Nauset Kennels

It’s that time of year again - time for our 2nd Annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day here at the kennel. While we are very excited to spend a weekend with friends, colleagues and lots of dogs, we are also excited to be able to spread the word about responsible dog ownership.

We started spreading the word last weekend with our float for the Windmill Weekend Parade, where our theme promoted cleaning up after your pet. As we walked, we handed out Mutt Mitts and dog biscuits. Being responsible obviously involves more than just cleaning up after your pet, but this is a part of ownership that is commonly overlooked and is a problem that can have ripple effects on many others. If you own a dog, scoop the poop!

Our fabulous pinwheel logo represents the other six important facets of being a good dog owner:

Veterinary care
Regular bathing and grooming
Exercise
Proper Nutrition
Training
Love and attention

All are important and not one trumps the other. And realistically, the cost does not have to be exorbitant and stretch your budget, stressing you out.

Veterinary care can be expensive, but well worth it if you know what you are paying for. Do your research and ask questions. Be attentive to your pet’s dental health at home and you can save quite a bit of money while adding potential years to your dog’s life. Research pet insurance and see if it makes sense for you. Find a vet that is willing to work with you financially, but remember that they have bills too.

Bathe your dog at home. Run that brush over him often (daily is best, but I’m realistic too!!). Either learn how to give a basic dog cut or invest in regular grooming. If you want to save money don’t avoid the groomer - avoidance leads to a much more expensive grooming session and can potentially cause skin problems for your pet.

Exercise. It’s free to walk down the street with your dog or throw the ball for her in the back yard. And just think - you can save money on your own gym membership if you go for long walks with your furry friend!

Shop around for a good food for your dog. Just today a customer bemoaned the fact that the cheaper the dog food, the more her dog loves it! Not all of us can afford to buy premium dog food, nor do we necessarily need to. Again, ask around. Unless your dog has special dietary requirements, you may be just fine feeding a non-premium food.

Borrow some books and DVDs from the library on training. Ask questions of others. Find inexpensive classes and build on the foundation with practice.

Love. Free and easy to give! How can you not shower your pet with love? No matter how busy life gets, make time for your pet. It benefits both of you!

Being a responsible dog owner doesn’t require a lot of money for many of us; however, it would be foolish to assume that pets don’t have expenses. Be responsible BEFORE taking on a pet and consider the what-ifs. What if I have to move - can I bring my pet? What if my pet needs surgery - can I afford it? What if our schedules are hectic - is it fair to have a pet if I don’t have time to spend with it? The list is long and thought-provoking, but an essential first exercise in being a responsible pet owner.

Even though we are in the pet business, we are regularly amazed at how different pet ownership is these days. When I was growing up, I honestly can’t remember much about the day-to-day business of dog ownership, but I clearly remember that feeding Buckwheat, not the first dog I brought home unannounced, in the garage. I also remember having to sneak Shasta, another dog I dragged home without permission, up into my room at night. Inevitably, my mom would find her and bring her back down to, well, I’m not sure. The garage? The basement?

Today’s dog and her owner can enjoy the space saving comforts of the “Sleep ‘N Store Dog Bed Combination,” with a dog bed underneath and a storage area for all your dog’s clothes. (This is making the assumption that your dog has enough clothes to need her own closet. Again, not one of my dogs from my childhood owned clothing that went beyond a collar, and that might have been a non-existent item too!). $215 on sale.

Speaking of clothes, how about cashmere? No, silly, not for you - for the dog! For $120 you can own the finest in dog apparel. This particular style is smartly trimmed with suede and is even hand-knit. Now, I can only speak for myself; I happen to love cashmere and I’m pretty sure it loves me. My wallet, however, does not love cashmere with the same intensity, so my personal cashmere selection is somewhat small, as is my dogs’.

No cashmere would be complete without some doggy boots, labeled Air Doggy. Perfect for the day your Chihuahua is feeling the need to hit the court with her buddies! Oh, and they can be yours for more money than I spend on my children’s shoes. $45. I don’t know that my own experience will be yours, but Kirsten and I really did try booties on one of our dogs and I thought we’d just die laughing. Needless to say, he wanted nothing to do with them and managed to chew them to bits.

If you happen to be attending a baby shower for your friend’s new puppy, you might consider a dog baby cradle for $164. It is far more beautiful than what my own dogs sleep on. I may need to start shopping for some new friends who might actually spoil my dogs the way they deserve to be spoiled.

