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Furry Friends

You are here: Home / Archives for Pet Blogging / Furry Friends

If you think you might like to have your furry family featured here, please send an email to watergirl at balloon-juice.com.  As you can see from the image, we’re not limiting this series to cat and dogs!

Good Thoughts for Pixie and Melissa

by WaterGirl|  April 9, 20235:05 pm| 112 Comments

This post is in: Furry Friends, Open Threads, Pet Blogging

Update from Mel and Pixie on Tuesday at 2:15 pm

An update on Pixie. She hasn’t responded to the pain meds and stronger laxative, and is not improving, so she is heading to the specialist for a CT this afternoon. We are just torn to bits that we haven’t been able to get answers and get relief for her yet. Her vitals are still good, so the vets are not sure what the root cause(s) of this are. We have to find out to see if there is a safe snd comfortable way forward to healing for het, or if we have to make that awful decision to say goodbye. I am sick just thinking about life without her sweet little self here with us.

Thank you and everyone at BJ from the bottom of our hearts for the love and good energy sent her way. Please keep her in your prayers as we get the imaging and hopefully get a positive outcome for our baby.

Update an hour later on Tuesday:

Pixie just got up of her own accord, and walked and stretched a little bit. This might be a good sign. Hope, hope, hope!!! We are still taking her for her specialist visit as no pooping has happened yet, and she is still off het food.

Praying that maybe the anti-inflammatories and the strong lax might be the answer after all, and that she’s just taking linger to respond b/c of her age and her megacolon.

🧚‍♀️

One of our BJ peeps is asking for our help.  She doesn’t need our time or our money, but she could use us to jump in the boat and join her in sending all good thoughts to her very special beloved kitty, Pixie.

Here’s the note from Melissa:

I don’t know if this would be okay or not, and if not I completely understand, but I wonder if you would be able to put out a request for some good energy / prayers/ whatever good thoughts folks here could send out into the universefor a very special but very sick kitty.

My little Pixie has been my companion for almost fourteen years. She’s just the sweetest girl ever, and so full of love and so gentle.
She has been here with me through more scary health emergencies than I can count, comforted two dear old kitties when they reached their end of life, and immediately became a loving snd infinitely patient Auntie, despite her age, to the two goofy, rambunctious boys we adopted a couple of years ago.

She has been by my side during the pandemic isolation – unfortunately, because of my illness and immunosuppressed state, I have been isolated for coming up on three years now. It has been unspeakably lonely and challenging, but her companionship has been a lifeline and more comfort than I can ever express.

She is seriously ill now, and is right now at the emergency vet with my hubby (I can’t even be with her there, because nobody is masking), after two vet visits late last week with no answers yet as to what is causing her to feel so ill. It hurts so to see her ill, and as anyone who has ever loved their critter knows far too well, it is such an awful, helpless feeling to not be able to make them better, to not know how to fix things for them.

I have had pets all my life, but this little kitty is that special one. Any prayers, good thoughts, good energy that could be sent out into the universe for my sweet little green eyed girl would be so appreciated.

Sincerely,
Melissa

Good Thoughts for Pixie and MelissaPost + Comments (112)

Reposting: Lucky the Cat Needs a New Home!!!!!

by Adam L Silverman|  March 3, 202310:30 am| 65 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Furry Friends, Pet Blogging, Pet Rescue, Silverman on Security

There was a lot of interest in Lucky in the comments yesterday, but I’ll need you to email me so I can put you in contact with Sheryl, as she’ll make the decision. So please email me at  Adam-Silverman (at) balloon-juice (dot) com and I’ll pass your info onto Sheryl and you can chat.  We’ll still help arrange transport as needed.

New pic!

This Is a Pet Bleg!!! I Repeat, This Is a Pet Bleg!!! Lucky the Cat Needs a New Home!!!!! 2

Also Sheryl added this: One thing I forgot to say about lucky is, she does not scratch the furniture. She knows how to use a scratching post. Whoever had her before trained her very well.

Original post below the fold.

show full post on front page

 

This Is a Pet Bleg!!! I Repeat, This Is a Pet Bleg!!! Lucky the Cat Needs a New Home!!!!!

Touch the cat, bot a glove… I dare you!

