Puppy Service Announcement #3

Today's PSA asks you to consider the following:

Admit your mistakes before someone exaggerates the story!

My previous home and life was filled with extreme rules to control me and my behavior. I was forced to live 24/7 inside a cat sized travel crate.



Hi, Kitteh!



Yes, I agree, this mode of crating is humane if you intend it for traveling or for trips to the vet and back – not 24/7). I also had to endure surgical adjustments (twice because I have two scars on my neck) made to accommodate the humans desire to not hear me bark (Google devocalization here Google (Devocalization Surgery) – go ahead – I’ll wait...) rather than invest in appropriate and positive behavior retraining. I live with the consequences of their choices every day.

 

Yes, yes, I know – you know all that stuff about me…so, having said that:

 

I admit it may have been a mistake to try to bury my Himalayan Dog Chew  

 under the box in the closet, thus causing injury to my nose and removal of the above mentioned chew from my presence.

 Now, please, don’t anyone (read Diana or Michael) exaggerate the story and research the following:

 

Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

An anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions.

Symptoms of the disorder include…repeated checking; extreme hoarding…and nervous rituals.

These symptoms can be alienating and time-consuming, and often cause severe emotional and financial distress.

The acts of those who have OCD may appear paranoid and potentially psychotic. However, OCD sufferers generally recognize their obsessions and compulsions as irrational…

Finally, OCD…is diagnosed nearly as often as asthma and diabetes.

 

…Ahem…well…yes…there may be a few similarities between my behavior regarding my Himalayan Dog Chew and with the symptoms for OCD. There may also have been a few times when the outcome of the symptoms may have manifested economically, such as Diana bought me more treats when I couldn’t remember where I buried the ones she’d recently given me…

However, I avoid a more complex diagnosis of my behaviors by admitting just how irrational it is to attempt to bury my Himalyan Dog Chew under a box in the closet.

As we will never actually know the root cause of my anxiety and OCD tendencies, I am left with coping with the resultant behavior as best I can, with Diana and Michael’s help.

Thus, I firmly believe that the availability of an overabundance of Himalyan Dog Chews will go a long way to curbing my anxiety and OCD tendencies.

 

Who’s with me on this?

 

P.S. - While this post may seem lightlearted and could possible appear as if I'm making fun of OCD and those that suffer from it, I am not.  Diana and Michael, with the help of an animal trainer, are working with me to reduce the symptoms of this condition and reduce my anxiety in general.  We are making some progress.

Are Real Life Pals Better than Twitter Pals?

Please meet my pal Stanley (doing his best sad eyed - look how cute I am impression).

Stanley visited with me for a long weekend recently.  During that visit, it "may" have been brought to my attention that I have issues (human code for neutotic).

Hmmm....Well, after much careful consideration, I have come to the realization that I "may" have some issues all right...with territory (all mine), food (Stanley tried to push me out of the way and eat my dinner the first night. We discussed his incorrect assumption loudly until Diana "ahemed" us and put us each in our corner of the kitchn to finish), possesive opinions about my toys (I repeat, mine) and the overwhelming desire to sleep in the big bed with Diana and Michael alone (again, all mine).

All this questioning of my right of ownership to space, noms and laps got me wondering and debating the relative merits of Real Life Pals v. Twitter pals.

So, in the spirit of fun, I came up with the following Pro/Con lists:

 Real Life Pals - Pro

1. You visit with them in the fur
2. You get treats from them
3. You get gifts on your Gotcha Day & Christmas
4. You can bark at them when you want

Real Life Pals - Con

1. They visit you in the fur
2. They eat your treats
3. They eat your stuffed toy treats
4. They can bark back when they want
5. Rare, but not unusual, to be friends with a kitty
6. Not likely to friends with a zombie bear
7. Not recommended to chat with a real bear
8. They want to sit with Diana in my chair
9. They want to sleep in my bed 

Twitter Pals - Pro

1. You can virtual visit with them anytime  
2. They can virtual visit with you anytime 
3. You get to enjoy many success stories
4. You can chat with a bear, or two, or three 
5. You get treats and cards from them in the mail
6. You taste test treats to send to them
7. You can block them
8. Can be friends with bears, a rabbit or a finger puppet
9. When something bad happens there is a whole community to help you feel better
10. All the amazing pictures
11. You get more Christmas Cards than Diana & Michael do

 Twitter Pals - Con

1. Rarely visit or get visited by them in real life
2. Spam Bots and naughty girls will want to be “friends”
3. You can’t thank them in person for thinking of you and sending cards
4. You can get blocked
5. The more pals you have the greater the odds of something bad happening to one of them
6. Diana learned she’s a terrible photographer

Hmmm....Yap....so, after reviewing the data, I've come to a few conclusions. 

1. Better is not the right word after all - fullfilled is
2. Judging between the two is arbitrary and adds nothing of value to life 
3. What can seem like a pro can actually have a flip side con
4. I'm an a-ok puppy blessed with many wonderful friends

 Life is grander for all of us by having pals of all kinds in your life.  Having Twitter Pals feels more like the whipped cream on top of my rescue life strawberry sundae. What do you guys think?

 

^ . . ^

 

Woof!