Happy birthday Hazel. 😽. Sorry Steven, I only have cat imojis.
I’m an obsessed animal lover. All animals. I’m an animal rights activist. There is nothing like the unconditional love of an animal. Right now I rather have animals than humans. I’m blessed right now with five cats. There’s something wrong about someone who doesn’t like animals. Look at trump and Noem.
They just don’t live long enough. My rescue muttski, Gypsy is so old, can’t see, deaf as a post, get lost in a corner, housemanners, kaput. But the truth is, I’ll know. I’ll know when it’s time. She’s a mess but she’s still a soul here and it’s just not time yet.
Claudia…I hear you, of our three English Springers…two are siblings…birthdate 1/1/2014 so…..? I read somewhere that “God cheated Mankind of their most prized possession…The Dog! By only giving them such a short lifespan!”
Gypsy was probably around one year and a half when I took her from the no kill shelter. I’ve had her 16 years so she ‘s a very old girl. She’s the size of a Boarder Collie but has shepherd in her. She’s a good dog. It’s heartbreaking seeing her so aged but she’s still a soul and like I said, I’ll know and she’s not ready. 🤞🏾🐕.
In our 50 years of marriage, we have been blessed with the company of many dogs, everything from a standard poodle to a rescued greyhound. Most of them were passed on by owners who could no longer care for them. Only one came as a puppy—a golden retriever. One was an older tripod who had been rescued from a high-kill shelter. The greyhound was passed to us when my mother-in-law had to go into an assisted living facility at 96 years old. They were all well-loved and are very much missed. Dogs enrich our lives in so many ways!
At the moment, our only companions are two tabby cats. However, we do have a granddog—an extremely energetic 8-month-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. We see her frequently when we spend time with the grandkids.
We are still grieving over the loss of our last dog, Purdy, but may be ready to adopt a senior dog soon.
We may have gotten a Maine Coon mix as a rescue we adopted from Petsmart—he was long-haired, all-black, very affectionate with humans, and we thought he was full-grown when he got him. He wasn't, and kept growing for the next year and a half until he was significantly larger than any of the other cats we had! My then-wife nicknamed him "The Moose" because he was so big...but he was always a very loving boy with humans, though not so much with other cats.
Steven, Hazel was beyond cute as a pup, and is truly beautiful now, lying in the sunlight in her "glamour" shot. But my favorite pic of her is "the stare that cannot be resisted". I'm a sucker. My companion is Beatrice, a blonde (light spots) dalmation lady with impeccable manners. She can hold that stare, nose on my knee as I work or read, for longer than any dog I've ever known. When my hands are free, she knows I am available for ear rubs, treats, or a short romp. She fiills my life with delight.
My devotion to dogs is not because I don't like cats: I find them charming and both elegant and goofy. (Plus they catch rodents.) Once, I had both dogs and cats at the same time, and found that delightful too. But I developed a severe allergy to cats. And that was that.
And thanks for posting this. It brought me back to earth, where I need to be.
Retired veterinarian here. We never got a pet on purpose -- didn't need to. We have and have had a variety of pets that needed a place to be for a wide range of reasons. Each one has enriched our lives with his or her unique personality and quirks. We hope they feel the same way about us.
Your Hazel is adorable -- love her ears and soulful eyes! We had a beagle, Spike, who looked like Alfred Hitchcock in a dog suit. And we have a Hazel, too, a cat, aka Hazelnut or Cutie Pie. She is quite the drama queen. Wonder where she learned that?
The timing of this is perfect as my Maine Coon cat sleeps on my lap and my girlfriend talked over the phone,of today being the 1 1/2 year passing of her jorkie. Still some mourning.
Oh yes…..pets bring us joy & a simple love! At this point in my life I don’t have a pet myself, but have a grand dog & 3 grand cats near by to enjoy! My life has been blessed with many pets, including a runt pig that lived in a dresser drawer until healthy enough to experience the outdoors. But it remained a dear pet that met me when I exited the school bus at the end of the day, along with dogs, cats, & a pet chicken! It is best that the orange menace in the oval office has no pets, cuz he’s incapable of experiencing the joy & compassion of caring for another living thing.
Rarely have I been without a dog in my more than 70 years. One of the earliest pictures of me as a baby was with a collie. In the following years, dogs were part of my life.
It was only the few years after I graduated from college and when I married my wife, was I without a dog. Very shortly after we were married, we got our first dog, an Irish Setter whose breeder was my boss’s wife. In the following 46 years we have had eight dogs, including our current two. These two and the previous two were both rescues from Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue. (Shameless plug: I’m on the board so if you want to find a great dog, go to esrescue.org.)
Each had its own personality and quirks but the one constant in all was their love for us and our love for them. I can do without a lot in my life, but not a dog.
Thank you for this beautiful, much needed piece and for the precious photos.
Happy birthday Hazel. 😽. Sorry Steven, I only have cat imojis.
I’m an obsessed animal lover. All animals. I’m an animal rights activist. There is nothing like the unconditional love of an animal. Right now I rather have animals than humans. I’m blessed right now with five cats. There’s something wrong about someone who doesn’t like animals. Look at trump and Noem.
Awww, Hazel, you are such a beauty! Thank you Steven, this post warms my heart. And my 11-year-old rescue mutt Jet says you are a good boy!
