Comments on: Contest! Go to the Dogs

By: rjga

rjga — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:58:50 +0000

We had to put our 6 yr old Lab down this summer after a diagnosis of advanced bone cancer. It was completely unexpected and terribly sad. As I dealt with my own sadness, I also had to help my kids suffering with their first real loss. That part was way harder than I expected. The dog-less-ness of our house was overwhelming.

Two weeks later we found an adorable 8 wk old shepherd mix puppy. It has loosened the grip of sadness, but none of us can see a yellow lab without getting teary.

We have been to the dog show many times and LOVE it. But this year that weekend is already crazy. So please don’t put our name in the drawing!

By: laila

laila — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:19:22 +0000

This would be the most appropriate post in which I would brag about the perfect stats of our dachshund, Duke. However, by the mention of vicious and dangerous, I’m being reminded of the fact that beyond that well developed armor and pose of our pooch, lies a bark and anger that would scare even a Mullah from his mountain at dusk. Good luck with the show – I enjoy watching it all!

By: Deirdre

Deirdre — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:12:00 +0000

We don’t have a dog because Rick (the husband) has threatened to move out if we get one. The children and I have discussed this option but determined that Rick earns his keep by vacuuming, doing laundry, cooking, etc. No dog out there could pick up his slack.

Ruby’s a huge dog lover. The closest she gets is a virtual dog kennel via her Nintendo DS. Chihuahuas are a favorite for her. Hey, I think I should get extra points for knowing how to spell “chihuahua”!

This just might put me over the top: When I was about 10, I used to play the piano and sing a rousing version of “Maria” (West Side Story) substituting the name “McGregor” (my dog’s name). He would try to slink out of the room but I insisted he return. He was the best and most loyal dog ever.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:54:47 +0000

No need to thank me now, other entrants, but I wanted Jennifer to know that although the mere ENTERING of Rigo the Bichon/Poodle Wonderdog and why we love him would have the other competitors shaking in their sometimes-dog-poo-encrusted boots — the pooch and his story are THAT good — I will not be trying for the tickets, since I believe the $24 First Prize savings sure to come my way would be somewhat overshadowed by the cost of Los Angeles-Valley Forge airfare to attend.

Maybe I get to vote instead? Yes? No? Regardless — my two cents’ worth, and my vote, go to Arlene and Jordan Leib and Chloe their Schnauzer-Poodle-Estrogen blend. With one condition — that we either see a picture or a sworn statement attesting to (as reputedly happens)one of their often-shared activities: Arlene stealing food off Chloe’s plate when she’s not looking.

Easy vote. Simple request. If denied, I’ll switch my allegiance and love to Cinnamon or Ernie. (Even though, unlike the others, Ernie has no poo in him.)

By: tommyboy

tommyboy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:42:50 +0000

We rescued a cat from the pound a few weeks ago as a mouser. She stayed in the mudroom for a week until we felt she had established a new sense of home. Upon letting her out she disappeared under the porch. I haven’t seen her for three weeks, but her litter box is used, her food eaten. What a worthless pet.

Our dog on the other hand is very present. He greets us, he begs for attention, and after visiting the groomer he leans against you in anticipation of the love.

My son is now five and for two years he has tormented the dog, who never once bit or growled even though I would have. Who could ask for a better addition to the family?

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:40:22 +0000

I have never had a dog. I am a cat person. Cats have deemed this by finding me and demanding to move in. Jack the Ripper, Jack II and Floyd were/are all great cats. So you will be surprised to hear that when my friend from 1st grade, Karen, was moaning about what to do with her dog while we were on a 10 day vacation in Nova Scotia this summer, I (yes, me the cat person) suggested we bring him along. Ernie is a rescued dachshund. Karen was going to bike the Cabot Trail so I would be in charge of the dog for whole days at a time. Yikes! Can you guess what happened? I fell in love with that dog of course. He was a fantastic addition to the vacation. Everyone loved Ernie. Now I want a dog. Hmmmmmm….. maybe a good place to start looking would be at a dog show.

By: theresa

theresa — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:15:22 +0000

We are currently dogless (A fact that my 4 boys are desperate to remedy, my husband…not so much) Growing up, my family had several dogs, my favorite of which was Cinnamon, a peekapoo. I loved that dog with every fiber of my being!!

By: Debby

Debby — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:57:45 +0000

What’s second prize? Just kidding – I love the dog show….

By: Awleib

Awleib — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:11:09 +0000

For years Jordan whined the “Don’t have a brother other, don’t have a sister; everyone has a dog but me” aria and it fell on single-mother deaf ears. Who needed one more responsibility and another living creature to love, honor, obey and pay for? I finally succumbed after a few years and we found Chloe, our hypoallergenic Schnoodle in Macon, Georgia at a recommended breeder. We made an fun weekend out of collecting our new puppy, flying down to Atlanta and staying with my college suitemate and her family in Marietta. Barbara and her daughter drove Jordan and me to Macon on our pick up the puppy in redneckville adventure. We had bought her a plane ticket for the planeride home and we traveled with papers and certificates galore the next day.

Chloe is now six yrs.old and is a vested, one-third shareholder in our three woman household, and is called “sister” by Jordan. Chloe holds a canine equivalent estrogen placement in the pecking order and enjoys the same things we do: late night TV, sleeping in, wild salmon, an occasional South Beach diet, camp overnight sleepovers,lounging around by the fireplace in the winter, jogging in the neighborhood, horsing around when everyone should be doing something else(like homework or dinner dishes),dinner parties,and stealing food off of someone else’s plate while they’re not looking.

Chloe sleeps in my bed (how the heck did that happen- I didn’t offer to be the Alpha female)and can be heard loudly snoring from time to time, and whimpering from nightmares (what do dogs have to dream about/work through during unconscious states- please tell me? When I tap her on the shoulder and tell her to turn or move over, she does.