Service & Selection Unleashed

At one time, we had a pet snail (I believe I mentioned him before, Slimeny).  Not a good pet for us; not a lot of action with a pet snail and we were a family on the move!  Not a lot of personality or relationship potential either.  And surprisingly (or not) a lot harder to take care of than one might think (I don’t believe they like being ‘caged’ or handled, ours stopped eating and sadly did not last long as a pet).  At another time, we had a pet rabbit, Mr. Hobbs.  Again, this was not necessarily a good choice for our family.  Rabbits can be a little meaner than we are led to believe.  They need to be interacted with regularly and need to be let out of the cage often.  They like to dig; a lot!  (We didn’t know that going in!)  They are pretty and soft but their exterior can be a little misleading!  Now, there are some families who would do well with a snail (okay, maybe not too many) or a rabbit for a pet, just not mine.

7 Key Factors in Determining the Right Pet for You

We have learned a lot, since those days, about choosing a pet.  As a matter of fact, I believe there are seven key factors in determining an appropriate pet for your family.  All families are different, but if you look at each of these factors and answer honestly for your household, you will be led to a pet that will thrive in your home as well as become a true member of the family because of your love for them.

1. Take Your Time!
   Yes, that’s right, take… your… time… (After all, you have 6 more factors to look at; this is not a quick process!)  One of the biggest mistakes people make is rushing into buying the ‘pet du jour’.   I have heard stories about people seeing a cute puppy, not recognizing the breed, buying the young dog only to find out that Irish Wolfhounds can grow to 7 feet when standing on their hind legs and weigh up to 150 pounds!  Soon the dog didn’t fit into the apartment!  Do your research and be patient; it will be worth the wait to get the perfect family member.
2. Count The Cost.
   Evaluate your financial capacity for a pet.  There are costs associated with all pets.  Food, enclosures, leads, accessories, veterinary costs (shots/injuries/pregnancies), babysitting (who wants to take the guinea pig on a vacation to the Caribbean?), toys, etc…  Having a budget, not for just purchasing the pet, but for maintaining them in the lifestyle of which they are accustomed will help preserve the relationship in the long run (isn’t it always the truth; money is the most difficult thing to deal with in any relationship!).
3. Be Prepared for Added Responsibilities.
   Every child says they will take care of the new pet.  Newsflash: that lasts about a week!  As the adult in the situation, you will end up with the bulk of the responsibility so make sure to chose a pet that you can deal with and are willing to take care of.  Are you willing to walk a dog?  Feed mice to a snake?  Clean up fur balls?  Change water in a fish tank?  Scour the house for the escaped hermit crabs?  What you decide here will help point you in the right direction of what kind of pet you want.  Remember, the pet is dependent upon you so…in for a penny, in for a pound!
4. Be Honest With Yourself – Are You a Teacher or a Watcher?
   Are you willing to be involved in the animal’s upbringing (i.e. training) or are you a watcher?  Dogs and cats require us humans to teach them how to live in our house.  They are willing to learn, but just like our kids they will make mistakes, challenge boundaries, and get into mischief.  Can you deal with that or are you a watcher?  (Fish don’t require much training unless you are trying to get them to do a double flip out of the water with a reverse twist!)
5. Evaluate Your Lifestyle.
   Are you constantly on the go?  Are you a home body?  What type of space do you have available?  A one bedroom apartment is not a good place to keep a horse, I’m just saying.  Likewise, if you are never home, you may be looking at a more self reliant pet that can take care of themselves and don’t need a lot of attention.  (Of course, that’s what we thought the snail would be; oh well!).  There are a lot of animals that thrive on human interaction and crave our attention, leaving them alone is inviting chaos.  They, like our kids, get bored when we are not around and that leads to chewed furniture, turned over garbage cans, ripped up carpet, and all types of other mischief.  Make sure you consider a pet that fits whatever lifestyle you may have.
6. Think About Age (Yours AND Theirs!)
   The sixth factor to consider is whether you want to bring a baby or an adult animal into your home.  It may be difficult for you to raise a baby and a baby puppy at the same time.  They both need a significant amount of your attention (though if you find yourself spending more time tending to the puppy than the baby, we may have a problem!).  On the other hand, adult animals come with some pretty established behaviors and habits that can be a challenge to change.  Carefully evaluate your decision here, it could be the difference between a successful integration of pet to family or a disaster where no one wins and all are unhappy.
7. Ponder the Personalities.
   Finally, consider your family dynamics.  The personalities present in the household need to fit the personalities of any potential pet.  Pets can be outgoing or introverted.  They can be driven or passive.  They can be loud or quiet.  They can be upbeat or morose – have you ever heard the song of a parakeet at 4:00 am?  If you are not a morning person, perhaps you should make another choice! Make sure that whatever pet you chose can mesh with the personalities already present in the home.

