoining our garden. It is now balancing, somewhat precariously, on the udders of a rather large, lying down cow.
Question:- Do I brave the cattle field and retrieve the frizzbee? or do I wait ’til Mum wakes up and hope the cow doesn’t move until then?
Frizzbee MIA Jay
I have a sneaking suspicion that I may be a secret mail eater. I must stress that this has not been medically confirmed and is only based upon my personal bodily reactions when the postman arrives in his shiny red van. I heard Mum on the phone the other day t o “Royal Mail” (we must have very posh post or something…”, anyway she was complaining that we didn’t seem to get post daily anymore, and here’s me thinking “we get loads of post, it’s just that I eat it”.
I realised early on that all of the evidence has to disappear otherwise risk serious incrimination. Mum goes out in the morning, I wait patiently by the door until I hear his van pull up. I jump up the front door and peep through the glass (not an easy task as it is frosted), then I gently pull the letters out of the postman’s hand when he pushes them through the letter box. Okay, that’s actually a downright lie. I rip the letters from his quivering hand (same postman each day so knows what to expect), I also try to take as much of his sleeve in my mouth as possible at the same time. I then shake the mail vigorously until it splits open, and then enjoy a few hours of well deserved eating.
There were slim pickings today provided by the nice “Royal Mail” man. Important note to self though – “Don’t eat mail with cheques in them”. Apparently this is bad judging from Mums purple face and the way she tore around the house trying to piece together the bits I hadn’t gotten around to eating yet. Innocence is bliss though…..unfortunately during my mail tearing frenzy Ellie got covering in some “cheque” pieces. Who knew she’d get the blame :@)) Postman Loving Jay
So I have now joined the human masses and started blogging on twitter. Small canine musings to keep my followers amused. I will soon be the canine king of twitter…..aiming for the ultimate prize of having Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher follow me……
http://twitter.com/dogwithablog
Twittering Jay
Ellie is a lean, mean eating machine and she usually gets away with it, but recently she has started eating things that drive mum mad and today was the final straw. Not only did she eat the cheque that came in the post for mum, she also ate mum’s new bank card. She got off lucky with the 2 bills she ate as mum didn’t seem too bothered. Yesterday she ripped a big hole in the beanbag thing that mum rests her feet on. Suprisingly enough it wasn’t filled with beans at all, much to Ellie’s disappointment. It was filled with tiny round ball things. “Was” being the operative word because after about 20 minutes they were all over the lounge floor instead. I have tried stopping Ellie’s mass destruction when the postman calls but she’s like a dog possessed. She tears around the kitchen with the mail in her mouth (which I must admit I have joined in with a couple of times) like the Tazmanian Devil on Red Bull. Although she’s not running anywhere at the moment because she is in her crate. She’s not happy as you can see from the picture I took a few moments ago.
I watched the unaptly named Slumdog Millionaire with mum last night. 2 hours of staring and not one single dog in the whole film. I really wish people would learn to name things appropriately. The Truth About Cats and Dogs, The Owl and the Pussycat – no dogs, no cats, no owls. Very disappointing. So if you’ve followed my blogs in the past you will notice I haven’t posted anything in quite a while. Mum moved the computer into the lounge at our new house so it has been a nightmare trying to blog unnoticed. Muh has happened in the past few months. Apparently my butt has gotten bigger, or so mum says. I keep trying to point out that my fur doesn’t fall out during winter so I’m actually poofier – not bigger. Ellie paws have been quite sore lately after walks. Mum has been babying her and bathing her feet in funny smelling water. Mum seems unaware that when Ellie runs up the concrete hill by our house like a hyena on speed, her paws are bound to be sore.
The cows in the field next to us moved out just before Christmas, so it was quiet for a while. But now we have new neighbours. Sheep and little, skinny, noisy lambs. They are not as friendly as the cows though, which is disappointing. The cows used to try and pull Ellie’s face through the fence, which was hilarious. But the sheep just kind of stand there doing - nothing.
Well tea is calling
Filling my Belly Jay
I haven’t blogged in over a week as I have been so busy moving house and getting my very own website up and running. www.adogwithablog.com went live on 5th September 2008 and is My and Ellie’s aim is to make this world more pet friendly. From Places to stay that love pets, to pet advice and articles on Rescue Centres and so much more. Of course my past history of Dog Blogs is on there aswell.
We have moved to a wonderful house in the Country and Mum has spent absolutely ages Dog proofing the garden so that Ellie doesn’t try and escape. She seems to think I have learnt my lesson from last time so hasn’t been too worried about me. Our garden is enormous and we are surrounded by fields with cows in them. Ellie spends most days sitting in the window pulling faces at them. Mum finally let us out into the larger part of the garden for the first time today, so I thought it was my duty being the older, more respnsible dog to check the garden for any potential escape routes that might entice Ellie into the outside world and beyond. At first Mum seemed to have done a good job and Ellie was too busy getting up close and personal with the cows in the next field to llok for flaws in Mums hard work. I on the other hand found one. I was about to point it out to Mum in a calm and helpful manner when she noticed me in the out of bounds area. I think she was angry with herself more than anything for missing a bit in the fence, but her tone when she shouted me was less than pleasant. Now I know what you are thinking……..I should have remembered the chaos that reigned last time I ran in the opposite direction, but how much fun would that be?
This time instead of being faced with a busy high street and hundreds of people, there was nothing but me and the open fields stretching miles ahead. I was running…….. Mum, bless her actually managed to clear the fence in one go. She probably would have been close behind me at that point had she not sunk up to her knees in mud and cow poo! The air literally turned blue with the words that came out of her mouth. She was shouting all of my favourite things after me…and had she stopped at “ball” or “toy” I probably would have run back to her, but when she said “Jay..come and get your ball, toy, treat, breakfast, tea, dinner, Ellie, walk”….I knew she was just trying to get me to run in her direction. It was at the point I realised Mum was well and truly stuck in the mud. I must admit I did stop and watch for a while…. She did start to walk forward, a bit like a zombie from “Night of the Living Dead” her arms were out in front of her and she was struggling to life her legs to walk. Then she really started to lose her marbles. When her left foot came out of the mud, there was no shoe attached to it. I saw her bend down and try to retrieve it, but most unfortunately she fell face first, with her zombie arms being outstretched. That’s about as much as I saw…cos I legged it across the field as fast as my four legs could carry me….”Hell hath no furry like a Mommy scorned”.
I’m afraid there is not long winded end this time. The large field was completely surrounded by a large fence, much more secure than Mums so I walked slowly back towards the house. Mum put me in the utility room for a few hours and I had to have a bath (which I hate)….I haven’t been back in the garden today and I’m not sure when Mum will let us back in. Hopefully it won’t be too long…cos it’s a great garden.
Country Living Jay
In light of yesterdays post on the abomination that is the “Puppy Farm” or “Puppy Mill” trade, I have spent much of today looking into ways others can help or websites that offer alternatives to those looking to add a pet to their family. If yesterdays blog was enough to make you change your mind about buying a puppy or kitten from a “Puppy Farm”, unlicensed breeder or pet shop then hopefully your next step will be the abundant array of animal shelters and rescue centres. So many dogs and cats are in desperate need of a loving home and are in great danger of being euthanized as there is not enough space to shelter these poor animals indefinately. It is thought that approximately 21 dogs every day are put to sleep due to not being rehomed. That is a staggering 7665 every year in the UK alone, and this number does not include those puppy farms and unscrupulous breeders who kill their breeding machines once they are of no use or too old. Oprah stated on her latest aired show that the number in the USA is nearer to 40 dogs a day. Thats an unbelievable 22265 every year in the UK and USA alone that are put to sleep. And yet puppies continue to be such a sought after option.
