I had several dogs boarding here during the month of July limiting my ability to leave the farm, sleep, or relax in general. The last one left early Friday morning. I feel very sorry for her as her owner is gone to work most of the day and she gets very little attention. For the first few days I let her run with us in the grove on a limited basis. I took her into the barn on a leash and she immediately attacked 3 of my oldest chickens. From then on she had to stay in the kennel and fenced yard where she sat and barked and whined all day long. When the owner picked her up he did not offer to pay me and I didn’t ask – I just feel sorry for the dog. She’s also the dog who ran to our place on one of the coldest days of the winter. I kept her overnight until I took her home and insisted that the owner let her into the house on such cold days. He told me she had a bed and one heat bulb in an open building – I said that was not enough on days when the temperature did not raise above 20 below.
It just makes me sad.
Not even offering to pay, or do something for you in return? What poor behavior. If this is the attitude, it is surely time to enjoy your own animals.
I have a friend here who steals (releases them) dogs in bad situations. Sure wish she lived near you.
Hedy – I have stolen dogs in the past as well.
It makes me sad to hear about dogs that don’t get the attention that they need. Our furry friends are such great companions and love us unconditionally. I hope your issues with the blog get resolved. I look forward to your adventures.
Your post came through loud and clear! So wish I could adopt a dog again but Hubby won’t have it. Yesterday we went shopping fir a gate and a bed and toys for the puppy Honor will adopt in 5 wks. We met all kinds of dogs in the various stores. He would not pet any of them or get near them. That is how much Jake’s death affected him.
Deb Harrison, I think my husband will be the same way once we lose our little guy. He’s going on 12 and slowing down a lot. It’s so hard to lose our friends. I am hoping that we can look at it another way though. We can actually go out to eat and not feel guilty for leaving him behind, go on day trips without worrying he might get sick in the car. But for now we bring him with us or don’t go. Jan in MA
Mary
Here are a few things to try on you iPad if you haven’t already. They may seem trivial, but sometimes the simple things work.
1. Completely shut down the iPad and leave it off for 5-10 minutes then restart.
2. If you are using an app on the iPad for the blog, try logging out of the app and back in. If that doesn’t work, delete the app and reinstall.
3. If you are using a web browser (safari probably) again log out and back in, try clearing the memory on the browser, or try a whole new one. I have chrome on my iPad as well as safari, some things work better in chrome.
4. By chance did you recently have an update on the operating system on your iPad? I’m assuming if you were at the Apple store this was addressed, but you know what happens when you assume.
I apologize if you’ve already done these things, just looking for ways to help as I would be sad to see your blog go away. I would be happy to help in any way I could and will be at school tomorrow and have a few more resources available. If you’d like further help you can certainly contact me.
Thank you for all your effort in trying to get this up and running.
Holly C – actually I have tried all of your suggestions but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try again. No new OS or updates but something did happen in the early hours of July 24. I just don’t know what it was yet. I think it’s my host/server but he won’t return my calls, emails or texts! Sounds fishy, doesn’t it?
Absolutely fishy!! But looks like today things are working, don’t you love a day when things just go as planned! Have a wonderful Monday.
I do not understand why a person has a dog if they aren’t going to interact with it and let it into their home. They need loving and petting and human contact. Makes me sad! That person has no consideration of you not to offer you any kind of pay for watching their dog. So sorry.
Makes one wonder why he would have a dog! Disgraceful!
Just plain makes me MAD! Poor wee thing!
I wonder, too, why some people even have pets. Every time I hear something like this, I hug my girls even closer. I can’t imagine my life without them. They are the best companions I’ve ever had!!
I am still getting ads to close and have pretty much throughout this difficulty with the blog—6 to close on this one plus several without the x to close.
Not sure why he has a dog! Sadly there are so many pets done this way. I understand not keeping anymore. You are such a wonderful lady.
You are such a big heart. Your care for all the animals is outstanding.
