He is almost a twin to my new friend Shadow Jo, who at 9 months is a challenging handful (houseful?) that keeps me active ....but not a active as he!
My constant companion is a 14 year-old Dachshund with cataracts and no teeth, but she still seems to enjoy life. She sleeps with me at night and follows me around all day, right now she's papoosed under my shirt as I sit at the computer. I don't have a camera for pictures, but I knew there would be a twin on Google Images and sure enough here's one from Texas who looks just like her. When I saw "Texan dog," under her photo I thought for a second the strap across her chest was a holster -- open carry and all. She does have a nice cowboy kerchief.
Just an update on the 'little puppy' Shadow who is now close to one year old and has stopped growing I think (I hope!). Now a full sized dog with a lot of puppy left in him, makes for some 'interesting' moments but he is very affectionate and thinks he can still curl up on daddy's lap!
It's going on a year since anyone has posted in this thread so I'll bump it up. Read the OP and if you have any thoughts or experiences that are on-topic, please let us have them. I came here today because the topic was on my mind but then I remembered that I had posted about it before, so here we are. I'd hate to be banned for creating another duplicate thread.
Our pets are definitely family to us also. We have had the two dogs for several years, and then raised a family of feral cats, that are semi-tame, but still insist that they are wild. We put out two of those insulated little dog/cat houses for the cats, and i got one of the self-heating blankets to go inside, and the cats are really enjoying it, especially with the cold snap we are having right now. Since the cats liked it so well, I ordered one of the self-heating mats for Poodle, too. His is a soft fake fur rug, and has the metal insulation inside like they use for emergency blankets. I put it on the back of my large chair , where he often sleeps, and he seems to really like it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJQNJ25?
This is so true, captive but still like family. We do enjoy all kinds of animals but got too old for most. And it is sad how many are suffering in shelters now. Yvonne shelter is full so not taking any at all. So there are cats all over the parking lot running free. No telling how many have been hit by vehicle. If we were rich I'd take the mall, Doris Day sure had her share of them.
I know it's unpopular, but in my opinion things are way out of control. I worry that people are substituting pets for honest human relationships and diverting an absurd fraction of the economy toward conspicuous consumption of "pet crap." People are hurting, geeze. Look at the current hurricane victims without a pot left to pee in and no aid to be seen. Oh the steady whinging about the cost of housing, food, etc. People can be stupid, and swallow ridiculous media tropes. Imagining that everybody lives in a giant house, has a closet full of Nikes for each day of the month, and buys prime cuts of beef to slice and dry into doggy treats for their Bumpus Hounds.
Jacob I do understand what your saying although it isn't that people don't care as much for other humans because they love pets. Most stray animals are that way thru no fault of their own but rather the fault of irresponsible 'humans'. Far as the ones in terrible situations thru no fault of their own we are sending some to the preacher in NC soon as he returns my call from number Don Alaska gave the forum here. I used to help the homeless with clothes, blankets and food, not so much now. Jakes brother, my kids their families are all sending help to these people in N.C I was homeless with 3 kids a couple times because of childcare and bad man I choose to marry at 17. The vets we were giving to thru anysoldier,com. We don't spend money on entertainment or clothes, jewelry. People used to be too proud to beg and I was one of those people, now they are proud of begging because of all the welfare ,free food,etc,etc,etc. Now we take care of animals as they bring us more joy than most people in today's world.