SoCS: Dog Collars, Feral Cats, and Classic Trek

Today’s prompt: “collar.” Use it as a verb, a noun, or metaphorically. Bonus points for using it in all three ways! Enjoy!

Add a couple letters to collar and you get collards. Collards get better after they get cold in the ground. I wonder if it’s too late to plant them. They do take up a lot of room. I like them raw in salad or steamed lightly.

Before I started adding letters to collar, I thought about the dog collars handing in what used to be the dog room. We have no more dogs now. They’ve all crossed over the rainbow bridge. But their collars, at least three of them, still hand in the dog room with tags and leashes attached.

Dogs probably would prefer not to wear collars to bed. I used to take them off when we were in for the night. But if you only get out the collars when it’s time for outside or walks, then collars would be very good things!

The dog room might turn into a cat room if I bring home Mama Cat from the church. She’s been there for over 4 years and will go crazy if/when I trap her, but she misses her daughter Gray who is still missing. I worry about Mama who has become less feral in her loneliness. I bet she would really hate a collar. It’s going to be a process, taming this feral mama, but we’re making progress. I might trap her and bring her home at the end of September or early October when I’ll be home for a while. She will probably hate the smell of the dog room. But I hope she will grow to like being here. I’m getting ahead of myself. Time will tell.

I haven’t given up on Gray. Must think positive thoughts that she is safe and loved, somewhere out there. When I get depressed about Gray or politics, Star Trek helps. I believe there’s a Star Trek episode about collars.

That James Kirk. A shock collar won’t stop him from kissing a woman. Or knocking her gently on the chin so that she falls into his arms unconscious. He could’ve talked her into helping him….. But it all worked out. And nobody really got hurt.

I don’t think I would ever use a shock collar on a dog without testing it on myself. Since I wouldn’t want to test it on myself, I wouldn’t use it on a dog.

Remove your collars! Run free!

…

For more Streams of Consciousness, visit our host, Linda G. Hill at:

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Sept. 12/2020

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

Five Spirit Dogs

I started this poem many months ago after Doodle crossed over and updated it last week for Mary Moo. The waves of grief come further apart now. I no longer check Mary’s room every day. David and I reminisce about the pack, their antics, and individual peculiarities. Fond memories are starting to match the sadness. Maybe some day fond memories will prevail.

Mary Moo, Jesse, Doodle, Beep, and Oreo.  (Back cover painting for Trust the Timing.)

 

Must love dogs, she said.

Be careful what you wish for.

My soul mate’s three joined my two

For a crazy blended family.

The five pack struggled to mesh.

Who was in charge?

The humans of course!

So we thought.

 

Little Mary Moo had been the boss.

Doodle, food-obsessed coon hound,

Taught her otherwise.

Possessive Beep and Neurotic Oreo were buds.

Golden Boy Jesse shared guard duty.

The five pack adapted.

Dog love flourished,

With episodic bedlam.

 

My golden boy was the first to leave.

He used to love to run on the beach,

But his old legs wouldn’t work anymore.

Then there were four.

 

Quiet Oreo left us next.

His lovable heart gave out.

No more thunder storms to terrify.

Then there were three.

 

Beep missed Oreo,

But she still had a pack to herd

Until she could walk no more.

Then there were two.

 

We thought Doodle would be last,

Being so loud and full of life.

I bet she took that rainbow bridge in a single bound.

And then there was one.

 

Mary Moo was once a feisty girl.

Almost 18, deaf and blind,

She kept looking for something she lost.

Maybe that squirrel she caught long ago.

 

Our five spirit dogs

Now live on the other side

of the rainbow bridge,

Not waiting idly.

 

Jesse swims in mountain lakes.

Oreo doesn’t have to be scared anymore.

He’s running with his friend, Beep.

Doodle is friends with everyone.

Mary Moo chases squirrels like lightening.

 

Jesse

Oreo

 

Beep

Doodle

 

Mary Moo

 

 

Dog Love: It’s Still Worth the Heartache of Goodbyes

Where, oh where has my little dog gone?

She ‘s still here in body though her mind wanders and takes her body in circles when she’s not sound asleep. Little Mary Moo is the last of the 5 five pack. She’s a medium sized dog really, but the smallest one of the pack that was. She’s almost blind and virtually deaf and at the age of 17, slowly and steadily declining. She used to be a feisty girl, full of life. Her obnoxious bark and enthusiasm for catching little animals suggests a beagle/terrier mix. But she doesn’t bark anymore, and the only thing she catches is her bed which she attacks sometimes still to try to make it into a nest.

