From commentor Adolphus:
My fiance and I have rescued and adopted a number of animals over the years, she starting long before she met me. The orange dog is Ruby. My fiance adopted her from the local animal rescue years before we met. Sometime in the mid 90’s. I have no cute story about it, she was just lonely and had just lost her previous dog and they just found each other at the local shelter. When we met I was a little leery as I had never been much a dog person, but Ruby really leaped into my heart with all four paws.She was found on the street with some of her puppies over ten years ago and is currently about 15-16 years old. In February of 2008 we were told she only had three months to live due to a series of cancerous growths on various organs. Well, here it is September of 2010 and I would like to say she is still going strong, but she is clearly feeling her age. Her walks are more like slow ambles, she scampers less and less, and she sleeps more and more. While we are afraid she won’t live to see 2011, we are grateful for almost 3 extra years of love.
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The orange cat adopted us. We live in a college town where the students are forever buying or adopting cats, less frequently dogs, and then abandoning them when they graduate or just move on. Because of that there is a real stray cat problem. It is a rare apartment complex that doesn’t have from 3 to 6 to as much as a dozen stray cats lounging around or fighting for food. Even on campus it is not out of place to see strays huddled under buildings or crossing your path on your way to class. Our apartment complex has had between 3 and 6 resident strays since we moved in three years ago. The cat in the photo, we called her Ruby Jr. because of her affection for and resemblance to Ruby, started following us around on our dog walks about 2 years ago. At first she would find us mid-walk and follow us around for awhile but that escalated into meeting us at our door when we came emerged for Ruby’s walks. Then she started sleeping on our car and watching us through our windows. We fed her off and on, the raccoons ate that more often than not. Then a couple of days before Christmas after a chilly walk she zipped in through our front door in front of us. She usually only stayed the evening then wanted let out. A month later she took up permanent residence and was ensconced in time to watch Obama’s inauguration with me on the couch. (I also made a short video for my family and friends back north to introduce them to Ruby Jr.)
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Oh, and the gerbils.
My fiance loves gerbils and is forever rescuing them from local families whose kids aren’t as responsible as they thought and from local pets stores when people just drop them off. This pile, we call them the short tail sisters, are three who were left at the local Petco by FSM knows who when they couldn’t. I included the photo of one of them in a cast to remind folks that adopting pets is cheap, but it ain’t free. All of our adopted pets have required extensive medical care including casts for the gerbils, throat surgery for Ruby, and ongoing allergy problems for Ruby Jr.
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Next time you run short of photos I’ll tell you about the horses and hermit crabs.
Keith G
A gerbil in a cast.
I commend you two for having such big hearts and looking after some of our fellow creatures.
Hillary Rettig
Ditto
MeDrewNotYou
Adorable doesn’t even begin to describe the gerbil.
In open threadiness fashion, I’m finally reading Dune. The back cover has a blurb from Arthur C Clarke calling it the Lord of the Rings of sf. He was a very wise man. The sections about Paul are great, but I fucking love the Baron Harkonnen. If I ever take up villainy, I’m studying that dude.
JPL(formerly demo woman)
What a lovely story. We often speak about animals adopting you and this story highlights that. Rudy Jr. was not going to take no for an answer.
gene108
Instead of saying Tea Party candidates are nuts, why not see what the craziest thing you can get them to pledge to do would be.
For example, have them take a pledge to not raise the debt ceiling ever and other such pledges which would bring the government and country to a grinding halt.
WereBear (itouch)
@MeDrewNotYou: Mmmm readiuneDUcatedune for the first time. Enjoy!
Rosalita
I love getting up and having my coffee to these stories.
Ruby Jr. seems to have so much personality. Good on both of you for taking care of animals that need it.
Seeing a cast on a gerbil is a first for me.
WereBear (itouch)
I lurve the top photo with the two Ruby’s. Gems indeed.
Rosalita
@WereBear (itouch):
good morning!!
jurassicpork
What a coupla cuties. My fiancee and I make sure that if and when we ever get pets, they will be rescues. Cats and dogs know when they’re rescued and they’re grateful, trust me.