For the Oscar worthy pooch, there are gowns galore that would put the stars on the red carpet to shame. My favorite is actually a seasonal dress, but I am sure the rules in the doggy fashion world can be relaxed to allow such a fashion faux paw (!) now and then, right? Trixie’s Christmas Red Dress with Long Evening Skirt is perfect for that special event that calls for a special gown, priced at $435. Way less than Sandra Bullock spent, I’m sure!

If your poochie’s gown can’t be trampled on the red carpet by all of her fans, then stroll her down in style in a deluxe pet stroller. Most models might easily be confused with a human baby stroller, particularly since the prices are comparable. Like the human version, they set up in a snap and even have a handy tray for your coffee, car keys, etc. I wouldn’t suggest shopping with it though; many times with my human babies happily strapped in a stroller, I’d forget and toss something in on top of them. Oops! $150 for your one and only.

And every dog, no matter designer or mutt, needs a collar. The designer dog, the one whose preferences lean towards Gucci Pucci (get it?), would love to have a Turquoise Sunburst Leather Collar. This is truly jewelry. Heck, this is so nice I might wear it. Priced at $169.

So far, we’ve spent $1289 on accessories and I haven’t included the dog bowls, the food, and supplements.

My best guess on what we spent on Red, Shasta, or Buckwheat, again not including the bowls, food, and of course the supplements, which weren’t even sold for humans back then - maybe $25. Yes, $25. Granted, you probably just figure out my age based on the supplement comment, so prices were obviously less back then. However, pet ownership was also different back then.

Unlike the dogs of my childhood though, I’m really hoping that Pecan can end up at Harvard, but I’ll settle for Williams. They might appreciate the fact that his tongue is usually hanging out of his mouth.

We recently had a customer drop off his cat before a long, overseas trip. As usual, we asked about the unforseen emergency and how he would like us to proceed. Laughing a wry laugh, he said something about really only having about $100 for any such emergency so that makes it an easy decision.

Interestingly, I feel that this crazy economic time almost takes some of that pressure off of pet owners. When you don’t have money to spend on procedures, you don’t have the added pressure of trying to care for your ill pet while at the same time worrying about how in the world to pay for it.

Don’t get me wrong; in no way am I saying that a lack of money makes the process easier. However, for anyone who has ever been in that situation of having a very sick pet and wondering how to pay for it, not having the money decides for you. If you do have the money, at what point are you spending too much? When Scout was so sick, as the bill reached astronomic proportions, I would secretly worry and wonder if our credit card would go through. And then, what if it didn’t??? Would I have to look at the receptionist and say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any more money for this? I know we’ve put the dog through however many days of hospitalization and numerous tests and an exploratory, but we’ve run out of money.” When she was so sick, it was easy to say yes to the tests, to anything that would make her better. But then, each visit got harder. Would the hospital think less of us for finally saying that we couldn’t spend anymore on our dog? We own a kennel, for gosh sakes! How would that be perceived? And poor Scout; her last days would be filled with poking and prodding, not peace and love.

Another friend who has a lot more money than I do, said he would spend any amount to make his dog better. Some of my friends with less in the bank avoid the issue by avoiding the vet. If the pet is acting ill, then they try to make it comfortable and hope for the best. Others throw all reason away and yes everything that might prove to be a cure or an answer, only to then find themselves up to their eyeballs in debt.

My suggestion is to actually consider your options before anything happens, even for those of you with pet insurance. How much is reasonable to spend? At what point do you say no more, both financially and physically (thinking of the pet). Have these conversations before your emotions are involved, remembering that emergency vet care is expensive. If you and your spouse or partner are having trouble reaching a decision, do some research and talk with your vet about common veterinary expenses and those more common emergency vet expenses (cancer, renal failure, bloat, etc.). Have the serious conversation now. While you can never fully plan for anything, at least have something to work from, as opposed to sheer emotion.

Well, I am at a loss on this one. To say this is a Pandora’s box is an understatement. Yes, I am talking about organ donation for dogs.

The conversation started this morning when someone told me she had been asked to donate one of her dog’s kidneys to a littermate. I have to say I was a bit shocked, thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” To me, it is a no-brainer. I love my dogs, but wouldn’t want to put my dog through either the donor or the recipient surgery. Heck, Kirsten and I are pretty sure that we wouldn’t put one of our dogs through an amputation again after our dog Rex, but that’s another story.

Of course the friend telling me this story was initially shocked, but after some thought, she felt torn. “What if it was my own dog needing a kidney?” she asked. “How am I to give consent for a dog that can’t give consent?”

