Our Newest Bundle of Joy!

We have a new member of our family. He’s not a baby actually, he’s 13 years old and blind in his right eye.

His name is Muffin and he came to us because of some health and financial issues of his previous alleged “caretakers” (and I use the term loosely). Muffin is a living example of how good intentions can go wrong.

Muffin is a purebred Pekingese. When he was a young man of 5, his first owner died. The deceased owner’s daughter gave Muffin to a lady who had become disabled. Apparently she felt Muffin would make a good companion for the newly-house-bound woman. Therein lies the problem with giving a living creature to another person without proper investigation. No matter how good our intentions may be, things can backfire.

Muffin’s new “owner” didn’t like dogs in the house, so Muffin (all 10 pounds of purebred Peke) was consigned to a running lead in the side yard and kept outdoors year round. In all fairness, he was allowed to sleep in a side porch after dark. Neighbors report that he howled and howled when he was left outside. He was matted to the skin and crawling with fleas. Somehow, during his eight years of outdoor exile, his eye was injured and never treated.

My neighbor learned of his plight, upon the eviction of his owners, and asked if I could take him. What a question!

So now, Muffin is all cleaned-up, bathed and groomed. His skin sores have been treated and healed, even though there is nothing we can do for his eye. We have a happy little ’senior’ camper sleeping at my neck at night. He loves tummy rubs and kisses and he REALLY likes staying indoors in our temperamental weather.

He adjusted to our furbabies RAW diet within ONE DAY! He likes it much better than what was left of the forty pound, stale bag of ’stuff’ that arrived with him.

He is such a little lovebug and quite a cuddler. We don’t know how long he’ll be with us after the rough life he’s had, but I intend on making every minute of it love-filled for him. This handsome boy was bred to be a lap dog and he does it very well!

I’m a Happy Mommy!

Puppylove AKA Brennan

JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES:

Dogs and cats do not make good gifts unless you know that the intended recipient WANTS that particular dog or cat, and is prepared to give the furbaby a PERMANENT loving home. Too many people get tired of taking care of a totally-dependent living being, or putting up with puppy antics, don’t know how to train, etc. Sometimes it’s the litterbox that’s the last straw!

In a couple of cases, we got 1) a purebred Shitzu, and 2) a Peke-a-Shi, after the girls broke up with their respective boyfriends and “didn’t want any reminder of him”. In the case of the Peke-a-Shi, the girl had transferred her anger at her boyfriend to the helpless dog. Honey had been locked in a room with food and water and given no attention for weeks when she came to us. When Don held her in his arms the first time, and whispered baby talk to her, she just cried and cried, while she gave him big kisses. It’s hard to think what her poor little heart had been through.

Giving a bundle of fur may have seemed like a good idea to those young men, but too many times the “gift” becomes a nuisance or an angry reminder, and it is the animal who suffers. So more animals get discarded and, eventually killed. Unless someone is lucky enough to save them.

To bring a new, permanent family member into your home should be a joint decision, with all caregivers involved in the decision. Research and decisions about the requirements and responsibilities for the care, health and safety of any pet should be agreed BEFOREHAND. Otherwise, the results can be painful and even tragic, and it is ALWAYS the animal who suffers.

Happy Mommy!