Our Non-human Companions

The thread on using empty ceramic Nuavia containers as an urn to house the ashes of our cremated dogs got me thinking that I should have a thread where we can discuss and post pictures of our non-human companions.  Dogs, cats, hamsters, birds - whatever the species that accompany us on our journey, post pictures and tell stories here. 

I'll start - this is Charlie (Brown) a 12 year old Standard Poodle

So Charlie is getting a little stiff and sore in his old age and a couple of months ago he started having problems with the stairs off the deck into the backyard.  He seemed to manage down ok but up was a problem.  He'd sit at the foot of the stairs and bark until I came out to help him up the stairs.  Its funny because if it was me helping, I'd only need to give him a little tug on his collar and he'd get up the stairs but if it was my wife or daughter, he'd insist on being carried up.  What a suck!  He weighs 65 pounds so its a bit of a chore and I have to say, going outside to help him up the stairs in my pyjamas in -35 was not enjoyable.  At my wife's suggestion (repeated ) I built Charlie a ramp - we trained him on it on the flat using treats as incentive (duh) for a few days then put it in place and used the treats for a few more days and he uses it now with no problem.  An independent poodle is a happy poodle.  I lined it with solar lights so that he can see it in the dark and not try to get on or off in the middle of the ramp and fall.  I think it works well and I can happily sip my coffee in the morning without having to freeze.  win win

Dogs are some of the best people. It sux when their age starts to betray them.

A legally blind lady in my church has a colony of outdoor neighborhood stray cats. She has been feeding them for years, about a dozen more or less. I had been giving her a ride to church as she lives nearby. She became disabled and I began feeding the cats on her behalf.

There were three kittens, two black, one tortoiseshell, and due to her poor vision she couldn't tell them apart. She gives some of them names BTW. So the Tortoiseshell came walking by and she asked if it was one of the black ones. I said 'no, it's the tortoiseshell.'

She asked, 'What's a tortoiseshell?' I explained that it is a mixture of black, honey color, and orange. She said, 'Like a tangerine ?' So from that day on the Torti was named Tangerine. At some point Tangerine and I became close friends.

She has been with me now for 2 years next month. Below see Tangerine on top of the pile of blocks eating with the colony cats, and another pic of her here at the condo nowadays. BTW. the 'ear tip' is due to her being trapped by animal control, spayed, and released back where they picked her up. They cut the tip of the left ear off so they know she is 'fixed.' Popularly known among cat lovers as TNR trap, neuter, release.

The Law pack - albeit, truth told, the human significantly dilutes the gene pool.  Enzo, Duce & Coco  ALL rescues, Coco in trouble with cancer and severely abused

The Law pack - albeit, truth told, the human significantly dilutes the gene pool.  Enzo, Duce & Coco  ALL rescues, Coco in trouble with cancer and severely abused

What a good looking crew, we lost our Molly to cancer last June so now we have 2 left, and maybe a new dog tomorrow. Looks like Coco had surgery, hope everything turns out for your dog. Here is a photo of Molly.

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Pretty gal. We have lost a few, including to cancer. The pain never subsides despite passing of time; no parent should have to outlive a child. Having a machine shop mill a special urn where all will be together yet separate and have their beloved sofa cushion to share; current pack and passed love ones. In interim soliciting Nuavia ceramic jars to use as temporary urns given we are far from top priority at the machine shop.

The thread on using empty ceramic Nuavia containers as an urn to house the ashes of our cremated dogs got me thinking that I should have a thread where we can discuss and post pictures of our non-human companions.  Dogs, cats, hamsters, birds - whatever the species that accompany us on our journey, post pictures and tell stories here. 

I'll start - this is Charlie (Brown) a 12 year old Standard Poodle

So good!

Lost little Banjo 5 months ago.  That goofy Maltipoo was an awesome buddy.

Although I miss my Banjo boy a new buddy entered our lives.  Meet Duke, our standards Parti Poodle looking so busted because he's not supposed to be on the sofa.  

Our latest rescue. Just had her a month and a half