I never signed up for this!

Anya! That's awful.

How dreadful for you, Anya. Painful and frustrating. You have no option but to let yourself be looked after.

Happily they're all back tomorrow and until then DH will have to see to them and me.

If you were looking for an excuse ... you've got a brilliant one now poor you.

Arghhhh NOOOO- what a shame and a pain. Get better soon- who's going to take care of all those pets now???

Oh Lord, Anya How awful for you. You certainly didn't sign up for broken limbs.

I'm not surprised you're feeling sorry for yourself. Will you be able to get help with the menagerie?

Oh dear.....laid up now with a broken left wrist (distal radius) in plaster and a broken right elbow, which they don't put in a cast these days. Very painful.

This daft old bat person tripped over her own feet, at speed, when taking puppy out for a late walk last night. Not puppy's fault, in fact even though I'd let go of the lead, she came back to me and started barking until a passing stranger heard her and helped me to my feel. I couldn't press on either arm to lever myself back up as both had fractures.

Feeling very sorry for myself.

I was wondering if the cat had sent a text 'get me out of here!'

Just say "no".

Our cat was seriously unhappy at the (excellent) cattery. We knew this he he just stopped eating. They were very worried about him. He's quite a dim old boy and def not a chancer. Was thrilled to be home and started to eat again immediately.

Yes yes I wanted to know too.

Carol how do you know that your cat hated it?

Just have half a Mars Bar then?

Yes Anya I don my tin hat automatically when I come onto the Gransnet forum, I find it's safer that way ( a parachute at the ready as well) then I can charge in and out of threads Commando style ( although fully clothed) before anyone realises what's happening.

We're the other way round. Went on holiday last week and left cat in cattery for first time. He hated it, so in October will have to ask DS and DIL to look after him and they will just have a new 2 -month old baby if everything goes to plan.

Works both ways I suppose.

Balini- I am somewhere in between- but agree with you that a dog is a dog and not a substitute human. I'm sure a lot of the behaviour and obedience problems many people have with their dogs is that that line has become blurred- and dogs just do not know 'who they are' any more. Dogs need to know that they are on a different pecking order- even when they are loved to bits like ours have been.
Anya- I do believe that most dog training experts do agree on this.

This 'problem' doesn't seem to exist so much here in rural Europe- although I hate it how in France and Italy, so many dogs are left outside in all weathers and only used for hunting and security

DS allergic to cats, DIL allergic to dogs. Sometimes the inherited foibles of family are really useful!

Balini chacun a son gout.

If that's how you want your dogs to be then fine, but do allow for others to be different. Our dogs have been so much more than a 'dog at your feet'. Our old one was once a great PAT dog visiting people with dementia and learning disabilities. Making many smile for the first time in a long time. Another was a lifeline my late MiL when newly widowed. A friend was recently diagnosed with early stage breast cancer after her spaniel started behaving oddly around her.
The current puppy is best friend (indeed only friend) to grandson with ASD.

So yes, I accept that is how your family prefer to interact with your dogs but please extend others the same courtesy to behave as they wish with theirs

Both our last dogs were 'cast aways' - first one from friends who couldn't cope with her, and last one from DD2 whose life change drastically. We had Gatsby for about 10 years (to age about 17) and Slinky for about 3 (to age about 17 too) - miss them too, daft me. Next dog in a year's time will also be rescue. but we will choose HER/HIM to suit us this time (hmmm famous last words! daft mug printed all over my forehead- humans can't see it, but THEY do).

Ah well- you could say NO - there are such things as kennels you know (there is one born every day - I know, me too!) ...

I've never had this problem, with any of my family. Who are all dog lovers, but they were taught, that they are animals, not human beings. When they go visiting, the dogs are left at home. I did have this problem once, with a friend, who had a huge poodle, which was poorly trained. He visited once, with the dog. I told him he was welcome, but the dog stayed outside, the dog could come to no harm, as our property, was enclosed. He wasn't too pleased. He only stayed about five minutes, and left. We visited each other, many times after that, but he never brought his dog again. I myself, was brought up, with dogs and we always had a dog after we were married. They were loved and well cared for. I was always taught, a dogs place, was at your feet, not on an armchair, or your bed.

Hats off to all gransnetters on pet duty this summer! We have our favourite "grand dog" coming next weekend, she's a giddy bundle of loveliness who has had some digestives issues recently , so that should be fun! I don't think anyone on here is moaning, I know I'm not, but we all smile albeit through clenched teeth at times, at the irony of it all...
After all when I had my children all those years ago I naively thought it was a job for 21 years max, and less if they got married at 19 as I did....how wrong could I be! But hand on heart I wouldn't change any of it, it's a lovely "problem" to have, I'm very blessed.

roses

Why a tin hat roses? You beeh on those politicsll threads again?