Stories of Our Loving Pets

• Jake -- This is a story of how this puppy got me back on my feet and gave me a smile. It was a hard time for me. many people had told me it would take time to get going again. That was because I am in the middle of a divorce, and almost 60yrs old. I needed something to give me a reason to hope. I picked up the morning paper and began it read as usual. I had been watching the adds in the pet section. today there was one that said 5 basset puppies, call xxxxxx. I went over to check them out. there he was running around with the others but the only one that came to me. At first I said that I would come back. I had to go to the animal shelter to see if I could find a puppy to save. I had been there every saturday for 6 weeks.. no luck again. So I cam back to get the one puppy that came to me. I picked him up and went up the stairs and said, "this is the one and way we went `home'". On the way home my granddaughter said what are you going to call him? I thinks jake will fit him just fine. Jake and I have become more than friends. He has saved me from great lonelyness. He goes where I go when at all possiable. He begs and gets his treats. He sleeps in my bed. He goes out when I go out. He talks to me. He cryes. He is my life. I love him. This story doesn't have a ending. I will keep jake as long as he lives and as long as I live. We are partners and the best of friends. JAKE -- Thanks for listening - Caroljean Brislawn - email rdwr55@ia.net

• Aretha -- A true Cat's Story

• My dog Licorice - Nine years ago my husband and I decided to go to the Dog Show in Chicago just for fun. We already had a Westie named Bingo that we had adopted from Kay's Animal Shelter in Palatine, IL. We both fell in love with a beautiful black, fluffy dog which I had never seen before. It turned out to be a Belgian Sheepdog. I had never seen a more beautiful dog in all my life. We asked the breeder if she was going to have a litter of pups anytime soon. She told us that if all went well she would be having a litter of pups in January. We couldn't contain our excitement!

  Our breeder called us to pick out a puppy. All the puppies were tied with a different color string around their neck to identify them. My husband picked out the feistiest puppy with a pink ribbon. She chased all the other dogs around, even the boys! She turned out to be the most adorable dog in the world. She loved to carry empty milk cartons around in her mouth and parade them in front of us. She was the most loyal and loving pet anyone could have.

  My husband and I decided to relocate from Chicago to Florida because he has a bad back and thought he would feel better in a warmer climate. We bought a condo in Florida, and our realtor said that even the condo rules said that your pet had to weigh under 40 pounds, he didn't think that they would enforce the rule. Basically, he told us to hide her! We called the president of the association at our condo complex, and he told us that we could not bring a pet in over 40 pounds or else we would have to get rid of her. We were just heartbroken! I cried for 2 weeks, and I didn't sleep a wink.

  I didn't know what to do. I couldn't believe people could be so cruel. What's the difference between a 40 pound pet or an 80 pound pet? I would have opted out of our condo deal, but we had made a substantial downpayment which was non-refundable. I wanted to make sure that she had the very best home we could find her. I tried to call my breeder, but her phone number was no longer in use. I called the Belgian Sheepdog rescue, and lo and behold, they knew my breeder. I called my breeder, and through many tears explained my situation to her. She offered to come and pick up Licorice and find a good home for her. She told me at the time that she had Licorice's two brothers and her sister and her Mom! I begged her to take Licorice into her house. She said she would think about it. When she came to pick up Licorice, you would have thought that Licorice remembered her. She licked her face all over and treated her like she had known her all her life. It was uncanny. I knew once she saw Licorice she would never give her up for adoption. She had a big house on a half acre and had six dogs before Licorice. Since taking Licorice, she has taken another dog into her home named Jake. Jake was left at the pound, and the people at the pound know that she takes in Belgians, so they contacted her. I understand that Licorice and Jake are best buddies. My breeder is truly the kindest, most wonderful person in the world. I called her every week for the first few weeks that we were living in Florida, but I just couldn't stand talking to her. I always would break into tears. As I'm writing this, the tears are flowing. We did get another dog, a French Poodle named Pierre, and I love him very much, but one dog can never replace another. I have lost three dogs in my lifetime, and it never gets any easier, but when you know that the dog is still alive, it is much harder to let go. My breeder sends me videotapes of the dogs playing in her yard. I send her a check every couple of months to help her pay for the cost of Licorice's care.

