Pets

[Gunnar]

We had 2 cats that were sisters from the same litter. A black and white with long hair that my daughter named Rosie, because of her rosy, pink nose and pink paw pads. The other one had short fur and was nearly all black, with little orange highlights in various spots of her fur. We gave her the name Ember. They had quite different personalities and favorites. Rosie seemed to like all of us, but particularly my wife. She had a habit of greeting my wife every morning with a cheerful "meow" and my wife would always questioningly answer, "meow?"

Ember, on the other hand, only liked my daughter, Jennifer. She didn't even like her sister, Rosie very much. She would hiss and bat our hands away if, anyone but Jennifer tried to pet or touch her. Jennifer could do almost anything to Ember, however, and she wouldn't mind a bit! When we lived in a two-story house, Jennifer's bedroom was upstairs, and they slept up there together. They had this little game they played together every night before bedtime. Ember would hide up in their bedroom until Jennifer found her and carried her down the stairs for her daily cat treat. If Jennifer didn't go up and find her right away, Ember would appear at the top of the stairs and meow and then quickly disappear into the bedroom to hide. Jennifer would then go up and find her and carry her down the stairs, with Ember purring all the way.

Sadly, both are dead now. Rosie was eventually euthanized by the vet as she suffered terribly from cancer. Ember lived almost to the ripe old age of 20. She slowly and quietly passed away while lying in Jennifer's lap and staring lovingly into her favorite person's eyes. I got tears in my eyes just now from writing that memory.

[ceeboo]

Hey Gunnar

We had 2 cats that were sisters from the same litter. A black and white with long hair that my daughter named Rosie, because of her rosy, pink nose and pink paw pads. The other one had short fur and was nearly all black, with little orange highlights in various spots of her fur. We gave her the name Ember. They had quite different personalities and favorites. Rosie seemed to like all of us, but particularly my wife. She had a habit of greeting my wife every morning with a cheerful "meow" and my wife would always questioningly answer, "meow?"

Ember, on the other hand, only liked my daughter, Jennifer. She didn't even like her sister, Rosie very much. She would hiss and bat our hands away if, anyone but Jennifer tried to pet or touch her. Jennifer could do almost anything to Ember, however, and she wouldn't mind a bit! When we lived in a two-story house, Jennifer's bedroom was upstairs, and they slept up there together. They had this little game they played together every night before bedtime. Ember would hide up in their bedroom until Jennifer found her and carried her down the stairs for her daily cat treat. If Jennifer didn't go up and find her right away, Ember would appear at the top of the stairs and meow and then quickly disappear into the bedroom to hide. Jennifer would then go up and find her and carry her down the stairs, with Ember purring all the way.

Sadly, both are dead now. Rosie was eventually euthanized by the vet as she suffered terribly from cancer. Ember lived almost to the ripe old age of 20. She slowly and quietly passed away while lying in Jennifer's lap and staring lovingly into her favorite person's eyes. I got tears in my eyes just now from writing that memory.

Thanks for the thread contribution (always sad to read stories of people losing their beloved pets - sorry man)

[dantana]

We had 2 cats that were sisters from the same litter. A black and white with long hair that my daughter named Rosie, because of her rosy, pink nose and pink paw pads. The other one had short fur and was nearly all black, with little orange highlights in various spots of her fur. We gave her the name Ember. They had quite different personalities and favorites. Rosie seemed to like all of us, but particularly my wife. She had a habit of greeting my wife every morning with a cheerful "meow" and my wife would always questioningly answer, "meow?"

Ember, on the other hand, only liked my daughter, Jennifer. She didn't even like her sister, Rosie very much. She would hiss and bat our hands away if, anyone but Jennifer tried to pet or touch her. Jennifer could do almost anything to Ember, however, and she wouldn't mind a bit! When we lived in a two-story house, Jennifer's bedroom was upstairs, and they slept up there together. They had this little game they played together every night before bedtime. Ember would hide up in their bedroom until Jennifer found her and carried her down the stairs for her daily cat treat. If Jennifer didn't go up and find her right away, Ember would appear at the top of the stairs and meow and then quickly disappear into the bedroom to hide. Jennifer would then go up and find her and carry her down the stairs, with Ember purring all the way.

