One time I put myself in harms way to protect Fraulein, my Rottie.
I was renting an apartment and since there was no yard, I would have to walk the dogs. One at a time because I couldn't handle 2 large dogs at once.
I had just stepped out and here comes a Pit Bull running loose towards us. Without thinking, I body slammed her by throwing myself on top of her to protect her. And screamed. The owner came running up and looked worried. Turned out his dog was very friendly and was just running up to Fraulein to say hello. He apologized for not having her on a leash.
My dogs get good food, health care and are not left out if it is very cold or very hot. But we live in Southern California. It may happen once or twice a year that it is really, really cold and it snows. Like last year when it snowed and lasted for four days. The dogs only went out to use the bathroom. Otherwise they were inside with us. But our dogs are still dogs. They have rules and they are NOT treated like children. But since they can not fend for themselves, we, my daughter and I, fret over what to do if something were to happen. Like next week, my daughter will be gone all week. Well, Tuesday through Friday. So we have started to make plans as to what to do if this or that happens. Just as we would if the dogs were children. When it was really hot and we turned on the air, the dogs got to be with us. After my Rottie, TJ, pushed me off my bed, I learned to train large dogs to sleep on their own bed. The cats sleep with me, but not the dog. Mecca gets to sleep on the couches. Her mommy does not care. But they are still dogs, not children. I guess we make sure they eat every single day, twice. They get a bath when they stink. We clean up after them. Can we teach them to clean up their own poop? I would love to do that one. LOL I will not say that I have not treated a pet like a child as I have. But the ones we have now are not treated that way. Yet they are part of our family and we promised to take care of them so we do.
That is exactly what I try to think and feel with my Carmel. It is hard at the moment but this too shall pass.
I was never able to have children and we could not adopt so we have cats and dogs, our furbaby family. We all live together on our land in the Heartland of America!!
I dare say, I get along much better with my animals and feel their appreciation far more than with any person, with the exception of my husband......
Drover gets fed and watered by us, his humans. He has his own bed (next to ours). He does not get on our bed when we are in it unless we invite him, then he just hops up. But we only have a queen size, and 120 pounds of stretching Rottie takes up lots of space, so we let him stay on his own bed.
In the morning after we get up, but before we take him out, he hops up and lounges on our bed as if it was his very own. We think he likes our scent. He balls up the pillows under his chin.
Our four human "kids" are long gone, with their own lives and furry creatures.
