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Back in October our 12 year old lab, Elwood, passed away.
I have not mentioned this because . . . well . . . I don’t like to mention it. He was a great dog and he was healthy right up until he wasn’t. I was so upset I took all of his toys, dishes, food and bones and threw them away so I wouldn’t have to look at them. I didn’t think I’d ever get another dog and then . . .
I’d like everyone to meet Reggie.
He came to our house a week ago Thursday. He is a 12 week old boxer and Lord knows what mix. He is supposed to be oldest son’s dog, but you know how that goes.
Reggie likes rawhide bones, bunny and bird toys and feet. He spends most of his time in the kitchen, behind the baby gate, looking at us like this.
He has a secret identity. Reggie, the annhiliator.
Like any baby, he gets very tired. His favorite trick is to steal warm spaces whenever anyone vacates them.
How many dogs, cats, pets have you had in your life? Did you have a favorite? Will there come a day when you think “no more pets” or will you always, always have one?
And most importantly: How CUTE is Reggie?
I had a great many pets as a child and up into my young adult years. My husband and kids have allergies so we haven’t had any since I married.
My favorite was a little bit of fluff half Persian that my dad named Itibit who grew up to be the biggest baddest tomcat in the neighborhood and single handedly accounted for a large growth in the cat population in our neighborhood.
He had several families he visited but always came home and curled up in my room. He died of poison while my dad and I held him and cried. My dad never got close to another cat, but I had various cats and dogs until I moved away from home.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:30 am.
I also had cats as a kid. My dad said he didn’t like cats, but he did. He ended up getting several of his own after I left home.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:06 am.
Reggie is very cute. I’m at the no more pets stage right now. That could change.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:42 am.
I hear you, Mary.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:06 am.
Hello Reggie! Welcome to Mt Oly!
I have had many pets over the years dogs and cats both. I had a black cat named Black Velvet, mom called him Devil (he hated mom). Our Water/Cocker Spaniel Taffy weaned him with her litter of puppies so he always thought he was a tree climbing dog. Those two were inseparable and unbeatable.
My favorite pet was Tanner, who was Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Lab, Chow, & part wolf. Tanner watched over the kids in our daycare and we never had to lock the door while we were gone because only family, our friend Tamara, and Scott the mailman could enter if the house was empty. Tanner developed a growth on the base of his skull and lost control of his body. His vet said surgery wasn’t an option so we let him go to the Rainbow Bridge. Tanner was willing to face down a member of the Swat team who was on a routine call about something but was terrified of kittens. Not a day goes by that wwe don’t miss Tanner.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:49 am.
I love that Rainbrow Bridge poem, Evlqn. It is sitting on top of Elwood’s box.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:08 am.
How cute is Reggie you ask? So freakin’ cute I make cooing noises at his adorable picture. I can almost smell his puppy breath. My heart goes out to you on the loss of Elwood who surely is irreplaceable.
How many pets? When I lived with my parents, we had 8 – several combos of 3 dogs maximum and the rest cats. They still have a heap of cats, all rescues and most of them sweeties. I’ve dubbed my ‘rents “Ellie May Clampett”
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 4:08 am.
Thanks, Fresh. Can’t imagine 8 pets at once!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:10 am.
I grew up with dogs and cats but have to admit that I am a cat person. I love my boy Acheron (how could you not love a cat who saves you from an evil spider and is willing to beat up dogs for fun?). This year mum and dad had to send their two dogs Scrappy and Moey to the Rainbow Bridge. Scrappy because he was going blind, deaf and could barely move due to the arthritis that saw him in a good deal of pain. Moey had to go because he freaked out over a storm and damaged something in his paw bad enough that the circulation never came back. Poor Moey also had a heart murmur that was really out of control. I sadly had to rehome my bubby girl Freya because she kept on getting out of the yard and going over to the retirement village next door and digging up their gardens. I had blocked up all the holes in the yard but there was one on their turf that they wouldn’t fill and so she got in again so she had to go.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 5:32 am.
Sounds like a pretty amazing cat!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:12 am.
Acheron certainly is. The only time he isn’t is when he brings in a freshly killed rat which left me freaking out as badly as the time of The Great Huntsman Spider Incident. Elwood’s love will never leave you but the new bundle of puppy loving will help make things easier. The boxer in the new puppy will help to make him a very smart dog when he grows up and will also give you a bundle of laughs because they can be dopey at times (I learned this from mum’s two boxers that she had.)
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:32 am.
