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Pet Talk

I really truly want a dog. I think the kids are old enough (they’re older than the Captain and I were when our first dog, Kobi, came into our lives), and I think that Tad would really benefit from having a puppy.

We need a “sturdy” pet. (Points to those who know where the “sturdy” comment comes from.)

The Webmaster is dead set against a pet of any kind, but especially a dog. He has a long list of objections – from expense, to fur, to how he would actually fall in love with a dog and that would be too much for him since we have two children and another one on the way, our house is small… et al.

The only frequent dog interaction that he’s had is with Rusty, Grandma and Gichan’s dog. Now, Rusty is a very sweet dog who does very well with Ane and Tad. He does have breath that could wilt flowers and sheds like mad, but he is a good doggie. His fur has gone everywhere from Germany to Iraq to Texas to Alabama – mostly because it manages to get into packages sent to those places.

Recently, though, Ane has figured out that she can command the dog to do certain things. And once Ane has power, she likes to exploit it. She’s constantly sending Rusty to his kennel, even if he’s not bothering her.

On Monday, we were having a quick lunch at Grandma’s in between my return from my doctor appointment and Ane’s ballet class. Ane dropped part of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the floor, and Rusty, who never misses an opportunity when kids are around, gobbled it up.

Ane was quite annoyed with him, and started scolding him for eating her sandwich. “Ane, if you drop food on the floor in front of a dog, the dog will eat it,” I told her. “Dogs like people food. If you drop it, you lose it.”

She thought about that for a second, then announced. “Mommy, I don’t want a dog anymore. I’d rather have a cat.”

3 Responses to “Pet Talk”

  1. Ressis
    October 8th, 2008 06:57
    1

    The need for a “sturdy” pet is from “Lilo & Stitch.”

  2. Dale
    October 8th, 2008 08:23
    2

    Webmaster try a fish tank. And/or pet sit someone’s animal first for a week. Just so you know, the same argument is happening in our household, and I do not want anything else (other than the fish we have) at this time. Yeah I know, we had chickens, but they go to Grandma’s (the farm, really it is a farm)each year too.

  3. Leighton
    October 8th, 2008 08:29
    3

    Ha. The difference between cats and dogs in terms of stealing food is that the dog can’t jump on the table/counter or climb up into your lap to steal the food from you. Have you not introduced Ane to I Can Has Cheezburger?