About a month or so ago, the morning after the last hard freeze here, my barber stopped by her shop and found the pretty lady above. She had her checked for a microchip and there wasn’t one. Nor was there a collar. She then had the cat checked out by the same vet that checked for the chip. The cat, by then named Lucky, was given a clean bill of health and they redid all her shots/vaccinations just to be safe. She’s litter box trained, doesn’t shed, and does not seem to trigger people’s cat allergies. Unfortunately, she can’t have pets and we need to find this lovely and so far lucky little lady a new home. Here are the details from Sheryl:

Sorry to bother you so early. Have a bit of a problem. Our landlord is completely against us having a cat. There is no negotiating with him so I am reaching out to you to see if you can help with this situation. I’d like to find her a good home.
Thanks,
Sheryl

That came through at 6:15 AM. Fortunately I was up at 5 AM.

Here’s the rest of the necessary information:

She is between 8-10 yrs. Her last weigh in was 7.6 pounds. She is fully vaccinated. Is negative for parasites. She is on a flea and heart worm preventative regiment. She is an inside cat. She has all of her claws. She does not shed and is very talkative. Very friendly, loves to sit on your lap, likes to chase the laser light and is litter box trained. I am not sure how she is around other animals as she was found approximately a month ago.

I think she has quite a bit of Siamese in her because of the lack of shedding and her talking. She also likes to lick you.

So here’s where you all come in. One of you is either looking for a new cat or know someone who is. And Lucky just happens to need a new forever home. Lucky is in north Pinellas County, Florida (about 7 miles west of Tampa and five miles north of Clearwater). If you’re interested or no someone who is, please shoot me an email using the email a front pager tool at the top right of the page. And, of course, feel free to sign off in the comments. If you’re interested or knows someone who is or might be and are outside the immediate area and a few hours drive, we can work out transport to get Lucky to her new forever home.

Here’s some more pictures:

 

 

 

Let’s not let Lucky down!!!!!

I’ll be back this evening with a brief War for Ukraine Update.

Open thread!

Reposting: Lucky the Cat Needs a New Home!!!!!Post + Comments (65)

OzarkHillbilly – The Story of BillieJean

by WaterGirl|  February 23, 20237:00 am| 67 Comments

This post is in: Furry Friends, Open Threads

We all know how OzarkHillbilly felt about his beloved Woofmeister, and now we get the story of BillieJean joining the family! ~WG

The Story of BillieJean

by Ozark Hillbilly

Woof had a long slow decline with congestive heart disease. When he stopped eating, I knew he was ready to go. My wife wasn’t quite ready to let go until the eve of his 2nd day of fasting. She had taken him out for his evening walk-a-bout and came in crying that Woof had laid down in the snow and would not get back up. I went out with visions of trying to carry this 100+# lump of love into the house and worried that my ever aging back would balk at the chore and then what would I do? Fortunately, I was able to coax him to his feet and walk him back into the house.

“Honey? It’s time.”

Ozark – Title?
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I’m not very good at dealing with grief and loss anymore. Mostly I just shut down. But watching my wife deal with it just tears me up, because I can’t take the pain away. After Woof was gone, my wife said it was going to be a long while before she’d be ready for another.

Within 2 weeks I was surreptitiously surfing the web for Labs, Lab/mixes in need of rescue. I thought, “If I find a good ‘un, she won’t be able to resist.” Little did I know, she was doing the same. When it came out that we were both cheating on the other searching for another lover boy/girl, we came up with a system: My wife would search the internets and I would go to meet the dogs she thought would fit us. The main thing was they would have to have the proper “Labittude”: Lovers, snuggle bunnies… A couple times she found dogs that she thought would fit, and by the time I got to the agencies, they were already gone.

When she found “Harley” at the APA in STL, I made a mad dash to their facility on Hampton Ave praying that Harley would still be there. She was. My first sight of her was in the office managers office. She was hiding behind the desk, a quivering pup with extended teats that was absolutely terrified and traumatized. (the story I got was she had come out of an Arkansas puppy mill) They put me into a “meeting” room. It had a metal bench bolted against one wall and the door on the opposite wall. I’ve known holding cells that were more welcoming than that room. I sat on the bench and waited for her. When they brought Harley in, she refused to come to me, just lay down by the door and shivered. I sat down on the floor and called to her. Nope. I scooted over to her. Nope. Very slowly I reached out and pet her. After a bit, I grabbed her by the collar and dragged her to my lap. She didn’t growl, she didn’t pull away, but she never stopped quivering. I thought long and hard about it. Was I really up to dealing with such a damaged pup? Who knew what I was getting us into? I had brought Percy along to meet her before I’d adopt but after 15 or 20 mins, there was no way I was leaving her there, so why bother?

During the hour+ drive home from STL she spent most of it huddled against the door while Percy claimed my lap and eyed her with great suspicion, wondering wtf was this dog doing in his truck?

