I could not find a specific thread so, as a lot of members have pets, I thought I would start a new thread to show the pets 'as they are', when they have nothing to do with our modelling, rather than when they get involved in modelling.
Some of you may remember earlier in the year I mentioned that a couple of stray cats had taken up residence in our shed and subsequently had a litter. Well, it happened again in September. Three of this latest litter survived, two tabbies and a black and white one. They have, eventually, become quite friendly and the black and white one, who is half the size of his siblings, has taken to sitting on my lap. However, I noticed the week before Christmas that he had what appeared to be, basically, a cold and sometimes struggled with his breathing. So two visits to the Vet' in the run up to Christmas, (and €60 from my wallet), which showed that he only weighed 1kg., some tablets, powder and medicine and he seemed to be improving. However, he has gone downhill a bit the last couple of days, so I will be ringing the Vet' tomorrow. Yeh I know, I am rambling. I just thought I would show you a picture of the little one that I have just taken. It is called 'Warming My Feet'.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/4209-281221175830.jpeg)
Phew, for a minute I thought it was another of your joke threads :no:
It wouldn't be Christmas time without some "SNOW"...
She makes us laugh!
Ross.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/8374-281221194854.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117775)
Here's Millie putting a stop to my working from home.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/5877-291221101222.jpeg)
Here's Jaffa and Josie - not growling each other for a change:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/5329-291221121859.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117781)
and Jenna (she's big - that's an A3 printer she's sat on and she weighs 8.5kg):
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/5329-291221122002.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117782)
We also have Freddie, currently hibernating. Was found wandering and the owners could not be located. A vet estimated 60 to 70 years old ... and that was 50 years ago!):
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/5329-291221122156.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117783)
These are our three, taken in 2019:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/2975-291221155951.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117795)
Jasmine, the alley cat that thinks she's a princess, then the two Lagottos, Lexie and Bella.
Jasmine is now about 16 and very frail. She was diagnosed with kidney failure 15 months ago, but the vet is keeping her going on fortnightly antibiotic injections. She has lost nearly half her body weight and now weighs barely 2kg, but she's not giving up yet and still queues up for titbits of fish, prawn or chicken (and turkey in recent days). All the time she still has quality of life, we are happy to keep her going.
She still rules the dogs with a claw of iron. Lexie is very wary of her even after all this time. Bella is quite fond of her on the quiet - she gets very worried whenever Jasmine is put in the basket for the trip to the vet. Lexie is 6, and Bella is 6 months younger. They are both very lively and bouncy, but just brilliant with the 2 grandsons. Bella in particular is besotted with the younger one. Mrs Papyrus keeps muttering darkly about adopting another dog or cat when Jasmine goes... :no:
Cheers,
Chris
unfortunately we don't have a pet ....
we've just got HB :'(
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/311-291221163056.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117796)
oh, and the couch potato, Izzy
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/311-291221163319.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117797)
who's idea of a long walk is to the water bowl and back to the settee :hmmm:
We have 11 of these little monsters, whose only ambition in life it to wreck everything, but they make us laugh.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FHjZZrzXMAEQjBc?format=jpg&name=small)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FHXnhpLWYAAdzTf?format=jpg&name=900x900)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FHjahgFX0AA6jv9?format=jpg&name=small)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FB_forLWYAg_h47?format=jpg&name=small)
Mid moving the keel for my boat, someone decided he was more important.
Ben the supervisor Collie.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/6067-301221172840.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=117858)
The Long And The Short
I started this thread with a photograph of the kitten warming its feet by the fire. The kitten is not well and is back at the Vet's this afternoon for his third visit in two weeks. He has what appears to be a sore eye and a runny nose and his breathing does not seem right. He looks like he is only a few weeks old, but is now about 17 or 18 weeks old and is definitely the runt of the litter. Hopefully the Vet can sort him out with some more medicine. However, the purpose of this post is to show you how 'Blue', our cross German Shepherd, who is about 14 or 15 years old and a big dog, has taken to looking after the kitten. In the photograph, you can see the kittens poorly eye - and his runny nose! (Costing me a lot in cotton wool! ;)).
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/4209-040122105718.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/3756-040122154438.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=118013)
This is Cassie. The matriarch of the house.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/3756-040122154708.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=118014)
This is Biskit (when he was a bit younger)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/3756-040122154832.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=118015)
And these are the kittens. Twinkle and Sparkle. They are now 5 months old and a right pair... :D
Our two pets are deep asleep in their Winter boxes.
They should be up and raring to go by early March.
