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Sunday, January 21, 2007

Bully Boy Ain't So Brave


I’d like for you all to share your trip-to-the-vet stories. I’m sure many of them will be a hoot!

Yesterday was NOT the best day for me and why I didn't post.

After work Friday, I fell asleep at my normal time, around 2:30 a.m. However, even though I was off the next night, I had to get up at 7:30 a.m. to get some things ready for The Boss to take into town. I also had to stay up, because Scooter had a vet appointment for routine annual shots and checkup. I figured that while I was near town, I should go to PetsMart and the grocery store and get it all over and done with, as my human and pet pantries were bare.

Scooter, for being the bossy, “I am in charge” type of dog he is, amazes me when it comes to getting in the car and going somewhere. He refuses to get in the car. Scooter was rescued from a highway in Nashville and might have some left-over trauma, and, I must admit, when we do go somewhere it’s usually to the vet (or in the past to weekly training with Norman). He wasn't wearing his training collar,so I couldn’t “correct” him and jerk him up and in as my trainer Norman would have ordered me to do. So, I did what I’ve done before—pick up his 40 pounds and hoist him into the backseat ( I hope Norman isn’t reading this)!

Scooter is good in the car, so the 20 minute ride was no problem. He just pouted in the backseat. When we got to the clinic, I am happy to report he actually went through the door on his own. Before training, he’d put on the brakes right outside the door; I’d get all embarrassed and have to ask someone to hold the door while I picked him up.

Once inside he was good, sitting next to me looking nervous instead of his usual look of superiority and confidence. I had to pick him up to get him on the scale, as he wouldn't step up. On the examination table he won’t stand up either; he crouches down and shakes, looking very nervous. I wish Peanut could see what a wuss Scooter is--nothing like he is at home! Everything was fine healthwise. I stocked up on heartworm preventative, Revolution for the cats and Scooter's seizure meds when I paid the bill, as well as some “spay/neuter” magnets to replace the 6 or so someone stole off the back of my car. Idiots.

As you all know, I talk a lot about The Boss and share all his faults. But I will give credit where credit is due. I was planning on taking Scooter into PetsMart with me (he’s never been) and having him wait in the car while I went to Kroger, but as I was leaving the vet clinic, The Boss called and said he was on his way home from town, did I want him to pick up Scooter? YES! And it was a good thing he did. PetsMart was PACKED; I had to park almost in the K-Mart section. The place was filled with all kinds of dogs (always a pleasure to see), but having Scooter would have made the trip far more challenging, trying to put huge bags of dog food, cat litter buckets and cases of canned food into the cart while trying to navigate the aisles jammed with dogs big and small and Scooter trotting along.

Grocery shopping. I was SO tired by this point I could have cried. I was also STARVING, because I didn’t eat before going. We all know grocery shopping while hungry is a big no-no. I get very cranky when hungry and tired, and people leaving their carts in the middle of the aisle while they browse or BS gets my blood boiling. Thankfully, I talked to a friend of mine and we met for lunch at Chili's, where I could eat, vent and wash it all down with a Bloody Mary. Again, thanks to The Boss for thinking to pick up Scooter!)

I came home, crashed early and slept until 9 this morning. Now it’s time to tackle the REST of the chores!

Picture above is of Scooter during a weekend visit to a friend’s house in Nashville.

posted by Sandy at 1/21/2007 10:09:00 AM

21 Comments:

Blogger O'Malley said...

Hahaha..you are too funny Sandy, you could be writing about my lovely attitude when I am shopping in Walmart. Unfortunately, I have yet to run into anyone to rescue me with a Bloody Mary ( or Margarita in my case)but its comforting to know that I am not the only one who detest those oblivious aisle blockers.

I just noticed your previous comment to me on another entry. Yes! You did do a story on my Cody a while back. You have an excellant memory. I kept looking at your picture and thinking you looked familiar but just figured I knew you from the vet or around town somewhere. How neat that you remember us. I saved several copies of that issue and I have a stash of many others after that story ran. I advertised in Animal Tracks for a while using Cody as my model. I think I ran ads until ya'll stopped publishing it. I loved that magazine. Any chance you will ever do anything like that again?

My funny vet visits are probably pretty typical. Cody was always elated to go to the vet. Even tho he was going through chemo there, he LOVED going. I couldn't have anything else in my hands when I took him in. He was so excited to see Dr Winn and anyone else who would talk to him, that he would pull ME through the doors and I would have to slow him down. He went in one day,jumped up to put his paws on the top of the reception counter and at the same time hiked his leg and peed all over the front of the counter. His way of saying hello I guess.

