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Sep. 22nd, 2007 01:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywelaWow. For the first time in days I don't feel like a zombie. That must mean I'm finally shaking off the cold/virus/whatever that descended upon me this week. I can't remember the last time I slept so much! I was off work Thursday and Friday, although I'm sure I've gone into the office with worse cold symptoms before now. Nose was only a little bit stuffy, throat only a little bit sore, chest only a little bit tight...I just felt like a complete zombie, totally unable to function. So I stayed home and, well, slept. It was like someone had poured wet cement into my brain. So glad it's better now. I like possessing the ability to think.
Mind, my rest and recuperation was slightly interrupted on Thursday when a girl from the flats next door landed on my doorstep, having locked herself out with bare feet in pouring rain! Ended up having to entertain her - which meant trying to hold a sensible conversation despite being practically comatose - for two hours or more while we waited for the landlord's agency to send someone over to sort her out.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my last post with good wishes for my Big Sis. Her operation went well, although they ended up zapping six nerves instead of the two originally planned, so her recovery time will be longer. The nerves will grow back eventually, but this procedure should, with luck, afford her a year or so of increased comfort. The consultant has recommended that she take action against the doctor who originally treated her back injury, because he misread the x-ray and mistreated the injury. If she'd been given the correct treatment back then, she could have been saved years of pain and decreased mobility. Not to mention the fact that the back condition was a big part of the reason she was turned down for adoption. No idea if she'll follow up on it, though.
Had Small to sleep over on Thursday night, despite being off work sick at the time. The story begins a week ago, when the parents took Small to the local animal shelter in hopes of finding her that dog she's been hankering after. Turns out, the local place is useless, offering next to no guidance and no after-care at all. Still, they found a dog that seemed ideal. A bit bigger than they'd intended, but listed as being good with children, good with other animals, an ideal family pet. Her name was Poppy, same as my cat, five years old and in need of a new home after her owners moved and had decided not to move her with them. My parents even took the family cat, Chess, to the shelter to meet her, and she was fine - didn't bat an eyelid at the cat, although Chess was afraid of her.
Small with Poppy-the-dog
And in the house, Poppy-the-dog was an absolute joy to have around - obedient and affectionate. However, all it took was one hiss from the cat to reveal something of a spit personality. And out of the house she was soon revealed to be an absolute nightmare - she'd try to attack any other animal she passed, kept biting at the lead to try and get it out of your hand while out walking her, pulled constantly. Definitely not good with either children or other animals, despite the recommendation. It would never have been safe for Small to take her out on her own, which was the whole point of the exercise - the dog was meant to be for her. It would never have even been safe to let her off the lead in the park so she could run, not if she was going to attack other animals. Probably a lot of the trouble was that she didn't understand where her previous owners had gone. But the fact was that she was getting worse day by day, so on Thursday - after consulting with an animal therapist - the difficult decision was made to return her to the animal shelter. Hopefully she'll he rehoused with someone who doesn't have either children or other pets, and who lives more outside the city, where she'll be able to run freely.
But it was very upsetting for Small to lose her much-wanted dog, despite her being nervous of Poppy. So she came to me for the night as a special treat - I don't usually have her on a school night as it involves so much additional coordination. The family are now looking at animal shelters in other areas where they do actually vet the animals properly, to make sure they are well-matched to their new homes, and where trial periods and follow-up care is possible. Now, if you watch the news and animal rescue shows, you'd think all that was standard these days. Turns out it isn't. But should be.
So, my little kitten is back to being the only Poppy in the family. She's growing fast - or so it seems to me, anyway. But then when I see adult cats out and about, I realise how tiny she still is. She's 15 weeks old now.
'Go away, world. I'm sleeping!'
'I'm sure there was food in here...'
'What? I fit!'
Playing with Small
Plotting mischief
With me
Follow the finger...then kill!
A cat...or a parrot?
An arm makes a good bridge
Having a cwtch with Small. Oh yeah, should mention that some pics are blurry and whatever because Small pressed buttons and changed settings on the camera and now I can't fix it!
Wardobe, bed - what's the difference?
It's a hard life, being a baby cat
Mind, my rest and recuperation was slightly interrupted on Thursday when a girl from the flats next door landed on my doorstep, having locked herself out with bare feet in pouring rain! Ended up having to entertain her - which meant trying to hold a sensible conversation despite being practically comatose - for two hours or more while we waited for the landlord's agency to send someone over to sort her out.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my last post with good wishes for my Big Sis. Her operation went well, although they ended up zapping six nerves instead of the two originally planned, so her recovery time will be longer. The nerves will grow back eventually, but this procedure should, with luck, afford her a year or so of increased comfort. The consultant has recommended that she take action against the doctor who originally treated her back injury, because he misread the x-ray and mistreated the injury. If she'd been given the correct treatment back then, she could have been saved years of pain and decreased mobility. Not to mention the fact that the back condition was a big part of the reason she was turned down for adoption. No idea if she'll follow up on it, though.
Had Small to sleep over on Thursday night, despite being off work sick at the time. The story begins a week ago, when the parents took Small to the local animal shelter in hopes of finding her that dog she's been hankering after. Turns out, the local place is useless, offering next to no guidance and no after-care at all. Still, they found a dog that seemed ideal. A bit bigger than they'd intended, but listed as being good with children, good with other animals, an ideal family pet. Her name was Poppy, same as my cat, five years old and in need of a new home after her owners moved and had decided not to move her with them. My parents even took the family cat, Chess, to the shelter to meet her, and she was fine - didn't bat an eyelid at the cat, although Chess was afraid of her.
