The Plague Dogs

My cavalier King Charles spaniel loves to eat apples. We’ll share one sitting on the couch. When he wants a bite he’ll touch my arm and I will pass him a piece.

Ok, I'll start with a confession. I'm a lifelong cat person. We adopted our dog (who is a PIT MIX btw, suck it, DL!) after our beloved cat of 18 years died because it seemed like a good time for a major change. He is the best dog in the world, gentle, needed no training, adores our remaining cats.

But the need to take him on walks out among the people is really fucking with my head right now. I don't have a big enough yard to just let him run around for exercise out there. I wish I lived in the country.

Here he is.

You guys with dogs are not afraid they will bring the virus back home? Seems like the fur and their habit to sniff everything and jump other dogs and people during a plague is not ideal.

I also read that a lot of shelters are basically empty now bc everyone wants a comfort pet. I hope they don't all return their pets when this is over.

My plague dog is a six-pound, 20-year-old black and white tuxedo cat, a fierce, intrepid and dignified individual who's been a great role model to me.

R4 That's why I sent all my dogs and cats to the kill shelter. I'm not gonna die because of some animals.

One hopes r6 made that shit up.

My plague dog: In a previous relationship, my then-partner decided he'd take a stroll down the street and drop in on an old school friend who was visiting his parents. At 11:00 PM I went to bed. Sometime within the next hour I heard him open the front door. I heard him coming down the hallway. The bedroom was dark. He came over to the bed, crouched down, and said, in a tentative sort of voice, "I've brought something home." It was on the tip of my tongue to say, "As long as it's not an STD..." when a soft wet nose touched my hand.

This puppy was eventually named Riley. She was mixed breed, and hated other dogs. However, she loved cats, and my cats adored her. You'd see her coming down the hallway, accompanied by a cat on each side, like fighter planes flying escort for a bomber. They would butt their heads against her adoringly, and she would groom their fur, which they loved.

She was an odd little creature, but I loved her. We had adventures together. When partner and I broke up, I kept her, with his blessings. She lived a long, good life, eventually succumbing quietly to cancer. I actually miss her, even now.

[quote]You guys with dogs are not afraid they will bring the virus back home?

Purell puritan propaganda.

He’s adorable Sylvia! R3

Let me ask you a question. Are the people around you not distancing? I am finding when we go out that people are really good about that. Either I will step in to the street or they will. Also in the building we take turns with the elevator. People are out, but people are also being good.

R6 I am the one holding the leash. My cavalier wants to cuddle with every person and roll over on his back for every dog he meets. I am not allowing him to do that for now.

He's adorable, Sylvia. When this is all over, if I see you walking upstreet, I'll stop and say hello!

last night I gave my dog, Smoke a bath for the first time since I got him over 2 years ago (groomer closed for duration). He was such a good boy I had a smile on my face the whole night. In a few nights we will attempt that home pawnail sander contraption.

R10 Most people are distancing where I live, but maybe not enough for my anxiety-ridden taste? And there are still the few categories of offenders...young people running who give you no space on the sidewalk, or clutches of women walking three abreast who are oblivious and don't move aside. These people make me fucking stabby.

It doesn't help that we live on a busy street that is a main thoroughfare into a neighborhood park. We've abandoned parks for the time being and switched up our walking schedule so that the longest walk of the day is at 0-dark-30am, and keep the afternoon walk short when people are afoot.

That is frustrating. Could you maybe teach your little guy to growl on command as a trick? I don’t think it will help with the teenagers, but it might make the clueless frauen flee.

I feel this belongs here.

R14 I can't imagine any circumstances in which my dog would growl. Even if I were being assaulted by muggers, he'd probably try to hide behind my legs. LOL. There's such a thing as being TOO good-natured.

Italian yoga dog. This little guy is the best thing ever.

R17 “respira, respira, respira. Perfetto!”

The Italian is a bonus.

Sylvia yesterday when I was walking my little guy a woman across the street was walking a dog that looked so much like yours I did a double take. Hope the situation is better by you now.

R19 Nice! Where do you live, ElderLez? And what's your pup's name?

Things are leveling off here. The runners, teen girls, and stroller brigade are still clueless, but more of the rest of humanity are at least starting to wear masks. We've just accepted that we have to be really strategic about our walks. It would help if Seamus liked to play indoors, but he really doesn't. He has a couple of Nina Ottoson dog puzzles that he solves in 3 minutes, but otherwise...nope.

R3 what a great looking dog!

You are very fortunate people. For various reasons, we can’t get a dog. Now, more than ever, I envy those of you who have one.

Seamus Fowler: what a nice name for a dog!

South Shore of Long Island and Puccini R20.

I’d thought we’d never get one either R22, but then my wife’s outside teaching decreased and we held husky puppies in Lapland and so we figured out how to make it work in our tiny apartment. I understand though that for many there are insurmountable hurdles.

I have an emotional support human.

Plague dog article

I loved Watership Down and during my early teens I would say that it was my favorite book. So I thought I would really love this one too, i was always partial to animal stories. But I forget if it was Scottish, Welsh or maybe Cockney, but whatever language or dialect it was that the dogs spoke, as an American it was impossible for me to decipher and I couldn’t get beyond about the first 25% of the book. It was a huge disappointment.

R26 Wait, I thought that dogs were being OVERexercised during the pandemic?

(Seamus sends his regards.)

Puccini says hi back. (Or he would if he weren’t napping.)

Do you get WNET in Pittsburgh Sylvia? I am guessing it is too far away, but let me know if you do.

R29 Nope, we don't. WQED is the one and only PBS channel around here.

Sylvia R30 if you are still interested in seeing my wife’s documentary set up a burner email address and I will send you the link information.

Ok, let's

mrshowardfowler@gmail.com

R32 could you authenticate?

(not that I don't trust you, but I don't know anonymous, and it isn't like you not to sign your name)

R34 That was me at R32 ElderLez, sorry. I'm doing 15 things at once over here.

I was on the original few corona threads, but I dipped out after the neurosis began settling in.

I don't know what a plague dog is supposed to be, but you all need to realize you're indulging each other in some psychologically damaging behaviors.

I felt the need to say something.

A new pic from today

I know it is a total cornball show and this might be my most frau-ish post ever, but is anyone else watching “The Pack” on Amazon?

R27 I totally thought that’s what this thread was about, as well.

So cheers for the traumatic reminder. OP. Yep, def enjoying the resurgence of scarring childhood memories. Going to love those horrifying nightmares at 2am.

Btw if there’s anyone out there who actually enjoys or seeks out violent animal-based animated shows, I can recommend GINGA DENSETSU WEED and WOLF’S RAIN. Gore, angst and existential misery aplenty in both, just like THE PLAGUE DOGS.

^^WOLF’S RAIN: