Dogs And Cats At Home

All has been peaceful, calm and healthy for the household dogs and cats. Daisy, Seamus and Fergus were sharing a yoga mat behind my computer desk chair when I snapped this photo. A friend asked what yoga positions these were, and I decided to call them the downward dog and the catatonic cat:

And speaking of Daisy, how's this for a lazy cat? She was once dumped off at my barn and would have died if I hadn't adopted her. Now she's a pampered pet. Like many rescued animals, she seems to understand and appreciate her rescue:

Georgette is getting quite elderly now, but still seems happy and healthy:

And the dogs spend time both indoors and outdoors - not to mention the hikes they get to go on. They too are living the good life:

Seamus and Fergus are buddies and like to stick together:

Jack and Daphne like to stay together too:

Clover is more shy and often goes off by herself:

Daisy and Georgette once didn't get along, but now are living together peacefully (most of the time):

Daisy has taken up residence on the wide sill of the upstairs bathroom window for the summer. When winter comes, the window will be closed and the bathroom door will be kept shut so I can keep it warm in there. She will miss her perch, but I won't miss all the cat hair in the bathroom:

Clover and Daphne like to share the big, green floor pillow:

And there's the Poodle-y pair, together once again:

Jack began peeing in the house again and had grown too fat for his old belly bands. I ordered some new bands and tried them on when they arrived. Jack didn't seem to mind, and Daphne found them interesting:

Dogs And Cats At Home

The livin's been easy for the dogs and cats who stay in the house. Georgette's favorite place is atop the tallest cat tree at the top of the stairs:

Congregations of dogs and Bramble, the cat, collect in the farm house kitchen:

Seamus got a summer haircut and he's feeling fine:

Jack's as hyper and silly as ever but enjoying life. I remind myself sometimes that this little dog had the shelter flummoxed. He screamed and bit when anyone came near him. You'd never know it now, even when guests arrive. He greets new people with as much enthusiasm as my other dogs:

Bramble still enjoys pushing the water bowls away from the wall and watching the water slosh everywhere:

 And the dogs have learned where to find shade when in their fenced back yard:

I've begun to relax and used the belly-bands less often. But when I leave the house for a few hours, I still put them on Fergus and Jack:

Jack often stands at the foot of the stairs and watches me. I wonder what he's thinking:

  Seamus, despite his great weight loss, mostly wants to sleep:

Georgette moved down to a lower shelf on her cat tree for this picture:

Clover and Seamus enjoyed the shade next to the house on a summer afternoon:

Daphne lounged in the grass. Yes, these dogs and cats have a pretty good life:

Pets At Home

Bramble loves to sit on the chair at my computer desk because it has two thick cushions:

All five dogs in their back yard:

Daphne, Clover and Bramble on the fleecy dog beds:

Jack and Fergus in their back yard:

Georgette being playful and flirtatious atop her cat tree:

Seamus, Daphne and Fergus at bed time:

Bramble on a dog bed. Well, I guess in this case, it's a cat bed:

Fergus in his belly-band, Seamus and Daphne in the bedroom:

Bramble and Clover, best buddies:

Seamus and Fergus, one day before their trip to the groomer:

The next day, after their trip to the groomer. Seamus looked so skinny that I increased his dog food each morning:

Fergus lost so much wool that his belly-band no longer fit. He can still wear it, but it's loose:

Dogs And Cats At Their Leisure

These may be the "Dog Days Of Summer," but the cats like to get in on the inaction also. Bramble cuddled right up to Daphne and Clover for an afternoon nap:

Outdoors, the ramp is a favorite napping site:

Daphne, Clover and Jack:

Seamus, Fergus (wearing his belly-band) and Draco, now deceased:

This is why the ramp is such a favorite spot. At many times of the day, it's the only place they can find shade:

Fergus, again wearing his anti-peeing belly-band, and Bramble:

Jack and Fergus, watching me water the new plants. Clover and Daphne are on the ramp behind them and you can see some of this winter's hay bales in the background:

Clover and Daphne:

Clover, proving what an expert she is at finding comfortable spots:

Clover and Bramble:

Seamus and Fergus, with the tractor in the background:

Rocky and Bramble. I don't have many usable pictures of Rocky because his black and white coloration doesn't photograph well. But I sure do have lots of pictures of Bramble as he seems to insert himself into every comfortable, napping situation:

Dogs And Cats At Home

Summer has been good for the dogs, who got to spend a lot of time outside. But did they appreciate it? No, mostly they wanted back indoors:

Bramble has spent most of his time lounging around:

Draco, sadly, developed pneumonia and stopped eating. I began tempting him with special foods and hamburger. But his appetite continued to decline:

He became so ill that I rushed him to the vet. The first antibiotic didn't work, so we tried another. That seemed to be effective, but his recovery was so slow that I had to put him through another week of it. He was not happy about that:

Seamus and Jack in their back yard run:

Fergus, Clover and Daphne:

Seamus knows where to find a bit of shade:

The Rugosa Roses began blooming and filled the air with a wonderful, sweet scent:

The dogs always have their eyes on me - at least when they're not busy barking their fool heads off at passing cars and especially at Amish wagons:

Jack's belly bands were such a success that I ordered two of them for Fergus also. Oddly, Fergus seemed to enjoy wearing his, and he looked kind of cute with the pirate motif:

When it's time to make dinner, I have everyone's full attention:

Jack doesn't like his belly band much but he has no choice. He can go up stairs with it on but at first couldn't get back down the stairs without assistance. He did learn, however, and now can go both up and down the stairs while wearing a belly band: