dogs

The Latest from the Peanut Gallery

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I haven’t done a Peanut update in quite some time, so here you go. Peanut is just as chill and laid back as ever. She still greets me first thing most mornings and is nearly always ready for a belly rub. She can be quite chatty about it if I don’t get to her as soon as she would like.

She is a cat, and that means she likes her naps. I’ve joked before about how cats sleep an average of 23 hours and 45 minutes a day. I think she’s not far off. She takes multiple lengthy naps throughout the day and possibly during the night. She might dash madly about the house for a few minutes in what us cat people call a zoomie. But then she goes right into another nap.

But there’s something special about having a little furry friend to come home to. Our animals definitely make life better. For the record, I like both dogs and cats, but honestly, I think I like other people’s dogs so that way I can pet them and then have someone else take them for walks and feed them and let them out at 2 am and pick up after them. Cats are easy.

I had a neighbor once who said that if he had a next life, he’d like to come back as a cat. I get that. No one asks you to do any silly tricks. You’re not expected to be obedient. You can eat and sleep as much as you want. And the chubbier you are, the cuter you are. Plus, the small size allows you to find multiple spots to hide out and/or nap.

But Peanut really is special. She’s been a sweet, loyal friend for over 8 years. She definitely can be a calming presence when life gets a bit stressful. Basically, everyone should either have a dog or a cat. The end.

More of a Dog-Sitter’s Life

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Currently, I’m staying over and dog sitting three very friendly pups. They’re all so amenable and are no trouble at all. I like dogs. More specifically, I like other people’s dogs.

I think that’s because I get to play with the dogs and pet them and give them snacks and then go home to my very low-maintenance cat who I don’t have to let out at 2 am to go potty. All I have to do is make sure her food and water bowls are full and life is good. Oh, and emptying out her litter box every so often is essential.

But I’m thankful for both dogs and cats. I’m glad that in this world there are both. I just wish that they all lived longer because when they go, they take a little part of us with them, don’t they? The world is a little less joyful and sunshine-y when they depart.

I guess one other reason I like other people’s dogs is because puppies are sweet and cute but also crazy. They have energy for days, don’t know personal space, and tend to do specifically all the things you tell them not to do like chewing on things and people and other animals. Or tearing up stuff. Or generally being a nuisance. But they’re still cute. That helps a lot.

Older dogs are more my style. They’ve reached that stage in life where they have nothing left to prove and can just chill. Plus there’s a gentleness and a sweetness to an old dog that only comes with time and age. When you see a dog with grey on his muzzle and all throughout his body, you know he’s going to be a good boi. It’s inevitable.

But I’m thankful for dogs and for getting to take care of them occasionally. Even if they don’t live long enough and some of them don’t get treated right. I can be eternally grateful for dogs that belong to other people and then go home to my cat who will be grateful in her own right to see me again.

Dog Sitting on the 4th of July

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It seems to be a tradition for me lately that I’m dog sitting on Independence Day. Not that I mind. I’d rather be hanging out with two sweet old pups than waiting on fireworks with the masses in the sweaty hot summer air.

I’m thankful for each opportunity that I get to take care of these two. There used to be three, but one crossed the rainbow bridge a few years ago. But I don’t want to take for granted that I’ll always be able to go back to Bellevue and take care of these critters.

Tonight, I hopefully can be a calming presence in the midst of all the fireworks going off up and down the street. I don’t think the pups mind much. So far, they’ve napped through all the good parts. Or at least the really loud parts.

I actually did get to see some very decent fireworks a couple of weeks ago at my church’s VBS Finale Night. Maybe they’re not up to downtown Nashville standards, but I’ll take slightly less spectacular fireworks over waiting the rest of my natural born life to get out of downtown Nashville at 1 am afterward.

Ultimately, today isn’t really about food or fireworks. It’s about freedom. It’s about men and women who shed their blood and laid down their lives so that we could have independence and the liberty to live and dress and speak and think as we want. Ideally, freedom means that we can be our best selves the way God created us to be.

Of course, we celebrate the ultimate sacrifice on Easter Sunday, remembering the cross and the empty tomb. But it’s helpful to remember Jesus laying down His life for those He loved on this day as well. All true freedom traces itself back to that Friday afternoon and that Sunday morning eventually.

I can be thankful for that sitting in a room with two very sleepy dogs away from the madding crowds waiting to see the pyrotechnics begin. I call that a win.

