Monday, November 07, 2005

Dog

I am not a dog person. Cats, yes. Dogs, no.

Part of this is baggage from my upbringing because we would get these free dogs and never invest much time or effort or money into them and then when they got annoying and chased cars we got rid of them. I say "we" but it certainly wasn't ever my decision. And I still have emotional scars from watching a dog get shot...but not killed until the second shot.

Steven wants a dog. He has proven with Katzie that he can take good care of a pet.

An old man who attended our church for a few months died recently and his family would like to give his dog to one of those nice Mennonite families whose young people sang so nice at the funeral.

So Saturday we piled into the car and went to look at this dog. And it was a DOG. A huge blonde German Shepherd derivative that nearly knocked me over wagging his tail, left blonde hairs and dirt all over us from the waist down, and weighs, the family says, 180 pounds. Dear me, didn't we see lions in Kenya that were smaller than this dog?

Should we get it? Yes, yes, yes, yes, said the kids. Yes? said Paul. Humph, I said. OOOhhh you should, said my friend Rachel and my sister Margaret.

I began extracting promises from the family: feeding, sheltering, grooming, training, and poop-scooping.

I sat down with Paul and told him of my yucky childhood experiences with dogs. He said all the right sympathetic things.

Ok, I said, fine, let's get the dog.

Paul went to the vet and got the dog's records. He is a lot older than we were told. Six years old, already, and in a couple of years is likely to get too old to play.

Paul doesn't think we can set Steven up for that kind of loss, which makes sense, but ach my, now that I went through all those contortions to come to this decision.

"Let's get a puppy!" said Steven.

"NO!" I said. "Not a puppy."

I can see my family winding up for another barrage of convincing arguments. This time I'm holding firm.

Quote of the Day:
"Do fish have eyelashes?"
--Jenny

48 comments:

  1. The poor old dog. Get it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Get the dog!!! Poor old thing... He'd look so sweet sleeping on your porch.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, Dorcas, please dont refuse your kids the privilege of growing up with a puppy. there's nothing quite like it, really. and if you absolutely can't handle the puppy, get the dog. every family needs a dog at some point in time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Why not just go for it and get tha dog and the puppy!!?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Sharon, don't say that. I agree with Qwertle..its good for kids to have dogs or puppies in their lives. I mean that with every fiber of my being!!!
    I'll go as far as to say, that I think I can tell the difference between kids that have had dogs in their lives and the ones that haven't!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Its good Pauline isn't home right now...she'd probably tell you just to go and shoot it!!!LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Obviously, my favorite search engine wouldn't be yours. It's called dogpile.com. The spotted dog has never failed yet to fetch what I want.

    Wineyapscratch

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dorcas,
    Just wanted to let you people on the other side of the world are praying for your friends.

    http://innominepatrisetfiliietspiritussancti.blogspot.com/2005/11/grant-unto-them-rest-o-lord.html#comments

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maybe you should get them a cow. LOL
    then you at least get a little return on your investment........

    ReplyDelete
  10. ...or a couple of sheep. DH had sheep growing up, and apparently they build character. Any behavioral problems were remedied by the simple phrase, "Go clean the sheep pen" (which involved a scraper, shovel, and lots of elbow grease). If their transgressions were few enough, the "stuff" would pile so high that it was almost enough for the sheep to run up and over the little fence. :o) In any case, I think they're pretty fool-proof to take care of???

    ReplyDelete
  11. there seems to be lots of ideas on ya'll getting a dog...have fun!! i could say lots more...never mind!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh my goodness can we get real here? I had a standard poodle for 13 years. She was a house dog and we all loved her albeit I didnt love her as much as everyone else even though I was the one that took her to the vet and to groooming appointments etc. When we had to put her to sleep because of cancer from old age I cried with my husband.

    But I still hate dogs! Just because the world has become so political (we can no longer use the word Indian (it must be Native American) or stewardess(flight attendant) or Chairman (chairperson) does not mean that we need to carry that over into our world. God understands when I say I hate dogs. I also hate hot climates. I hate oysters and I hate coconuts.

    No I am not judging the climate nor am I judging the oyster nor am I judging coconuts! Puhleeasse! I just plain hate them.

    You might be surprised to discover that God created things He hates too. Look at this verse from Isaiha

    I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

    So here we have God creating evil and yet the entire Bible tells us how much He hates evil.