My kitty Bubba is just the opposite. He is terrified of the vet. The last visit he went on was just routine stuff. As soon as they were done examining him, he jumped up on the wall mounted shelving that houses all the vet stuff and climbed behind the computer screen and hid. He wouldn't come down so we had to get a chair, climb up and pull him out. He hissed and carried on like the big fraidy cat he is. Thank goodness he is a healthy cat and doesn't have to go very often.

Shannon

Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:12:00 PM  
Blogger Whisper said...

I think the larger the dog, the less brave they are at the vet. Max, a rescue from the streets of Fresno, CA, loves going anywhere people are. Max showed up when I was walking Aimee, a shelter rescue. He is a smallish, square little dog but his fur had mats the size of your fist. It was awful. I got him into the back yard and put food down for him and just started clipping the mats free, talking to him while he ate. His collar had a rabies tag with a phone number scratched onto it and I called the number. Disconnected. We took Max to the vet and he checked out ok. We figue the people who owned him (I use the term politely) moved and left him behind. He gets clipped for the summer but the rest of the year he looks like a little black sheep. Our dogs love riding in the car but Aimee doesn't like the vet either. Max loves the vet. He loves all the people who talk to him and pet him. He is a very social dog. He especially loves BIG dogs. I think he thinks he is one... and in his heart he may be. The one time I took him to PetSmart in Fresno, the electic door opened and scared him and he slipped his collar and I had to chase after him. People were so helpful helping me corral him so I could get his collar back on. I now use a harness on him when we go out because his neck is the same size as his head.

Larry, our senior cat, has discovered if he poops in the crate, I let him out before he steps in it and makes a huge mess. So taking him to the vet is an exercize in route planning. How to get to the vet in the shortest time possible so he doesn't have time to make a mess. So far so good. Mom 1, Larry 0.

Sunday, January 21, 2007 5:50:00 PM  
Blogger Sandy said...

I am amazed that there are dogs that LOVE go to go the vet! They would make great therapy dogs. Peanut and Zoe are fine at the vet. They aren't "happy" and excited to see everyone, but they don't act anything like Scooter!

Shannon, I hope in the future that more animal issues or something like Animal Tracks might happen again. I appreciated everyone who advertised in it. That was the problem back then, not enough advertising support. But things have changed since then. And maybe if this blog gets lots of hits and participation, it will show there is a demand out there for more pet-related news, so keep coming and intive your friends!. Hint, hint. LOL. Keep a lookout for the newly designed Leaf-Chronicle which is coming soon. I hope to have a print presence there tied to this blog. And Cody, I remember his cancer and picture from the cover, of him on the exam table. I still have a copy of every issue somehwere. What a wonderful story you two made. One day we'll have to have a gathering of Pet People people so we can all meet the other pet crazies out there!

Alice, I love hearing such rescue stories, like Max's. I always think of these success stories when I'm feeling discouraged about the sate of affairs in this community when it comes to animal welfare.

I know what you mean about cats at the vet! I take Tarzan and Catfish together. Tarzan meows his head off LOUD and CONSTANTLY all the way there, it drives me NUTS. They are both nonagressive at the vet once out if the carrier. But Catfish has always been skittish and last time he clug to the carrier holes in the side so tight that we couldn't get him out. Had to take the carrier apart to pry him off!

That is too funny about poor Larry pooping in the crate. I feel your pain, truly, but I can't help but chuckle at the way you phrased it.

Sunday, January 21, 2007 6:19:00 PM  
Blogger Stacey said...

Shannon, any time you need to be rescued with a margarita, I'm your girl!! I prefer peach though!

All three of my cats freak out when they go to the vet. Since I have a pet sitter that comes to my home when we go somewhere, the vet is the only time the cats ever take a trip. I have to try to hide the carrier when I bring it down from the attic. I usually have to let it sit in the floor for several days so they think it's innocent, otherwise I can't get any of them captured.

Casper will also poop in the carrier if I don't watch it. That's a relatively new thing, I don't know if it's deliberate or involuntary. But, Ranger takes the cake. He is my big boy, upwards of 15 pounds. It's like wranging a bobcat to get him in the carrier, but even harder to get him out at the vet. He plants his back feet on either side of the doorway and WILL NOT BUDGE! It usually takes me and the vet tech, one grabbing him at the mid section and the other trying to dislodge those big feet. We have had to call in reinforcements before. Sandy, I never thought about taking the carrier apart. Might do that next time if it gets out of hand.

