Gentle_Spirit
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Re: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
The other day I was going through some photos on my computer with my Dad and found several of my beloved boxer-lab mix, Baxter. The photos showed his life from young dog, through middle age, to very gray, although only 10 years old when he died. I've been thinking alot about him lately. Although my female chow-mix, Brandi captured my heart and Baxter was always 2nd when she was alive. I look back now, and I see Baxter as the greatest dog. So loving, such a protector of any stray, and always playing 2nd fiddle to Brandi. Brandi got mean to other dogs as she aged, but Baxter never did, he loved everyone, especially people. The night he died, Dec. 10th 2008, I was sitting in the house when my husband went outside and called me out to look; up in the sky was a very strange and interesting constellation with an orange star! I immediately felt Baxter telling me he was okay. Everynight when I take my last dog, Wolfie out, I look up and see that orange star and feel comforted, Baxter is still watching over me. I miss him.392Views0likes0CommentsRe: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
As far as the comment: "even if we can only save ONE dog, are worth all the effort".... Makes me think of Mother Teresa, she said "If you can't feed one hundred people, then feed just one." It's so true. Maybe we can't save all the strays or feed all the strays, but we can still help some. My sister just adopted 2 cats from a local shelter - they were strays, and needed to be fixed, so she paid for it all and was told to come pick them up in a week. When she went back a week later, she was told she could have one of the cats, but the other one had developed an upper respitory infection so they didn't bother spaying her and they were planning to put her down the next day. My sister had a fit and said she had paid for the cat and technically it was hers, therefore they had no right to put her down. Long story short, she was able to bring the kitty home with medication. She had paid for the spaying, but she says that cat is NOT going back there! She'll have her own vet handle that and let the money she paid be a donation. How very sad that there are so many pets in shelters that if one gets sick, they just put it down instead of nursing it back to health. The kitty is less than a year old, long haired siamese - beautiful! We need to do all we can to educate children about how important it is to spay/neuter pets. That's my mission! Maybe the next generation will be more responsible. It saddens me that I live in a very rural area, many people have outdoor "barn" cats, since the coyotes pick them off, these people don't bother with spaying/neutering these poor cats. I've had talks with people to no avail. They say they need the cats for rodent control. Why can't they put up owl boxes?323Views0likes0CommentsRe: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
I don't know much about persimmons, but a relative planted a grove of 2 different varieties and (if I remember correctly) he said that one variety had to be cooked before eating, the other variety could be eaten right off the tree and was very sweet. In response to the "sticks and bricks" question - since I have 2 horses, I don't have much choice - I'm tied to sticks and bricks! Regarding dog anxiety attacks when left alone - I have had to deal extensively with that with our dog Wolfie. Our answer was to get him a crate that we could put him in (for short periods, less than 2 hours). That keeps him safe and also keeps everything else safe from him tearing up - except his cushy $50 bed inside the crate - he tore that up, so now has a rug instead, which he has chewed a bit too! But, other than that, the crate works fine.331Views0likes0CommentsRe: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
Richard, a good idea to get Izzie adjusted to the new place would be to keep him in a small quiet room (maybe a bedroom)for several days to get used to the smells and new area, go in the room to comfort him and spend time with him, keep all his toys and bed in there and feed him in that room. After a couple days let him out (supervised only) for short periods extending the time he's out as the days go by. This should be an uneventful way of him getting used to the new house. Cats can show their discontent by going to the bathroom in inappropriate areas, so hopefully you'll be able to avoid any problems like that. Good luck! P.S. - The decorator in me loves the unpacking and furniture arranging part of setting up a new home!330Views0likes0CommentsRe: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
Richard - It might be a good idea to get yourself to an Urgent Care center (do they have those where you live?), I don't think it's a good idea to wait and see how anything that has to do with Chest Pain goes. Especially accompanied with nausea. Please take care of yourself - we are all counting on continuing to hear your wonderful stories and prayers - and you have alot of furry creatures depending on you. Also, was wondering if the cause of Anna's "stones" was ever determined. Prayers for you, Richard, as well as our troops fighting for our way of life and freedom...Happy Independance Day!394Views0likes0CommentsRe: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
For anyone interested: HOMEMADE DIET FOR DOGS: Breakfast: 1/4 cup blueberries (frozen, defrosted) 6 cherries (frozen, defrosted & chopped) 1/2 cup Plain lowfat yogurt 2 tablespoons ground flax seed 1/2 cup *meat 1/2 cup rice or cooked yams, mashed broth to moisen Everything is stirred up and mixed together or he'll won't eat all the blueberries. DINNER: 3/4 cup chopped vegies (brocoli, cauliflower, carrots, squash) 1/2 cup *meat 1/2 cup rice or cooked yams, mashed broth to moisen 2 Vitamin tablets are mixed in each feeding. He also gets one fish oil capsule and one joint compound capsule; once a day. *Meat can be cooked ground turkey, deboned boiled chicken (save broth) A few canned sardines packed in oil Scrambled eggs Boiled liver, hearts, gizzards You can also combine a mixture of the above meats to get 1/2 cup, I usually don't give a whole 1/2 cup of liver, hearts & gizzards, I'll add something else with that. I save all the broth when I boil chickens, but when I run out of that I use an organic low salt chicken boullion to make the broth. Notice that all the meat I feed is cooked - I used to feed raw chicken wings and necks on occassion as well as raw eggs, but since my dog is older now I don't do that anymore because at his age he may not have as good of an immune system to fight off any contaminants in the raw meat. I buy the vegies frozen in a very large bag, defrost and chop. The above amounts are for my 100lb dog. In addition to the homemade food, he receives one milkbone biscuit every morning and a special dental chew every evening. My vet thinks he looks great for being 10 yrs old. His teeth have never needed to be cleaned and he doesn't seem to have arthritis, although occassionally he'll limp after long hikes or when younger dog friends come and play too hard. So, there you have it! The only problem is when I have to go somewhere, I have to bag up all his feedings ahead of time for someone else to feed - but it's no big deal, I usually keep everything separate in tupperware containers in the frige anyway.289Views0likes0CommentsRe: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
My precious girl, Brandi had bladder cancer which she eventually died of. I discovered it when she peed in the snow and I saw blood. I never would have noticed it otherwise. After her surgery and all, when I needed a urine sample, I would sneak up behind her and slide an old pie tin underneath when she went potty. That worked great. Although I don't know what a simple procedure would be for a boy dog. Anywany, just thought I'd share that - if anyone has a girl dog and wants to check for blood in the urine, that's the way to do it! How old is Anna, just a few years, I think. Wonder what the cause of the stones is. Since I now only have one dog, he is fed a homemade diet and also receives a multi-vitamin. I've had so many animals come down with cancer that I've just decided a homemade diet is best. Although, I can't get one of my cats to eat anything other than cat food, so for now it's just the dog who gets homemade.287Views0likes0Comments
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Notes from the road with the best travel companions around.Dec 29, 20242,081 Posts