I have spent but a second on each of these 7 important decision making factors.  There are no right answers here, just a hope that we will be self aware when deciding what pet to invite into our family.  No one issue is more important than another, just please, think about your choice, for your sake, for the sake of your family, and for the sake of the pet.

We are the proud parents of an adopted dog. We got her around this time of year. She is not spectacularly pretty, not an exceptional example of strategic breeding, and definitely not a dog that stops people in their tracks as they pass by eliciting any oohs or ahs. (Fact of the matter is she is just ugly, in my opinion. Of course the rest of the family will argue me to ground on this point, but let’s just say she is not one of the “beautiful people,” so to speak.) But she is our dog. We have had her for about 9 years.

She didn’t start out on the right foot with us; though it was not her fault. She’s had a tough life. We adopted her when she was about 2 years old from a family undergoing some significant changes and couldn’t keep her any longer. She entered an existing family of 6, 5 humans and another female dog who was old, set in her ways, and declining. I mean really, the odds were stacked against her. Just think how you would feel if you were given away by your family and were placed with another, one you didn’t choose (kind of like an arranged marriage).

Some of you wish that would happened to you (who wouldn’t want to escape crazy Aunt Gertrude or weird Uncle Oscar!) or perhaps believe it did happen to you (you can’t possibly be related to Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Oscar!), or maybe you are just fine with your whole family thing (probably because you are Aunt Gertrude or Uncle Oscar!).

No matter the circumstance, you would be uncomfortable to say the least. Routine had been established, roles set, and rules defined before she even set foot in the house. And since we don’t speak dog real well, these things were communicated on a trial and error basis – she would try something and we would correct the error. Not a lot of fun for any of us involved in the situation.

The first couple of years were difficult; no I mean DIFFICULT! She tore up 4, count ‘em 4, couches! (It is not cheap to replace living room furniture… if you were wondering). She caught a bird, dragged it into the house through the dog door, and proceeded with the ritual kill on our living room carpet! (Yes, we had to replace the carpet!) Then she hid the kill under our ottoman. (Have you ever followed a blood trail in your house? It is a little disconcerting. Have you ever discovered a decapitated bird in your living room? You start looking around for Ozzy Osbourne!) She stuck her head through our front window as another dog walked by our house, on the sidewalk, with their owner. Problem was…our window was duel paned glass and closed at the time! (We ended up putting new, ‘energy efficient’ windows throughout the house, always wondering in the back of our mind just how ‘energy efficient’ they would be if she put her head through these!)

As I said earlier, we have had her for 9 years which puts her age at somewhere north of 11. That is old for a boxer (their life expectancy is 11). We are beginning to see changes in her activity level, health (small tumors, common to boxers, are appearing), and her senses are not as sharp; she is in decline. As I think about her and her role in the family, it is not the first couple of years that I think about.

I think about a companion who has been worth every penny we have had to spend because of her.

I think of a dog who literally added years to the life of our first boxer (Tilly) by re-energizing her with her playful attitude and the need to be mothered.

I think of a dog who was never a mother herself, but with the lessons learned from Tilly, mothered my daughter’s young boxer and maintains that special bond to this day.

I think of a dog who won the hearts of our kids; to the point that when things were real bad with her, they ‘chained’ themselves to her, and wouldn’t allow her to be sent away. (A decision that, based on hind sight which is 20-20, we would have deeply regretted and not known what we would have missed!)

