A surprising number of you have emailed me to ask what happened to the dog. If you’ve read my last Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, you’ll remember that on the day I left for a writing conference three weeks ago, a stray dog showed up on our back porch. And I’m not a dog person, so I told my wife NOT to feed it. So of course, she fed it.
Somehow, in the twists and turns of writing about the conference, I forgot to say what happened to the dog.
Here’s what happened to the dog. She’s lying on a blanket in our dining room, making herself very much at home, ignoring the bowl of dog food, and stealing cat food.
She’s also terrorizing the cats. We have a twenty-pound-plus cat named Zephyr who doesn’t do much running. Today, after a Powerful Emotional Experience with the dog, Zephyr took off running about as fast as any cat has ever run. Our #2 cat Rocky also had a run-in with the dog, which ended with Rocky racing off at top speed and the dog barking like a banshee.
We haven’t been able to find the owner of this dog, and my wife and daughters really want to keep her. Our neighbor wants her for a hunting dog. The humane society said that if nobody claims her in a month, we can keep her.
I think we’re going to keep her. She really is a beautiful dog, although she needs a little training. OK, she needs a LOT of training. She grins a lot, so we’ve named her Happy. She runs like the wind.
My wife and daughters promised that they’d take care of Happy if I let them keep her. I should have known how long that would last. They flew to Colorado today for a speech tournament. They’re going to be gone for four days. And they left me to take care of Happy.
So that’s what happened to the dog. I’m trying to figure out if I’m happy about this. I know the cats are horribly unhappy. But Happy is happy.
The kitties will adjust. …Or they’ll never forgive you and make the Divine Displeasure of the Kitties very well known. Either way, the clash of the four-legged titans will be a Powerful Emotional Experience for everyone involved.
Thanks for keeping her. You’re Happy’s hero! And hey, PetSmart offers obedience classes for reasonably cheap. You might wanna look into it.
A while ago, my wife came in and asked me if I’d be willing to take her parents dog for the rest of his natural life, as they were about to move somewhere they could have a dog. After a half hour or so of discussion, I finally agreed to take him.
“Good.” My wife said, “Because they’re in transit on their way from Texas right now.”
I don’t think I ever even really had a vote…
Just reading this made me happy.
Ah, another reluctant dog owner. I can sympathize. My husband and kids looked at me with pleading eyes and now we own the most spoiled border collie you’ve ever seen. Of course, they claimed they’d take care of her. And they do, mostly. But alas, one of the errands on my list today (which is supposed to be a writing day) is to buy dog food.
It’s always something.
I’m grinning as well. Looks like Happy is making a bunch of people happy. She’s well named.
I also think the kitties will adjust, and it sounds like Happy is giving Zephyr the exercise he needs.
I love it. I have three dogs. One of them is autistic. I know this because I have twin sons who have autism. I told the vet this, and he said, “I just hope for your sakes that they aren’t as bad as she is!” (They aren’t!)
I love dogs, and I think you will find that God sent Happy to you to teach you all about what it’s like to have the most amazing best friend you will ever have in this world. Only a dog will treat you like a celebrity every time you come home from a long day at work. It’s great getting applause just for walking in the door, isn’t it? No one else will think you’re as wonderful as your dog does. As the saying goes, “My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.”
Sending happy licks and tail wags from my place to yours!
Woof!
Karla Akins & Gretchen (Rottweiler — the autistic one), Frankie (pug) and Oskar (an elderly dachshund)
Randy,
You will receive bountiful blessings if you get to keep Happy! We have two at our house (pic here: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p208/llwswife/IMG_0937.jpg), and every day is an adventure with them.
We have done obedience training with both of ours at a local dog training club and gotten many benefits from it. Actually, one of ours has gone far enough in the training that we are going through the Therapy program and going to be doing hospital visitations (starting next week!).
I also recommend a daily walk, long enough to tire you both out. Read Cesar Millan’s book: Cesar’s Way. It’s good for both of you and will prevent a lot of dog problems.
Glad to hear your dog story!
It sounds like your wife and my husband could compare notes on listening skills. Two years ago we had to get rid of one of our beloved cats because our son Nathan loved her more than she loved him (meaning that whenever Nathan tried to pet Jewels she hissed and/or nipped at him). Our other cat, Lucia, looked so sad when we packed Jewels into her cage. Norm started getting “that look.” Before he had a chance to say anything I warned, “Whatever you do, don’t come home with a puppy or a kitten. Lucia will be fine.”
Two hours later I knew we were in trouble. It does not take two hours to drop off a cat at the Humaine Society! Sure enough, Norm returned wearing a fished grin and toting a box. Here’s how the scene played out:
ME – “I knew it!”
NORM – “Before you freak out, it’s not a kitten or a puppy.”
ME – “You promised.”
NORM – “But she’s so cute. Her name is Princess.”
I rolled my eyes. Pricess turned out to be an almost-full-grown cat. She hid in the bathroom for the first three day and shed balls of hair whenever anyone looked at her. On day four, shortly after I’d calmly explained to my puppy-eyed husband why that nervous walking hair ball couldn’t stay, Princess wandered into the hallway, sat for a moment, took a few more steps, sat again, and by the time she reached the living room she’d grown on me. Now she sleep on the kids’ bed.
Aren’t animals great?
Speaking as a non-dog person myself (sorry folks), I can understand your dilemma. However, I think I’m going to give it another try once my kids are off at college. The first time around, my kids were really small, and it was just too much trying to potty-train my son, AND the dog, plus our dog barked so loudly at night, that none of us got any sleep. I think next time I’ll get a small, quiet dog…do they make those? Ha!
