To All DOG owners or LOVERS

It takes the average person 3-4 seconds to complete a full breath  in…..and out…
It takes a fraction of a second to change your life… less than one breath.

                I am not perfect… and I make mistakes with my pups but I have learned several things in the past 10 years of being owned by the most loving, forgiving, and devoted “children” on earth and I would like to share the two most important things I’ve learned.

1.       The most important “trick” you can teach your pet is to stop what they are doing and immediately come when called. This has saved the life of my animals many times. I practice this when Jack or Boone are really excited about something. Sometimes Jack will get so wrapped up in a game or a behavior that he doesn’t hear me. This is dangerous!!  I find that using the “mommy voice” will many time snap his head up and bring him to attention. Then I coax him to me and praise him when he comes… treats and hugs. (BY TRAINING THIS BEHAVIOR YOU CAN PREVENT DEATH!)  Practice this over and over…in all situations.. . in different environments and with as many distractions as possible. Teach your pet that the ((STOP what I’m doing and COME to my person )) is the most rewarding skill they could ever learn to master.

2.       TRUST NO ONE! I believe that my dog behaves better than 98% of your kids. This is one reason I have a pet and not a child and it’s also why I have no problem taking my pets with me when I go places.  Jack provides me emotional support and I am a much happier and less anxious person when I am with him.  I frequently take Jack on trips and evenings out but the rule is, HE STAYS WITH ME.  His leash is around MY wrist. He does not leave MY side. I do not even allow Nate to hold Jacks leash in many places. He is my responsibility and if anything happens to him, it is my fault.  Your pet is worthy of the attention and love and protection that you would offer a human child.

Lil' Piggy

I will never forget playing ball in the front yard with Austin. I had done well to teach him to never enter into the street and could count on one hand the number of times in 6 years that he had but, I was smart enough to know each of those had been “accidents” and accidents can always happen again.

On this particular day Nathan threw the ball which Austin nearly caught on a bounce. The ball ricocheted out towards the street just as an AR-TARD-ED Bartlesville driver decided to turn down a residential neighborhood street at about 60mph.  This was such an exciting moment in ball catching history to Austin that I could see his mind blending out the surrounding scenery including the street and focusing completely on the yellow ball of joy falling from the sky.

My heart nearly stopped as I yelled at him to AUSTIN, STOP COME HERE! Just as the yellow ball of joy made contact with the ground, the idiot driver made contact with the ball… My baby however was nearly close enough to receive the biggest hug and squeeze of this life thus far.

No matter how much he wanted that ball he had been trained over and over and over to STOP WHAT I AM DOING AND COME WHEN CALLED.

I would still have my best friend and love of my life, Austin, to snuggle and love if I had TRUSTED NO ONE with his safety. I spent 7 years with him and I love him more than anything or anyone I’ve ever known. It did not matter if we slept in the car, the tent, or in bed. It didn’t matter who my boyfriend was or where I worked or how much money I made… as long as we were together.  Why would I have trusted that someone else would lock the house up when they left? Why would I trust that someone else would find it strange that he was not snuggled between the couch cushions when they came home? WHY WOULD I BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD CARE FOR MY HEART AND SOUL LIKE I WOULD? I lost my heart on October 31^st, 2010 when I left him at home in Ramona OK. I believed that he would be safe because I trusted someone else to watch out for him. I was wrong… and now… he’s gone. I may possibly live the rest of my life not knowing where he is, if he’s happy or if he misses me. Does he cry like I do?



Taylor Co. Shop Party Dog





After a long night of Sled Hill



Nik & Austin 2007

Our pets have feelings and emotions and they have souls. Horrible things happen in this life and they are there for us through thick and thin. We make mistakes… we become complacent and things happen that we can never take back. If I found Austin tomorrow, I will never get the year we’ve spent apart back.

My cousin came to stay on Sunday because our papa’s funeral was Monday… she kept a close eye on her dog (Sheba) because she was afraid that if she got lose she wouldn’t know where to go or come back. She was young and somewhat untrained but very well behaved. Monday morning… while drinking coffee on the porch Jack and  Sheba were playing in the yard and ventured off into the pasture. I hollered for Jack who came right back… Sheba did not. She instead decided to go on an adventure despite our pleas. Sheba was shot and killed within minutes by a neighbor who believed her to be a stray after his chickens. There was nothing we could do.  The neighbor was not at fault. The dog was not at fault… we were, the humans who were suppose to protect her.  I truly believe this accident could have been prevented.  My heart is broken for my cousin… and for the neighbor who feels awful about killing a beloved pet.

Sheba

My hope is that all who read this will take a few extra minutes to stop and work with their animals or to mention to those they love "How well does you're pet come when called?"  There are those of us "crazy cat ladies" out there that do prefer our pets and treat them like children... but we're not really crazy, we just know we can legally crate our "children".

<3 to Austin <3 to Jack <3 to Boone…

 

ALSO, A $1000 REWARD IS STILL BEING OFFERED FOR THE RETURN OR INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO THE RETURN OF AUSTIN. HE WAS LAST SEEN OCT. 31, 2011 ABOUT 6:30 OUTSIDE OF RAMONA OKLAHOMA. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO THE RETURN OF AN IDENTIFIABLE BODY COMPENSATION WILL ALSO BE REWARDED. THANK YOU. 24/7 (918)214-6919
8 year old neutered male, between 18-20 inches tall, very wide. 3 fingers will fit between his shoulder blades. Brindle and White, no visible scars, between 45-50 lbs. loves tennis balls, 2 teeth on lower jaw have had dental work, (front lower pointed canines)

Austin Playing Farkle with N8

Beautiful Boy

Little Sahara Trip 2008