He does seem really smart to me, but it’s been a long time since we had a puppy here and we’ve never had a boxer.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:57 am.
We’ve had a cat or cats in the house since I was 4 so that is a looooooooong time – many many many many many moons (but I’m not sayin’ just how many! ;P ). My first cat was Tabby who we got when I was 4 and who finally crossed the Rainbow Bridge when I was 23. She only had 3 legs, losing one to an accident when she was two. She never missed it and could climb trees and catch mice with the best of them. After Tabby came Nick and Minnie. Nick was a runt and barely had his eyes open when we got him, even at 7 weeks. He couldn’t eat regular cat food and we fed him for the first 6 months on a combination of small curd cottage cheese, skim milk and raw egg. He was so tiny that we had to serve it on a paper plate because he couldn’t reach over the rim of a regular dish. However, he thrived on this mixture and grew into a big healthy boy who lived to terrorize the dogs in the neighborhood (he actually chased a German Shepherd out of his yard, yowling and tail between legs). His sister, Minnie was the huntress of the two and taught Nick everything she knew or tried to. He preferred to hunt the turkey and gravy that was served every Thanksgiving and the leftovers that remained after supper every night. Both are now gone, but their personalities are legend in this house.
They were followed by Happy (named by a 3 year old) and Snowflake (all black cat with a hint of white on HIS chest – also named by said 3 year old). Happy lived less than a year, losing her life to a car in the street. Snowflake grew mean without his sister as his anchor and lost his life to a car in the street four months after his sister.
We now have Pebbles and BamBam whom we got not too long after Snowflake died. Needless to say after what happened to Snow and Happy, they are strictly indoor kitties. They have the run of the house and their outdoor experience is limited to the screened back porch where they can watch birds and squirrels duke it out for the contents of the bird feeder. Bam is basically my mom’s cat (or she is his human) and has an attitude that lets us know that he owns the house and is only humoring us by letting us stay here. Pebbles is my cat. She sleeps on her spot on my bed, greets me when I come home, looks for me when I SHOULD be home, cuddles with me before I turn out the light. She knows when I am not feeling well or when I have a migraine and stays by my side until I am better. She is one of the most loving and affectionate cats I have ever known.
And BTW, Reggie is so cute that I wanted to scritch his little puppy ears through my screen. I was also making cooing “awwwwwww” sounds at my computer. Elwood will always live on in your heart, but Reggie will help take away the sting of your loss. I know that everytime we would start to get weepy over Snow or Happy, Bam and Pebbles would do something silly in their awkward kittenhood way and we would be laughing through the tears. It takes time, but Furbaby Therapy is the way to go.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 5:37 am.
Furbaby therapy! Exactly right.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:13 am.
Oh I just want to squish Reggie’s face! He is so cute! I’m glad you decided to get another. I have had a few dogs in my life. My mom claimed to be allergic to cats, which could be a whole story in itself. Needless to say when we were old enough to move out all of us got a cat. Sorry mom. It is terrible when something happens to our pets. Any time I have to go through it I always think I will not get another. But I do. Currently I have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I consider both of them rescues. They are my babies. I do not have kids, I have dogs! They have me wrapped around their little paws. I hate to think of the day when I don’t have them. Like people, when animals go they take a part of me with them. Until then, I love em to pieces!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:57 am.
I’m glad we go another too, Kelly. Reggie is sitting in my lap right now watching me type. Oldest son’s dog indeed.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:15 am.
Reggie is ADORABLE!
I had many pets growing up and have 2 cats now. Pets bring you such joy and sorrow.
I think my special pet was Biscuit, a beautiful mutt of a dog that we sort of took over from my sis and her husband. he was my hero one day when my brother was buryng me in a snowbank – he bit him on the bum! lol
and he was my special pet ever after1lol
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:55 am.
Just the name Biscuit give me an image of him.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:16 am.
He is so cute! Right now I have two dogs. I have a Chow mix that I’ve had since she was about three weeks old. Her eyes weren’t open yet and she wasn’t walking. I bottle fed her every two hours for two weeks straight. I bawled the first time her eyes opened and the first time she walked. Everybody told me she would die. She is now ten and we have a really strong bond. I have a Chihuaha who’s about three. All of the dogs are rescues. She’s chunky and cute and so affectionate. Scared of thunder and lightning. Eats everything including pickles. My first furbaby was a cat named Nela who I had for 18 years. I lost her back in August of last year. I still miss her everyday. That cat was with me through thick and thin. She moved I don’t know how many times with me. Her favorite thing to do was either sleep on my back or side. If not she would sleep on my pillow. I said I wouldn’t get another cat but the truth is I’m a cat person so I just don’t know. I will always have pets. I’m a big believer in rescuing them. They’re love, loyalty and devotion can not be beat.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:03 am.
