Dogs

[papayahed]

I'm in my "I want a dog" kick again. I tagged along with a coworker to the pet shelter yesterday and I met a little cutie pie called Darla. She's 4 years old and is a Beagle/hound mix.

I'm counting on you guys to talk me out of it.

[Veho]

Don't do it!!!

My parents caved in and let my brother get a dog, just over a year ago, and they wished they hadn't. As much as they like the dogs, they think it's one of the worst decisions they've made.

If you're a busy person, always out and doing things, then I think you'd regret it and it's not fair on the dog either.

[Idril]

Oh! But beagles are just so dang cute! How can you resist a beagle?!

[applepie]

I would love to talk you out of it, but the truth is that I love both of my monsters. Even when they're climbing on my furniture, stealing bread from the counter, chewing up my clothes, and barking in the middle of the night, I still love them and would never trade them. That said, if you don't want shoes, clothes, cabinets, carpets, walls, and whatever else torn up... a puppy is a bad idea:D

[Virgil]

I'm in my "I want a dog" kick again. I tagged along with a coworker to the pet shelter yesterday and I met a little cutie pie called Darla. She's 4 years old and is a Beagle/hound mix.

I'm counting on you guys to talk me out of it.

Nothing like the love of a dog. Only way I would talk you out of it is if you won't have any time for her. If you have the time and you can afford the vet bills (which seem almost as much as doctor bills now) then you will get infinte pleasure from her.

[1n50mn14]

I LOVE my dog, but my horse is my first financial priority (unfortunately...). I love the love I get from him, and the time I spend with him, but I also have to realize that there are lots of times I wish I could just go somewhere without worrying about having to go home to let the dog out to pee, or for a walk, first.

[soundofmusic]

I think the best way to cure the "I want a dog syndrome" is to get a dog. Just think, it will make your new vacuum even more useful...:rolleyes:
:idea: Besides, a dog is much less work than a baby or a man:)

[Paulclem]

I was on antibiotics after the dog bit me over Christmas. He only bites me - I'm his chew toy.

After riding the bike and tasting milk to see if it's off - he's the most dangerous aspect in my life. And I do a lot of the walking!

I did howl. The neighbours must look at each other in that - He's been bitten again - way when they hear me cursing through the wall.

I get lots of exercise, but no holidays as my wife won't be putting him in kennels. And Jack Russels can live for 20 years. No more roaming..

Your call.:D

[papayahed]

hahaha I keep changing my mind.:alien:

[Maryd.]

I think the best way to cure the "I want a dog syndrome" is to get a dog. Just think, it will make your new vacuum even more useful...:rolleyes:
:idea: Besides, a dog is much less work than a baby or a man:)

Absolutely correct girl.

Ok P. When getting a dog, a lot must be taken in... Firstly you must think like a dog. And then way up the pros and cons.

"Hi master.... Hahahahaha, great to see you..." He/she, will be very excited when you walk out the back yard after work. He/she will probably be jumping all over you with excitement. Then you suddenly realise that you have stepped in dog poop. So you spend ten minutes cleaning your very expensive shoes. Later you have to walk your dog... Remember he/she has been couped up in the backyard all day and needs exercise. Then there is the added costs of food, a good kennel and not to mention the vet bills (ouch)


Now, think of the lonely days or sad times in your life, when you go home he/she will still be glad to see you. Your dog, won't care if you are Australian, Greek, Italian etc... he won't care if you are single or married, she won't care if you are a girl or boy. Your dog will never judge you and even if you ignore him/her, your dog will always be glad to see you. Oh and he/she won't leave home after turning is 18.

Your dog is not biased and will never ever dump you for a prettier owner. Unconditional love over powers the hard work...

Get the dog!

[Dinkleberry2010]

it can really be expensive to have a pet of any kind

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Just do it!
Trust me, you will not regret the decision.
The loyalty and trust that is gained is well worth the efforts and cost. We have two dogs an one cat.
We will typically keep at least two dogs so they will keep each other company.
Now a cat is an entirely different matter; they just assume you drop off the side of the earth for all they care.