David is helping old Mary Moo settle down from her pacing.

The thing I’ve been avoiding writing about (besides politics) is the passing of Doodle Bug. She crossed over the rainbow bridge a few weeks ago. I’ve started two other posts about her passing. Maybe I’ll actually publish this one. Doodle was full of life, too. You might have read about her here on my blog – the crazy coon hound who learned how to open the refrigerator. We still have a lock on the refrigerator so her ghost won’t get in and eat the leftovers.

We found out several months ago that she had kidney disease and a mast cell tumor. The tumor shrank significantly with oral Prednisone pills which made her even crazier. I was still in the mountains taking care of my granddaughter when David called me and told me the tumor had grown to the size of a grapefruit and had opened up. The Prednisone wasn’t helping anymore. David had to say goodbye to Doodle without me. It seems unfair because she was so full of life until the last couple of days. But she was about 13 and a big dog, so maybe it’s more than fair that she went downhill quickly and didn’t suffer long.

Here’s a picture of Doodle being good.

When Mary crosses over, there will be no dogs in the house for the first time in 30 something years. For most of my adult life, there has been at least one dog in the house, usually two, and for a while there was the 5 pack. It will really feel like an empty nest. Yes, there will be more freedom, but it will be strange. We’ll have to travel more. We’ll get to travel more. Sigh.

One thing I know for sure is that dog love is worth the heartache of saying goodbye. Every single time. It’s worth it. The happy joy, the unconditional love, the unquestionable honesty, the spontaneous antics, the comforting snuggle, these things make the heartache bearable.  I can’t imagine a world without dog love, or a heaven without dog love. So I’m counting on seeing them all again, some time, some how,  some where.

Sun dog and dog shaped clouds. A Rainbow Bridge?

…

Here’s the prompt that got this post started:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “where.” Start your post with the word “where” and write whatever comes to you. Bonus points if you end your post with “where” too. Enjoy!   __ Linda G. Hill

To learn more about the stream, visit:

https://lindaghill.com/2019/08/09/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-10-19/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

Doodle Bug and Other Silly Nicknames for Dogs

Today’s Stream of Consciousness prompt is, “bug.”

The first thing I thought of was Doodle Bug. That’s one on the nick names for our Treeing Walker (problem child) coon hound.

Her original name was Dixie Doodle. Well,  she probably had a name or two before that because David rescued her starving self when she was two.  Dixie Doodle, quickly became Doodle. A year or two ago, I started calling her Doodle Bug. I think there was a mom who called her toddler Doodle Bug years ago. What’s a doodle bug anyway? Just a sec. while I google doodle bug……. A larva of an ant-lion. And they’re not that cute. Except maybe to a mama ant-lion which are pretty like a dragon fly but very predatory.

Did I just see there’s a doodle bug song? Be right back…. Well, there is more than one doodlebug song. Both cute as you can imagine. If you like silly humor, this one will get your inner child dancing.

Okay. I realize I sort of stepped out of the stream of consciousness. But not really. I kept you informed. It was like a side stream, a detour.

My plan was to write about how nick names develop, especially with dogs. David calls Doodle Bone Head. That’s because he doesn’t want to be so deeply attached. Too late! And he knows it. But sometimes he calls her Doodle Bug, too. When I’m annoyed with her, I call her Doodle Head or Crazy Head.

 

Our little mutt, Marigold, named by my daughter 16 years ago, became Mary, then Mary Moo, then Mary Moodle (There’s a song I made up that goes “Mary Moodle, you’re not a poodle,” …. but that’s too silly. We also call her Moodle, or Moo Moo, or Mary Mack.

In case you didn’t know it, I’m crazy about dogs. AND I just found out my story about Jesse is going to be in this anthology: GONE DOGS, about dogs who’ve crossed over the rainbow bridge. Mary and Doodle are all we have left of the five dogs (two of mine and three step-dogs) from when David and I reconnected in 2011. I’m so happy to be able to honor Jesse’s memory in this book which should be out by Christmas.

Jesse didn’t  have as many nick names. Jesso, Jetz, and Jesse Boy are the only ones I recall. He was my boyfriend, my best friend, especially during the single, celibate years. Here’s a picture you might have seen before of Jesse howling (to a siren) with Mary Moo in the background several years ago.

