• grief,  love,  mom,  pets

    Blogging from A to Z: Dogs resemble their owners, yes?

    I’ve heard of dogs and how, if you put their photos side-by-side with their owners, many look like they are related. However, have you ever heard of dogs getting ailments similar to their adoptive parents? It was a week before I left for California on business that Hershey began having problems with his lower back. One night right before bed, he sat on our bed and cried. For over an hour, he whined like he was in excruciating pain. It was heartbreaking! We have a central emergency vet so I called them to let them know we were coming. Hershey loves car rides and going “bye-bye” but even he didn’t…

  • Christian,  dogs,  essay,  pet adoption

    Down for the count

    Our dog, Hershey, is in his “formative” years – he’s almost two. Our little fledgling has learned much. He is potty trained, likes car rides and walks in the park, warmly greets other dogs (and to their dismay cats) with the international canine custom of bottom sniffing. He has “sit,” “stay,” “shake,” and “down” memorized and if you have a treat or he’s not distracted by absolutely anything else, he’d be happy to show you. He only chases the kitties 62.8 percent of the time and he’s been caught licking Tike, although Tike would deny it if asked. He almost sleeps through the night without taking a potty break and…

  • birds,  rural life,  wildlife

    Simply for the birds

    Having moved from a Denver townhome to a small-town Indiana house with almost an acre of land, it was imperative that my husband, Joe, and I have a bird feeder so we could become avid bird watchers. And, what’s a new home without a pigeon poo christening? Bird feeders were also automatic cat entertainment so it seemed like a no-brainer. I trotted off to Menards, our local hardware emporium, and browsed through the bird feeders only to find cute, country-painted bird feeders shaped like southern plantations, quaint cabins and rustic lighthouses. However, they also would require almost daily filling. I then passed by the ultimate in bird feeders – the…

  • Parke-Vermillion County Humane Shelter,  pet adoption

    She had me at “Me-ow”

    I was outside in the yard taking pictures of the many flowering trees, bushes and other Midwest regalia when a furry,calico gift from God padded by. The kitten stopped to look at me – she was so small. Not a kitten but not quite full grown and she was round in the middle. She followed me to the front porch where she devoured two cans of Fancy Feast in a matter of minutes. She let me pet her and pick her up. Her white fur was dirty and her round belly seemed out of place on her otherwise skinny frame, unless she was pregnant, that is. She threw herself down…