These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Friday, September 05, 2008

Your Honors....

Your Honors, I really don't lose my temper often. Used to, but that was in a different life. I've been impressively calm and understanding that my new dogs haven't learned all the ins and outs of living in a furever family. The potty training was grueling, and still is at times, but I didn't get upset over the continual accidents. I just kept after it until I found something that worked for me and for them.

Your Honors, I remind you that Sam was a nearly feral animal, but I remained patient and gentle and consistent in my efforts to bring him to his current state. Perhaps I even did too good a job. Perhaps he is so relaxed and free that he is now simply experiencing all those things that usually happen with puppies under a year, not four year old dogs. Perhaps the fact that he is a nearly normal dog now, one who can actually approach a new human in our house in less than an hour, is something that opened the door for his "inner puppy," almost created an atmosphere in which he feels free to "do it all"! If, in my efforts to make a happy home for him and his new siblings, I unleashed their repressed urges, can I truly be faulted?

Your Honors, I think these are growing pains for all of us in the house. I regret my loud .... OK, extremely loud tantrum last night, but please consider what we have all been through. I keep thinking we are "past all that" about many of the developmental markers of new dogs, just to face another reminder that we are not at all past them. But, Your Honors, I really have been patient and forgiving through it all. Until yesterday.

May I offer my evidence?




Exhibit #1: One pair of shoes. the one on the right is the before, on the left is the (sob) after.













Exhibit 2: One shoe, chewed through about 3-4 weeks ago. View 1.














Exhibit 2, view 2: Apparently one of the culprits simply laid down and continually chomped until nothing but threads held this together.













Exhibit 4: One bra, both straps chewed completely through.












Your Honors, I'm retired and on a fixed income. It is not easy for me to replace these items. I have other shoes and bras to wear, but when you throw in the other destroyed items, it becomes an out of control matter. BTW, I failed to mention several other things in my original report. Some time back the cord for my PDA was chewed into several pieces, and there are teeth marks for the power source cord to my laptop, as well, although it did not receive heavy damage.

Additionally, Your Honors, I worry about what damage the emotionally young dogs might receive from these behaviors. Chewing an electrical cord can, of course, bring irreparable harm. They also swallow items that are small enough ... I assume most of the missing bill of the wooden duck is/was in someone's tummy. I opened a package recently, dropping a few styrofoam peanuts which were quickly consumed by said dogs who pooped white bits of the foam for a couple days. Yuck and unhealthy, too!

Your Honors, the dogs were quite subdued last night after my verbal explosion. They were quiet and compliant, ready for bed without an argument, and were very very still on the bed. This morning, they were still rather docile. In fact, when I pulled the shoes from the trash can to take the above exhibit pictures, became extremely still. After taking the pictures, I placed the shoes back into the trash, I softly said, "Oh, no," and they all dropped their heads to the floor. Despite my regrettable outburst, it may have served to teach a lesson to said four-legged culprits.

Additionally, Your Honors, all of the alleged vandals have spent time with me this morning, and it has been quality time. I believe we have all survived the incident without visibly horrible scars. Perhaps it has simply left scars of learning and growing. Only time will tell.

I'm requesting that I be allowed to continue to parent, train, discipline , love, and hold in my arms and heart, these little furry scoundrels. I promise to resume my previously composed countenance in my interactions with my little friends. They seem to have forgiven me. I hope the Supreme Court of Bloggerville will do likewise.

17 comments:

  1. And where are your affidavits from trained dog psychologists backing up your defense?? LOL -s3-

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  2. Uhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm, well, errrr, I, uhmmm, that is.........

    OK, it was worth a try, s3. It didn't slide, did it?

    LOL!!

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  3. HA!

    you think it is that easy, huh?

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  4. Well, you didn't beat them with any of those things did you? I would have taken that damn shoe to someone's hiney.

    See? You're not so bad honey!

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  5. Speaking of chewing electrical cords, my son's dog Simon did just that to a lamp cord belonging to his fiance's mother. She was none too happy about it either since the lamp was an antique. Guess it wasn't plugged in.

    Sometimes when we were potty training our dog, I didn't know who was training whom. We just started to realize when he had to go.

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  6. LOL. This is the funniest post. No jury would convict you.

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  7. I say you are not guilty but sentenced to raising those little buggers for the rest of their lives!

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  8. Beans, wellll, I was hoping. :(

    Traci, no, but I thought about it!!! I was just barely this side of the point of no return!!

    See, Beans, Traci says I'm not so bad!!! Ha!!

    :D


    Dave, well, if the lamp was antique, but only the cord was lost, then it can be rewired easily. Now, if he chewed up the lamp itself ..... well, let's not go there, poor Simon. ;D

    I know for a fact that we are trained! No question in my mind at all!

    Thanks, Caroline, sniff, I'm glad you think so, 'cause Beans is ready to hang me. sniff.

    Hey, don't you feel better about your slipping and yelling at Sophie? :)

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  9. MJ, OoooooK. sigh. I'll serve the sentence. It'll pain me, but I'll do it.

    ;D

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  10. all the dog books say if you don't see them doing it no point in yelling at them cuz they won't associate it with the action you want to stop. well, whatever. sometimes the yelling makes you feel better!

    i think the money to replace those items should come out of the doggie treat fund.

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  11. your honors, i would like to submit into evidence a phrase used by said blogger lynilu in her post called "A Perfect Afternoon":

    "I've held each of the babies on my lap and cuddled while swinging gently."

    i move to dismiss all charges on both sides. this is obviously a domestic dispute between parties who love each other very much.

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  12. Anon, I think because I caught them with the tissues, I was able to do that correction, and finally having the right moment, all the frustration just erupted!

    Aw, I couldn't take away their treats. They wouldn't understand, and I would feel awful! I'm a pushover.

    M(ary), THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

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  13. Hah! Those pooches need a good----bone!



    I've really been enjoying your visits to my blog. Sorry it is so crazy right now.

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  14. did the packing peanuts come from the package I mailed you? If so, never fear! They are completely, 100% biodegradable (made of corn starch). You can dispose of them by washing them down the drain. Or if you are someone like my husband, to prove a point that they are edible, you may eat them! Don't ask me about his poop, I don't inspect that!!!! ILY

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  15. You are a saint. I would have had all of them skinned alive.

    It was a justifiable. I applaud your patience.

    Those were nice shoes too.

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  16. ETOR, glad you stopped by! Hey, I e-spoke with our friend today, and he promised a post soon.

    TL, no, they were from another package, but I think you should check on your hub's poop, anyway!!! LOL!! OK, I'm gonna have to eat one of those, just for the heck of it! Wow! Corn starch packing peanuts!! Wow! ILY2, baby girl!

    IE, I don't know about "saint," but I'm glad I didn't do bodily harm!!

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  17. If I worked for the defense, I would point out that the first pair does look a little like licorice.

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!