Here are some links to animal shelters, rescue centres and great websites that will give the option of giving a pet a new home and helping to slowly reduce the horrific above number, even if it is only one at a time.
http://www.animalcare-lancaster.co.uk http://www.smallpaws.co.uk www.merseynet.co.uk/gar
www.sunderland-rspca.org.uk http://www.willowsanimals.com http://www.animalrescuers.co.uk
http://www.animalsanctuaries.co.uk http://www.animalsaver.co.uk http://www.rspca.org.uk/
This is such a small portion of the available websites and shelters in the UK alone but it just takes a small search and a big heart to give a life and not take it away. It is time for humans to pave the way forward for animals that do not have a voice and are needlessly suffering at the hands of those who use cats and dogs as “cash cows”. It doesn’t matter whether you walk away from a puppy farm, report it, donate to a dog or cat charity, volunteer at a shelter, re-home a pet from a rescue centre or just post your view for others to see. Each person doing just one thing will change the world of pets forever.
Thank You – Jay
As a rescue dog I consider myself lucky everyday to have a loving, caring family and a warm, happy house to call my home. Unfortunately there are literally millions of pets who cannot say the same. I watched a program with Mum about “Puppy Farms” and am still beyond horrified as to the conditions and lack or care that is considered acceptable to bestow on helpless dogs and cats. As “mans best friend” I cannot see the logic or reasoning behind anyone who buys a pet from an inhumane breeder or location. I would be hopeful that it is widely known that many of these so called “Puppy & Kitten Farms” sell their animals on to breeders and through website and paper advertisments, but it is really no excuse for someone buying a puppy or kitten to ignore what must be so blantantly obvious. There are so many things that can be checked and see with first hand experience, and of course there is always “If in doubt, do not buy”. I suppose it would be a common misconception that if you buy one of these suffering animals that you are actually helping them out, and on one level this is true. However, you are in reality, only making room for more puppies and kittens to be bred and sold and are actually endorsing the whole process.
I felt it was my duty as a pet of the world to vary from my normal, charming blog type post as this is beyond the comprehension of me as a dog, pet and animal. We depend so heavily on humans for love, care, nurturing and housing and there are so many millions of people who provide all that we could ever need and want. But sadly this is not the only type of person. Breeders of the type described above are after one thing only….MONEY. Breeding animals is not a cheap or carefree business and these inhumane people will cut corners whereever they see fit in order to increase the size of their wallets. Whether this means no vaccinations, poor living conditions, little food and water, breeding females to often and too young, taking puppies and kittens away from their mothers before they are ready. These people are obviously not a part of the so called “nation of pet lovers” this country prides itself on, and I would be utterly suprised if they even have any human compassion for any living thing.
I think that there should be better education for people wanting to but young pets, stricter laws, punishments and fines for those who do not adhere to the basic welfare and protection of the animals they chose to breed and more goverment funding for associations such as the RSPCA to crack down on ”Puppy & Kitten Farms”. It should not be overlooked or tolerated by those who have a voice and can speak on behalf of their pets and the animals of the world who have to endure this diabolical treatment at the hands of inhumane people. And when I think of the amount of dogs and cats that are sitting in rescue centres and are put down each day because there are not enough caring homes for them, it is almost beyond any animals comprehension. Ellie and I are lucky as are so many animals. We have love and warmth and the basic animals conditions provided. But how can it be justifiable to kill unwanted pets only to breed more in such terrible conditions.
I want to be able to do something about this and not just stand on my doggie soap box and have a good old rant. Even one voice can make a different or or one person walking away instead of buying. One step at a time and eventually each step would become a mile and countless animals would have suffering ended and would be able to know only the compassion and love that so many humans possess.
Please feel free to leave your comments about this blog and any suggestions or doggie rants are welcome.
