Pet Memorial Peternity Blog

Goats! A Surprise on an Afternoon Picnic

Another great story from my Peternity partner DeHaven. It makes me wistful, as I miss my fair NYC so:

I have lived in Staten Island for ten years now and one of my favorite places to spend quiet time or sit and touch the past is Fort Wadsworth up on one of the cliffs of Staten Island. The land was first fortified with a 1663 blockhouse; and Battery Weed, the magnificent structure still sitting right on the water, was started in 1806.

Today the Verrazano Bridge arches over the fort and adds to the grandeur of the place. It has the most magnificent views of New York Harbor and the skylines that surround it: Manhattan, New Jersey and Brooklyn. It is open to the public, so if you are ever out this way make a special effort to see it, you won’t be disappointed. Very few people seem to know it is there, so I rarely see anyone else around, making it feel kinda like my own secret place.

(To see more pictures, click on our "Goats" photo album over in the left sidebar.)

Why We Love Our Animals So . . .

Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear.
~Dave Barry

Have a beautiful day,

Colleen

Help Save Animals Without Spending a Dime

This is my own precious Anna, who came to me off the streets of New York.

The following was part of a recent message from The Humane Society of the United States.  Just by doing something that most of us do every day anyway, write an email or send an IM, we can:

You can support The HSUS every time you send an instant message -- and now, every time you send an email -- through Microsoft's i'm^TM Initiative! After you join, every time you IM someone using Windows Live^TM Messenger or email someone using Windows Live^TM Hotmail®, the company will share a portion of the program's ad revenue with us. We’re one of ten cause organizations that benefit from this program. There's no charge to you, and you can support our many animal protection campaigns just by doing something you do every day.

Be Kind,

DeHaven

"Just A Dog"

I would like to thank the anonymous person who penned this lovely work.  It arrived on my "virtual" doorstep unsigned and uncredited.

Just A Dog

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Molly Flanders Pet Memorial

I want to dedicate this day to the memory of one the world's darling girls, Molly Flanders.

Molly was a precious white boxer who lived happily in sunny California for almost eleven years, reining over the otherwise all male household of Glenn & Ricardo with such dignity and cuteness.

She was a wonderful older sister, showing patient with the antics of her two younger brothers, Sam & Rocky, who adored her even while tumbling over her and romping around her. She was the dearest of companions.  You could never get enough Molly, so squeezable; but she accepted all of our hugs and kisses with such sweetness.   

My friends, I know that soon the grief will be outweighed by the joy of all the "Molly Memories", but in the mean time, we share the pain of her loss and the huge gap she leaves in our lives.

Bye little girl and thank you for what you brought to the world... joy, laughter & sunshine.

DeHaven

AnnaVaccuma - This is Not a Lassie Story

Oh Dear, where have I been?

Well, a week ago Sunday I came home around 1:00 AM and found a beautiful, enthusiastic young dog with floppy ears roaming from can to can looking for garbage.  Of course I got that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and looked up and down the street for signs of a relative with a leash in hand.  Not a soul to be seen. 

You know I couldn't just ignore this sweet thing that was begging for attention, and of course food, so I brought her onto my porch.  I sat with her and gave lots of kisses, belly rubs and words of affection; made a big comfy and warm bed for her (it was a cold drizzly night), brought out some food (didn't know her well enough to bring her in with my other animals); and then went inside to tend to my own.

Don't Dogs Love Car Rides?

I am still trying to figure out this crazy dog of mine!  Same early morning scenario as 12/22.  Lured her outside at 4:30 am but she would only stand at my feet until leaving me there to return to the house.  Doesn't any normal dog at least take that opportunity for a quick piddle?  And she has another strange reluctance... doesn't want to get in the car to go for a ride.  Now what is that?!  Never knew a dog that didn't go nuts at the thought of going for a ride.  Once she is in the car she is alright, but still not enthusiastic.  Her preference is to lay right under my feet, but since access to the pedals is a necessity, she settles for flattening herself out between the seats... no watching out the windows, nothing.  Well, that is not completely true, she has tried to watch the world go by from my lap but that also seems a bit of a hazard so my lap is off limits under these circumstances.  You would think that only horrible things happened in cars.  I am now taking her to work with me, where she gets loads of attention, so I hope she starts looking forward to her four wheeled outings.

DeHaven

Black & White Cat Superstitions

• Dreaming of a white cat means good luck - American superstition
• To see a white cat on the road is lucky - American superstition
• It is bad luck to see a white cat at night - American superstition
• A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity - Scottish superstition

This must be the most helpful, so take note:

• To reverse the bad luck curse of a black cat crossing your path, first walk in a circle, then go backward across the spot where it happened and count to 13

What do you think?

This morning I actually startled a lovely black cat with round yellow eyes as she breakfasted from a bowl of food that I leave on my front porch. I will keep you updated on my financial status.

Dehaven

First Cuddle of 2008

"The smallest feline is a masterpiece"
Leonardo DiVinci

Happy 2008
I am not one for "resolutions" and don't think I ever made one for a New Year. But, let's make a promise to ourselves that we will be more aware of the creatures sharing this world and do whatever we can to maintain a planet that is healthy for all. And let's not take the ones in our own homes for granted. No matter how preoccupied, give them those hugs they so eagerly wait for, more frequent surprise walks and don't forget to keep lots of treats in your pockets.

This morning I took Tookie out for an early walk up the hill and it was so great. I could tell there was some life way off in the distance, but my neighborhood was still very much asleep. Didn't even hear a dog bark or see a cat slink under a parked car. The skies were the only things moving... dark clouds quickly passing overhead with wind whipping the trees and blowing last year's leaves up the street. It was wonderful and moody and neither of us really wanted to come back inside; but when we did, my two "masterpieces" were still keeping my bed warm and ready so I could crawl back in for the first morning cuddle of the new year.

All cozy ... DeHaven

Christmas Puppies

I was just hugging on my dog and one of my cats and thinking how lucky I am to have them.  And then I thought of all of you out there who found a squiggly package under your tree and are just starting on the wonderful journey of getting to know your new companion; all the children who are just learning the comfort and joy of having a dear little puppy or kitten curl up beside them on their pillow at night.  How much sweeter that sleep!   

Yes, there is all that training to do and the chewed up shoes to toss away, but how worth it it is!  Once the lessons are learned and the bonds are made, ahead of you lay years of laughter and friendship to enrich your life. 

Keep each other warm.

DeHaven