In our first installment of Owners and Pets, we covered Presidents and Pets: A T-Boy Odyssey Into Why They Loved One Another. Part I ended with a request to our friends, families and readers to consider sending us photographs of their own sacred pets, including those who had passed away, but will never be forgotten. This should help others to understand; when our pets love us, we tend to love them back. I’ve noticed in cinema, when male and female actors sign a contract to play in a film, they specify things that their character will never do. Male actor Martin Sheen writes, that he’ll never throw the first punch or take the Lord’s name in vain. Female actors often say that they’ll never appear nude, and a body double must be used. But, the overall crime that they’ll never commit, is that they will never kick a dog, in particular when the dog is down. It has been noted by PETA, the Humane Society and animal rights groups that the abuse of one’s pet, often leads to the abuse of a spouse or abuse by a parent of their own children. It is one of the most terrible crimes in human history, to abuse a child and animal who are vulnerable, as well as any vulnerable creature throughout the world.

Let’s close with a lyric by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Though the words were written by Paul, John later commented, See what {Paul} he can do when he sets his mind on it.

“And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make”

– Lennon and McCartney

The End, Abbey Road, The Beatles

Pet Owners who Love Their Pets: Precious Pixs

Tommy

Owner: Jim
Seattle, Washington

Beloved pound pooch Tommy loved to go on road trips. During his life, he traveled to 6 states and one Canadian province. He loved the view from Crater Lake.

Cinnamon

Terry
West Side LA, California

Cinnamon was my sister’s dog – friendly, playful, smart – a border collie/golden retriever mix. She was raised with cats and learned to make meowing noises to get attention. Every time I visited she would greet me enthusiastically and hang with me all day. When my sister was killed by a drunk driver the family decided I should take care of Cinnamon, which I did happily, bringing her to California from her home in Florida. We shared much joy, and she supported me with love during hard times. She would anticipate “dinnertime” by prancing excitedly around my legs, her nails clicking on the kitchen floor like a tap dancer. I would grab her leash and say: “Wanna go out? Wanna go out?” and she would leap and dance in circles by the front door in her eagerness to go for a walk. She always had my back. While walking her in public I would notice I was talking to myself, so I would then say: “Isn’t that right, Cinnamon?” We had many wonderful years until, sadly, I finally had to put her down at age 18.

My mom and I have been active with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) since we lost my sister, and it remains one of the causes I support.

Posie the Dog

Owners: Annalies and Marty
Outlook, Washington

Tillie

Owner: Brent
First Hill of Seattle, Washington

I have two kids, three grandkids and one dog. Whose picture do I carry in my wallet? You guessed it, my “dog-ter,” Tillie!

Ziggy

Owners: Annie and Raudi
Portland, Oregon

The Dog with Three Names

“You want to take him home?” We didn’t imagine ourselves having a dog as newlyweds in a one bedroom apartment. But how could we pass up the offer for a sweet Border Collie who greeted us like he’d known us forever?

Ziggy once known as Tab by his original owners, and more recently Street, was an unexpected gift from Raudi’s uncle. He had once belonged to our cousin and they were looking to re-home him as he had a habit of running away. After running away from our cousin, he was turned into the Humane Society a year later by a free spirit who said his name was Street. You might imagine his life was hard but we know he was well taken care of, possibly too well, as he was 40 lbs over weight.

We couldn’t help but say yes to Raudi’s uncle to spontaneously take him back home to our little apartment in Portland, OR. We only felt it right he have a new name for the next chapter in his life. He loves the beach, hiking the PNW, and anywhere he can be free off leash chasing his ball. One thing we’ve learned while having him is you can take the dog out of the street, but you can’t take the street out of the dog. Oh, the stories he would tell if he could talk!

Min and Kitskin

Owner: Barb
Lynnwood, Washington

I’m captivated by my two wonderful cats, Min and Kitskin. I believe that cats are more intelligent than many people believe. When I get upset, my cats surround me, purring and comforting me. They rush to see me when I come home.

Bella

Owner: Shari
Outlook, Washington, USA

Josie McJosersen

Owner: Paul
Mill City, Oregon

This is Josie. Josie McJosersen. We adopted her 4-years ago. The only dog I’ve ever had that was “my dog.” She belongs to all of us. But I’m her favorite.