A Hopeful and Overwhelmed Jay
Dog with a Blog
I’m back…which is only relevant if you knew I had gone away, which you didn’t becasue even I didn’t know. My fears of a couple of weeks ago about Me and Ellie going to the kennels whilst Mum went away were completely wrong….because she took us with her. We went “down south” and stayed in a caravan and it was absolutely fabulous. We tooks toys and food and snacks and we did so much stuff I can hardly remember all of it. Ellie got spat on, which was hilarious. We went for a little walk down by a lake and there were loads of swans and geese there. I did warn Ellie about my encounter with these birds that time I went for my solo walk, but she never listens to me. So off she goes down to the edge of the lake and then she sticks her head in and looks around under the water. Some of the female birds took offense at this (I think because they didn’t have any underwear on!!!) and one of them tried to grab Ellie’s leg and pull her in. Mum dropped her ice cream (not good news…) and dragged Ellie back up the bank by her lead, and as she was being pulled away one of the large geese next to her spat on her. I mean, how rude!!! I would have had a stern word with the bird but it had way more friends there than just us three and Mum was more concerned about her ice cream so I decided to leave it.
The best bit about the holiday was where we stayed. It was like a house made out of thick tin on wheels that didn’t move. When you ran about in it, it rocked from side to side and make one hell of a din. So Ellie and I tore up and down as often as we could, before Mum put us out in the little garden. I actually got some good momentum going at one point as I bounced off the sofa (that doubled as a bed?) and ran full pelt through the kitchen thing and bounced off the other end on Mums bed. We were really rockin and rollin. The people in the next caravn to us had brought their pets along on holiday as well. A strange looking dog with no fur on its body and way too much on its head, and also a big, fat ginger cat with a lazy eye. Most people think that dogs and cats don’t get on and that dogs like to eat cats. This is a general myth and actually most of us get on quite well, however that poor dog in the next caravan obviously had his very own cat loony toon to put up with. Twice whilst Ellie and I were sticking our paws up at the cat through our window we saw the little dog trot aimlessly past on the sofa, and twice the cat shot out its back legs and launched the dog across the caravan, without even flinching. And one morning while I was outside doing my business I just caught sight of the dogs front paws disappearing under the caravan and then he emerged covered in mud and that cat walk past with a strange smirk on its face. Very suspicious.
Mum says that maybe we can go back to the caravan later in the year, which I am looking really forward to as it was great fun.
Holidayed Jay
I haven’t written a blog for a few days as I have been a bit down in the dumps. One of my friends from down the road is moving away. Chase, the Springer Cross (not sure what with…) is moving to Barcelona. Apparently, it’s in Spain and he has to go on a aeroplane to get there. His Dad say’s it is going to be hot and he might have to be shaved!!! (rather him than me…) He told me that he has to get a dog passport, but I’m not sure if he’s making that up or not…I’m going to look it up on the internet later. I told him that he will have to have some big injections, which wiped the smile off his face. I will miss him though. Maybe we will go and visit him? I’m not too keen on the idea of flying though…doesn’t sound very natural. I wonder what happens up there. I bet pets don’t get aeroplane food and free drinks!
Mine and Ellie’s hair is dropping out everywhere. Mum has to keep hoovering every couple of hours and she’s not impressed. She used a very ferocious looking brush this morning that practically waxed me and Ellie bald (okay…a slight exaggeration). Rather a brush than Chases’s up and coming hair style though….
My major acheivement this week has been graduating from Agility Classes. Monday night was my final class and I got a certificate and everything. I had to do a complete circuit of the equipment, without my lead on, and I did really well. I didn’t go over the see-saw, cause I don’t like it and it’s pretty pointless and I also didn’t bother to jump when it came to the mini jump type things. I mean if there is something in my way and I can’t get around it, then I’ll jump….but not unless I have to. And apart from running off to see the Llama in the next field a couple of times….I was great. I think Mum thought I was good too cause when the man gave her the certificate she said “Thank God it’s Over!!!”.
