Comments on: My pups. http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/ one writer's daily download Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:10:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Cara http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165573 Cara Thu, 06 Mar 2008 04:14:08 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165573 In my family, we have "god-dogs", like godchildren, but with shorter years of committments. ;-) Presently I am down to only three, but if Eddy, Aubry or Harley, one or all, ever need a new home and care, I'm there for them. That way, even our older family members can enjoy their dogs, knowing that a good home waits them in case of emergency. Just a thought. In my family, we have “god-dogs”, like godchildren, but with shorter years of committments. ;-) Presently I am down to only three, but if Eddy, Aubry or Harley, one or all, ever need a new home and care, I’m there for them. That way, even our older family members can enjoy their dogs, knowing that a good home waits them in case of emergency. Just a thought.

]]> By: sue http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165480 sue Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:05:34 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165480 Oh, Nancy, I forgot you have an old dog. Give him a kiss for me, on his nose (my favorite pet-kissing spot). Oh, Nancy, I forgot you have an old dog. Give him a kiss for me, on his nose (my favorite pet-kissing spot).

]]> By: nancy http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165473 nancy Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:52:01 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165473 You guys are making me cry. As my own dog wobbles through his 17th year, I see the inevitable a little closer every day. One of the best dogs I ever knew in the Not Mine division was bought at a pet store. My friend had just smoked a joint and walked past a strip-mall place, and had one of those how-much-is-that-doggy-in-the-window moments. She was $300, which he didn't have, so he put her on his MasterCard. A collie puppy. She was an absolute dream -- good-tempered, healthy, smart, beautiful. Some things are just meant to be. You guys are making me cry. As my own dog wobbles through his 17th year, I see the inevitable a little closer every day.

One of the best dogs I ever knew in the Not Mine division was bought at a pet store. My friend had just smoked a joint and walked past a strip-mall place, and had one of those how-much-is-that-doggy-in-the-window moments. She was $300, which he didn’t have, so he put her on his MasterCard. A collie puppy. She was an absolute dream — good-tempered, healthy, smart, beautiful. Some things are just meant to be.

]]> By: Kafkaz http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165465 Kafkaz Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:00:58 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165465 Dickens the Wonder Mutt I found at a little run down pet store next to the pizza parlor we used to frequent when we first got married. He grew. His cage didn't. I visited and visited him. Finally dragged my husband in to visit him, too. Had to have that dog, but knew that spousal bless off would be needed. Dickens was a blue light special. Cage, leash, dish, food, collar, and dog himself for under forty bucks. Uncertain heritage. Terrier mix is what they called him, but every vet saw different breeds in him. His paws had pushed against the cage as he grew, so he had boils between his foot pads when I brought him home. Had to soak his feet in epsom salts for weeks. We got wet together, and bonded. For some months, he was afraid of every single thing that might at all be construed as a weapon. Brooms, mops, golf clubs, baseball bats--pretty much anything longer than it is wide set him to quivering. Grass also panicked him. He had to be carried outside, and then carried back in. Somehow, though, he was just the best dog ever. My shadow and my best buddy. Face only a mother could love. He accepted the kids with grace, and especially appreciated their high chair, food flinging, "look, ma, I discovered gravity again" stages. Still strange, even after all this time, to function without him. He's not under the desk, not pressing his nose into me in the morning so I'll let him out, not barking when some non-pack entity has entered the property, not warmly there when I reach for him. Not there. Sometimes, I think dogs are designed all wrong. Wish we could be issued one at birth, and then keep that one until the very end. Selfish, but there it is. Dickens the Wonder Mutt I found at a little run down pet store next to the pizza parlor we used to frequent when we first got married. He grew. His cage didn’t. I visited and visited him. Finally dragged my husband in to visit him, too. Had to have that dog, but knew that spousal bless off would be needed. Dickens was a blue light special. Cage, leash, dish, food, collar, and dog himself for under forty bucks. Uncertain heritage. Terrier mix is what they called him, but every vet saw different breeds in him. His paws had pushed against the cage as he grew, so he had boils between his foot pads when I brought him home. Had to soak his feet in epsom salts for weeks. We got wet together, and bonded. For some months, he was afraid of every single thing that might at all be construed as a weapon. Brooms, mops, golf clubs, baseball bats–pretty much anything longer than it is wide set him to quivering. Grass also panicked him. He had to be carried outside, and then carried back in. Somehow, though, he was just the best dog ever. My shadow and my best buddy. Face only a mother could love. He accepted the kids with grace, and especially appreciated their high chair, food flinging, “look, ma, I discovered gravity again” stages. Still strange, even after all this time, to function without him. He’s not under the desk, not pressing his nose into me in the morning so I’ll let him out, not barking when some non-pack entity has entered the property, not warmly there when I reach for him. Not there. Sometimes, I think dogs are designed all wrong. Wish we could be issued one at birth, and then keep that one until the very end. Selfish, but there it is.

