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Have a Perfect Day

A way back when we had a Pet Forum and our Ruth from Michigan was the moderator. My present to all for 2004 is this page so that we may once again celebrate our pets. I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to read all about Ruth's Coco at end of this page!

As seen in a dog's diary:

8am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite
10am - Oh Boy! A walk! My favorite!
11am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!
Noon - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!
1pm - Oh Boy! The yard! My favorite!
3pm - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!
4pm - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
5pm - Oh Boy! Mom! My favorite!
7pm - Oh Boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
9pm - Oh Boy! Sleeping in master's bed! My favorite!

As seen in a cat's diary:

Day 183 of my captivity... My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh! meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal.

The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant.

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded -- must try this at the top of the stairs.

In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair -- must try this on their bed.

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches.

The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit.

The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...

submitted by OXX Arlene OXX

These are my babies. Stitches is a tortoiseshell white. I found her at the SPCA when I was taking in two puppies I found. It was love at first site. A young woman had found her at the back door and named her Stitches because she has two oranges lines at the tip of her ears. She is not as loving as I would like her to be except when I am at the computer. Then she can't get enough of me. She kisses me and rubs her face against mine. Needless to say I'm in heaven and can't seem to get any work done.

Patches was bought at the Cat Hospital because I decided I didn't want to leave Stitches alone all day. I also wanted another female. My Mom picked her out because of her striped spots in tan and grey. She is an 'oriental' according to the vet. Patches sleeps with me almost every night and has taken to sleeping 'on' me, mostly on my arms. She talks often and I have learned what she is saying to me. Patches is also a great hunter and I have rescued many voles which we have a lot of.

Please visit Photo Island - Pet Album to see pictures.

submitted by TerryLynn,

Words Your Dog Can Live By

Did a new puppy join your household over the holidays? A new puppy can be a lot of work, and if not trained properly when young they can be very troublesome and destructive as they get older.

Early training around the house should begin as soon as a puppy joins the household. This training should be gentle yet firm, geared for the puppy’s level of learning ability. It should include certain words and their meanings that will be important to the puppy as it grows up.

Words mean specific things to us, but to your puppy they are actually a foreign language. A dog doesn’t realize that "Up," "Jump" and "Over" have nearly the same meaning to you, because to the puppy these words have very different sounds. Unless it’s taught what specific words mean, your dog will be very confused. That’s why it’s very important that all members of your household use exactly the same words and phrases when teaching a puppy. Being consistent will keep your puppy’s confusion a minimum and make training a much easier part of it’s life.

Your dog doesn’t know that "Sit" means "put your behind on the floor." You could teach your dog that "sit" mean "jump up on the couch," and your pet would be perfectly willing to accept that as the meaning of the word. You must remember the fact that your puppy has absolutely no idea what each word means. It is up to you to teach him what you want from him at each command. Here are a few suggestions.

COME: is a very important word for all dogs, and puppies should learn it right away. "Come" means "Come to me right now." Teach the puppy to come by bending down or getting down on your knees and clapping your hands as you call it. Give it lots of praise as it comes.

NEVER CALL THE PUPPY TO YOU AND THEN SCOLD IT, FOR ANY REASON!! The puppy must always associate "Come" with praise.

Good dog/boy/girl: is always important. Puppies learn much faster when they are praised often. They want to please, and when they dog and get praised for it, they remember.

No! means "Stop what you are doing immediately, it’s wrong! "But don’t use" "No" so often it loses its meaning. Puppies often get into trouble and sometimes owners say nothing to the puppy but "No." The dog will then do anything for attention, even if it’s negative attention; if all it hears is "No" and not "Good dog," it will work for the "No" Use "No" only when you have to, and use praise as much as possible to teach your dog what is acceptable behavior.

Shame! Bad Dog! Is more severe than "No!" and should be used only when your puppy is very, very bad. Many puppies will be devastated by a severe tongue-lashing. YOU MUST LEARN to distinguish between mischief and errors that your puppy cannot help, simply because it doesn’t know any better or hasn’t gained full control of its body functions yet. Punishing an unhousebroken puppy for making a mess, for example, only adds to the confusion. Use scolding wisely.

Outside or Go Potty (or whatever euphemisms you prefer)are good words to use when you wish to teach housebreaking. Use one word or phrase and repeat it while you put the puppy outside. Use the word along with praise when the puppy relieves itself. It is very handy to have a dog that understands such a phrase when you are traveling or in a hurry, or if you live in an apartment and must walk your dog.

Kennel, Crate and Go to Bed all mean the same: "Go to your bed or crate." Puppies should be taught to use the crate to sleep in at night and at nap times. Using a crate for a puppy’s bed is a tremendous aid to house breaking, because dogs prefer not to make a mess in their beds. Most puppies feel very secure in a crate. You will also want to teach a puppy to get into its crate for trips to the vet or other travel times.