Good luck on the decision
Gilliatt

[Virgil]

I was on antibiotics after the dog bit me over Christmas. He only bites me - I'm his chew toy.

After riding the bike and tasting milk to see if it's off - he's the most dangerous aspect in my life. And I do a lot of the walking!

I did howl. The neighbours must look at each other in that - He's been bitten again - way when they hear me cursing through the wall.

I get lots of exercise, but no holidays as my wife won't be putting him in kennels. And Jack Russels can live for 20 years. No more roaming..

Your call.:D

:lol: :lol: Oh that is funny. What are you doing to the dog that he keeps biting you? How old is he?

You reminded me of a story with my first dog Sasha. Actually that's the one in my profile picture. When she was a little pup, probably around eight or nine weeks, and we must have only had her for a week or two, one morning just before going off to work I was playing with her on the couch and I must have l layed back and she jumped on my chest. Well that startled me and I rose up while she was moving toward my face. Well her one of her tiny little puppy teeth, which can be so sharp, caught my lower lip and we when both pulled away ripped a gash through my lip. Oh God, I needed stitches and off to the emergency room. I called back to work to tell them I would be late or out, I don't recall, and told them the pup had ripped open my mouth. Oh my gosh did the rumors go around work. :blush: Ultimately the story that got the most laughs was that I was french kissing my dog and she didn't like it. :lol:

[billl]

I say go ahead and do it unless:

1. ... in the next few years you might be be moving abroad or heading off to a university, or doing something else where you can't take the dog along AND you don't have family that would be excited about still having the dog around.

2. ...you are living in an apartment and can't take your dog for a walk maybe 3 times a day (at LEAST once, with some area inside where it could use the bathroom, uh, maybe... eww.). Really, a beagle should be able to get out, and hopefully do some running at such a young age. Keeping one without a yard is a big responsibility.

3. ...there is the possibility that you and others in your home will be busy and maybe become too bored with playing with the dog, and it ends up living outside all the time, with people interacting only by dumping more food and water into its dishes.

That's all I can think of, becuase you obviously seem like a great person, and love dogs, so... I think a dog would be lucky to be with you, as long as you know what you're getting into. And, like someone else said, it isn't like having a child around, not TOO difficult. But they aren't toys, either. I'm sure you know that, sorry... :) But I volunteer at a shelter, and so I'm giving a schpiel here.

Also, here's an interesting and informative link (that you probably have seen...):
http://clubs.akc.org/NBC/NBC_FAQs.html#20

I know you said its a mix, but its some Beagle info.

[papayahed]

My biggest worry is work, for the most part I can keep normal hours but every once in a while I get stuck there, last Friday I didn't leave until 9 pm. However, would you guys believe they have dog walking services AND doggy day care??

I'm trying to remember the bad parts about my last dog, she was afraid of the dark, thunderstorms, and fireworks, she stuck her head in varnish, she swallowed a stocking and needed $600 worth of xrays only to throw it up the next day, etc..

[Shalot]

Do you live in an apartment? Does the dog have a place to poo? Will you have to pick up poo all the time.

My brother has an apartment and he got a dog. He left and she got diarrhea all over the place. Walked from room to room.

She also has some terrible gas.

she's very well behaved though. She's sweet. She's funny too. Gets very excited about youtube videos of other dogs. She goes looking behind the computer monitor for those other dogs.

So cute in one hand and poop in the other...

I hate poop. If you can deal with the poop then go for it.

[JuniperWoolf]

Don't get a dog... get three.

Big ones.

[intoxicatedsoul]

DOGet one!