…

This is David and I walking the pack back in 2013.

Mary Moo, Jesse Boy, Oreo, Beep, and Doodle Bug

Stream of Consciousness Saturday is brought to you by Linda G. Hill. Visit her at the link below for more SoCS posts!

https://lindaghill.com/2018/06/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-23-18/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

One-Liner Wednesday: Dogs in Heaven

 

God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he’ll be there.

Rev. Billy Graham

Since I volunteer most Wednesday mornings, I don’t usually participate in One-Liner Wednesday. But every now and then, I find something that floats my boat.  I know Rev. Graham is receiving a grand welcome in heaven, and I bet his dogs are there, too. Mine will be, too. I’m counting on it.

(The rainbow photo is from Pixabay. I thought it looked like the rainbow bridge.)

For more One-Liners, visit Linda’s blog at:

https://lindaghill.com/2018/02/21/one-liner-wednesday-the-perfect-toy/

Rules/Guidelines:

Songs of the Step Dogs

When my soul mate and I re-connected, he lived in Connecticut with three dogs. I’d asked for some one who loved dogs, so when I found out he had three, I thought, be still my heart. I had to remind myself to keep my feet on the ground, until I was sure. During our long distance romance, I talked to the dogs on the phone and listened to them sing.

Queen Beep

Dixie Doodle, the coon hound, started first with a low, steady howl. Beep, the Australian shepherd mix, named for the squeaky sound she made as a puppy, joined in with a strong throaty bark. Oreo, the spaniel mix, came in last with a yip, yip, yip.

When David moved down south, he brought his three amigos to join my golden retriever, Jesse and Marigold the mutt.

Marigold didn’t bark much after being displaced as the alpha female, by Doodle, who only thought she was the alpha female. Beep would have a different take on that. Beep, at 14, is the true queen of the pack. Doodle is just pushy.

Doodle

Oreo and Jesse, the two male dogs, have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Oreo

Jesse used to howl when he heard the whine of a siren. I bet he is howling in dog heaven, with Oreo backing him up with his yip, yip, yip, when they’re not busy chasing ducks, and making them quack, quack, quack.

Jesse (howling) and Marigold

This week’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday Post was “onomatopoeia.”  If you’d like to join in the fun, visit:

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for SoCS June 13/15

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” or “Begin with the word ‘The’.”

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments, for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. Have fun!

I’ll See You on the Other Side

Jesse at Christmas, 2012

What gives us the right to end the life of a beloved companion animal? Yesterday, I asked the vet, “What gives me the right to end his life?” He said it’s not so much a right as a responsibility. The quality of life was deteriorating quickly. We had given him 5 extra months with additional medications, injections and acupuncture since his back legs stopped working in July. He had improved for a while. When I asked the vet if it was a reasonable decision, he said, “Yes. At this point,” he said, “yes, it is.” I had hoped my golden boy Jesse would make it to 14, an arbitrary birthday a few weeks away that he knew nothing about.

I have to stop thinking about how he seemed to get excited about a ride in the car, which he did not know would be his last. I have to remember that for the past few days, he had not wanted to get up, even to eat or go to the bathroom. I have to stop thinking about how after the vet gave him the second injection, the one that shut down his brain, his body tried to take a breath. “Only a reflex action,” they said. “He’s not feeling anything. He has no heartbeat.” I was not prepared for that. I have to remember that he was too tired to go for walks anymore with the other dogs. I have to remember that he lost at least 10 lbs in the past year, even though we were feeding him more and bought him expensive dog  food. I have to remember that yesterday when I made the call to the vet, he was shuddering in pain and his whole body was tense. I could feel his misery.

But it still doesn’t feel right.

And I have to let him go.

Go ahead over the Rainbow Bridge my sweet friend. Your job of protecting me and our home has been a job well done. Go ahead over. Play and swim to your heart’s content. I will see you on the other side.

I pray to God to take care of Jesse until I see him again. Heaven would be incomplete without my dogs there. I want to see Jesse and Dobbs and Sarah and Sandy and Lobo and Hoppy (and all the dogs yet to come) in heaven. I want to run through the woods with them. I want to see Jesse swim again in a mountain lake or run along the beach. That will be my heaven. Please God, let that be my heaven.

Jesse swimming in a mountain lake, 2009.