The dogs don't mind so much. They love to go ride in the car. Lucy is still pretty skittish in strange places, but Reb doesn't care. He is so mellow. Besides, thanks to Daddy and their Saturday excursions to the Pet Food Center for baths, they equate a road trip with Krystal!! That is their reward for being good at bath time. They hit the Krystal drive thru on the way home. Plain, no mustard or onions for these pooches. So, that has become required behavior for a good vet visit also.

Monday, January 22, 2007 8:49:00 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

My cats cry all the way to the vet and usually on the way back home. It's funny how our pets all know where they are going when they do go to the vet.

As I've shared befor our daughter's father-in-law is out vet. Sometimes we share baby sitting our Grand dog Roxie. When I take Roxie to the clinic to spend the day so she can go home with him she learns real quick where we are going. His clinic is on Kraft street and when we get to the stoplight by the Co-Op Roxie starts crying and she gets really pityful. I feel bad for her. She knows when she gets to the clinic she will have to spend most of the day in a kennel and she hates that. The good part though is when they let her oout she gets to play with thier dog Maggie ( another standard poodle ) and they have a blast together. She loves going home with Maggie. It's funny though how she knows exzactly where we are when we get to that light. By the time we get to the clinic she is crying like a baby. You'd think she was going to be tortured. She is a sweet dog who thinks she is a cat because when she came along my daughters cats were about two years old and bigger than her. So Roxie grew up thinking she is just a big kitty.
Roxie also ahs the bad habit of following every step you take. You can't even go to the bathroom without her. She drives me nuts sometimes and that isn't far to go,ha. She's a good dog and we love her.

Monday, January 22, 2007 8:55:00 AM  
Blogger Sandy said...

Oh, I know all about the shadow dogs. I feel like the pied Piper with them following me most everywhere I go. It's so funny, they come in the office when I'm on the computer. I have AOL and when I sign off and they hear the "good bye" voice, they immediately jump up because they know that's a sign I'm getting off and leaving the office!

Zoe loves the bathroom, because she loves to lick the lotion off my legs after a shower! And you can't even sit on the can without them coming to see what they might be missing! LOL.

Monday, January 22, 2007 11:28:00 AM  
Blogger Stacey said...

I understand the bathroom thing. Since it's just me and my husband, we never shut the bathroom door unless we have company. So, lordy, those cats DO NOT LIKE it when that bathroom door is closed. They will stick feet and legs under the door and Casper does his big pitiful meow voice.

They must think we're plotting against them in there or something.

Monday, January 22, 2007 1:02:00 PM  
Blogger Adrienne said...

I'm sitting here reading this and thinking thank god I’m not the only one! I took Oscar to the vet on Friday because he has a skin allergy to flee shampoo that I didn't know about. Being from Colorado originally and now living in Virginia, I’ve never had to deal with flees until now. He sat in my lap shaking the entire time. I was equally embarrassed when the vet came into the room and he peed on the table. The last time he was at the vet was to be neutered, so I guess I’d be nervous too.

A friend of mine who knows how crazy I am about my kids sent me this email and I had to share to with all of you. I laughed so hard because it is so true. I hope you all like it as much as I did.

Dear Dog,


The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The
other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw
print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it
becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack.
Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help
because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry
about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to
ensure your comfort. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they
sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other
stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that
sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other
end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by
some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is
not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob or get your paw
under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the
same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years
--canine attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog's butt. I
cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pet, I have posted the following message on our
front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets

1. They live here You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the
furniture . (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter
who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: Dogs are better than kids because they:

1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Usually come when called
5. Never drive your car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Monday, January 22, 2007 1:41:00 PM  
Blogger Sandy said...

I love them all, all but the last one of course! Spay and Neuter! :)

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 12:08:00 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

Got to complain a bit on the computer and bathroom situations. My Brittany drives me nuts when I'm on the computer. She has a spot on the desk where she can just as happy as a clam but will she stay there? Not! She has to get up and walk back and forth in front of the monitor when I'm trying to read or write, it is maddening! I sit her down over and over again. I tell her to sit or git! She just ignors me and if I put her down in the floor she is right back up agin. She has a perfectly good window cat bed in the room that she loves but most of the time she has to be right in front of me. Now sometimes she decides she has to give me tons of love while I'm trying to type too. She will rub all over my face and cuddle but if I want her to do that will she? Of course not, everything has to be on the cats terms.
Her otehr thing is for some crazy reason she likes to shut the bathroom door with her inside. Then she wants out but of course can't open the door so she gets on the sink and jumps onto the door, guess she is trying to break it down,ha. Sometimes she'll cry a little but mostly just jumps on the door. We finally got door jams to keep the doors open so she can't lock herself in. If she goes in with me she has to close the door for me. She stretches and stands up on the door to push it shut.
All three of the girls like to play through the crack in the door but I discourage this because I'm afraid they will get thier paws shut up. We just keep the door to our hall bath downstairs closed all the time. They have other quirks and frustrating things to tell you about but will save them for another time.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 9:48:00 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

P.S When Sandy has her Blood Mary, Stacey and Shannon has thier Margaritas I'll have a couple Miller Lites!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 9:50:00 AM  
Blogger Stacey said...

