What Your Pet Wants For Christmas

In the heart of Macy's department store for the month of December rests a large red Santa's mailbox. It is nestled between the racks of clothes, flanked by flocked evergreen trees, and it is always easy to find as it is the center of the crowd in the middle of the first floor. I visit it each year as a reminder of how magical this time of year is to the little kids in all of us. The front mail door swings open with its traditional metal hinge melody so often it sounds like part of the caroling. Children, of every size, from every corner of the world, congregate here to mail their present list to Santa. Although I have never slipped an envelope into its red belly, I stop and watch as the other kids do. For each time that door is pulled open and the mouth of the North Pole is summoned to answer a request, I wish for that kid to know that the magic is always here. Not in a store, but in the hope of a wish put to paper. The feeling of anticipation that whatever you ask for might be provided. If you take pause, and allow yourself to be the witness to another's joyful excitement you will quickly be reminded about how sweet the gesture of writing a list and sending it to make-believe-land is. You can stand as an onlooker to this little spot of letters, wishes, dreams, and love and just lose the rest of the bustling patrons elbowing by. I always wonder what those letters hold. How many are asking for a toy, a doll, a childhood keepsake to mark the year in the timeline of a life that grows up. How many are for such basic wishes that no child should ever have to ask for. Food, clothing, a home to feel safe in. How many hold wishes like mine always did; a pony, a puppy, a bunny. Something alive for me to cuddle and keep safe. Some little life to love and be needed for.

How do you do a thoracocentesis?
One of our rescue kittens getting treated by my team.
Giggles are always on the schedule.

These days my life revolves around the little lives my home calls its heart. I have 5 cats, and two dogs, and I will admit with 100% honesty that I spend every day asking myself if I have fulfilled all of the items that they would have penned in their letter to Santa. They always have the basic needs of a cat or dog at their toes. The basic is food and water, a warm place to sleep every night, but the wishes meant for Santa's ears, they are the items that I ask myself if I am providing.

So I thought that this year I will share what I think my pets would ask for, should Santa remind them that their Nice days outnumber the Naughty.

Wren is the cat I call my beloved. She is the first one I go looking for at bedtime if she isn't already purring at the top of my pillow. She is aging, and less finicky. Less likely to call out in alarm when she hasn't gotten her way. She lets the kittens plow past her and grumps with the expiration of an old soul who hasn't got time for shenanigans anymore. She is wise, adored and Queen. She bows to no one, and puts up with even less. This year we got her a heating mat that has 10 settings, (she prefers 3), and we set it for 12 hours. She also likes her water changed daily. We keep a glass by the bed, and she prefers options even in this. It is more likely that she will drink from my overnight water glass, a tiptoe at a time to scoop it from the glass to her tongue. Even in this we share everything. (I know not to drink past bedtime). She prefers fresh plants in winter. It's too cold to go out for a green nibble. Reminding the housekeeping staff to bow to her as they pass. 

Wren

She has a window sill of her own. Packed with a bed and blankets. A perch to see the sunrise, and then set, and monitor the critters of her kingdom. For cats, every single one of them, this perception that they are the apex predator, the indisputable badass of their kingdom, is paramount. Every cat needs to feel they are free to make choices. Free to have opinions, and able to execute commands at whim. Finding your place in your own home when you are their servant is the key to an equitable, honest, and amicable life. Your cat always needs to feel that they are in charge, and this will not be threatened. It is part of the reason that there is a critical mass threshold for multi-cat homes. That one extra cat too many that tilts the apple cart and leads to marking territory, cat fights, and stress in the multi-cat home. She is the constant comfort for all of my days. The one who purrs when she sees me. Takes delight in me just being near. She is the epitome of why we all sacrifice so much for the pets we call family. 