There are tons of people who should no be dog owners, they want the dog but don’t consider the amount of attention they need and deserve. I wish people would determine the amount of time and money these pets take before they acquire. I agree with your decision!
What a sad story – and how sad for you! You love dogs, cats, etc, and to see one treated so poorly has to affect you! Love is the answer – to so many things! Thinking of you and hoping that you are doing ok!
Blog about dog boarding came through…too sad!
3 ads to close.
Glad to hear from you – even if life-by-the-barn is tough! LOVE hearing from you! 💕
Judy in Texas
Mary, SO glad to see a post come through. It’s disappointing about Reed’s fair experience. Not fair, and I hope this doesn’t stop him from doing more quilts. At least he knows all us quilters out here support and encourage him and think his quilt was great. What a shame. As for the dog experience, some people just shouldn’t have pets. That poor dog. You deserve a gold star for doing what you can. Hope the posts keep coming. And the frustrations end. All the best to you!
Mary how can he not think it is OK to leave a dog to be cared for a week without paying? That is not OK! I too feel sorry for pup and you! I know you have a big heart & love animals, but he should pay you for caring for his pup!
I just cannot stand to hear of animal abuse! What is wrong with those people anyway!!
I’m so sorry about the blog troubles. Praying for a resolution…AND your sanity.
Aw, Mary, poor little dog and poor you seeing it so badly treated. Our neighbors are giving their dog IV’s and doing everything to help him while he suffers from Kidney disease. They will know when he is ready to move over the Rainbow Bridge, but for now he is doing pretty well. It’s just so sad to think of awful owners out there, but these people are wonderful and doing all the right things so hope this helps some. 6 ads again today; I have had ads all through the hacking etc.
Ooh, what a horrible dog owner. I wonder how he’d like it if he had to sleep in an open building with only a bed during the winter? Sounds like a good plan of yours to stop boarding dogs, especially if an owner thinks you do it without pay. You’ll have more time to sew!
Sorry for all your blog troubles….I hope that you get them all worked out and can continue to post. I realize that’s rather selfish of me, but all of us so enjoy getting a peek into your life. I guess that makes us voyeurs.
I am enjoying summer, hope you can find time to do so before autumn is here. I always feel that by the time August arrives that the next time we turn around it’ll be October. I don’t know where the time goes…it seems like it was just May! Well, I better go pick zucchini. It’s amazing how much only one plant produces. Tonight’s dinner is zucchini boats made with leftover taco meat, black beans, onions and cheese! Yum!
Closed 6 ads Mary. Some of my grandchildren do dog sitting & get paid very well, they are very good to them. It’s nice for the dogs to be in a safe & loving environment. Hope you can get the blog thing figured out. Just started raining here in Upstate NY.
I think you should send him a bill. A great big shocking one. Then, be a little mouse in the corner when he opens it. Wouldn’t that be fun.
Obviously this pathetic excuse of a dog owner is negligent in caring and responsibility so chalk it up to one more human that needs to find compassion somwhere, somehow. Can you tell I am upset.
Kathy in Western NY – I begged him to let her in the house last winter after I kept her here overnight. He couldn’t find her so he called the sheriff – why didn’t he come here looking for her? She always ran to our place and she would have been dead in an hour in such cold temps.
Mary you continue to be my hero. I admire people who aren’t afraid to stand up for what’s humane and all you do to help change animals lives is what makes you a compassionate person. Never change. Just keep trying to change the world.
I don’t know why people get animals when they aren’t going to love and care for them properly. Apparently the poor dog’s owner thinks it’s all about him and the world owes him a living. I agree with Sue in Oregon—send him a bill!! 😡
Enjoy your own animals!
Caryn Goulden – this guy’s grown children gave him this puppy for Christmas in 2017.: I asked why he wanted her and he said he liked her. He lives alone. I asked if he locked her in the basement and he said no. Makes me so sad.
I agree about sending that wimp of a man a dog sitting bill! Makes me wonder how he treats his family!!
