Dear Jera, part 2

Dear Jera,

Well it's been just about a year since we last saw you. I can't believe it's been that long. I still think about you and miss you so much!

We've been camping three times already this summer, Jera. We missed you especially on those trips. To me, you and camping just went together! You would have loved it though. We have been hiking each time, and we have seen some pretty spectacular sights. I can imagine you now, wagging your tail and grinning at the thought of another hike.

We also discovered about 5 miles of trail nearby, and we try to go every weekend. We wish you were able to be with us when we do that! Even though it's close to the city, it's along a peaceful river and under good tree cover so it's nice and cool. I see other puppies along with their owners, and wish you were there too.

I want you to know we haven't forgotten you. I wish you were still with us right now! I don't ever expect to know what happened to you or to ever see you again, but if it happens I will be thrilled. I hope wherever you are, that you are flourishing and being loved and taken care of. That's what you deserve, sweet Jera.

Your mommy,
Ashley

This post brought to you by private jet charter

Hang ten, doggy!

What do you do when you love to surf, and you also love your dog? Why take your pooch surfing with you!

I didn't know dogs could surf, but apparently this Saturday they proved me wrong. It was the 3rd annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition. Looks like everyone had a good time - about 60 dogs participated. There was even a heat/race (whatever you call it) with dogs and their owners on the same board at the same time! Now that's impressive.

According to the website, "All proceeds are being donated by Loews Coronado Bay Resort to its Good Neighbor Partner, Modest Needs Foundation, an inspirational organization that aims to prevent poverty before it begins."

I've never taken a dog to the ocean, but we did take Jera up to the Indiana Dunes last summer. I was really excited to run with her on the beach, play in the waves, etc. But, she had other ideas. She was a little scared of the water, and was just content to sit on the sand and enjoy people watching. Oh well!

This post brought to you by logo pens

Disappointments

A week or two ago, we got a phone call from someone up in the Nashville area. She had found a beagle, and was curious if it was Jera. She said they had tried to trap the beagle, but it succeeded in getting out again, but she was sure it would be back because she had been leaving food out for it.

My husband took the call and talked with her. He explained to her a little about what Jera looked like, including giving her a link to my Flickr pictures, and the lady promised to call back that evening. My husband also told the lady that she should take the beagle to a vet or shelter where they could scan for a microchip. We always tell people that when they find a lost dog, because we know that our information will show up if someone ever scans Jera.

Long story short, we never heard back from the lady. We called her the next day and left a message, but decided to leave it at that. No news is bad news in this case, we figured.

In the meantime, though, my mind was swirling over the possibilities. I didn't actually let myself believe it was Jera. It's been almost a year now, and I just can't believe that Jera will ever come home to us at this point. If she is still alive, then she has new owners now most likely.

But I did let myself wonder what would happen if it WAS Jera. How would that change our lives? The reasons we had for finding a new home for Zoey are still valid. We're still in an apartment, we're still intending to have kids sometime in the future, and we still want to be on one income which makes it harder to support a dog. However, Jera is our baby - we wouldn't turn her out to the cold. She would be 2 years old this summer, making some of our puppy issues no longer a concern. Some of the financial concerns with Zoey were one-time things (like spaying).

I don't know. In some ways, while I'd love to have Jera back and know what happened to her, I wonder if it's better that she's wherever she is and not here. I almost hope we never have to make that decision. Am I horrible for saying that? I just want what's best for her. Though I also just want my sweet baby back.

This post brought to you by mortgage lenders

Missing Jera

As the summer winds up, my husband and I have started camping again. This summer, however, a member of our family isn't along. It's the first time we've been camping without Jera and I must admit I have been so sad. She was always such a joy to have along, and I really feel as if something is missing. When we pass dogs on the trails, I get a pang in my heart. I'm really not that much of a dog person, but I think Jera was really special.

This July will mark a year since she ran away after our last camping trip with her. I can't believe it's been so long, but at the same time I feel like she is a fading memory.

