markdohle Posted September 19, 2018 #1 Share Posted September 19, 2018 (edited) I can’t leave my pets behind! A couple of days before Florence came to shore, I called an old family friend, (an adopted aunt), who was very close to my mother. She is now 85 years old, and from what she tells me, is in great health. She lives in Myrtle Beach and I was worried about her. I asked her if she was going to evacuate as was recommended by the authorities. She lives close to the water, so my concern was pretty high. She said, “no, I have too many pets and can’t leave them, Debbie is staying with me”. Debbie being her daughter. This caused me some anxiety and I tried to convince her to leave. However, she was sure that they would get through alright. They live in a two story home, so she felt that would be able to survive any flooding. My first impulse was to down play the safety of her pets, that she and her daughter were more important. Yet, I held my tongue. This is a woman who is always bringing in strays, and for years she took care of a family of raccoons. When they were young, they lost their parents, and she fed the three baby raccoons every night. Years later, the old raccoons, along with their children, and grandchildren, would come every night to feast on macaroni and cheese. Also, animals love her back, even those she does not take care of. So I was not going there. I can’t say I have ever bounded deeply with any pet that I had in the past. Perhaps it is because being in a large family, the dogs belonged to everyone. We had a German-Shepherd, named Bullet (while living in East St. Louis in the 50’s), who I loved very much, but again, he did not pick anyone out to love more than the others. He would protect us no matter who we were, a good dog for a large family. Blitz was a great pet, a boxer, intelligent and loyal, again, not overly attached. When blitz died in 1976 I believe, my mother never got over it, and never had another dog. So I sort of understood my adopted aunt’s choice to stay behind. She loves people as well and has many friends. She was a very good friend to my mother. Not sure one can have a close relationship with a reptile. I am sure that those who love them, will say yes to that questions, and say that there is more to them than meets the eye. I do think, that they should be listened to. For lately I find myself becoming attached to the box turtle in our garden. An odd development for me. I have written about our box turtle in our inner garden here at the Monastery. A new development has begun to occur with the turtle. A couple of monks have started feeding it when it shows up every few days. Now, it goes to one place and waits until we get out of Mass and walk through the inner garden, waiting for its treat. One day I got a piece of banana and took it out to him. He was sitting there and when he saw me coming and perhaps got a look at the banana, he actually started running (well a turtle run) towards me. I find myself becoming attached to this little critter, after what I perceived as some sort of personal contact. I find it strange. I guess it is the response, it jolted me into thinking that there may be more to these creatures than I thought, that again, true reptile lovers try to tell us. I often wonder what goes on in the heads of my evolutionary brothers and sister. Whatever it is, it is a life, a real existence filled with danger, pain, joy and with the turtle, bananas, and apples, and peaches! Our cloister garden is big enough that he can find a good place to hibernate for the winter. As well as getting enough to eat. We don’t feed him that much. He has been with us for a few years now. Many tend to say that reptiles, animals, and insects are not as intelligent as we are. Well, I guess there is some truth in that statement... there is another way to look at it. The Box Turtle, for instance, is perfect, has what it takes to survive and as long as it is not in danger, or hungry, it is probably happier that I will ever be......not that I would trade places with it of course.....but there you have it.—Br.MD Edited September 19, 2018 by markdohle 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XenoFish Posted September 19, 2018 #2 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Easy solution. Don't get pets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted September 19, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted September 19, 2018 XenoFish: I think you should get a golden python. As long as you feed them, you will be fine. When they get big, you better feed them. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piney Posted September 20, 2018 #4 Share Posted September 20, 2018 1 hour ago, XenoFish said: Easy solution. Don't get pets. After half of mine were intentionally killed and I gave the others away because they can't live in a camper. Never again. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XenoFish Posted September 20, 2018 #5 Share Posted September 20, 2018 1 hour ago, markdohle said: XenoFish: I think you should get a golden python. As long as you feed them, you will be fine. When they get big, you better feed them. I HATE snakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openozy Posted September 20, 2018 #6 Share Posted September 20, 2018 14 minutes ago, XenoFish said: I HATE snakes. I think one of our 8m Scrub Pythons would look good around your neck.They'd love you despite your feelings for them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn8779 Posted September 20, 2018 #7 Share Posted September 20, 2018 I can't be without animals. I've had horses, dogs, cats and a ball python for awhile. He was the laziest pet I ever had 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piney Posted September 20, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 20, 2018 1 hour ago, XenoFish said: I HATE snakes. I don't consider them pets although I'm always moving them to safety. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XenoFish Posted September 20, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 20, 2018 4 minutes ago, Piney said: I don't consider them pets although I'm always moving them to safety. I kill them without mercy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piney Posted September 20, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 20, 2018 4 minutes ago, XenoFish said: I kill them without mercy. Well, it's either them or corn rats. I rather deal with them. They don't try to chew they're way in, eat my plantain chips and poop on my stove. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likely Guy Posted September 20, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 20, 2018 3 hours ago, XenoFish said: Easy solution. Don't get pets. About 5 years ago, next February I had a small male Tom show up on my porch. He was as skinny as a pipe cleaner, so I named him 'Bones'. He survived. Sometimes they choose you. 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imaginarynumber1 Posted September 20, 2018 #12 Share Posted September 20, 2018 2 hours ago, XenoFish said: I HATE snakes. I LOVE snakes. I used to have many. Then I had too many. Now I have no snakes and I am sad all the time. 1 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHaYap Posted September 20, 2018 #13 Share Posted September 20, 2018 5 hours ago, Likely Guy said: Sometimes they choose you. This is a true truth ... ~ 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piney Posted September 20, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 20, 2018 9 hours ago, Likely Guy said: Sometimes they choose you. All 4 of my cats were feral kittens who discovered me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted September 20, 2018 Author #15 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Xeno said: I HATE snakes You can grow to love them. Start small, by the time it reaches 20 feet, you will be buds..,....as long as you feed it. peace mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander CMG Posted September 20, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 20, 2018 I live and breath Dogs and have several other pets... I can't imagine life without animals and I have fox's, my adopted wild side x 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn8779 Posted September 21, 2018 #17 Share Posted September 21, 2018 11 hours ago, Piney said: All 4 of my cats were feral kittens who discovered me. I have a couple of those too. Sweet little b*****s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn8779 Posted September 21, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 21, 2018 21 hours ago, Likely Guy said: About 5 years ago, next February I had a small male Tom show up on my porch. He was as skinny as a pipe cleaner, so I named him 'Bones'. He survived. Sometimes they choose you. I agree they choose us sometimes. Animals know good people 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn8779 Posted September 21, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 21, 2018 7 hours ago, Iilaa'mpuul'xem said: I live and breath Dogs and have several other pets... I can't imagine life without animals and I have fox's, my adopted wild side x Do you actually have foxes or did you mean your wild side 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander CMG Posted September 21, 2018 #20 Share Posted September 21, 2018 6 hours ago, Jenn8779 said: Do you actually have foxes or did you mean your wild side I do, I have been feeding Felix for 5 years and her cubs every year, I named her Felix before I knew he was a she... she comes to a whistle now one of her cubs has stayed and made residence just behind my garden fence and that one also comes each night for dinner, I can feed Felix from my hand but not the new arrival as yet.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn8779 Posted September 21, 2018 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2018 15 hours ago, Iilaa'mpuul'xem said: I do, I have been feeding Felix for 5 years and her cubs every year, I named her Felix before I knew he was a she... she comes to a whistle now one of her cubs has stayed and made residence just behind my garden fence and that one also comes each night for dinner, I can feed Felix from my hand but not the new arrival as yet.. Aw....that's so cool! Foxes are so pretty. We get a lot of red foxes near my house but none of them have shown themselves friendly to humans I have a female cat named Bob for the same reason. LOL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander CMG Posted September 21, 2018 #22 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Just now, Jenn8779 said: Aw....that's so cool! Foxes are so pretty. We get a lot of red foxes near my house but none of them have shown themselves friendly to humans I have a female cat named Bob for the same reason. LOL I have masses of photos and videos of Felix and his cubs over the years... they have taught me so much about their behaviour and how they bring up their cubs x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn8779 Posted September 21, 2018 #23 Share Posted September 21, 2018 3 minutes ago, Iilaa'mpuul'xem said: I have masses of photos and videos of Felix and his cubs over the years... they have taught me so much about their behaviour and how they bring up their cubs x That's amazing. IMHO its such a gift to have animals trust you, especially wild animals. What a fantastic chance to learn so much about them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander CMG Posted September 21, 2018 #24 Share Posted September 21, 2018 2 minutes ago, Jenn8779 said: That's amazing. IMHO its such a gift to have animals trust you, especially wild animals. What a fantastic chance to learn so much about them I have probably over 60/70 dog on our books, all for all sorts of reasons, behaviour modification, aggression, socialization or just a bog standard dog/pack walk... if I could thank them a thousand times a day for what they have taught me... it wouldn't be enough, everyday is a learning experience x 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn8779 Posted September 22, 2018 #25 Share Posted September 22, 2018 1 hour ago, Iilaa'mpuul'xem said: I have probably over 60/70 dog on our books, all for all sorts of reasons, behaviour modification, aggression, socialization or just a bog standard dog/pack walk... if I could thank them a thousand times a day for what they have taught me... it wouldn't be enough, everyday is a learning experience x I have a rescue pit/boxer mix named Bella. She came from a suspected dog fighting ring (please don't get me started on these dregs of humanity). She was about 28 lbs, bald from mange and fleas with severe ear infections and paw infections. We took her as a foster right after I lost both my parents. I swear she resqued me. I had to put down a beagle mix I'd had for 18 years due to a brain lesion just prior to the parents going. I was a serious hot mess but in taking care of Bella and rehabbing her, she brought me out of a deep depression. I couldn't give her up. Today she's a chunky 70lbs and a real sweetheart. All health issues long cured. I love dogs especially. They give us way more than we give them. I'm so grateful for dogs 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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