Bentley Goes Home

Happy Sunday, dog owners!  I hope you're spending time with your family, which includes your dogs!  Today is a beautiful Colorado day and I'm so glad because it was a cold spring and summer came with a friggin bang.  It burned with several fires all over the state and many people lost their homes as well as their pets.  Sadly, two people lost their lives.  But with the good Lord's grace, Colorado is once again alive with rain and visitors from all over the world.

Today, I packed up Bentley (the cat I was sitting) and his belongings.  If Bruce could speak, he would only laugh.  While he never attempted to harm the cat, he did stick his nose where it didn't belong and in turn received some cat-slaps to the face.  He enjoyed eating cat food whenever he could get a chance and I believe that was his payback for getting beat up by a 15 lb cat.  As I cleaned up the litterbox and gathered his things, Bentley sat and watched quietly.  I believe he may have been wondering if he was going back home or if I was finding him another place to live.  He wasn't too excited... but then again, cats are rarely excited about change.

On the way to his home and in his pet carrier, Bently cried and called.  Poor thing.  He must've been really stressed.  However, as soon as he was let loose in his wonderful, dog-free home, he was as bouncy as a kitten.  I'm not sad to see him go, but I did enjoy his presence.  Now Bruce, on the other hand, will surely miss the cat food.  Especially the one that comes in the can.

When I got home, I sat on the couch.  It smelled funny.  It smelled like pee.  I took a whiff of a couch pillow.  Yup.  Cat piss.  Bentley had the last word.  Maybe it was meant for Bruce....

Catsitting Oh My!

We are cat sitting this week and it has been really.... interesting. Yeah that's the word. 

Bentley is a beautiful cat who came from a hard life. He was found abandoned by his owners when they moved. Declawed, he had no chance at survival other than to hang around the neighborhood hoping for scraps. My sister in law took him in, but couldn't keep him due to allergies. So I took him and was able to find him a good home. 

He lives a luxurious life with a priest. I think they were made for each other. Bentley hated my home. With a 90 lb Bruce in his face (which, in Bruce's defense, was an innocent attempt to fulfill his curiosity), 3 ferrets and two wild kids, what cat would really beg to live in my home. So moving into a quiet and spacious home with a man who lived alone and happened to have a soft spot for cats was Bentley's jackpot. 

The priest asked me to keep Bentley while he left on a tour. I warned him that Bentley wouldn't be too happy but that I'd keep him safe, fed and warm. He was just grateful not to have to leave him in a crate at boarding. But my prediction rang true the first night. 

Bentley slept in the front loading washer, far from my noisy family. He came out to eat and potty and quickly disappeared. He also managed to swat Bruce in the face a few times when my dog stuck his nose up Bentley's butt. And he swatted at the ferrets when they checked him out.  But tonight, day 3, he's finally coming around. 

He laid on my lap as I watched TV and purred as I rubbed his belly. Then he waited at the patio door while I was outside. I'm hoping the rest of the week isn't too stressful for him. I've got 4 nights left with him. 

Bruce thinks he's hilarious. 

Letters To Bruce 1: My Promise

My dearest Bruce,

I've decided to write letters to you on your blog. You can't read them. But maybe others will and maybe it'll touch their hearts enough so that they won't give up on their dog when times get rough. Maybe. It is worth a shot.

When I first laid eyes on you, I felt sad. My heart was heavy with sadness. You didn't jump and bark at people like the other poor souls in their kennels did. You laid there. You, with your sad eyes. You laid there as if your heart was broken. You looked as if your soul was gray.

When the volunteer brought you out to meet me, you sat in front if me and gave me your paw. Your sadness gripped me. I know many people are enchanted with puppy eyes and sweet doggy smiles. Many people just HAVE to bring the dog that makes them swoon home. But this was different.

You looked as if your world was over. And when you gave me your paw, it was as if you had made peace with that. As if you'd already accepted that you were at the end.

I made a promise to you that day that I would give you your last home on earth. God created dogs to teach people to love. Animals are gifts. And to see such a selfless creature resign in heartache made me angry. It made me angry at your past humans. Didn't they see that the only purpose you have in this world is to love? And they crushed you. And you accepted that. Well I don't.

I was told by a couple of vets that in a few years your hips will require total replacement and that by then you will be too old to handle it. Your pain will decide your time on earth. I promise to love you enough to make up for your past. My goal is to keep you happy until your body, not your heart, decides its time for you to go.

I am sorry that your first few years of life brought you grief. I promise to do my very best to keep your tail wagging. For the rest of your life.

Love,
Your human

Bruce Goes To Work

Every once in a while if I have to work a late night, I'll go home and get Bruce's feeding and pottying taken care of. Then I'll get him in the car and take him to work with me. He has a blast at work.

Let me just reintroduce Bruce a little bit. He's got that bloodhound in him. In half of him, actually. And it controls ALL of him. His nose is into everything. The ground. The air. The doors. Crotches. You get the picture. He's also super lovable. He absolutely treasures people and especially kids. He is an attention hog. But he's pretty polite. For the most part. He gets into people's crotches if I don't catch him quick enough. But other than that, he's quite a joy to bring around people. He doesn't jump at anyone or even lick them. Nope.

Bruce goes up to people and gives them the cute puppy smile.

And then he gives them the sad eyes. At this point, they usually give him the "Awww" and rub his head.

And then he's got them. He's on his back for belly rubs. What a ham!

 

Needless to say, he was totally loved on today. He got to have lots of rubs and everyone talked to him. He is a 90 lb goober for love.

Someone asked me if he was a working dog. He sure does look like it when I'm in uniform and he walks with me. But if anyone got close enough to see his puppy eyes they'd know right away that the only work he does is make people smile.

On the way home, his bloodhound kicked in. He held his nose up to the vent (warm air spewing out, mind you) and breathed in deeply. For about a good 30 seconds.
Then he took a break.
And went back to sniffing.