If we ever get another beagle - and I hope we do, someday, when we have a yard and can give the dog everything he or she needs - I look forward to resuming camping with a dog. In the meantime, we'll continue to go on our own and I'll try not to be too sad! :-)

Related:
Camping with a puppy
Dear Jera (Jera's story)

This post brought to you by clinical laboratory service

Life in my house

I wrote this post over at my other blog shortly after we got our first beagle, Jera. Enjoy!

-----------------------

Yesterday, Ebony slid down the banister. Paul and I heard some scratching, and we turned around to see Ebbie on the banister, sliding down. I don’t think she realized it was sloped when she got up there. :-)

Today after doing some laundry I left the washer open. A little while later, I looked inside and there is Ebony, investigating. She looked so cute.

Lewis came into the kitchen today. Jera saw him, and bounded over wanting to play. Lewis was frightened and in one swift motion escaped up and over the gate. This is amazing because my cats are anything but nimble. Jera stood at the gate with her tail wagging. Where did he go? I want to play!

This post brought to you by bull bars

Why I love beagles

I wrote this post originally on August 13th, 2008 over at my other blog, shortly after we got Zoey. I thought it might be a good thing to repost over here.

----------------

Shelagh asked in a comment how I chose what breed to get, so I thought I'd elaborate a little on this!

I have been quite obsessed with beagles for about a year now. I started with not really knowing much about dog breeds, and did a lot of research online to find the one that fit our lifestyle the most. I think that's the first thing: find a breed that matches your lifestyle. There are some helpful quizzes online that can help you, like this one.

The first thing I considered was size. We wanted a dog under 25 pounds because we both prefer smaller dogs, and we wanted to make sure that we wouldn't have any problems getting an apartment. (Many apartment complexes require that dogs be under 25 or 40 pounds.) However, a lot of small dogs are yappy dogs, and I knew that would drive me crazy. Another important criteria was the dog had to be good with cats. Those two things knocked out most terriers.

Other things that weren't as important, but still a consideration: the amount of grooming needed, how much energy they had, were they good with traveling and camping, were they good with children, were they friendly. We weren't necessarily looking for a guard dog: we wanted a dog that we didn't have to lock up whenever guests came over. I wanted to force myself off the couch so I looked for a breed that wasn't quite so sedentary, but yet would be okay with daily walks.

Another consideration for me was how much I liked the breed's looks. Was it cute? Was the breed healthy, or was it prone to a lot of complicated and expensive medical problems? I think I generalized here, since I know that all senior dogs will probably have a medical problem somewhere along the line. A great resource was this site, which had a lot of details about different breeds.

I actually made a large spreadsheet, starting with all dogs under 25 lbs, taking away all dogs not recommended for apartment life, and then rating the other criteria. I eventually narrowed it down to 15 different breeds, but the beagle had already won my heart at this point!

Here is what the Dog Breed Info Center site says about beagles:

The Beagle is a gentle, sweet, lively and curious dog that just loves everyone! A happy little tail-wagger!

This is SO true!! Jera's tail never stopped wagging. Even when they were taking blood right before she was spayed, her little tail was working overtime! I really liked having a dog that was so happy all the time - it put me in the right mindset, even when I was frustrated with her. A friendly dog was a big positive in my book, even though I didn't really think about it at the time. I love being able to share my pets with people who stop by to visit.

Sociable, brave and intelligent. Calm and loving. Excellent with children and generally good with other dogs, but should not be trusted with non-canine pets, unless they are socialized with cats and other household animals when they are young.

This is one reason why we looked for a puppy, though as we were looking at rescue groups the question of cats didn't seem to be an issue. I think it would be more of a concern if the beagle had been trained to hunt, rather than be a pet all its life. We wanted a dog that would be good with children, since we will most likely have children while we still have the dog. And of course, a loving dog is always a plus. :-)

Beagles have minds of their own. They are determined and watchful and require patient, firm training. This breed doesn't like being left alone. Consider buying two if you will be gone a lot.

These are downsides to a beagle. With the training, Jera did pretty good. We didn't work with her as much as we should have, but we got "sit" and "drop it" and "leave it" down pretty well. She was also learning "roll over" which was adorable to watch. House-training was another story. Jera was horrible, but Zoey is already months ahead of Jera when we first got her! I think the difference is getting a dog from a family vs. a pet store. I read once that beagles are more difficult to housetrain than other breeds because their noses are so extremely sensitive, that they can smell previous accidents even after you've cleaned them. Jera did much better after we rented a heavy-duty carpet cleaner from Home Depot and went over the carpets twice.