    And Emily you say that every boy needs a dog and imply that a good mother would get him a dog. Where's Gods view on that? Ya got any Scripture that says every boy needs a dog?

    Emily you have your opinion but your opinion does not have to be my opinion or Dorcas' opinion. Its yours and you're entitled to it but please dont judge us with the measuring stick of your opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow mrs darling, someone must have touched a nerve! Yes, God does hate sin, and states it. But you are not God.....and to so dogmatically say "I hate"...do your kids have the okay to say "I hate homework" "I hate this or that" hate is a strong word and can be misconstrued in a lot of ways. I have dislikes, but saying I hate something seems pretty harsh. BTW, God made dogs, and all those other things you hate!

    Now don't jump all over me, I am not judging you in any way...you told emily root not to judge you with her measuring stick...perhaps you should be careful and not hit her over the head with your measuring stick!!

    I am not fond of dogs or cats, but our sons had both. They also had pet cows,zehr, as 4-H projects. (fun and profit both on a dairy)

    Now I better get out of the way. (cowering and covering head)


    suzy q

    ReplyDelete
  14. Meanwhile, everyone seems to miss the main point: do we or do we not take the risk of getting an older dog for an 11-year-old who has had far too much loss in his life already?? Will the benefits of a big nice gentle dog outweigh likely having to put him down in 3-4 years??

    ReplyDelete
  15. I refuse to comment. This is past stupid! And yeh, I used the word stupid.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Get out your swords ladies, you might get somewhere!

    Is getting a puppy any guarantee that he will have it more than 3-4 years? Since you live on a corner there is double the chance that it could get hit by a car, especially a puppy.

    Happy choosing,
    Louise

    ReplyDelete
  17. How old is Mrs. Darling? 12? She seems to get awful defensive over silly little things.

    About the dog situtation, I might be a little biased, because I love dogs, but I think you should get the old dog. He would be better trained and well-behaved and help "train" your children as well. (As far as handling a dog) Then when he passes away, (Sad yes, but most dogs don't survive that long anyways) your kids will be better prepared to take care of a new puppy.

    ---shelley

    ReplyDelete
  18. Very good point Louise!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hadn't thought of that either, Louise. thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Actually you're pretty close. I'm 11 years and 9 months old.

    ReplyDelete
  21. poor mrs darling is having a bad day....so let's be nice to her. she is closer to 45 than to 12... lol....but we all have days we want to act like 12 years old.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Emily, I've been following this discussion with a mixture of amazement and mirth. You pride yourself on using just the right wording for everything and yet you blatantly lie. You have no confusion. You know that if her profile says she's 45 than she's 45. If she's a friend of Dorcas and if she had a poodle for a dog and she mentions her husband and kids she is not twelve.

    It's obvious Mrs Darling said she was 12 to prove how ridiculous this whole thing has become. You and anonymous both knew she was not 12. And yet you pretend to be pious and confused. I hope that you, Emily, and you, annonymous, are not mennonite ladies. I expected more from them.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I don't think that personally attacking someone for their differences in opinion is very mature and it certainly won't get you anywhere. I do love dogs and I think that if you want one then get one but not everyone feels the same way.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I also watched this all with some mirth, it seemed to take a life of it's own. But does it really matter if the 2 ladies you mentioned were Mennonite or not? Mennonite or Christian, this does not need to turn into finger pointing, etc.

    Dorcas, it seems evident there are a lot of different opinions about a dog. Even with my dislike of dogs, I would need to admitt it was good for the boys to have dogs. Having said that it still becomes a decision you and your family need to feel comfortable with.

    suzy q

    ReplyDelete
  25. Has this dog fight ended?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Well after all that discussion do you no which you will get? Who dreamed that talking about a dog or a puppy could create such childish behavior.

    ReplyDelete
  27. De-lurking to say that it sounds like the dog in question is very affectionate and has a great personality. My two cents, not knowing details of Steven's history and being a sucker for any animal in need of a home, is that the benefits he could gain from having a loyal, loving companion like a dog might outweigh the pain of its death. Also, maybe he can come away from the experience with peace and comfort knowing that he made its last few years good ones...
    Monique

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ladies...do you perhaps think that it being just about full-moon has anything at all to do with all of this?LOL!!! (Just a thought)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hmm is it really almost full moon? Then that explains why I ate two funsize bags of M&M's and two caramel chocolates tonight. sigh

    ReplyDelete
  30. Scrap that excuse ladies. My calendar says that full moon isn't until the 16th. Sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  31. To the Anonymous....I was only joking about the full moon. Didn't mean it seriously at all. And besides I did not have a dog in this fight!!!!LOL!!! So Lighten up a tad!!!:)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wasn't the subject dogs?

