Sunday, October 26, 2008

Another Pet Story

One of our knitters, kellyh57, has shared the story about her family dog, Bailey:

Bailey

"When my husband and I got married, we lived in an apartment with outrageous pet rates. I really wanted a dog since I'd always had one growing up, but I had to go without! A year later we bought our first house. The first thing we did was start looking for a dog!

We went to the big animal shelter the next weekend. I went over to see "Baby." She was the cutest little thing! She was about 11 months old and a cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle mix). She was really timid and hid at the back of her cage. We got her out and took her into another room to play with her. She was really fun and I was in LOVE!

Typically, if pets are brought in for any reason, they are euthenized after the 5 day waiting period. If we had not picked her out, she would've been gone on Monday! It just breaks my heart to think that she'd have been a goner if it weren't for us!"

Updates on Our Blankets

Bad Sandy! I haven't posted in a long while. Hopefully, this will make up for it.

Our latest snuggle is named "Forever Friend", and has been cast on and sent to the next knitter.
Forever Friend

"Puppy Love" is growing quickly, already worked on by 3 knitters:
Puppy Love after gmmarton

"Kitty Cuddles" has two sections completed, and has already been visited by one kitty!
Kitty Cuddles after Spikey with Mikey

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Catnip Toys for Some of Our Pets!

I decided to make some catnip toys to send for the pets that belong to the next knitters for our pet snuggles. I'd never made catnip toys before, and didn't know WHERE to buy catnip. But, I figured it out, and was pleased with the way they all turned out:
Catnip Toys - Ready to Go

I might make some more of them to send along with our blankets when they are completed. I imagine that they will be appreciated by the cats at the animal shelter.

Here are some photos of the cats who received the ones I've made so far!
Mulder with Catnip Toy
That's Mulder, who always "drowns" mousy toys in the water bowl. Ha!

And here are some of jdee's cats enjoying their play with the toys:
jdee's cats with catnip toys

Spikey's cats all liked the toys as well. Here's her story:
"Our boys went nuts over the toys! Luke claimed the blue and white square one, immediately pouncing on it and rolling around like a wild man. My husband and I were laughing too hard to get a picture. He NEVER plays with toys, being an ex-feral kitty. But he absolutely loves this!Spike claimed the orange mouse, batting it and chasing it down the wood floor in our long bedroom hallway like a pro hockey player. Even poor, old, sick Mikey got in on the act, claiming the green and purple mouse for his very own, rubbing his face on it and carrying it around like wild prey he had caught. It brought a tear to my eye. Thanks. He is falling asleep on his pillow right now with it in the crook of his front leg."

It's so nice to see my little knitted gifts were appreciated! :D

More Pet Stories!

Here are some more stories about the pets that belong to all the knitters participating in our knit-along.

KnittinMitchie has 3 dogs in her life. Two of her dogs live with her mother, but she visits them often. They are Chocolate Labs, named Cooper and Cocoa. KnittinMitchie says, "The labs are SPOILED to the core......Mom got Cocoa after I moved out and got Cooper last Thanksgiving after my brother graduated HS. So they're our replacements."
KnittinMitchie's Cooper and Cocoa

Her other dog is a Terrier Mix - 7 years old. "3 year old Michelle loves to play with him."
KnittinMitchie's Michelle and Pudgy

Another of our knitters, "misha rf" shares her pet story: "We recently got a dog, Maggie. We also have 8 cats (my husband is the crazy cat lady, not me--only 3 of them are mine). We really don't need any more cat toys. Most of the time, we end up taking them away from the dog! I suppose we should be happy that *someone* will play with them..."

And our last pet story comes from "sgtpam", who shares about her dog: "I named her Shebah (as in queen of…). I got her (or she got me) as soon as she was ready to leave her birth mom, December of 1999. Her mom is a full shitzu. The papa is an adorable full miniature silky terrier. When they brought them to work to put them up for adoption, I just fell in love with the runt of the litter. I had just bought my house and was ready to move in…so, she and I moved into my new house together.

She does not, however, love my new knitting obsession! My lap and attention have belonged to her for so long that she just doesn't think she should have to share it! As soon as I get settled in, that's when she decides it's time to play or cuddle. She's getting better about it though...as long as she gets a treat first. She also insists on an appetizer before she'll eat dinner....yup, she's just a little spoiled. But, she's a great dog.

The first picture is one of the first I took of her as a puppy. The other is one is from when I spent Christmas in Tennessee a couple of years ago."
Shebah as Puppy

Shebah Older