Small with Poppy-the-dog
And in the house, Poppy-the-dog was an absolute joy to have around - obedient and affectionate. However, all it took was one hiss from the cat to reveal something of a spit personality. And out of the house she was soon revealed to be an absolute nightmare - she'd try to attack any other animal she passed, kept biting at the lead to try and get it out of your hand while out walking her, pulled constantly. Definitely not good with either children or other animals, despite the recommendation. It would never have been safe for Small to take her out on her own, which was the whole point of the exercise - the dog was meant to be for her. It would never have even been safe to let her off the lead in the park so she could run, not if she was going to attack other animals. Probably a lot of the trouble was that she didn't understand where her previous owners had gone. But the fact was that she was getting worse day by day, so on Thursday - after consulting with an animal therapist - the difficult decision was made to return her to the animal shelter. Hopefully she'll he rehoused with someone who doesn't have either children or other pets, and who lives more outside the city, where she'll be able to run freely.
But it was very upsetting for Small to lose her much-wanted dog, despite her being nervous of Poppy. So she came to me for the night as a special treat - I don't usually have her on a school night as it involves so much additional coordination. The family are now looking at animal shelters in other areas where they do actually vet the animals properly, to make sure they are well-matched to their new homes, and where trial periods and follow-up care is possible. Now, if you watch the news and animal rescue shows, you'd think all that was standard these days. Turns out it isn't. But should be.
So, my little kitten is back to being the only Poppy in the family. She's growing fast - or so it seems to me, anyway. But then when I see adult cats out and about, I realise how tiny she still is. She's 15 weeks old now.
'Go away, world. I'm sleeping!'
'I'm sure there was food in here...'
'What? I fit!'
Playing with Small
Plotting mischief
With me
Follow the finger...then kill!
A cat...or a parrot?
An arm makes a good bridge
Having a cwtch with Small. Oh yeah, should mention that some pics are blurry and whatever because Small pressed buttons and changed settings on the camera and now I can't fix it!
Wardobe, bed - what's the difference?
It's a hard life, being a baby cat
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no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 03:13 pm (UTC)Your poor sister. It's terrible how bad doctors can be: my grandmother has gone through years of pain because of mistreatment too. I hope the operation helps, at least.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 08:11 pm (UTC)It's worrying to think that when a doctor gets something wrong it can have such serious repurcussions. Deb has lost an entire vertebrae because of it, as well as the herniated disc. She's learned to manage the back injury and still lead a full life, but it affects every aspect of her life, always has to be taken into consideration, and will continue to affect the rest of her life, treatment or no. And the worst of it could have been prevented with early treatment. Bah.
Thanks for the kind thoughts :)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 03:43 pm (UTC)Your Poppy the cat seems to be growing fast. :) She looks totally adorable! But I'm sorry about Small and the dog - I can only imagine what a disappointment it was. And poor dog as well. Hopefully there is a more suitable home for her somewhere! And a more suitable dog for your family. Have you thought about a puppy instead of a grown-up dog. Puppies are usually more adaptable, I think.
Anyway, have a good and relaxing weekend - or what's left of the weekend at least!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 04:15 pm (UTC)Puppies are under consideration for the dog situation, but it's really a question of what's available. Truthfully, I think that despite everything they'd said about chosing carefully, they then rushed into it with the first one they liked the look of. Hopefully they'll be more cautious next time!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 06:58 pm (UTC)And how adorable is that cat of yours? :D
no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 08:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 07:49 pm (UTC)About the kitty tower, how do you keep it upright? We are looking at getting one for the kitties but I'm worried about them getting a little too rambunctious and knocking it over (dreadfully with one on top). Did you anchor it down or are they pretty sturdy?
no subject
Date: 2007-09-22 08:07 pm (UTC)The scratching post/kitty tower is pretty light, not anchored in any way. Poppy often knocks it over when she's being really boisterous, and it's landed on her a couple of times, but it really isn't big or heavy enough to hurt her. She just wiggles out again and carries on playing as if nothing had happened, far more interested in her game than in the fact that she just tipped something over, barely even notices that it's moved. She's knocked far bigger and heavier things over while on top of them without harm - the clothes horse, for one. She's pretty rambunctious most of the time that she isn't sleeping. But she's also pretty sturdy and seems to bounce!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-23 02:39 am (UTC)Lovely photos of "your" Poppy, especially the last one. Dixie is too old to jump into cupboards but Rosie likes to get into the linen cupboard if we leave the door open long enough. Meow !
no subject
Date: 2007-09-23 03:42 am (UTC)Poor Small and Poppy the dog. Hopefully Poppy will get the right home for her problems and Small will find the perfect doggy companion.
Gorgeous pics of Poppy, specially the ones where she is balancing on your arm and cuddling up with Small!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-25 11:08 am (UTC)YAYYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!
Pictures of Jo!! :D
You two are an awesome couple <3
I have many pictures of Tommy's "go away, I'm not home" position too... soooo cute :D
no subject
Date: 2007-09-25 03:25 pm (UTC)You should picspam Tommy!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-25 03:47 pm (UTC)I'll do that soon. I've got sooo many pics of him :) hihi
It's been a while since I did that. lol