Are you Hungry? or Dinner: are words that most puppies learn to understand very quickly. They learn it because they get an immediate reward for it. If you ask "Are you hungry?" and the puppy dances around and whines, you reward it by feeding it. You will eventually use this same principle to teach it to sit and stay before you give it the food, so that you won’t one day have a 90-pound dog dancing around your kitchen as though it were a tiny puppy.

GO For A Walk: is a good way to teach your puppy to walk on a lead. A puppy doesn’t need to learn how to heel; that can come later. But do teach your puppy to walk nicely and calmly on the lead.

Fetch it or Bring it to me: give you a chance to teach your puppy while playing with it. Let it fetch a ball, squeaky toy or rawhide bone. Tell it to "Fetch it" when you throw the toy, and praise the puppy when it brings the toy back. A good retrieve is the first step in teaching a dog to work with you, whether you just want to achieve good house manners in your dog or you want to train an obedience champion, a gun dog or a guide/assistance dog.

Sit, Down and Stay: are three basic commands that can be taught to a puppy gently and slowly. Teach it to sit when you give it dinner. Tell it to sit when it tries to jump on you (this gives you a chance to praise your dog for obeying a command, rather than scolding it for jumping up on you). Tell it to lie down when your are in the living room reading. Tell it to stay (or "Wait") when you open the front door and want it to stay inside.

OK: is the release word for the previous commands "OK" means "Go about your business, we’re all done!"

Keep in mind when you are teaching a puppy that young puppies are very much like young children. They are interested in eating, sleeping, going potty and playing. Their attention span is very short. And, like children, they react much better to praise than scolding; puppies want to be loved!

Also keep in mind that much of what you need to teach your puppy depends on what kind of dog it will grow up to be. It is going to be 7 pounds or 70? It makes a difference! Any behavior that you encourage during puppyhood is a behavior you’re bound to see during your puppy’s adulthood, and a 70-pound dog that won’t come, loves to jump on you and likes to take YOU for a walk on the leash can be a real problem.

Make sure everyone in the family is teaching the puppy the same way. Use the same commands, the same phrases, the same type of praise and corrections. I don’t care if you have to type up your commands and post them on your refrigerator. EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT LANGUAGE YOUR PUPPY SPEAKS! This will help keep your puppy’s confusion to a minimum, which will make his training progress much faster. As soon as you can, investigate an obedience class for the two of you. You will never regret it.

So, go ahead and start training your puppy. And enjoy your puppy, as they grow up so fast!

courtesy of Jobeth Bridleman and Sponsored by the BARRY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY

.......Love Ruth,
Please take a moment to visit my Homepage

Best Positions in Bed

submitted by Pat (aka Bigsis)

Merry Christmas fromJB, Bea, Rusty & Peppy

Overdose

Everyone needs to see this...

I'm sending a rather graphic picture of an overdose, not for shock value, but in the hopes that you parents or friends of parents on my list will have a frank discussion with your kids about knowing their limits and when to just walk away. When you view this picture, remember: this didn't have to happen

Candy, aka Harlequin

Dear Dogs and Cats,

When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in the way.

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball.

It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but sarcasm.

My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered.

In addition, I have been using bathrooms for years - canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cats' butt. I cannot stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for you .....

To pacify you I have posted the following message on our front door...

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)

3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Dogs and cats are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell the results.

New Dogs

A girl was visiting her blonde friend who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were.

The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex.

Her friend said, "Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?"

"Hellooooo," answered the blonde, "they're watch dogs!"

.....submitted by Vicki,

PET TALES

I am not sure how to start this story by Sharon thought the circle would like to know how I got my little dog CoCo Puff.

I use to raise Chihuahuas and when my last Chihuahua died I didn't get another one but I long for a little dog to hold and cuddle. I already had two Shelties and my husband George didn't want to get another dog. So I had complied with his request. But I still long for a little dog to hold. I just love my friend small poodle and I was always begging her to bring him with her when she came over. It wasn't the same but Jock always seem to like me and I always got to fuss with him when he was here. I kept telling my friend I would like another little dog but George was so set against it. She kept saying you should get one any way she said you seem really lonely with out one and she said I love bringing Jock over but I can't keep doing that all the time you really need one of your own to love. I agree with her and still I put it off then one day while she was visiting I was really having a bad day and I sat patting this stuff dog that George had gotten me for Christmas the year before and she said you know you really need a real dog to do that with and I thought she right. So that evening I talk to George again and told him how much I really like a small dog, as Christmas was coming soon he agree I could get that as my Christmas gift as he had been thinking of getting me that anyway. He told me to start looking and when I was ready he would give me the money. I have to say he was as surprise as I was when I started looking on the Internet. I am getting ahead of myself.