  I know this is a long story, but I'm sure that dog lovers everywhere will empathize with me. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest! Phyllis J. Mul'e" E-mail niftyfifty1@worldnet.att.net

• Ode to Cady Cat -- DeAnna Scott.

• If you can rescue just one animal - be it cat, dog, or even a fish - do it! When my son was very young, I got him a puppy. Toby lived for 10 years and then developed cancer - it was a heartbreaking ordeal to decide to euthanize him. My son left home for college and I was left alone - no child and no Toby. For several years I couldn't even walk down the aisle in a grocery store with pet items without tears welling up in my eyes!

  Recently (almost two years ago) I remarried. We are empty nesters - my husband is from England and both his children remain there - and my son is living in another city and on his own. While we have each other we both realized that something was *missing*. We both had had pets before - and rationalized that we didn't need anything but each other! How wrong we were!!!!!

  Surfing the Net one evening I found a site for animal shelters and discovered that there was a non profit one just two towns away. These folks don't have a building - they just rescue animals, pay for their care out of their own pocketbooks, and try to find suitable homes. Well, there was an add for a 4 year old cat desperately in need of a home. Her owner had become ill and was living in a nursing care facility, and the owner's family refused to care for the cat - and just abandoned her at the vet's office. The Vet contacted the local shelter and the cat was taken in. When the add was placed, she was living in one room with three kittens, two rabbits, and a gerbil. She had never had to share before and cowered under the bed most times and got only the leavings at mealtimes.

  I called the caretaker to inquire about the cat. I was told that not only had she been abandoned, but she was blind in one eye from a disease as a kitten (the eye was saved but not the vision) and had been either abused or hit by a car and her jaw had healed poorly so she drooled. I didn't discuss her infirmities with my husband but cajoled him into driving over just to visit the cat. He wasn't sure he wanted ANY pet.

  To make a long story short - we left the caretakers home carrying a box with Katy (her name) curled up in old towels, a half empty bag of litter and a baggie of dry food to carry us through the day. She was skinny, her fur was ratty, and she was very timid. Today, as I write this, Katy is curled up on top of the desk with her one good eye peering at me. I've turned UP the radio to drown out her purring! She's gained weight - her fur is shiny and sleek - and she sleeps ONLY on my husbands side of the bed. She rides around on my shoulder and nibbles my ear whenever she can.....and loves to sit under the fern in the living room where the sun can warm her. She's brought so much to us - if you can rescue just one animal - be it cat, dog, or even a fish - do it! Your life changes and becomes so enriched! thanks to Miriam Jazuk dovenjac@webspan.net

• My Pet --A short story about my 2 pet dogs, a shit shu and a yorkshire. I became diabled 1 1/2 years ago at 56yrs. My dogs were home alone when I worked, but untill I got disabled, I didn't know how much they missed me, or how valuable they were to me. They both have there ways, but the shit-shu must sit on my lap each morning, look me in the eyes, and tells me he is also bored. How human is a dog? I had a small basel cell removed on my forhead 3 years ago, if he every licks my face it is allmost always were I had the basel cell removed (it was cancer), there is no scar or anything, but somehow he knows, there was or is still under the skin more cancer. he has his own clock, or can read mine, because within 3 minutes of 8 am, I get a couple kisses, it is time to get up. If you think a dog is just a animal, and tie them out in the cold, and only bring them in or take them for a walk when YOU FEEL LIKE IT, should give the dog to someone who really knows what a companion really is. Joseph R Holeton genlo19@idt.net

• Pet Loss -- I don't know if this is the right place to send this but I'll try. Ed and I lost our beloved toy poodle ten years ago at the age of 18 years. We talk about him often and have many photos; we grieved for a long time. Could not think of getting another pet for some time.....but we did! We now have a sheltie, 7 years old, a wonderful little dog.

