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We were a three dog family prior to our move to CA. I was devastated to have to part with two due to the circumstances (staying at dad's house who isn't a pet person but conceeded to one dog and three cats). I hated myself for being one of those "moving and can't take" @ssholes. Guilt and disgust abounded. As it turned out, we only stayed with my dad for ONE stupid week because we had found a house of our own in time, and just had to wait for our furniture. ANYWAY, here we are. CA is awesome. Love it! Don't miss Florida at all. Hubby's job is great, kids schools are great, Tani adjusted great and is still the best dog ever. But...I want another dog. I don't like being a one dog home. I'm home with Tani and my two youngest sons, so it's not that she's alone and needs a buddy but I would love to see her with a friend again. I rehomed my oldest dog, who would not have had a comfortable trip out to California (he stayed with my best friend in Florida, so it's like he was taken in by other family)(I pretend that helps my guilty conscience). I also rehomed my Birthday and Mother's Day PUPPY, Koji, figuring that he was so young, he'd have the best chance to bond with a new family. I only had him for about 4 months!!  . The whole thing sucked. Plus, Tani is my girl and I would never part with her for any reason, so that's how my dad conceeded. No way Tani wasn't coming with us. So NOW, I want a puppy again, one I get to actually keep, and hubby doesn't want one. I'm not even sure I want to do the itty bitty puppy again either, but he won't even consider a grown dog. I don't even really understand why not. Our new house has light colored carpet, unfortunately, whereas our FLorida house had NO carpet. Admittedly, it would be tough to have an unhousebroken pup without horrible things happening to the carpet. Last year when I got my puppy present, I was so happy and excited to pick out and raise a dog from the begining of it's little life, with nothing but our influence and our TLC. And then I didn't get to. I am just bummed, bummed, bummed. And for those of you who might be hoping to suggest that maybe he's planning a Mother's Day suprise this year - he's not. He just doesn't want to do it. Grrrrr!!!! OK, thanks for letting me vent. Let me say, though, that I am very greatful to have a wonderful and healthy family, an awesome dog who is perfect, and three soft, fuzzy lovely kitties. I am thankful for all that I have and don't want to sound like "oh poor me". I think, though, of all people, this board is the place to find kindered spirits who totally get what I'm saying!

I, as you all do, peruse Craig's List, local shelters and whatnot, just because. I know we just moved. I know we aren't settled yet. My husband caught me "browsing" and said "What are you DOING?" He thinks we are at capacity for pets. We had to give up two of our dogs for this move because we were staying with my dad at first and he wouldn't allow all the pets, so we rehomed two dogs  which was really horrible for me, and continues to make me sad. So we had Tani and my cat Kenji. Before we moved, I was fostering mom cats and kittens and had been really good about being immune to the cuteness. BUT, I couldn't give back my last two kittens. Instead of bringing a dog and one cat to California, we brought a dog and THREE cats to California. My dad was furious - I mean FURIOUS - at first. However, everything went smoothly, and the kittens and my cat did fine at his house. He likes them now, and agrees they are cute. Point being, hubby thinks that we are at capacity because even though we rehomed two, we kept the two kittens, so our pet number remains 4 and he thinks that's our limit. (Kittens and cats are NOTHING like dogs.)ANYWAY, I digress. A couple weeks ago during my "browse", I saw a Catahoula/Dane mix that was so so cute! I called for info, and he had already been adopted. I talked to hubby and told him that I still wanted another dog, but I agreed to wait...but I still "browse". So I looked at the same shelter's pet list today, and that SAME dog was BACK! I called, and was told that he passed all his "temperment testing" and that he was returned by the adopters because he was too hyper. DUH. He's 9 months old fer cryin out loud. I am DYING to go meet him, but I think my husband would really be mad at me if I bring it up now, since I agreed to wait. My hubby is wonderful and patient, and he's a super guy. I don't want to make him mad or put him in the position of "bad guy". But I REALLY want to meet this pup! For all I know, he's totally not right for us and that would be that. But, how will I know if I don't meet him? Should I talk to hubby and risk upsetting him? Should I just go meet the pup, and if he's not a good fit then I don't mention it? Should I just let it go because I agreed that we should wait? Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!! Sorry to ramble. I know you guys understand, though. Thoughts?

So, since my secret santa (Thank you again, Kathy!) sent Tani goodies which included some kind of spring shaped chewy thing called "Flossies" or something like that, Tani has become addicted! She loves loves loves them! I happened to find that a local pet store carries them, so I bring her one once and a while. Like today, for instance! So Tani is excitedly chewing away, very happy, and I'm off doing laundry. My four year old comes up to me (concerned because he thought the thing was a toy, not a consumable) and shows me the last two inches of the Flossy, saying "Look what Tani did to her toy!" Holy crap! He took it right out of her mouth! She is only 60 pounds and full grown, but so strong that if I sit on the floor and hold one end of her tug rope (another thank you to S.S. Kathy!) she can actually pull me along the carpet on my butt! I am so thankful to have this dog - she is perfect in every way! I know that instinctively, even the best dogs may be tempted to nip/growl if a kid snatched away their yummy treat. I am so proud of her for being unphased. I did tell my son to never ever take her stuff away from her like that, just in case. Whew. Pardon my brag, but I know you all understand!