"On Me 'Ead Son"
The kitten referred to in earlier posts, although not fully well yet, seems to be a lot better these last few days, although he had his last tablet last night, (and put one of his fangs through my finger :ouch:), so we will see if another visit to the Vet' is needed. He then decided he wanted to watch last nights football match on the television.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/4209-110122100627.jpeg)
This is Pippin, my 7 year old Bearded Collie.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/8861-130122112907.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=118369)
This is Saskia (Sassy), one of our 4 dogs, still sulking after being extremely badly shorn by my wife....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/735-230122215718.png) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=118766)
Even more so after seeing the lovely Pippin in the post above.....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/735-230122215945.png) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=118768)
I'll try and find some nice ones to do her justice plus get some of the other three.
Cheers, weave :beers:
Last year I had a minor operation so I couldnt go down the shed as to operate my layout I would have had to crawl on my hands and knees to get to the control panel.
( That problem is now solved see Stone house thread )
My wife very kindly went down the shed and brought my test oval up to the house and I sat in my chair going through all the locos stored in a cupboard in our bedroom ,I was running one very special loco and allthough it ran really well forwards it was a bit jerky going back wards .
I had an urgent call of nature and left it running at a medium speed , when I came back there was no sound from the test track and our 16 year old cat was curled up on the baseboard fast asleep .unfortunately the special loco was on the floor the valve gear in bits .
THE CAT VERY NEARLY LOST ONE OF HER NINE LIVES .
I think she owes Hailstone a big cuddle as he very kindly managed to solder the modified valve gear back together and the loco now runs very smoothly .
Thanks again to Hailstone
Bob Tidbury
The cat will now be banned outside if running any more stock in doors .
Sorry, Bob, but the fault lies at your door. The cat was just doing what comes naturally. :P
That may well be, but they are terrible engine drivers. :)
My 18 year old tends to fall asleep on the fish tank these days. She's a bit weird, no idea where she gets that from :hmmm:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/118/262-240122213145-1187921390.jpeg)
Mick
Fergie our cat is now 16 years old, so she might have allready lost some of her lives she came home one day with a broken tail so had to have half of it removed .We never found out how that happened .
I very rarely run anything in the house it was only while I was recovering from my operation that I had the test track in the back room .
When down the shed doing things on the layout or running things we have to keep the door shut and in the summer we open the windows but keep the blinds down or she comes in and chews the trees I think she likes the taste of the copper wire .I am now the only one in the family who can stroke her without risk of being scratched . Though she does sleep on our bed nearly every night .
Bob Tidbury
Another 'Long And Short' picture.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/119/4209-210222100641.jpeg)
Unfortunately the kitten appears to be going downhill again, as you can probably tell from the photograph, so it will be another call to the Vet's. :(
Addit: I contacted the Vet' - visit arranged for 4.30pm on Wednesday.
The Last Picture
As you will have noticed, I started this thread so members could show their pets. The one cat I have featured, (out of about eight - some live here permanently, some come and go), was a kitten who was born about five months ago. He was born to two stray cats that have taken to 'hanging about' our house. The female had a litter last September and the kitten was one of the litter. Once he decided to trust us, the kitten became quite friendly, but it was obvious he was not well. He was half the size of his siblings and could fit in the palm of my hand. Because he appeared to have a cold and/or infection, we called him 'Snuffles', mainly because of the noises he made. I took him to the Vet, who said it sounded like his lungs were not properly formed which was possibly the cause of his infection. After a course of antibiotics, he seemed to improve a bit, but went downhill, so it was another trip to the Vets. Again, another course of antibiotics, which seemed to help him. However, he became ill once again, so back to the Vets we went today. The Vet was confident that 'Snuffles' had F.I.P. (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), which is a sort of Coronavirus, although not the same thing as the Coronavirus that has put the world in turmoil for the last couple of years. The Vet said if she was correct - and she was quite certain she was, 'Snuffles' would never be 'normal' and would have regular bouts of infection. Eventually, F.I.P. would quite likely prove fatal.
I know, from messages received, that there are a few forum members who were following his progress, but I, sadly, have to say that I agreed for 'Snuffles' to be put to sleep. He was only with us for a short time, but he was a lovely little fella.
I took a couple of photographs yesterday and this one is the last ever taken of 'Snuffles', sat with his friend 'Blue'.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/119/4209-230222195843.jpeg)
:*( :*(
I'm sorry to hear that. It's hard , but the right thing to do. :(
I've just added my keyboard to the Lancashire flood alert list :*( :*( :*( :*(
Thank you, David and Louisa, for all your efforts with Snuffles.
Really sorry to hear that, David. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly these little creatures worm their way into our affections. I guess Blue will miss him too. Whenever our old cat goes to the vet our youngest dog is worried to bits. I don't know what will happen when I come back with an empty cat basket...
