All Things Animals (and Pets) Thread

Everybody loves animals (most of them). They're are best friends who go through tough times and good times. While I have no pets of my own, I am looking forward to dogsitting next week.

Until then, I figure I'll get it rolling with my favorite week of the year. Get your picks in.

Fat Bear Week 2021

 

Follow Danny Deraney on Twitter.

 

I REALLY thought that was going to be something else.

 

My sister and brother-in-laws family had to say goodbye to their black lab yesterday after 14 years. Jake was such a good friend to me, always welcomed everyone when you arrived and was such a good buddy to their other dog. Glad my niece gave me a framed assortment of Jake in action for Christmas a year ago. And I don't know why - the terms dog heaven or "the rainbow bridge" never did it for me, but "went to be with Betty White" seems like a positive way to put his passing.

 

New dog is a runner. As in, he doesn't believe in walks, other than for a few seconds before he wants to run again. Wearing me out. Fortunately, there is a huge dog park a few miles up the street where I can let him run and play without having to keep up with him.

 

We had to say goodbye to our rescue black lab (14-15) in the Spring, leaving us with our 10 yr old Aussie. We got him a new companion on Sunday, a rescue hound mix who's about 8 mos., Luna. She's only about 30 lbs but is fast as a whippet and loves running around and playing with him. The foster parents did a great job crate training her, we had a nice night but damn does she eat fast. (funny thing is that Buster was getting real slow and lazy about when he would eat his food but with her around, he's eating much quicker now knowing she'll gladly eat it.) We'll certainly always remember our 12 yrs with Keeah but Luna's added a fresh energy to the house.

 

Almost lost our new dog just now. Took him outside to pee. Start heading back toward the house. He makes one of his suddden moves, leash falls out of my hand, and he takes off like a rocket. I ran a mile around the neighborhood, only losing ground to him. Happened upon an approaching car that asked, "Are you looking for a dog?" I hopped in, and we took off and finally caught up with him.

 

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Sorry -- as a longtime dog lover I know it's hard to bid an old friend farewell.

I've run dogs in agility trials for almost 20 years. My latest is Alfie, an English shepherd I adopted through National English Shepherd Rescue. He's a high-drive, reactive farm collie that apparently was handled roughly earlier in life. He's still a little touchy about being grabbed by the collar; the word I got was that previous owners used it a handle to toss him into a shed when he got bossy.

Anyway, I worked the hell out of him in obedience ring exercises for a couple years before he became reliable enough to take on agility obstacles. Our first trial was probably five years ago, and Saturday, he earned his United Kennel Club Agility Champion-Excellent title. There's only one more UKC title to pursue, the grand champion. I think Alfie has a few more good years left (me too, I hope), so we'll keep working.

 

BTE-

I was dogsitting years ago for a very wealthy couple. Dog squirts out the door upon arrival and I chased him a good half mile up a pretty empty road in July heat.
Finally caught him. We both could have been et by gators pretty easily. It would not have been a stretch, it was that kind of area. Old Florida.
In that moment I was running faster than the Christopher Reeve model in Superman. All adrenalin.
I am glad the dog turned up for you.

 

A lifetime ago, I almost adopted a retired greyhound from Palm Beach Kennel Club. Once they started giving me the details about how they could never be off a leash, I withdrew.

 

For some reason, I figured he would be an old, lazy hound. Maybe because he looked so old and miserable (because of skin allergy) when we adopted him.

Doesn't look old and miserable anymore.

We were absolutely spoiled by our previous dog. We could leave the sunroom door open all the time, and he would go out to pee and come right back in.

 

Hank the Tank cleared (kinda)

Hank the Tank, a 500-pound bear, was blamed for Lake Tahoe break-ins. But DNA evidence tells a different story - CNN

This CASE....... is a BEAR!