]]> By: Harl Delos http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165458 Harl Delos Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:52:07 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165458 Mouse said: <blockquote> One would think the Amish, with all the animals they breed, care for, and keep, would be expert at dog breeding. </blockquote> An IRS auditor told me that he has *never* run into a non-Amish tax return showing dog breeding returning a profit. The Amish look at a dog as an economic asset. If it costs $1500 to treat a sick or injured animal, and you can buy another one for $300, they won't spend the $1500. They give God and the dog a chance at a miracle, then put the animal down. One problem with amateur breeders is that the animals get left home alone while the kids are at school and the parents are working, and and if an injury occurs, the animal can suffer for hours before it's discovered. And amateur breeders don't know how to care for animals. It's not clear cut, one way or another. The local Humane League doesn't take good care of the animals they have. Every so often, they shut down adoptions because they have an epidemic raging that kills a lot of animals. Both times we've gotten dogs from the Humane League, they ate ravenously for a month or two, as if they'd been starved, and then they settle down, and stop eating so much, ending up weighing about 10% more than when they were adopted. I think the dogs are getting too little food and poor quality. And they are pretty picky about who they allow to adopt. They'd rather kill a dog than let it go to a family that would love to care well for it, but doesn't have a fenced yard. If you're supposed to spay/neuter because there are too many dogs and cats, why are we deliberately breeding dogs? If we made selling dogs as illegal as selling babies, wouldn't that put an end to puppy mills? Mouse said:

One would think the Amish, with all the animals they breed, care for, and keep, would be expert at dog breeding.

An IRS auditor told me that he has *never* run into a non-Amish tax return showing dog breeding returning a profit. The Amish look at a dog as an economic asset. If it costs $1500 to treat a sick or injured animal, and you can buy another one for $300, they won’t spend the $1500. They give God and the dog a chance at a miracle, then put the animal down.

One problem with amateur breeders is that the animals get left home alone while the kids are at school and the parents are working, and and if an injury occurs, the animal can suffer for hours before it’s discovered. And amateur breeders don’t know how to care for animals.

It’s not clear cut, one way or another.

The local Humane League doesn’t take good care of the animals they have. Every so often, they shut down adoptions because they have an epidemic raging that kills a lot of animals. Both times we’ve gotten dogs from the Humane League, they ate ravenously for a month or two, as if they’d been starved, and then they settle down, and stop eating so much, ending up weighing about 10% more than when they were adopted. I think the dogs are getting too little food and poor quality.

And they are pretty picky about who they allow to adopt. They’d rather kill a dog than let it go to a family that would love to care well for it, but doesn’t have a fenced yard.

If you’re supposed to spay/neuter because there are too many dogs and cats, why are we deliberately breeding dogs? If we made selling dogs as illegal as selling babies, wouldn’t that put an end to puppy mills?

]]> By: Mouse http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165403 Mouse Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:55:42 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165403 Talking Heads doing the music for Down & Out In Beverly Hills--Two of my all time favorite things. Talking Heads doing the music for Down & Out In Beverly Hills–Two of my all time favorite things.

]]> By: Mouse http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165401 Mouse Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:46:46 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165401 Saw Steppinwolf at the Wiskey about 1967 or 68 when I was wating to catch a ship to the war zone.The club sounded pretty much like it was on the Jonny Rivers' record except it was louder & drunker!! Saw Steppinwolf at the Wiskey about 1967 or 68 when I was wating to catch a ship to the war zone.The club sounded pretty much like it was on the Jonny Rivers’ record except it was louder & drunker!!