Bessie the Cow

Owner: Wyatt
The beautful town of Outlook, Washington

Micah, a Maine Coon

Owner: Bethany
Rancho Park, California

Big Pussy

Owner: Susan
NYC, New York

Introducing Big Pussy,* the ginger tabby who rules my life. He came to me as a pandemic adoption, and has brought me vast amounts of love and companionship. For a while there, he had a crush on the stuffed animal. Once he realized it was not reciprocated, he turned his attention back to me. *Note: He was named in honor of one of Tony Soprano’s capos.

Gretta

Owner: Mike’s Trucking Company
Lower Yakima Valley, Washington

Gretta is the most recent addition to the Roskamp and Mike’s Trucking Company family.

Annie and Satchel

Owner: Peggy
Ballard District of Seattle, Washington

Of my uncle’s pets, who is currently living in an assisted living home in Seattle: Annie is a 10.5 year old dog, and Satchel, a 3 year old female cat. They are best friends! Satchel goes on walks with Annie too. However, she and my 14 year old cat are NOT best friends! While my son, Chris’s cat, also likes Annie the dog, she likely wishes she’d never met Satchel. They spat a lot! I’m always happy to share pictures of my baby. In fact, I have two kids, three grand kids and one dog.

Tonka and Tinker

Owners: Raoul & Jackie
Whittier, California

Crown Corgi brother and sister from the same “popular” Mom a year apart. They are under-stimulated sheep herding dogs so they compete on who first sounds the alarm for the intruder. It’s comical when they take a walk with their ears out like radar to survey the terrain — their arch enemies are the bulldog and boxer who live next door. People smile when they see these full-bodied “security” dogs with their little feet. Raoul wrote a song about them.

Buckles

Owner: Noelle
Mill Valley, California

Buckles is part Blue Heeler and part McNab, a cattle dog mix from Mendocino and raised in a few beautiful places including the Eastern Sierras and later on in Marin County. 

If you were to look up the following in Webster’s Dictionary.

A dog that loved chasing a ball, following a scent, bringing joy and a smile every day to someone new or an old friend, this is where you’d see a picture of Buckles!

Although he’s not with us physically, his spirit lives on in our hearts.  His legacy is to wake up each day and bring joy to someone and for those of us who spent a moment or longer with him… this can be ours… bring joy to someone today and Buckles will smile on you!

Bella the Cat

Owner: Akiko
Universal City, California

Fionna

Owner: Camille Schaefer
Tacoma, Washington

Traveling Boy suggests to all voters throughout Pierce County: “Remember to vote for Camille Schaefer, as she’ll become YOUR Judge in Pierce County Superior Court, and will take a solemn oath on the US Constitution in treating all people with kindness and equality.“

Molly and Udon

Owner: Janet
Los Angeles, California

Rescued cats: Gentle Molly is near sighted and bumps into things. She was bullied by her brother and sister who both died prematurely. Now she gets along with her new friend who understands.

Tangerine, Puff, Natasha & Everdeen

Owner: Weave
Vancouver Island, British Columbia  

I love my dogs more than any human I know – terrible to say but it is true. There’s something about being loved back by a non-human that helps us better understand the universe.

Cali

Owners: Tony and Vanessa
Hacienda Heights, California

He loves to guard the garden of Tony and Vanessa. He hates coyotes and raccoons.

Charlie

Owners: Robin and Gary
Grandview, Washington

Charlie loves to wait for us, sitting on his official armchair.

Marlee

Owners: Lisa and Josh
Tri-Cities, Washington

Marlee is feeling a little excluded. In her 13 years in Washington she has covered a LOT of miles and has visited more wineries in WA that a dog probably should?

Oliver the Bunny

Owner: Bri
Lynnwood, Washington

I love Oliver so much.

King

Owners: Mike and Maggie
Whittier, California

The territorial barking guard dog of Mike and Maggie. His bark is bigger than his size.

Peamon

Owners: Tim and Yachiyo
San Diego, California

He’s old and grumpy. And a gigantic #@$%hole! (ha) but he’s our #@$%hole!💕
He sleeps 23 hours a day. And still controls our lives.  Unless he wants something, he totally ignores you. He’ll watch you clean his cat box, just to make sure you do it properly. 

Buddy the Therapeutic Dog

Owner: Heather
Whittier, California

Petty asked if Heather could care for Buddy when Petty’s husband passed away. Heather didn’t have time for Buddy; but when she was told that she could return Buddy if things didn’t work out, Heather decided to take action. Heather has not returned Buddy ever since.

