Mornin’ Bets
And…….Hear Hear!
I’d like to canineomorphize a lot of people I know!

canineomorphize – now that’s funny!
and probably should be more emphasis on things working that way rather than the reverse!
👍🏻😁👍🏻

Morning, dear Corny 😘☕ I understand THAT!!! They’d be better for it 👍🏻💕

And we too, Bets!

(nodding ferociously)

“We don’t know what we don’t know; and I maintain that what we don’t know about God’s miraculous design of all His living creations would fill volume after volume. ”

Betsy, several years ago on a target shooting website a guy told a remarkable story about his heart attack.

He wasn’t feeling well and was sitting on his couch when his Maine Coon hopped up with him to get loved on…….and started acting differently than normal.

The cat was in his lap and uncharacteristically walked up his chest and started freaking out. The guy didn’t know what was going on with the cat, but since he didn’t feel good anyway, sorta took that as a reason to go to the emergency room.

This, by the Grace of God, saved his life. They dealt with the heart attack earlier than they would have otherwise, and he came home a few days later.

A friend had cared for the cat while he was away.

When he got home, the cat was quite anxious about him when he sat down. It got up in his lap like before, put its front paws on his chest and just STARED him in the eyes…….intensely.

As the guy said, he was given a “cat scan”.

Apparently the cat figured out he was ok and after getting loved on awhile, walked off.

The guy gave the cat credit for saving his life.

I believe it was God working in mysterious ways.

I believe it too, Greg. We were talking about this very thing last night oddly enough…Our daughter recently married a man who loves her deeply, and she him. A wedding was in the future, but his sudden liver failure and with cancer as well hurried things along. Since then (6 weeks or so ago) his condition has disintegrated to such an extent that he is now in hospital for the fourth time in as many weeks. We are granddog sitting Caroline’s Maggie while she stays with him…

Here is my point.

Maggie is Caroline’s dog and has never been around Brian as much as she is now. She has stayed with us many many times over the years but will not sleep with us as she does Caroline…just won’t do it. Otherwise she relaxes and settles until her mother comes to get her. No problem.

But as Brian’s condition is so debilitating and he lies down a lot, Maggie goes with him and stays by his side forever, however long. At night she snuggles with him contentedly. And right now in our house, she is not settling at all…sitting upright watching, listening. And dare I say aware? It’s hard for me to assign this completely different behaviour from her as anything else but sensing all is far from well.

Oh yes, I believe it…that sixth sense, maybe seventh and eighth. What gratifying news that this man paid attention. Many wouldn’t. Thanks be to God 🙏🏻

Oh dear friend
I have been wondering how Brian has been faring. I’m heartbroken for you all, that his path has been so strewn with difficulty. Mags must be a great comfort to him. Fervent prayers up for him and your very courageous daughter. 🙏 🙏 🙏

It is, sis…and yet…

As Caroline said to me the other day, the waters are being parted.

Her job, with insurance, is winding down. She has been in constant touch with her previous boss who moved to an organization which if I dropped the name people would know well. He has told her that when the time comes, for whatever reason, let him know…that she will have a job, complete with better health insurance including coverage for transplant should the time come. One less major worry for which she…and I…won’t have to worry and are beyond grateful. Whatever he can do he is ready and more than willing for similar personal reasons.

I won’t go into the details of what Brian is enduring. Suffice it to say that in stabilizing one issue, another pops up…and vice versa. With your training you’ll understand. All we can do is take each day as it comes and keep on praying. Miracles and healing do happen. It will take a mighty big one. Bless you, dearest Corny 😘

It is clear to Treepers that Caroline would be the greatest asset any company could wish for. And what a burden to be lifted from their broad shoulders to have such insurance.

Yes, cascading health issues can drain a body – but not souls such as yours. I am blessed to know you, and thus Caroline and Brian. ❤️

Not saying this because I’m her mother, but she is adored by all who know her. No matter how busy she may be, if someone needs, she will be there. That, and she is very competent doing what she does.