Sorry to hear about Nela, Aida. Reggie is our first shelter dog and I have to say I’m sold.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:16 am.
I currently have one dog and two cats. The dog, Chewie, is a snorkie.. a schanuzer/yorkie mixed up pup who will be two at the end of August. He is a rescue puppy. He is the social butterfly of the family. Nosy is a diabetic cat who requires two insulin shots a day. I do the 8 a.m. shot. My husband does the 8 p.m. shot. My dad always called Nosy a barn cat. Smoky is a blue eye Himalayan cat who doesn’t like Chewie. I had a calico cat many years ago. She had lived with my grandparents. We think she got under the rocking chair runners when she was a kitten and someone rocked on her. I took her home and named her Tinsel because she would eat Tinsel on the Christmas tree. When she ran, her rear would try to catch up with her heard. I really loved that cat. All my cats are/were indoor cats. Reggie is so cute. Please keep us updated with pictures.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:41 am.
I had a calico when I was little. She was so pretty.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:57 am.
Oh MY Goodness is he ever adorable Lori! Oldest son’s dog my left foot! LMAO! I think he may have some shepherd in him. We had a boxer shepherd mix and I definitely see some similarities.
That being said, I volunteer with a boxer rescue so needless to say, yeah, we’ve had quite a few come and go over the years between fosters and failed fosters… (ie came and never lefters). I’ve had dogs all of my life as my parents are not cat people. The rule was, when you get your own house, you get what you want. Well DH came with a cat (who we lost a year ago at age 15), then we adopted another cat (lost a few years back to cardiomyopathy). Then came Harley (the boxer shepherd mix). Got him from a rescue in New Jersey as a puppy. He was so funny and gangly. Sadly we lost him 2 yrs ago next month at the age of 7. We moved to FL 7 years ago and that is when I started volunteering. Coleman was our first failed foster. He was 6 yrs old when we adopted him. He was my sausage roll. Such a sweet dog and I still miss him. We were only blessed with having him for a year and a half. Lost him to cardiomyopathy as well. Then came Ronan. He was my goofball. We called him “Boog” because he always had eye boogers. He was only 5 when we lost him a year ago last November to cancer. After loosing Ronan, I was feeling very lost and didn’t want any more pets. We still had Otto the cat at the time but he was getting up there in age so we decided to foster for a while. We fostered Polly and got her adopted out and were asked to foster again. I pulled Boz from the shelter and .. hello Failed Foster again! He is a Check (aka Tri-colored) boxer -all white with some brown on his head, one eye and one ear. This dog is 70 lbs and is terrified of cats. It is hilarious! We have also gotten Bam Bam the cat. He rules the roost here which we find funny. Yesterday, Bam scared Boz enough that Boz joined me in the shower! Since he was in there, I bathed him but it was really funny that the cat chased him in there
Ok so I have written a novel. Congrats on that adorable puppy. If you ever have questions about boxers, I am your girl!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:45 am.
Oh great, Jen! Thanks. I never had a boxer so that’s good to know.
I thought he was part shepherd too because of his coat. Everyone keeps telling me he’s going to be huge.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:59 am.
If he is anything like our Harley was, he topped out at 95 lbs!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:09 am.
Oh boy. I don’t mind as long as he’s well behaved. Oldest son took him to puppy class last week. He rocked “sit.”
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:28 am.
I thought his coloring and face looked kinda shepherdy too!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:52 am.
OMG he is too cute for words. Just want to hug him.
Growing up we had Princess a german shepard/boxer mix and Tiger our cat. My said Tiger lived so long cause his feel never touched the ground, someone was always carrying him. Then they had two more dogs Cassie and Lucky. My nephew when he was little couldn’t say Lucky so he called him Yucky. LOL I know my mom misses having a dog.
I had Dusty for 14 years, she was my first cat on my own. SHe was a snuggler. Now I just have sammy he is 14 now and still runs through the apt sometimes like a kitty. He has been my therapist this weekend. He can’t do anything about work for me but he can listen.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:52 am.
Pets listen the best, don’t they?
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:59 am.
Yes they are. The snuggles and hugs help
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:52 am.