That said, I hope to work in my sewing room today.
Thank you, Mary, for trying to get your picture posting problem straightened out at Apple!
Can’t your local Humane Society do something? Leaving a dog in winter cold with inadequate heat surely breaks your local animal cruelty laws?
J. Darrow- no, they wouldn’t do anything because most farmers leave their dogs outside. They always qualify their pet as “it’s just an outdoor dog”. And this is the reason I stay home and mind my own business – I can’t stand to see all the animal neglect which in my world constitutes cruelty. My stand on animals has set me apart from many former “friends” who don’t have the same views. I say this is a subject that I will not compromise on and it will be the subject I will not discuss. Period.
Don’t understand someone like that….
Holly suggested turn everything completely off for 5-10 minutes…..try over night…maybe…who know!
As much as I love all technology has improved our lives, I hate technology for how it has complicated & frustrated our lives.
Hang in there…there is a solution..you just haven’t found it yet.
Your loyal readers are going nowhere!
I think I would see if I could adopt him from the owners. They dint really seem to care about
The poor dog. I have adopted twice. Actually once. The first dog was so scared of everything it took me a year for it to feel safe with me to even take a fig treat. One day it was raining really hard and it sat as close to my front door trying to stay dry. I opened the door and told it to come in. It stayed til rain stopped. Little by little she got comfortable with me to the point she would come in and eat with my dogs and allow me to put a leash on her to walk with our dogs. She started staying with us regularly and had been with us about 3 weeks when the neighbors asked if we had seen her..why yes..she’s in the house sleeping. She moved in with us and never left til she died. The other dogs my son and his family had from a liter of puppies from another son had. They have 4 girls that are always on the go and hoth parents travel some for work. The puppy stayed in a crate a lot. So they asked me to keep her for a week, yes,, then how about the next week..yes..then I told them just let her stay with me. She was do thin but now has filled out nicely and is very sweet loving dog. Don’t get me wrong, they cared for her and she needed more attention than they could give her
Angie – I have thought about just not giving her back but now that I know she’s so wild, I’m not sure I could train that love of chasing cats and chickens out of her. I’m just asking for trouble.
Some people should not own pets!
For those of us that love animals, it’s incomprehensible when people care so little for the well being of the animals entrusted to them. Grrrr- drives me crazy. Sometimes, I think we should relegate the person to the outdoors. They will be fed, watered and have a covered place for shelter but it won’t be heated to a comfortable temperature for them to exist in. This man is deserving of such treatment and how could he not offer some type of compensation for your wonderful care of his dog?? Inconsiderate person!
I am sorry but this is appalling behavior. But, why should one expect more if they leaving a dog out in an open building with one heat bulb in subzero temperatures. Pet owners like that should experience the same kind of treatment! 😡
I also feel sad, people like that should not have pets. Prayers for the dog. Peace Micky
I don’t know who judges at your fair but I have several friends who enter their quilts in a local fair here and the same sort of thing happens. There is no rhyme or reason how ribbons are awarded. It seems the judges have no experience with the actual process of quilting.
This is the saddest story from you especially because you are a champion for dogs. Why do they have a dog at all to treat the dog so poorly?
Impossible to understand isn’t it?
You’re coming through loud and clear! I closed 5 ads today and I always close ads even before I read your blog. Sure hope you can get all this mess straightened out as your blog is so interesting to read and I like your sense of humor! We could be friends if only I lived closer.
As for that poor dog – you’ve always done right by all the animals in your care and have nothing to be regretful over. It’s time to watch out for your own.
Don’t you wonder why someone like that would even have a dog?
Mary, received your post but noticed the pattern pictures next to our names are missing. As Roseanne Roseannadanna ( Saturday night live) used to say, if it’s not one thing, its another! Time to relax and forget the blog for a bit.
Sorry Reeds quilt didn’t make it all the way to the top. It would be interesting to know what the judges/evaluators had to say.