    ReplyDelete
  33. Well, the old man's son found his papers and the dog is a year younger than the vet said. Meanwhile Paul is gone for a week so no decisions til he gets back.
    This has been a very entertaining conversation.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm with mrs. darling, I'm not a dog person no I dont care for dogs no I strongly dislke dogs no I HATE DOGS YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIkes I said it boy am I in the dog house or what???? Reasons?? stinky, smelly, stinky, hairy, stinky, expensive, stinky, poopy, drooly, stinky, annoying, stinky, oh, have I mentioned stinky yet???
    My poor deprived kids what a mean mama. lol, Mrsweetheart

    ReplyDelete
  35. LOL!!! yea this subject was about dogs, but like I said, My dog wasn't in the fight.LOL!!

    Yea dorcas,I agree this has been very entertaining!! I have got many a chuckle out of this one!!! I even read the complete thing to my hubby last night...LOL!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. As I read this highly-entertaining comment column, all I could hear running through my mind was the song "Whoooo let the dogs out..." :oD

    ReplyDelete
  37. Didn't make myself clear, Arlene. It's the ladies having a dogfight, not the dogs themselves!

    Snarlsnapbite

    ReplyDelete
  38. very entertaining 'dog' discussion...it's all been said,and then some,so i'll just add that i got a good laugh outta this !also was wondering if we all were in the same room having this discussion.....

    ReplyDelete
  39. Just want to let you all know that this little debate came about from a disagreement between Emily and myself. It has now taken on a life of its own and in the meantime Emily and I have been emailing each other and have become quite good friends through the process. It's called sisterhood. Now we just need to get together for tea some day and the picture will be complete.

    Women may fight like cats and dogs but friendships between woman are binding and strong.

    I'm sure the men that usually read this blog just shook their heads at this little dialogue. Did you notice none of them dared to jump in?

    Love to all and to all a goodnight.

    ReplyDelete
  40. What happened to the usual male commenters? Only one braved it. This is a perfect example of one difference between genders. Females fight with words while males fight with muscle!

    Anyway this has been a welcome reprieve from the heavy Schrock "tragedy".

    Louise

    ReplyDelete
  41. Snarlsnapbite, Thanks for explaining..I get it now!! I'm a tad dim sometimes!!LOL!!!
    Louise, I agree this has been a refreshing tiff, compared to the other stuff we've been dealing with..with the deaths and all.

    ReplyDelete
  42. wow, Dorcas, i feel complimented. ;) did you ever decide?

    ReplyDelete
  43. When I left to travel to Ohio for a wedding a week ago, Dorcas had just posted this blog. I returned this afternoon and when I read the comments I too found them highly amusing. The comment at the end about the fact that men were shaking their heads and not daring to jump in was probably partially true. I am sure they were shaking their heads like I was, but their lack of participation was no doubt due to the fact that it was a totally feminine discussion as the females vented their feminine feelings. A masculine discussion of whether or not to have a dog would have taken a totally different slant but we will let that wait for some other forum.

    We decided this evening to get the dog. Steven has promised to take very good care of the dog, to bathe it and to feed it and to brush it according to the schedule his mother decides.

    Since we have made our decision you ladies will have to find another pertinent subject to send us male readers into gales of laughter.

    Paul

    ReplyDelete
  44. Well congratulations on your NEW addition to the family!!! I shall have to keep my eyes open for it when I go past your house every day.

    And you are so welcome!! I am glad we could bring some extra laughter into your life...after all laughter is the best medicine!!! LOL!!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Paul I had to laugh at your comment on the difference between the way females and males discuss the dog issue. It's the same old thing of men coming from Mars and women from Venus. Enjoy the dog!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hey, you have a great blog here Dorcas, searching for info on german shepherd dog training I just stumbled across you. Although Dog is not exactly what I am looking for it certainly got my interest. I see now why I found your blog looking for information on german shepherd dog training and am glad I stopped by even though this is not a perfect match. Great blog I intend to bookmark you, thanks for the read.

    ReplyDelete
  47. don't get it!!!

    ReplyDelete