Muwaa muwaa muwaa! I’d love to kiss Reggie right on top of his cute little head! We just got a mini-pin/chuiuiua and she is adorable! Her name is Esme and she is supposed to be my daughter’s “baby” but said daughter is never home, so she has become my baby. She is so sweet and lovable and cuddly and a great addition to our family. We had cats for many years (also my daughter’s) and I really didn’t miss them when they were gone. I think I’m much more of a dog person. One interesting fact about our little Esme: she doesn’t bark!
ever!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:59 am.
Right now not barking sounds good. Reggie barks whenever he doesn’t get his way. We are working on ignoring that.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:29 am.
Firstly Reggie is way to cute for words. Congratulations on the addition to your family.
I’ve had many of the fur people in my life. From our German Shepherd Bismark, who was famous around town for staying with whatever was dropped by the family until we came to get it and him. (Yes, when the car went for repairs, food went for the dog as well, since he wouldn’t leave the place) To my two most recent additions Mason and Bebe, the two cat wrecking crew.
I’ve loved all my fur people and when I lost my cat of 14 years, Diana, to what translates to breast cancer in people terms, I said, “No More.” Then I saw the pictures of Mason and Bebe, they needed someone to love. On the new arrivals I recieved a loving note from my sister. “Congratulations on only being 27 cats away from the crazy cat lady.” So I think I’ll stop here, at two.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:03 am.
LOL at your sister. Two cats do not a crazy cat lady make. Although I’m not sure what the magic number is.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:30 am.
In our house it’s apparently 29.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:28 am.
Reggie is a real cutie.
Since DH & I have married we have had two dogs. Sandy, was a poodle/bichon mix and a rescue dog. We loved her from the minute we saw her. Now we have Lacey, our little poodle. She is not a rescue dog; but we think we rescued her from a horrible life anyway. She was maybe 3 months when we got her and was in a cage with two other poodle puppies in a garage full of mommies and babies in cages. There must have been at least 20 cages with a minumum of three dogs in each cage. DH & I are convinced she was earmarked to be a breeder. I know we said we’d never get another dog after Sandy, but I don’t know what I’d do without my spoiled baby; er, um, I mean my sweet; who am I kidding? She is spoiled rotten and I wouldn’t change her for anything!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:43 am.
Oh, ick, that place sounds awful, Sue. I’m glad you grabbed Lacey and took her out of there.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:47 am.
OHhhh what a sweetie pie face… we had to send our Welshie over the Rainbow Bridge.. at 18… We’ve been petless for over a year. that may change with hubby retiring this year.. Love to death, but I know why there’s been such an increase at animal shelters, dumped pets, etc. I didn’t realize how much we were spending.. until after Cassie was gone.. [but every penny was worth it!!]
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:58 am.
They aren’t cheap. But they are worth it.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:32 am.
Lori,
Reggie looks like he’ll be into plenty of trouble as he grows! I’ve had a lot of pets — cats mostly (we have four now) — over the years. It’s hard to lose them — they bear witness to so much of our lives & form such close bonds with us humans. When I was little we had a pit bull mix named Cleo. She was grey with white markings that made it look like she had a white scarf around her neck. She followed us kids everywhere & lived to be more than 15 when she had an accident in the woods — got under a tree as it was coming down. All of us kids were there and my mom said she was sure that my dad was the one who died as she heard us coming across the field crying & screaming. We buried Cleo in a little pet cemetary at the back of the garden. When I’m down home way, I always stop & pay my respects to all the family pets that were buried there.
Malea
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:01 am.
I had a shepherd that used to follow me everywhere when I was a kid. He was like Nana in Peter Pan.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:33 am.
REGGIE IS SOOOOOO CUTE!!
I remember those days. Sweet, sweet puppy fur! It’s one of the purest pleasures in life.
I have had too many dogs to count. I have loved them all, but a couple stand out in my memory.
Sometimes I think after Moose kicks off (we are years from that), I will not have a dog. But if I didn’t have a dog, who would make me get out and run every day? I’m thinking I will have a dog for a long time to come.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:14 am.
It’s nice for a while to have the empty. Then the empty is just too empty, you know?
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:33 am.
How adorable. And how nice of you to let him up on the couch. Not that you had much choice, is my guess. My last dog was not allowed up, but we would come home and find here there, and when she saw us there was an “oops” look on her face.
DH is on the hunt for his next puppy. I am letting him choose.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:22 am.
I always say not on the furniture and then . . .
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:34 am.
ooooh! He’s adorable! Congratulations on your family’s new friend!