To me, this really is still a no-brainer. I can certainly understand why people grapple with issues such as this. It is a personal choice. I wouldn’t put my dog through this. Would you? What am I missing in this issue?

The holiday season is here and while we need to keep our pets safe all year, the winter holidays pose some interesting issues. If anything, we can all use a reminder!

1. Restrain yourself from “treating” your pet to holiday goodies. Instead, show your dog how much you love him by taking him on an extra long walk. Give your cat some extra attention and loving instead of human food treats. Not only is human food too rich for our pets, but so many of us go overboard with our own treats at the holidays, it is easy to lose track of just how many treats your pet is getting.

2. Mistletoe, holly, Christmas cactus, and Christmas trees can be poisonous to pets. When you look at the list of poisonous plants you might think it is a bit overwhelming, since so many of our favorite plants are on it! However, Christmas greens and the others I have listed above, while common at the holidays, are easy to control. Either don’t bring them into the house altogether, or carefully select a location where your pet can’t access it. For a detailed list of poisonous plants, complete with pictures, follow this link and under “Featured Highlights,” click on the “Have a Poison Free Holiday,” which will take you to the Poison Control Center page for the ASPCA. (Due to linking policies, I can’t provide the direct link to the pages I am referencing - sorry!).

3. Remember that some wrapped packages contain food. Sounds simple, but Kirsten and I will never forget one Christmas where, unbeknownst to us, quite a few of our package contained chocolate and other wonderful goodies. No, we truly didn’t know. (While I would like to think I can smell chocolate a mile away, I am not that skilled). We came home to two very full, very naughty, and very lucky dogs, who had spent the evening gleefully unwrapping our food presents and devouring them!

You could go to a lot of trouble trying to sniff out the food presents. You could put a baby gate around the tree to keep the presents out of reach. We’ve found that the easiest thing to do is to just crate the dogs when you leave. And to those of you who have those goody-two-shoe dogs that would never even think of grabbing a present or doing any counter-surfing, I am truly jealous! Luckily, Pecan and Scout are too short to surf, but if they could, they would! I’m sure they will be sniffing the presents under the tree!

4. Avoid the temptation to dress your dog in those adorable costumes for longer than a little while and do not leave them unattended with those costumes on. Bells, elastic materials, and pom-poms, can all easily come off and be ingested. Elastic can dig in and irritate (Do you remember any costumes throughout your life where the elastic dug in and would itch and hurt??? Think of your poor pet!).

5. Make good decisions regarding company. If your pet isn’t great with people around or if your company doesn’t love pets, try to make arrangements accommodating them. Pets can easily get stressed when new people are around or even if there are just too many people. As much as we love our pets, we crate them or bring them to the kennel when we have company. We know they are safe and not eating things they shouldn’t be and we know that they won’t be underfoot causing our guests to trip over them.

(Note: just because your guests have their own animals, does not mean they will love yours. I once sat through a very uncomfortable gathering with a lovely golden retriever who was just too much for our group that particular night. The hostess kept saying things like, “He doesn’t usually act like this.” Even though most of us have our own dogs, the dog just didn’t need to be there.)

6. Be very cautious with all candles at all times of the year. Wagging tails can easily knock over candles on low tables. Curious noses and whiskers can get burned. An inquisitive or playful animal can accidentally knock over a candle, which, if unattended, will cause a fire. I once forgot and left a candle burning in another room and only realized it when Puck, my cat, came flying into the room and I noticed that her fur had been singed. Scary to think that she could have really been hurt!

7. Be wary of placing any fragile or glass ornaments on lower limbs of your tree. Dogs and cats can easily knock them off. Our cats have always been fascinated by the tree and love batting at ornaments, often sending them flying off the tree and across the room. One of our odd dogs actually practices a dog form of tai-chi and circles the tree slowly over and over. Ornaments usually don’t survive that too well! While we’ve never actually had our entire tree tip over, we have lost ornaments and lights to our pets. The play pen or baby gate encircling the tree is actually a really good idea now that I think about it!

8. Avoid giving puppies for Christmas. Who really wants to house-train a dog in the winter? Who wants to try starting a walking program with your dog in the winter? Puppies need exercise. It’s hard enough getting my own exercise in the winter, much less making sure my dogs are fully exercised. Think long and hard about the timing of your puppy. And even though we don’t like to think this way, most Christmas presents lose their luster after the holiday decorations come down. Unless you bought a puppy for yourself under the guise of a present for the kids, you will be the main caretaker. It may take a few weeks, but you will be either feeding and walking the dog or constantly harping on your children to do so. How much nagging do you want to do?