  Have you ever thought of getting a bird? There are some wonderful little guys out there, smart, affectionate, and talkative; making terrific companions. It is very different from a cat or a dog, but they are loyal and loving; and they don't necessarily have to stay in their cage all the time; they can be let out sometimes. I myself have two: an African Grey and a budgie and I can't say enough about what wonderful companions they are. Let me know your thoughts. E-mail Jeanne Rubenstein -- jeanner@illuminet.net

• Mother of The Year Did you hear about a mother who went back time-after-time to save her five children from a burning building. It seems she counted noses to make sure everyone was safe. Because of her efforts, she singed her eyes and is now being given medical treatment, hopefully that will save her sight. Even though she is now homeless, thousands of people all over the world have offered to adopt this family. This devoted mom is a cat, now named Scarlet -- a hero that we could all love. She was cared for by North Shore Animal League -- Marge Stein. P.S. -- She now has a home and her kittens do also.

• My Adorable Sadie -- Sadie is a Chi Zu (I have never been able to spell that word, and I own one!) There was an ad in the paper one night from the City Pound in Ellensburg, WA for a good home for a (the word I can't spell) and we rushed right down to get her.

  Little did we know, 15 others were ahead of us. What they and what we found, was a very neglected little girl. Her hair was so matted, she sat in a corner and acted so afraid of all of us. People would take one look at her and walk away. I'm sure we were ALL expecting to see a beautiful white dog with flowing long white hair and a bow on top! There was something about this dog - we bonded - right there with all those people and the fenced pen she was in.

  We took home, shaved her hair, gave a warm bath, warm food and water. It took her 3 solid months before she started to wag her tail. That was 3 years ago. We love her so much and she wags at the sound of our voices. She is in our laps, in our bed, in our car, and on our trips. I have a small paper route and she sits on top of the bundle I place in the front seat so she can see out. What a doll. Remember, the humane society in your home town would love a senior to pick up a pet and give it a good home. Sadie keeps our blood pressure down! -- Jean Hargreaves, Bend Oregon

• A tail of a squirrel with no tail called Cyril. "Boing" down came Cyril out of the tree and under the wheels of our car. Luckily we took him to the vet and although several of his tail vertebrae were crushed. Upon the removal of his tail he was as happy as pie. Now he jumps about and happily falls from high branches onto my two children's heads. Oh joy to watch their glowing surprise. Where would we be without fluffy tailess Cyril the flying squirrel. -- tomc@zygote.hhcl.com

• The Story of Robin-- 15 year old Burmese -- by Walt Cheney
  A year ago I found Robin thin, unable to walk and very sick on a Sunday morning at 6 AM. I immediately called our vet and took her for help. She was terribly dehydrated and blood tests showed failing kidneys. We took her to Davis, California to one of the best small animal hospitals. Ultrasound tests confirmed that Robin's kidneys had failed and the only thing we could do was to inject fluid under her skin twice a day and force feed her. She would not drink or eat by herself any of the all the various cat food or human food we offered her. Then one evening, when I was having a 1/2 of a barbecued chicken for supper she seemed like she wanted some -- and eventually ate most of it. I promised her then that if she would get well I would feed her barbecued chicken three times a day. Since I had purchased 75 1/2 chicken pieces left over from our Rotary barbecue I had a supply. She got better and better. After 6 months I ran out of barbecued chicken and we fixed chicken on a rack in our oven which is very moist and good. She refused to eat it. I was thanking my Rotary group for helping Robin to get well from the barbecued chicken and one member informed me it wasn't the chicken that made her well, it was the wine sauce the chicken was cooked in before barbecuing. Robin is very healthy and heavier than ever.

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