Birdie

My two rabies quarantine kittens; Raffles (short for the state bird of Pennsylvania; the Ruffed Grouse), and Birdie, (the state bird of New York; the Eastern Bluebird), are wild, crazy, pure kitten energy rambunctious. These days my husband is retired. The two kittens follow him like ducklings, always underfoot. They grew up with the puppies, Frippie and Storm, and seemed to imprint on them as much as us humans, so they follow the dogs in and out for the am pee and the before bed bathroom. Unlike the dogs who stay wherever we are, they decide if it's time to come, or go, and beckon their wishes with long drawn out meows fit for drama soap operas of the B-rated variety. My husband stands near the door and opens it slowly for the kittens to come and go, based on which side of the door they scream from. He will stand their like a doorman and say, "I do this all day," with a prideful subservience only a parent could admit to. Their new favorite fancy is feathers. My dear friend Kim gave us a handful of her peacocks plumage and they have systematically disemboweled each frond. The confetti of a killer spread across the living room floor. Life for a kitten is easier, as long as it is quiet, safe and has ample food. They make the simplest things fun. You just need to remember their energy threshold requires they come in pairs.

Raffles

The dogs; Fripp and Storm. Two peas in the pod who could not exist without each other, even though they are so different. There is a firm two dog rule in this house. Two dogs to keep each other company. Two to play so hard during the day that they sleep well enough through the night, so their already exhausted mom can go to sleep as soon as she gets home from work. This couldn't work if they didn't have each other. Their Christmas list to Santa would very likely include a wish for the other. They are this couple. They would only ask for more time. More time together to go on long walks. Walks where they lead and decide which trail to follow. Time to find that ever elusive squirrel and finally make peace with the pursuit. More steak dinners. Fewer vacations for their parents that involve planes or trains. The kind of vacations we take with cars allow them to go, therefore they prefer these. They are family and they expect every family vacation will include them. They are greeted every morning by a whisper of a "hello" that allows them to jump on the bed and curl up on our pillows. They insist that bedtime follow the same principles. Every day begins and ends with a bed in the bedroom and a wish for a peaceful night of dreaming about the adventures of tomorrow. These house fellows of ours never want for more than time together. It is the most sincere wish for Santa anyone of us could ever desire.

Storm and Frippie

Here's to wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a holiday season where all of your time is loved and treasured with the family you call yours.

Pets With Santa 2023

If you need some hints on what your pet might want this Christmas, think about these;

- a place to call home. So many pets die in shelters, and so many others still live in horrific conditions breeding the puppies of the internet sales ads.

- a person to remind them that they are loved. We all deserve this.

- the gentle acknowledgement that they are the most beloved being in the world.

- a warm place to sleep.

- a collar (dog only) AND a microchip that says "you are mine" (and the appropriate contact information).

- a place of their own. We all need a place that is exclusively ours. A bed, a perch, a cage, a corner, a space.. a bathtub and a vanity (if you are me).

- current vaccines for the appropriate place you live. Nothing, no one, not one living being should die from a preventable disease. Watching a pet die from parvovirus, rabies, a pyometra, the list is exhaustive, the mental pain, and the enduring heartbreak these bring, is avoidable. Why are we still begging for this?

- spayed, neutered, and putting the life of your pet above all else. (Breeding them puts their lives at risk, and we already have too many unwanted pets in the world).

- a walk everyday that is just for you, (I am talking to your dog, but, I know lots of cats who love being outside safely. Maybe consider a walk with them too). We don't walk a dog to go from point A to point B, we walk them so they can get out, stretch their legs, employ their nose to investigate a world of scents we can only imagine. Let your dog do the walking, just be the chaperone.

- a catnip station, toys, water fountain and feathers. How about indoor cat grass year around. What does your cat love to get their claws into? Do you think your cat feels like they are a guest in their own home, or do they think that you are?

- photos on the wall, the mantel, the wallet, all of the places where terms of endearment lie. Doesn't everyone have their screensaver set to their pet?

- cats need lots of choices for litterboxes. If you have four floors in your home, and your cat has access to each of them a litter box on each is a sign that they are welcome. Also, choices are important. What if your cat is afraid to get in the box with the lid, or can't quite manage to jump on the top to gain access? Think about your cat aging, and struggling with the joints? Who wants to debate a painful poo?