A Beagle has a loud baying cry that was a delight to hunting horsemen, but can be disturbing to family and neighbors. Beagles have a tendency to follow their own noses. They may take off on their own exploration if let off their leash in an unfenced area.

I would rather have a dog with an occasional bay than a yappy bark! Jera was SO quiet (except for the whining!). Sometimes her cries turned to howls, but that was mostly when we first got her and trying to crate-train her. So far, Zoey has been pretty quiet, but she still has a puppy voice. I really hope she's not a barker! Beagles are also runners. Jera would bolt anytime she could (hence... why we don't have her anymore). Zoey so far has not been like that at all. I am enjoying having a dog who follows me around! I'm not sure if this is just a puppy thing, or if Zoey will follow us, so we'll see. I'm okay with keeping the dog on a leash. It's a bit annoying when we're camping, but most campsites require you leave your dog on a leash at all times so it's okay.

So pretty much, I love beagles. They aren't perfect, but they are perfect for us. I can't wait to get a house with a yard so she can run to her heart's content, but right now I think we have a pretty good system worked out with our daily walks and visiting the dog park 4 times a week. I really love going to the dog park, and I can't wait until Zoey is big enough to take her too!!

This post was brought to you by hoodia

Crate training your puppy

Crate-training is a great thing to do when you get a new dog. Crates provide a "home" for your dog, mimicking the dens that they desire in their instincts. If you have a puppy, it helps with potty training. The theory behind this is that puppies won't eliminate where they are sleeping, and so it forces them to "hold" it until you come back and are able to take them outside. Crates are also a great way to keep them out of trouble when you aren't home or if there are non-dog-friendly guests visiting. Just be careful not to keep your dog in the crate TOO long!

I only have experience crate-training puppies, so I'll focus on them for now. If you have anything to add about crate-training grown dogs, I'd love to hear it!

Buying a crate
You want your crate to be big enough for the dog to comfortably turn around and lie down, but no bigger (especially if you are still potty-training). If your puppy is still going to be growing, I'd recommend getting a crate with a divider. If the crate is too big, then the puppy can eliminate in one side of the crate and sleep on the other. This sounds weird, but Jera did that when the first crate we had was too big! Borrowing a smaller crate is another way to go here, and then upgrading when the puppy outgrows.

* A note about pet store puppies: Because they are usually kept in cages, they are taught to eliminate in the same place they sleep. Therefore, you may find that at first they will use their crates. This isn't natural, and if you are patient with them the first few weeks, they will learn that they don't HAVE to sleep in their own filth, and they will wait for you to come and let them out of the crate. I know this sounds disgusting, but that's what happened with Jera - we found that time was the key to stopping her from going in her crate.

Setting up your crate
We chose to put our crate in the living room, where Jera and Zoey could still feel part of the family and not "shut off". Make sure to find a place that isn't too drafty or too hot. If your dog is potty-trained, you can put a soft blanket and maybe a toy in the crate for comfort. I wouldn't recommend this if your dog isn't potty-trained though! Also, don't put any puppy pads in your dog's crate. Puppy pads have a special scent that attracts puppies, and you don't want to encourage any accidents inside the crate!

Creating positive associations
NEVER use the crate for discipline!! It might be VERY tempting, but you want to be very careful to always create positive associations with the crate. When you first get your puppy and/or the crate, start by throwing some treats inside. When the puppy goes in, praise him/her extensively. Stop praising when the puppy leaves the crate. If you continue to do this, then the puppy will learn that you like the crate. Never force your puppy into the crate. If you are having trouble getting him inside, then use treats.

This crate is your puppy's private place, so teach your children not to play inside it. Try to make it as nice and comfortable a place as you can! You don't have to add an adjustable beds, but a blanket or even an old t-shirt that smells like you can help a lot (if possible - remember, non-housebroken puppies like to use soft things). Your puppy probably won't like the crate at first. Try doing short sessions in it, to get him used to the idea of the crate and also to let him know that you will let him out again. We always gave our puppies a treat every time we put them in the crate.