9. At all times of the year, know what to do in case of an emergency and know some basic health signs to look for. Have the poison control number on hand: 800-213-6680. Go to their website to learn more: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

I realize that this is not a comprehensive list so I encourage you to send me your thoughts. What have I missed? What are some of your holiday stories? Have you actually used the baby gate or had to call the poison control center for your pet?

In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season. And instead of splurging on presents for your pet, I urge you to consider a donation of pet supplies to your local food pantry. You know how important your pet is to you. Help others feed theirs. This has been a tough year for many people and I’m sure their pets have helped them cope. Happy Holidays!

In June, I had a long conversation with a customer about the kennel and our surprising lack of fleas. She was trying to figure out where the fleas on her dog came from, and of course, the kennel is the most obvious choice. During our conversation, I could tell that she didn’t believe me. Who would? At the time, I really was telling her the truth.

However, it’s now August and our some of our four-legged customers are infested! The fleas are back on Cape with a vengeance. Before you go running the other way screaming, “I’m never going back there!” sit tight for a moment and keep reading.

For quite a long time, we were all given a reprieve from the fleas. In fact, we even stopped carrying flea products (no one was buying them) and the numbers of flea baths dropped significantly. Bedbugs are back, so why not fleas? And have you ever seen so many flies? Not being a scientist, I can’t tell you why they have all reappeared in such numbers. Common sense and knowledge of fleas suggests that the humidity (remember how it rained all of June?) and the warm weather have worked together to produce the flea population we have now.

The reprieve is over and we need to start being vigilant again.

While the old method of flea-bombing and using lots of chemicals worked, they filled our houses, our bodies and our pets full of those same chemicals. Most basic flea collars can also be included in that old-fashioned category (Note: there are flea collars specifically prescribed by vets that are generally considered safe for pets and people). We even stopped chemical dips because we felt that the chemicals were just too scary for both the bather and the pet.

Remember that all outdoor places can harbor fleas, including the beach, the park, the dog park, your own yard. And yes, fleas can even be found at a kennel, day care facility, or vet office. Check your dog regularly for fleas or flea dirt, even if he is on flea preventative medication. If you bathe your dog at home, let the shampoo soak for five-ten minutes. Sometimes this will cause the fleas to come to the surface and you can see them at that point. Run a flea comb through his fur looking for flea dirt. Rinse the comb in a mixture of detergent and oil to kill the fleas. After a long soak, rinse the dog well, again checking the water for flea dirt, often a different consistency than regular dirt, almost tiny granules and will turn the water a rust color. Dry the dog using a white or light colored towel if you still aren’t sure about the flea dirt.

So what do you do if you find fleas or flea dirt? First of all, assume that all pets in your house have fleas. Fleas are superb are reproducing and at evading our attempts to kill them because of their life cycle. Even though you can’t find any live fleas at a certain time, this doesn’t mean that the eggs and the larvae aren’t waiting to hatch, anywhere from two weeks to a few months. If your dog is on a flea preventative, wait 24-48 hours after his bath and reapply the product. Investigate possible places of infestation and treat those areas. Wash dog bedding frequently in hot water. Vacuum regularly, making sure to throw away the vacuum bag in a sealed bag. It is best not to let the vacuum bag sit - the fleas will find their way back to a host for their blood meal. Continue to treat and prevent adult fleas from laying eggs. Remember to include any carpeted, cloth areas pets hang out, including your car and kids’ car seats.

The website, The Dollar Stretcher, provides some great tips for flea prevention that are chemical free and are more old-fashioned than the chemicals we used to use. Read about using borax and diatomaceous earth as a carpet powder and outdoor preventative at http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010305a.cfm.

Another site, http://pet-diseases.suite101.com/article.cfm/flea_prevention_and_flea_control_for_pets, offers a veterinarian perspective. Also written by the same vet as the previous link, this article provides a concise, quick read on flea control mistakes that we all make: http://www.examiner.com/x-7468-Pet-Health-Examiner~y2009m8d24-Pet-health-101-Most-common-flea-control-mistakes. Finally, to present a balance of information, the University of Kentucky offers some tips that do involve pesticides: http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef628.asp.

