The first day I met Graidy at Glen Highland Farm Rescue.
Whenever I think of Graidy, this is the pose I think of him in the most. Facing out, looking off into the distance. In fact, this is the first vision I had of him before I even met him. I wrote this story as fiction because it’s pretty fantastical about how he found me. But every word of it is true.
This is my favorite photo of him. … Read More
Actually, I don’t really know how old Graidy is. When we got him out of rescue, the vet guesstimated him at a year old, and since we’ve had him for three years as of today, that makes him fourish.
When I think about all the reasons why I love this dog, I guess this post from nearly a year ago would sum it up.
Angels Come in Many Forms
Early this morning, at 2 a.m., I was awoken by incessant … Read More
[Make sure to read through the comments. There are hundreds where I answer specific questions that may speak directly to your situation.]
… Read More
Q: From the Mailbag: Natasha asks, I currently have two male dogs (a Labrador 5 yrs and a Yorkshire Terrier 2 yrs) and they both get along great. I’ve always wanted a Rottweiler. Do you think it would be a bad idea getting a 3rd dog? What sex would you say would be better? Thanks.
A: Natasha,
I loved my life with my previous animals. All of them were incredible for different reasons. Kiera was my beloved brilliant partner. Graidy was my sentry dog who probably adored me more than any animal I’ve lived with. Finn was the perfect cat (minus furniture scratching) because he was essentially a dog in a cat’s body. And Wink… Wink was the embodiment of joy and love.
But in starting anew, I’ve had a chance to think about what I would … Read More
Updated May 9, 2022
She’s beautiful, isn’t she?
She’s also smart, athletic, a snap to train, devoted, telepathic, and my right-hand girl. In fact, she’s everything you could want in a dog — and more.
It’s the “more” part that gets most people into trouble. The truth is — for as beautiful and brainy as Australian Shepherds are — they aren’t for everyone.
The question is: Are they for you?
Let me walk you through a few key points … Read More
I know, I know. It’s gross. But your dog is in good company. Eating cat and, well, actually any other animal poop is not uncommon. And there are almost as many reasons as there are kinds of poop that dogs will eat. But that’s a subject for another post.
But the cat poop’s already out of the bag or I should say litter box. You know your dog has already been snacking. Now you want to know what to do. … Read More
Finnegan has been a cat like no other. He came for Cait and, until the end, was true to her.
She was the one who gave him his name. It took a few tries. Prince was the first try. I said no, that doesn’t suit him. Skye was the second try. I said he’s too dark to be Skye. Finnegan was the third try, which was the charm. That’s how he became Finnegan … Read More
Without Graidy as Wink’s point person, he has become even more attached to me, if that’s possible. Which means he doesn’t do well when I’m not in his immediate orbit.
So I stopped going for walks because Wink, at 12 1/2 years old, can’t walk as far as I like to go. Then I thought–that’s silly, there must be a solution. And sure enough…
I found this No-Zip Expedition Zipperless Entry Pet Stroller on Amazon
Graidy has been gone for a month now. It’s been 20 years since we’ve been a one-dog-family. It’s taking some adjusting for both me and Wink.
I worried that Wink would go into a deep depression without his best bud. And he did for a little while. But he seems to have rebounded.
In part, because he gets to do something now that rarely happened when Graidy was alive. He gets to come on walks with me now.
No matter … Read More
So. Life in the very slow lane. What does that look like?
Graidy is 18ish, Finn is 15 and Wink is 12. All are still going strong-ish.
But all now have heart problems. And Finn’s about to go get nuked with a radioactive shot to the tune of $3k to kill a benign tumor that’s making him hyperthyroid.
I know. It’s nuts. But I’m pathological. I can’t not do it, because Finn isn’t ready to go yet. These animals have … Read More
