A Dog’s Prayer

Pack Leader here: I stumbled upon this beautiful prayer and thought it needed to be shared with all animal lovers. If you have ever lost a pet, I'll wager you can't read this prayer with dry eyes...
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Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me. Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements. And I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.


And, beloved master, should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest - and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.”

In memory of Sugarbear,
our Karelian Bear Dog

Dog days of summer

Not just whoof, but.... WHOOF!

Pack leader here... I now know why they call this the "dog days of summer". We've just had the hottest, driest July I can remember. Forest fires are raging to the east, north and south of us, and there does not appear to be any rain in the immediate forecast.

Our Great Pyrenees, Lilly Belle has been lethargic to say the least. That fur coat she wears is not making her life any easier. And the cats... Puff and Pooh always try to conserve their energy, but I think they have enough stored up to stay awake for the next month. Even little Minnie (the mouser) prefers to hide out in the garage instead of sniffing around for fresh rodent meat.

And even the 'ol pack leader (that's me) has had trouble raising the energy to keep this blog current. I don't know about you friends, but this is one dog who is ready for fall and some cooler weaher!

I think I'll go lie down somehwere in the shade....

All about Pyrs

Note from the pack leader here...

I just discovered a wonderful video on YouTube about Great Pyrenees dogs. It is a well done video describing the characteristics of Pyrs. If you want to know more about this fabulous breed of dogs, watch this video.

Oh and BTW, all of us 2-legged and 4-legged bloggers would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Saint Patrick's Day!

Dogs & Cats Together

Lilly: Minnie, I saw your last post and what you did to that poor helpless mouse. You should be ashamed of yourself. Great Pyrenees dogs (that's me) are famous for our good nature around kids and cats. What if I treated you like you treated that poor mouse? You're not much more than a light lunch anyhow...

Minnie: Give me a break! Mice are rodents, they carry diseases and scare the hell out of women... I do the world a favor when I munch a mouse for lunch.

Lilly: Not if you're a mouse.

Minnie: You're probably just jealous that I got to that mouse before you did. After all, you eat skunks!

Lilly: Do not.

Minnie: Do so.

Lilly: Not.

Minnie: Forget it, I'm going out for lunch.

Barking Dog?

News from the pack leader...

If you are a subscriber to this blog, you are aware that our "puppy" is a criminal having been cited by the Sheriff (3 times) for barking. Yes, in rural America where you can shoot guns, dig a gravel mine and use your back yard for anything you choose – we have a county-wide ordinance for "barking dogs". And not just any old run-of-the-mill barking dog ordinance…

No sir, our purposely vague law states that anyone can have the Sheriff cite a dog owner if the dog's barking bugs them. There are no definitions as to how many times the dog can bark, how long it can bark, at what it can bark or. . . . or nothing! Dog barks – you don’t like it - call the Sheriff. Got a neighbor you don't like who has a dog? Call the Sheriff. What a great way to drive a neighbor to the brink – but it is not working.

We chose to pursue our legal rights as we feel that our dog should be allowed to bark at the bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and drivers who are lost and think our paved drive is a road. Toss in the UPS guy, Fed-X, mail carriers and other neighborhood distractions and . . . these are the reasons we have a dog that barks and protects us on our tiny 5 acre plot.

Well Tuesday was the day for our "omnibus hearing", where we met with a judge and the county prosecutor to discuss our side of the case and decide if we wanted to pay a fine or go for a jury trial. It should be noted that each of the citations required a separate trip to the courthouse to plead not guilty. Today was our 4th. trip to the courthouse on this matter. The neighbor? All he has to do is dial the phone.

We were prepared. We believed that we could demonstrate that the County’s barking dog ordinance is extraordinarily vague, lacks any definition, provides County officials and dog owners no reasonable guidance, and is blatantly unfair to all dog owners in the County.

We believed that we could establish that this county-wide ordinance, when applied to rural areas, violates personal freedoms, the State Constitution and the Code of the West (seriously, that's real). We also do not believe that one unfriendly individual should have the power to dictate standards to an entire community. We were ready to do battle, armed with color photos, letters to the Sheriff, emails of support from neighbors and highlighted copies of the State Constitution and the Code of the West, and a stack of supporting documentation (my bride is like, well - a dog with a bone when it comes to research - no pun intended).

Tuesday during our hearing, we learned that if we go to court and win - nothing changes. The only thing we "win" is absolution of a small fine (in this case, three fines). Our neighbor can call the Sheriff that day and we begin the cycle all over again. We paid the fine. The thought of yet another future trip to the courthouse to gain absolutely nothing seemed like a waste of time. So there you have it, one disgruntled neighbor can dictate his will to the entire community.

