From Dec'04: New puppies, not even my own, recently came into my life, reminding me of how wondrous it is to partake of one of life's pleasures: being around a "youngin", or even nine of them :) From Feb'05: Those folks (above) thought the right form of bark control was muzzling with duct tape, and when I acted on it but SPCA/PHS blew it, I was lucky to get out with my life. No matter where the puppies went (at least seven got out), it was better than with these self-professed "Christians", who also did not think water or food were needful for a nursing momma dog for 12 hours at a time. Even when she was not barking, she got the same muzzling treatment. As for the weaning, that was almost certainly a felony. From about Aug'99: The brace o'qats (their Mom was a little, err, "loose", as qats are wont to do) rescued as feral critters several years back was not bad. Montague Qatway turned out quite nicely. But now, I think some more animals in my life would be a Good Thing. A woman who loved animals would be better...

Unregistered AKC Goldens, both missing the breed standard. Beowulf could outrun me by ten weeks; he is a hair under minimum height for a male. Grendel could beat the snot of out of my by maybe 7.5 weeks. She (yes, she: I got the mythology wrong) is about a mile too tall but ran like the wind over tall grass. Grendel is no longer with us; Beowulf is quite old now, in sort of a rest home.

Back in the day: Beowulf: Throw the ball again, boss-man. I'm not proud, or tired. Grendel: Just what are you waiting for? Throw the ball! Or let me dig some more, I'm cool with that. Now {kinda sad}: Thank you for coming to visit us. What was your name again, Sonny?

I am a man seeking a woman age 36 to 56

A woman who cares deeply for animals of all sorts, but also a specific male of my own species in due course: me! A woman who is comfortable with herself as she is, but also seeks what an LTR (or more) would provide. Spicy food for humans is a Good Thing. Holding hands is a must, as often as feasible. In private, 'appetite' needs to be very high. Hiking, bicycling, museums, but also something as simple as strolling the grocery aisles or the stalls of the Farmer's Market and preparing food - all of these are simple joys. You should live very close by: LDR's simply do not work.

Hard to type with paws...or is it pause?

Goldie (M. Orange Meatloaf)

This qat was rescued from a Dempsey dumpster, which may have led to his near-champion ratting skill, in a wonderful house that had (until he appeared) a vermin problem. Crazy as a coot, had to be rescued from the eaves from time to time (including a 2.7 meter fall by yours truly once onto concrete: I got right up!), but rats: toast'm. Marshmallows optional, and by the time they could be found, not much rat left {skull & sometimes a tail}. This fellow liked to wake us up by gently licking eyelids: imagine waking up to a giant orange face, at point-blank range! In the end, aggressively metastasized cancer in an elderly patient was cruel for all concerned, and so after round the clock body wrap by the caregiver for 2.5 days (that'd be me) no longer provided comfort, it was time.

Angela (F. Pitbull/B. Terrier mix)

This puppy-mill rescue led a hard life until she found a home with a set of dogs who liked her and vice-versa: fights I had to break up (Is this guy crazy?) dropped from nine to zero in two months, and never recurred. It is not thought that she ever got over her many puppies; she passed on her own, cradled by her caregiver (that'd also be 2+ days & be me).

Grendel (F. Golden Retriever)

This dog was about a mile too tall for the Breed Standard, but for well over a decade, she could run like the wind over a field of grain, and nothing in her way stood a chance, if it was a race. In the end, the arthritis of her kind made her life unbearable, and so the decision was taken that this was the more merciful act.