The Chase

I've made a discovery! There are other much smaller things to chase besides bunnies. I readily admit they are still the most fun to chase but I've had to expand my horizons as of late since there are fewer bunnies around. I don't know where they've gone but I think they are finding better spots to hide (perhaps they would be better at playing "hide and seek" than I first thought).

There are still plenty of red squirrels around and sometimes I run after them but I'd much rather bark at them. It's their own fault really, they yell and shriek in that high pitched way whenever I come close. I think Jenny would agree that this gives me the right to bark back at them.

We only have three outdoor cats in our neighbourhood but Jenny won't let me chase any of them. It's so unfair!

There is an old, thin but tough cat that is missing a leg (my parents refer to him as the three legged cat) and personally I think they get overly excited when they see him. When they're busy petting him it's like I'm not even there!!

The other cat is very fat, old, white and orange. I don't know his name but if I was his parent I would call him "killer". As you might guess, I don't like him very much and if you saw how he behaved last week I don't think you would like him either. It was awful. I was out with Daddy and we were having a lovely afternoon walk when I spotted the baby bunny and the cat playing chase in the yard. I ran towards them hoping to join in when Daddy stopped me and said to wait. That is when I saw the cat bite into the bunny's neck. It let out a shriek then it was quiet. The cat killed it! He carried the bunny closer to the house and turned his back on us. I'm not sure whether the cat ate it or not but if it did it certainly didn't need to. In truth, the cat is already so big I'm surprised he successfully caught the rabbit. After that I was anxious to move on.

The remaining cat is black and white and since we don't know his name, my parents call him "Boots". His legs are black except for his feet which are very white so it looks like he is wearing boots. I've tried to chase after Boots but Jenny won't allow it. She tells me to be nice to all kitty cats.

To get around these restrictive conditions I have recently learned to get a thrill out of chasing fish flies, crickets, and grasshoppers. Chasing such small things requires a different technique than bunny or squirrel chasing. First, I have to walk very slowly and quietly in the grass. Then I have to smell the ground and route through the grass slowly and thoroughly. Then if I'm lucky a tiny thing will bounce up into the air and I'll have to react fast by chomping down or jumping on it. So far I haven't caught one but I'll keep trying!!

With love & cuddles,
Lottie



P.S. Lesson# 15 If you are adaptable you will always enjoy the thrill of the chase.

Lacey

I had a visitor for 4 days this week. Her name is Lacey and she's a dog like me but much older. Jenny told me that she's 14 years old! I think that's why her eyes are getting a little cloudy looking. She is a mutt like me and is probably a mix of Corgi and Terrier. She is medium sized with red and white fur, and has long legs (unlike me).

Her owners dropped her off at my house (Jenny says it's our house) but I don't know why. We've shared time together before so I didn't mind too much, although I did have to watch her carefully just in case she got any crazy ideas. I didn't want her eating my food, or stealing my bed, or my favourite spot on the couch, but I was most concerned that she didn't get too much attention, afterall, this is my house. I haven't told my parents but they have a weekly cuddle quota to meet and I intend on helping them any way I can.

I will admit that Lacey was a good house guest. She didn't touch any of my things or put up a fight when I reminded her that she was on my turf.

I did find two things strange though. First, I learned that she doesn't care about bunnies! We were out walking and there were several hanging around the area, and she didn't care at all. Shocking! How she can resist the thrill of the chase is beyond me. I wonder if I'll still be chasing bunnies when I'm 14? I sure hope so. Secondly, she likes to eat these yucky things called "carrots". She got so excited when Jenny offered her some she wolfed them down, so of course I got pretty excited when they were offered to me. I was horrified to learn that they were disgusting! How she can get so excited about carrots and not bunnies is unfathomable! What a funny girl!

With love & cuddles,
Lottie



PS. Lesson#6 Accept a visitor into your home and you will learn a few things.

Simplicity

I'm happy to bark that things have definitely improved since last week. I feel like my regular happy self again.

My eye doesn't hurt anymore, my energy has returned, my walks are longer, the weather has improved and brought the bunnies out of their hiding places. Hee hee! Oh the chases! I gave them a good workout this week! Now if I could only figure out a way to lengthen my leash...so close.....

A pair of ducks have moved into my neighbourhood. I've seen them before and initially thought they were just visiting, but now I'm convinced they are here to stay. I'm a little conflicted though, I want them to feel welcome here, but at the same time I have the urge to run at them just so I can watch them fly away! I wonder if Jenny would stop me?

My parents took me for a real car ride (no tricks this time) and I got to see people and places I've never seen before. I think I've gotten extra cuddles lately too!

While thinking about how much better this week has been over last, I realize that sometimes it's the little, deceptively insignificant parts of the day that can be the most gratifying.

With love & cuddles,
Lottie




PS. Lesson#4 To be happy is to recognize and savour simple pleasures.