Showing posts with label Pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pets. Show all posts

12.04.2012

Earl Grey





In our apartment building there is a nice common area with big windows, couches, wifi, and a self serve coffee/tea bar. One day Lorelei wanted some tea so we headed over with our Starbucks mugs to get some earl grey. On the counter was a bag. At first glance I thought it was a gym bag that someone had left and someone else set it out for them to find. 

Then I looked harder. There was a note tucked inside the front pocket reading, "Hi! Read me! -Tiel". As I grabbed the note to read it (whether it was for someone specific or not was lost on me, I'm awfully curious) I realized the bag was a canvas and mesh pet carrier and there was a fluffy, beautiful grey kitty huddled against one side, terrified, in there.

I expected the note to read of regrets of moving or allergies, some reason for this poor cat to be sitting on a counter in a bag for any weirdo to take. The note was jolly, and went on about the cat's personality and needs. As I read the note I cried (that's something I do pretty easily, but this was different), out of sadness and empathy for this cat who had no idea what was going on, and out of anger that people can do that sort of thing (and do all the time). 

I called and texted David until I could get him to meet me there to see (he does maintenance in the building we live in). David's first reaction: "So do you want to take him?". He knew I did, and I don't think it bothered him much, he's kind of a crazy cat lady. 

Anyways, I brought him home and David informed the management. They found out through video footage who left him and that he had been there for an hour and a half.

Yesterday marked one week of Earl (something we always wanted to name a grey, male pet. And yeah, we talk about pet names on occasion) living with us. The first two days he didn't come out from under the crib at all so we fed and gave him water under there. Poor guy was in shock and feeling rather displaced. On the third day I took him into the bathroom and shut the door so that he could use the bathroom without feeling threatened by our toddler or two other pets. He then took up behind the toilet as his hiding spot. Eventually he moved into our walk-in closet. Finally, night before last he came out exploring the whole apartment. And howling. That boy is a talker, and he only wants to talk after everyone else is in bed. And he's loud. We've lost some sleep over it, but we're trying to learn to overlook the little quirk. He is a sweet heart.

The hardest part aside from the lost sleep is that he's not hitting it off with anyone but me and David. Our other cat, Roxy, is very interested and follows him around, but if she gets too close Earl grumbles and hisses. Then our mini schnauzer, Edith, is a very excitable little thing, and loves cats, but she is also pretty authoritative and when someone does something she doesn't like she gets persnickety. It's good when cats try to scratch on the couch and she chases them away, or when Earl is being loud and she herds him back into the closet. But she also wants to keep him from getting any attention or coming onto the bed with us. And then, Lorelei, she absolutely adores animals, all of them, and she's very gentle, but none of them want anything to do with her. Probably because she moves quickly and she's loud.

So yeah, we now have a toddler and 3 pets in our one bedroom apartment and once everyone can get along we'll be happy little clams.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of pets do you have, and what do they do to drive you crazy?

6.12.2012

A Lesson in Failure, and Hope

This isn't something I thought I'd make a whole post about on my blog, but it's been something that has weighed heavily on my mind lately. Melissa's post today, about really loving your pet, struck me. I have a dog, a 2 year old pure bread Miniature Schnauzer named Edith aka Edie (after Edie Sedgwick). I brought her home on April 27, 2010 when she was 7 weeks old, having bought her from a breeder. My reasons for getting her were good: I wanted a companion because my husband (then boyfriend) worked nights, and I LOVE Schnauzers, my first dog which is my family's pet (Mitzi, who is now 8) is a Schnauzer. When we chose Edie we absolutely adored her, she was über sweet and the leader of the litter. We interacted with her 3 times before bringing her home. She was a source of so much joy, and entertainment, and learning. I was so happy to have brought her into the little family we were forming.

Shortly after bringing her home we got married (May 7, 2010), and then found out we were expecting (May 12, 2010). I was glad to have her to practice my nurturing on during my pregnancy. Very early on in my pregnancy I had some complications very closely resembling miscarriage (that my intuition still tells me was Lorelei's twin). It had me depressed and pretty immobile for a few weeks. It also resulted in me being careful and absorbed in my pregnancy in ways that I think were detrimental to training and showing Edie enough attention.

Now, at 2, Edith is a little hard to deal with. She gets very keyed up going places on her leash and chokes herself. Her selective Schnauzer hearing makes it nearly impossible to teach her commands like "stay" or "quiet". She is slightly resentful of Lorelei, as she takes a lot of attention away from the dog, and gets grouchy at her for no good reason. The worst of it is her possessive, dominating behavior around other people and especially dogs. It's strange because up until February of this year she has lived with a total of three other dogs and several cats and never had a problem with any of them. Oh, and I almost forgot, we can't leave her at home when we go places because we live in an apartment and she throws awful noisy fits at home alone. We'd love to take her everywhere with us, but, she's noisy in the car, can't behave on the leash, and sometimes the weather permits.

We've talked about sending her to live with my parents and their two Schnauzers, we've talked about how living in a house with a yard would help, we hope getting her spayed soon will help, but I get a little hopeless sometimes. She's just very difficult.

Here's the thing: I know that at least 75% of her issues are MY fault. It makes me feel like crap. I don't want to give up on my dog because I love her, and I can't bear the thought of not having her around. When she's good she's great. She learns tricks well, she gets super excited when we wake up in the morning, she loves to cuddle, and when we least expect it she'll kiss or play with Lorelei. She has so much potential.

So Melissa's post about her Leary and loving your pets while they are here renewed me. It made me think of all the reason's I love my girl. I have new faith today to try everything in my power to make life better for and with her. I'm thankful for that. :)

Forgive the excess of pictures, I was excited to find that I had as many as I do of her!



Our Ring Bearer









Driving, on our first camping trip. :)
Going somewhere in the rattling Jeep with mom.

First Snow



Family Maternity Picture, I look ewww!

She wishes she was a cat.




Sitting Pretty

Getting her hair did!

Kisses

Sun Bathing

As I write this post...







Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...