So,
this is not a list of pet peeves, but a rant of ways my family has
peeved me about pets. I am, or was, an animal lover. When Pete and
I married, we each had a dog. Our dogs were older and mature and it wasn't too long before we lost them.
His
brother Tommy had a batch of Doberman Pincher puppies. Pete wanted
one and I was on board for us to get a dog together. So, into our
lives came Maggie Mae. I did over half of the potty training, the
feeding, the bathing, the hauling to the vet, etc. But that was
okay. She was like our first child. We loved and adored her, and
she loved and adored us.
Over
time, we added many other various dogs, just outside pets, so they
weren't much trouble for me at first. Pete got hogs. And chickens.
The bad part was that all too often feeding and tending to the
outside animals fell to me, as I was home earliest in the evenings.
When I was pregnant with Bubba I'd cry when I fed the hogs, as I had
to get in the pen to do it, and hogs are one of the few animals you
can catch things from that will harm an unborn child.
One
of the outside dogs had a litter of hounds. Ten puppies. And parvo
was a new disease here. And they got it. The vet said separating
sick from well ones and giving them Gatorade was the only hope. So,
as one showed signs of being sick, I took them from their dog yard
and put them on the back porch. I forced Gatorade down them several
times a day. Each had their own syringe and cup. I'd rock them, and
cry and pray over them. (I was pregnant with Bubba and my mother
instincts were kicking into high gear!) As they'd start to eat food
again, I'd turn them loose in the yard. Eventually, all ten made it
through!! It was truly a miracle!
We
eventually lost Maggie Mae when Bubba was a toddler. I tried having
a cat. At first in the house, but when litter box issues just became
too much, I let her be an outside cat. Pete got Hank the horse.
This
is one animal he really did the lion's share of tending to. He spent
long hours outside with his horse. Even slept with him on occasion.
Building a camaraderie between them many were envious of.
We
finally got a Boston Terrier named Xena to replace Maggie Mae's spot
in our home. I was fairly on board for that. After all, a little
boy needs a dog around. Again, I did most of the potty training,
feeding, bathing, etc. Everyone we knew wanted a Xena. So Pete let
her have puppies. Problem was, we'd end up keeping one or two each
time. And all too often I found myself having to do things for them.
And
an endless procession of yard dogs and hunting dogs came through our
home. Well, outside. Fast forward eight years. Xena is sick with
heart failure. I give her meds and take her to the vet. Bug has
kept one of her grand-puppies for herself, Blackie. And we get one of her
puppies back from a couple who couldn't handle her, Matilda. Now
there are three Boston Terriers in our home and I do almost all of
the feeding, bathing, etc.
Several
years go by and then they begin to die off. One by one for various
reasons. I'm heartbroke and older and tired and would much prefer to
simply love on one of the cats that live outside when I want an
animal's touch. But Pete's sister insists on giving him her dog, Lucy
for company. Now, Lucy is an alright dog, but I definitely did not
want her here, as I knew who'd be responsible for most of her upkeep.
But he ignored me and got her. And I do love her.
Bubba
married and Candy Girl became part of our family. One day she tells
Pete about two miniature Chihuahuas that needs a home. Pete wants
them. I say NO! No way. They ignore me and Bonnie & Clyde
invade our home. I refuse to help with them. Pete does fairly well
taking care of them for about six months.
Then
he has to go into the hospital this past February. So of course I
tend them while he is there. And I carry on for the first few days
that he is back home. Then when I try to hand the responsibility
back over to him, he has a snit fit. He does a few things for them,
but most of it is left up to me. And I do it. Because I have a soft
heart for animals and because I'm too dang responsible a person.
But
if anyone other than me tries to bring another animal into our home
to live, there's either gonna be a killing or I'm packing and
leaving.
Sometimes
I really resent the fact that Mother & Daddy raised me to be
responsible. For teaching me you could measure much of a person's
heart by how they treated their animals. Sometimes I wish I could be
an irresponsible, selfish soul who left everything a mess for someone
else to clean up.
I hear ya girl. When Susie's mama left her and her siblings in our garage I wasn't going to feed them and encourage them because I knew John only liked animals that made money (cows) for him. He said awww feed them so I did. Now Susie is the only one left. Guess who paid to have her spayed? Guess who has bought most of her food and put it out for her. Oh well you know what I mean and I know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteYep, you do.
ReplyDeleteI can't say no to animals. People have me pegged for a sucker. I just agreed to watch my niece's dog for a month until their apartment is ready. I love dogs, but I'm not a dog person. Not to mention I have 5 cats besides and can't bare to choose which ones to re home.
ReplyDeleteYep, once you've actually spent time with one, and petted it, it's hard to pass it on or say it has to go live somewhere else. Glad you got out and stopped by Caneyhead!
ReplyDeleteI understand how you feel. While I'm not the one doing the majority of the work to take care of the creatures that Heavenly Father has sent our way, I do have to remind others about their responsibilities and when they leave home to finish their schooling at a regular university, the care of the animals will fall to me and my husband, who is limited in his ability to walk.
ReplyDeleteWhen our Shep died, we had no intention of getting any more dogs. We've given up on the idea of having no cats in the yard. Somehow we're marked; no matter where we've lived, cats have flocked to us to love on. Then, these two little "Jack Cheese" puppies were next door and unwanted (and I witnessed their parents being mistreated) and our daughter said she'd take care of them. So, we have Batly and Petra, and several folks in the house are irritated about that, but Heavenly Father has them here and it would be hard not to love them. The plan is for them to go with her when she gets her own home after college. We'll see how that goes, but David and I are just getting too old/weak to chase and tend to dogs. We're doing good to take care of ourselves at this point.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. Have a blessed Easter.
Thank you Suzanne. I know what you mean about "Our Heavenly Father's animals. When I was pregnant with Bubba and feeding those hogs, I could hear the Holy Spirit telling me that I wasn't doing it for Pete, but for Him. And to not worry about the baby, but to trust Him.
DeleteI get tired of being so darn responsible all the time too... :)
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! Sometimes I really think I'll quit. But then I think how badly everything would fall apart, and I know I couldn't stand it and then I'd just have a lot more work to do. Will have to wait until I'm so old I'm totally out of my mind and won't care about the fallout. ;o)
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