As for the clod who didn’t offer to pay you for boarding, have you considered sending him an itemized invoice?
What an A—HOLE! Jerk.
Before we could adopt Loretta, we had home a home visit/evaluation, filled out a 3 page questionnaire, and past records with our vet were inspected. During the home visit, the inside and outside was scrutinized as well as mental evaluation of us was done. I guess that’s the difference between buying a dog and adopting one.
Let Reed know he is #1 in our book! He can be very proud of his quilt as we are proud of him.
And Mary, we are more than patient with your blog troubles. You have had too many disappointments this last couple weeks. Wish I could be there to help. There’s always a beer at the end of the day.
So sorry you had a bad dog sitting experience. That guy sounds like a real a$$hole! Dogs & their inhumane treatment is one of my passions. We have a great non-profit here, all volunteer, led by a Dr (not a vet) & his wife. They do SO much for the lost, dumped, mistreated, abandoned & even sick or hurt dogs! But the problem here in our county in TN alone is so widespread & education is the key. But the politicians don’t want to educate the kids, the adults or anyone else because they turn a blind eye to the depth of the problem. The organization functions on donations tho they have a few fundraisers every year to raise money if they’ve rescued many especially sick or injured. Some of the care (cats & dogs) is donated by some of the area vets but not nearly enough. For those times, when funds are running low, this wonderful couple in charge of the rescue just fund from their own pockets. I don’t know how they haven’t given up because it’s so overwhelming but they carry on! Oops, I think I got on my soapbox again! Sorry! I did close 6 ads this time! Take care, Mary!
Jan – our rescued dog, a terrier , came to us in NY from Tennessee and as our vet said she needed lots of love and patience due to her bad puppyhood. I said that’s okay we are old folks who have all the time to give it to her.
I don’t know if this would work, but here’s a story. My friend lived next door to people who left their young dog outside almost all the time. My friend found a fellow teacher in the next town who said she’d take the dog. My friend “dog napped” the young dog and gave it to her co-worker. He lived a wonderful life of 14 years with a family who dearly loved him.
Diane , Squeaks mom – I have done this before myself.
people like that should not have pets, they don’t treat them well or like real pets, so why have them
I’m having fun trying to see how many ads I can close. I keep opening your sight and every time I get about six or seven more ads. I’ve been able to close between 20 and 40 in one day sometimes. Hope this helps you because I’m sort of making it a game.
I’m trying to adopt a cat that is the brother of the cat I have. They are a little over two years old. The cat I’ve had since he was a kitten is Max and the brother is being given up by a family that has a baby and a dog. They are afraid of the cat with the baby because the cat is very loving and will lay on the baby. When the two cats met the newcomer ran the other way and hid downstairs and has acted afraid of Max. We will keep him this week with the hope he gets over the fear. Don’t know how to deal with this.
Martha – don’t give up – they will eventually come out of hiding and get used to each other. The people giving up the cat are worried for nothing but of course they can’t be convinced. Max needs to be reassured of his status and the new cat should be kept confined until they can meet – turning the new cat loose in a strange house is difficult at best and the newcomer is feeling very threatened. Can you give him a crate or carrier for awhile?
I hope Max and his brother work out. This might work. When I brought Squeak home from the Big Lots parking lot at 4 weeks and 20 ounces, we were afraid Spike, our 18 pounder, would not like her. We borrowed a large dog crate for Squeak so they could smell each other, but not reach each other. Ha–Squeak ended up being the aggressor! We also had a cat, Casper, when our son was born 49 years ago. Casper slept in the bassinet and if our son stirred, Casper came to get me! We have had cats through 2 children and four grand children and never had a problem.
This made me very sad to hear. This person obviously does not deserve this pup. On a cold day call the authorities on this person. You are correct, a bulb and heated bed just is not enough. Be the voice for this pup. I would offer to give it a home then try to find a home for it. This really bothers me alot. Thank you for caring.