Have you noticed........

Have you noticed

that when you are still half asleep in the morning you go to set your coffee cup down on the coffee table and there is a cat laying there giving you a look?



Or when you are in a hurry, call for the dog and the all of a sudden can't hear you? But if you have food in your hand you don't have to say anything?



Or every so often you find a potato chip that is as big as a baby's head?



Or you have to catch a horse that  99% of the time she'll walk right up to you, but then there is that 1% of the time when you get the look and the run away and catch me if you can?

Just had to share a few of my thoughts. All thanks to one of the dogs who I took outside to do her business and she all of a sudden lost her hearing!  She was too busy eating either cat poop or chicken poop!

Until next time....................



Having animals

As soon as the sun begins to rise each morning I let my chickens out of the chicken house. This morning when I opened the door, sadly I found Danni, my little comic, dead on the floor. No injuries, no blood, nothing. She was fine and being her silly self last night when I locked everyone up. She showed no signs of illness so am somewhat baffled as to why she died. And she was about two years old so it sure wasn't old age. Out of all the chickens, she was one with a sense of humor.



She was given a proper burial complete with a prayer. I can only hope the hole is deep enough so the wildlife won't dig her up. She is buried on one of the hills on the property away from the rest of the chickens as well as the rest of the animals. I feel bad for her having to be buried so far away. You know, all alone on a hill.  



For three days I have been worried about Arnold. He either has laminitis ( inflammation of the hoof) or forming hoof abscesses in his front feet. And he seems to be on the sad side. He isn't his usual handsome self. I have been giving him Banamine ( a drug for inflammation) to help ease his discomfort. Thankfully my farrier is coming out Tuesday morning and hopefully we can found out exactly what is going on with his feet. Distinguishing between laminits and abscesses can be somewhat of a challenge especially in donkeys.  
Regardless of what is wrong with him, I am contemplating bringing him to the house where there is a breezeway between the house and garage. I can put some rubber stall mats down with some shavings and keep him there until he feels better. Arnold was the first donkey rescue and he is very near and dear to my heart.



And speaking of donkeys. Everytime I drive the Gator out into the pasture they just have to make it a point to come over and see if their is any food. And it just so happened I had hay this time. Good times!



While out checking on Arnold, Oreo goat came up and wanted to be petted. Out of all the goats she is the friendliest and enjoys a good scratch.

Having animals does keep us on our toes!

Oh, just to let you all know, I pleaded with the neighbor about letting Betsy goat come live with me, but he flat refused. Said he loved her and would miss her. Um, okay, sure didn't miss her when she was in my pasture for x-amount of months! I can only hope she will be okay. But a part of me says otherwise.

Until next time............................

It's in the air and its contagious!

I have no idea what has gotten into the animals here, but whatever it is, it is in the air. This morning Doug, who is strictly and indoor cat, decided he was going to try to run out of any door leading to the outside.

Patti Cake 'forgot' how to go out to the back pasture. The gate was wide open, but yet she couldn't find it.

Houdini played the game of 'try to get me to go where you want me to go because I don't remember'.

Right after I fed the goats their grain, they started running after me looking for their breakfast, forgetting that I had just fed them and the grain was still in the same place I had just put it. So had to walk back and show them where their breakfast was.

Mr. Worm, who is an outdoor cat, decided he wanted to be an indoor cat. He came strolling into the house as I was going out to feed the outside cats. So had to stop, turn around, go get him, explain to him that he isn't an indoor cat.

The chickens are also infected with whatever is in the air. I took out their bowl of goodies, they saw me set the bowl down, and I was walking away I turn around and who is following me. Yup, the chickens wanting their goodies. They had to pass the bowl to get to where I was. Back to where the bowl was and show them.

There are three donkeys who get stalled every night. And every morning they get turned out. This morning even they weren't immune to whatever is in the air. I opened the stall gates and they just couldn't figure out how to come out.

And then Honey Dog all of a sudden had hearing loss when I whistled for her. She always goes with me when I am outside and if I don't see her, I give a quick whistle and she comes running. Well not today. I had to go looking for her and found her inside the chicken house eating chicken poo!

I hope whatever is in the air blows away and they all return to their normal selves.

Until next time.................................

Another step forward for animals!

I was watching the news this morning and this perked me right up.











February 24, 2010 YREKA, Ca. - California legislators are considering creating a registry for animal abusers similar to that for sex offenders. Senate Bill 12-77 would create a statewide registry and tracking system for convicted animal abusers. It would be the first of it's kind in the country, in a state known for its bipartisan support for animal rights. "I think someone needs to stand up for the animals, Just because you own an animal you don't have a right to do what you wanna to... a dog has rights as far as I'm concerned," said Donald Fisher with Siskiyou County Animal Control. The bill would likely be funded by a tax on pet food. Those against the bill say it infringes on privacy rights and may make it difficult for offenders to get a job and housing.









Only speaking for myself, but an abuser is an abuser is an abuser, period! If someone abuses and animal, chances are they will or have abused a child. Abuse in any form needs to be stopped! Why should an abuser have privacy rights? If they were 'macho' enough to do the abusing in the first place, then why should it be a hidden secret? The abuser is the one who did it, then why wouldn't they want it to be known. Don't ya' think they wouldn't care who knows that they abused an animal? Or how about a spouse who beats their wife/husband! Or an adult who beats on a kid! What are they ashamed of!







Yes, today's post I am on my soapbox. Animal abuse/cruelty/neglect is a subject that will get me fired up everytime.








Please, if you see any kind of animal abuse/neglect, please step up and do something. You might be the one who saves a life!











Until next time..................................






Sorry, but the segment on the news this morning really wound me up.

Remembering

This is not a sad post. It's a post about remembering the time that was gifted. A time that was shared with our animal family. Beavis 1991-2009 a good old cat.

Wyatt 2008-2009 got out of the house and hit on road

Spazzy ?-2009 got sick

Chicken Dog 1999-2009 cancer

Joey 1987 (?)- 2009 brain tumor

Otto 2008-2009 loss to Feline Leukemia

Kurt ?-2009 just disappeared

Winston 2008-2009 Got out of the house and lost to the road just like his brother Wyatt

And one more loss. No pic. Steven ?-2009 disappeared

Again, this is not a sad post. In fact it is one that is bringing a smile to my face because each one had their own personality and I was blessed to get to share their life with them while they were here.

May 2010 be a great year for all of you. May it bring health, happiness, laughter, prosperity and lots of memories.

Until next time.........................