When we got home, I had to pull/drag Harley to the house. Once inside she climbed up onto the couch, where from she did not move to pee or drink or eat (that I saw) for 3 days.

Ozark – Title? 8
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

My wife and I both made sure to give her skritchins at every pass and to snuggle with her on the couch as much as she would allow. By the time she finally left the couch, to drink and go pee we were both thoroughly smitten. It did not take us long to settle on BillieJean as her new name. Scarface might have been more fitting but BillieJean felt right.

Ozark – Title? 10
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

She has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen on a dog.

Once she finally did get off the couch, it wasn’t long before she was running rampant about the place. I learned pretty quickly that I didn’t dare take my eyes off of her for more than a minute or 2 or else she’d disappear. As often as not Billie would go down the holler to swim in my neighbor’s pond. Inevitably coming back a muddy mess. The first time she came back covered in mud she was very happy and proud of herself right up to the moment I turned the hose on her. After that, whenever she returned covered in mud she would tuck her tail between her legs and keep her head down, “Please oh please Daddy, not the hose…”

Ozark – Title? 11
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Knowing she was gonna get it anyway and afterwards getting the zoomies and running as tho if she ran fast enough the water in her coat wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Ozark – Title? 1
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I soon learned she was half goat, climbing anything and everything she could.

Ozark – Title? 2
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Percy was a wee bit jealous at first but eventually realized there were bonuses to having an autonomous throw rug.

Ozark – Title? 9
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Billie was soon quite comfortable with her new found home.

Ozark – Title? 3
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Then came the night of the copperhead. One thing is for sure, Billie is no Miss Kitty. My wife had taken the dogs out for their private bizzness and came back in very worried that Billie had been bitten by a snake. I poo poohed it. Just because a dog leaps up in tall grass doesn’t mean she got bit by a snake. Turns out in this case it did. Her muzzle soon swelled up.

Ozark – Title? 13
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My wife wanted to take her to the emergency vet. I said she’d be good till morning and took her in the next day. They gave her a bunch of meds and while she had some miserable days she came out the other side OK, and with one more war wound.

Ozark – Title? 4
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These days BillieJean has her own security blanky…

Ozark – Title? 12
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…unfortunately it is whichever one I am using at that moment. I really wouldn’t mind if it wasn’t for the fact that it doubles as a pacifier.

Ozark – Title? 5
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All in all, she has fairly settled in here…

Ozark – Title? 6

… and Percy has accepted her, but not without complaint at times.

Ozark – Title? 7

The Percy and Billie pic is a bonus just because I love how patient they are when I am in physical therapy.

Ozark – Title? 14
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

And that’s the story of BillieJean.

OzarkHillbilly – The Story of BillieJeanPost + Comments (67)

Tado Pupdate Part II: 2 Tado 2 Pupdate!

by Adam L Silverman|  February 26, 202212:21 pm| 36 Comments

This post is in: Dog Blogging, Furry Friends, Open Threads, Pet Blogging, Pet Rescue

Shaun has sent across a second Tado pupdate!

Good morning,

I hope you are doing well. Ken just told me that they are home. Tado is also experiencing snow for the first time. I really appreciate everything you did to help us.

Shaun

First off, Shaun, you and Tado are quite welcome. I know I speak for everyone here when I write that we were happy to help and wish you and Tado nothing but the best!

And now for the pictures!

Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

Tado Pupdate Part II: 2 Tado 2 Pupdate!

Can we stop for fries? PLEASE????? (I’m guessing this is PapDad Jr. PapSon? They’ll figure it out)

Tado Pupdate Part II: 2 Tado 2 Pupdate! 1

SNOW!!!! I was bred for this!!!!

Tado Pupdate Part II: 2 Tado 2 Pupdate! 2

Open thread!

I’ll be back later with updates on Ukraine.

Tado Pupdate Part II: 2 Tado 2 Pupdate!Post + Comments (36)

We Have a Tado Pupdate!

by Adam L Silverman|  February 23, 20226:32 pm| 42 Comments

This post is in: Dog Blogging, Furry Friends, Open Threads, Pet Blogging, Pet Rescue

Shaun just emailed me and M4 with a pupdate on Tado:

PapDad and his son picked Tado up about 1pm today. He’s on his way to his new life in Boston now.

These types of good things happen when you get an A+ in deportment from the groomers…

I’m not really sure if we’re supposed to leave a yelp review for the groomer or Tado.

So some good news for a change!

Look at that face!!!!!

That face is now on its way to floof all over PapDad’s neatly folded laundry!

With a floof floof here and a floof floof there,

Here a floof, there a floof, everywhere a floof floof.

