I'm going to catch up on all your pet threads very soon

[IrishAyes]

But contractors have been here this week and I can barely keep up with email.

And I will drop this one little note myself: Thank God that Brigid did not go into heat before I could get her spayed. That's where she is today, also for dew claws and microchipping. It's a great animal hospital so I don't worry about her, but it broke my heart not being able to feed her last night. She was a stray, starved almost to death before other rescuers in Indiana set up a relay to bring her to me. So she's bound to have extra sharp food anxieties. Of course she had all she wanted for breakfast and lunch, but when dinner started looking late, she kept begging. I've always fed her rather well (not too much) so she must've felt some degree of betrayal. However, when she comes home tonight, the small amount I can give her until tomorrow will be the very finest. I

Molly already misses her. I can tell when MM's upset or anxious in the least, because then she won't eat the greatest delicacies unless I hand feed her. I don't think I spoiled the chows too much, because I trained them not to touch any food until I gave it to them in a special bowl and then left the room. All I had to do was return and they'd stop eating until I left the room again.

But you can indulge the urge to spoil little ones a bit more. And I admit that any dog who gets away with demanding to be hand fed is at least a tad spoiled.

Regardless, I'm thinking of cutting the legs off the spindle baby bed they sleep in and using it for a coffee table since Brigid's constantly whipping tail will soon be able to clear a regular coffee table with ease. If you didn't read my other post, I found out that tail cropping has to be done when they're little bitty bitty pups because later on it's harder on them than spaying.

So I'll adjust by changing coffee tables. Guess both dogs are spoiled....

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I am glad that all is well in your household

and Brigid will be fine. I know the guilt of not feeding them the night before surgery.....with my cats. They have all been rescues too, and I know that regular feeding is very important to them. But we do it because we love them, and they forgive us.

[japple]

2. Bless you for being a loving and responsible pet owner. As one who works in

animal rescue, I am so happy to read of the way you are making life so wonderful for your dogs. Peace be with you and your pups. Got any pictures to share?

[IrishAyes]

3. You're very kind

Here's the link to the pictures post: democraticunderground.com/116110483

You would've been so charmed to see MM when Brigid got home yesterday - she started to wash her baby sister's face to comfort her. The first morning after Brigid's arrival 3 months ago, Brigid was so tiny and timid and weak that Molly stood right in front of her and raised her head high to expose her throat, trying to encourage Brigid to play. It didn't happen for awhile, of course, but before too much longer they started rolling around in a savagely snarling tight ball, chomping on any body part they could reach. Their play now sounds like they're killing each other. But no harm done, of course, and when they stop for breath, it's pure love again.

That first night I had 2 separate beds made from the halves of an old hardside suitcase, and I put one at each end of the baby bed in case they needed space. Molly went to her regular spot first, but when I laid Brigid in the other one long enough to take a short break myself, Molly immediately walked over and climbed in with Brigid. Most of that first night I lay on my back on the sofa with Brigid on my stomach, feeding her a tiny bite every hour or so.

If people only showed half such consideration for others, we'd have a lot happier world.