Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Too funny! Recently, Star managed to remove a wing of Suspicious Chicken (the picture in the avatar was when Suspicious Chicken was bright-and-shiny-new!). The wing layed around the house for a while. For some reason, one day last week Star started getting all prancy, looking for something to carry around and she grabbed the poor wing. I forgot about it, until I stepped on something wet and slimy  . Yep, she ate the suspicious chicken wing, then barfed it back up for me to step in  ! Let's just say that Santa will be bringing a new Suspicious Chicken!

Tracy

My oldest cat, Oscar, has always lived with/around dogs. He lets them know who's boss. My oldest dog, Max, thinks cats should play with him. He's been with us for 12 years, and still thinks that today is the day the cats will play with him  . 

My "youngest" cat, Emily (age 12), thinks she hates all dogs. She secretly likes them, but can't let on  . She will follow both dogs around the house, and will hiss and spit if they look in her direction. But then she'll keep following them. She's such a drama queen!

My advice is to let them work it out, unless someone's always getting the raw end of the deal.

Actually, I want to put the traps in my husband's bag. He always has chocolate in there, and Star (Dane) regularly helps herself when no one is looking. I think if the bag "bit back", she'd decide the chocolate isn't worth it! Now, hopefully my hubby remembers the mouse trap is in there before he sticks his hand in it! And if my cats are digging around in his bag, well, then I guess they'll have to deal with the consequences!

Probably too much information: Star also ate an entire bag of Tootsie rolls meant for Halloween, swiped from the kitchen table (my fault, should have put it up higher). It wasn't enough chocolate to be toxic to her, and she pooped wrappers for a day. Nice visual, huh  ?

Tracy

I have to agree with Michael. The ghost picture had my daughter and I ROTFL! Then we played the game of "Guess which black dane is Gweck?" with your other pictures.

Thanks for the laugh!

Tracy

Just in case there are others out there who are concerned, let me tell you that I have been/am a member of other message boards, and the ones that have been the most valuable to me have been the ones who ask for donations to keep the community as it is. A "ticker" of who paid what makes it seem more like Michael and Jaime are providing a service for us, which they aren't. They are providing a place for us to share our ups and downs with our pets and friends. I have belonged to one board for six years, and over the years I have been asked for various contributions, which I gladly gave. The understanding has always been that those who can, will give. Those who can't, don't. I appreciate that Michael and Jaime aren't trying to turn away those who may be in a tough financial position by  posting who paid how much. No one wants to be embarrassed by how much or how little they can afford.

I have no idea how much BPO costs, but I know that they do it as a labor of love. When a friend asks for help, especially a small donation, I do not hesitate to chip in.  And, you know, if Michael and Jaime use my few dollars to get a burger and fries, it's worth it because I've seen how responsive they are to problems with the boards. I'm happy to do what I can to help.

Thanks for everything!
Tracy

Here's Star. I can almost hear her laughing!

Tracy

Just wanted to say that I have a 9 year old daughter, and spent Thursday chaperoning a fourth grade field trip. So let's just say I have a lot of recent experience with 9 year olds of all kinds, good and bad. 

Throwing rocks and opening the gate are things that a boy of 9 would think to do (although he shouldn't have actually done it). Poisoning is not, unless he is some kind of sociopath. I think that you should discuss this gate opening incident with his mother, and ask HER if a no trespassing sign would be effective with her son. Approach her as an ally rather than an adversary and I would hope she would be helpful (especially since she reacted positively toward the rock throwing incident). Also, given the way he is acting toward the dogs, I wonder if it would be helpful for him to see what it's like to have a pet. Perhaps as his "punishment" he should come over and feed and groom them (with some playing of course). That way he'll see that they are not "just" animals, but more like little people.

Hope this helps!
Tracy

I had two cats when we got our first dog, Max (who was an adult at the time). One cat had experience with dogs, the other did not, and we didn't know whether Max had ever been around cats. We set up a room with a baby gate so that the cats had a "dog-free" space they could go to. After a few months, we took down the gate and they've been living together ever since. The cats and Max are not best friends, but they all tolerate each other, and Max knows to back off when the cats tell him to. They have been living together for 11 years, and one of my cats STILL hisses at Max when he gets "too close" according to the cat. (This cat also searches for Max if he's gone to the vet or is boarded, so hissing is her way of showing affection to him!) When we got Star (adult Great Dane), the cats hated us for a while, but they got over that too!

Here are my suggestions: If your cat typically free-feeds, you'll want to put thae food in a place the puppy can't get to (most dogs love cat food). I've typically fed my cats on a table (until recently when my oldest cat couldn't jump up on the table). You may also want to put the litter box where the puppy can't get to it as well (some dogs eat kitty poop!). Making these changes before the two are living together might be easier on the cat.

Good luck!
Tracy