Let them "cry it out"
It's heartbreaking to put your puppy in the crate and walk away, only to hear them cry after you. You just have to learn to turn a deaf ear towards it. If you come when they start crying, then they will never learn that it's okay in the crate. This killed me the first week we had Jera. My husband would leave for work about two hours before I woke up, and she would cry and howl the whole two hours. I would lay in bed, my heart twisting, but eventually she settled down and before too long she would be silent until I came to let her out.

* Note: Make sure before you ignore your puppy that she's not crying because she needs to go or because something is wrong.

Dinner time in the crate
One thing that really helped our dogs not mind their crate is to feed them their meals in it. Since beagles LOVE food, associating their crate with mealtime was a very good thing! We always did this with Jera, but when we got Zoey we started out by feeding her in the kitchen. She seemed to have some issues with her crate, and when we switched we noticed a huge difference.

Be careful not to keep your dog in the crate too long. Our dog trainer actually recommended keeping a puppy in a small dog-proofed room during the day, instead of the crate. We were never able to do that, due to not having a small room we could block off (a laundry room may be a great option, if you have one). I worked nearby, so I always came home and let the dog run around for an hour in the middle of the day. Remember: your puppy generally can "hold it" for as many hours plus one as she is months old. (So, if your dog is 3 months old, then she should be fine for 4 hours.) Don't put your dog in a position where he or she is forced to eliminate in their crate. Just keep reinforcing positive associations, and both you and your dog will do great!

For further reference:
Crate Training - HSUS

Surprise sighting

Yesterday I ran up to Publix (grocery store) on my lunch break. This Publix is also next to a veterinarian. As I was driving through the parking lot, I stopped to let another car in front of me. As I follow the car over the speed bumps, I see a little nose poke out of the passenger side window. Then a whole head followed - with brown floppy ears and an excited grin! It was a beagle! I can only imagine that his tail was wagging happily. It totally made my day to see him loving life.

(When we took Jera to be spayed, the vet reported that Jera's tail wagged the entire time - even as they were doing the bloodwork!)

I miss my beagles!

This post brought to you by Moen faucets

Snoopy as a beagle

When we had our beagle, we would walk through the park and people would always comment to us, "Hey it's Snoopy!" I've never thought Snoopy looked very much like a beagle, and Jera didn't look very much like Snoopy, because she was mostly brown. Zoey had a lot more white and black on her (only brown on her face), so I could see the resemblance more.

The other day, Paul mentioned to me how the Peanuts comic stripped changed style a lot from the beginning (as is true with most comic strips). We are used to seeing Snoopy as this:


However, in older comic strips he is drawn with a closer resemblance to a beagle:


His more pointed nose in the early strips look more like a typical beagle.

You can see from the picture that it Zoey had a "black patch" on her back that was similar to Snoopy's, though much bigger. However, I think that Snoopy having an all-white face and only dark ears is more atypical, though certainly not impossible! The white face probably translated to black-and-white drawings better than if he had given Snoopy a multi-colored coat.

---------------

This post brought to you by mover NYC

Don't get a puppy from a pet store

Paul and I were window shopping one evening a year ago. We stopped by a pet store, and I begged to go in. We had been wanting to get a dog, and I had decided (after much research) that beagles were the breed I wanted. So we went in, and there in the window was a cute little beagle. I fell instantly in love. We asked to see her, and before we knew it, we had signed the paperwork and she was ours. We brought her home with us and thus began our lives with Jera.

It wasn't until later that I thought about the negatives of getting a dog at a pet store. A friend was very shocked when we mentioned those "two words" - and assured us that she would never do that. We started to feel very ashamed about it, and we would be very vague if someone asked us where we got Jera. I am coming clean about it now because I don't want people to make the same mistake as us.