The next day after talking to George I went and got our local paper and started calling on want ads that were in the paper on small dogs. I wanted a Chihuahua, but I knew any small dog would be okay and so that what I went looking for in the paper. I found two ads in the paper on Chihuahua puppies for sale, but when I called they wanted $350.00 for one and I just couldn't afford that. So when I couldn't find any thing in the paper I went looking at our local humane society and they didn't have any small dogs for adoption either. So I thought go look on the Internet you use it for every thing else why wouldn't there be a site for people to adopt dogs. I look for several day at a number of site and lots of little dogs needed homes, but none seem to call out to me take me. Then I happen across a site called Furkids (by the way this site is no longer available) and started looking at pictures I had gotten to the point I didn't think I was going to find one in this site either but I still looked. I came up on this picture of this little brown long haired dog and it had the most saddest look on it face I had ever seen and I fell hook, line and sinker. I had look at so many pictures and this one struck at the center of my heart. He had to be mine. The first thing I had to do was fill out an adoption application and then wait. Oh the waiting. The lady who had rescue this little dog from the Chicago dog pound and had taken him home with her to Celine Ohio. She had him only for a few months and was looking for a good home for him. He had been adopted out once already and had been returned because the couple who had gotten him didn't like it cause he wouldn't sleep in bed with them ( by the way he the biggest bed hog there is lol). The lady who rescue him her name was Deb and she was thrill some else was interested in him. She set up a time for a lady in my area from Grand Ledge to come interview me and then I waited again as she went back and email Deb to let her know if it was okay or not for me to have the dog. It would be two day before I knew I had been approved and I couldn't believe it, so this was just the begining now I had to get the money around and mail it to her for the adoption. He would cost me $150.00 but this was to pay for delivery, cost of shots, license and having him neutered. We felt that was very reasonable as it would cost that and more if we had to do it here at our own vet. By this time my husband George had climb on my band wagon and was just as thrill to be getting this little dog as I was. Now came another waiting period. From the time of my first looking on the Internet, interview and sending the money it was almost two full months. Now we had to wait to get a route set up for us to have the dog delivered to us. That would take another three weeks before all our schedules were the same. Then came the good news that every one was ready for us to receive our new addition. We were to meet Kathy a friend of Deb.'s November 4, 2000 in Jackson Michigan at 1:00 to pick up our new dog. He was going have to make three trips in three different cars and people before I would get him. He would make his first trip from Celine, Ohio to Bowling Green, Ohio and then to Toledo, Ohio and then to Jackson Michigan where we were waiting for him. A little after 1:00 a pickup pull up beside us and I got my first look at my little dog he was looking out the window and he look so scared. We got out of our cars and Kathy handed me CoCo and he was shaking so bad and I felt so sorry for him and all he had been through what a thing to go through from birth till I had him put into my hands. A dog pound, kennel with a lot of our dogs, being transferred many times in many hands all in less then being a year old. What a way to start a life. He was so sweet you couldn't help falling in love with him. George reach over to pet him and he nail him, I thought oh no this isn't a good start, but George knew he was scared and he was just reacting to being scared. Kathy gave me all CoCo papers and we parted company and headed for home. CoCo curled up in my arms and went to sleep. We stop for lunch at McDonald and got Chicken McNuggets and while George went into the store CoCo and I ate our lunch and from that moment on we been inseparable. He been a wonderful addition to our family and he love by all. He now a little over a year old and had been with us a year now as of November 4, 2001. I know getting him off the Internet was taking a big chance that I might lose my money or not get him but I went ahead and did it and I can say I didn't regret doing it. He certainly had brought a lot of happiness into my life. If any one is looking to adopted a pet please adopt from your local humane society there are so many pets out there looking for home and some one to love them and they will get back two fold, and a pet from a pound is so much more appreciative of being adopted and given a home. So that my story about how I got CoCo Puff he is a longhaired brown and cream Chihuahua. Next week I will tell you how much damage he done the first week we had him. lol

Well here go the second half of my story about my little dog Coco Puff.

We pick him up on a Saturday in November and brought him home and the first night we put him in a dog crate because we weren't sure if he was housebroken or not and he went completely crazy once we shut the door on the crate. He kept running into the walls and knocking his head against the walls and it scared me so bad that I was afraid he would hurt himself. So we put him in the bathroom for the night and he whine most the night but at least he wasn't trying to hurt himself. The second night Sunday wasn't much better and on this second night we got a phone call saying my great Aunt Sylvia had died and her funeral would be on that Tuesday. So come Tuesday we put every thing up in the bathroom we thought a dog could get into or destroy and put down one of George old flannel shirt (first mistake) and lock him in the bathroom and left that Tuesday morning about 11:00 am and went to my aunt funeral which was two hours from us and so we were gone all day. It would be midnight before we return and we knew Coco would have went to potty cause he been shut up for so long.