]]> By: Mouse http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165400 Mouse Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:28:19 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165400 One would think the Amish,with all the animals they breed ,care for ,and keep,would be expert at dog breeding.In northern Ind.many are pretty shaky operations.I prefer a farm or rural breeder that has been in business for a while.They will show you all their dogs and tell you ,honestly,what you're getting yourself into.Bought a female Min Pin(Nikki)from people around New Haven last year---said she'd be a handfull for a year or so--boy were they right.Delightful dog tho & healty as hell.I think I would have a problem buying dogs from the ams,they are really tightfisted & cut alot of corners with the vet & stuff. One would think the Amish,with all the animals they breed ,care for ,and keep,would be expert at dog breeding.In northern Ind.many are pretty shaky operations.I prefer a farm or rural breeder that has been in business for a while.They will show you all their dogs and tell you ,honestly,what you’re getting yourself into.Bought a female Min Pin(Nikki)from people around New Haven last year—said she’d be a handfull for a year or so–boy were they right.Delightful dog tho & healty as hell.I think I would have a problem buying dogs from the ams,they are really tightfisted & cut alot of corners with the vet & stuff.

]]> By: sue http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165398 sue Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:43:55 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165398 A few months back one of the local Milwaukee channels did an expose on puppy mills. In one segment, the reporter followed an Amish family a la Dateline trying to get them to talk about their mill. It was a real eye opener; I never expected that. The news report either started or highlighted a movement in Wisconsin to ban puppy mills. There are enough around the State that most humane societies and shelters in Wisconsin have to deal, on an every-few-years basis, with the sad and disgusting results when a puppy mill is discovered. A few months back one of the local Milwaukee channels did an expose on puppy mills. In one segment, the reporter followed an Amish family a la Dateline trying to get them to talk about their mill. It was a real eye opener; I never expected that. The news report either started or highlighted a movement in Wisconsin to ban puppy mills. There are enough around the State that most humane societies and shelters in Wisconsin have to deal, on an every-few-years basis, with the sad and disgusting results when a puppy mill is discovered.

]]> By: Harl Delos http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165397 Harl Delos Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:36:30 +0000 http://nancynall.com/2008/03/04/my-pups/#comment-165397 basset said: <blockquote> longest one I’ve ever personally done was a couple of basset hounds, one from Columbus and the other from Pittsburgh. </blockquote> Hush Puppies just had an anniversary a couple of weeks ago - their 50th? - and a couple of basset hounds from here in Lancaster, PA were at the NYSE to ring the closing bell. They were rescue dogs. The lady who manages "my" Waffle House (there are two here in Lancaster) is involved in basset rescue. Nancy (don't know her last name) helped rescue an entire litter; the others will be used later in Hush Puppy advertising. When I went a day or two later, she plopped down an electronic brag book on my table, so I could see her pics of it. There's also a video on the Hush Puppy website. I never go anywhere without Marie. I visit Waffle House often, and get pork chops, so Marie can have the bones. The waitresses all know about Marie; Nancy even went out one day to pet her. She also turned me on to "Farley and Me". Marie came from the Humane League, but she came with papers. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly have this wonderful dog for four years, and then give her up. In any case, thank you, Ellwood and Michelle Keller. The former "Tanya vom hohlen Hugel" is happy, healthy, and highly treasured in her new home. basset said:

longest one I’ve ever personally done was a couple of basset hounds, one from Columbus and the other from Pittsburgh.

Hush Puppies just had an anniversary a couple of weeks ago - their 50th? - and a couple of basset hounds from here in Lancaster, PA were at the NYSE to ring the closing bell.

They were rescue dogs.

The lady who manages “my” Waffle House (there are two here in Lancaster) is involved in basset rescue. Nancy (don’t know her last name) helped rescue an entire litter; the others will be used later in Hush Puppy advertising.

When I went a day or two later, she plopped down an electronic brag book on my table, so I could see her pics of it. There’s also a video on the Hush Puppy website.

I never go anywhere without Marie. I visit Waffle House often, and get pork chops, so Marie can have the bones. The waitresses all know about Marie; Nancy even went out one day to pet her. She also turned me on to “Farley and Me”.

Marie came from the Humane League, but she came with papers. I can’t imagine how anyone could possibly have this wonderful dog for four years, and then give her up. In any case, thank you, Ellwood and Michelle Keller. The former “Tanya vom hohlen Hugel” is happy, healthy, and highly treasured in her new home.

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