Pet stores have a number of disadvantages:
1) They promote instant gratification buying. They allow people to take home pets who are just enamored with the cuteness of the puppy, and they don't monitor if people are prepared for an animal. Many of these animals end up in shelters later because of improper care and/or abuse.
2) The cost of the animals is higher. Many of these places are higher, so they rely on people not having done their homework about what dogs cost. They also try to sell you other things that you might not really need, from fancy collars to travel health insurance. (Well, probably not the latter, but you get my point.)
3) Pet stores are often accused of getting their dogs from puppy mills. Puppy mills are where dogs are just bred to produce puppies to be sold to pet stores, without proper care and nutrients. The dogs are just "merchandise", and not as much concern is put on the well-being of the animal.
4) Dogs from pet stores tend to have more health problems. Since they change hands so often (going from a breeder or puppy mill, to being transported, to the pet store), information can get lost in the shuffle. Genetic diseases and abnormalities are often overlooked.
5) In a lot of pet stores, animals are kept by themselves in cages all the time, and aren't given a chance to run and play like puppies should. Jera was 4 1/2 months old when we got her, and we had SUCH a hard time potty training her! At 11 months old (when she ran away), we were still having trouble with her having accidents in the house.

We didn't have any health problems at all with Jera even though she came from a pet store, and she had SUCH a great disposition. I guess we got lucky. :-) But if you are looking for an animal, then I suggest you check out your local animal shelter! It seems that most put up pictures on the web of the animals they have, so you can keep an eye on the website and when you see an animal catch your eye you can go visit. Also, rescues are another good place to get a dog. If you're patient, you still are likely to find a puppy and the breed you want (if you care about either of those things). And trust me - a dog is worth the patience! (I don't advocate rushing into it, like I did - twice.)

For further information:
Dog Owner's Guide: Pet Stores
10 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy from a Pet Store

Camping with a puppy

We had the privilege of going camping with Jera three times. I actually really enjoyed camping with her. Here are some of the things I learned:

1. Don't worry about bringing a whole lot of camping gear for the puppy. We lugged Jera's crate with us the first time, only to not use it at all. We also brought toys for her to play with, but she was more interested in pinecones and sticks. We did bring rawhides for her to chew on, her food and water bowl, and food.

2. For the food: We put each meal's serving in a little baggie. That way, I didn't have to measure anything out. I put all the baggies in a large ziploc to keep the freshness. Jera actually ate very little when we went camping. Not sure why. She was more interested in burying her food. (Just ask Joanna!)

3. Get a stake. I know people are skeptical that I'm still an advocate of the stake, since that's how Jera got away from us. However, I don't know how you could go camping without it unless there were lots of people. I'm pretty sure with just the two of us, it would be impossible for us to set up a tent while holding onto her leash. Make sure the stake is firmly planted to the ground, never leave the dog unattended, and keep an eye on the dog so he/she doesn't tangle himself.

4. Whenever someone goes to use the restroom try to take the dog with you. We found this out the first time we went camping with our family. There were seven people total. We realized that Jera needed more exercise than we were giving her, so whenever a group would head to the bathrooms (about a half a mile walk), they took the dog. She got lots of exercise this way! Of course, she wasn't allowed IN the bathrooms, so someone would have to wait outside, but all the walking was good for her.

5. Always look for ticks. We pulled ticks off Jera during every camping trip. Bring rubbing alcohol and tweezers for their removal.

6. If possible, bring an extra sleeping bag with you just in case. You never know when your puppy might walk into the tent and promptly squat on your sleeping bag. Trust me.

7. Have fun with your puppy! We certainly did. Jera did really well camping - she slept on our sleeping bags with us, she loved the outside air and the hikes. We will miss her next summer when we go camping again!

Meeting neighbors

I wrote this for my parents' newsletter last spring.

The best way to meet your neighbors is to get a dog.

Our new puppy was a whiner - she didn’t like being left alone. She especially hated when Paul left for work before dawn without petting her. I would lay awake in bed for an hour after he left, unable to sleep because of her pitiful cries. After a few days of this, she got better, but I knew some apologies had to be made.

