Pet Stories

YOU SAY SHE RAN OFF WITH A BEAR BEHIND?

Perfect post to defend my not getting a dog or cat for my 4 and 12 year daughters. Their first choice for a birthday gift is always a pet! My Dunlavy's V are the reasons for my reluctance. Thanks guys!

Nilthepill. Don't deprive your kids of a pet. Dogs can be trained. (Cats can't, but maybe they can be conditioned.)

Our dog is very playful, likes to chew, and will mark anything he can outside of the house, but after he chewed on one of my headphones as a small puppy, I managed to convince him that he will lose his life if he touches any of my hi-fi stuff again. He hasn't bothered my speakers or cables, even loose cables just lying around when not in use. Dogs are like kids except kids figure out that you're not really going to kill them.

The only problem I have with Rocky is his insistence on joining in with his squeaky toys when I play music that he likes.

Our latest episode (5 cats) involves attempted pee piping of the right speaker in the living room setup. We have a small place and though the speakers are on 28" stands the dining table is in fairly close proximity to the right speaker (the object of desire). I have gotten up a few mornings to find fluid trails running down the speaker stand starting about 5" below the height of the dining table. I figured, due to the windage and elevation factor, that the speaker was safe and the stand is easily cleaned up with an application of Simple Solution. Well, as time goes by the high water marks are getting higher and higher, either practice makes perfect or the little devils have learned to completely fill their bladders before target practice for that "Magnum Effect." In any case I ended up making a split on the side of a brown paper grocery bag and now place it over the speaker (as a sock or cozy) when we retire for the evening in the case of someone eventually achieving a bulls eye during the night (no big deal, if you own pets). This has worked fine and as of yet no one has scored, so it may be overkill. They also seem to have lost interest as of late. Anyway, last week I warmed up the system in the morning and started a new CD for my wife to listen to in the living room, while I meanwhile played around on the computer in the bedroom. My wife came in and told me that there was something wrong with the stereo. I went into the living room to see what was up and discovered that I had forgotten to un-bag the right speaker (the bag is not only form fitting, but is also the approximate color of the Beechwood cabinets of the speakers and she could not tell the difference without her glasses). I am considering having matching leather covers made to use on both of the speakers (for that Italian/Sonus Faber look) when they are not in use.

Long, long ago, on a lake far, far away...I was on my friend's 32 foot sailboat with a Jack Russell terrier, named "Mate," who always remained on watch at the bowsprit. Under full sail, he would occaisonally be blown off, and we got quite good and scooping him up to keep from having to turn around. (That is a pain in a boat with 3 sails.)

One night, while moored in a cove and getting in a good mood, we were enjoying Pink Floyd's "Animals" and the cut "Dogs" came on. Mate left the bowsprit at a full sprint and jumped through the forward port hole and hit his head on the galley's main beam and nearly knocked himself out. He was quite stunned. He was fine in no time, (in fact he snuck into our rations and ate an entire package of sausage while we rested.)

Best dog I ever had. I miss him.

Charlie