If I Didn't Have Dogs...

kathydwells · 2007-09-12T20:07:40.000Z

[SIZE=2]I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I would have money ......and no guilt to go on a real vacation.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I would no longer have to Spell the words:[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E, G-O, R-I-D-E[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading "mud" season.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many animals?" from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]How EMPTY my life would be.[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]How so very true this is....and while I am on the subject, as touched on in another post, having pets is a life long commitment. Dogs live to be 12-15 years old, some breeds longer. So, if you choose to get a pet think about that. They are not disposable creatures. I have a co-worker right now who got a puppy for her niece. Her niece is scared of the puppy. Co-worker is tired of the inconvience of the puppy. Co-worker wants to get rid of puppy...Darlene is very upset about this. I told her not to get the dog in the first place....Yada, yada, yada....so here is another puppy in this world that is looking for a new home. It is very sad to me. My dogs are my children and they will be for many years to come, in sickness and in health they are my responsibility no matter the cost. I chose to have them, and I chose to take care of them. There are times when I want to take off for the weekend....I can't, I have dogs. There are times when I want to go out for a drink after work.....I can't, I have dogs that need to be fed and walked. OH, and one more thing, please, please, please have your dogs on heartworm prevention. This is a terrible way for a dog to die, and it is a terrible treatment for a dog that has been infected. [/SIZE]

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname

Sep 12, '07 · 3:07 PM1,500

I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

I would have money ......and no guilt to go on a real vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to Spell the words:
B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E, G-O, R-I-D-E

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.

I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading "mud" season.

I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many animals?" from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.

How EMPTY my life would be.

How so very true this is....and while I am on the subject, as touched on in another post, having pets is a life long commitment. Dogs live to be 12-15 years old, some breeds longer. So, if you choose to get a pet think about that. They are not disposable creatures. I have a co-worker right now who got a puppy for her niece. Her niece is scared of the puppy. Co-worker is tired of the inconvience of the puppy. Co-worker wants to get rid of puppy...Darlene is very upset about this. I told her not to get the dog in the first place....Yada, yada, yada....so here is another puppy in this world that is looking for a new home. It is very sad to me. My dogs are my children and they will be for many years to come, in sickness and in health they are my responsibility no matter the cost. I chose to have them, and I chose to take care of them. There are times when I want to take off for the weekend....I can't, I have dogs. There are times when I want to go out for a drink after work.....I can't, I have dogs that need to be fed and walked. OH, and one more thing, please, please, please have your dogs on heartworm prevention. This is a terrible way for a dog to die, and it is a terrible treatment for a dog that has been infected.

Edited Sep 12, '07 · 3:09 PM

Replies

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '07 · 3:20 PM#2

DITTO!!!!!!

How EMPTY my life would be.

:lolabove:

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '07 · 3:31 PM#3

How true KDW!!!! :clap:

Biff, teach your dog some manners, he's sticking his tongue out at us. :lol:

Cute picture.

hmmmm......can't remember

Sep 12, '07 · 3:38 PM#4

I really, really love how much you folks love your dogs. :clap:

(But you just gave a whole bunch of reasons, besides allergies, why this overcommitted single woman can't deal with one of her own!)

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 4:02 PM#5

Some of these could be applied to children too

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '07 · 8:39 PM#6

Speaking of dogs. I posted recently about finding places to travel with larger dogs and I can gladly say that I found many places in the Smokey Mts. that are dog friendly and will let you bring larger dogs.

In fact, due to the recent passing of my Dad we are having Thanksgiving there to get through our first holiday without Dad and found a wonderful cabin in the mountains that is very dog friendly.

So we will have 2 labs and one shih tzu and 8 people for Thanksgiving, as my daughter said, Party :floor:

margarita brocolia

Sep 12, '07 · 8:49 PM#7

How many do you have? Pets can really warm the heart!

.

SoWal Expert

Sep 12, '07 · 8:51 PM#8

Love this Darlene!! :clap:

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '07 · 9:26 PM#9

My life would also be SO Empty!!!!!

Meow

Sep 12, '07 · 9:32 PM#10

If I Didn't Have Dogs....I would be nothing! ;-) :wub:

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 9:39 PM#11

My life would also be SO Empty!!!!!

OMG!!! He/She is adorable...your tar is cute and all...but these are the cutest thangs ever! Post some more!