Sunday will be 6 moths since I adopted Shadow.. and I have had Jack, my kitty, for almost 15 years. Both are incredibly special.
I have always had a pet of some sort – cat, dog, hamster, fish.. I think I always will – even when I am emptying vacuum canister #3 on whole house vacuuming days
They are just such wonderful companions.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:27 am.
That reminds me . . . oldest son needs to vacuum today. He said he would do the floors if we got a puppy. Bwa-ha-ha-ha.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:35 am.
First, hugs on Elwood. He looks like quite a great fellow.
And..welcome to Reggie! What a doll face.
I am an animal person, from animal parents. My dad is the crazy cat lady– he loves them and they find him everywhere. Now as a senior, he loves little dogs, too.
I have rarely had fewer than three animals, a mix of cats and dogs. Never more than two dogs, or three cats.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:32 am.
Thanks, Barbara. Elwood was quite the guy. He used to sit with me in my office while I wrote.
Now Reggie is sleeping at the door. I don’t know why but he loves it in here. Carpet must still smell like dog.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:36 am.
Super cute! Be sure to post pictures as he grows. I’m not sure I could handle a puppy at the moment, but I loooooove looking at other people’s puppy pictures. My favorite is the picture of Reggie on the couch. How sweet is that?!!!
Nikki is our first dog. I’ve always had cats, and I still love cats. Nikki takes her dogginess very seriously, but since she’s only six pounds and looks adorable in clothes, I have a hard time thinking of her as a doggy-dog.
I don’t know whether we’ll always have pets. Nikki is six years old, so I hope it’s a long time before we even have to think about that question.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:34 am.
The puppy thing is kind of hard, although I am more patient this time around. when we got the last puppy I had a 10 year old and a 7 year old. Patience was in short supply.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:37 am.
It’s too early… I meant to also share my sincere sympathies on your loss. Elwood looks like a sweetheart.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:38 am.
How lovely, Susan. Thank you. Elwood didn’t have a mean bone in his yellow body.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:07 am.
OMG!!! He is so adroable!! Giving him trouble must be very hard with those eyes looking back at you!
Ever since I can remember my family has always had a dog. The best one being a golden retriever. She was smart and sneeky and a lot of fun. I always called her the perfect dog. Even though she was my parents dog and I had moved out, I was devestated when she passed.
Last summer we also lost our dog, and I have felt the void ever since. However, my husband isn’t an animal person, he puts up with our cats, but just barely. He is not keen on getting another dog, but I would really love one, and I think it would be good for our kids. I have been working on him, but so far he hasn’t given in.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:49 am.
IV did NOT want another dog. He said he was Pontius Pilate on this dog.
He plays with him all the time and I actually heard him saying, “you’re so cute!” When I mentioned that I’d heard him say this he said, “I said, ‘he’s so Cujo.’”
Sure you did.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:11 am.
That reminds me Tiger our old family cat was a stray that my brother found after a storm. Mom said it could stay two weeks. Tiger was with us for 18 yrs. LOL
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:59 pm.
He’s ADORABLE!! Puppies are so hard to resist. Our dog just passed away last month. We’re probably not going to get another one cos we don’t think at this point we can give it the love & care it needs. It’s kinda hard not to have a dog in the house tho.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:55 am.
Oldest son kept showing me pictures of puppies and saying, “aren’t they cute?’
My response was always “ugly puppy? when do you hear that?”
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:12 am.
Linda, so, so sorry for your loss.. This blog has had me sniffling over my sweet baby, Balley, who I lost 2 yrs ago so I can only imagine how fresh and painful it is for you only 1 month down…
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 4:49 pm.
Reggie is so adorable. I love looking at other people’s pet pictures because unfortunately, I can’t have any of my own. I adore cats and dogs, but I’m highly allergic to cats and getting worse over time with dogs. The worst thing about it was that this started to develop when I was a teenager and we’d had cats and dogs for several years with no problems. Luckily, I went away to college fairly soon after it started, so my parents were able to keep the animals, but the more I’m exposed, the worse I get. At first it was just the cats, now it’s both. I get full-blown asthma attacks if I pet a cat and don’t immediately wash my hands and I start sneezing like crazy around most dogs.
My husband adores cats also and we’d love to have one but it just isn’t possible. I keep hoping they’ll come up with some kind of miracle cure for allergies, but so far, no luck.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:02 am.
So sorry about the allergies. That would be tough. I will post lots of pictures. I’m sure I will have many Reggie blogs.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:13 am.
YAY!
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 4:50 pm.