- dogs come in every shape, size, and demeanor. Some are highly social others just want mom and dad, and don't need anyone else. Maybe a gift of learning to allow others to have value is a way to ensure that your pet has options outside of you and your life. Dogs are just like people. Aren't we each our own individuals?

- remind your pets that they are the most important part of everyday. Say "good morning!" Say "I love you!" Or, say, "you are the most beautiful girl in the world!" it doesn't matter what you tell them, but acknowledge them every time you see them. There will never be another life who loves you so devotingly. 

Spend some time thinking about how lucky you are to have your pets. How lucky are we to have each other. 

Happy holidays to all of us who love the pets we devote our lives to.

I want to hear about your pets list to Santa. What would they wish for?

Cheeto,, another broken kitten who needs us..
He will have half of his tail amputated tomorrow.
He came to us with multiple injuries,, and his story continues.
He is loved and he reminds us of our purpose.

This One Perfect Moment

 

Storm. Relaxing in the last moments of Summer 2022.

Captured and captivating. Not the same thing but seriously kissing cousins. I have been chasing this one moment my whole life. All 52 trips around the sun,,, and finally I am happy to exclaim; I am here. This one moment. The one to outshine and oust all those before it. And, here's the real kicker, I am alone. (Who saw that one coming?).. Well, not totally alone, I have a cat, Wren, grooming and purring beside me, and two dogs curled at me feet. I am never truly alone. Another decision of complete choice. I couldn’t imagine being completely alone, ever. (Who would want to be that? Isn’t it just dark and claustrophobic there)?

Waiting for me to finish laundry, and keeping an eye out for squirrels.

I spent my whole life to be this one solitary thing. This singular being. The only person I ever imagined myself wanting to be. A veterinarian. I suppose some women want to be mothers, wives? (Maybe? Right? Isn’t that who we are supposed to want to become)? Well, me, nope, just a veterinarian. I put so much importance on that one thing, that one place of being, that it blocked out all of the light and choked out the life of everything else. Lucky for me that it also afforded me pets. I could have as many as I wanted. The quintessential polygamist of pets. No rules here. I can't be accused of neglecting them anything. I could be my own Dr. Doolittle-zoo-style. And who is going to challenge me? Yep, not one single soul. I set it up this way. If I knew more about pets than anyone else I could have free reign to have them all if I so wished it. How perfect is that? For me, the spinster of all else, it was everything. It's all I wanted to be, and here I am, there.

The back porch workspace

Sitting in this one perfect moment.

Wren keeps me company, (or I keep her warm, I never know which applies), as I write.

What does it look like? An Aperol spritzer. My drink for summer 2022. I really do this. I pick one drink I want to try and then if it works I ride that spritzer all summer long. A warm kitty purring her hearts desire out next to me on our porch couch. Her name is Wren. (All of my cats are named after birds; Magpie, Oriole. The most sensible way to assist the too numerous cats is to have a theme from the get-go. The dogs also have a theme; Fripp and Havana Storm. There was Charleston, Savannah before them). She always has to be near me. She is the most affectionate, reliable, and heart warming girl.  Always has a paw on me. A reassuring hand to let me know she is there. Beside me and supporting me. In bed she sleeps on the pillow above mine. I pet her all night until we both fall asleep. I will wake up and she will be laying on my hand. The heating pad to her heart and the adoration to my slumber. She is my second feline who stole my heart. There was D.C. before her. My guardian and salvation embodied in one little 7 pound ball of demands and fur. The pups lay at my feet. Always with me inside the house or out. They guard me as much as follow. They never want to be left out of the activities and stay close by so as to not miss an opportunity for an adventure. This house. So grand in her country manors. So noble in her stone façade that has stood here nestled in the woods for over two centuries. The birds all squawk and bellow around us. They are the subtle reminders that the seasons change and the populations shift. Winter is approaching and the song birds have started their own snow bird migration to warmer skies and distant shores. The jays and chickadees stay. I reward their loyalty with seeds and thick evergreen trees. I have this one moment caught between summer departing and fall clamoring in with its vibrant colors and sweater adorning chills.