You are so right KDW.....dogs (pets of any kind) are a huge commitment. We are fortunate that Sweetie gets to travel to the beach a lot with us and our vet's clinic has a wonderful boarding facility (she gets the large condo with bed/tv/radio and they sit with her each day to eat and play with her during the day) otherwise we could never travel out of town as I don't have any family close to us to care for her. I feel guilty leaving her anywhere but sometimes you have to go out of town. She also comes to the clinic with us on Fridays.

Having said all of that they are honestly the most loyal, loving creatures created. What a joy to have her in my life. Hope I am half the person she thinks I am.

Edited Sep 12, '07 · 9:40 PM

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 9:50 PM#12

If I didn't have dogs..... I'd just be a mess. They keep me real. Despite how bad I feel, no matter how I want to slack, no matter the good, the bad, the ugly, they are my best buddies, bedmates, "Timmy's in the well" friends I have. :wub:

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 9:53 PM#13

Just in case y'all forgot how cute she is.

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 9:56 PM#14

Just in case y'all forgot how cute she is.

Adorable, but I still want my IPOD back. :roll:

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 9:59 PM#15

Adorable, but I still want my IPOD back. :roll:

sorry, she says it's full now and besides.....you gave it to her.

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 10:02 PM#16

sorry, she says it's full now and besides.....you gave it to her.

No, I gave lulu a stuffy that said BITE ME, I LOANED my IPOD. :wave:

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '07 · 10:09 PM#17

Just in case y'all forgot how cute she is.

She is SOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!! :wub:

(does SHE listen to the IPOD???)

SoWal Insider

Sep 12, '07 · 10:53 PM#18

She is SOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!! (does SHE listen to the IPOD???)

BB has posted a pic of Sweetie listening to the IPOD. :wub:

Everyone's dogs are adorable. I would probably have a dog if I didn't inherit 2 cats, and they don't take well to dogs. One of mine has chased my neighbors back home when she came on our property to say hello to me, and to add to the irony, my cat weighed 24 lbs at the time. My neighbor laughed so hard I thought he would split because he didn't think my Roobie could run that fast. :lol:

But I've always wanted one of these and maybe one day I will get one.

SoWal Expert

Sep 12, '07 · 10:58 PM#19

BB has posted a pic of Sweetie listening to the IPOD.

Everyone's dogs are adorable. I would probably have a dog if I didn't inherit 2 cats, and they don't take well to dogs. One of mine has chased my neighbors back home when she came on our property to say hello to me, and to add to the irony, my cat weighed 24 lbs at the time. My neighbor laughed so hard I thought he would split because he didn't think my Roobie could run that fast.

But I've always wanted one of these and maybe one day I will get one.

Awww...
I had beagles once. They are adorable.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '07 · 11:28 PM#20

OMG!!! He/She is adorable...your tar is cute and all...but these are the cutest thangs ever! Post some more!

You are so right KDW.....dogs (pets of any kind) are a huge commitment. We are fortunate that Sweetie gets to travel to the beach a lot with us and our vet's clinic has a wonderful boarding facility (she gets the large condo with bed/tv/radio and they sit with her each day to eat and play with her during the day) otherwise we could never travel out of town as I don't have any family close to us to care for her. I feel guilty leaving her anywhere but sometimes you have to go out of town. She also comes to the clinic with us on Fridays.

Having said all of that they are honestly the most loyal, loving creatures created. What a joy to have her in my life. Hope I am half the person she thinks I am.

You are too kind, but I agree!!!!! My baby girl is the cutest most PRESHUSSS thing in my life!!!!!

SoWal Expert

Sep 12, '07 · 11:30 PM#21

Precious, Jo, just precious!! :wub:

FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com

Sep 12, '07 · 11:32 PM#22

A blue and a brown eye??? LOVE it! Does any one know what causes this?? Is there a genetics genius in the house???

Edited Sep 12, '07 · 11:33 PM

Funnkalicious

Sep 12, '07 · 11:35 PM#23

Just in case y'all forgot how cute she is.

Is that a Shi(t) Zu!

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '07 · 11:36 PM#24

A blue and a brown eye??? LOVE it! Does any one know what causes this?? Is there a genetics genius in the house???

I just tell her she is "SPECIAL" She doesn't have a tail either....

SoWal Insider

Sep 13, '07 · 6:01 AM#25

Is that a Shi(t) Zu!

Yes she is. FFF likes to call her a Shi!ezoo. The paper weight on your desk must be one of the Imperial Shih Tzu. Sweetie is just plain old standard size, she weighs about 12 pounds.