I think of a dog who watched over our first grandchild, who allows him to pet her as he learns gentleness, and is never far away in case she is needed by him.

I think of a dog so obedient that she will now, never leave the front yard, always come when called, and heal perfectly during walks without ever having been formally taught.

I think of a dog who never wanted to be away from us, would sleep in our bed until we fell asleep and then get into her own bed, and travel in the car with us perfectly no matter the distance we ventured.

I think that because of knowing her “I believe [we] have been changed for the better and because [we] knew [her] we have been changed for good.”

It was Saturday, November 24th, just two days past Thanksgiving.  A young woman entered our store in The Fig Garden Village, Fresno carrying a small Yorkie.  Our store Manager, Rob, approached the women and asked if he could assist her in any way, she responded by saying she was going to use our dog wash.  At the time, all of our tubs were being used and there were others waiting in front of her.  What a God send that turned out to be as she had an opportunity to talk further with Rob.

She explained that her parents were on their way over from Salinas, as she was going to give the dog to her mother, and wanted the pup to be perfectly clean.  Rob asked, “Why are you giving the dog up to your mom?”  The ensuing story and chain of events that followed are extraordinary!

The young lady’s husband works in construction.  They were to begin some refurbishing work on an empty house when he discovered the dog on the 2nd floor with a couple of bowls and some towels.  He immediately called her to see if he could bring the abandoned pup home.  Not knowing exactly what to do or who to call (as she had never dealt with an abandoned animal before), and not wanting to take the dog to a shelter (for fear of some of the horror stories she had heard if the dog was unclaimed), the next best option seemed to be to give it to her mom.  You see, her mother had just recently ‘lost’ a dog, a long time companion, and perhaps this pup could help ease the loss.  As Rob examined the dog, attempting to get some very basic idea of the pups health and an approximate age, he was struck with an idea.  Our regular adoption event that we hold in conjunction with the Animal Compassion Team (ACT) was underway.  He suggested they go outside and have the pup looked at by some of the ACT staff who are accustomed to dealing with stray and abandoned animals.

Almost immediately, one of the ACT staffers thought she may recognize the dog from their database.  You see, about two weeks prior, there was a local news story about a family whose house had been broken into and along with the personal property that was taken, the two family pets (dogs) were stolen from the backyard!  If it was this family and the dog was in the database, it would have a micro-chip ID.  The ACT staff broke out their mobile scanner, scanned for a chip, and yes, they found one and it belonged to that very family!

They contacted them immediately, communicated that they had located the dog and it was now at Pet Extreme in Fig Garden Village!  It was only a matter of minutes before they were tearfully re-united with a family member they believed they would never see again!

It was Thanksgiving and Christmas all rolled into one!  The happiness and joy felt by all involved will reverberate throughout this holiday season.  Though our heroine was unable to give a gift to her mother; her unbridled joy of participating in putting a family back together far exceeded any disappointment she may have felt.  Pet Extreme and ACT working together to find the owners, was a great example of opportunity meeting cooperation in order to do what is right.  And as for the family; they received the best Christmas gift they could have asked for!

Now that’s how you start the Holiday season!  Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all!!

The following is a story that we have shared a few times during the Thanksgiving season.  Whether it is true or not…we’ll let you decide.  However, it will remind us that our pets are a part of our holiday celebrations, it will remind us to be careful while we are cooking over the holidays, and it will make you laugh.

Jasper and the Unbaked Yeast Rolls…

We have a fox terrier by the name of Jasper. He came to us in the summer of 2001 from the fox terrier rescue program. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this type of adoption, imagine taking in a 10-year-old child you know nothing about and committing to doing your best to be a good parent.

Five weeks ago we began remodeling our house. Although the cost of the project was downright obnoxious, it was 20 years overdue AND it got me out of cooking Thanksgiving dinner for family, extended family, and a lot of friends that I like more than family most of the time.

I was assigned the task of preparing 124 of my famous yeast dinner rolls for the two Thanksgiving feasts we did attend. [I am still mad at the electrician for getting the new oven hooked up so quickly. It was the only appliance in the whole house that worked, thus the assignment!]