There is warm cider, hot tea and blankets to remind me that I am still youthful enough to face her cold days. And the warmth of the memories tucked in every corner of my home to keep me company as the long days emerge.

The den and the dahlias

I never thought I would get here. The place where the moments hang suspended in the hopes I had for the days that I would be old enough to slow down and admire them. And yet here I am, resting on the laurels of a life that is upon its tipping point between already been there and done it, and don’t want to be pestered by that burden anymore, and the leisurely admiration of the beauty that surrounds me without me wishing it to be anywhere and anything else.

I'm going to pick dahlias now. The third grand bouquet of the weekend. Just to place them beside my pillow for my beloved Wren. The cat I refer to as royalty in the home that a castle would be envious of. In the midst of the towering dahlias of all shapes sizes and colors twists the cherry-red tomatoes. volunteers from last year that somehow made a stronghold in the garden we have to re-till every year as we replace the giant tubers of dahlia zygotes we dug up in late fall the year before. These tiny bursts of sweet eluded the genocide of all of the other plants we forced out to let the dahlias thrive. and yet they are so deliciously insidious I cannot feel anything but gratitude for their perseverance and abundance. i picked them twisted around the steel cages the dahlias require for support, spine serpentined, arms outreaching, tiny berries that fall with any degree of disruption. I placed them in handfuls into the small antique basket my mom had purchased at an antique show many years ago. I remember it held antique chicks nestled on their tissue paper shredded grass. She, like me, never wasted a thing. She could see me now, all those many years after, using this basket in my imperfectly glorious garden, and she would tell me the same thing she always did, "this is the most perfect day." 

My one perfect moment inside my gloriously magnificent imperfectly mine, my own life.

For more photos of this old stone house, or the animals I spend my at home and at work days with please follow me at 

Stone House Beautiful link here

or

Jarrettsville Vet Facebook page here

Good Commercials Are Sold With A Smile You Never See

 Did you know the secret to selling something with only audio is to be smiling as you record?

Did you know that a smile can be heard?

Have you tried it? That smile is transcendent. It influences. Motivates. Sells.

Don't we all have to pitch ourselves every single day to someone?

Veterinary medicine is no different.

Simba. One of the 54 cats we helped last year from one home.

My job is to understand and translate my mute patient and sell their needs to their parents. Smiling while I sell, albeit the way a ventriloquist does, is the art behind the successful veterinary care sell.

I more appropriately I call it the 'building of trust to the point where the pitch is simplified to a permission versus a negotiation'. 

Basil One of 5 cats we took after the owners were evicted from a motel.,
He is safe with us now, but looking for a home.

I am a terrible salesperson. All that nonsense of fluff, fake veneers, and smoky mirrors is exhausting. I am a failure as a phony. I know this. I have had to rely on my genuine compassion to build a clientele willing to entrust their pets care in my hands. Just be me and try to remember to smile every so often. Not too much teeth or arm twisting. Keep the common goal in mind. We all have to be here with the same agenda and the same endpoint. Not an easy task or small hopeful wish.

It's not just lip service. I back it up with skin in the game. I make deals. If needed I will make deals that the house loses on.

Sadie. The most influential patient in my career.
She was my defining moment. My pivot point.

I give stuff away daily. It's the glitter in my vanilla day. It is the thing I love, take greatest delight in, every single day.

Sound crazy? Counter intuitive? Maybe its the easiest way to sell my genuine belief in always putting the patient first.

Saffie. Clinic cat.
Adopted and returned 3 times.
And still loved.

Here's an example.