I'm in!!!!! We'll have to have us a girl's night out and talk about our babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:00:00 PM  
Blogger Sandy said...

Tarzan is like that! He has to see and get in on whatever you are doing. He wants to bite my newspaper, chew on a pencil, horn in on food. I don't have my computer where the cats live, but if I did, Tarzan would be just like your Brittney, Pam! Catfish isn't at all like that--he's more quiet and keeps out of such things. He had a hard life before coming to me, so he's awalsy on alert for danger!

Preferred drinks: I used to drink beer a lot in my younger days, but now it makes me pee too much! I drink wine or vodka, but still have a beer if it's where I can go fast and quick!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 11:48:00 PM  
Blogger Pam said...

Doesn't matter what I drink, if it's liquid I still pee a lot. I prefer light beer and dry red wines and don't drink mixed drinks. I love Brut champagne!!

Thursday, January 25, 2007 12:39:00 PM  
Blogger Pam said...

Brittany, my girl that eats plastic has lately developed a appetite for hair too. You know how they shed and it will leave a little clump on the floor? She has been eating that! Crazy! I try to get it out of her mouth because I have to give hair ball remedy as it is. Brittany also will chew on pencils, pens, paper, whatever and she wants a bite of what you're eating.
Oh yea Jon bitches about the cat hair all the time too! Whoops, can I say that word on here? Let me know if I goofed. Don't want to be obscene.
As I sat here and typed this I had to keep pushing Brittany away from the monitor. She's being good right now sitting beside me on the desk. Maybe she saw I was talking about her.

Thursday, January 25, 2007 2:26:00 PM  
Blogger Sandy said...

Both my cats loved to be brushed, and I brush them often, but there is still hair everywhere! Maybe there is something to those hairless dogs and cats!

Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:52:00 PM  
Blogger Pam said...

I think the same thing everytime Courtney get the mats Sandy. It is really nice when we give her a haircut. She or Penelope ( also long haired ) really doesn't shed anymore than Brittany who is long haired. They all get the hairballs about the same. My poor Samantha was the worst sheddar we ever had and she was short haired. Brushing mine doesn't seem to help much either other that keeping mats out of Courtney a little longer.

Shannon, I keep foregetting to ask you but am curious. Did Cody have chemo at the St. Bethlehem clinic? The reason I ask is I read a article about a dog ( maybe the one Sandy wrote ) getting treatment there awhile back and I have been praying for that dog ever since. It would be nice to know that was him and that he is ok now. Please let me know!

Friday, January 26, 2007 7:34:00 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

P.S. I meant to say that Brittany is short haired. I start typing so fast and I make so many typos, please excuse them everyone!

Friday, January 26, 2007 7:36:00 AM  
Blogger Stacey said...

My mama's boy, Ranger, likes to eat MY hair!! I will wake up in the middle of the night with something pulling on my head. Then I hear the grunting and realize what it is. There Ranger is, sitting on my pillow next to my head, pulling my hair with his foot and chewing on the end of it! WEIRD!

Gee, I don't even notice the hair anymore. It's like that old email says, "if you don't want hair on your clothes, DON'T sit on the furniture". LOL

Friday, January 26, 2007 8:55:00 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

Good one Stacey,
I saw something not too long ago taht said a house isn't a home without cat hair.
We do keep the pet hair rollers but can't find them or foget to take them places half the time.

Friday, January 26, 2007 4:25:00 PM  
Blogger Sandy said...

You might not have been posting here yet when I wrote about the slicker brush. You know the brush that has sharp little metal teeth at an angle? That is the BEST thing to scrape along anything to get off pet hair--sides of couches, carpeted cat trees, rug, etc. And of course, the cat itself!

Sunday, January 28, 2007 5:27:00 PM  

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Pet People

Sandy Britt, an animal welfare advocate and volunteer with Clarksville rescue organizations, takes care of three dogs: Zoe, Scooter and Peanut; two cats: Catfish and Tarzan; and one husband, Glen, and according to him she takes care of them in that order.
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