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Family ties include dogs and cats
By Kim Campbell Thornton
June 26, 2010
There’s nothing better than picking up my dogs after coming home from a trip. Bedlam broke out Thursday night at Terry Albert’s house when Jerry and I walked up to the door and knocked. Harper was first to greet us, Twyla right behind her, not to mention several of Terry’s other canine guests. Eventually the commotion woke Bella, and she waded into the fray, too. Based on the photo Terry sent me (left), it looks like they had a great time, and I understand Harper made several playmates, including Kassie the Lab.
I missed them a lot, although I have to admit to enjoying every last minute of sleeping in, not to mention sleeping through the night. And I wasn’t dogless. My stepmother’s Toy Poodle, Spike, is about as funny and smart and cute as a dog can be. I frequently threaten to dognap him, despite his habit of howling like a Beagle. He and my dad met me at the airport, and he sat in my lap all the way home. He sat on the sofa with us while we watched the Lakers beat the Celtics, and he was on the bed while we watched one of those movies that’s so bad that you keep watching to see how much worse it gets. (On the plus side, it had a Flat-Coated Retriever in it, or a reasonable facsimile.)
At my mother’s house I got a cat fix. Amber and Tige didn’t pay me much mind, but Ted thought I was visiting just to scratch his head and pet him. He was right, of course. Who could resist such a handsome tabby? I was displeased to hear on the same visit that some relatives had “gotten rid of” their dog because they couldn’t train him. How can you not be able to train a Sheltie? Oh, right. It’s because you leave him in the backyard and don’t ever let him in the house. At least they gave him to another family, so I hope he has better opportunities with them.
Jerry was traveling, too, while I was in Oklahoma. He got his dog fix in the air between Las Vegas and OC. Southwest’s Spirit magazine focused on dogs, with a lovely piece by Kate Silver on service dogs for soldiers, in particular the story of Mya and Jacob, as well as 167 ways to love your dog, with tips, activities and quotes for dog lovers. My favorite is #20: “No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.”–Louis Sabin.
Which one’s yours?
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I always liked our friend Mordecai Siegal, who just passed away, had to say:
“Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative.”
Having just come back from visiting relatives, this really out to hit home with you!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 26, 2010 @ 6:04 am
The love of my family and my two cats makes me feel like the richest person on earth!
My cats, especially, give me emotional support—one of the big reasons I feel I need a cat or two in my space.
Comment by Evelyn — June 26, 2010 @ 10:58 am
Roger Caras, “Dogs aren’t my whole life but make my life whole.”
I met him once, back in NYC, a couple of years before he passed away. He gave me an award at the Dog Writers banquet and I was so startled I was speechless. And those who know me know that I do not get speechless. Ever. But I was that night.
Comment by Liz Palika — June 26, 2010 @ 9:52 pm
Roger Caras was a great person and a great writer in my book. Liz, you were so fortunate to meet him. He wrote such wonderful stories about animals and cared for as many as he could.
Comment by Evelyn — June 27, 2010 @ 5:46 am
I have to add: Roger Caras was a great “animalitarian”. :) (I made up that word).
Comment by Evelyn — June 27, 2010 @ 6:37 am
That would be Kallie the Lab, or Nate, or Bella, or Dottie..:) Glad the girls had fun. They should be tired!
Comment by Terry Albert — June 27, 2010 @ 8:34 am
Whether it’s dogs, cats or other beloved pets, it’s very true that our families include them. In my house, we not only celebrate pets birthdays, we often receive (thanks to other humans in the household) mothers and fathers day cards from them!
I ran across some old pictures of Sheba, my pet skunk (domestically bred)recently. There she was on her birthday, with the all natural chicken and raisin cake I had made for her and iced with colored mashed potatoes.
She’s been gone for over a year now, so I’m finally to the point where I can laugh at what fun we had together, and smile when I remember her.
Now I have my black cat Sir Spooksalot, who is truly my very best friend and who is teaching me so much, along with my white ferret, Princess Pandemonium,who is as crazy as she is beautiful, and they are every bit as much my family as any blood kin have ever been. So yes, I agree completely that family ties include our “pets”. I can’t imagine life without them. Thank you for an article that points out how important they are to us, and reminds us all of how important they really are.
Comment by Raven Fabal — June 27, 2010 @ 12:33 pm