[kasie]

When you've worked out whether it will be fair to the dog if you take it on - they need more than walks for 'relief', they need lots of exercise, something to keep their minds busy, they're mighty intelligent and trouble brews if they're bored, and above all they are pack animals, they need company, some even get ill through loneliness, and you work long hours and often travel for your work - then go back to the shelter and find out why the dog is there. Beagles are cute but some are bad-tempered - my god-daughter had to get rid of a much loved, very pretty little beagle pup because he was untrainable - even the expert who took him on couldn't train him - and he went for her and the children.

Please do give it lots of thought, papaya - as the RSPCA slogan of a few years ago said - 'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas'.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I'm in my "I want a dog" kick again. I tagged along with a coworker to the pet shelter yesterday and I met a little cutie pie called Darla. She's 4 years old and is a Beagle/hound mix.

I'm counting on you guys to talk me out of it.

Don't do it, animals smell and they are too much bother. Besides it would probably end up peeing on or chewing up your books. Not worth it.

[Maryd.]

Don't do it, animals smell and they are too much bother. Besides it would probably end up peeing on or chewing up your books. Not worth it.

Come on Neely, I have animals and they don't stink out the house. One who has animals must be patient enough to clean up after them. That is the way it works. You don't clean - then they smell. If you don't want them chewing your books then train them. It's just a matter of time and patience. If you lack both of these, then don't get an animal. If not, go for it.

[papayahed]

I'm ok with poo. At my first apartment my neighbors got a puppy. My dog got blamed for something the puppy did when I told the front office it was the neighbors dog they said the neighbors haven't registered a dog so as far as they knew it was my dog. About a month later I came home and there was poop all over the shared hallway not from my dog the next day I got an eviction letter. :rolleyes:

[applepie]

I'm ok with poo. At my first apartment my neighbors got a puppy. My dog got blamed for something the puppy did when I told the front office it was the neighbors dog they said the neighbors haven't registered a dog so as far as they knew it was my dog. About a month later I came home and there was poop all over the shared hallway not from my dog the next day I got an eviction letter. :rolleyes:

I would have been furious, but if they'll not even take the time to verify whether the neighbor has a pet maybe it is a good thing to not be there.

I know you've mentioned possible issues with time to spend with the dog. It sounds crazy, but you can always have two dogs so the first has a friend:) That's how we ended up with a pair of them, and they seem to do fine.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Come on Neely, I have animals and they don't stink out the house. One who has animals must be patient enough to clean up after them. That is the way it works. You don't clean - then they smell. If you don't want them chewing your books then train them. It's just a matter of time and patience. If you lack both of these, then don't get an animal. If not, go for it.

Oh, I don't want an animal, a goldfish is too much bother for me, I'm quite happy being pet less, unless I lived on a farm then I would have a few animals, just a few mind...

Really though, far too much hassle, I don't even want to think about it. Animals are rubbish.

[Paulclem]

:lol: :lol: Oh that is funny. What are you doing to the dog that he keeps biting you? How old is he?

You reminded me of a story with my first dog Sasha. Actually that's the one in my profile picture. When she was a little pup, probably around eight or nine weeks, and we must have only had her for a week or two, one morning just before going off to work I was playing with her on the couch and I must have l layed back and she jumped on my chest. Well that startled me and I rose up while she was moving toward my face. Well her one of her tiny little puppy teeth, which can be so sharp, caught my lower lip and we when both pulled away ripped a gash through my lip. Oh God, I needed stitches and off to the emergency room. I called back to work to tell them I would be late or out, I don't recall, and told them the pup had ripped open my mouth. Oh my gosh did the rumors go around work. :blush: Ultimately the story that got the most laughs was that I was french kissing my dog and she didn't like it. :lol:

:D :D
I know about the sharp teeth. We had him from 6 weeks.

He's a good house dog, but he and I have occaisional disputes - usually about who is going to have the sky remote. We argue, he makes a forceful point, and I gain the scars and I go off in a mood, muttering about mutts. He's penitant afterwards, and so we walk.http://www.online-literature.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=785&pictureid=5997

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=785&pictureid=5996

[Virgil]

:D :D
I know about the sharp teeth. We had him from 6 weeks.

