PET'S CORNER

[hartley353]

Chinese painted quail with the tepee Mary made for them. Because these birds are ground dwelling it was necessary to give them shelter from Ariel bombardment when resting. These birds and the larger quail I had where very prolific layers.[attachment=0]PHOT0032.JPG

[hartley353]

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[Stanley]

Dog watching is an absorbing study. When I empty a milk bottle and wash it out to put it in the recycling bin, Jack always gets off his bed and accompanies me out into the yard. I noticed this morning that he was off the bed and ready to go before I had started washing the container. He must have picked up the fact it was empty while I was pouring the last drop in my tea. The angle of the pour? Or what? He spends as much time watching me and interpreting body language as I do on him!

[Cathy]

My cat is great at knowing what time it is, she always lets me know when it is breakfast, lunch or tea time, she knows before I do! And as she gets older these times come around earlier and earlier each day. It's hard trying to tell her to wait - she is quite vocal and persistent. lol

[Stanley]

Jack just sits and looks at me. That is quite enough!

[Cathy]

Aah interesting, my cat does that when she wants me to get out her favourite toys and play with her. Guess who gets more excercise and who gives up first.

[Stanley]

Worrying when you consider that in the wild, the direct stare is a threat!

[hartley353]

After three weeks in Scotland two dejected little dogs returned to the City. To watch them play on deserted beaches, run on the high hills, and hunt in the forest they have had a marvellous time and at the end of a busy day they have toasted their toes in front of a log fire. On the way home I called at my mums to the dogs that means custard creams, that lifted their spirits a little. It will probably be a while till they get back to normality, till then there is a 7lb Game pie in the fridge ,they watched me make it last week, that will focus their minds till Christmas eve when it will be cut.

[hartley353]

A happy doggy christmas.[attachment=0]PHOT0497.JPG[

[hartley353]

Lucy despite a stocking full of treats, and several new toys prefers to spend the day playing with the remains of a tennis ball.

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[hartley353]

Charlie whilst watching mum open gifts suddenly realises there is a Squirrel looking in from the garden fence. With the spirit of christmas two dogs are not turned loose to chase it off.

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[Cathy]

A few nights ago we again experienced some very strong winds which lasted for hours and hours. I often think during these times 'I hope animals owners have remembered to make sure their animals are inside'. The next morning I was opening the window of my spare room which overlooks the back garden and a cat was very slowly making it's way from under one of my bushes. I think I woke it up when I opened the window. I suddenly thought 'Poor thing, he's been hiding there all night'. This cat is no ordinary cat! He is the bullycat of our street, one eye is gone and has been sewed up, he has very visible scars on both ears, his body is old and looks quite gnarled, his fur is old and dry and he moves slowly. I spoke to him thru the open window and he just quietly meowed back to me. I watched as he made his way under my fence and then I went to a front window and watched him make his way across the street to his home. If I met him in the street I would not touch this cat, he lets you stroke him 'once' then he tries to bite you! Anyway i thought 'All is well, he's home'.
All must be well because today he was fighting with the street's second bullycat. Even the toughest of the toughest can get spooked and with so many fireworks and weather extremes happening at the moment and New Years Eve just around the corner, make sure your pets are accounted for.

[Stanley]

Cathy, my lodger cat is a bully, it has Jack just where it wants him!

[David Whipp]

Lucy's picture of five of our cats on her bed this afternoon.

[Stanley]

She'll have a wonderful immune system! Heard yesterday that a friend has lost her lovely springer, Jacob. Very sudden, the vet reckons it was a stroke. A lovely dog and a big mate of Jack's. She is getting another dog this week. I'm glad, it's a bereavement.

[Stanley]

During this wet weather my lodger cat has spent most of his time in the box under the bench where he has a padded bed and is completely protected from the weather. Jack goes to check on him every time he goes out and if he's in residence a paw lashes out and there is a yowl of displeasure! He certainly has Jack under his thumb.

[hartley353]

Most mornings when walking through the woods, the dogs get a chance to chase a squirrel, this morning to Charlies surprise he caught one. You wouldn't believe the noise it made, which caused Charlie to drop it, and the squirrel to bolt up a tree. Two lessons learned the squirrel to keep a better lookout, and charlie that these are not the silent enemy. Lucy watched on with total disgust as Charlie let it go.

[hartley353]

A reminder of summer days, Charlie rescues a stick from the sea Cardigan Bay Wales.

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[hartley353]

Charlie rides the Eskdale narrow gauge railway.

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[Stanley]

Jack has learned a new trick. For the first time ever he drank the pot of tea I left on the table. Consequence was an enormous pee on the back door mat during the night and a complete loose evacuation on the carpet next to my computer chair in the kitchen. The joys of having a dog!

[Cathy]

Not sure what is going on with my cat, she has suddenly taken to hiding herself in my bed for hours on end during the day. It happened after I sawed off a large branch in my front garden, it is still lying there waiting to be chopped up. She is an indoor cat, maybe I have upset her view ?? or she may have got a bit adventurous in my spare room and a book or something might have fallen on her ?? I noticed that some things had been moved in there about the same time. When she does come out she is very quiet and a bit jumpy. Will keep my eye on her.

[Stanley]

It's called stockmanship Cathy. They can't talk so you have to observe and go on the evidence... Like a dog with an upset stomach because of the milk he got in the tea!

[Cathy]

I know, i know... I have closely checked the cat physically today and I think she may have hurt her tail or possibly the lowest part of her back. My daughter is coming tomorrow night and if necessary we will take puss to the vet (I don't drive).

[Stanley]

Touch wood, Jack's upset stomach might be on the mend! The house stinks of disinfectant! Poor lad, not his fault and we just have to put up with it when our mates are poorly.

[Cathy]

We took puss to the vets tonight and she is fine. Honestly, yesterday I felt her tail and she had a go at me, tonight the vet feels her tail and no response at all. But, he does think her tail was hurt somehow and obviously getting much better. He gave her an injection to calm her while she gets better and then he turned his attention to her 'almost no hair' tummy and has put her on some calming Homeopet drops that go into her drinking water and hopefully these will change her behaviour of licking her tummy fur away. She is a lot happier today compared to the last few days so things are looking good.