Us, and our dogs, or whatever pet rings your bell.....

[runningdog]

Threads about folk and their pets seem universally popular, regardless of site. So, I thought, why not here?
Dogs have been my passion as long as I can remember. One of the penalties of growing 'old' is that I realise far more dogs have gone before than are still to come. Given that, here is 'Boy', the first dog I can truly call mine own.
He was a Morrocan bred Malinois that I rescued from an idiot of an owner who had no idea what he had got. At two years old he weighed less than 30lb and couldn't walk a mile without resting.
In truth he was magnificent. I had three RAF police dogs during my time in the service, I would have, and on a couple of occasions did, trust my life to any of the three. Boy eclipsed them all. When with Boy, evil feared us.
The first pic shows Boy after I'd had him for three months, the last about a week before he died. The one in the middle is of him and Mrs 'rd'. It is blurred, nowt I can do about that, but it is probably my favourite photo of all those I've taken.

Ps As you may notice I've managed to reverse the picsthe Beast is gone

[ETA]

SInce I've always had dogs, and have frequently been the subject of speciesist abuse and discrimination because of it, I can sympathise.

How many times are we told we can't take dogs into our local because:

"They're unhygienic" - by someone who clearly hasn't showered or changed their clothes in living memory?
"They're a trip hazard" - by the owner of an unruly child?
"We serve food" - in a place where the chef/cook/slop jockey is wearing filthy whites and has dirty nails?
"They smell" - not as much as you do to them?

I always ask before taking my dog in, and most publicans, to be fair, are OK with it.

The best answers, and probably the most honest, are:

"Because it's my pub and my rules" - appreciate the frankness.
"We have our own dog(s)/cat/rabbit/wildebeest* and don't want any trouble" - again, fair enough as not all dogs are as tolerant of other animals as mine.

*Delete as applicable.

{Steps back to watch the fur fly}

[trainman]

Two Welshies, 7 & going on 3. These were taken in France Aug08 so Polly (the taller one) must've been just one at the time. Millie has a degenerative eye condition & her sight's almost gone but she's still reasonably chirpy. The grumpy old boy went 3yrs ago (nearly 16) so Polly was bought as company for Mills. At £800 a pup, maybe she should've had a litter before being 'done'!

[RogerB]

We used to have 3 cats . The last one (Mabbs) died in July (aged 18) and I still really miss her. Every time I go downstairs or get in from work I still expect her to come leaping at me with claws outstretched - I was always her favourite scratching post. I couldn't have any more pets - too much hassle when we go away. Now I just talk to the chilli plants growing in my bathroom.


No's 2 and 3 - Lynx & Mabbs

[runningdog]

Two Welshies, 7 & going on 3.

Lookin at Millies' ears, I guess she's a terrier thru and thru. I've popped the youngsters pic on me screen saver, I see that it's No. 4922..........

[runningdog]

Every time I go downstairs or get in from work I still expect her to come leaping at me with claws outstretched

Know what you mean, MrB. Boy became the ghost at the top of the stairs. To me, ghosts are things that should be there and aren't..........

[ETA]

As Devine Comedy puts it:

"...Every horse has its year and every dog its day, my son
So the only thing to feel sad about is
All the dogs and the horses you'll have to outlive

...But as the curtains close and the last prayers are said
All my dogs and my horses appear round my bed
They have come to say one last goodbye "

A cheery thought for a Tuesday morning.

[trainman]

and I still really miss her.

Yes, it's a heartbreaker for sure. When we were left with no choice but to take the old fella to the vet for the last time it was shattering. Got very drunk very quickly that night...

Lookin at Millies' ears, I guess she's a terrier thru and thru.

They've both got fantastic temperaments rd, but M's ears are a fault in a Welsh - they should be forward & flat to the head. Not that we ever considered showing these two - too many faults but, like all pet owners, we wouldn't swap 'em.

BTW, another thread mentioned Billy, a Jack Russell. Reminded me of the splendid Cow & Plough in Oadby where the Steamin Billy beer range is named after the owner's Jack Russell & the dog appears in various pictorial adventures on the pumpclips.

[RogerB]

When we were left with no choice but to take the old fella to the vet for the last time it was shattering.

Fortunately I have never had to make that decision. Cat No 1 disappeared - we never found out what happened to him - he was almost blind and getting on and probably just knew his tiime was up so wandered off to a quiet place in someone's garden. No's. 2 & 3 both went downhill very rapidly, No 2 died sitting my lap as we were trying to call a vet late at night and No 3 was fine in the morning when we went out for the day. Came back and she was tucked away under a table with very little strength. Wasn't even interested in her favourite Marmite. I half knew she wouldn't last the night and I didn't sleep a wink. Got up extra early and she was gone. The house has felt half empty ever since.

[an_ecumenical_matter]

Elivis is the king,but alas he lives with my ex. He's never been to the pub,but I'm sure he'd get on well. He'd be far friendlier at least than the Wellymoggy at the Wellington in Birmingham!!!! But maybe that cat just learned the unfriendly ways from the rest of the staff......