He's a good house dog, but he and I have occaisional disputes - usually about who is going to have the sky remote. We argue, he makes a forceful point, and I gain the scars and I go off in a mood, muttering about mutts. He's penitant afterwards, and so we walk.

Sounds like he'd gained dominance over you. :D A good thing to do with puppies is roll them on their back and hold them there, even put your face up to theirs. It establishes early who the alpha is. Plus regular walks on the leash are good at both bonding and establishing dominance. When you come to a point he wants to turn left, you force him to turn right; when he wants to go forward, you occaisionally capriciously turn around. This establishes that you are in control. Eventually he'll yield and accept that.

[Paulclem]

Sounds like he'd gained dominance over you. :D A good thing to do with puppies is roll them on their back and hold them there, even put your face up to theirs. It establishes early who the alpha is. Plus regular walks on the leash are good at both bonding and establishing dominance. When you come to a point he wants to turn left, you force him to turn right; when he wants to go forward, you occaisionally capriciously turn around. This establishes that you are in control. Eventually he'll yield and accept that.

Yes. I'm dominant most of the time, but his is an irascible breed. He's getting better - though every time I say that we have a spat. He's very possessive of what he considers to be his stuff. Somehow this includes the remote.

I've just worked out how to upload photos - not very good ones on my phone - as evidence. :D

[Maryd.]

Oh, I don't want an animal, a goldfish is too much bother for me, I'm quite happy being pet less, unless I lived on a farm then I would have a few animals, just a few mind...

Really though, far too much hassle, I don't even want to think about it. Animals are rubbish.

Deary me Neely... Sounds like you are in desperate need of, some good old fashioned canine affection.:banana:

[Virgil]

Yes. I'm dominant most of the time, but his is an irascible breed. He's getting better - though every time I say that we have a spat. He's very possessive of what he considers to be his stuff. Somehow this includes the remote.

I've just worked out how to upload photos - not very good ones on my phone - as evidence. :D

How old is he? Hahaha, he's a chewer. Yes, that chewing puppy stage is horrible. I got better with my second dog. Or she didn't chew as much.

[Helga]

I think you should definitely get the dog. I can't imagine life without a dog. since you have already had one once you know what it takes and what you need to make both you and the dog happy so if you can fulfill that then GET IT and don't listen to the negative voices around you. my mom tried so hard to convince me not to get another one but I am SO happy I didn't listen!

get a dog, love the dog and the dog will love you more than you can imagine.

[IJustMadeThatUp]

Read: Dogs are Better Than Cats!!!

1. It's hilarious
2. You'll go get that dog :)

Hm, maybe you shouldn't read it. But seriously, if you have the time and money, DO IT! Dogs are so rewarding and you'll always have a friend. Everyday, when I come home from work, there's my little mate, super excited to see me.

[Virgil]

I think you should definitely get the dog. I can't imagine life without a dog. since you have already had one once you know what it takes and what you need to make both you and the dog happy so if you can fulfill that then GET IT and don't listen to the negative voices around you. my mom tried so hard to convince me not to get another one but I am SO happy I didn't listen!

get a dog, love the dog and the dog will love you more than you can imagine.

This is true. Once you've had a dog and love having a dog, I can't imagine life without a dog.

[NikolaiI]

It's funny you mention this! I love dogs soo much, but I can't have one where I live now. Consequently I steal love from friends' dogs. A friend of mine had two wonderful dogs, and he was also a good friend and so I would give them attention when I was there, but he moved almost a year ago. Since then I made another friend who has two dogs and I like them a lot. But I say it is interesting to see it just now because I was working for someone today and his nephew recently came to work for him also, and he brings his dog to work with him so he's not alone during the day... it is a very sweet dog, he was a Katrina rescue... anyway I am, as you can see, definitely not someone who is really able to talk you out of having a dog... unless as Virgil says you don't have time enough for him. But maybe you can find someone who works nights and wants a dog with them during the day :p then you could trade off.