I strive to be the person my dog thinks I am. I’ve learned more about love and loss from my dogs than from any person.
Something we should all strive for!
They just don’t live long enough. My rescue muttski, Gypsy is so old, can’t see, deaf as a post, get lost in a corner, housemanners, kaput. But the truth is, I’ll know. I’ll know when it’s time. She’s a mess but she’s still a soul here and it’s just not time yet.
Claudia…I hear you, of our three English Springers…two are siblings…birthdate 1/1/2014 so…..? I read somewhere that “God cheated Mankind of their most prized possession…The Dog! By only giving them such a short lifespan!”
Gypsy was probably around one year and a half when I took her from the no kill shelter. I’ve had her 16 years so she ‘s a very old girl. She’s the size of a Boarder Collie but has shepherd in her. She’s a good dog. It’s heartbreaking seeing her so aged but she’s still a soul and like I said, I’ll know and she’s not ready. 🤞🏾🐕.
Thank you for this lovely essay!
In our 50 years of marriage, we have been blessed with the company of many dogs, everything from a standard poodle to a rescued greyhound. Most of them were passed on by owners who could no longer care for them. Only one came as a puppy—a golden retriever. One was an older tripod who had been rescued from a high-kill shelter. The greyhound was passed to us when my mother-in-law had to go into an assisted living facility at 96 years old. They were all well-loved and are very much missed. Dogs enrich our lives in so many ways!
At the moment, our only companions are two tabby cats. However, we do have a granddog—an extremely energetic 8-month-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. We see her frequently when we spend time with the grandkids.
We are still grieving over the loss of our last dog, Purdy, but may be ready to adopt a senior dog soon.
Hey, what about cats?
Cats are just as deserving of love...and if you don't think so? They'll MAKE you think so! 😁
Yes, they are! I added a note that they are the second most popular pet.
My Maine Coon follows me around like a puppy.
We may have gotten a Maine Coon mix as a rescue we adopted from Petsmart—he was long-haired, all-black, very affectionate with humans, and we thought he was full-grown when he got him. He wasn't, and kept growing for the next year and a half until he was significantly larger than any of the other cats we had! My then-wife nicknamed him "The Moose" because he was so big...but he was always a very loving boy with humans, though not so much with other cats.
Steven, Hazel was beyond cute as a pup, and is truly beautiful now, lying in the sunlight in her "glamour" shot. But my favorite pic of her is "the stare that cannot be resisted". I'm a sucker. My companion is Beatrice, a blonde (light spots) dalmation lady with impeccable manners. She can hold that stare, nose on my knee as I work or read, for longer than any dog I've ever known. When my hands are free, she knows I am available for ear rubs, treats, or a short romp. She fiills my life with delight.
My devotion to dogs is not because I don't like cats: I find them charming and both elegant and goofy. (Plus they catch rodents.) Once, I had both dogs and cats at the same time, and found that delightful too. But I developed a severe allergy to cats. And that was that.
And thanks for posting this. It brought me back to earth, where I need to be.
Retired veterinarian here. We never got a pet on purpose -- didn't need to. We have and have had a variety of pets that needed a place to be for a wide range of reasons. Each one has enriched our lives with his or her unique personality and quirks. We hope they feel the same way about us.
Your Hazel is adorable -- love her ears and soulful eyes! We had a beagle, Spike, who looked like Alfred Hitchcock in a dog suit. And we have a Hazel, too, a cat, aka Hazelnut or Cutie Pie. She is quite the drama queen. Wonder where she learned that?
“Alfred Hitchcock in a dog suit.” Nice.
The timing of this is perfect as my Maine Coon cat sleeps on my lap and my girlfriend talked over the phone,of today being the 1 1/2 year passing of her jorkie. Still some mourning.
Oh yes…..pets bring us joy & a simple love! At this point in my life I don’t have a pet myself, but have a grand dog & 3 grand cats near by to enjoy! My life has been blessed with many pets, including a runt pig that lived in a dresser drawer until healthy enough to experience the outdoors. But it remained a dear pet that met me when I exited the school bus at the end of the day, along with dogs, cats, & a pet chicken! It is best that the orange menace in the oval office has no pets, cuz he’s incapable of experiencing the joy & compassion of caring for another living thing.
This sound like a great project, I'm looking forward to receiving your dispatches.
Thanks, John.
My advice to my former NIH colleagues on the dissolution of our entire division: Get a pet.
A truly beautiful dog, she is particularly lovely in the first grown up photo. 💕
Lovely brightness flowing in at the end of the day.
Thank you for the photos especially.
Rarely have I been without a dog in my more than 70 years. One of the earliest pictures of me as a baby was with a collie. In the following years, dogs were part of my life.
It was only the few years after I graduated from college and when I married my wife, was I without a dog. Very shortly after we were married, we got our first dog, an Irish Setter whose breeder was my boss’s wife. In the following 46 years we have had eight dogs, including our current two. These two and the previous two were both rescues from Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue. (Shameless plug: I’m on the board so if you want to find a great dog, go to esrescue.org.)
Each had its own personality and quirks but the one constant in all was their love for us and our love for them. I can do without a lot in my life, but not a dog.