When we went to open the bathroom door we couldn't even get into the room. The wicker clothes hamper had been pulled away from the wall and push up against the door. So we had to push to get into the bathroom we get in and we are shock to find that Coco has torn a hole the size of a basketball in the side of the wicker hamper and pull out one of my nightie so he could lay on it. So the first damage a wicker hamper to replace (could only get it at J.C. Penney) $62.00.

Next day we purchased a new wire cage that they call an open air cage it all wire. Total for that $117.00 and we put him in it the next evening to go visit George mother we come back and guess who meet us at the back door you got it Coco.

So now become the battle of wits between Coco and George who could out smart who. Coco was winning paws down!

Then we leave him the next day to go get groceries come back and he has pull in a brand new tablecloth into his cage and torn it all to shred, and then guess who at the door to meet us you got it Coco. Cost for tablecloth $10.00.

So George then put Coco in the cage and wait him out to see if he can figure out how Coco getting out. When George figure out how he getting out, George go back in town and he buy a new clasp for the cage Put the clasp on and he finally fool proof the cage so Coco can't get out any more.

In the process of just one week he has proof he is one smart little dog to keep up with. And guess what the week not done yet we notice he really itching at his ears so we take him to the Vets on the second Saturday we had him and he got ear mites and has to be doctor for them cost $38.00, we also tell the vet about all the things that have happen since we got him a week ago and he said sound like the biggest problem he was having was separation anxiety cause he don't like to be left along and so he act out while we are gone.

Once we knew what we were dealing with it wasn't long before he had learn it was okay to be by himself while we were gone because we were coming back So total damage for an eight pound dog in having him just seven days was $227.00.

I have to say most people by now would have given up on him but I didn't he has been worth every penny and I haven't regret a moment having him. He no longer needs to be caged, he completely housebroken and he stay in front part of the house when we are gone and the rest of the time he travel with us.

He love riding in the car and most of all just love being with us. When you tell him we are going for a ride he will go get his little coat and have me put it on him and he know he going with us. He a character no doubt, but the most lovable character there is.

I learn this week that I can bring dogs up to the nursing home where George mom is and if he work out good with the patients I can help him certified as a therapy dog. If he does become a therapy dog he would pay back all the money tenfold.

So to me it is amazing from the internet to a therapy dog. I hope you enjoy my story.

.......Love Ruth,
Please take a moment to visit my Homepage

"What is difficult we carry out immediately...the impossible might take a little longer."

If you want to reach me you can email me at sharongreene@shaw.ca and/or you can usually find me hanging about with other members on MSN Messenger between 5:30 & 6:15 AM PST -- my username on MSN Messenger is sharongreene32@hotmail.com

Keeping in touch with friends around the world!

Always extend a hand in friendship!

Take a moment to look at this Friendship Book and this Friendship Card

Love to have you sign the guestbook before you leave today.

Have a Great Day everyone!

We are the Circle of Friends, made from a chain,
A chain of cable and wire without an end.

There's lots to do and plenty of friends to meet in the Worldwide Circle of Friends! We have people from all over the world who meet, chat and share experiences.

Find out more about us in the site, look at the Message Board and then be sure to join in!

“A ball is a circle. No beginning, no end.
It keeps us together, like our Circle of Friends;
but, the treasure inside, for you to see
is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

Today I pass the friendship ball to you. Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you.”

A four leaf clover is rare,
and so is a friend who cares,
so with this token
and no words spoken
I offer my friendship to share
- By Tammy Pottruff!

What did I do today?
I sat in my room and talked to my friends!
And this is where my day begins
We talked about crafting, recipes too,
About how were happy, sad or feeling blue
We give each other hugs, we smile and we cry
Show our photos of family here and gone by
We answer questions on this and on that
And it doesn’t matter where each of us sat
For were all in the same room
Huddled together
And for this we’ll remain friends forever
So when your alone wondering what you can do
Come to our room, meet friends like me and you
The WWWCOF are waiting, come join us we say
Then you too can answer What did I do today?

~~written by Pat Broatch & dedicated to the WWWCOF~~

A warm welcome from Sharon,
founder of the Worldwide Circle of Friends

Send a Friendship Flower!

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ELCOME TO THE ORLD IDE EB IRCLE OF RIENDS ET AGE

ELCOME TO THE
ORLD IDE EB
IRCLE OF RIENDS
ET AGE