Mutt_Lady

As many of you know, we are fostering Rory, supposedly a Shepherd mix. At first, it was pretty much all sunshine and lollipops, things were good. Every now and then, we'd see Devil Dog come out and then she was well-behaved again. Kind of doing a Dr. Jekyll/Mr.Hyde thing. Now, Kevin is at his wits end. We have had a solid week of misbehaviour from Miss Rory and was my fianc

Kevin and I were out at a party last night and we were driving when we saw a blur of white go running across the street. Kevin recognized the white ball as a dog, so we parked and hopped out of the car. This dog was wary of us but after having a bit of left-over veal, she came right up and sat in my lap. We waited for an owner to come around the corner, blast us for feeding his/her dog and then go home. No such luck. We put the pooch in our car and drove around for two and a half [b]hours[/b] trying to find whom she belonged to. We asked a nearby neighbor who directed us towards some one who owned a white dog. We went there and they had their dog. So after all this, we decided that she looked pretty rough. Her hair was all mated, she was starving and she looked relieved that a human was taking care of her. We also found a lump under her belly so we're worried about what that is. :-? Anyway, we took her to our HS and they said that she can be adopted in a week. They dubbed her a "toy poodle mix" and encouraged us to come back. We think she's between 8 and 12...so she's around K's age. This is so out of character for Kevin, but he wants to keep her. He says that if some one doesn't claim her by next Sunday, we're bringing her home with us. I don't know how some one could give up the poor old gal. Please keep her in your thoughts and pray that the lump is not serious!

It's scary when they are aware and they [b][i]still[/b][/i] don't take pre-cautions. Idiots.

Yup, as per usual, the wise ones of Dogo have helped out before I could even get here. LOL Aren't they wonderful, SPG? I think that you should probably show your grandparents a list of all the diseases and problems that can happen if Zeus is living outside 24/7. That shows them that you are being serious and responsible. I'd be glad to help you with this if you want. Hope everything works out, Eileen

If K knows you don't like her, she will cuddle with you. Honestly, I think she does it to Kevin's mother just to aggravate her. :lol: She also likes to cuddle with people who do like her. LOL She would cuddle with anyone, anywhere, anyhow. But it seems that Steph and I are her favorites to share the couch with. Rory, on the other hand, is not very affection. She gives lots of kisses but the moment you get too close, she wants you away from her. This is what gives me the sneaking suspicion that she was abused by those jerks.

Hey Alan. I personally love all the questions you ask; it definitely lets us all get to know one another, as well as gab on. Which we both know all of us Dogoers [b][i]love[/b][/i] to do! Heh!

Thanks JM. Now we can actually see Rory! :lol:

Eek, I know exactly how this feels. When K was a little bit younger with a lot more spunk, she did the same thing. Unfortunately, I was at work at the time and Kevin was a mess. He was totally panicked and didn't know what to do with all the used pads sprawled over our bathroom. He claimed that he "wouldn't even go there", so the pads had to wait until I got home to be cleaned up. Kevin also got very angry with K. He actually asked her why she couldn't have chewed a pair of his boxers. "At least I could deal with that," was a quote from my hubby-to-be regarding the incident. :roll:

I had mine yesterday. Imagine walking 5+ dogs when you have horrible, horrible cramps. :(

Argh, I know this is the worst picture I've ever taken. But it was the only one I could snap before her "mother" started to whine and complain that her dog wasn't a model on a runway. :roll: This is Rory. Well, technically, she is Maggie, "what'sername" and many other names that judge her on her bad qualities. Let me assure you, there are not many. This family has dwelled only on her bad parts. She is a sweet, affectionate little cuddler who just wants to be loved. [img]http://www.ezprints.com/albums/1271317/219581/preview/250925_00000_preview.jpg[/img] Anywho, I named her Rory because I figured, she spends more time with me than with them, so my name or the highway. LOL I told the mom and her family that her name is officially Rory and if they call her anything else, they are going to hear from me. :lol: Her family has been paying me to dogsit since I first talked about her, so as you may guess I've been getting a lot of cash from this one dog. However, I've been talking to Kevin and he said that we could at least foster her until we found her a new home. Basically, she'll be living with us for the next couple of months... The question is, should I lead them on and let them believe I'm not going to take her so they keep paying me? Or should I tell them I'll take her and no mula for me? I hardly feel that doing the "right thing" in this case is appropriate...her owners sure aren't. But still, moral me is saying taking all their money is wrong. Argh, darn me for having a conscience. LOL What should I do?