Oh, and as I sit here right this very minute, getting ready to post this, my 2 year old came in, with Tani following. Tani's head was all wet! I asked my little son why Tani's head is wet and he said "I dump the milk on it!" Poor Tani! So, I have a big milk mess to clean up, including on my sweet puppy's head. 

For those of you who still have carpet, let me take a moment to give props to the Bissel Spot Bot for pet households. This thing is awesome! It's small, easy to carry from room to room...but wait, there's more!! Got a barf stain? Pee stain? Mud ground into the carpet? No problemo for the Spot Bot! It's so rad (my husband laughs at me because I still say "rad"). You just put it on the spot, turn it on and walk away. It has sprayers and scrubbers and suckers that go to work, then it beeps when it's done and Voila! No more stain! I'm loving it! Tani eats grass, then yacks it up on the beige carpet with some foamy yellow bile from time to time. Now that I have my spot bot, it's all good! Bring it on, Tani - gimmee your best shot! (OK, well, I take that last part back - no need to tempt fate I guess.)

So, as you may recall, we are new in our neighborhood, having just moved across the country to California. We've met a few of the neighbors and everyone is very nice. Turns out that one of the moms down the street has the same name as Tani. Oops! I mean, we picked Tani's name because we liked it and thought it sounded nice, so it's not like a bad thing. We just aren't sure how to mention it - "Oh, hey ,by the way, you have the same name as our dog".  Any suggestions? I'm thinking we just let it go and see what happens. My husband thinks we should say something just to have a laugh with them and get it over with.

I took my kitties to the vet this morning to get health certificates so they can go on the plane when we move to CA on Friday (yikes - it's time already!!). When we were leaving, ("we" being me, Kenji, Nishi, Mika, son Marshall and son Jackson) Marshall said "Oh, that poor dog! We should call the doctors to go get him!!" Well, of course, I zipped my car around the block as Marshall is telling me that he saw a big dog laying in the road panting. Sure enough, there he was. Poor thing was maybe a rott mix - gorgeous dark, dark brindle guy. He was laying in the road. He just looked at me when I got out of my car. I had NO space in my car, no towels, no spare leash - NOTHING. He had a choke chain on but when I went towards him he got up and limped away slowly. His spine stuck out and his hips were so clearly visible. He had mangey stuff all over his skinny butt and his tail was either cropped or mangled, I couldn't tell. It was so so so sad! I swear, if I wasn't moving, I would have gone home, unloaded my car and gone back for him. Given my circumstances, I called Animal Control. I feel so sick about it. Animal Control here is not one of those kill factories, so at least there is that, but damn, I just want to f-ing cry. He was so beautiful and sad...

So, Tani is (ahem) perfect. She is really smart, doesn't chew stuff or pee in the house, has good manners, etc. She is the best dog ever in the whole world. Here's what's happening...We are moving to California in about 2 weeks. Most of the house is a maze of boxes and of course it's a weird and stressful vibe around here. In addition, hubby and I got this house as a fixer upper, and since the move kinda came out of nowhere, we weren't done fixing 'er up. Not only is all our stuff packed and all that, but I have had contractors and handymen in and out of here regularly to finish all the projects so we can sell the house. Tani is great - she will bark her head off when they come to the door and act like she wants to eat them. Then, I let them in and show her that they are allowed here, and she's cool. She wants to lick them and play and she's just herself. Even the stale bum sweat smelling guys that made me so uncomfortable that were here recently (having a low income is not a good excuse for not bathing and then cashing your day's wages at amscott and going to the bar). But, she was ok with those guys. So now there is another guy here. He is clean, shows up on time, his vehicle is newish, clean and well maintained, he wears headphones and whistles while he's working and blasts through the stuff we have to do. There is nothing overtly objectionably about this guy - he's polite, pleasant, professional and just does his thing. I've never left him alone in the house or anything. Funny thing is, Tani hates his guts. She stands back and growls at him with her hackles semi-up. She won't come near him. If I call her to me,  she gets all stressed if he is in the way, and as soon as he moves, she'll scamper a WIDE arc around him with her TAIL TUCKED and everything, and run over to me!! It's so strange...Shou ld I worry that he's going to make a skin suit out of me? Should I see if I can catch a glimpse of a "666" tattoo on his head? I don't get it. Is she stressed about all the changes here, or is this guy some kind of sicko and she's trying to tell me? I'm over thinking it and getting all paranoid. If it weren't for Tani's behavior, I would totally feel comfortable with the guy - enough to leave him here alone while I run an errand or something. Opinions? Anyone? Anyone? Did anyone read this far?? Helllooooooooo ooooo......??