Old MacFloofy floofed a floof, floof-ey, floof-ey, o!

Everyone remember to keep good thoughts for Shaun as he gets himself back to right, for Tado, and for PapDad’s clean laundry!

Open thread!

We Have a Tado Pupdate!Post + Comments (42)

Furry Friends: Van Buren’s Furry Foursome

by WaterGirl|  July 3, 20212:00 pm| 23 Comments

This post is in: Absent Friends, Furry Friends, Guest Posts

Van Buren lost his beloved dog less than a month ago, and last Tuesday he sent me a photo of their new pup, along with this lovely note:

I know what you mean about yesterday not being a good day. We lost our 15 year old dog, Kendall, on June 5. On the 26th we picked up this pup, who is officially Rosalita, but I’m going to call her Rosie.

She is doing fine, getting settled, and has accepted my offer of spoiling her rotten for the next 15 years.

Rosalita, who they call Rosie.  Circle of life, it seems.  I asked if he would be willing to write a little something to introduce Rosalita, and he did.

?

Stories of Kendall, Jackson, Fiona, and finally Rosalita

by Van Buren

When the lockdown began, we had three dogs.

Kendall was 14, a Cavachon, and as sweet and mellow as any dog ever. Kendall was a musk ox disguised as a little dog. The other dogs hated the cold, but she loved nothing more than slowly plodding through snow, nose to the ground.

Jackson was 13, a Miniature Schnauzer/ Maltese mix, who was equal parts feisty terrier and affectionate lap dog. We had had both dogs since they were puppies.

We also had Fiona, a twelve year old Lhasa Apso that we had rescued when she was 6. Fiona had been a breeder in a puppy mill, and had no idea how to be a pet, but by copying Jackson’s every move, she caught on fairly fast.

For seven years, she followed Jackson around. When he ate, she would eat. If he wanted to go outside, she wanted to go outside. And so on. To this day, she is nervous about being touched by people. If you pick her up, she has the endearing habit of shaking herself as though trying to dry off. One of my sons says she is ridding herself of the taint of human flesh.

Within a week of the lockdown, we had to take Jackson to the vet, for what turned out to be the first of a long series of visits as his organs began failing. He finally passed in September. I have had eight dogs in my life, including my childhood, and he was the one I loved the most.

Since Fiona was so attached to him, we assumed she would be affected more than Kendall by his passing, but she barely seemed to notice. She simply started following Kendall everywhere. Kendall, on the other hand, very clearly knew something was wrong. There is a picture of Kendall and Fiona in the calendar, taken the day after Jackson died. Kendall is in what we thought of as Jackson’s spot. It was like she thought that was the most likely place to find him.

On Halloween, we had to rush Kendall to the vet. She had been coping with Cushing’s disease for years, but now her liver was enlarged.  With medication, she more or less held her own, but she was losing weight, seemed to have dementia, and was becoming incontinent. I wasn’t going to repeat all the tests that we subjected Jackson to. I brought her to the vet the day after Memorial Day to ask his opinion.

The vet said he thought it was time. She was down to 16 lbs. She had been 25 a year earlier. We waited a few days until a vet could come to the house to euthanize her, just as we had done with Jackson.

That night, Fiona began barking. The only way to get her stop was to bring her into our room. She refused to be left alone, and woke up every night around 3.

She needed a companion. Thus, the frantic search that ended with the adoption of Rosalita last Saturday. Rosie is a 4 month old Dachshund and….who-knows-what mix. She is doing great adjusting, with the bizarre quirk – and I am curious if anyone else has ever had a dog do this – that she gets furious when Fiona eats.

Rosalita frantically barks and growls. It does not matter if she has food herself. She does not seem to mind if Fiona approaches her bowl. But if we give food to Fiona, she goes nuts.

As I finish this, Rosie and Fiona are sleeping at my feet, lying back to back. Fiona stays downstairs and sleeps through the night, as she has done every night since we brought Rosie home.

? I think this will work out.

Furry Friends: Van Buren’s Furry FoursomePost + Comments (23)

Sad Day for Raven and All of Us: Goodbye Bohdi

by WaterGirl|  June 4, 20219:46 am| 140 Comments

This post is in: Absent Friends, Furry Friends

Raven shared his sad news with us this morning.

What a wonderful life you gave him, Raven.  And what a beautiful photo.

We knew it was coming, but I am still in tears. ?

Sad Day for Raven and All of Us: Goodbye Bohdi
Bohdi as a baby, with Lil Bit

Sad Day for Raven and All of Us: Goodbye BohdiPost + Comments (140)

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