Of Kings and Queens and Fairies’ Tails…

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At the end of the day, no matter my successes or failures, I'm greeted like a returning king; as if I had been in exile and now return in order to reclaim my throne. Eagerly they place the crown upon my head – all hail the alpha - all the while they shower me with overwhelming affection every heart should know at least once each day. I feel blessed to participate in this coronation event day after day after day.

It never grows old.

Unconditional love. There's no substitute.

If you are looking for love, adopt a pet. If you are looking to share your love, adopt a pet. If your heart is closed, hurting, aching, stinging from human cruelty, fickleness & indifference, adopt a pet.

To those of you – kings and queens alike – whose lives are made just a little more complete by their pets: Give them a little extra care today. A little more attention. Run with them, walk with them, take them to a place they've never been. A place with new smells and sights and sounds. Let them enjoy what it means to be a dog/cat/your pet here.

Do it also for those pets who are lost, homeless, scared, confused, awaiting euthanasia. Somehow, some way, I believe all life is connected. And maybe, just maybe, the love we give to our companions trickles into the hearts of those without homes, those without the love our pets receive from us.

Regardless, give 'em each a big hug for me. :0)

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), April 10, 2001

Answers

Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

I miss the little wagging tail;

I miss the plaintive, pleading wail;

I miss the wistful, loving glance;

I miss the circling welcome-dance.
- Henry Willett, "In Memoriam"

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.

Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

Sorry, I got cut off.

A close friend of mine lost his dog to torsion last week. We had an impromptu memorial service where this poem was read. I can't imagine coming home and not having my dogs fall all over themselves. No matter if I've been gone ten hours or ten minutes, they're always thrilled to death to see me.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

Tar

Torsion??? Please explain how that happened. Must have been horrible!

I can go get the mail in the afternoon, a task that might take 45 seconds, and be greeted at the door as if I was gone for 3 days.

Man's best friend?? Ain't no doubt about it!!

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

I haven't pressed him on the details. He fed his dog dry food and allowed him to drink all the water he wanted. The dog was more thirsty than usual since it's been quite warm down here. As you may or may not know, drinking a lot of water on a stomach full of dry food is a good way to get really sick really fast. The contents of his dog's stomach became bloated and the stomach began to twist. My friend noticed his dog behaving oddly and took him to the vet who immediately began surgery to try to save the dog's life. Unfortunately, the poor animal had already had part of his stomach die from the torsion and had to be put to sleep.

My friend is a wreck. His wife and son were gone to see relatives last week (it was spring break) and he had to break the news to them on Sunday. You can imagine the attachment between a five year-old and a golden retreiver. He had the vet cremate the dog and we all went down to his favorite park and scattered the ashes. Most of us brought our own dogs along, and they were eerily well-behaved (imagine a dozen or so dogs of different breeds in close proximity in a large park on a sunny afternoon). It was a very somber occasion.

My friend's wife wants to get another dog right away, but my friend thinks it would be too much too soon.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

I can't even imagine.......I'd be a wreck too if one of my buddies suffered like that.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), April 10, 2001.



Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

How many and what kind of dogs do you have?

We've got two Chows, one male and one female. They're regal animals in public, very reserved and dignified, but in private they're the goofiest things on four legs. My male likes to chase our cat. He caught her once, and licked her from head to toe, rolled her over, licked her from the bottom of her stomach to the top of her legs, shoved his nose up her butt and let her go. He stood there watching her, a big, dopey-ass smile on his face and a nice happy wag to his tail. The cat of course did NOT like this game at all. My male loves to play hide and seek- if you shout, "Olly olly oxen free," and give him two or three minutes to hide himself, you'll see what I mean. He has found some damn interesting hiding places. Once you find him, you've got to catch him (that's the other half of the game).

Our other chow is barely out of puppyhood. She loves dirt. I don't know how else to put it. A few weeks ago, she got into a bag of potting soil. She didn't swallow any, just rubbed her face in it vigorously and decided now would be a great time for a kiss. She is currently waging war on the evil sockmates. She has systematically abducted the mate of each pair of socks in the house. She will hide the sock in her mouth until she gets to the secret sock burial ground, usually in the guest bedroom. When we free the abducted socks, she find a new hiding place and begins all over again. She has recently taught us to play fetch, on her terms of course (in typical Chow fashion). She will take a spit-covered toy and slap it against your leg vigorously until you try to take it from her. Then she'll hold on for dear life. Once you throw the toy as far away from you as possible, she'll run like hell to bring it back, only to start slapping your leg again. She most likes this game when the toy is particularly spit-drenched and your leg is bare.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

One more thing...

Jane likes to say we have three dogs, our male, our female, and "Nonobadpuppy". Neither of our dogs have ever seen Nonobadpuppy, but they've noticed how excited we get when Nonobadpuppy's around.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

Tar

Now that's funny!!!!

Clapton (named after Eric) is a 13 year old yellow lab, about 90 lbs. Pretty much just a fury piece of furniture that needs a bath every week now. He can still raise a little hell but it don't last long. He was hit by a car 4 years ago, broke his tail bone and had to have his tail removed. He gets a lot of double-takes. He's also shoved his nose up a few kittie's asses in the neighborhood. Funny thing is, they come back for more. Clapton's little nub waggin' the whole time!

Huey (named for Huey Lewis) is a 2 year old Doberman, 75 lbs. Definitely not the typical 'bad-ass' doberman. All Huey wants to do is play. Play all day, play all night. Wake up at 6:00am and he's got the tennis ball in his mouth ready to go. Getting ready for bed at 11:00pm, Huey's ready to play. I've never seen a dog with more energy in my life!! And I've never seen a more loveable/affectionate dog either - he can't get close enough to you sometimes.