Reggie is adorable! Awwwwwwwwwww!
I have one cat and her name is Ali. Since I live in an apartment there will be only one pet at a time. When I put my 12 year old cat Ambrosia I went through a period where I didn’t want another pet. My co-workers decided for themselves that I needed another one so that’s when I got Ali. So there will always be one pet. Keep posting photos of Reggie.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:22 am.
I will continue with pics. Probably until everyone says STOP!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:23 am.
I’m sorry for your loss, Lori. It’s tough to lose a pet.
I’ve had only a couple of pets through my life, because my mom wouldn’t let my brother and I get any animal that did not stay in a fish tank. Although, when I was in my teens, my mom allowed me to get a budgie. I LOVED my Eddie. He was a green budgie, and he was the friendliest bird that I’ve ever known. He loved to cuddle on your shoulder or sit on a perch and watch me do homework. He passed away about two years ago (after 12 years with him), and I was crushed. Of course, he had gotten old and started losing his feathers (as some people go bald), and his claws became gnarled, but he was happy and cuddly until the end.
Roughly four years ago my husband and I got a chihuahua, whom we’ve named Lady. She’s a GREAT dog. She hardly ever barks, and she’s excellent with my sons. We also got ourselves a cockatiel, whom we’ve named Sophie. She’s also a very cuddly bird, and we love her.
I don’t think there will be any time that we will not have a pet in our house. I’m sure that when my sons are older they’ll want hamsters or guinea pigs or some such animal, and I’m more than happy to oblige them when we’ve got the space.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:25 am.
PS. Reggie is ADORABLE! I found myself saying “awww” when I saw that picture!!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:26 am.
We had a no rodents, no reptiles rule in our house. But we never had a bird.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:48 am.
Reggie is adorable. We currently have 3 dogs, a cat, 2 horses, and a mule. Sooo, I dream of having no pets. I picture myself being able to wear black without having to check for hair before I walk into an appointment. But, then I lay down to take a nap (a rare, but treasured opportunity) and the dogs curl up to me, and suddenly I couldn’t imagine not having them.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:35 am.
Reggie’s on my foot right now. Very cuddly.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:48 am.
Reggie the annihilator looks like an apt name for your gorgeous new pup! He’ll never replace Elwood in that special place in your heart, but will carve his own niche.
We had two dogs when I was growing up although I don’t remember them very well. One was a black Cocker Spaniel and I had the misfortune of finding her when she passed. The other was a dachshund that really was my mother’s pet. She barked and snipped around the rest of us.
My first husband introduced me to cats and I became a cat lover from then on except for the Miniature Schnauzer my second husband and I had along with our Silver Tabby. We adored both of them. We got Wilhelmina Spritz from a puppy farm, not knowing the ramifications that brought with it. We almost lost her at the beginning. That was before the days rescuing animals was as publicized as it is today. We did, however, rescue our cat. She had been a stray for a couple weeks and we finally brought her home. She was such a beautiful cat I can’t imagine anyone letting her out of the house. A couple of outdoor cats adopted us after that, but it wasn’t the same. I can’t have any pets where I am now or I would have another cat.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:38 am.
Puppy farms. So sad.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:49 am.
Reggie is such a cutie! We are puppy sitting DD’s 6 month old beagle miix while she and new SIL are on their honeymoon. If our two dogs could talk they would say,”When is he going home?”
How many pets have I had? Too many to count, I grew up on a farm. DH had never had a pet until he promised our girls a puppy, they were 5 and 1 at the time. Enter Cassie, a white miniature poodle that was perfect. She had to be put to sleep 11 years later. I swore we were not getting another dog, moving in the military was a lot easier without pets. Then one night our son, who was 8, asked me how many dogs I had growing up on the farm. It hit me that yes, I’d been there done that with all the dogs, but my kids had not. Enter George, a black miniature poodle, who sleeps with DS 10 years later. We’ll probably always have a dog.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:55 am.
So nice of you to dogsit!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:27 pm.
I’m so sorry to hear about Elwood. I have a 13 year old beagle, Lettie (see Avatar for the cuteness). Right now she’s very, very healthy and we are enjoying her so much, but every time I have to take her to the vet I worry sooo much…
Lettie is a rescue from the humane society, like all of my family’s dogs. She’s the first dog that is mine, though, and my family is convinced my husband married me for joint custody of the pooch.
That Reggie is a cutie! And boy, is he going to be big!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:56 am.
Lettie is adorable.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:28 pm.
