I also am a sucker - we have a skinny stray cat that we named Freddy the Freeloader who comes to eat each night. The problem is that he is skinny and has tearing eyes. I don't want my cats to get feline lukemia, so I will probably have to take him to the vet for a check. The last stray we had, whom I fell in love with (a little white female) had to be put to sleep because she had lukemia. I cried for days.

Other little critter that we have adopted is a little raccoon named Rocky. He/she pushes his nose on my patio door every night at the same time to eat treats out of my hand. The problem is last night, I turned on the deck light and he was sleeping in my pappasan chair like he owned the place. I am a sucker to all animals, but since my little schnauzer who was the love of my life died 2 years ago, I cannot bring myself to get another dog just yet.

MSS

One of our cats has tearing eyes - he loves to have his face scratched to clear the 'gunk' but he doesn't have feline leukemia.

I love the name Freddy the Freeloader

We had a wonderful cat called Daisy who I adopted (she was abandoned)just after I got married - she lived to 17 and died from an overactive thyroid - I miss her still and after her death we adopted 3 others.

Finally I found the cats that could almost take her place - not quite but close.

To MSS :

Just a few words from another animal lover, with the hope of helping you with the loss of your Schnauzer.

Read back through this thread and listen to the love

Think about visiting your local shelter, just for a visit, not a commitment.

Stop, look and listen to your heart and at a little face who may need you.

I apologize if this sounds too *sappy*, but shelter dogs need us and some of us need them.

Marion

I'm truly sorry, MSS for your loss. There can never be a replacement but when the time is right another will enter your life.

I am a sucker for animals also.

We have 2 dogs that were strays that now belong to us.

Lucky- a dashund mix,who got hit by a car in front of our house (just days before we were leaving for Kaua'i) We have had him now for 4 years and he was already house broken!

Tony- a Brindle and White Pit Bull.I saw him walking down the highway near our house 1 week before he ended up at one of my husband's employees house.They already had 2 dogs so they could not keep him.

We have a fenced yard so we took him in.Took him to the vet because he was COVERED in Ticks.They gave him his shots,bathed him and removed the ticks.The vet said that he was the most calm and sweet Pit Bull that they have come across.

We have had him now for about 5 months.He is such a sweet dog.He never barks,(Lucky barks more than him) he loves to swim in the Lake near our new house and tries to get fish that my kids catch!

I do not think that he was used to fight because he does not have any scars.I never thought that I would own a Pitbull but he is the sweetest dog that I have ever had.

We also have 2 Maine coon cats,1 Abysinnian and 1 outside Tuxedocat.

MSS,

Sorry for your loss.I am sure that the day will come when you find a new love!

Christie

carrybean
I am sorry. I meant Mary's Boon.. another senior moment I guess.
glad your little coconut retriever survived her car accident and I bet that wiggle is the cutest ever!

Thanks for all of the kind words and wisdom. Yes, it breaks my heart to go to the shelter. Hopefully someday soon...I guess I have been staying away purposely due to the fact I don't want to go through the heartbreak again. Our pets are truly family, which brings me to the question, "What do all of you do with your pets when you travel?"

For the longest time, I refused to travel because of my dog. I would never leave her. I know, it sounds crazy! Now, we are finally starting to travel again without me worrying so much.

Luckily, we have my brother-in-law (husband's brother) to dogsit when we go away. He stays at our house during that time. Of course, one time a friend watched them instead and didn't realize our mastiff needs to be crated because she chews everything, and she chewed up shoes while he was away from the house.

We got both of our dogs at pet stores, and I really didn't want to do it, but (1) my husband surprised me with our yellow lab and (2) my husband found our french mastiff at pet store, and she was 5 months old by that time. 5 months is very old to be at a pet store so I just think to myself she might never have had anyone take her, and where would she be then? She was a bit of a runt, but she definitely put more weight on now. You used to be able to see her ribs. They both have different personalities, and I certainly don't regret having them.

A coworker of mine went on her honeymoon to St. Martin several years ago and came home with a border collie mix - Marty. He got along very well with their husky and, subsequently, two children. Marty passed away a couple years ago, but was truly a beloved member of the family. That coworker has since adopted two other dogs from US shelters, but I know she wouldn't blink about adopting another stray Caribbean dog.

I am fortunate to be able to leave my "baby" with my parents whenever we go away. My mother knows that my little dog is the precious little member of the family and she is treated that way. It's crazy, I know. The other benefit is that my parents just lost their dog of 15 years this past spring and they are not getting another pet. This gives them the ability to "have" a pet without actually getting one - they call her their grand-dog. tee hee. I'm a sap for animals.

Mine stays with the Vet who saved her. She loves Doc Andy & I suspect she has the run of the place. For a free dog (including she had just been spayed when he gave her to me) she sure has run up some expensive boarding bills!