Sadly, both are dead now. Rosie was eventually euthanized by the vet as she suffered terribly from cancer. Ember lived almost to the ripe old age of 20. She slowly and quietly passed away while lying in Jennifer's lap and staring lovingly into her favorite person's eyes. I got tears in my eyes just now from writing that memory.

Fun cat tales Gunnar!

[dantana]

I've had a number of dogs over the years. None ever lived up to the legacy of my first one though. Fonzie. Blue heeler. Looked just like Cam's avatar. Mid 70's. My mid teens.

We had what was known as - the race of death. It was about 200 ft. from the house out to the barn and corral. The object: make it to the corral before The Fonz got you. The game: Call Fonzie to the starting position at the house, walk slowly backward keeping eye contact with him where he waits until you get to a place where you think you can make the corral fence - then break and run for it. One could walk backward all the way to the fence if one chose to. In that case Fonz would just yawn and walk away.

I would always demonstrate first, and since I knew exactly where I could make it from, that made it look too easy for would be contestants. One thing I always included in the instructions, but maybe didn't stress enough was - You really do need to make it to the top rail, and if you can, stand up on it. Nobody ever listened and often even those who made the fence still lost their pant leg, and maybe a little skin as they didn't get high enough.

Edit/add: For anyone with concerns about this, if a person felt they weren't going to make it and were about to get chomped they could just stop and turn around. Fonzie would stop, yawn and walk away.

[Gunnar]

I've had a number of dogs over the years. None ever lived up to the legacy of my first one though. Fonzie. Blue heeler. Looked just like Cam's avatar. Mid 70's. My mid teens.

We had what was known as - the race of death. It was about 200 ft. from the house out to the barn and corral. The object: make it to the corral before The Fonz got you. The game: Call Fonzie to the starting position at the house, walk slowly backward keeping eye contact with him where he waits until you get to a place where you think you can make the corral fence - then break and run for it. One could walk backward all the way to the fence if one chose to. In that case Fonz would just yawn and walk away.

I would always demonstrate first, and since I knew exactly where I could make it from, that made it look too easy for would be contestants. One thing I always included in the instructions, but maybe didn't stress enough was - You really do need to make it to the top rail, and if you can, stand up on it. Nobody ever listened and often even those who made the fence still lost their pant leg, and maybe a little skin as they didn't get high enough.

Edit/add: For anyone with concerns about this, if a person felt they weren't going to make it and were about to get chomped they could just stop and turn around. Fonzie would stop, yawn and walk away.

Interesting game! Fonzie must have really enjoyed it.

We had some friends who had a little terrier who took on himself the role of family peacemaker. Whenever any members of the family had an argument or altercation, he yapped and snapped at whomever seemed to be the instigator of the conflict. Sometimes they got into mock fights just to enjoy watching him exercise his self-imposed "duty."

[Markk]

Ceeboo, thanks for the thread.

I have a Blue Heeler, Rooster J. Cogburn (True Grit)., My best friend and laying next to me as I type watching the Rams/Miami game, like dantana have had a lifetime of dogs, but Rooster is special. My wife and I actually have to spell our language, and even then he reads us. If I tell my wife I am "going" to Lowes or Home Depot....he is all over it, and me, jumping on my lap. When I take him to Lowes which is at least once a week, he is a rock star, the employees know him by name and have treats ready for him. "Going" is not a word we can say or even spell, it is hard to explain.

Blue Heelers are special, they are so smart and protective. Rooster sleeps in the hallway, between the front door and our bedroom to not only protect us, but herd us where he wants us; dantana will understand this.