And if you really want to make it easy on yourself, call Pure Heat, a locally run pest control company that uses heat instead of chemicals: http://www.capebusiness.net/article/1559.141?PHPSESSID=2757028ed20f4275772273b4760ad8cb. Tell them we sent you - http://pureheat.com.

Don’t let the fleas get you down. Talk to your vet, your local kennel or day care, or your pet store and be ready to do battle. Your pets will appreciate your efforts.

It was brought to my attention that I did not mention heat in my blog about the beach. I was asked to put a small paragraph about heat. But heat has so many implications for dogs that I thought, “Heat needs its own entry!”

So let’s start with heat and the beach. A hot day at the beach feels great for you, but remember your dog is wearing a fur coat and doesn’t sweat. While a dog’s coat does help insulate them from warm and cold weather, 70 and 80 degree temperatures are more than most dogs can stand. Dogs cool themselves by panting, so if you notice your dog panting heavily at the beach chances are he’s too hot. This then relates back to the beach blog posted below - hot dogs are thirsty dogs and will drink salt water if it’s the only thing available. So keep lots of water on hand and keep a sharp eye out for signs that your dog has had enough heat for the day.

Remember too that the breed of a dog may greatly affect how they handle heat. I have a pug and he overheats quickly and freezes just as fast. Basically he’d be happy at a steady 65 degrees year round. (But then wouldn’t we all!)

The temperature isn’t the only heat threat at the beach. Don’t forget how hot the sand gets. Your dog doesn’t get to wear flip flops and his feet are just as prone to being burned walking through the hot sand as yours are. And his feet aren’t the only thing at risk of getting burnt. Pink-skinned dogs are at greater risk of sunburn. Use a children’s sunblock on sensitive areas such as ears, noses and bellies. Some companies even make sun block especially for dogs.

Ok, so moving on to the car. It cannot be said loud enough or clear enough that a dog does not belong left in a car in the summer no matter how short a period of time. I feel very strongly about this subject as someone I know lost a dog that I loved very much (even though he was not mine) to heat stroke from being left in a car. A car reaches temperatures well over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes. Having the windows cracked open for them is just not enough. Even with the windows all the way down the car still gets hot and dogs are subject to heat stroke. A death from heat stroke is a horrible and painful way to die. Save car rides for cool days.

With that said I have listed some warning signs of heat stroke below. If you suspect your dog has heat stroke seek immediate medical attention as your vet can help lower his temperature with fluids and compresses.

Signs of Heat Stroke:
Rapid panting
Bright red tongue
Red (bright) or pale gums
Thick, sticky saliva
Depression
Weakness
Dizziness
Vomiting - sometimes with blood
Diarrhea
Shock

Go to http://www.healthypets.com/heatstroke.html for more details about heat stroke in dogs.

Keep it cool!

Jo

The last few days have been true Cape Cod summer days - humid and hot! Great days for the beach. Two of our day care families came in today talking about the consequences their dogs suffered after a trip to the beach - a horrible night of vomiting and diarrhea from drinking ocean water. It reminded me that the beach, while a fun place for dogs, does have a few hazards. Here are my top 3 things to keep in mind when bringing your dog to the beach:

1. Drinking salt water. Salt water dehydrates the body and can tax the internal organs. Within 24 hours vomiting and/or diarrhea can often occur. Bring your own source of fresh water and a portable bowl. Offer clean water to your pup often.

2. Foreign objects. Dogs go beach combing too, only they eat what they find or roll in it. Keep a diligent eye on what your dog is snuffling through. Seaweed and sponges can cause upset tummies. Shells, driftwood and other debris can lodge in their intestinal tract causing blockages. As for rolling, dead things on the beach can carry disease and parasites.

3. Sharp objects. Shells, old fish hooks, and broken glass are all hazards for dogs’ pads. Make sure to check paws over when you leave the beach. Don’t forget to look in between the pads.

The beach is a fun place for your dog to run, play and swim. Keeping him or her safe makes for fun for all!

Happy Beaching!

Jo

The news for our pet insurance agency is not good. The news for us is not good. The only good thing is that Pecan and Scout remain healthy (knock on wood please) and we haven’t had to visit the vet lately. That said, the news is not good!

So we signed up both dogs awhile ago and have yet to hear whether or not the company would cover Scout. We sent over everything they requested, followed up with multiple phone calls, but never got an answer. The pat response given by the company usually placed the blame on “missing paperwork from the vet.” Doubt that! Last week we called to cancel Scout’s policy, even though she had not been accepted as an insured. We figured that if they continued dragging their feet, pretty soon she’d hit the age cut-off and they could decline her then.