This is the first dog I've put on Science diet & wow, what that did for her coat was amazing.

I wish I could find a good house/pet sitter but no luck so far.

Carrybean, I would *love* to house and dog sit for you anytime!

on a serious note (though I meant the offer), we've got two huge dogs and 4 cats and it's often difficult to find reliable petsitters. We do have a kennel we can turn to for our dogs, but most kennels in our area charge by the pound per day, and with Mastiffs, well, let's just say it eats up vacation profits!

Aw, what kind of mastiff do you have, ejcrowe? Mine looks like Hooch, but she's not as big, though she does have the drooling down where once in awhile I wipe her jowls with a napkin.

I would feel bad if I left my dogs in a kennel because I would feel bad for the people who work there. My Lab is so spoiled, he would bark all day and all night if he had to stay in a crate. When he was young, he was able to Houdini his way out of his crate. The mastiff is more agreeable with it.

We usually get a friend to take care of our cats.Our dog Lucky stays with my dad (who is glad to keep him).Now that we have Tony the Pitbull...I don't know who will watch him.We have not traveled since we got him...maybe my mom would take care of him.

ej,
Mastiffs are beautiful dogs.My Pitbull kinda of looks like one.But he is shorter and very muscular.

Christie

o.k. o.k. so I have reason to rejoice. I can't wait till <font color="green">FFR&amp;R</font> so...bear with me!

Bones has gained weight! I had to adjust her collar today. =D&gt; Her back is getting better...her legs are still a little crooked. Probably always will be. But she has stopped passing blood in her stool.

<b>AND</b> she got her first picture taken this morning.

http://bonesj.blogspot.com/

Are you serious? We need to take care of people before animals. What about the children of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos, or the elderly and infirm? If you really want to help -- remember them as well.

It would be great if people could help out those children as well, but some people simply are just animal lovers and want to adopt helpless animals. That doesn't mean they think animals are more important than any person. Someone who adopts a dog isn't necessarily a prime candidate for adopting a child. Sheesh.

Christie, when my mastiff was younger, people thought she was a pitbull sometimes. Her head got even more bigger as she got older though. They do have similar bodies. The french ones are shorter than the english mastiffs but sort of bulkier.

we've got one English mastiff, an old fellow named Ike, who tips the scale at 180 pounds. My husband got him as a pup. Our other dog, Roxie, is an American mastiff (not recognized by all kennel clubs as a true breed, as it was an English mastiff interbred with the Anatolian shepherd), who will turn 3 next month. We adopted her back in February. She's come a long way since then, but she does have a long way to go with some of her behavioral issues. All the same, we just adore her and she's had the most wonderful influence on Ike.

Wow, those mastiffs get huge, don't they? Jagirl, I love the one ear up on your dog. Kind of rakish looking. The kitty in the box is sooo cute too.
Here's Sophie. That's not my foot in the sandal, that's my leg in the jeans. LOL

http://tinyurl.com/gfe9p

JAgirl,
Your cat looks just like my mom's cat named Dottie other than my mom's cat has a Black dot on her nose.My cats love boxes and bags also.

Carrybean,
What a cutie!

ej,
Wow!And I thought that my dog was big.
My dog weighs about 90 lbs. I had to get him a pinch collar to walk him.He used to walk us. But the pinch collar has worked good to train him to walk behind me..well nose at my knee.He acts like a big puppy.

Christine,
Yea, Mastiffs and Pits seem to look alike in the face.I think that Pits get a bad rap because of those people who use them to fight.But if you have a good one...they really love people and would not make a good guard dog like many people think.

I guy in my neighborhood has a HUGE German Shepard.Not sure what he weighs but he is really tall and gorgeous.Now he would make a good guard dog!

Christie

I have five dogs, each a rescue. Midnight, the German Shepard, had been shot in the face, blinded in one eye, three legs broken and her back broken when she came to us (literally crawling up to our front door and lying down). The vets told us she wouldn't live a year...that was ten years ago. Catie and The Rocket Dog were both pulled out of death row. Mistaya was left for dead on the interstate. Jack was found running loose, no collar, ticks and filth beyond belief. Though they still enjoy the occasional dog game, Mistaya and Midnight have retired to a life of leisure, well earned and deserved. The other three are certified therapy dogs. To the person who suggested doing something for people rather than animals, I wish you could see the joy those dogs are bringing to critically ill children and people in rest homes. Trust me, saving their lives was good for people.
Spay and neuter is the only real way to reduce the number of unwanted animals. Adoption is great. If you want a rescue pet, check www.petfinders.org You will find a listing of rescues in your area by breed, age,or weight.
It was a pleasure to read the posts on this thread. Thank you all for sharing.