What a joy you are, dear sister. Thank you 💕

And with one thing and another, I didn’t forget your “baby’s” Monday birthday… pretty certain that was the day? And I saved this for you to pass on please, belated though it is. I hope in spite of his impediment, it was a good one 😘 😁

Oh Wow, Bets!
So kind of you to remember. He is much like your Caroline. I will pass this on to him, today.
We took the crew out to a very nice Indian restaurant and had a great time. That restaurant covers meat eaters, pescaterians, vegetarians, and gluten sensitive individuals. Phew!
And, though I am not known as a baker, I did make a gluten free cake. They ate it, so couldn’t have been too awful! 🙃

Oh, absolutely Greg
There are dogs who sniff out low blood sugar, imminent epileptic seizure, cancer, etc.
(And kitties too!)

Oh yum!!! Bet that cake was delish!!!! 😊

😊
what a lovely response, and sublime sentiments.
much appreciated.

however😂😂😂😂….
would never tell anyone what to believe,
just giving a little heads up regarding “those” videos.
if one knows what to look for, most that i’ve seen involve training, or conditioning, or environmental manipulation to set up the desired response, or sometimes just downright repetition.
there are lots of tricks that can be used.
it’s concerning lest people think these behaviours are the norm.
(how many people have to be gored before they realize the yellowstone bison are wild? and bison??!! 🫣)

i realize people prefer to believe what they want to believe.
still, while it may be spitting in the wind, worth trying to inject a little hard reality to a highly sentimental subject.
even one disastrous animal purchase or adoption averted or delayed until properly prepared is worth it.

in conclusion (never thought i’d get there, didja?😂😂),
i support your overall belief.
i agree that there are moments of interaction that DEFY description,
unless it is through abilities or understanding granted by God.
those moments are gifts, but to describe those lucky times would make me sound perilously close to a nutcase.😂

carry on, Betsy, you are a sounding board that brings out the best in all of us!
(i’ve seen you get the NICEST replies from some of the crabbiest,
foul mouthed, surly, snarky, i’m gonna say it – jerks🤣 – ever seen on these pages, 
AND IT’S HILARIOUS!!👍🏻👍🏻)

zoom,
And, Betsy’s reply to the surly is. “Why, Bless your heart!”

Thank you, zoom 💕

Be the “nutcase”…you never know that it might give people you’ll never see or know hope. Bread upon the waters 😘

Oh, and this (which has been posted been others). God listens and answers in a manner and time of His choosing 🙏🏻

OK, Bets
Now you’ve done it!
You knew I’d Love this one!

Betsy… with all the back and forth with Zoom… I’m on your side… one never knows 😂👍.. this post reminded me of a personal event I experienced… mowing pasture with large lawn tractor… a Red tail hawk landed on back fender..as I mowed I stirred up some grass bugs.. the hawk would drop down and grab …🤣..come back and sit😂. blew my mind🤣

🇺🇸💪😀👍

Afternoon, Jim 😘 Oh how lovely! They are gorgeous birds! He knew a good thing when he saw you…his meal ticket! I’d be so busy watching him that I’m sure I would have been zig-zagging all over that pasture, no straight lines! Nope, not a one 😂 What an experience!!

ok, Betsy, you’re used to getting your way a lot, aren’t you?😁😂🤣
p.s. love the donkey, dog, cat, rooster, but i ‘m going with AI on that one!
here you go….

God the translator:

years ago, one ordinary afternoon, nothing unusual at all,
looked at one of my all time great bitches sitting on the couch,
nothing strange in her behaviour at all. 
i know what to look for and i didn’t see anything amiss.

she looked me straight in the eye, quite calmly, and said, in perfect english, 
“i’m pyoing. we need to go or i will die.”
without hesitation, we went. 
1 & 1/2 hours to get there.
not kidding.
i presented a non-symptomatic dog as an emergency for pyometra because she told me so.

i had called ahead.
we got there and were seen immediately as that is a bona fide emergency.
uh, surgeon says, there’s no discharge.
um, i said, could be a closed pyo.
uh, surgeon says, let me run a quick panel and see what’s going on.
as soon as he started out of the room, quarts, and i mean unbelievable amounts, of nasty, infected, viscous, slimy, pyo fluid began gushing.
“there’s your discharge, mr. surgeon” i said.

surgery went well, and she lived many years after that.
no question in my mind that there was divine intervention by “God the translator”.
and i am so very grateful.

there are more, but small doses! 😂

I am smiling from ear to ear, my friend. And I believe you. Every single word. Who can explain? There’s no need….you know 🙏🏻 Thank goodness your vet was receptive and didn’t dismiss you or her out of hand. We had one like that when we lived in Wales. I swear he had an open line with the animals he healed, including our lovely and much missed Jack Russell, Penny.