Not much of a watchdog either......

Took a lil' nap on the couch before The Masters Sunday. There's a knock on the screen door, I look up (groggily) from the couch and there's Huey, sittin' in front of the door, little nub justa waggin' at the salesman. Said he'd been there for a few minutes - HUEY NEVER BARKED, just wagged his damn nub.......not your typical Dobey by any means!

Oh, and when they get into it - Clapton kicks Huey's ass. I'm not sure how much longer that's gonna last, but the ol' boy can still raise some hell!

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

Oh yeah!!!

Huey's first name is 'goddamnit'.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

My Chows are terrific watchdogs, but not much for playing. They have a couple of games they like, but most of the time they just want to sit in the backyard watching the squirrels or maybe hang out at our feet. They play when they're good and ready. They absolutely despise strangers, so if anyone even looks twice at the house they'll get their guards up.

I read a story on a Chow Chow discussion group once of a woman who did breed rescue work. It's probably an urban legend, but it's funny anyway. This lady had seven Chows at one time, with the facilities to care for them, including a doggie door to the backyard. However, breed rescue is volunteer work so she also had a day job. One day, coming home from work, she noticed the house was unusually quiet. She put her key in the lock and opened the door to find only two Chows waiting for her. Both were sitting quietly, tails wagging. From the kitchen, she heard a weak voice calling for help. The dogs got up and lead her into the kitchen, where she found the other five animals surrounding a burglar who had broken in the house. She immediately called the police. When the police arrived, the first thing the burglar asked for was a chance to use the bathroom. Seems the dogs were waiting for him when he broke in. They used their teeth and their numbers to hold him hostage under the window he came through. The dogs spelled each other occasionally to go outside. There wasn't a mark on the guy, but he said he was literally in fear of his life all day and that he never thought he'd be so happy to see the police in his life.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.



Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

...including a doggie door to the backyard.

I have two dogs (miniature schnauzers) and purchasing/installing doggie doors was absolutely the best investment I ever made! I have a sliding glass door leading on to a screened-in back porch leading out to a fenced-in back yard. For those who may not be aware of it, if you have a sliding glass door you can purchase from pet supply stores an additional narrow attachable glass doggie door. It's a bit pricey but well worth it in my opinion.

After installing the attachable glass pet door and installing a pet door through the outside wall in my back porch I NEVER have to get up to let my dogs out. They come in and out as the mood strikes 'em and I never have to worry about being gone "too long" or getting out of bed before I'm ready. It amazes me that more people with fenced-in yards don't take that route.

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

CD

I gotta get me one of them things!! My boys have an auto-door opener of sorts.......me!! Huey's so damn high-strung sometimes my ass hasn't even hit the couch from letting him back in before he wants out again. And he looks at me like.......WHAT??!! SOMETHING MOVED OUT THERE....DIDN'T YOU SEE IT?!?!

I wonder if they make'em for french doors??

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

My dogs are a little too big for that, a doggie door big enough for them would be just the right size for a smallish human. I live close enough to the office that I can come home for work and I have the option to telecommute a couple of days a week, but the little guys do just fine without me. Chows are extremely clean and practically housebreak themselves, but I sure hate to think of them being uncomfortable.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.

Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

Huey's so damn high-strung sometimes my ass hasn't even hit the couch from letting him back in before he wants out again.

LOL. I imagine that's where 'Goddamnit Huey' picked up his first name. I've owned dogs in the past who used to drive me nuts with that kind of behavior. And ya can't break 'em of it either! Never again for me! I'm tellin' ya, Deano, you'll never regret getting a pet door, even if you have to end up cutting an access hole in those French doors. A little paint here 'n there and it'll barely be noticeable.

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001.


Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

Tarzan-

I'm not sure if your concerns involve having a baby 'round the house, but you might want to reconsider the idea of getting a pet door. These doors can be secured via a locking sliding panel when you need it. Also, I think you'd be surprised at how small of an opening you'd really need for a chow. I have the "medium" size door and it is much too small for a human (non-baby size) to fit through but it is large enough for a dog the size of the border collie which I dog-sat last week. Might want to check into it. One thing is gauranteed... your dogs will love it!

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001.



Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

You know, I'll look into it. The fuzzy little guys have developed a very spooky habit. When they're ready to wake up, they put their faces on my side of the bed and stare at me until I wake up. They don't whine or prod or bark, they just stare unblinking. They never do that to Jane, who's a heavy enough sleeper that she wouldn't notice. No, I get treated to a really freaky wake up call every morning. Most unnerving.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 10, 2001.

Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

LOL Tarzan!

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001.

Response to Of Kings and Queens and FairiesÂ’ TailsÂ…

I really hate to take the edge off this "dogfest", but after sitting there while my OWN dog ripped at the face of my toddler, I've never really been able to get into the love I had for THEM or the love THEY had for me. I REMEMBER it, but I ALSO remember the years my daughter spent being called "scar-face". Jeez...SHE was over that immediately, beckoning a neighborhood dog through a fence as we walked our other dogs through an alley the day after the plastic surgeon worked on her face. It's taking ME a lot longer.

When we visit a friend who saved a greyhound from death after her racing days were over, we're tempted to get a dog. Maple is so kind and loving that the memories flood over me. If I mention the thought of having a dog again, SO says, "If you'll train it, *I*'ll buy it." I dunno. It's nice to not have to clean windows, oven doors, etc., of the "nose" marks. It's nice to not have to vacuum up the hair left behind. It's even nice to know that I can wear hose without fearing claws ripping at them, or put on a nice suit without worrying about dirty "paw prints" on the lapel. It's even nice to hear the air-raid siren go off without three dogs howling in unison.

I may get over it in time, but I'm just not ready yet.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001.


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