Dog adoption

[Bored Of Education]

Dog adoption

Actually, just as I posted that, I realised that I think it is the concept, as you are taking them from rescue homes, you have to prove your adequacy as a pet owner and not just treat dogs and cats as your personal playthings to do what you want with.

[Sits]

Dog adoption

Exactly. That's what the animal does to you.

[Janik]

Dog adoption

It is also making a point about the pet rescue centres. They are not profit making (or shouldn't be!), so the fee you pay to get an animal from them gets called by another name to emphasise this.

I don't think anyone would 'adopt' a cat or dog from a pet shop or breeder. That would obviously be a purchase.

Not all animal shelters run background checks on potential new homes. Mostly because they are fighting a loosing battle and most re-homing is going to be in the animals interests.
For example in terms of what is local to me, Cats Protection do take careful note of how potential owners would look after their new pet, even down to probationary periods and home visits (at least in the experience of a mate). But the nearest general animal shelter took little more than my name and £60 when the current beast moved from there to here.

[MsD]

Dog adoption

Janik, I was thinking of a point you made a while ago, about non-related cats not getting on. It's true in a lot of cases and people need to be aware of that. However, "my" two are firm friends. He plays a bit rough, but she comes back for more, and they like to be in the same room.

They hated each other at first sight, as in Mills and Boon, but bonded after being fed at the same time, discovering a mutual love of playing with rope (I dangled an end to each cat then gradually started letting go so they found themselves on either end) and, crucially, uniting against the two cats downstairs. They don't hate them, but they present a united front and sit together if other cats come up to the window.

Their being opposite sexes helps, I think. Milly seems to be One of Those Girls Who Don't Like Other Girls and seems to like showing off her big tough slightly abusive boyfriend. This might sound anthropomorphic but it's how they are. I know not all cats get on with other cats, but they can, is my point.

[Janik]

Dog adoption

Reading feline minds is quite a difficult thing. The signs of stress are often very subtle (or indirect like cystitis). Reading feline minds via descriptions on the internet is obviously a whole lot worse, so I completely take your word for it.

Getting non-blood related cats to bond is a very tricky business. Therefore you are due hearty congratulations for managing it. From now on I'm going to think of you as a Cat Whisperer.

[MsD]

Dog adoption

I've long been looking for my niche in life :-)

They are definitely relaxed together, I would have arranged things so they could have their own spaces if they'd continued to hate each other. She can get away if he's too much, and knows the spaces he can't fit into.

[Sits]

Dog adoption

Sometimes, being the owner of a big strong dog can be frustrating.

I took Emily out for a nice long walk this afternoon, and we were heading home. About 50 yards ahead, on our side of the road, a family was making its way from house to car, parked outside on the road. I noticed they had two pugs so, knowing Emily's behavioural tendencies towards small dogs, moved over to the opposite side and continued walking.

As we approached, I noticed some more elements to the situation:
a) the pugs were unleashed
b) efforts to wrangle them were quite ineffective
c) considering this was a family of two youngish parents and three teenagers, there wasn't a lot of control of the dogs in evidence
d) Dad in particular found the whole thing funny, calling over to me "I warn you, this one eats big dogs" to which I gave a weak chuckle.

Next thing I know the pugs are off, running across the road with one bearing down directly upon us. My normal policy in such situations is to stop, and secure my hold on Emily, attempting to ensure her head stays up, i.e. her jaws are away from the small dog(s).

This I did, and for the next thirty seconds or so, one of the pugs ran round us in decreasing circles, yelping manically and diving in to try a nip every so often. The teenage boy pathetically chasing it mumbled "Sorry" to which I replied "I'll just hold onto her."

She may have managed to get a little contact with it at one point, and I sort of hope so in a way. In the end, I gave up waiting, and literally* dragged Emily off up the street, muttering fairly audible curses not-very-under my breath.

If I hadn't been so busy trying to control the situation as it unfolded, what I wish I'd said is "if you don't get these animals under control, it's quite likely my dog will kill them". But I didnt.

*literally

[MsD]

Dog adoption

Man, I sympathise. I co-walk my friend's two chihuahuas. I'm expected to take their side in every situation, and I am fond of them, but they are sometimes in the wrong. The female has been known to run up to big dogs, yapping, and nip their nose.
The male one is getting over a (genuinely) unprovoked attack by a larger dog, so we're trying to socialise him again.

Problem is that they act worse on the leash, screaming and carrying on, or if the other dog is on the leash, so my friend likes to unleash them and hope everyone wants to make friends. Usually the male does, off the leash.

If I walk them on my own, they stay on the leash and I cross the road to avoid other dogs of any size.

As for the pugs - I don't know the stats for dog ownership, but it has drastically increased and people get small dogs seemingly on a whim. There are now many of these small breeds in rescue centres as people discover they're not that easy.

Btw, if you said what you wanted to my friend, she would react very badly indeed. It does sound a bit macho, like you're proud of having a killer dog and think the smaller dogs deserve to die. I know you don't mean it like that but please don't ever say it to people. Everyone (nearly) loves their dog and the thought of it being killed is upsetting, even if they do need a wake-up call about training.

