Smitten by a Kitten

 We can learn a great deal about human behavior by observing our animal friends.  These two kittens are a prime example of how differences in personality can help or hinder attaining personal success and happiness in life.

They came into our household at the same time, already bonded with each other. Maybe it was the difference in their ages or maybe the little one just missed that important window of human contact during his young life, but they adapted in entirely different ways.

Both these kittens were given to a pet store as your typical "barn cats" from unspayed domestic shorthair outside cats. They weren't your typical cute little furballs who melt the hearts of shoppers and often find homes easily. These kittens were growing out of that pudgy stage and becoming "cats". In other words, no one was looking back twice. So they languished for two weeks and the pet store owners wanted their cage space for something else. Poster's forward personality finally landed her some attention and a home, not only for herself, but for her little friend, whom no one noticed because he stayed in the back of the cage trying to make himself invisible.

Think about how we stand in our own way, fearful of the unknown, paralyzed by our own fears and insecurities. Apprehensive of anything new, many of us avoid a challenge because we lack confidence in our abilities. The only way to learn is through our mistakes. Anything worth achieving is worth the uphill struggle and feeling of accomplishment. The fear of failure often leads to the sour grapes attitude. We convince ourselves that a job, a relationship, a certain decision wouldn't have worked out anyway or we'd just get hurt in the end so why bother. Remember the classic children's book "The Little Engine That Could" where the little train says, "I think I can, I think I can" as he chugs slowly but surely up that intimidating hill, or the line from the song, "Try and try and try again, try all over again".

The first few days in their new home has been fascinating for these new arrivals.

Poster 13 weeks

Poster was bold and showed no fear towards the other cats nor the two dogs. She faced her new situation with confidence and didn't run and cower as did fearful Fret. Because of her attitude she was quickly accepted and after a few hisses no one bothered her again. Being she didn't run away, no one took to bullying her and now there is harmony.

Fret 11 weeks

Now Fret on the other hand, still spends his days in the bedroom peering out at the world beyond that cat door, but too fearful to acclimate himself. Whenever Poster leaves his side and is scoping out the rest of her territory, Fret is left behind, alone and meowing pitifully. He just needs more time I'm sure, but it is just so interesting to observe how important is the satisfaction of basic needs. Be it animal or human,  only when basic needs such as food, water, shelter and safety are met, are we free to go to the next level of interest and priorities. Once the basic needs of survival are met, then we have the drive to put our energies into emotional, spiritual or psychological needs. Hopefully once Fret feels safe and secure, he'll seek out the desire to love and be loved. All just waiting for him once he frees himself from that black cloud brought on by stress and anxiety. How many of us can relate?

Speaking of stress and anxiety, a pet waiting at the door can be the best remedy out there.

Update on Poster and Fret:
It is now December and these two have been with us for three months. As you can see, Fret has made friends and is now a happy little guy.

Adoption Saves Lives

 June is Pet Adoption Awareness Month and October is Adopt a Dog Month, but spreading the word about animals is important anytime of the year.

Sutton and Riley July 2009

Choosing the right type of dog is so very important. Puppy faces melt most hearts and it is so easy to choose on looks alone without doing the necessary homework to increase the probability of that puppy staying in a forever home.

Do you live in the city, suburbs or open country? Do you plan on walking your dog whenever it needs to go out or do you have a fenced in yard? Most shelters won't adopt out a dog if the potential owner admits the dog will be outside tied to a box. Is anyone home during the day or will the pet be alone or confined to a crate for long, lonely hours? Is the breed known to be of a gentle nature with children? Is it a working dog requiring lots of exercise and stimulation to keep from getting into trouble out of boredom? Is it the bird dog or hound type that will take off at the first door left open?

Dogs are very loyal to their people family and are devastated when separated or taken from their familiar surroundings and comfort zone.  So please take the decision to bring a pet into your home very seriously. The average lifespan of a dog is 10 - 15 years. Though dogs do adjust to a new home, they may spend the rest of their lives mourning the loss of their original family.

A great book to better understand dog behavior is Dogs Love To Please..We Teach Them How
by September Morn (hover your mouse arrow over the links)

Many annoying behavior problems such as barking, chewing, jumping, leash manners, etc.can be addressed without creating fear or anxiety in your dog.

Though those little faces through the pet store windows are precious, we chose to avoid dog breeding for profit and sought out adoption. We started with Petfinder.com and found our puppies through an organization in our area called Peaceable Kingdom. These boys were part of a litter of five brought all the way from Georgia by wonderful volunteer drivers and taken care of by a foster family until they could be placed. When we found their listing there were only these two left.

Anything can be a toy

 I feel dogs do best when they have each other for play, companionship and get into less trouble when not anxious or bored, so we kept them together and brought both home. In some ways this was asking for double trouble since they feed off each other and tend to adopt the pack mentality at times. But overall they are very content and are much better when they have to be left home alone.

Quite a handful in more ways than one

Wonderful with our cats, the loving relationship goes both ways. As long as the pet in question is not a chicken, it will be fine with them. At the time we got these dogs, we had lost our beloved lab only a few months prior, and within two weeks were losing chickens to either fox or racoons. We needed the scent of dog on the place. We knew the mother was a Keeshond and the father was anyone's guess but figured a mutt mixture would be fine. Our prior dogs were labs and were fine with the chickens. We found out differently with these guys. As long as they know there is a fence between them and the birds they ignore them, but should there be a weak spot in my chicken system...let's just say I found out the hard way.




Sutton and Riley are three years old now and all grown up. My children are out of the house, busy with their own lives, yet visits spent at home are always met with the a total abandon of doggy manners.

All grown up!