I hadn’t really talked to my neighbors much, but when I knocked on their door to say sorry for my loud puppy at unearthly hours of the morning, they were as nice and friendly as can be. They had a dog too, they understood what puppies are like. Since then, we’ve often met outside - walking our dogs, always stopping to say hi and exchange pleasantries. We even got our dogs to play together although her golden retriever is a bit big for our beagle puppy. We meet other neighbors as we walk our dog throughout the complex, and throughout our area of the city. We meet other citizens when we go downtown and walk our dog around there. We recognize the smile that people flash when they see a puppy, and we love to answer their questions. The fresh air is good for all of us, energizes us. The exercise means that we can put our hoodia diet pills back in the cabinet.

We’ve met people at the dog park, too. We go there a lot to let our dog run. We see the same people there, know their dogs. As we stand and watch them play, we talk about things. It’s fun. We realize we don’t know anyone’s names - only the names of their dogs. It’s a community, though. A community of dogs and their owners.

A little close to home

This comic made me a little sad... (click to make bigger)



I wonder where Jera is these days?

Jera steals a teddy bear

Okay, y'all, get out your home theater popcorn machines because I have some home videos for you! I was searching for a picture on my computer earlier today when I came across several videos of my pets.

I apologize for the lighting in the picture, but I promise it gets better. It's of Jera, after we set up the tent in the living room in preparation for our first camping trip. I took this video the next morning.

Oh, and I also should mention that I sleep with a stuffed bear every night. But that's neither here nor there.

So we cut to the scene: Jera is inside the tent. Watch for the white-tipped waggy tail; that might help you spot her while the lighting is so bad!

Dear Jera

(Originally posted at twentysixcats.com)

Dear Jera,

I remember the last time I saw you. You were so cute - laying there in the grass, watching the world go by. I actually had picked up the camera to get a picture of you when the garbage truck came. Now, I wish I had run out to hold you, to assure you that it was okay. But I didn’t realize how scared you would be. To me, the garbage truck was just an annoyingly noisy thing that would soon pass. To you, it was a danger that must be avoided at all costs. That was the last I saw of you.



I hope you know that we tried our best to look for you. We searched everywhere, delaying our trip back to Atlanta until we just had to leave. I signed up for every lost dog website, and we called all the people we could think of. We even came back up to Nashville to look for you again. At first we thought we’d found you! We were very excited until we saw the dog running around - another beagle who looked like you, but definitely not you. We were crushed. It was hard to keep going, keep searching. I know I have to come to grips with the fact that I may never see you again. That makes me sad.



We’ve only known you 7 1/2 months, but you were such a part of our lives. It wasn’t always easy - there were times I hoped you would run away because I was so fed up! You definitely tried our patience, but you were getting better. Or maybe we were getting to be better dog owners, I don’t know. Probably both. I must say that despite all of it, you were a joy to know.



One of my favorite memories of you is when I would take you on our daily walks at lunch around the neighborhood. You would find a pine cone, pick it up, and then prance around with it in your mouth. You would greet anyone who passed by, and not everyone particularly liked dogs! You didn’t care. You wanted to be friends with everyone. You had such a sweet disposition. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer, sweeter, more wonderful puppy. You were adorable, especially when you would lay your head on our legs at night as we sat on the floor of the living room.



I enjoyed taking you to the dog park every week. I loved watching you run and play. I loved it when everyone came to praise you, how cute and sweet you were. I was so proud to be your owner, your mommy. I loved it when you would wear yourself out and you would just sleep in the car on the way home. Sometimes you’d be so tired you couldn’t even jump into the car!



I didn’t realize how much of my mornings were spent taking care of you. We had our own little time then, didn’t we? I’m not a morning person, but I loved getting you out of your crate and taking you outside. You would stretch, as if it was so hard to wake up! Then you’d wag your tail, looking up at me with love. As I sat there and watched you eat your breakfast, you would keep wagging your tail. And if I started rubbing your back, that tail would just go crazy! It would always make me smile. Everyone should start off their mornings like that.



Camping with you is another special memory we have together - especially that first trip. You were so excited to sleep on the sleeping bag with me! And when you’d wake up in the morning you’d come and lick my face. You were adorable, and I immediately forgave you for waking me up. I also loved hiking with you. I don’t know how you had all that energy! I was so exhausted but you were just as bouncy and as excited as always. I was looking forward to many camping trips with you. As it was, we only had three together.



