Win a custom watercolor pet portrait

Contest details (cats do not have rules):
1. You (the pet) become eligible to win the drawing by sending a letter and large photo of yourself before September 1st, 2009.
2. The letter should describe your issue or concerns and I will follow with some great advice.
3. Your entry constitutes your agreement to allow us to publish your letter and photo during and/or after the contest, whether or not you win the grand prize.
4. Publishing includes: in my column, on my blog, and maybe even in an e book.
5. The contest winner will receive an original 5″ x 7″ watercolor portrait plus 5 “private edition” note cards.
6. The winning entry will be drawn by an independent, non-partisan, uninvolved helper to ensure no heartstrings are pulled and it is completely fair.
7. The winner will be notified on September 1, 2009 via email.

Stop by and visit Water Color Your World to preview other pet portraits.

Sound good? Let me know what you think, and be sure to contact me if you have any questions. I am really looking forward to this.

Your friend,
Fisher

Dear Fisher,

My name if Olivia. I do have a concern. I live with my mom and another dog named Andy. Like me, Andy is a wire-haired fox terrier, but I run the household. My problem is that my mom insists on bringing in other dogs which she considers “rescues”. I have nothing against dogs or cats who find themselves in a rescue situation. Andy and I are both rescues. I do not, however, want to spend my later years sharing my home with these dogs. As soon as they arrive, I make it clear to them that they are not welcome. This upsets my mom. She has been very good to me, but I just cannot continue to share my home. I want my mom and Andy in my house and that is all. She is very aware of my feelings. Any suggestions?

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

I am not sure if your problems are due to other dogs stopping in and staying with your family every now and then as much as they are occurring because you are in your later years. We do get a little more opinionated and a tad bit more irritable as we get older. And, let’s face it – we start to think we need a lot more attention.

Your mom is surely a wonderful person to rescue Andy and you. Two little terriers in the house would be enough for most people, and yet, she continues to help others in need. Humans tend to repeat events that bring pleasure to them. You could easily surmise she continues to help others because helping you brought so much joy. That is a very big compliment to you and you would do well to think along those terms.

Here are several ideas that could make life easier for you:

1. Your mom can count on your ability to establish your higher position in the house by not trying too hard to force you to be “polite” to the visiting rescue
2. Introductions should be made slowly and calmly
3. As the dominant, homesteaded dog, your need to eat first is only a matter of propriety and not rudeness and should be allowed
4. You should keep the same privileges you enjoy when there are no visitors
5. A little extra attention should convince you that you are not headed for the revolving door


Even though you are the “boss”, dominance problems may not be the issue. If bad behavior persists, a check up at the vet’s place may reveal an underlying cause
By no means are any of you allowed to fight each other as that can lead to injury of body and pride.

Daniel Estep, Ph.D. and Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists, provide excellent information and training advice on line at Animal Behavior Associates.

And so, dear Olivia, methinks it is the crankiness of older age setting in along with a lack of confidence in your position. You can do much to ease both conditions by helping your human in her endeavors to aid other dogs not nearly as fortunate as you. OK? End of sermon.

Your friend,
Fisher

After the 10th time of viewing Nora’s latest endeavor, I must share it on my blog in case any one of you might have missed it!

Lithuanian conductor, Mindaugus Piecaitis, and Nora Piano Cat join forces with the Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra for the grand performance of Piecaitis’ (and Nora’s) CATcerto.

Inspired, anyone?

My favorite email of the week

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger, after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression.. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother’s cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment.

love shelters you

Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only ‘orphans’ that could be found quickly were a litter of weanling pigs.

Now, please tell me one more time……
Why can’t the rest of the world get
along?

Do I look innocent?

Dear Fisher,

I am not a cat. I am a human with 2 cats that are giving me a huge problem. They refused to write and made me promise not to mention any names. I have to take matters into my own hands and ask you for advice. One cat is male, the other female. Both have been “fixed” and have never been outside. One of the cats is now going potty on area rugs and has even peed on the couch. We are not sure which one it is because they are ninja cats. Their cat box is cleaned regularly. We’ve never had a problem with them since we’ve had them – close to 4 years now. Why would they do this, and how do i stop them? I’m at my wits end!!! I don’t want to get rid of them or make them outdoor cats but I can’t let them ruin my home either. PLEASE HELP!!!

Robert

Me? Oh, I don't think so!

Dear Robert,

First of all, I cannot ignore the gravity of the problem when a human has to write to me instead of the pets. Oh dear! Your comment that the cats are Ninja cats leads me to believe it is a case of “it was dry and now it is wet and there is absolutely no chance of catching them in the act.” They are a mischievous pair indeed. Without losing any more time, I have to suggest you take them to their vet for a check-up. Hopefully they will get a clean bill of health and maybe this will make them realize that you are not kidding.

Best case scenario is the cats are healthy. Back to square one, but it is a good thing. We can look at a few different methods of handling the problem:

1. Determine what time of day the deed happens most and separate the cats, putting each in a comfortable area but closed off and give each the opportunity to mess up.
2. Try covering the area (after it is cleaned and dried) with aluminum foil to stop this new bad habit. Cats really do not like the feel of the foil.
3. Carefully determine whether or not you have made changes that the cats are objecting to and modify the situation. Cats do not like change.
4. Purchase some puppy training pads and place in appropriate areas.
5. Even though you have had the cats for several years, a refresher course on litter box practices will not hurt.

Visit Dumb Friends League for their detailed report.

Above all, please do not turn the cats outside. Dangers can exist in the most pleasant of neighborhoods and it would be a sad thing if they were hurt or lost. If you even think about going to that extreme, try another extreme and hire a pet psychic. They understand ninja kitties.

Your friend,
Fisher

Alice? I think I am in Wonderland!