From the Pound

Over the weekend I had a story in mind. It is written from the view of a dog in the local pound or animal rescue. In my mind the main character is a dog, but it could also perhaps be a cat too, it depends on the readers imagination.

The story is a flash story, these are deliberately short pieces of creative writing, some consist of as few as fifty five words. Some may be as long as one thousand words.

This stiry is less than about three hundred words.

The dog or cat is waiting for its owners to come and claim him back, but has heard that he only has one day left before he is taken away to be put to sleep. The dog only recognises that his life can be saved by his own people.

To read the story in full CLICK HERE.

A Close Shave!

Last night, my wife and I were returning home from the cinema after seeing the movie "The Help."  Great movie by the way.

Well as we turned into the driveway, my wife slammed on the brakes and shouted
 "NO!"

There on our driveway were two skunks merrily playing and stopping to eat the cat food that our neighbor puts out for his cats.

The pair of skunks were quite unconcerned by the cars headlights and continued in their chase and eat game for several minutes.

Only when my wife sounded the car horn for what must have been the fourth or fifth time did they wander off, non too quickly to hideunder our neighbors trucks.

Havong bee n sprayed only a few weeks ago by a skunk in the back yard, and having had Polly skunked twice in four and a half years this time I was not going to get out of the car quoetly. I made sure the skunks knew I was there, talked loudly and sang. They were not going to be surprised by me this time and I ,made it safely into the house without the aroma of skunk filling my nostrils.

Dog Days: My Memories of a German Shepherd

Not long ago, and in part as a memorial on the ninth anniversary of his death. I posted these three stories about Brett on my hubpage.

The stories recount the years from 1988 until early 1995 when Brett and my first German Shepher Suki shared my life.

These are reminders of the funny things both dogs did and the story is the first part of a trilogy.

In the second part I will introduce Hariska Intrigue (aka Polly) that will complete the life of Brett and the third part will bring us fully up to date with the life of Polly as an international traveller and Queen of the Pawcific Beaches of California.

Dog Days: My Memories of a German Shepherd

My German Shepherd Playing in His Pool

What is cuter than a dog playing in a pool on a hot day.

I thought this video was great.

The Dog: Haiku

One of my other hobbies is to write poetry. A particular form which I enjoy is the Haiku.

Haiku are a Japanese form of poem, originally a warm up for Japanese poetry competitions they have been adapted for Western writers who produce the three line verses with 5, then 7, then 5, syllables per line. The form reduces pictures to their most basic to conjour up powerful images.

I created this series of four Haiku to honor the dog. I go from the puppy through the ages of the dog to old age. This is a poem for the well cared for dog, the loved pet, companion that I think we all share a love for.

To read The Dog Haiku   Click Here

The Pill

Brett was King of the Pill

I was reminded a while back that giving a pill of any kind to a German Shepherd can be a long task, almost a game for your GSD. A fun game that they have every desire to win. The medicine will not go down even with a spoonful of sugar or peanut butter.

My reminder came when Polly had to have some anti-biotics. Being a clever human, I plotted to place the pill in her breakfast. And I watched as she ate.  Then next morning I was preparing the bowl I heard a click on the floor. Looking around it turned out to be the anti-biotic pill from the day before.

I don't know how she did it but it seems as she ate she seperated out the pill and dropped it to the side of her bowl without a moments hesitation. She won that game.

Brett was the king of the pill game though. In one near hour long battle I attempted to give him a pill for something.

First we tried rolled in bread, then peanut butter, cheese and then a bowl of food. Brett would look right into my eyes, look soleful and open his mouth and the pill would clatter to the floor. Then with a sniff he would look as if to say "What ya' gonna do now?"

Eventually it got physical, Brett was a big dog, over twenty-eight inches to the shoulder and over six feet long.  I held him in a head lockm pushed his lip against his teeth to stop him biting as I put the pill on the back of his tongue. Quickly letting my thumb off his lip as I withdrew my other hand I held his jaw shut as I stroked the side of his neck eventually I felt him swallow, looked into his mouth, there it was the pill on his tongue, soggy and disolving. He dropped it to the floor.

Walking away from me he flipped his tail and retired undefeated. Champion, King of the pill.

Watch for the "Bunny Hop"

One weak spot for the German Shepherd is their hips. Hip Dysplasia is a common problem for the breed. It is not the end of the dog however,
My dog Brett had Hip Dysplasia and lived happily for over sixteen years. I needed to watch his weight and exercise him carefully but he lived a long and quite active life.

Even in such a healthy dog as Brett was however hip dysplasia began to show as he grew to old age. A characteristic symptom is the "Bunny Hop" gait.

The dog when coming to an obstacle such as a step will climb with their front paws then bring their back legs up the step together, sometimes painfully.

This is the first sign of a weakening of the back, it is progressive and you may notice growing unsteadiness of your dog.

At this time you can discuss with your veterinary surgeon possible drug remedies for your dog. Canine painkillers work for a time and your dog may still enjoy an active life.

Restrict exercise for your dog to gentle walks and less active chasing and running.  Try to keep your dog on good gripping surfaces. A wooden floor may cause slippages for an old dog, causing them and you a great deal of pain and distress. Having to lift an older struggling dog in a confined space of a hallway on a slippery floor can damage your back as well as your pets.