My retirement has gone to the dogs!
by Texas Jane
(A lake South of Dallas, Texas)
I have love, lived with, and buried 4 husbands in the last 45 years. You would think, since my husbands ranged in ages, I would be prepared for just about anything.
I retired in 2009, but will not turn 65 until next April. I do have some disabilities, but we don't need to go into all that. My mom and dad are gone as well. I was alone and forced to retire early. I thought to myself, now there is no one to tell me I can't have any dog I want. That was in 2009.
I presently have 3 dogs. Baby Girl (a pit bull/Shepherd mix), Sweetie Pie (a greyhound), and Fredie (pit bull/Weimaraner mix) are all inside dogs. We also have two cats; Ashley an 8yr old female with a demanding personality and Rooster a 9 month old orange tabby that just moved in one day.
All of my "children" are strays that I eventually named. Baby Girl barks at everyone (from behind me). Sweetie Pie wants to kiss everyone-- including the squirrels-- the skunks don't seem to understand so she spends a lot of time in tomato juice baths. Fredie loves men, loves to play, loves Sweetie Pie best, and barks when no one is around just so they know he is.
They all three have destroyed every fence I have put up except the last one that they dug a tunnel under in so many places I gave up. I do not let them out during the day (that is when most people are out). It has been raining here at the lake for three days. The dogs keep telling me I left the water running. They go out on the porch and look back at me as if I could turn it off. They scare people who don't understand they just want to talk.
They are great watch dogs... they will watch anyone do anything! Baby Girl watches from behind me, Sweetie Pie dances a jig until she kisses something, and Fredie cries at the door when a delivery leaves without petting him.
Anyone can survive retirement watching Animal Planet or sharing their retirement with the love of pets. I'm sure there are other pet lovers out their that have funny stories about their "children" too. Now, if I could just turn this water off... once again I am being summoned to the porch to TURN THE WATER OFF!
