This one goes out to Lance Flame!

I am a dog person. I mean, I think you probably already knew that given the whole 'pupsinteacups' thing.

However I do have 2 cats of my own and live with 2 other cats. I love three of them. I mean they are animals so of course I love them.

But one? Oh, 1 used to be the sole apple of my eye (until Chief came and stole it, core and all :-)

His name is Lance Flame the Wonder Cat. And he really prefers if you shake your hands above your head when you say his name (he also likes you to say his name while you are spanking him but that is a whole other PG-13 rated blog).

Out of all my years as a veterinarian I have never met a cat like him. Sure I have met other bossy flame point Siamese. I have met cats that stole things... to punish you. I have met cats that were snuggle love bugs.

I have never met a cat that was all of those things and more.

Lance has ruled the house for nearly a decade and a half at a whopping 22 pounds. Did I mention he was a big boy?

When I first met him, at 4 weeks old, he could fit in the palm of my hand, glaring at me with those GLACIAL blue eyes of his. But he was so very sick. It took literally months of fluids, antibiotics, force-feeding and love to get him through.

Since then he has been the epitome of health...

Until last month when he was stricken with cancer. I can't tell you the devastation. No amount of fluids, antibiotics, force-feeding or even love will get him through this time. He is melting before our eyes.

To be a veterinarian and know that with all your skills and knowledge and experience you can't save your own cat?

There has been weeping and bawling and bargaining with God. But alas, it is becoming clearer and clearer that Lance is being called home.

So my Roomie and I have been preparing for it. What will life look like without Lance to tell us what to do every second of every day? I know we will feel unmoored.

Usually after the death of a pet, I wait until I feel ready, then go rescue another animal. It makes me feel better to do something proactive and positive.

However, with Lance and his Sultan mentality, both my Roomie and I felt that it would maybe not be honoring his memory to bring another cat into the household, and let's face it NOBODY can replace Lance Flame the Wonder Cat (and yes, one hand was up in the air doing 'jazz hands' while I typed that).

We discussed in depth whether or not to get another cat and made the connected decision to not replace him (because how could we)...

Until...

What came into my Roomie's clinic?

Um... a FEMALE Orange tabby (ok, rare enough) that clearly is a Siamese cross (ok, lots rarer) with BLUE eyes - ok, that really should be genetically impossible.

Oh and did I mention she is PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!

So yes, a pregnant stray cat came into my Roomie's clinic the day after we decided not to get another cat! And the chances she is carrying a male flame point? Um, pretty darn high.

It is like Lance heard that we weren't getting another cat and talked to the big guy about it. I mean, if we aren't going to go out looking, how is Lance going to come back? Or at the least make sure there was a Flame Point in the house (you know, to boss everyone around, since Lance is clearly worried we will fall in with the wrong crowd in his absence).

I am not sure what is going to happen next. I'm not sure how much longer we can keep Lance happy and comfortable. I don't know when this stray cat is going to give birth. I don't know if any of those kitten will be "The One."

All I do know is that this is another great story to tell any professor (see http://bit.ly/c1Dvva for the "Do dogs have souls" blog) that tries to tell me that animals don't have souls and aren't part of God's plan.

#Lancewouldcaretodisagree

How can you live with 5 dogs? In your BED?

Yes, even as a veterinarian I get asked this question... #alot

But you see, I barely even notice them. As a matter of fact, half the time my Roomie will ask me 'Where's Chief" or Princess or Linus, etc and I won't know, even though they are under the covers with me.

Well, I won't know until my foot falls asleep and I realize Princess is draped across it (a Chihuahua's signal of true and undying love) or my hip feels particularly warm (for only weighing 2 pounds, Chief can RADIATE body heat) or find a half destroyed cat toy between the sheets (ok, that one could be Orlin or Linus - certainly not Molly, otherwise the whole thing would be gone).

I do, however, usually know where Molly is, simply because we have a nightly, elaborate, grueling battle for my pillow.

You see, she thinks she is alpha and as alpha she should lay on the most comfortable pillow.

Therefore, each night I come to bed, I kick her off my pillow. Then she lays with her head on the corner. Then a paw hits me in the face, then I kick her to the other side of the bed. Then I get up to go the bathroom. Then I have to kick her off my pillow again.

You can see how this becomes a vicious cycle!

And did I mention she snores? Like a LUMBER JACK. Seriously, she could saw wood with that snore. And of course, remember she is sleeping on the corner of my pillow?

My Roomie can hear her from out in the hallway and yet, she is sleeping right next to my ear.

But would I have it any other way?

I could, of course, have them sleep in another room or crate them, but then how would I know how much my Chis and the rest of the pack love me (or in Molly's case replace me as Alpha)?

My question isn't how can I sleep with 5 dogs...

It is... why aren't you???? :-)

Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

The Fluffy Life

It’s not easy being adorable. White, fluffy, with a face that makes you want to go, “Awwww.” Small, but not so small that he's fragile. Boundless energy. Oh, and a personality the size of Montana.

These are the challenges that Linus faces on a day-to-day basis.

He’s made peace with it. See, none of this would be even the slightest problem if he were on his own, but instead he’s part of a pack that almost defies description.

There’s the aging alpha who calculates every move five steps ahead of time. There’s the Afghan mix who’s going deaf. The long-haired land-shark (excuse me, Chihuahua) who thinks every visitor is a serial killer.

And then, of course, there’s Chief, the two-pound, three legged Chi that holds his mommy’s heart.

How does a Tigger-like cutie like Linus compete??

Well, he doesn’t.

Luckily, Linus has his imaginary friend. He plays fetch with him, eats with him, even fights with him. And then, when his imaginary friend goes home, Linus comes inside and sleeps the sleep of the just.

See, Linus brings spunk to an otherwise spunk-less pack. But the pack can only take so much of it. So if Linus didn’t have his imaginary friend, there would be problems.

Instead, his energy is enough to stir the pot a little, without ever making it completely boil over. Pretty perfect, actually.

And that suits Linus just fine.


Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Chihuahuas. They could be the death of me!

You see, I live for my Chihuahuas.

Do I love my other dogs? Of course I do. I have had dogs since I was 3 years old. As a matter of fact, I stole my poor aunt's dogs. But that's another blog.

As most of you know, I am also a veterinarian so I have treated and loved thousands of dogs.

My motto: A day without a dog is a day not worth living. (um, you can start to see why I am still single).

But since I rescued the Chihuahuas? My heart was permanently stolen. I worry about everything. Did they eat enough (ok that's really only Chief). Did they drink enough? Do they know I love them enough?

Some days it feels like my heart only beats for them.

But alas, they are Chihuahuas so their goal is to apparently to try to give me a heart attack every single minute of every single day.

From flinging themselves off furniture (which they shouldn't have been on anyway), stealing food off your plate then trying to choke to death on it, or after just coming in from the backyard they decide to pee on your bed.

Because, after all, don't you know they hate peeing when the ground is all dewy?

Yes, those are the moments when I can feel my heart pounding and my blood pressure spiking and a cardiac event feels only moments away.

But, as Chihuahuas will, Princess breaks out her turbo tongue and covers my face in kisses or Chief does his hyena dance.

And then, in a single instant my heart is theirs again. #totoywithmainly #buttheirsnonetheless


Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Dogs Know What Real Love Is

They really do. I mean as humans we search and beg and wish for it and dogs, well, dogs just live it.

As I work at my computer, I can tell you exactly what the dogs will be doing.

Chief will have wedged himself into my lap somehow (given the fact my laptop is supposed to be the think on my lap).

Princess will be smushed up against my leg, partially under the pillow 'desk' that supports my laptop.

Molly will be on the dog bed next to me, just waiting for her chance to take me down a notch and be able to sleep on my pillow and, of course, Orlin will be curled up on his pile of blankets.

And Linus, well, he will be playing with his imaginary friend.

Each one of them is doing EXACTLY what they love.

Chief and Princess are absolutely certain true love comes in the form of full body contact. I can also feel them just absorbing and radiating that love as they sleep (because napping is also super far up the 'love' list).

Molly comes from a different school. For her, power is love. The more she can control the pack, the more loved she feels. As many of you know I was afraid for the move to the beach for her.

She was failing, looking old. But do you know what transformed her into nearly a puppy again? Barking at the other dogs on the beach. Power. It is the elixir that runs through her veins.

For Orlin, being near his girls (me and Molly), pointed out at the beach (the source of potential danger) and having his blankets 'just right,' is enough to make him practically purr.

Which leaves Linus, who I believe is love incarnate. Or maybe play incarnate. Which since he loves to play... #youseewhereIamgoing

Dogs don't just know what love is, they know how to soak it in and be content with it.

If that isn't the most awesome thing in the world, I don't know what is!

#dogsrule #catsarenttoobadeither :-)


Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Orlin and I have a Signal

Even though I am a veterinarian, I still live in denial of how old Orlin is.

When people ask how old he is, I answer somewhere between 10, 11 or 12. Kind of like how I say I'm 29 (#ok #fine 39)

But he's not. First off I've had him for 13 years. And he was an ADULT. He could have been anywhere from 1-3 years old at the time I found him.

I don't even want to add those numbers on to 13 to come up with 14-6 yrs old.

Thank goodness he's in great shape. Deaf and cloudy eyes, but healthy.

But that old age is starting to creep in. He peeped on the bed the other day. He sometimes gets confused about what the routine is. He sleeps 23 hours a day.

I know he won't last forever.

So while my heart will break in two when he goes, I know, I just know, we will see each other again.

Because you see we've got a plan.

I figure if there is karma, Orlin is in about as good a stead as you could be.

He's been the best big brother a pack could ever have so he really should get his choice on what he comes back as.

After much debate, we have decided Orlin should come back as a medium-sized terrier.

He has always wanted to be a lap dog, but cramming 45 pounds into a lap has been awkward at best. But he wants to be big enough to protect everyone (that's just how he rolls). And he wants to be wire-haired so he can have great bed-head (again, how he rolls).

So about 6 months after he passes, I am going to start looking at the area shelters for him.

I know, I just know, it will be him, when that new dog gives me the 'signal.'

You see for all his life, Orlin has never just kissed me. He always looks into my eyes first, sniffs where he is going to kiss, then plants the most luscious kiss.

He doesn't lick, he kisses.

I have been called many things on the stream: "A weirdo," "Crazy," even "unprofessional" calling my license into question because I, you know, sit around and talk to my older dog about reincarnation (and having a sound plan for it).

But you know what? I don't care...at all.

Because I've been around enough to know that one day I will stop at a cage and Orlin will peer out through new eyes, sniff my cheek and plant a kiss.

And on that day, my heart will heal #again

Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Life on the Beach...

Is great.

Well... except for the fact that my dogs aren't all that fond of the water. And they could really do without the whole 'sand' thing.

Did I mention what adventurers they are? I mean, what dogs don't like the beach?

Um, apparently mine.

Don't get me wrong, they are happy as clams (no pun intended :-). Because I mean, come on, right on the other side of the fence is a dog beach.

Dozens of dogs all day long, every day for the pack to get completely angry at and bark until Mommy stops them.

How awesome is that? And for Princess it is a cavalcade of serial killers, each one scared off my her ferocious bark (and of course, Chief's squeak).

So far we have only been able to take the 'Bigs' on an actual walk on the beach. Technically the "Littles" have been on a walk, but their tiny paws never actually hit the sand.

Both Princess and Chief just freeze and shiver if you try to make them walk on that evil, evil, shifting stuff Mommy calls 'just sand, you dorks."

So the "Littles" go for what we like to call a "carry."

Mommy has Chief inside her bra #duh and Auntie has Princess on her shoulder.

I am sure we are the talk of the neighborhood (and you know that's exactly what we were shooting for #not).

"Hey do you know those two weird women at the end of the lane that carry half their dogs down the beach and the other half run away from the water?"

Yep, that us. The pack that never quite fits in! #anywhere #anytime

Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!