Miss Phillips was elderly. Small, demure, crumpled and lacking any color in her dense weighty coat. Grey stringy hair, grey overstuffed winter coat, and grey sweatpants. She was seated on the long wide wooden bench in the exam room. Composed, quiet and clutching her coat sleeves enveloping her oversized market bag I think she used as a purse. She was quiet, withdrawn and weathered. She struggled with the weight of the 7 decades she had been alive. She needed help getting into our building. The staff led her into the exam room as they carried her petite dog-sized cat carrier for her. She was soft spoken and easily overlooked. She was a new client with a cat to be seen for a spay. This is the information I am given as I walk into the exam room. "New client, new patient. Cat needs to be spayed." No other information available. Blank slate. Not my favorite place to begin.

Seraphina.
Queen of everything

I say "hello" and start collecting pieces to finish the canvas. "This is Lilly. She is about a year old. She is not spayed." That's all I have. I look up at Ms Phillips. She has no emotion. She doesn't move an inch on the bench. Nestled into her winter coat seemingly swallowing her in its over abundant quilting.

"So, she has never been to the vet before?" I ask.

"No." Volley and serve and still no emotion to guide me on where this is going to end up.

"She is here to start her vaccines and be spayed. Correct?" I repeat. Ms Phillips is not giving me any information willingly. This is going to be a Q&A discussion. I slow down. Mirror her pace and attitude as much as I am able. 

I take a minute to look at her again. Switch gears from Lilly to her. "Did you drive here?"

"No, I don't drive." 

"Oh," I reply. A sigh of relief washes over me. "Who brought you?"

"My friend drives me."

"Do you have other pets?"

"No."

"No other cats?" Part of my job is sizing people up. Finding common ground whilst understanding the degree to which they invite these pets into their lives. That, and I just had a sense of "cat lady" lingering. Building a relationship to help a pet for their entire life and not this one and done visit. I try to remember to smile inside my inquiries. Add a smile, slow my pace, she seems very nice. I can see myself, someday, in her.

"There is a cat. (long pause).... She is not mine. I let her inside when it is cold. I just had her at the ER over the weekend. She had a respiratory infection. It cost me $300, so now I cannot afford to much for todays exam. I am not allowed to have more than one cat."

And there it was. The shell was cracked. She spilled the beans in just a few sentences and a change of perspective. 

We spoke for a few more minutes. She told me that she was renting her house. She was not allowed pets, but her landlords were going to let her keep Lilly as long as she was spayed and vetted. She was here, at my clinic, because we were the most affordable outside of the rescues and non-profits that had a 6 month plus spay/neuter wait time. 

"You let this other cat into your home where she sleeps at night. You feed her and now you pay for her to go to a vet clinic, and yet she isn't yours?"

All of a sudden one cat that she couldn't afford was two.

"What is going to happen when she has kittens?"

And with this question the look on Ms. Phillips face fell to the ground. It hadn't occurred to her. This reality where her good deeds put her in a predicament she couldn't manage.

We decided together that she would leave Lilly with us at the clinic. Her friend graciously ok'd bringing her back tomorrow with the other cat, Kitty. I would spay both the next day, and she could pay me back as she could. To save financial resources that she truly didn't have we would cut out the optional items like pre-op blood work. The exchange and change of plans had taken almost 20 minutes of our allotted 30. It had included being honest with who we are. It also included asking for help from the driving friend via a flip phone she dialed to her friend parked in the lot outside, too far for Ms. Phillips to walk again.

The next day I met Kitty. Small, slender, matted and peppered with grit in her coat from the flea dirt. Underweight, under muscled, overlooked and discarded like soo many cats in our community. She was gentle, confident, and melted with any small inkling of affection. She was so grateful for a warm place and a kind heart that she surrendered and collapsed into your arms soaking it all in.

Ms Phillips called later in the day checking on how the two cats did with their spay surgeries. "Fine," I replied. I had estimated Kitty to be about 4-6 years old. She was too sweet to be overlooked anymore. I asked her if she would like us to try to find her a home of her own. I never know if I can persuade others to see the kindness in an all black cat who isn't a kitten, but, she was not a feral cat and she needed a break. Ms. Phillips agreed once again that she couldn't have two cats at her home.