Why I would not talk you out of it is because dogs are really, really good for us, physically and mentally and spiritually too, because they love us unconditionally, and that is really invaluable...

Actually I think about auras a lot, I don't know much about them, but I think about them a lot, and having a really well-behaved dog who gives a lot of love probably really improves the aura of the people in the home, and the home, etc... everything. Also you know, scientifically they have proven that so many things such as laughter, observing, performing and receiving an act of kindness, companionship, etc... and so many other things improve our immune system... for me I understand this but generally think of it in terms more of an aura... anyway it is a good idea if you can find someway so the dog's needs are also met.

I guess Ayn Rand's term "Sense of life" is another way to put it... dogs just really brighten us up and help us feel more deeply happy and peaceful.

And if what I've said makes you wish you had a dog more but you can't have one right now, at least take comfort by the fact that I love dogs so much and would love to have one, but I also can't have one. So I mean if you can't have a dog right now but you want one, hang in there... :)

[Virgil]

Oh I have to post this video. It's so touching:

http://www.youtube.com/user/virgil015#p/f/7/H17edn_RZoY

[papayahed]

This is the one that makes me want to go out and get a dog, a backyard, and a little boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_EZDBVuOk4

[Idril]

Oh, I would definitely go with the dog instead of the boy, little boys are so much more work! ;)

[NikolaiI]

This is the one that makes me want to go out and get a dog, a backyard, and a little boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_EZDBVuOk4

That is a very beautiful video... I'm really glad I got to see it. I love how the little boy is very gentle with the dog... just that a lot of times little children do not know how to be with an animals and they squeeze them in an uncomfortable place or poke them or pull their hair or something... anyway, that's really a pricleless video.

[*Classic*Charm*]

Oh! But beagles are just so dang cute! How can you resist a beagle?!

Hahaha easily!

While they are friendly and fairly easily-trainable, Beagles are extremely vocal to the point of annoyance, they're scent hounds, so you better not let it out of your sight for a second, or she'll be gone like a shot. They're very prone to skin problems, eye problems, arthritis from a young age, and epilepsy.

Not my fav breed haha, though I am definitely a dog lover.

[Virgil]

This is the one that makes me want to go out and get a dog, a backyard, and a little boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_EZDBVuOk4

Hey that looks just like my Brandi. :) Same breed of course, and I wonder if Brandi would be so patient with the boy crawling all over. ;) Thanks for that. It was heart warming. Get the boy and the dog. :p

[Idril]

While they are friendly and fairly easily-trainable, Beagles are extremely vocal to the point of annoyance, they're scent hounds, so you better not let it out of your sight for a second, or she'll be gone like a shot. They're very prone to skin problems, eye problems, arthritis from a young age, and epilepsy.


All this is true! :nod: I had a beagle when I was growing up and I have one now and yes, they are ridiculously loud, not to be trusted around open doors, not to be let off leash, our Smeagol has those skin problems and epilepsy but still, if I were to get another dog tomorrow, it would be another beagle. I'm not much of a dog lover but beagles are the one breed I truly love, which is odd since they are such a pain in the ***. :lol:

[*Classic*Charm*]

All this is true! :nod: I had a beagle when I was growing up and I have one now and yes, they are ridiculously loud, not to be trusted around open doors, not to be let off leash, our Smeagol has those skin problems and epilepsy but still, if I were to get another dog tomorrow, it would be another beagle. I'm not much of a dog lover but beagles are the one bread I truly love, which is odd since they are such a pain in the ***. :lol:

You're not helping the cause here, Idril! ;) Didn't Papaya ask to be talked out of the dog? haha

[papayahed]

You're not helping the cause here, Idril! ;) Didn't Papaya ask to be talked out of the dog? haha

Exactly!!