Meanwhile, here’s Fox News at its Finest, Part XII.
Linda Featheringill
Lovely, sweet animals!
You are such dears. Such nice humans.
BTW,
Happy first day of autumn.
John Coltrane, Equinox
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2HN2y0yV8
Southern Beale
We have a big organge cat who LOVES our lab/Ridgeback mix. LOVES HER. Rubs on her, snuggles, loves loves loves her. The dog used to think it was weird but now she’s OK with it.
Princess
Um, aren’t all orange and orange-and-white cats male? Not that there’s anything wrong with calling Ruby Jr. “she” if that is what Ruby Jr. prefers…
Linda Featheringill
@Princess:
Short article on sex and color in cats:
http://www.securepet.biz/wordpress/2008/08/demystifying-the-gender-color-connection-in-cats/
BTW, we have an orange-and-white and yes, he is a boy, Timmy.
adolphus
Updates: Ruby Jr. is definitely a she. Least that’s what the vet said when we got her fixed. I am trusting them to know. But then they were the ones who told us Ruby had three months to live almost 3 years ago. So…….
Maybe the neighborhood strays have put the word out we are a soft touch, but another cat has pushed himself into our home. We call him Snuggleupagus because he is the snuggliest stray I have ever met. That and for the longest time my fiance was the only one who met her. He, too started following us around on Ruby’s walks and brushing up against our legs and jumping into our laps if we dared sit down. We just couldn’t take it anymore, so we put him up temporarily a couple of days ago and are now making sure he has no owners. He is an older kitten who is just not cut out for the stray life. I can send photos this weekend. We are working on a “found cat” poster.
EDIT: And thank you for featuring our friends.
Kristine
A cast on a gerbil…how small can they make those things?
I would love to hear about the hermit crabs and the horses. Good on you both for taking in all these animals.
Annie
An awesome video. I think they were made to find each other. Great way to start the day! Thanks.
schrodinger's cat
Yay! rescue puppeh and kitteh story! Thanks Anne Laurie. A much better start to the day than posts about tea partiers, republican congress people and all the other assorted wingnuttia!
BTW what do people think about Hooked on Phonics, does it work? I am analyzing their expansion plan currently for a VC seminar.
schrodinger's cat
@adolphus: I too have a orange and white girl kitteh with similar markings as Ruby, (white collar, mittens and socks) but she is how shall I put it,Tunchier!
Ruby and Ruby Jr, are very sweet, loved your video.
SBJules
What a wonderful way to start the day: a strong cup of coffee and the two cutest Rubys in the world. Long may they walk together!
asiangrrlMN
@adolphus: Thank you and your fiancee for having such big hearts. All your babies are beautiful, and I adore the video of the two Rubys. It made me tear up (in a good way). I cannot wait to hear about the rest of your crew, including your new cat! (Great name, Snuggleupagus, by the way).
AL, love these posts. Keep it up!
Moses2317
Let’s celebrate the fact that health care reform begins to go into effect today.
Winning Progressive
schrodinger's cat
@asiangrrlMN: ohai asiangrrl how have you been and how are your kittehs?
JMY
I heard on the radio here in Chicago, that Rahm is going to step down as COS and run for mayor.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
@JMY:
That’s excellent news for John McCain!
ruemara
Excellent story, I love it. Gives me some hope after too much politics.
ahh, Rahm who?
asiangrrlMN
@schrodinger’s cat: I be tired and all-whacked out in my schedule. Kittehs be most excellent as always. You?
evinfuilt
That is an awesome story and I adore the video. Your dog was meant to have her own junior, they look quite happy together.
I commend you on how you treat those Gerbils. I can think back to my third hamster Teddy, he had to go in for major surgery (he was under anesthesia) once due to a spider bite. He survived an extra week after it, but it just simply amazes me what vets can do with our wee lil pets.
josefina
I love this story, and especially Ruby Jr.’s white knickers.