But wait, we're not done yet. We have a plan and this plan is a humdinger! No, nothing illegal or even morally or ethically questionable (unless you agree that our legal system is morally or ethically flawed, but that's a debate for a different blog).

We KNOW our neighbor is not a dog lover, so it is improbable that he subscribes to this blog, but we will save our plan for a future post - AFTER - we've accomplished our mission of getting our neighbor and our Great Pyrenees to live in harmony and peace. In the meantime, I've got to go straighten-up the house for the next deputy Sheriff's visit.

PS: And BTW, the Sheriff and all the deputies we have met (5 now) are just outstanding, professional and courteous people.

Lilly - Criminal Dog! (part 2)

Lilly: They're back . . . do you remember me telling you that the long arm of the law reached out to me as a result of our neighbor calling the sheriff because I bark? Remember this conversation? Well, they were again called in to issue mom & dad a citation because I do what I'm supposed to do... bark!

Puff: This is so cool, Lilly the 'outlaw dog' - living under our roof... or should I say you're hiding out here?

Lilly: Yeah, can you believe this guy keeps calling the sheriff! He never calls mom or dad, just calls the sheriff . . . what a strange person we have living next door.

Puff: Are you guilty?

Lilly: Of course I'm guilty... I bark!

Puff: That guy must be like me and Pooh, he must not like dogs. I can't blame him, of course.

Lilly: Well I can tell you that dad is getting tired of this. He went to the Sheriff's office the other day to see if there was anything he could do to help solve this problem. He and the Sheriff talked for a long time and the bottom line is that mom & dad are going to go to court next month to get this taken care of.

Puff: Will they arrest you or dad?

Lilly: They will only arrest me when I start attacking cats that think they are funny!!! No one is getting arrested, the purpose of the court hearing is so that everyone can tell their side of the story and a judge (who I hope likes dogs) will decide who is right.

Puff: What's with our neighbor? How come he doesn't just ask you to shut up, or ask mom to gag you?

Lilly: Understanding human motivations and peculiarities is far above your level of understanding... I only know these things because I am "man's best friend". This neighbor is a bit eccentric and apparently just doesn't like friendly puppies like me. So, as they say in the movies,

"To be continued..."

Famous Cats

Pooh: Hey Lilly, last week I told you that Puff and me are movie stars and had one of our videos featured on YouTube.

Lilly: Oh yeah, I'm still trying to figure out why anyone would take time from their day and watch two cats sleeping. I'd rather watch paint dry.

Pooh: Well I can tell you that almost 600 very smart people disagree with you because that's how many times our movie has been watched by an adoring public - who are asking for more!!!

Lilly: You have got to be kidding me. People are THAT bored?

Pooh: Boredom has nothing to do with the appreciation of fine artistic productions and two magnificent movie subjects. I can see it now... "The Adventures of Puff and Pooh" - how two beautiful kittens defend themselves from a polar bear-looking dog and lived to tell their tale.

Lilly: You are a sick cat. Someone must have told those 600 people that mom was giving away free dog bones or something.

Pooh: Think what you want, all I know is that Puff and I now have a following. And, due to the many requests for more, I'm going to point everyone to our famous movie... "Where did the water go?"

Lilly: You won't mind if I check it out later, right now I have some important things to do... mom needs some animal-therapy and the best thing that helps her cope with you two cats is by loving on a big dog like me. She needs to hug me and rub me all over... doesn't do much for me, but she seems to like it. She calls me her "therapy dog".

Pooh: Wow, and you think people are bored because they watch our movies? How bored must mom be?

Pet rules!

or is that supposed to be pets rule?

Whatever... Hi, Miss Minnie here with a New Year blog post for all you cat-lovers... and also those of you who tolerate dogs.

This is my first time here, I'm usually too busy to bother with such trivial things. I'm the "shop cat" in this family and I sleep in the garage. I've yet to discover an Ethernet connection out there so I don't often get a chance to paw mom's keyboard.

Anyway, mom found this list of "Pet Rules" and she thought it would be a nice way of introducing the new year to her animal loving friends. Well here goes...

Pet rules!
(To be posted snout height on the refrigerator door)

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets

1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Usually come when called
5. Never drive your car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Anyway, those are mom's pet rules and she thought you might get a chuckle out of this. But mostly, mom wanted me to wish all of you a very special...

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

Lilly: Pooh, you look ridiculous in that hat.

Pooh: And you think this was my idea?

Lilly: So, your paws don't reach your head anymore? You spending too much time bending over the food dish?

Pooh: Have you looked in a mirror lately? Most people can't tell if you're a polar bear or what.

Lilly: Yeah, well mom likes me best because she took me to get my picture with Santa Claus. I didn't see you getting your picture with Santa.