Pecan, the accepted one, poses a whole other set of problems. As a puppy, the company accepted him with open arms, probably only giving his required records a cursory glance thinking, “He’s a puppy. What can be wrong with him?” (I’m only guessing, you know). We submitted a claim for a day-long vet visit that included multiple x-rays and barium. I faxed the claim in January and the company is still waiting for “the vet to send in some of the required information.” Sound familiar? Our vet has sent in the information. I know this because I facilitated the process.

Meanwhile, while we wait, the company sends mailing after mailing, denying each and every claim. Wait. Each and every claim? We submitted ONE claim that somehow got fragmented into at least ten different claims, none of which is being accepted. How can this be?

Needless to say, we will not be continuing our relationship with pet insurance. I’m sticking with knocking on wood. It may not always work, but at least I’m saving mountains of paper and not causing more work for my vet’s office!

Oprah recently had a show where moms confessed to all sorts of things that, I think, were supposed to shock all of us. I actually had the opportunity to watch thanks to my second case of strep throat in two weeks. While I wasn’t thrilled about the show because I kept thinking, “Yeah, I’ve thought that before,” or “Yeah, I haven’t done that, but something similar certainly,” it did give me inspiration to write a new blog! Today’s entry, in homage to Oprah, is aptly titled, Confessions of a Dog Owner.

1. I like one of my dogs more than the other. Sad, isn’t it? It’s kind of that nasty secret that isn’t talked about. Pecan is just easier. He comes when I call him, he is super at the kennel and loves playing with the other dogs, he snuggles like a pro, the list goes on.

2. Sometimes I forget to feed my dogs. Trust me, my dogs used to start the pre-dinner sit-in around 2 p.m. just to be sure that I remembered. Now that we are down to two dogs, there just doesn’t seem to be that kitchen sit-in. In fact, I usually have to call them for dinner, so perhaps I can have a pass on this one since they aren’t in the kitchen to remind me?

3. I can’t stand sleeping with my dogs. It is always the same thing every night. I go into my room and find one or two of them on my pillows. They look super cute and snuggly so I figure why not? Within a few minutes, Scout is huffing and puffing under the covers because she is so darn hot, but won’t actually move to get air. At that point the bed is shaking from her heavy breathing and it feels like the quarter beds at cheap motels!! I have to give her the boot. Pecan is small, so how much trouble can he really be, right? Well, he snores like a champ and starts right as I am drifting off to sleep. He has positioned himself on my pillow like a human being, and will even nuzzle the back of my head trying to get comfy. (This all sounds sort-of pornographic, doesn’t it?!). And to top it all off, he stays comfortable for about ten minutes and then needs to re-position, tapping at my shoulder to go under the covers and then, ten minutes later, he’s back on my pillow snoring away. Arghhhhh!

4. There are those rare moments that I wish I didn’t have dogs. (Actually, that was on Oprah too, where one mom said something about actually having just a moment or two where she wished she could go back to a simpler life without kids and I was nodding along knowing that I have had that same thought once or twice). So, there it is. I’ve said it. Most of you are gasping in horror, falling to the floor, mouth agape, eyes bulging type of reaction. Some of you are actually nodding your heads, just oh so slightly. Admit it. We love them tremendously, but every rare once in awhile you think how easy it would be…

5. I’m so glad we don’t have any cats anymore. For those of you who actually knew Puck, my little black kitty, you will be totally surprised by this comment. She was one of a kind, true, but with all cats come litter boxes, wet cat food that stinks up the whole house, hair balls, etc. My daughter keeps asking when we can get another cat and my voice tells her, “Someday, honey,” but in my head I am saying, “Never!!” But we all know how persistent children can be.

6. Sometimes I like my pets more than my children. No back talk, no cajoling, no strings attached. Pets are just there to love you back. Period. They don’t need to find their own ways, figure things out, stuff like that.

7. Even after all I’ve said, my last confession is that I really can’t imagine our house without at least one dog. I always wanted a dog as a child, even bringing one home from the mall where someone was giving away free puppies. My mom had other ideas though, so we had more years without dogs than with dogs. Even without the kennel, we are animal people. At one point we had so many animals we called our house “The Zoo.” Two snakes, five dogs, and three cats kept us busy and smiling. Like I said before, we are now down to two dogs. They provide constant joy, they teach my children responsibility and compassion, they provide lots of cuddles, and who can resist a dog who snores right in your ear?