Heather works in a funeral home so she meets people who are distraught and Buddy has remarkably turned into a sensitive therapeutic dog. I guess he earned his keep.

Cedric and Delphine

Owners: Deb & Ed
Burbank, California

Cedric came to us from the breeder, the very kind Amber Sharp, as the smallest puppy of a litter of thirteen. With no milk from his mother, he was fed from a bottle, while sitting on Amber’s lap. He was pampered and rambunctious, craving attention he never received from his mother, brothers and sisters. Amber gifted him to the CEO of Mike’s Trucking Company in Outlook, WA, who gave him to us. Our lives would never be the same again. We finally had a child of our own; and a very demanding one at that. Some people consider Dalmatians to be of lower intelligence, but not Cedric. It was a proud day when Cedric graduated with flying colors at the Burbank Dog Training School, scoring a remarkable 22 out of a possible 100 points.

We found Little Delphine at the Burbank Humane Shelter. She had previously been discovered in a rough part of town, wandering around in a Kmart parking lot; starving, dirty and using the last of her strength in order to live — in order to live and return to the criminal owners who had abused her.

Quite literally, she was only skin and bones. When we took our first walk with her, she would lunge at empty garbage cans. Upon feeding her with prescribed medicine, we would place the pills in a fingerful of peanut butter, and carefully stick it into her mouth. She would become confused, preferring the substance on her wagging tongue. We could tell that she had been taken away from mother when she was far too young, for she had never been taught how to suck on anything at all. Delphine had complicated medical conditions. When we placed a bowlful of food out for her to eat, recommended by our veterinarian, the amazing Dr. Laurie Leach, Delphine would charge over to it, but would have difficulties digesting it. T-Boy photographer, Deb Roskamp, also one of the first family nurse pactioners in the US, thought Delpine might have been poisoned by a dispicable owner. But that made us love her even more.

I had often fantasied that someday I would find this deplorable person, and remind whoever he or she may be, of all the terrible things that they had done to Delphine.

But, what good would it do? Perhaps this person had also suffered from abuse, too.

“I remember the proverb, ‘There is no such thing as a bad pet, only a bad owner.‘”

And there you have it, the article is complete!

With special thanks to friends, families, writers and readers – owners who love their pets: Barb; Shari; Annalise & Marty; Terry; Wyatt; Brent; Annie & Raudi; Akiko; Jim; Uncle Mike & Mike’s Trucking Company; Susan; Camille; Paul; Noelle; Peggy; Bethany; Bri; Tim & Yachiyo; Weave; Lisa & Josh; Robin & Gary; and inspired by Emily, who loves vulnerable pets more than anyone else we’ve ever known.

God Bless you all!

Post Script:

Some dogs spend hours hiding in the corner of a secluded room while avoiding contact with other humans and pets. There are also dogs that consistently avoid being petted by their new human parents. Centuries of coexistence have genetically tuned dogs to trust humans. However, when that trust is breached, pet dogs are often left emotionally broken, confused, and fearful. Abused, neglected, and eventually abandoned, these dogs need more than just love and care. Pet parents who adopt abused dogs often report back, saying that their newly-adopted dogs are showing signs of behavioral issues.

Common Signs of Abuse Physical scars are often easy to treat. However, many dogs of abuse develop long-term emotional problems. These behavioral issues usually take months of emotional nursing to rectify. Following are a few common behavioral issues that are often noticed in abused dogs: Extreme Separation Anxiety • General Distrust Towards Other Dogs and Humans • Signs of Extreme Submissiveness (tucked-tail stance, ears back, wide-eyed glance) • Unprompted Aggression.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters. PETA exposes animals suffering in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry.

Advocating For Animals | Nonprofit For Animals; List of Animal Welfare Nonprofits Los Angeles | DeepSweep.

No man can be condemned for owning a dog. As long as he has a dog, he has a friend; and the poorer he gets, the better friend he has. – Will Rogers

You think dogs will not be in heaven?  I tell you, they will be there long before any of us. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Stay tuned for Part 3 in the T-Boy series, where we discuss more about US Presidents and their Pets, Frequently Asked Questions about Pets, and a 25 Question Trivia Game about Animals, who we love.