I made the decision to cook the rolls on Wednesday evening and to reheat Thursday morning. Since the kitchen was freshly painted, you can imagine the odor. Not wanting the rolls to smell like Sherwin Williams Latex Paint #586, I put the rolls on baking sheets and set them in the living room to rise for five hours.

After three hours, Perry (husband) and I decided to go out to eat, returning about an hour later. An hour after that, the rolls were ready to go into the oven.

It was 8:30 p.m. When I went to the living room to retrieve the pans, much to my shock, one whole pan of 12 rolls was empty. I called out to Jasper, and my worst nightmare became a reality. He literally wobbled over to me. He looked like a combination of the Pillsbury Dough Boy and the Michelin Tire man wrapped up in fur. He groaned when he walked. Even his cheeks were bloated.

I ran to the phone and called our vet. After a few seconds of uproarious laughter, the vet told me the dog would probably be OK; however, I needed to give him Pepto Bismol every two hours for the rest of the night.

Who knows why I thought a dog would like Pepto Bismol any more than my kids did when they were sick. Suffice it to say that by the time we went to bed, the dog was black, white, and pink. He was so bloated we had to lift him on to the bed for the night.

Naively thinking the dog would be all better by morning was very stupid on my part, of course.

We arose at 7:30 and as we always do first thing, we put the dog out to take care of his business. Well, the dog appeared to be as drunk as a sailor on his first leave. He was running into walls, falling flat on his rear. Most of the time when he was walking, his front half was going one direction and the other half was either dragging the grass or headed 90 degrees in another direction. When he ran down the small incline in our back yard, he couldn’t stop himself and nearly ended up colliding with the fence.

His pupils were dilated and he was as dizzy as a loon. I endured another few seconds of laughter from the vet (second call within 12 hours) before he explained that the yeast had fermented in his belly and that he was indeed one drunk little Fox Terrier.

He assured me that, not unlike most binges we humans go through, the effects would wear off after about four or five hours. He also told me to keep giving the dog Pepto Bismol.

Afraid to leave Jasper by himself in the house, Perry and I loaded him up and took him with us to my sister’s house for the first Thanksgiving meal of the day.

My sister lives outside of Muskogee on a ranch (a 10–15-minute drive). Rolls firmly secured in the trunk (124 less 12) and drunk dog leaning from the back seat onto the console of the car between Perry and me, we took off.

Now I know you probably don’t believe that dogs burp, but believe me when I say that after eating a tray of risen unbaked yeast rolls, DOGS WILL BURP. These burps were pure Old Charter (whiskey) in character. They would have matched or beat any smell in a drunk tank at the police station. But that’s not the worst of it.

Now he was beginning to pass gas and it smelled like baked rolls. We endured this for the entire trip to Karen’s. We were thankful she didn’t live any farther away than she did.

Once Jasper was firmly placed in my sister’s garage with the door locked, we finally sat down to enjoy our first Thanksgiving meal of the day. The dog was the topic of conversation all morning long and everyone made trips to the garage to witness my drunken dog, each returning with a tale of Jasper’s latest endeavor to walk without running into something. Of course, as the old adage goes, “What goes in must come out,” and Jasper was no exception.

Granted if it had been me that had eaten 12 risen, unbaked yeast rolls, you might as well have put a concrete block up my behind, but alas a dog’s digestive system is quite different from yours or mine. I discovered this was a mixed blessing when we prepared to leave Karen’s house.

Having discovered his “packages” on the garage floor, we loaded him up in the car so we could hose down the floor.

This was another naive decision on our part. The blast of water from the hose hit the poop on the floor, and the poop on the floor withstood the blast from the hose. It was like Portland cement beginning to set up and cure.

We finally tried to remove it with a shovel. I (obviously no one else was going to offer their services) had to get on my hands and knees with a coarse brush to get the remnants off of the floor. And as if this wasn’t degrading enough, the dog in his drunken state had walked through the poop and left paw prints all over the garage floor that had to be brushed too.

Well, by this time the dog was sobering up nicely, so we took him home and dropped him off before we left for our second Thanksgiving dinner at Perry’s sister’s house.