Over the phone (no car to drive and sign papers, remember), she authorized Kitty to stay with us as we tried to find her a home.

You know what happened? Another miracle. Seems so crazy the way miracles find us when we give more than we have to, and offer more than the house makes money on. Ms. Phillips got brave! She went to her landlords and put her cards on the table. She told them that she loved these two cats! That with a little help she was going to take care of them and she asked for permission to have TWO!

They said YES!

She called us back. Told us she wanted her Kitty back. 

Turns out happy endings just need a little faith and genuine compassion to make miracles happen.

....and with a smile we made the ending meet the intentions of everyone a reality everyone benefits from.

Wren. Night time ritual.
I tell her she is the most beautiful girl in the world and she reaffirms it.

Related blogs;

Wren: The Sickest Kitten Of Them All

Seraphina; The Futility of it ALL and Meet Seraphina

Sadie; Sadie's Story.

The Hardest Part Of This Job

Give Back. 

Winterizing. Getting the Pets Prepared.

In southern Pennsylvania over the last few days the thermometer has taken a dive into the frosty chilly winter digits. For us the end of October signals the coming of winter, the holidays, and the approaching end of another year.

The last few weekends have been dedicated to moving plants from their sunny spots on the open deck to the steady temperate enclosure of the house.

Jackets and corduroy has replaced the t-shirts and shorts and the days grow shorter quickly.

For us the preparation for winter also includes the pets.

As the days grow colder and shorter we all spend more and more time sleeping. For Jekyll sleeping is a coveted art form that he excels at. To get him ready for winter we exchange the cotton sheets for flannel, and his reflective collar (or Halloween collar) and monitor him with with the close eye of a paranoid worrisome mom. The fall brings out the hunters and Jekyll lacks the ability to distinguish welcomed guests from men with guns who are not out in the woods to meet small friendly beagle puppies.

Whether its fleece, flannel or faux fur, Jekyll knows how to stay warm and comfie!

A 18 years old Savannah needs a jacket to keep her warm. As all pets age they lose muscle mass and fat. These are super important to keep you warm. I also keep a harness on her. The harness helps her stay upright and walk easier. She has lost a significant amount of muscle in her back legs so the extra support and guidance through a harness that is directly around her primary legs to provide her ambulation is key.

Normal dogs carry about 60% of their body weight on their front legs, For Savannah I would estimate that this number is actually much higher. When we pick her up and place her down we use her harness as a handle. It prevents her from tea kettling over. It also makes her feel much more secure when being handled.

Savannah gets her fleece jacket with reflective collar so she is easily visible in lower light although she is NEVER off leash. She wanders and doesn't hear or see well anymore.  She also gets a thorough end of summer grooming to remove any shedding hair and keep her skin healthy under the jackets.

Remember to change your dogs jackets daily. Sores from chaffing and laying on bony joints happen and a jacket will keep them covered and hidden. Your older pet should be monitored very closely for these.

I make sure that her nails are trimmed, her teeth are looking good and her coat is brushed and healthy.

For older dogs these things become more and more their parents responsibility.

For Savannah  the maintenance of coat, nails, and teeth is my job. Her ability to walk is hard already due to her decreased muscle mass, arthritis and lethargy. All are normal for a dog her age. The challenge is to keep her active and happy.

For Jitterbug, my cat who found us, and refuses to become a domesticated inside only cat, I keep many places around the house where he can find shelter and warmth. He comes inside every night and on days that it is cold or rainy. But he is his own master. I worry about him and watch him very closely.

Because he is outside daily I keep him on a heartworm, flea/tick, and parasite preventative. Those pets who come and go are moving vans to transporting unwanted blood sucking parasites into your home. As the weather gets cold all creatures seek warmer options. Your home is their best choice, so try to keep them outside the front door.