I hope we will be hearing more of your experiences. There is a Force greater than we can imagine. Deo gratias 🙏🏻

As for getting my own way? Not always…but it’s not for lack of trying 😎😁👍🏻

PS…see the very short video I left below.

Here ya go, zoom…this is what I’m talking about 😉

well, i’m going to make peace on this one.
God gave animals so many gifts, and He deserves all the credit.

but i do believe i saw that crow ultimately eat the small piece of bread he had been playing with.😂

very nice discussion, Betsy, enjoyed immensely!
and now that i know you had a JRT, i really believe you have saintly levels of patience!🤣

p.s.: comfort given by our animal friends is indisputable.
but illness, depression, medication, stress, many other things can all alter the chemical profile we give off.
not noticeable to humans, but very noticeable to animals who depend on scent discrimination for
food, breeding, warnings of danger, etc.,
and whose sense of smell is many times greater than ours to aid in those efforts.

it is not uncommon for animals to respond to us differently when we are afflicted with such things.
we can appreciate their reaction without ascribing it to something other than their natural gifts.
then, in turn, we can thank God for such astute creatures.
and pet those fluffy friends as a reward for keeping a watchful eye on us.
yup, don’t forget the petting!🤣

Yes, petting is required and very much a healing mechanism in itself. I highly recommend it for both human and our four footed, devoted companions. Looking forward one day to hearing more from you and your experiences…very much so 😊😘

I was once blessed to have rescued a young crow, whose care was guided by a wise ornithologist, who taught me how they think.

It changed my life.

The behavior in this video is typical crow conduct. They’re generous, affectionate, loving, accepting and incredibly loyal.

Funny that, Ma…I currently have a murder of them who come to our backyard and help themselves to the seed I put out for other birds. I swear they are that smart and all the rest.

If I hear them calling, I’ll go and put out more seed. They don’t fly away, but sit on the fence in silence. Then as I’m going back to the house, one of them calls out.

I swear he’s saying, “Thank you!”…to which I always answer, ” You’re welcome!”

I’m growing inordinately fond of them all 💕

How wonderful your story is, sis. Simply beautiful. It very much warms my heart 😘

You are blessed. You are ‘theirs.‘ I bet they’re making eye contact, too.

And yes, they are saying thank you. Be alert for other sounds, particularly something that sounds like a big throwing-kiss on he palm of your hand before you send it forth. (If that makes any sense. lol) It’s an expression of affection from them, and they respond to it, too. I had to practice to get it loud enough, but it was sooo worth it.

They’re very protective and can be excellent ‘guard dogs’.

They’ll sometimes follow you around….even in your car.

Safe treats include a pine cone stuffed with unsalted peanut butter, cooked unsalted eggs, apple, or dog or kitty kibble.

Being accepted by crows changed my way of looking at things. Can you tell I like them? lol

Thanks for your lovely post.

“…those moments are gifts, but to describe those lucky times would make me sound perilously close to a nutcase.”

This! lol!!

oooh, i really like that.
a good, hard shake to potential buyers/adopters.
“is it about the animal or your fantasies?”
permission to abscond!
sometimes the refractory types need a little harder edge….😂😂

as someone who has working dogs, you know they are due all the credit in the world.
i find the teamwork so rewarding. 👍🏻👍🏻
plus, the opportunity to give a dog the chance to really be the best that they can be is something i think is owed
in gratitude for their contributions to our lives.

be well and pkease dispense suitable treats to the team from me!😁

Abscond away!

