Dec 19-25: Christmas week

Week before Christmas ... weather cool then warm again, ends up raining Christmas Day ... Skit & Skat fitting in, causing chaos and destruction, but learning to 'be good kittens' (ie, dont scratch the humans, dont jump on the table during dinner, dont climb the human's legs) ... the Damcat is a stern taskmaster ... mower broken all week, finally patched by weekend .. van drivable ...  pet therapy day for Banshee, she has a great time and looks adorable in her Christmas get up... rehab for Snoopy (who is doing quite well) ... Corey is ansty from lack of running (he wont RUN if I'm walking ...) his hiney sore healing but not as quickly as I'd like ... DB in high spirits, running in circles ... no visit from little Mattie (I think they went somewhere for holidays) ... a good week.

Monday December 19

Crisp clear frosty morning, morning walk-run (me still walking), workers arrive ...feed and kennel by myself (husband busy) ... then on to work (after getting air in all tires, and oil) ... long day, return after dark, take yogurt out to dogs, let kittens in, they are doing so well with the Damcat now, they are all giving each other baths ...

Tuesday December 20

Fairly warm again, 60's ... husband gone into town very early, let kittens in, clean their room, feed them, then get dogs for morning walk ... feed and kennel, husband shows up; back to trailer, let kittens in to play with the Damcat ... then go to food banks, unload food, return home. Let dogs out for walk-run (me walking,lol) load them into van and go to nursing home for pet therapy (Banshee), the others along for the ride. Very successful visit, Banshee and I alone for half of it, but another of our team and her dog show up halfway through; whew, this is a large facility, but very appreciative ... one resident told me 'I lost my dog, my bird, and then my husband, and ended up here ... and they wont let me have a dog' She was very happy to see Banshee ... they were having a party, and  one of the aides (not a resident) dropped a piece of chocolate cake on the floor ... I moved really fast and scooped it up from under Banshee's nose ...back to van, took Corey out briefly, the worker who had escorted us was parked next to me, she was entranced by Corey, who was on his best behavior, she wanted to know if HE could come in next time, I was going, well, he's very friendly but he is also VERY vocal ... she acted like she didnt believe me, but then my wild Irishman decided we'd talked long enough and started barking ... so she could see what I mean... was planning to take dogs into North Augusta and try the park there, but, it started raining, so return home ... kennel dogs, then run to trailer, get soaked ... kittens inside with Damcat and husband ... try to take a nap but, they're not quite ready for the concept of remaining quiet at naptime yet... stops raining, so let dogs out, then feed and kennel

Wednesday Dec, 21

Drizzle all day, morning walk, feed and kennel, return home after dark. Kittens into everything, on the table, climbing up my legs while I cook... aargh. Put them up.

Thursday Dec.22

Off work today. Morning walk, feed and kennel, feed kittens and watch them play awhile, then go into town, need to stop by my office for awhile. Return home, take dogs for long walk all around the property, which of course starts my back aching. Feed and kennel, then lay down.

Friday Dec. 23

Warm today, in 70's ... let kittens in briefly, then feed, let dogs out for morning walk, feed and kennel, let kittens out again, then go to meet with friend about county shelter proposal. Return home, fix lunch, dogs walked, then load in van go to town to chiro appointment, then to gardens for a walk ... Corey entranced by little white poodle ... stop by Home Depot meet husband to look at lawnmowers, dont buy anything, return home, van transmission starts acting up, stop and check fluid, its OK, make it home no further problems. Dark when arive home, feed and kennel. Let kittens in, they carouse through the trailer, sppreading chaos and destruction. What fun!

SAturday Dec.24

Christmas Eve, warm weather continues, husband has patched lawnmower engine, still leaks but runs, so take dogs for morening run, while husband walks Snoopy, then feed and kennel, let kittens in. Then take Snoopyto rehab, husband comes, go in his truck, pick up window at lowes, check out a few more mowers then return home, let others out, run, gosh it fels good to be mobile around the property again, dont know how long it'll last. Brush everyone, let inside, take naps, then fed and kennel, take preset to neighbor, return home,  let kittens in. They last about an hour then the Damcat starts playing too rough

Sunday Dec.25
Merry Christmas! Colder, cloudy ... morning run-walk, then feed and kennel, go to church... very small congregation (everyone goes to the 'big service' Christmas Eve, I dont, too big a crowd), return home, it's now starting to drizzle, quickly let fogs out for a run, put Snoopy in trailer ... and it starts raining harder ... put dogs in shed, heater on, brush ... then go  back and get Snoopy, kennel them for long rainy afternoon. Kittens inside, doing quite well, learning to stay OFF the table while we eat (and then get to lick the plates)... the Damcat playing rough, but also grooming them quite nicely ... kittens curl up with husband for nap ... rains ALL day ... go out to feed dogs, at least pens are staying dry ... let them inside shed for brief grooming, then feed and kennel.


And a poem for Christmas Day

Dear Lord on this Christmas day
There’s just one gift for which I pray
Please watch over all dogs everywhere
And Bless them with someone to care.

Watch over the pups with plenty to eat
and hungry strays out on the street
Those getting treats each time they yap
and those that struggle for every scrap.

Those that sleep on a nice soft bed
Those with hard ground under their head
Those who play with girls and boys
And those that never had any toys.

Those kept clipped and brushed and clean
And scruffy ones that don’t smell too keen
Those who get to ride in cars
And those that sit behind a cage bars.

Those that flunk obedience school
Dig up the yard, snore and drool
Chew up your stuff, chase the cat
And still they’re loved in spite of that.

And those that are as good as gold
But left out to shiver in the cold
Chained up and forgotten there
They long for a warm home to share.

Please God on this Christmas night
Help more people do what’s right
For each dog they meet, to do their best
And send your comfort to all the rest

By: Rocky Ridge Refuge
   
http://www.rockyridgerefuge.com

==
Thoughts Of A Stray...

Another morning...I stretch my tired body. It was cold and rainy last night. But at least that pine tree gave me a little protection. Still nothing to eat. Let me try a little grass. So many puddles after the rain. I wish the water weren't so muddy. I wish I had a bowl again, like I did back home. It seems so long ago. I wonder why they threw me out? I must find some food. ...Hope that man doesn't chase me away from the dumpster again.

Why does he care if I take what he throws out? I'll walk a little further today. Maybe I can find a quieter place to rest tonight. It's so noisy by the roadside. Oh, here comes someone walking their dog! Maybe they'll let me follow. NO!!! They're crossing the street! Wait for me! Wait for me! It's early yet, but I'm so tired. I think I'll try to sleep. So tired. So hungry. So lonely.

"Hey, mom, under that tree! Looks like a dog!," the little boy said. " Honey, it looks like this one didn't make it," the mother said. "poor guy, he couldn't have been more than six months old." --Author Unknown