Very best wishes,
Chris
As I think have mentioned in a couple of previous posts, Blue, our 15+ years old cross Alsation, has had problems with his back legs and hips for a few months. He has been on tablets from the Vet' for the last few weeks which have made him a bit more mobile. It turns out that the tablets were strong pain killers. However, over the last week or so, it was becoming obvious that Blue was struggling. Sometimes he could manage to stand by himself but at other times, we got a 'woof' from him. We knew that this was his way of saying "help me up". Either Louisa or myself would lift him onto his feet and he would then waddle outside.
Yesterday I took him to the Vet's. Blues problems were mainly down to a condition called 'Hip Dysplasia', which tends to affect bigger dogs, together with a dodgy knee and, after discussing the options open to Blue, I agreed that it would be best for him if I allowed the Vet' to put him to sleep. I can honestly say that that was one of the hardest things I have had to do in my 71 years. Blue was not just a pet, he was our friend. He was the most placid of dogs, very intelligent and in spite of his size, was extremely tolerant of the cats – the pictures in replies #9, #20 and #21 show him with a kitten at the beginning of the year.
Whilst we have lived in Ireland, we have lost three dogs and a few cats, but it never gets any easier. Blue has left a big hole in our lives and our hearts.
I have to add that the Vet' I dealt with yesterday, I think I have seen him before on one of my visits, is one of the nicest blokes you could wish to meet under such circumstances and took great pains to explain exactly what was ailing Blue.
RIP Blue. :*(
This picture was taken a few years ago, but it is one of my favourites
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/125/4209-160922093950.jpeg)
Oh No! I'm so sorry to hear that, David and know exactly what you're going through, exactly as many others on this forum will as well. My heart (not that it's much good) is with you and Louisa.
Looks like he was a lovely dog.
Condolences.
Sorry to hear your sad news David, Mable and the Bodgers thoughts are with you. If it's any consolation you did the right thing, animals are not here to suffer, having had to make a similar decision recently I appreciate how hard and upsetting that can be.
Condolences along with best wishes
Mike H
RIP Blue
my condolences to you and your family rip blue
paul
Have a mixture of pets.... Always been a German Shepherd fan so our first dog we had was a female black and tan GSD, who despite her size still wanted to sit on laps
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/125/5722-160922132249.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=125984)
She was purchased from a breeder as a pup and gave us the pleasure of owning her for 9 years before having to be but to sleep due to DM. After three months I felt that something was missing so we approached Battersea and we found our second GSD, Bessie
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/125/5722-160922133007.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=125985)
She was 4 when we got her, and having been abused by her previous owner too a lot of work before she became my best friend and helped me through some tough times. Sadly she too developed DM after five years of owning her....
I managed to last a year without having a dog.... but in December last year gave in and collected our third GSD, again a rescue from Battersea. Juke was 15 months when we got him, and had never been socialised. Again he needed a fair amount of work, but now has settled in well. Don't know what it is with GSDs, but they don't realise how big they are and still want to sit on laps !
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/125/5722-160922133949.png) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=125986)
Here's a picture of one of my other pets.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/125/5722-160922134222.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=125987)
I've kept snakes for 36 years. Lucy (above) was the result of a 5 year project to breed my own Super Lesser Royal Python. Currently have 7 Royal Pythons, 1 Bairds Rat snake and a male Boa Constrictor of 8' 6".... Now he does give you a cuddle :-)
Poppy and I are very sorry to hear your sad news, David.
Not an easy decision but most certainly the correct one.
With all best wishes
John
Sorry to hear your news, David. 15 years is a good age for a big dog. It all comes down to quality of life in the end, and you made the right decision. He looked a lovely boy.
All the best,
Chris
Never a nice decision to have to make fella and having had to do the same just a few weeks ago for our 19 year old cat I have a pretty good idea of how you feel. I still miss her and her habits/routines now as does the 9 year old cat who seems a bit lost without her around. Keep your chin/chins up mate 8)
Really sad to hear this David @dannyboy (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=4209)) , know what you must be feeling. Time is a good healer, but so is another dog, worked for me. :thumbsup:
David,
Blue looks like a wonderful dog. Losing a dog is horrible, but at least time will heal the acute pain of loss even though you will never forget.
Best wishes
Webbo
Thank you to everyone who has posted a reply, the replies are very much appreciated. :beers:. I know I am not the only one to loose a cherished friend and it is not the first time it has happened to us, but it is still hard.
Yesterday, like every day, Monday to Friday, I was in the house by myself, alone, with nobody, apart from the pets, but, boy, did I feel alone. We could sometimes go for hours and not speak to each other, but I knew Blue was there and he knew I was there. Today we went on our monthly(ish) trip to Enniskillen. We parked in the Asda car park and Louisa just burst into tears. When we got back, I went to say hello to him - he was not there. We will get used to the situation, but it ain't easy. I have not mentioned to Louisa about getting another dog yet. Part of me says "yes", but the practical me says "no" - I am not getting any younger :(, but we will see what happens. Thank you again.