Update: I'm still haven't made up my mind.


On the other hand my first dog was a beagle springer spaniel mix - loved that dog!!! He was the best dog ever. I don't remember if he was a talker but he used to bolt out the gate, luckily he never went too far.

[Idril]

You're not helping the cause here, Idril! ;) Didn't Papaya ask to be talked out of the dog? haha

Oh! Is that what we're supposed to be doing? Talking her out of the dog?! But it's a beagle mix!! Normally I would be all for talking her out of it but...it's a beagle mix! :p

[Maryd.]

Oh! Is that what we're supposed to be doing? Talking her out of the dog?! But it's a beagle mix!! Normally I would be all for talking her out of it but...it's a beagle mix! :p

Hey Idril, I'm with you, Beagles are cute. Although, my girl Honey is perfect in every way.:banana::banana:

It's hard to talk Papayahed out of getting a dog, when one is a lover of dogs. We just can't do it... :banana::banana:

[The Comedian]

I miss having a dog -- but we'll probably never get one: all the women I live with have pet allergies.

[JuniperWoolf]

I miss having a dog -- but we'll probably never get one: all the women I live with have pet allergies.

Oh man, that sucks. Not having a dog would be weird.

[*Classic*Charm*]

I miss having a dog -- but we'll probably never get one: all the women I live with have pet allergies.

There's still hope Comedian! I was allergic to dogs when I was younger, but I grew out of the allergy when I started working in a vet clinic when I was 15. Just hold out for a few years and maybe you'll get your puppy ;)

I've never owned a dog because my parents weren't animal people. My mum is now that she's spent so much time with our cats (who we picked up as strays) and my horses at shows and stuff, and now with my brother's dog. I'll definitely never convince them to get a dog and I move around too much right now to get one of my own. :( It would definitely be a border collie for me though!

[LitNetIsGreat]

Forget the dog, buy a chicken. At least if it gets on your nerves you can eat it!

[Haunted]

There's still hope Comedian! I was allergic to dogs when I was younger, but I grew out of the allergy when I started working in a vet clinic when I was 15. Just hold out for a few years and maybe you'll get your puppy ;)

It's so true, allergies come and go. I was AOK when I got my cats. Then I started getting asthma attacks. My doctor and everyone else told me to give up my cats. But to me that wasn't an option. Between inhalers and nebulizers and HEPA air cleaners I survived without breaking up the family. Then my asthma cleared up and I stopped taking meds completely.

Later I took in another cat and ironically he has allergies and he's the one needing the air cleaner. Anyway I do wonder if one is exposed to allergens, one would eventually develop an immunity.

[Virgil]

It's so true, allergies come and go. I was AOK when I got my cats. Then I started getting asthma attacks. My doctor and everyone else told me to give up my cats. But to me that wasn't an option. Between inhalers and nebulizers and HEPA air cleaners I survived without breaking up the family. Then my asthma cleared up and I stopped taking meds completely.

Later I took in another cat and ironically he has allergies and he's the one needing the air cleaner. Anyway I do wonder if one is exposed to allergens, one would eventually develop an immunity.

Yes, it's possible to build up immunity to what one is allergic to. There is even a process of becoming immune to bee stings, which can be fatal for some people, by the slow and regimented absorbtion of the bee sting chemical. Of course it requires a doctor's (actually a specialist I would think) managment.

[Emil Miller]

Exactly!!

Update: I'm still haven't made up my mind.


On the other hand my first dog was a beagle springer spaniel mix - loved that dog!!! He was the best dog ever. I don't remember if he was a talker but he used to bolt out the gate, luckily he never went too far.

I'm a cat person but some friends of mine had a beagle and were spending some time in Canada so they left the dog with their son and his wife. They had a problem because the dog kept trying to escape and they had to keep it shut in the garden. One day, the wife looked out and noticed that the dog had pulled a slat loose in the garden fence and had run up onto a railway embankment where it was walking along the rail track. At that moment the London to Bath express ran over the dog and an awkward telephone call had to be made to Montreal. When they returned some time later, my friends got another dog only this time it was a labrador.

