Our four furry kids we’ve got four
Our Four Furry Kids
We’ve got four…that’s right…four…dogs. Three Maltese and one Australian Shepherd mix. Three of the four are rescue dogs. Just one of the Maltese was purchased from a breeder, and that was during a grieving period immediately after the death of another Maltese. So, we are dog lovers, that’s for sure. Maybe we take it to extremes,because when we travel, we have a dog sitter come in and stay at the house. Not only do the dogs feel more comfortable, but it is actually less expensive than boarding them all.
They all have been given toys of every shape and size imaginable. The Australian Shepherd doesn’t like any toy, furry, vinyl or rubber. He only cares for the leather bones with the infused “meat” strips. We’ve had the youngest Maltese for just over a year. We rescued her from a puppy mill where she was one of the breeding females. I guess she’s about five years old now, and we haven’t been able to interest her in any toys except for a smaller version of the leather chews that the Shepherd likes. The next oldest Maltese doesn’t care for furry toys, but has this old raggedy, green vinyl “hamburger” (I think from Zanies) that she loves. I’ve been all over the internet, and can’t find another so we hope that it’s good for the duration.
The Vicious Old Lady
The eldest Maltese is ten and a half years old. The only, and I mean only, toy she would play with is a “carrot man” we found at a pet supply store. It’s a furry, gold carrot, about six inches long with a squeaker. Her life’s goal is to see how many of these she can destroy by tearing them apart and triumphantly pulling out the squeaker! As I was cleaning up the stuffing from the latest carrot man carnage, I saw these Crazy Critters advertised on TV. I usually tune out the As Seen On TV promos, but when I saw the dog tearing the stuffing out of the pillow, I became interested.
It’s Crazy Critter Time
There are two Crazy Critters; each about 24 inches long. One is a fox and the other is a raccoon. They are plush dog toys without the stuffing and are practically indestructible. They lie flat on the floor so it’s easy for the dog to pick up, and have squeakers at each end. I figured that one of these days, they’re going to quit making “carrot man”, so I’d better try and find a substitute now. Besides, cleaning up the stuffing is a chore I can do without, and constantly replacing the carrot man is something that isn’t budgeted.
So, I parted with the $24 bucks and ordered. When the Crazy Critters came in, we sort of snaked the fox across the floor in front of her. At first, she just sort of cocked her head and processed the new intruder. Then, she pounced…grabbed it…shook it…and took it to her bed for the ritual gutting. However, as hard as she tried, the Crazy Critter withstood the onslaught and remained intact. Then, she discovered the squeakers, and was in heaven. Now, she carries it around with her as a constant buddy. What’s neat is that the Maltese from the puppy mill has adopted the raccoon, and has a ball playing with it. It’s nice to see your kids having fun!