Speaking as a non-dog person myself (sorry folks), I can understand your dilemma. However, I think I’m going to give it another try once my kids are off at college. The first time around, my kids were really small, and it was just too much trying to potty-train my son, AND the dog, plus our dog barked so loudly at night, that none of us got any sleep. I think next time I’ll get a small, quiet dog…do they make those? Ha!
My prayers are with you, Randy. When I’m invited to someone’s house I always ask, ‘Do you have a dog?” Seems dogs hate me. They smell fear and when I see a dog, I exude a lot of it. Once I went to a crit partner’s home. First time I’d been there. I forgot to ask if she had a dog. This creature was no bigger than a minute, but had a big, BIG bark. Jan said, “He won’t bite, don’t worry…” but the little guy took a huge chunk of my pant leg and wouldn’t let go. Jan said she’s never seen him act that way. Now, before anyone says that dogs are like kids and can sense evil/mean people… I’m very nice. I promise. I just smell like . . . fear.
P.S. I’ve owned lots of dogs in my lifetime. I have no idea what’s happened to me. :/
Randy,
I started off a cat person and now love my dogs to pieces. I wouldn’t have a cat–not because I don’t like them but because I still do. Between my dogs and my husband (who is NOT a cat lover), a cat doesn’t stand a healthy chance.
I have to agree with Karla. There’s nothing like being greeted at the door by adoring dogs. They don’t care what you look like or how much money you make or what kind of car you drive (though they really love to have that air in the face experience). And bonus, if you are the one feeding Happy, he will be the most loyal to you.
Hey, when the dog is happy, it’s hard for the rest of the family to not be happy–excluding cats, of course.
Abundant blessings,
Jenny
I think it’s very kind that you put your family’s desires before your own dislike. Cute name for the dog. Do you all watch Seventh Heaven? Have a great day!
I’m not a dog person either. We have three cats. Cats do not adjust, but they will put the dog in its place. 🙂
Awww, I’m happy for Happy. I love dogs. Dogs love me. But I’m severely allergic to them – so I have cats . . . now.
But growing up, we had dogs. Beautiful black labs, all of them named Susie. (another story). And despite serious asthma attacks that kept me home from school, they couldn’t keep me away from the dog.
Visiting cousins at their farms, I’d locate all the puppies and kitties and could be found with one of each tucked under my arms, eyes streaming tears, sneezing like crazy, but grinning from ear to ear.
As an adult, I’m a little smarter – I hope. Still love dogs, would love to romp with them, but I must keep my distance.
Pam is right, though. Cats do NOT adjust. They will, however, see to it that Happy has an attitude adjustment. LOL
This story also makes me sooo happy. I believe that this big puppy was sent to you (and the kitty cats) for a reason, although they might not agree with that.
I have seen numerous cases with my brother’s dogs of the tidiest relationships developing between them and the resident felines, to the extent where the cats have actually curled up with the dogs.
My brother lives in the extreme wilderness, without running water,(it’s running in the sense that he runs and gets it from the creek)an area where moose, bears and wolves hang out and you’d think that all of this wild influence would have an effect on the pets. No way.
They have determined that they don’t care what the big bad wild animals call them: “…na na na na na na…little tiny babies.” They curl up next to the fire together and snicker to themselves.
My cats too…oddities. One has an actual baby bouncer I bought specifically for him several years ago from a garage sale; since he had taken to being strolled in my daughter’s doll stroller at the time, I thought, hey, he’d love this. But is that good enough? No–now after she’d brought home the “baby-doll baby-simulator” from her “CALM” class and the accompanying car seat, when the doll was lifted out, he decided that this new seat should be his too.
I hope your cats and dog will learn to get along. If they do, I know they will put on some magnificent shows for you. I used to have a dog that played a type of “tag” with my two cats; chasing each other from one end of the house and then reversing directions to the other.
Thanks “Happy” for showing up at Randy’s and giving that unconditional “doggy love.”
Blessings,
Joleena Thomas
Ah…I well remember the day my husband forcefully grabbed me by the shoulders looked straight into my eyes and said, “It’s me, or it’s the beagle pup!”
It was so hard to choose!
(Epilogue: The dog went to the home of a childless couple who were THRILLED to have her. The husband and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary. )
As a former speech nerd, all my happy buttons went off hearing that your wife and daughters are on their way to a speech tournament.
What were you saying about a dog? 😉
Yay for Happy.
Don’t worry too much. A few hisses, a few yelps, barks and sulks, and both cats and dog will adjust. We have two cats and now just one dog(our old cocker had to be put down at 14 years of age last month). All the critters have learned to adjust to the others. In fact we have had up to six dogs and four cats at one time. They were all used to having another four-legged family member being added at any given time.
Our two dainty felines and huge lumbering dog (he’s a mixed breed)actually play together and the cats rub around on the dog, knowing that is one thing he does not like. This sometimes causes his nose to be out of joint because he knows he’s not allowed to retaliate. One of cats even used to sleep curled up next to the cocker.
So don’t sweat it, if you accept them all, they will accept each other. And the other posts about obedience school for Happy is a good idea. It’s good for owners and pets.
Blessings,
Cyndi Pratt
I think this could be a Seinfeld thing. I’ve noticed there are two kind of animal owners out there; the ones who wear gloves and carry white baggies down the sidewalks, and the grocery cart pushers with every imaginable bag and can of purrfect food ready to deliver to the hordes.
So, a, Randy, you fallinto both of these catagories?
Interesting.
When will you have time to write?
What I heard:
“Dogs have owners.
but Cats have STAFF!”
I also read somewhere…We should love others like our dog loves us.
Possibly the dog & cats may never fully adjust. Think of it as your own permanent Mideast Peace Situation. (But then…who knows?)
I’ve never owned a cat and a dog at the same time, but my sister has. The two of them negotiated and the cat won the role of Supreme Being of the Universe. The dog adjusted.