It’s a concept I taught from a first person point of view, sharing the dawning of awareness on me of how much I’d been influenced by growing up watching Lassie, Roy Rogers and Bullet, and all those disney movies, which helped greatly to reduce the chances of meeting with defensiveness and dismissal from the really special people.

A lot of times folks just don’t realize what it is or how negatively their anthropomorphism can affect their critters. Or how unkind it can be.

Animals have always made more sense to me than people. Sounds like you can relate.

I’ll definitely convey your well wishes to the girls and give some extra treats. I now make them myself, and it’s made me incredibly popular with them. So any excuse to give them out is always welcome.

“A lot of times folks just don’t realize what it is or how negatively their anthropomorphism can affect their critters. Or how unkind it can be.”

yes! 🏆 🥇
it clouds owner’s recognition of how wonderful dogs really are, and sets the dog up for failure from day 1.
the dog will never get any of the credit that they ACTUALLY deserve,
because in the owner’s eyes, the dog has fallen short of the owner’s (as you accurately describe) fantasies.
so, the relationship sours and the dog is described as stubborn, spiteful, etc., etc.,
human qualities which dogs do not possess since they are DOGS.*
and off to rescue they go.

*(willful, uncooperative, not motivated –
those i would accept since they are describing the dog’s response to his or her environment,
which can be improved on greatly, i.e. owner errors can be corrected since dogs are generally very forgiving.)

you put me to shame, Ma McGriz, homemade treats are the best!
and i truly respect a DECADE in rescue and education.
good work but definitely not easy.

have a great evening!

You have really good insights and sound like an experienced critter person.

I like to say the oldest relationship humans have except to each other and the earth is our relationship to animals. We owe them much, and without them human civilization could not have flourished.

I guess if there’s an upside to anthropomorphism it could be said to be that it helped create a greater sense of humane awareness and love of animals in the world through movies and television. But moderation in all things, and reality must prevail for the animals’ sake.

I gotta tell ya, making your own animal cookies is so incredibly simple and inexpensive I couldn’t believe it. I sort of stumbled into it after harvesting a sheep and having some trimmings left. I simmered it, mixed it with eggs and unbleached flour to a consistency like pasta dough. It takes some work, but it’s super simple. Roll out, cut, brush with olive oil, and bake. The puppies go nuts for them. Chicken also works really well.

I can’t believe how much money it’s saving, and I know exactly what’s in them.

Queen V
“Driver, back up this carriage, as soon as you are able!” I understand she was quite polite!

Imperious!!! Her courtier would oblige forthwith!!👑

Good morning Bet! I’m joining in that prayer.

Good morning, dear brother 💕 We never run short of prayers… like these hurricanes and other disasters…like the massive Elk Fire in Wyoming which has consumed 73,000 acres (as of two days ago and only 10% contained then), probably more by now….they only grow more strong as needed. If we had give them a rating, they are Cat “” no number high enough” 🙏🏻

Mornin’ Gramps ! 🙂

Afternoon Garrison!

No kidding!!! Cats for some reason are baaaaad!! I’m a veteran of those. Bless your heart! And I mean that in the most empathetic and sympathetic way 💕

(How did we ever get through our children when they were in diapers????? )

We pinched our noses!

No
I’m originally from Boston
But I have vacationed in NH many times
Love Maine too
The Rangley Lakes district is the best

I’m originally a Revere guy, living in East Boston right across the water from Logan. Heading up to Old Orchard for an overnight Saturday. Always nice to meet another Bostonian here !!

Fried clams at Kelly’s
“ wicked “ good. 😊

And beers at Wonderland
Ballroom on the blvd

Good times

I worked at Kelly’s as a young-un !! Nowadays you have the beach, and across the street….CONDOS, as far as the eye can see.

The seagulls will still dive-bomb those who dare to try to eat their clams on the beach sand or on the wall. When Raechel Ray had her show on Food Network she tried to eat her clams on the beach wall and was promptly surrounded by AND dive-bombed by what looked like at least FIFTY mean and hungry gulls, all caught on film !!

I wonder if there’s a snippet of that scene on YouTube.

Normally celebrities are not acknowledged by birds, only by human fans

Great story ed