Comments (4)

By Mom Unplugged, August 19, 2007 12:35 pm

I apologize for my silence these past few days, however I have been haunting the halls of the local Humane Society in a quest for a kitten. We ended up with some kittens (yes, that is plural, I really AM crazy).

We also ended up with another stray dog. We named him TJ and he is an awesome Australian Cattle Dog (also known as a “Heeler” since these dogs herd cattle by nipping at their heels). No, I wasn’t looking for another dog, and I don’t have too many cows that need herding, but here at the Humane Society you unfortunately have to walk past some dogs to get to the cat room.

With willpower, you can turn your head the other way and ignore all the dogs except for whoever is in Cage B6. I call Cage B6 “The Sucker Cage.” It faces the door so you have to look at the occupant when you open the door to enter the hallway. That is the cage my existing cattle dog Belle was in two and a half years ago when I went to adopt a cat and I ended up with her too.

TJ was also in “The Sucker Cage.” I managed to not adopt him for three days, and then I couldn’t stand it anymore and HAD to go back. Could you have refused that face?

So far he gets along wonderfully with my kids, my cats and Belle. I think he is bringing quiet Belle out of her shell a little bit. Plus, it is absolutely AMAZING to see what he can do with a ball or a frisbee. (For example: Back flips to catch in midair!) My dog-agility friend Amy is very impressed with him.

This afternoon I am taking both dogs over to her huge backyard agility field for lots of ball and frisbee time. Couch potato Belle will just want to sniff around, but TJ is going to have a blast. It’ll be fun!

Comments (2)

By Mom Unplugged, April 27, 2007 10:38 am

I have long struggled with the issue of why I am so invested in this silly blog! I wrote about it once: Why Am I Doing This?

Today a friend directed me to “blink140pnt6′s” blog Training Makes Me Hungry! Hunger Makes Me Train! Being a complete non-jock I would never normally have stumbled upon the blog of an Ironman triathlete and ultra-marathoner.

I read his post today (Good Bye, Big Dog) about having to put down his dog Drake, also known as “Big Dog.” This simple tribute from a man I don’t know, to a dog I don’t know, touched me in a way I never could have expected. I sat in front of my computer sobbing with tears streaming down my face.

Long suppressed images of beloved pets that I have had to put to sleep, flowed into memories of my mother and her final illness, and spilled out of my eyes and down my cheeks.

When a stranger from far away can reach you in your kitchen and change your day, that is a true and beautiful connection. It gives me hope for humanity and the future. Love is universal.

The internet could be a medium for such good, allowing us to reach out and connect with each other no matter where we live, what we believe, whether klutz or triathlete. This kind of experience is a reminder to me that human beings the world over share so much. Perhaps this is why I blog.

Comments (1)

By Mom Unplugged, April 25, 2007 8:52 pm

How about this?

But he won’t thank you for it.

Thanks to morguefile.com and photographer o0o0xmods0o0o (check out his website: http://www.declerkphotography.com/)