An Arf-Arf Here and a Meow-Meow There... E I E I O!

[SharonDee]

I'm looking for a new home for Abby.
Takers?

[BrotherMan]

I'm sorry she didn't work out for you.

[SharonDee]

Me too!

[LadyShea]

Oh no what happened?

[SharonDee]

There was fight; the wounds to my Rottie and the sounds he made when they were inflicted ... I can't look at her the same way again.

It was my fault and the dogs were getting along again within 20 minutes of the conflict; but I am a human who can't put it behind her.

[lisarea]

It is not your fault. You are a good person, and the fact that it didn't work out and that there was a fight is a function of your being a good person and giving her a chance. That is a scary dynamic, and it's perfectly reasonable not being able to put that knowledge behind you.

I know it's going to be impossible for you not to feel bad, but please try not to feel guilty at least.

[S.Vashti]

I'm sorry for this SharonDee, I know what that's like. Not all pibbles can handle other dogs. I would feel fine with my dog among strange people, but she will try to kill any dog she can get her teeth into-nice or not, big or small- and I just have to live with that.

That means I put a muzzle on her when I go to the vet. I don't take her out of the back yard unless I have two leashes on two separate harnesses, she's a strong dog. I watch to make sure she doesn't get the idea to dig under the fence.

And I still love her, but hate what she does to other dogs. A pibble that will flop over to have her tummy rubbed by a stranger one moment, and a berserker dog-killer all in the same package.

[LadyShea]

And sometimes dogs just can't work out their own heirarchy in the household or flat don't like each other. L loves all dogs she ends up around except 1, and she just gets all up in his grill for no discernable (to humans) reason. I have to keep them separated when he visits.

Duck and Aurora had several fights before they settled whatever it was.

[vremya]

One of my kittehs is missing.

He has absolutely no outdoor instincts, so I'm terrified for his safety.

[Crumb]

That's rough, vremya. I hope your kitteh shows up...

[vremya]

He's home! He's home! He's home!

He never made it out of the back yard and we found him sitting under a bush. He's under the bed now and won't come out.

[BrotherMan]

[Crumb]

[SharonDee]

Originally Posted by SharonDee

There was fight; the wounds to my Rottie and the sounds he made when they were inflicted ... I can't look at her the same way again.

It was my fault and the dogs were getting along again within 20 minutes of the conflict; but I am a human who can't put it behind her.

Abby attacked Tibey a second time; luckily I had a better idea for separating them that worked before too much damage could be done.

But I had had enough. I talked to the guy I got her from (who said he'd take her back if it didn't work out) and admitted defeat. He took her away Friday evening and started looking for a place that would take her.

I just learned: they had to abandon the search and have Abby euthanized.

I have been beating myself up, thinking I could have tried harder or figured out a better way. She was so fucking sweet and absolutely loved people; if it weren't for those fighting instincts of hers she could have gone to almost any home.

No more words. Only

[Sock Puppet]

Hey! Stop that. That beating yourself up, that is. You tried pretty damned hard. I don't know the extent of the other guy's efforts, but I know for certain you tried a lot harder than anybody else who didn't try to make it work at all. I know I, for one, would've been one of those who wouldn't have made the attempt if asked.

[BrotherMan]

I agree with Sock.

[lisarea]

Me too. The hardest and worst part of trying to help is that sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes things go wrong no matter what you do.

That's a big reason a lot of people don't even try, but you did because you are kind and brave and you took the risk.

[S.Vashti]

Kind and loving attempted dog killer and her pet cat.

(I am so sorry, SharonDee, I keep thinking about you and how awful hard it must be. I recall the squeals and cries of the two dogs my Tally has attacked and I vow to never let it happen again. It's gut wrenching.)

[lisarea]

I have two news items today:

1. Scary news for Bort: Some other guy wanted to be the dogs' godfather, and when he was informed that they already had one, he started formulating plans to depose you somehow. I haven't and will not tell him where you live, so you should be OK. I will keep you informed of any machinations I become aware of going forward.

2. Today was bunny day. We are supposed to have five people to do the things we do, but we usually do it with four. Today, though, it was me, Matlock, and then this little tiny girl, somewhere between 12 and 15, I guess, who helps out sometimes (although she is really tough and hard working, and I was really glad when I heard she was filling in, I will say). Anyways, it was super hectic because we were so overwhelmed, and for the first time in the six or so years we've been volunteering there: A BUNNY GOT LOOSE! It was Apricot, a little bunny maybe three pounds, and she just made a beeline through the shelter directly to the floor-level cage of TWO Flemish Giants, each weighing somewhere in the range of 20 pounds, and she got in the back where we couldn't reach her, reared up, and started banging on their cage all like "HEY YOU, YOU MOTHERFUCKERS, FUCK YOU!" We lured her back with a little slice o' banana, but then, after she was back in her nice clean pen, we caught her on top of her stool rearing up like she was aiming for the pen next to her to get those guys, so we had to confiscate her stool. She is now my second favorite bunny in the shelter, after Abbott the rabbit, who was that dirty little fluffball baby back when he came in. LOL Apricot.

[BrotherMan]

You let this pretending usurper know that I said HARRUMPH. My dognieces know, and will always know, who I am and all that I have felt for them.

[Ari]

Omg bunnies can be evil, I had one that would hiss at me when out, only my Mom was allowed to pick him up.

Also I should post the story of how a rat put my GF in the hospital, so she adopted it.

[vremya]

Rigorist got bitten by a bunny at the State Fair 20 odd years ago and still carries the scar. It was an adorable black and white miniature bunny-wunny and that thing got a grip and held on.

[Ymir's blood]

He was carving his initials on it at the time.

[lisarea]

Our dogs are THIEVES and SLUGABEDS.

THIEVES
So last week, I had noticed that I had fewer avocados than I thought I'd had, but I chalked that up to either me being wrong or another human eating them.

Until Friday, when this guy Josh came over, and Flossy went into the hall closet and got him an avocado as a welcoming gift. I checked the closet thoroughly, and there were no more avocados there.

Then, Saturday, I notice, under the dining table, which is ZSA ZSA's spot, the avocado bag and avocado skins and a pit strewn around.

So, they were BOTH in on it, and they had hidden the avocados in different places around the house. I'm pretty sure that was all of them, though. Man, I hope so, anyway.

SLUGABEDS
This morning, some fucking Jehovah's Witnesses* rang the doorbell, and both dogs started barking like crazy. However, Zsa Zsa was on our bed and Flossy was in the bed downstairs in the guestroom, and neither one of them could even be fucked to get up and come bark at the door. They were just lying there in their respective beds, barking.

* I mean, I'm pretty sure it was JWs. I have taken to just making a shooing gesture through the door because fuck them. It was two old guys wearing bad suits and one had a satchel with a bunch of shit in it that he was rifling through, so whatever it was, I don't want to hear about it.

[Ymir's blood]

That might have been the God Housekeeping Prize Patrol!