Orion and Oscar-kitty (part 2)

At night we put the kitties in the garage for bed. They have their pillows and cushions there as well as their "necessity box" so it is a comfy place for them. Last night I hoisted Sophia-kitty from my bed and put her in the garage for bed. Then I checked the other bedrooms for Oscar-kitty. I had seen him earlier in the day eating crunchies in the kitchen, but since he goes in and out all day, I had lost track of him. So I opened the door to the outdoors and called him. He responded with a gurgled cry. I freaked, was that Oscar? I called again, got the same answer. It wasn't the sound of two cats fighting (the neighbor's cat and Oscar have been at war for 8 years, so I know their sounds), but it sounded like a very strange cry. I panicked, is he hurt? I called again, trying to place his location. Suddenly, Orion, who had been asleep in another room, was squirming past me through the door, down the steps and around the garage. that's when he saw something, gave a low, loud "Woof!" and took off at full speed. I ran in to turn on the outside lights in front of the garage and to grab a flashlight (it's really hard to find a black dog at night!). I saw Orion run across the property and into the neighbor's field, and I caught the sight of Oscar running under the porch. Once I knew Oscar was safe, I called Orion back. He came marching back, stopped at the bushes bordering the neighbor's field, and marked his territory. Oscar was extrememly grateful to Orion and they have been chummy today. I think Oscar has figured out what Orion's purpose in life really is.

Caught!

Evidence.

Orion and Oscar-kitty

We have two kitties, the aforementioned Sophia, and Oscar. Oscar is Sophia's brother, and her nemesis. Where Sophia is very lazy with an attitude, Oscar is as playful as a kitten. He's very trusting, comes to me whenever I call him, and will pretty much play with anything, which makes him a very entertaining kitty. It took him a bit of time before he realized Orion wasn't going to use him as an appetizer, so he is beginning to get used to having a dog. He even will sometimes willingly play, "Chase the Kitty" with The Count. Orion likes him best, I think, because he seems to be able to read Oscar's language better (perhaps because Oscar does more than growl and hiss). When Oscar wants to be chased, he runs, when he doesn't want to be chased, he sits. Orion understands this.
I realized they had some kind of tolerence for each other when I discovered they both act differently when they think no one is watching. If the family is about, Oscar will act scared of Orion, but when no one is looking, Oscar will walk right up to The Count, climb over him, saunter under his nose, you name it. I have caught him on several occasions, so Oscar knows I am on to him.

Orion and Sophia-kitty

The Count has a thing for kitties. He is convinced they were put here on this earth for the sole purpose of being chased, preferably up a tree. We live with two kitties, and needless to say, he keeps them in tip-top shape.
Orion met Sophia-kitty the day we brought him home. Sophia is a fat, lazy, black and white kitty with a real bad attitude. When I brought Orion home at the tender age of 8 weeks, I took him for a walk around his new yard. Perched on a low stone wall was the corpulent one, Queen Sophia. Now I have often heard dogs don't exactly have the best eyesight, so his response to her was quite understandable. Orion was one of a litter of three, his two brothers are Landseers (white and black) so it was an honest mistake that he thought this corpulent, black and white being was a fluffy littermate. Boy, was he ever glad to see one of his brothers! He happily approached her and she had no idea what on God's Green Earth this thing was but she was pretty certain it was a) stupid or b) going to eat her. She stood up, growled and hissed. Orion didn't get it, he just playfully trotted up to her. She swat, he jumped back. "This isn't my brother!" I don't know what he thought she was, but when she took off, he stood there completely stunned. His future run-ins with her were met with the same hissing and growling. She couldn't believe the beast was actually going to live in HER house.
One day he figured out if he marched right up to her, she would run. Hence the invention of "Chase the Kitty". Now, whenever Sophia so much as walks into a room, Orion is on his feet and off like a shot. Sophia, I must add, is no longer corpulent.

Election Day Poem

Pregnant chad
Political ad
All this talk about Baghdad

Turning coats
Cutting throats
All to see who wins the votes

It's pretty lame
They're all the same
They just want their claim to fame

Come what may
We'll shout, "Hurray!"
'Cuz all of it will end today

Why you should have a cargo barrier....

A friend of mine sent this story to me, reminding me I had sent it to him. I'm very glad he saved it! We were discussing cars, and I told him the car I drive is a Passat station wagon, which has plenty of room in the cargo area for one newf. Then I told him why he should get a barrier....

We have a barrier in the cargo area (his crate does not fit in), and I would recommend getting something which covers the back of the back seats, as well as the floor and wall to make it easier to remove hair and slime. One of his favorite things to do was to sit up while riding, chin resting between the two headrests of the back seat, and slime drooling down onto the horrified child below (to the amusement of her brothers). Once, while training him I gave him a mini marshmallow in order to coax him to get into the vehcle himself. After the kids were fighting in the back seat over who was going to sit where, they finally settled (pretty much had to, since I was leaving with or without them). Daughter was pretty smug since she won the arguement and got the spot of her choice. A few minutes down the road I heard a load "Haaaack!" and looked in the rearview mirror. He had coughed out the marshmallow. I'm not kidding. All down the front of daughter's jacket and seatbelt. I had to pull over because I was laughing so hard I couldn't drive, though my precious daughter was shrieking. We bought the barrier shortly after, the barrier keeps his head in his own space.