[Haunted]

Forget the dog, buy a chicken. At least if it gets on your nerves you can eat it!

:lol: Be sure you don't name it. Once you start calling it by name, you can't eat it because it's now part of the family.

[Idril]

I'm a cat person but some friends of mine had a beagle and were spending some time in Canada so they left the dog with their son and his wife. They had a problem because the dog kept trying to escape and they had to keep it shut in the garden. One day, the wife looked out and noticed that the dog had pulled a slat loose in the garden fence and had run up onto a railway embankment where it was walking along the rail track. At that moment the London to Bath express ran over the dog and an awkward telephone call had to be made to Montreal. When they returned some time later, my friends got another dog only this time it was a labrador.

My childhood is filled with memories of going out and searching for Mashooka, the beagle we had when I was growing up. My brother would go out on his bike and I would follow on foot, both of us were armed with lemon drops because Mashooka loved lemon drops. I so distinctly remember the game of 'chicken' we would play with that dog, we would all lock eyes, none of us daring to move because if we so much as twitched, the dog would take off. Our only hope is that something else would distract him and we could sneak up on him. He never got run over by a train but he did get strychnine poisoning, twice and lived to tell about it. The beagle we have now is oddly content at home, we haven't had a lot of trouble with him bolting and when he does take off, he never goes very far and as long as we have a hot dog in our hands, he comes right to us.

[IJustMadeThatUp]

It would definitely be a border collie for me though!

Hooray for Border Collies! They're definately my favourite.

[Scheherazade]

:lol: Be sure you don't name it. Once you start calling it by name, you can't eat it because it's now part of the family.Unless you name it "(Tomorrow's) Dinner" or "(Sunday) Roast", of course.

[MarkBastable]

I miss having a dog -- but we'll probably never get one: all the women I live with have pet allergies.

Lucky them; lucky you.

[Mathor]

Dogs are amazing creatures. Get one!

[kasie]

Unless you name it "(Tomorrow's) Dinner" or "(Sunday) Roast", of course.

A soft-hearted friend went to market and came home with three very scraggy-looking hens. His wife did not want them - she reckoned they had enough to do looking after the dogs, cats and horses - so she named them 'Curry', 'Marengo' and 'Fricasee'. Our friend was very sad when Curry and Marengo died (of natural causes) and insisted that Fricasee be renamed Freda - he thought maybe Curry and Marengo had died of fear. Then he thought Freda was lonely so he went back to the market and came home with Rosie and Daisy who, as far as I know are still going strong, despite being reminded that their real names are 'Casserole' and 'Maryland' if they misbehave.

[Shannanigan]

Dogs are amazing creatures. Get one!

Seconded.

Our dog "Lady" recently died, and we took her to the vet to find out the cause of death. (We suspected poisoning because next door's god had died the day before, and we had been broken into recently, and thought the perps might be planning a return. Turned out to be heartworms, though, phew!) While at the vet, he mentioned to my mother-in-law that they had a puppy in back that was adopted from the humane society, but the would-be owners had just called to say that they couldn't keep him, so send him back. The vet said that if he sent the puppy back, he would be put down the next day as is policy once a certain time has passed. My mother-in-law took the puppy home and feels like a hero - and while we don't forget Lady, "Chico" and his playful puppiness sure is helping us heal from the loss.

[MarkBastable]

We suspected poisoning because next door's god had died the day before...

I think you'll find that that's Pat Robertson's anxiety in a nutshell.

[Shannanigan]

I think you'll find that that's Pat Robertson's anxiety in a nutshell.

lol; what's funnier about that blooper is the fact that I saw it, backspaced over it, and retyped the same darned thing!

I'm leaving it...guess it was meant to be there.