Hi all!
though I am new here, I already have quite a few friends here from the MSN Golden Retreiver board, so I thought I'd introduce myself and say 'Hello'!
I'm a single mom of a 14 yr old son, Jon, who is a freshman in HS and a very active Boy Scout. I've been a dog owner and lover all my life. I grew up with German Shepherds and as an adult have had Goldens. I've worked a bit with Golden Rescue, and our last golden was a rescue.
Sadly, we lost our beloved Tristan to Lymphoma just three weeks ago. We were able to have 4 very happy extra months with him, thanks to Chemotherapy and the emotional and financial support given us by IMOM, (a pet charity) and my many longtime friends from MSN's Golden Retreiver and Golden Guardians boards, as well as local friends who helped raise funds for his treatment.
Tristan was the center of our family. He brought us out of a really bad time after my Dad died suddenly in 2001 - and while we only had him for a little over 3 years, we crammed a lifetime of love and adventures into that time together. Tristan loved everybody and everything. he was the perfect 'ambassador' of Rescue, the mascot of our boy scout troop, my second child, and my son's best friend.
A month before Tristan died, on Christmas Eve, a stray ginger -kitty showed up in our garage looking for food and shelter. ( He'd been stealing Tristan's dogfood out of the storage bin!) I started leaving food out for him and made him a bed in the garage. He was skittish, but he was obviously looking for companionship as well as food - as he would hang around after eating and 'talk' to us. When the temperature Dropped below 0 one night, I sat in the garage, wrapped in a blanket for an hour - and coaxed him into my lap and then into the house - where he stayed for the next three days of the deep cold spell.
We've never had a cat before, so this has been an interesting experience! Kitty's name is now "Teal'c" - and he has complete run of the house.
Teal'c was inside the last few weeks of Tristan's life - and while Teal'c was very skittish and cautious of Tristan, they got along to the point of sharing the same couch with Jon - though Teal'c always chose his spot carefully! Tristan was always very gentle and accepting of any other animals, and Teal'c was no exception. But Teal'c didn't know that Tristan would never hurt him!
Anyway, Teal'c has become quite 'at-home' with us. Because we always gave him ample opportunity to leave whenever he chose - by holding any door open for him as he passed, he learned to trust us very quickly. He's a very smart cat - Before he came into the house the first time - when I had started feeding him - he would come into the garage and sit on the garage steps by the doggy-door and 'Meow" for me to come out and feed him or talk to him. After the deep cold was over, we had a big snowstorm (2-3') and we'd let him out, but he would go to the sandy dog run to potty, or wander out close to the house, but he came back very quickly to the warm and dry house. It didn't take long to find he'd learned to use the doggy door himself - as we would let him out - but then he'd magically re- appear inside again!! Now he uses the doggy door both ways, whenever he needs to.
We figure he was someones pet, but got left behind when they moved or something. However, a friend who works with Cat rescue looked him over, and says that although he is young, probably around 18 - 30 mos, he's been outside and on his own for quite a while. he has a very rough and thick winter coat, and very tough pads, as well as a number of cat-fight scars. He is VERY affectionate, and now that he trusts us, comes in seeking company, even when he isn't hungry or tired.
though I would not normally want a cat to be an "outdoor" cat - he is already accustomed to the outdoors and the dangers of the neighborhood. It is very nice to be able to HAVE a cat, and NOT have to keep a litter box inside! However he will be somewhat 'domesticated', as I plan on taking him in for shots and fixing as soon as I can work it in, make the arrangements & get a cat carrier from a friend. perhaps he will want to stick a little closer to the house after that.
However, we are, and always will be - "dog people". So we are also looking for another dog. Probably another Golden Retreiver, or possibly, a Chesapeke Bay Retreiver ( As Tristan was a golden/ chessie mix) Tristan was quite a 'social' boy, and he loved to ride along with me in the car, go camping and canoeing with us, and generally be with us on all our doings. He was also very affectionate, he LOVED to snuggle, and he started out each night on Jon's bed, and ended up in mine. No one can ever replace Tristan - he was VERY special and unique - but we have learned that our house is not a 'home' without a dog in it!
Anyway, I'm glad to find another group of 'friends' that I can share ALL my pets with ( including the 30 gallon tank of fish!) and am looking forward to making some new 'pet friends'!
Laura
The photo is from 3 1/2 weeks ago - Jon, Tristan, and Teal'c Teal'c didn't realize until later that, (to his surprise!) he was actually LAYING on Tristan's leg! The look on his face when he figured out he was licking a leg that WASN'T HIS, was priceless!LOL!