I am happy to report that as of today (Monday) the dog is back to normal, both in size and temperament. He has had a bath and is no longer tricolor. None the worse for wear, I presume. I am also happy to report that just this evening I found two risen unbaked yeast rolls hidden inside my closet door.

It appears he must have come to his senses after eating ten of the twelve but then decided that hiding two of them for later would not be a bad idea. Now, I’m doing research on the computer: “How to clean unbaked dough from the carpet.”

And how was your Thanksgiving, by the way?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!

Have you ever noticed how dogs can make games out of just about anything…by themselves?  They really get a lot of enjoyment out of it.  My Boxer has more fun with a used dryer sheet than any toy we have ever purchased for her!  (Not a great job of increasing sales by me, since I work for a Pet Store chain; so Go Buy Your Pet A Toy!  I feel better now.)  It’s actually better than TV as we sit in the living room and watch her shake it, throw it, chase it, and roll all over it!  It’s probably the scent of the thing, but she is in heaven with this used dryer sheet!

If you take your dogs to dog parks, they are probably (or at least should be) socialized well.  Notice, they don’t need toys to play with other dogs.  They will chase and wrestle until they are completely spent.

However, have you ever seen a dog that was playing by itself or with another, that wouldn’t quit what they were doing in a heartbeat if you wanted to play with them?  They thrive on our attention (just like our kids do)!  They are social beings, it is far more important to them to have a relationship with us, even if our games are less fun, than whatever they are doing on their own or even with their own kind!

Let’s turn that around and ask another question: Have you ever played with your pet and not been happier while doing it?  I know I never have.  And yet, I don’t do it near enough!  Due to ‘life’ moving at such a fast pace, playing with my dog is far down the priority list and I think that is wrong!  We all need a little more happy in our lives; I think I may start finding it by playing with my dog a little more!

More importantly, I think this works the same with my kids as well!  My recommendation:  Play with your kids and pets, it’s not just good for them, it’s good for you!

One of the many benefits of owning a pet is the gift of laughter. I can remember many a night where our family sat around simply watching one of our pets and laughing hysterically at what was going on. Just last week, one of our boxers learned how to hide under her blanket. She would take a swipe with her paw at one of the other two dogs, hide under the blanket, and let the other two desperately try and get to her. They couldn’t! It was hilarious. (Yes, I guess you had to be there.) I know, I know sure doesn’t sound like a “hot time in the ole town tonight!” but the entire family was howling (pun intended). Now perhaps, if I was alone, it would not have been as much fun, but as a family we shared a phenomenal laugh. It is been scientifically proven, when we laugh together we become closer, happier, and more intimately connected to each other. When we laugh it triggers physical changes in the body as well; it strengthens your immune system, boosts your energy, diminishes your pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Living with our pets did all of that for us on just one given night; I pay for DirecTV and get a lot less!

Did you know laughter is good for your health?

• Laughter relaxes the whole body
  A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
• Laughter boosts the immune system
  Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins
  The body’s natural feel-good chemicals, endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart
  Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

It’s time to have a little fun. One of the things I find funny is the perspectives held on different pets. I am really a dog person. My allergies to cats have probably biased my opinion of them, although I did grow up with a cat, Brutus, whom I loved dearly. I just couldn’t stay too close for too long or my face would swell like a casaba melon! The following are two of my favorite observations of the differences between dogs and cats. Please, if you are a cat person, don’t take offense and view them as they are intended to be, a little humorous interlude into your otherwise busy and stressful life. Maybe you have seen these; they still get me to chuckle every time. Maybe you haven’t; I wish you good health with a dose of laughter!

What is the difference between a dog and a cat?

A dog lives in your house and sees that you give it food and water and says to itself, “Wow, these beings give me food and water without my having to do anything. They must be gods!”

A cat lives in your house and sees that you give it food and water and says to itself, “Wow, these beings give me food and water without my having to do anything. I must be a god!”