There has to be some other way DAL. :cry: Zoey loves you and it is going to be way too difficult to split her up from Cody, whom she's known all her life. Couldn't you have one more dog with you in AZ? What's [i]one[/i] more?

This is sickening. I can't believe the Principal is agreeing with it and letting it go on. This teacher is one sick little man and I agree that we need to see how [i]his[/i] digestive system works... I wouldn't dissect pigs in my Biology class either. I said that I would get the notes or else I'd be sick all over my teacher. LOL

What a cute little guy you've got there. And I'm so glad you decided to join us and educate yourself further on owning a puppy. Welcome Austin :)!

What a gorge boy he is!!! Congratulations. :)

That's great news for you, Kat!! I'm so envious!! Lucky dog. ;)

I met the "no name" dog. I think I'm in love with her...LOL. She is the cutest little darling. It's strange how dogs and people that grow up in bad environments tend to be very well-behaved and loving. This chick is the second dog I always wanted. Stupid Kevin not letting me have another dog. Why doesn't he just break my heart?! :P I figured that I was going to get this dog permanently at least to foster eventually. Right now, her owner claims they are going on a "trip" (she later admitted that they were still going to be in town, but needed a break from the dog) and so the little sweetie will be staying with us for the next two weeks. At one point, I'll have three dogs living with me 24/7 (Elmer isn't gone yet). :o I decided that since she'll be living with me and I'll be training her, I'm going to name her something and if she goes back to those horrid people, they are using that name whether they like it or not. But I doubt she's going back...Liz asked me about shelters the other day. :-? I wonder why... :x I'll post a picture of her soon that I managed to snap at our first meeting. She's a doodlebug that one. :)

I think you had every right to have Devin there. As K grows in age, she's becoming more and more of a hermit. She likes staying close to home and she's not a big fan of strangers. However, I do almost exactly the same thing as you do. I think anyone who's approaching her that there is a fair possibility that she may bite or nip them. Basically, it's best not to approach unless K's having a really good day. That woman is an idiot! You behaved way better than I would have. Lately, I've been blowing gaskets on people who won't socialize their children. Honestly, put that kid on a leash. I hate little brats who have no boundaries because their parents are too selfish to do so. That lady should have called her son back, understandingly, and not said a word. As if it's your fault that she wants to get down and dirty with her boyfriend. :roll: Seriously, if she doesn't know how to handle her kid than don't take [b]him[/b] out in public. I think you, your hubby and Devin all acted famously. That woman deserves a backhand. :P

Just recently, K has slowed down in her activity level. I think she's finally come to terms with her age and realizes that old geezers like her aren't supposed to be running lap after lap, day after day. :lol: She is a Labrador Retriever mix (hence the name Mutt_Lady, LOL) and she gets walked twice a day. However, I suspect that if I didn't own a dog walking business she would only get one. She also has an hour to trot around and be merry at the local dog park. Sometimes that will replace a walk... It really depends on the day and how lazy I'm feeling. :oops:

Happy Birthday Abby! I hope you have a good one. :)