Happy National Pet Day to Peanut!

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Today is National Pet Day. At least it is for the next 61 minutes. By the time most of you read these words, it will have been yesterday. But still for those of us fortunate to have fur babies, every day is national pet day. At least our pets think so.

My cat Peanut (although I might as well call myself her human) is all about national pet day. She is also all about comfort. My joke is that she is 1/3 monkey, 1/3 tiny panther, and 1/3 sloth. She is that lazy.

But she is very proactive in her laziness. She will let nothing stand in the way of a prime comfy spot. Pillows? Knock ’em over. Knick knacks? Push ’em aside. Do whatever it takes to create the best napping spot possible because sleeping is priority one. That is Peanut’s life motto, I think.

You can get away with all sorts of stuff when you’re extra small and fluffy. I’m sure dog owners can attest that those puppy eyes can cover over a multitude of sins. The same goes for felines as well (though they tend to care a bit less about their transgressions than dogs).

Peanut has a good life. She gets daily belly and back massages and has her own personal servant who will maintain her food and water bowl and even scoop her poop. In return, she allows me to give her those belly rubs. She even graces me with her divine presence.

Actually, she is a very loving cat. To most people, she is shy and hides, but to a select few, she is very friendly and affectionate. She’s even quite chatty when the mood strikes.

So Happy National Pet Day to Peanut and to all those pets for whom we work all day to be able to maintain their comfortable lifestyle to which they have become accustomed.

Another Update on Peanut

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On my last Peanut update, I reported that she’d doubled in size. Well, I’m fairly certain that she’s doubled in size again. She weighs 8.2 pounds at 7 months old. I have no idea how big she’ll be when she’s done growing, but I’m positive she’ll be way bigger than my Lucy ever was.

She’s still 100% kitten. She has massive amounts of energy. She also has two modes of existence– full throttle and stop. She’s either a blur of fur or she’s asleep. There’s no in between.

She still likes to have her belly rubbed and is still very grateful for having been rescued back on June 30.

That’s why I advocate for adoption and rescuing cats and dogs. If you’re still stuck between buying from a breeder or rescuing from a shelter, I’d go with the shelter. Those are the animals that really need a good home and will always return the favor by being loyal and affectionate.

Life’s better with a pet. Studies have shown that dogs and cats can reduce stress and lower blood pressure. But one caveat– don’t get a pet unless you’re willing to stick with them for their whole life and truly take care of them and love them like they love you.

That’s it. Peanut’s still helping my heart heal after Lucy’s passing. I’m hoping and praying she has a good, long life. I’m praying she knows how much she’s loved just as much as she’s let me know how much she loves me.

 

 

You’re Welcome

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In case you’re having a bad week (or even just a so-so week or a decent but overly long week), here’s a picture of an adorable smiling puppy. You’re welcome.

Here’s another cute puppy. Just because.

And last but not least, here’s my cat.

My Cat Is Older (and Probably Smarter) than Your Honor Student and Other Thoughts

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For those who are new to me and my blog posts, I have an elderly feline. Her name is Lucy and she’s 17. I realized while I was volunteering yet again for the Youth Evangelism Conference a couple of weekends ago that my cat is probably older than most of the students who were in attendance there. She may or may not also be smarter.

Think about it. She doesn’t have to get up at a ridiculously early hour to go off to work. She doesn’t run around like a headless chicken in order to feel productive. She does what she wants when she feels like it. At this point, that consists of mostly napping with the occasional snack and poop thrown in to keep things interesting.

I confess that I’m a bit jealous sometimes. I wish she could go to my job and I could stay home and do some napping. After all, she’s old enough to drive, right?

I refuse to engage in the debate about whether cats are better than dogs or visa versa. I like both. Right now, I have a cat and I love the fact that she’s super low-maintenance, as well as the world’s best lap cat. I also love dog sitting and hanging out with all manner of pups.

I think life’s better with pets. Unless you’re deathly allergic, I highly recommend one. They’re great companions and their love isn’t based on your looks or money or personality or anything other than you exist. Plus, it keeps you humble when you realize they love sniffing their own butts just as much as you.

So go get a pet if you don’t have one. Take care of it. Don’t abandon it when it gets old and less cute. If you’re going to have a dog perpetually chained up in the backyard 24/7, don’t get one. You’d be better off with a lawn ornament. But that’s definitely another topic for another blog post on another day.