Traitorous behavior

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Tucker. 

You have probably noticed that we've been gone a lot lately ... but, as usual, it's not me, Phoebe, or the cats that are responsible ... it's Mom.  And this time she can't even use work as an excuse because she took a whole WEEK off last week to go out of town.  She SAID she was visiting family, but she came back smelling very suspiciously of strange dogs.  Then today I found THESE pictures on her computer.  

I asked her about them and she said that these dogs ARE family.  (Cassie, the Yorkie, is our Great Aunt K's dog and Carly, the Lab, is our cousin K and his wife C's dog.  They live in Arkansas.) Here's the thing ... I'm sure they are nice dogs and that if I met them I would like them.  But if there were going to be dogs at this family gathering, then why couldn't Phoebe and I go too? 

I guess I'm going to forgive Mom.  But I don't think Olivia will ... at least not anytime soon.  If you doubt me, just take a look at the photo of her Mom took when she got home on Sunday.  Does she look happy to you?  

Yeah, didn't think so.

Happy Tuesday, everybody! 

Man-Cat Monday

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Tanner! It's raining and gross today because someone named Debby is passing through, but hopefully she'll be gone soon.  Until she is, I can't go out on the cat porch to stalk lizards.  This is a problem.  But until I can go outside I guess I will stay inside and watch TV.

Have a great day, everyone ... and I hope Debby doesn't come visit you! 

The issue of pet "ownership"

Hi, everyone ... MP here!  Sorry we've been MIA lately ... lots going on and hopefully we'll be back posting regularly soon (as well as making the rounds of our friends' blogs, which we very much miss). 

Busy as things have been lately, though ... I had something I wanted to share with everyone.  Lots of people, myself included, are uncomfortable with the word "ownership" when it comes to our pets.  They are our family members, our companions, in some cases our surrogate children ... it can vary.  But the point is that as companion animals have become more central to our emotional lives than they used to be in the days when they were largely our working partners (which is just as deep a bond in many cases, though certainly a different kind of relationship), we have become more and more uncomfortable with the word "ownership" in relation to our dogs and cats.  We are their caretakers, their guardians, their parents, whatever.  Everyone's verbiage is a little different, but the emotion behind it is, I think, largely the same.

It never crossed my mind that this mindset could possibly put my pets in danger, but after reading THIS ARTICLE I am absolutely convinced that it might. 

Words are powerful, as we know all too well, and in this case they may be more powerful than we ever imagined. "Owner" is not a word I'm particularly comfortable with as it pertains to my view of myself in relation to my pets, but if calling myself their owner is what I need to do to protect them, then that's what I'll do. 

Assuming you read the article I linked to above, what are your thoughts?  

Rain Rain Go Away

Or maybe not ... 

... after all, rainy day naps are always nice! 

And the winner is ...

Hi, everyone ... it's me, Finn!  And I'm here to announce the random winner of my Back in Black 2 comment-a-thon! 

This event is sponsored by Best Friends.

I was very excited that we not only reached, but exceeded, our goal of 100 comments.  Tucker, Olivia, Tanner, Phoebe, and I have gotten together, pooled our toy and treat allowances, and we are really happy to have the opportunity to donate this money to a deserving shelter or rescue group in the name of one of our winning commenters!  

One of Mom's other favorite pictures of me.  She thinks I look very house-pantherish in this one.

And that winner is .... drum roll please ... (wait, bag that - I don't like drums - they sound like thunder, and I REALLY don't like thunder!)  So just IMAGINE that you hear a drum roll (if you like them - and if, like me, you don't, then just imagine whatever you'd like) ....

Ok, let's try this again ... the randomly chosen winner of the May 2012 Comment-A-Thon IS ... Laila and Minchie from Cat-a-holic!

Congratulations to you both, and a huge, very heartfelt THANK YOU to all who commented and all who spread the word and helped us reach our goal of 100 comments!

Laila and Minchie's donation will be going to The Buddy Foundation!  Laila and Minchie, if you will please email my mom at tuckertellsall@gmail.com so that she has your email address, she'll cc you on her email to The Buddy Foundation, letting them know that our donation is made in your name.

I checked, and it looks like The Buddy Foundation has some lovely house panthers available for adoption, as well as some other beautiful cats.  And they have some really cute pups, too, including Korki, a nine year old black Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix that my mom was going all "squee" over. (She doesn't like cats, though.)

I'd also like all of you to remember my fellow house panther, Bella, who is looking for a new house.  Her current mom has allergies, and they are making her very sick.  Also, Bella is sad because she is not getting the pets and snuggles she really likes.

If anyone knows someone who has a loving home and a comfy lap for Bella and would like to adopt her, they can email my mom and she will put you in touch with Bella's current (very sniffly) mom.

Here's a pic of her.  Isn't she pretty?