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Agnes, blogging, Despicable Me, dogs, Fergus, Monday, Morty, Pets, S.A. Young author, Sophie, Stella, video
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Red-lipped Batfish
Good morning and Happy Monday!
Question: is today a national dog holiday about which I am completely unaware?
I left my apartment, took my same route and got on the subway, just as I do every workday. Today, however, it seemed like there were even more dogs out and about than usual at that hour, most bundled up in their winter gear. It seemed like “Dogs on Parade”. (Probably a new reality show filming in my neighborhood. Can’t wait to see the summer frocks.)
Please don’t misunderstand. I am not complaining, merely curious. As readers of this blog, you’ve no doubt surmised by now that I love dogs. All dogs. Breed or size doesn’t particularly matter, although I do tend to gravitate toward “fluffy” (as in fluffy fur – not in the Gabriel Iglesias way – not that there’s anything wrong with that).
I live in a city and I’m surrounded by dogs. Dignified dogs on leashes perambulating down the sidewalk, outlaw dogs in the city-owned green spaces who should be on leashes, but aren’t and social dogs meeting for play dates in the parks designated for their use (and where they can run and jump without restraint as long as they can play well with others).
Dogs are even allowed, if not expressly then tacitly, on public transit in my city. I don’t mean just service dogs, all dogs. As long as they are well behaved and the other passengers don’t object, one can bring their Giant Burmese Mountain Dog on the subway – but do not try to bring your bicycle (or a Christmas tree, but that’s a story for another time. I digress).
I do not know this dog. He lives in Russia
I cannot have a dog in the apartment building in which I live. A dog is not even supposed to come for a visit. No dogs. Not now, not ever…never! To me, this seems grossly unfair and even discriminatory. I can have a cat. I can even have hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, birds and fish. I don’t want any of those. I want a dog. And I’m sorry, fish are not pets. They’re barely sentient beings. No offense intended to those who take great pleasure from cultivating and curating their beautiful and costly aquariums, but those are more like living art installations, in my opinion.
Everyone loves dogs. Or at least the people that I choose to associate with love dogs. People who tell me otherwise are instantly suspicious characters in my book. (I may even mean that literally.) You know where you stand with dogs, usually within the first five minutes. Dogs want to like you and generally will unless you give them a reason not to.
Goose, who visited the office
So, I must settle for vicariously enjoying the dogs of others. When I see a dog coming toward me as I walk through the city, I look down and smile at the dog and rarely ever notice the human to whom the dog is attached. Standing at a corner waiting for the walk signal I will coo and make a ridiculous fuss over a Pomeranian in a parka and I will even talk to a stranger on the subway, if only to ask if I may pet and fawn over their canine companion. In the virtual world, I watch the funny videos, look at the cute pictures, and admire some of our blogging friends’ four-legged family members.
-Sadie
Even our blog has dogs. I’ve met Fergus, who lives with C. C. Cedras, as well as his little sister, Sophie, who visits quite a bit, and they are both just as adorable as their photos and videos suggest. We became fast friends and I follow their adventures, especially Fergus’, as any doting “aunt” would. I’ve not met Stella, K. R. Brorman’s sidekick, but I know we’d be friends, too. I can tell just by looking at her. Stella, now that she’s found her human, is a happy dog. She always looks like she’s smiling and I think she is.
Of course, there is a dog in my life, one I’ve mentioned before. Morty, bless his heart, is pretty much none of the things I’ve described above. He’s not fluffy, he does not smile and he is not friendly. Poor Morty. This tiny little dog had a rough childhood. He has deep-seated abandonment and trust issues that I fear only years of animal psychoanalysis could help. I applaud my friend who rescued him from “death-row” and is so patient with him. We all love Morty. But it’s not easy.
Morty does not like his reindeer sweater
One of these days I’ll move out of that apartment building (and this city) and I’ll have a dog. I’ll get a dog before I get cable. Seriously.
What about you? Do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? Either way, have a great week!
*tip o’ the pin to C. C. Cedras who unknowingly fanned the flames of my thoughts this morning with a tale of wee Fergus romping in the snow.
C C Cedras
K R Brorman
S A Young
8 Comments
January 30, 2017 at 12:39 pm
I do sympathise with your wanting a dog and having to settle for a cat. I don’t understand why a small dog is any different to a cat in an apartment? Certainly they are less allergenic.
Oh and I saw many dogs travelling on trains in Berlin. Apparently they were all supposed to be muzzled, but really they were All very well behaved and sat quietly with their owner, waiting for their stop.
Yeah, I’m a dog person as I’m highly allergic to cats! 🙂
February 2, 2017 at 11:17 am
I’m allergic to most cats, too. (I’ve gotten better as I’ve gotten older and I can tolerate some for various lengths of time.) Apparently the apartment issue has to do with barking. I must tolerate the students of the music college across the street using their apartments as practice rooms (some with their doors open), but heaven forbid a dog should bark. LOL Thanks for the solidarity!
January 30, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Fergus says, “Hi!” He has provided plenty of laughs today as we struggle to get his tiny yellow boots on him so he can go out in the snow. His legs turn into limp noodles. So. Funny!
January 30, 2017 at 3:14 pm
I think it very sad that there are wonderful loving people out there who would make great doggie parents but are ‘not allowed’ to keep them, while others who should never be allowed near another breathing being are allowed to breed them by the score. 🙁 And I agree with ‘scifihammy’ – all three of my girls are smaller than next door’s cat (and far less scary) – so what is the difference? We can only hope that more people will eventually come to their senses and realise that dogs really are only small furry people and should be treated as such. (P.S. – Pretty sure I would love Morty too . . . )
February 2, 2017 at 11:21 am
Agree to everything above, and especially that you’d love Morty, Sally. I have no doubt (just from reading your interactions with your girls) that you would see the good in him 😀
February 1, 2017 at 7:41 pm
As a major dog lover, I love this article. Our dogs are actually referred to as “fur person’s” in our house. I can’t imagine life without them. I love how they greet me with such excitement -whether I’m gone for five minutes or five days. They have hearts of gold. I hope you get to live in a place where you can have a fur person soon!
February 2, 2017 at 11:24 am
If cats ever got over that whole “I will behave indifferently to your presence” thing, they might stand more of a chance, 😀 Thank you for your comment and your kind words about the post!
February 11, 2017 at 5:30 pm
We got lucky and have two absolutely sweet, cuddly cats. We are so happy with them, they are part of our family and I feel so sorry for people who have bad experiences with terrible demon cats!