Category Archives: Dogs

Farewell to 2020

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I guess you found nothing beneficial about all the crud that’s been going on since we shut down for “2 weeks to flatten the curve” ten months ago. I could say that, too, but I’d be lying. If I’m honest with myself, it’s been a good year.

  • Mr. L has made some health discoveries, and even though he’s not completely happy, he’s working on things. His heart function almost doubled over the last year and a half, so we’re both ecstatic about that. It’s not yet at an ideal place, but it’s much better
  • Shortly before pandemic things began shutting down, Milam Touch of Love established a relationship with a mobile veterinarian, so when Emancipet and ABC shut down operations, we were able to gear up
  • Milam Touch of Love’s donors kept donating. That meant we could keep paying our veterinarian, so we could spay and neuter shelter dogs and offer low-cost services to Milam County Residents
  • Partially because of Milam County, our veterinarian was able to expand his practice to make things better for all clients. Everyone wins.
  • Jase matured into the good dog we knew he could be
  • My back found a way to heal, and I’m not limited by it anymore
  • Zelda is alive and well, she just relocated to our “new” neighbors kitty corner across the street from us, and she’s blessing our neighbor’s with her quirkiness and attitude
  • I was able to have a good visit with my parents this year
  • My sister had a successful hip replacement
  • My older younger brother sends our sibling group daily texts of biblical analysis and meditation
  • My younger younger brother became a first-time grandfather this year
  • All the Love Cats are doing well — Sapphire, Daisy, Josephine, and Ruby are still indoor ferals, but they enjoy spending time near us at certain times of the day
  • Scooter and Gray Socks Ghost are both fat and sassy outdoor ferals. Scooter loves ear rubs, and Socks tolerates pets in exchange for canned food
  • Milam Touch of Love has had some phenomenal volunteers join our organization this year, and I know we have more waiting in the wings. Our initial volunteer core is still strong, and I’m grateful for our board of directors, who each bring a uniqueness we need to our base of operations.

What was good for you last year?

Cats: Friday Night Drama and a PSA

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We had a little excitement at the house last night. Ajax began attacking Jase for no apparent reason, and we had to protect Jase to make sure nobody got hurt.

In recent weeks, Ajax has been spending more time in the kitchen, and he’s been allowing Jase to nuzzle him. We’ve watched Jase carefully to ensure he wasn’t doing anything to hurt Ajax, and he wasn’t. As near as we can figure, Ajax got tired of being nuzzled and decided to take action. Jase tried to take refuge in his crate, and Ajax tried to follow Jase into his crate. We got them separated and closed Jase’s crate door a few times for his own protection (and Ajax’s, too, because if Jase gave even one nip back, he could kill Ajax).

This morning, so far, everyone seems to be minding their own business, which I hope was Ajax’s intent in attacking last night. We’ve seen Ajax attack other cats (that’s why he and Sneaky are separated), but it was surprising to see him go after Jase who is seven times his size.

In Public Service Announcement mode for a minute. Please, please, please spay and neuter your dogs and cats. Shelters everywhere are filled to the brim with unwanted animals. It’s kitten dumping season, and that’s heartbreaking to see. Someone in town found four kittens in the dumpster at a local car wash this morning. One of our directors is fostering four kittens found dumped in a box in the rain a week or so ago. You think spaying and neutering is expensive, but allowing them to procreate is expensive, too.

And if you’re looking for an animal, please adopt from a shelter or a rescue organization. Consider being a foster to a shelter or rescue animal. We do our best to socialize all our animals, and I know other shelters and rescues do, too, but there’s nothing like a home environment for these fur babies.

Cats: Who’s Interacting With Jase?

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Jase is still a little excitable, so most of the cats aren’t interested in interacting with him. Lady has been persistent since Day 1. Ajax has been hesitant, but we’ve noticed that over the last few weeks Ajax has been spending more time in the kitchen. He’s usually on the stairs, but he’s watching Jase and beginning to interact with him more.

Cats: Scooter and Lady

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Scooter and Lady don’t have much in common except for their attraction to Jase. Lady has been enamored with Jase ever since he showed up. She doesn’t put up with him being rude, and she is careful to take shelter under chairs or at eye level with Jase. That makes it easier for her to put Jase in his place when he forgets his manners, which is still too often. I’ll come downstairs in the morning, and she’ll be sitting outside his crate. She asks to come into the parlor and kitchen when she knows he’s out of his crate. She chooses to nap in places she knows Jase has access. I can only conclude that she likes him, clumsy oaf that he remains.

Scooter is an outside cat. He has been fascinated with Jase for several months. Jase kept lunging at him, which did not build trust with Scooter, but Scooter has been persistent, and Jase has been getting less lungy. Over the last couple of weeks, Scooter has been waiting for Jase on the porch when he comes out, and they’ve been sniffing. Jase has been quite gentle most of the time. As with Lady, Jase tends to get a little excitable, and Jase came in dripping blood after one encounter, so I know Scooter is prepared to defend himself and put Jase in his place, too.

Large dogs tend to mature slowly, and Jase is no different. At least we can see progress even if it isn’t as rapid as we would like. Impulse control is an ongoing effort, and him getting more relaxed with cats is part of it.

Cats: Jase’s Tune-Up

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Jase is an obedience school graduate, but I needed some additional training, and Jase benefited from a tune-up he got this week. First, the things Jase does well. He crates great! He usually sits well. He needs practice with extended stays, but he sits well. He wouldn’t lay down for … Continue reading →

Cats: With Jase Away, the Cats Will…

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With Jase away at in-residence obedience school, we’re seeing more cats downstairs. Rossie came out for Mr. L to pet her yesterday. Saphhire and Daisy are spending more time in the parlor and even the kitchen. Sneaky’s wound is healing well. The list of kitties that like Animal Scents Cat … Continue reading →

Cats: Just Another Mundane Caturday

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The cats are here to say there’s really nothing new going on. Scooter is all for being petted while he’s eating, and sometimes he allows petting on the edge of the porch, but he’s still nervous about it. Socks allows petting while he’s eating but if he stops to think … Continue reading →