Pooh: Wait one minute! You think I look ridiculous in a hat, but you're all excited to get your picture taken with a guy who has the same hat and a matching pajama-outfit to boot?

Lilly: It's a people thing. They see this fellow once each year and get all excited about it. If they really like you, you're taken to meet him. I didn't see you get your picture taken, and, he gave me a treat.

Pooh: So that makes you special?

Lilly: What can I say... mom likes me best.

Pooh: I sleep with mom, you don't. When she's watching TV, I get to sit in her lap, and you don't. I get to follow her into the bathroom and where ever she goes.

Lilly: You still look dumb in that hat.

Pooh: Maybe we should do what mom asked us to do and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Lilly: Since I know Santa and you don't, maybe I should be the one to
wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Pooh: Why don't we do it together. . .

Pooh & Lilly: Merry Christmas everybody!

Lilly: Pooh, that was nice, but you still look dumb in that hat.

Lilly - Criminal Dog! (part 1)

( Mug Shot) Lilly talking with Puff

Lilly: Hey Puff, did you hear that a "good neighbor" of ours complained about my barking?

Puff: You're a dog; you bark. Dogs bark, what's with that?

Lilly: Yeah, but this guy called the sheriff! I feel like a criminal. No one ever call the police to complain about cats... that's not fair.

Puff: They called "The Law" on you? For barking? How cool!

Lilly: Dad didn't see it as "cool". I heard him talking to mom and they are as mad at this neighbor as they got at me when I had diarrhea in the living room. Apparently this neighbor is a real "piece of work", I heard dad say. In two years he never called to complain, just - up and calls the sheriff one day at 6:00 in the afternoon.

Puff: So are you going to get arrested - do hard time? Will you get a jailhouse tattoo?

Lilly: Well, I think the sheriff thought this was as funny as you do, he said that in six years on the job he had never cited a barking dog... especially out here in the country. No one seems to complain when I bark at bears, mountain lions or people coming up our drive. I wonder what caused this "good neighbor" of ours to cross over to the "dark side"?

Puff: Let me get this straight... we live 10 miles outside of town on 5 densly wooded acres, you can't even see this neighbor's house from our front yard; we have carnivores like bears, mountain lions, coyotes (oh my!) as regular visitors and you're not allowed to bark? What do we need you for?

Lilly: It seems the county has a law about barking dogs, but according to dad it is a really dumb law. It says that anyone can complain about a dog who is barking unduly", but unduly is not defined. Mom and dad don't know if unduly means I'm allowed to bark 2 min. per hour, 20 min. per hour, before midnight, after lunch, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.... how dumb is that?

Puff: So, I can complain, that is... I can sick the sheriff on you if you bark 5 times and I think you should only bark three times, is that how I understand this law? Do you have the sheriff's number handy?

Lilly: And they don't think cats are as smart as dogs! Gee Puff, you're a regular Einstein!

Puff: Thanks, is Einstein a cat or a dog?

Lilly: Back to the important things... my liberty and legal limitations of my barking... mom and dad are meeting our "good neighbor" in court. They decided to make the county define when I'm allowed to bark and when I have to be quiet.

NOTE from the pack leader: This conversation between Lilly and Puff(may or) may not have taken place, but the absurd citation for a barking dog was actually served. It was surprising enough to discover that here in rural Montana, a barking dog ordinance actually existed, but what is even more perplexing is that a neighbor living acres away was so inconsiderate as to never call or knock on our door to complain. Lilly's been doing her job as a watchdog for more than two years, and we have NEVER received a complaint from any neighbor.... until the sheriff knocked on our door.

To Be Continued...

Walking the dog - in style!

Lilly's 2-legged dad is a crafty kind of fellow. Nothing makes him happier than tinkering in his shop. The best part about old Dad's tinkering is that he creates the neatest things for me and the furry members of the family.

Dad is religious about walking Lilly every day - weather permitting. He even walks her in the rain. The only weather condition that puts a halt to the daily walks is ICE. The problem is that Lilly needs her exercise whether there is ice on the road or not. This posed a problem and the need for Dad to spend time in the shop looking for a solution.

We have a Yamaha ATV, and we have taken Lilly out to run while we ride the ATV and hold the leash. However, in bad weather both hands should be on the handlebars to work the brakes and accelerator. Not having three hands, Dad's answer was to attach Lilly's leash to the ATV.

Now anybody could tie the leash to the bumper, or metal racks on the front and rear, but that wouldn't do for Dad. No, he had to devise a special mounting system that permitted quick attachment and disconnects.

In addition to being a crafty kind of fellow, Dad's also a closet geek and he made a webpage that shows you all the steps in creating a mounting bracket for Lilly's retractable leash. See Lilly's ATV leash project here!