The Jitterbug

For cats remember to check teeth, nails, ears, and coat. As winter approaches cats coats will get thicker and fuller. Any cat that is outside should also be checked regularly for any matted or tangled hair. Outside cats will often get burs, sticks, or other debris caught in their coat.

It is also very important to mention that all pets should be microchipped. It is your best way of getting them back home to you should they wander, be abducted, or become lost and found. 

The last signs of flowers.
The tiny specks of pink cyclamen.
Keeping the squirrel's food company.

Our biggest winterizing challenge is keeping Strawberries house warm and dry.

She is ample thick enough to ward off the subfreezing cold. But the below zero days she will stay buried in her house under a pile of straw. I tell people that my pig composts herself all winter. Inside her house with all of the windows closed and her dog door closed it is always about 50 degrees F. Inside her hay pile it is about 70. The only problem is keeping her fed, hydrated, and using the outside bathroom facilities.

If the snow falls we shovel her a path outside to keep her walkway clear. Her legs are about 6 inches long remember. She has no ability to snowshoe on little hooves. 

Can you see Strawberry?

For her snow maneuverability she does get very good traction on those little horned toes. So as the snow approaches it is important to give her a hoof trim that will keep her flat footed on the icy slippery ground.

She looses her summer hair early and as the fall advances gets a thick course hair coat. Between that and her thick skin and inches of fat she is well suited (and actually quite happy) in the winter. (Keeping her from overheating in the summer is the bigger challenge).

To keep her fed and hydrated every winter meal is made into a soupy-gruel-like consistency. This insures she is hydrated and warm.

I always make sure that she knows her food is delivered, that she is walking well, and give her a quick look over at every feeding. As soon as she is done her meal she heads back inside.

Strawberries house is cleaned, new shavings are put down in a thick layer to absorb any bathroom mishaps, and bales of straw line her whole interior. This provides a thick layer of insulation. Over the winter I pull apart the bales to provide bedding, and additional warmth.

Of course the pups always help with all of the around the house chores.

After the work is done we get to decorate! And Halloween is pumpkin time!

My mom and I with our first trunk load of pumpkins!

Decorating the front gate.

Our second load of pumpkins!
Delivered by Pumpkin Santa and his helper in the farm vehicle.

And the front porch (aka dog perch porch).

My best model, Wren.
She is always by my side, and in almost every picture.
Like it or not..(I Love it!)

Have a wonderful fall everyone! 

If you have any pet questions you can find me, and a whole bunch of talented others, at Pawbly.com.

Wordless Wednesday! (I really can't do it completely, sorry).

Effie with her pacifier..

Can't resist those ears!

A peaceful obedient Cooper, waiting for another treat.

Manny, the Manchester terrier, looking for a home.
Those eyes, they beckon.

My Wren, always at my feet.

Me and Jekyll, starting a new day.

Another bottle baby, well, a dirty bottle baby.

"AHHHhhhh, choo!"

This is Roxy, she is a very good story..I'll tell hers soon.

My Magpie.

The pups, midday nap time.

Cora, begging, or stealing, (she thinks it's all one in the same) cat food.

Sometimes the treat incentive to sit pretty fails.

One BIG puppy!

My attempt at a cute profile picture.

Cheese, still at the clinic and still looking for a home!

Baby Henry..sooo adorable!

"Help! I'm at the vets!"

Cheese and Samoa snuggling.

Maggie, waiting for her mom to come get her after her "day of beauty."

Oriole, always looking a bit skitish.

Timber.

Molly, the labradoodle.

Crusher and Sherlock frolicking.

The first vet visit.

Somebody is excited to see me!

Does it look like I use every excuse to hug my patients?

Coot the shoulder perching skywalker.

Charleston, my  serious boy.

Add caption

Jitterbug, and a new self-proclaimed cat bed.

Three of the four babies in the office looking for homes.
I'm starting to get nervous, they are irresistible but still here!
ARGH!

This two month old kitten has a back leg broken in three places..
We will fix it on Monday, stay tuned.