Lately, things have been getting a little slow so we are taking on a couple of new clients here and there. There is a very strange woman whom found her way to our residence and we'll call her [b]Liz[/b]. She is persistent, whiny and angry. Boy, is she ever angry. :o I've heard some pretty weird things in my time in this business and from friends about how some dog owners treat their dogs. However, these methods are all about treating their dogs [i]better[/i] and all sorts of positive things that are coupled with that. Liz has a 10-month-old Shepherd cross that she says she "found in the forest near her house". When I asked her the dog's name, she said that every member of the family calls her something different. :-? There are four other members in her family. Her husband (whom I've also met), we'll call him [b]Roger[/b]. She then has two sons, ages 6 and 12. Then a daughter who is 8 I believe. They are also looking to adopt another little girl. (Mind you, the first three are theirs biologically) Now hubby Roge calls this dog "Get outta my face". LITERALLY!! Liz says that he thought it would be "funny" so he got the dog used to that name. Umm...no buddy. Just no. The two boys call the sweetie little [i]female[/i] Shepherd mix "Spike". The daughter calls her "Princess" and Liz calls her "Maggie". This dog must be getting a complex, or at least an [i]identity crisis[/i]... When she told me about this, I asked which name she responded to. Liz responds, "None. Stupid dog won't come or stay. Sometimes she won't even sit." Uh, duh...she probably doesn't even know you're talking to HER. :x So I always ask of the dog's favorite things to do and least favorite so that we can do the fun things and leave out the bad. Liz didn't know her dogs favorite thing to do... "Her least favorite?" Liz knows is, "The hose. Once my sun sprayed her right in the eyes with it as a pup of about 8 weeks old. She hasn't been the same around them since." I wouldn't touch that subject with a ten-foot pole so I move on. How long would the dog be staying? I tell her the days we offer (Monday to Saturday now), anyday for actual petsitting, and I tell her when drop-off and pick-up is. Liz asks if there are exceptions. Our drop-off is at 7:30 in the morning because 5 out of 15 clients wanted it that way. I'm NOT a morning person. Then, the others that weren't getting up super early were arriving home late. So pick-up went from 6 to 7:30. Basically it's 7:30 to 7:30. Liz wants to drop her dog off at 6 AM and pick her up at 9 PM. Ummm, what is it that you are doing for SO LONG? She said that first she's at work, then she takes her kids to various activities. Basically, she has no time for the dog. She said that if the dog were to go home at 7:30. It would be crated from then until when she dropped her off in the morning. :( I think that's pushing it for how long a dog can be in a crate... She also confessed that her dog would be spending most of its Sundays in the crate. Yes, almost a whole day in the crate because they are all so busy. I was going to freak out!! I told her I couldn't work Sundays too, it's already hard enough not having Saturdays...so she just mumbled off about how the dog would be fine in the crate for that amount of time anyway. :evil: This is from like 9 am until like 10:30 pm. God only knows what they do for so long!! Anyway, I haven't taken her on as a client officially yet because I'm not sure how to deal with this. Liz basically confessed to me that after the dog got past 6 months, she was no longer wanted. :cry: What idiots...I don't know what to do. Argh. I'm meeting the dog without a name tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how that goes. I've been guilt tripped into things before, so I'm stuck here...eee...

Some friends of ours and their two-year-old son were over today. K decided to play "babysitter" and entertain the little hoodlum. Unfortunately, his parents were so wound up in the gossip that was flying around lately that they didn't stop to realize their son was in the other room with K. Let me start this off by saying Steph wears baby powder because she really likes the smell it leaves on her. When we walked into the room, the baby powder was ALL OVER...and K was now a white retriever. :o She was absolutely COVERED in baby powder!! She has a grey-ish tinge now. LOL Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use other than some water? Do you think she needs shampoo? Argh...thank goodness it's going to be warm tomorrow here...

I can't seem to get any good pics of Elmer. I still haven't mastered getting nice photos of black dogs...and I've owned one for 8 years. :oops: Here's more: [img]http://www.ezprints.com/albums/1271317/219581/preview/204047_00000_preview.jpg[/img] He has a orange ball in his mouth here and that's basically all you can see in the picture. LOL~! [img]http://www.ezprints.com/albums/1271317/219581/preview/204048_00000_preview.jpg[/img]

"GO AWAY," says Elmer, trying to get some darn sleep in this household. [img]http://www.ezprints.com/albums/1271317/219581/preview/204045_00000_preview.jpg[/img] Between Steph and I he never gets much sleep. We are always going over to coo and swoon around him. He's just so precious! [img]http://www.ezprints.com/albums/1271317/219581/preview/204046_00000_preview.jpg[/img] It's almost infuriating how well he fits into our family. He doesn't even seem to notice his real mum and dad are gone. I guess they can stay in Paris forever and we'll keep him. :wink: Elmer is a big doofus!! It's too funny to watch him trot around, without a care in the world...dum, dum, dum...la la la...are the only things that seem to go through his mind. LOL! I love this dog!

Whoa, strange. This is a really weird coincidence because this happened to me yesterday. Stephanie, Kyra, Elmer and I were cornered in the den until Kevin got home because we were paranoid that a wee little bird was going to peck us. I'm glad that you caught the "monster"!! :wink:

Bear sounds like the perfect addition to your family. Please keep us updated.