[Sits]

Dog adoption

MsD wrote:
Btw, if you said what you wanted to my friend, she would react very badly indeed. It does sound a bit macho, like you're proud of having a killer dog and think the smaller dogs deserve to die. I know you don't mean it like that but please don't ever say it to people. Everyone (nearly) loves their dog and the thought of it being killed is upsetting, even if they do need a wake-up call about training.

You're quite right of course, it would have sounded very proud about the dog's power, even if it was coming from anger and alarm about the risk of the situation.

[MsD]

Dog adoption

I got a text from my foster cat's mum today: "Hi, I've decided to take xxx to Berlin, as I am moving in with my boyfriend. I am thinking of taking him in early May. Do you think it would be better by plane or by road?"

I've answered: "Road would probably be better, given his heart condition, but both are traumatic and ferries won't let cats travel inside, even in a container. Please ask the vet, tbh I wouldn't put a cat through it."

Shit. He is so happy and settled here, currently snoring under my desk, and the thought of him having a traumatic journey with someone he isn't currently bonded with (and living with a new person he hasn't met) is worrying. Also, three weeks ago this wasn't her plan, so I worry about the stability.

I can hope she changes her mind, for his sake. The woman who arranged the adoption is going to have a word.

I'm conflicted because I agreed to foster him, which of course means giving him back, but I also feel a responsibility to protect him.

[WOM]

Dog adoption

Kudos for guarding the fellow's Internet privacy with 'xxx'.

We fostered Mrs WOM's grandmother's cat when she was hospitalized last year. Given that she'd had the previous one put down for biting her, and had made similar noises about this one, we happily kept him when given the opportunity.

They likely bit her because she's 99% pure evil and they worked that out through experience.

[MsD]

Dog adoption

As if today wasn't bad enough, my foster boy left today.

My other little cat seems a bit depressed. She's only two, so he was here for a quarter of her life.

I'm letting her sleep on my bed, where I've just had an afternoon nap.

[Sits]

Dog adoption

Sorry to hear that MsD, I'd missed the earlier post re. Germany. I hope the foster/adoption agent had a good word with the owner before they left, to at least make the best of a bad situation.

Lavish extra attention on yours, it'll be good for you both.

[MsD]

Dog adoption

Thanks, I felt much better when his mum actually came to pick him up, she has taken on board the fact that he loved company while he was here, and also a couple of things about his diet. He will have a garden, so it's only the journey that will be a bit traumatic.

It's a shame the two cats are split up but hopefully they can both make other friends.

I still wish he could have stayed but feel much better about it than I did. I also have an invitation to visit him in Berlin.

[nmrfox]

Dog adoption

We've had Spud the staffie for just over 3 months now. After Ted passed away, we were just going to stay with one dog, but Tilly was so utterly heartbroken by Ted's death (she wouldn't walk, lost her appetite and looked so melancholy it broke your heart) that we decided that as soon as we moved house, we'd get her a companion.

Spud, who is 6 years old, had a number of owners and at some point has been used for fighting, was picked because he was good with other dogs. While he was still at the Sanctuary we took Tilly along to meet him and the two dogs walked happily side by side. He moved in with us and again, no issue with the pair of them. With a younger dog beside her, Tilly is as fit as she has ever been with us due to the speed of walks that she now goes on.

When he first moved in he was fascinated by the 3 cats, particularly Pete who at nearly 18 years old, wasn't going to give up his snoozing spot on the sofa just because Spud wanted to sniff him. Eventually bored with the attention, the old chap suddenly sprang round on Spud, stuck 10 claws in Spud's nose and settled back down again, despite the yelping noise now deafening everyone. Needless to say, Spud gives him a wide berth now and has settled with the other cats to such an extent that earlier today, he sneaked upstairs and I found him asleep on our bed (something he shouldn't do) next to our youngest cat.

[MsD]

Dog adoption

How lovely. So happy for you all.

[Furtho]

Dog adoption

Excellent news, nmrfox. You should post snaps.

[nmrfox]

Dog adoption

Thanks both. If I knew how to post snaps then I would do but am hopeless technology-wise.

[Sits]

Dog adoption

Miss Emily turns ten today (and just over three and a half years Chez Sits). Mrs. S attempted to capture a smile, but Miss Em felt the occasion demanded more gravitas. She had also discovered there was no cake:

[MsD]

Dog adoption

What a face. Happy Birthday Miss Emily.

[nmrfox]

Dog adoption

Happy Birthday Emily. I'm sure a nice piece of steak would be a more than adequate substitute for cake.

[Sits]

Dog adoption

Thank you MsD. How's your lonesome cat?

Edit: and Foxy.

[MsD]

Dog adoption



She will never forget.

She's sort of come to an agreement with a cat down the road who doesn't have any friends, either. They sometimes sit quite close to each other. But they're both girls and my girl prefers boys.

The sisters downstairs are the same age and aren't hostile, but are a bit standoffish.

[Toby Gymshorts]

Dog adoption

What a beautiful dog.

The cat's alright as well, I suppose, if allergenic.

[Furtho]

Dog adoption

Awww, beautiful creatures. Always happy to see pictures of OTF pets.