I’m sorry for all my shortcomings as your mommy. I was trying to be a better cuddler - that’s why those last few weeks I would lay on the floor and cuddle with you. I wanted you to know how much I loved you and how special you were to me, even if it was hard for me to show it. I wanted you to know that you never had to worry about me leaving you - that I was committed to you for life.



We are going to be packing up your things in the next few days, Jera. It makes me sad to see them empty, without you. Your toys and your bones - they all remind me of you, as if you were really here and will be back in a minute. I really really wish you were coming back for sure. I hope you DO come back. I hope wherever you are, that someone finds you and turns you in. All they have to do is scan your microchip and you are home free. I will rejoice if that day comes, but I need to realize that it may not. I would have loved to have been your mommy for the next 15 years. I hope I get to be, but I know it’s up to God now. We’ve done all we can - we tried hard, Jera. God knows where you are and He’ll bring you back if He wants to. I am praying that He does that. In the meantime, I’ll try to move on so that my heart can grieve for you and begin to heal again. Who knows, maybe you’ll turn up again after 6 years just like my cat Yum Yum?



So, dear Jera, stay safe wherever you are, and please come home. We love you so much. I hope you always remember that.

Your mommy forever,
Ashley

Come back, Jera!

My puppy is missing. I made a page for it on my other blog.

Lost Beagle in Franklin, TN

FidoFinder listing (not very complete because they charge for more information)

Craigslist listing for Jera

Listing in Nashville Pet Finders

Listing in Petfinder Classifieds

Post on Joanna’s blog

Post on Beth’s blog

If my pets were humans...

Paul and I often talk about what our animals would be like if they were human. I think it's kinda fun, so here is what we have come up with:

Jera
Definite extrovert. Bubbly, friendly, hyper. Popular - gets along with everyone. Maybe a bit on the spacey side, but still lovable. High energy and a somewhat innocent demeanor when she does something she shouldn't. Doesn't like to be alone (hence the extrovert side) and needs people around for her own entertainment. We all love her, even if she can be a bit much sometimes!

Lewis
Cool, laid-back dude. Goes with the flow with any situation. Knows what he wants and pursues until he gets it. An extrovert, but has a quiet side to him as well. He enjoys other people and is very friendly, and gets along with everyone. We think he'd be the type to date around, but we hope he wouldn't break any hearts. :-) Popular, because of his unassuming nature and ability to adapt. Loves food, maybe a little bit too much. Can be pushy with people who let him - like his sister, Ebony.

Ebony
She's our quiet introvert. Loves libraries and books and studying. She's very aloof with people she's not comfortable with, and can sometimes be thought of as snobby. That's not true, however - she's just shy and closed. Once she's comfortable with you, she's very warm and friendly. She dislikes change, and would prefer to stay home than go out. She lets her big brother Lewis push her around, but generally holds her own with others. She'd rather avoid confrontation altogether, so she tends to just disappear when things start heating up.

Plumb tuckered out

We went out of town last weekend, and our dog Jera stayed with a coworker friend of mine. They took her to the dog park all day on Saturday and Jera was very tired when she got home!! Isn't she cute? :-)

The guests of honor

I love animals! Here are the current ones I live with:

Ebony
She's sweet and a bit aloof to those she doesn't know. She likes to roll on the ground purring, but if you try to pet her then she edges just out of reach! She's beautiful and sleek, like a panther.

Lewis
Lewis is the friendly brother of Ebony. He loves to eat, and even though I try my best he's become quite a fat cat. He loves people, and is friendly with anyone who will hold him. He is less afraid than his sister, and also less agile. He can be quite the cuddlebug if you give him a chance!

Jera
Jera is a 7 month old Beagle puppy. She's very bouncy - we think she's part kangaroo! She is VERY friendly, and loves to greet anyone who crosses her path. Does her tail ever stop wagging? She loves to get all the dogs to chase her at the dog park, which makes us happy because she wears herself out that way! In addition to romping at the dog park, she enjoys Greenies and chewing on shoes. She also is trying to figure out how to get the cats to play with her.