The Dog’s Diary

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat’s Diary

Day 983 of My Captivity

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now…

I just recently became a grandparent for the very first time.  (insert obligatory applause here)  Thank you, thank you but I really didn’t have a whole lot to do with it.  It is true, there is no other feeling quite like it.  You are so very proud, so moved, and so much in love with the baby that you don’t know what to do with yourself.  And I’m talking about your child, the baby you had, that now has one of its own!  As for the infant; words cannot begin to express the depth of love you feel for this little addition to the family.

This being a blog about pets (not grandparents) I’d better make the connection.  Based on our dog, I truly believe they get it.  Don’t ask me how, I don’t have the answer.  Here is what I do know.  The first time that baby came into our house, the very first time, our Boxer (who always greets us enthusiastically) ran right past us to the new born.  A couple of gentle sniffs and she would not leave the little ones side.  I sat down and held the child, she came up to the couch, took a look, one more quick sniff and then sat at my feet for as long as I held the child.  When my spouse took the baby, she moved with the baby.  When laid in the crib, our dog posted up by the crib.  She became the boys’ guardian angel, vigilantly keeping watch no matter where he went.  And it took just a matter of moments to have created that bond!

I ran across the story of Thor, a pit bull who saved his young family in Indiana. It’s a really remarkable story that speaks not only to the heroism of one dog, but the bond that forms between pet and owner (and owner’s child!) I’d like to think we have a potential hero in our house, and no, I’m not talking about me (though it is not really that much of a stretch… oh, heck, who am I kidding)!

Do pets love?  Do they have emotional attachments?  I find those questions ridiculous!  I believe they are far more complex than we even know.  They are family members by any definition you choose.  Their relationship with us is far more than just a free and easy food source.  It is more than just loyalty because of the roof over their head.  It is deeper than simply being trained to be obedient, it is a tie so deep, it can only be love.  “Experts” can try and tell me differently, but I can only believe what I have experienced and observed.  Pets love and deserve to be loved like family members.  Given the opportunity, they might even become heroes.

When you have a pet as a family member, you gain companionship, loyalty, unconditional love, and a deep reservoir of fun experiences.  Okay, there is nothing new or earth shattering about that statement (I do have a flair for the obvious!), but often times, amongst all the memories, we forget some of the little experiences that bring a smile to our face.  Recently, as I was recalling all of the pets which were a part of our family, I realized how much fun was had naming each one.

There was our albino pet rat.  We named him Ralph, though we never called him just Ralph, he was always Ralph the Rat; we just liked the way that sounded.  Of course, all of us tried out our best Jimmy Cagney with the “Ralph, you dirty rat.”  (This loses its effectiveness on paper, but trust me, it was a lot of fun to hear our household doing Cagney; it actually came out as more like a cross between Elmer Fudd and Jimmy Stewart, but the effort was there!)

My daughter had an anole.  She named him Stud.  Have you ever seen an anole?  I don’t think there is a muscle on that creature’s body!  He was fast (we had to chase him on many occasions and found him to be very elusive), but Stud?  I didn’t see it!

We had a bright yellow parakeet with a green marking on his chest.  We named him Mistletoe.  He was great fun at dinner time.  He would have free reign of the table and take turns nibbling at everyone’s bread.  For awhile, he was used by me to get a kiss from my spouse by simply holding him over my head, until he “relieved himself” in our hair once!

Our family dog was given to me as a birthday present.  (Funny, the kids used my birthday to get their dog!  Well played.  Not even my cold heart could complain about a dog now!  Go ahead kids; feel free to use this one.)  I used to sing my girls a song; Chantilly Lace by the Big Bopper (and no I am not that old!) so they decided to call our pup Tilly.

There was Slimeny the snail, Mr. Hobbs (a rabbit), Joshua and Caleb (father and son long haired doxies), Brutus (the smallest living tiger in captivity!), Koby (a bird purchased at Koby’s Swap Meet in San Diego), and many others.

So what do these names say about us? Well, I guess they say that we have a sense of humor! Beyond that, I think they speak to our togetherness. Each name had special meaning to us as a family.  We bonded with the new family members, but even more importantly, we bonded as a family; our pets brought us closer together as a unit.  Those moments, on the living room floor, all together, deciding on a name were priceless.

What about you? How do you name your pets? What’s your favorite pet naming story?

However you do it, have fun naming your pets!