Reggie has just the cutest little face! awwww. we put our 5 1/2 yr old bernese mountain dog Stella to sleep in november from a sudden and massive tumor on her heart. this was the saddest day for all. i still have my retriever Riley and am waiting to get another bernese but looking at Reggie might just speed up the process. i know just how heartbroken you were to lose Elwood. Me too.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:26 pm.
Sorry about Stella. My dad had bernese mountain dogs.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:29 pm.
Congratulations on Reggie! He is adorable and looks like he knows what a great family he’s entered.
My condolences on Elwood. October was a bad month for both of us. That’s when we lost Suzie, our 18-year-old mixed breed dog. We miss her still. Maybe next year we’ll add another dog to the family. Take care of that precious little one.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:34 pm.
Sorry to hear about Suzie. Puppy breath is the best medicine.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:55 pm.
ADORABLE!!! What a complete doll!! I’m so happy for you (and I will be especially happy after you leave the house training stage). Everyone needs a pet. Life is empty without a pet!
And yet, as I write this, D may be our last pet. I’m allergic to him! Pets, all my life, and now I get allergic?
I’m devastated.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:37 pm.
I’ve heard you can become allergic. Bummer!!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:56 pm.
Oh, Reggie is adorable, Lori!!
Every so often I think of getting another dog since my current one adopted my mom and left me for a bigger backyard and more time on the sofa, but I’m not quite there yet. Yet.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 1:14 pm.
It’ll be interesting when oldest son gets an apt. I have a bigger yard.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:07 pm.
My brother and I grew up with Kitty. She had kittens all the time. Kitty disappeared in `91.
My mom decided to try a dog in `88. Jasmine was a two year old Sheltie. She passed in `93.
The latest batch of cats at dad’s house is the first time that siamese looking kittens have not been stolen. People tend to leave black kittens.
Mom’s second Sheltie, Amber, I think she got in `01 as a puppy. She passed in `06. Mom never had the opportunity to try a third dog.
I do not have a pet because I have very limited space.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 1:32 pm.
I always had black cats.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:09 pm.
So very sorry you lost Elwood, Lori. I know how much that hurts.
But Reggie is downright adorable!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 1:58 pm.
Hi Nicole!!! Great to “see” you.
And thanks.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:10 pm.
Reggie is adorable. Hugs on Elwood. It’s a good thing the heart is an “and” organ—no one love needs to move out for another to move in. Sounds like Reggie is already making his own place.
I can’t recall a time when we didn’t have dogs. Teddy Bear was mine growing up, so she’ll always have a place in my heart. Sheena, too. Rogue was so intelligent, and he guarded the children when they were babies. Loki, our first husky, was a learning experience in Alpha maleness. The list is long because we rarely had one dog at a time. Even now, we have two; Wicket, a shepherd/husky mix, and Jazzy, a red yukon husky we found at the SPCA.
I believe there’s a reason dog is God spelled backward; unconditional love is so much a part of both.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:13 pm.
I had a husky as a girl. Best dog
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:02 pm.
We had lots of pets growing up, but I never got very attached to them, maybe because we had so many. We moved a lot, and our pets tended to get into trouble or die of illnesses (in Thailand, vets weren’t very common). We had two dogs poisoned and one dog stolen. Every time we came back to the U.S. on furlough, we left a pet with someone, which meant we usually started over again when we returned. I don’t think we ever had a pet more than a couple of years.
Maybe that’s why I don’t get as attached to animals as some people. We can’t have a pet anyway, because of Nick, but sometimes I miss having one, especially when I see all the cute dogs while I’m out walking.
I’m so happy for you that you found Reggie, and I’m so sorry that Elwood passed away. I hope Reggie can help make that easier.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:48 pm.
Thanks Sabrina!
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:04 pm.
Reggie is adorable:) I had a favorite dog we got from the pound. Her name was Reba. She was a cairn terrier and something else(we never knew what) She passed away last year and I didn’t think we would ever get another dog I would be close too. But,low & behold in bounces a collie named Dixie and she came right for me and licked my hand. I was lost:)
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:53 pm.
Congrats on Dixie. They do have a way of choosing us.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:05 pm.
Reggie is MUCHO CUTE! Very VERY cute!!!
From what I’ve heard, my family had three dogs before we left my homeland to move to the States. Then one of my brothers bought some hamsters; all are gone now.
Given that I can only remember the hamsters, I had one fave hamster, the one called Spike. There was another hamster, but I forgot his name.
I’m iffy about pets. There are both pros and cons to having pets, so I’m torn about it.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:23 pm.
