Pets as therapists - Page 8

John1 · 11-05-2009, 06:08 PM

Here are are three pix of my Ganaraskan, Chewie, for cat and dog lovers alike. This was about his first encounter with cats. He seems to think they're OK, especially since they share their food and their beds. That's also Chewie tucked behind me in my avatar.

hopingforcure · 11-05-2009, 07:11 PM

John,
Hi John.
Chewie is just so darn cute. He just is so cuddly looking. I have a cat and a dog.. They are both such good buddies for me. I adore them, they are my constant companions. Thanks for sharing the photo's. Made me smile.

John1 · 11-05-2009, 07:54 PM

Thanks Hoping. Yep, they are wonderful companions. Chewie's fur is amazingly soft and he loves to cuddle with people. Hasn't tried it with cats yet.

KeeKer · 11-05-2009, 08:51 PM

John, How did the cats take to Chewie? Mine were ok with our dog because they were there first and were older. They don't enjoy it when she wants to play though!lol
Colleen

John1 · 11-05-2009, 10:08 PM

Colleen, I wouldn't say they took to him, they pretty much ignored him. We were staying at a friend's place and the cats were boss. They were also older. When he tried to play with them they either rebuffed him or scattered.

John

BarryG · 11-05-2009, 10:29 PM

Great new avatar Colleen, is that Tigger? It is so YOU!

rose · 11-11-2009, 06:49 PM

This picture is actually to show the new fence my son built to keep Ernie safe, and keep me from having to have him on a leash all the time. This goofy dog LOVES squeaky rubber balls, and can actually get two in his mouth at once.

thelma313 · 11-11-2009, 07:06 PM

Rose, I LOVE Ernie! He is so insanely cute.

In this picture Chico looks like he's posing for the cover of a Beastie Boys CD or something. (Check out the graffiti on a street around the corner from me.)

rose · 11-11-2009, 07:17 PM

Rosella,

OMG, he does!

Ernie got a very bad haircut the last time he was at the groomers, and I think I'm going to let him just be a wild haired shaggy dog throughout wintertime. (She did the exact opposite of what I asked for, she even gave him a poodle pouf on his forehead... sigh) Does Chico have "velcro" hair? Today I was walking Ernie, and there is a neighbor who's yard has a steep slope from the sidewalk down toward the front door, and they have very nice, luxurious ivy covering it, Well the ivy is now buried under fallen leaves, and Ernie just loves to dive it, he goes in, and all you can see is his butt up, tail wagging, then he snorts, and hops up only to dive back in. He had me laughing so hard today. When I finally convinced him to get out of their yard, he had so many leaves stuck to him, it was like he was in camouflage.

thelma313 · 11-11-2009, 08:37 PM

Rose, Ernie sounds so much like Chico! One time Chico dove into a bush and came out covered in burrs. I had to cut his fur to remove them and there were over 20 burrs stuck to him. Now that it's fall and there are so many leaves, he sticks his face in the piles daily and always comes out with at least 2 or 3 stuck to his beard. In the winter he does the same thing in the snow and he always has a snowy beard. I guess it's just the terrier in them that motivates that kind of behavior.

It is funny though isn't it? Does Ernie ever fake sneeze over a dozen times in a row? Chico does this and it is hilarious. I always say "Bless you" after each sneeze which really cracks us all up and I think that only encourages him further.. My dad always gets a kick out his sneezing fits and laughter is good therapy so you gotta love pets!

KeeKer · 11-11-2009, 10:34 PM

My dog loves to stick her nose in the snow too, but alas she is not as cute as yours Rosella and Rose! She also does the sneezing, but then she rubs her nose on the floor, back and forth with her big behind in the air.

John1 · 11-12-2009, 11:55 AM

I have sad news. The cat Butters, who is featured in the three photos at the top of page 8, disappeared this week. The cat lives in Tucson and loves to roam at night. She went out one night and never returned. My friend, who lives in Tucson, is pretty certain that she was taken by a great horned owl who roosts nearby. Another possibility is a coyote of course.

KeeKer · 11-12-2009, 01:01 PM

Hopefully the cat has just decided to have a little vacation and will return after a week or 2. Coyotes are always a possibilty. Hopefully it will just show up again.Have my fingers crossed.
Colleen

John1 · 11-12-2009, 01:16 PM

Thanks Colleen. I wondered about that too but my friend says she has been very regular about returning every evening for years. I will be there with my dog Chewie this winter and he's about the same size as Butters. I was already vigilant for coyotes and rattlesnakes but will add owls to the list. He has an encounter with cacti at the beginning of every winter and then seems to learn. I still wince when he cocks his leg over a cholla cactus though.

BarryG · 11-12-2009, 06:08 PM

John, I hope Butters comes home from his wanderings. We live in an area with all kinds of wild animals and I worry about our cat when I let him out but he is a tough beast and he is black so he is well camouflaged. Watch out for Chewie.