A hamster named Spike. Love it.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:45 am.
What a little sweetie pie! With a face like that, does he get away with everything?
Started out with Mickey, the sister adoring, mailman hating, black shepard of some sort spitfire that I barely remember. Then came Pompom the poodle, Iggy the Iguana, many fish, Tabitha the family loving, visitor hating calico kitty who lived many, many years. These are the pets I grew up with.
I had my beautiful, mean Yoda the cat for 17 years. And now I have the best dogs ever, Lucy Lou the yellow lab and Molly Moo, her sister the black lab. They’re 7 now, finally settling down a bit. Love them to pieces.
I’d like to always be able to have a dog.
Honorable mentions are Fritz the Schnauzer and Vegas the Golden (other) best dog ever.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:24 pm.
My labs always took a long time to settle.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:46 am.
Well, first, I’m so sorry about Elwood.
I lost our beloved kitty, Cassie (my absolute favorite) about a year ago–she was 18 and had been with us for 16 of those 18 years. I still miss her and for a while, I couldn’t even contemplate getting another cat…but we have my daughter’s cat and our strays, and I love them too.
Second, Reggie is precious! So cute!
Finally, I’ve had 5 cats in our house and we currently have 3 strays that have ‘adopted’ us. We’ve also had three dogs…our current beagle, Petey, is a sweetie. We also had a lab/shepherd mix, Hazel, and a Australian Shepherd, Ginger, along with an assortment of fish that we no longer have. I love dogs, but am a cat person. They are SO easy…you can put an entire bag of their food and a huge bowl of water out and they only eat/drink a little at a time, and they have a litter box, so they don’t have to go outside.
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:55 pm.
I’ve always wanted to have a bit fish tank but never did it.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:48 am.
Lori, trust me on this, you only THINK you want a fish tank. The reality sucks! When I met him my dh had two 100 gallon tanks in the living room, a 50 in the bedroom and one in the dining room, plus a claw-foot tub on the patio he kept stocked with feeders (aka- goldfish). We were constantly cleaning tanks and worrying about the health and well-being of his finned family. One night we had a blackout and the sudden silence (did I mention the noise from the filters?) woke him up from a sound sleep. He wanted me to breath into the filter tubes to keep air in the water. Thankfully for him the power came back on because there was no way in the galaxy I was breathing into a fish tube.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 2:04 pm.
My condolences on the loss of Elwood. Kipling wrote a great poem warning us not to give our hearts to a dog to tear, but he had many, many dogs in his life. Like us, he knew the hole where a dog should be in our lives hurts every bit as much as the loss of one.
Reggie is about a 15 on the 1-10 Cuteometer !! What a darling boy! And in addition to rocking “Sit” he appears to be rocking the “pick me up cuz I’m irresistible” look.
My brother and wife and kids had boxers for years. They really are awesome dogs – smart and the class clown and truly devoted.
I have had pets all my life. Dogs and cats. (And birds, snakes, lizards, tortoises, ferrets, chinchillas, a possum hedgehogs, goats, chickens, ducks and a horse.) Right now I have dogs and cats.
The head of the household is a twelve pound chihuahua who thinks he’s a Rottweiler. Frodo is the terror of all of the local vet hospitals. And his right hand man is Bagheera, a 24 pound, bob-tailed long-haired cat. He’s on a diet. It’s not working.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:57 am.
Reggie does love to be picked up, although that isn’t going to last forever. He’s put on 10 pounds already.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:49 am.
I always had pets. I had ducks, geese, chickens, one dog, and so many cats. I lived with my grandparents which had a farmette. I love animals, but I lost my cat in December, since than a duck family has been coming to my back door looking to be fed and making me feel young again. I know I want another cat, but I think that it will take time to push that step, so for now a little bread will go a long way.
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:34 am.
Lori, he’s just precious and has got that cutie-pie puppy eye thing down pat already! I’m working on being the Crazy Cat Lady myself, and strongly agree that rescues are the way to go. One of my 4, Sookie (yes, named after THAT Sookie!),used to love to help me get dressed – including picking up earrings from my jewelry box and sticking her little face in the makeup mirror while I was using it
Now, however, she’s becoming a little traitor: I have a new boyfriend that she’s IN LOVE with and I’m feeling quite left out these days …had to warn him that she’d follow him into the bathroom (shut doors are no problem for this super-cat!) and jump up on his lap. She fell in love when he’d stay in there until SHE decided she’d had enough and get down 
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 5:19 pm.