Maria is out at her belly-dancing class, and then is going to help a friend move. I thought I’d write this before she gets home, she knows nothing about Frida The Goldfish, who I brought home as a gift to her. I suppose if she doesn’t want Frida, I can bring her into my study.
I was at a feed and pet store buying fish for the refugee kids who are coming to Pompanuck this weekend, (they are prizes in a voluntary reading contest I’m sponsoring) and I saw Frida swimming in a big tank by herself. I liked the looks of Frida, I named her on the spot after Frida Kahlo, one of Maria’s favorite artists, I just have the feeling she belongs here.
I bought a small tank, some rainbow gravel, and a plastic plant. Frieda doesn’t need a filter or a heater, she likes cold temperatures and eats little. There is room for a companion if we want that, or she can swim happily by herself. I sat and watched her tonight for awhile, she is calming.
THe backdrop to this story is that I used to breed tropical fish in my life as a known strange child, I have four or five big tanks with heaters and filters, I bred several kinds of tropical fish, including Betas, (Siamese Fighting Fish) and guppies and mollies.
I got Maria goldfish when we lived in Hebron, and she enjoyed having her. I asked the fish clerk for a female, Maria is not wild about men. Anyway, she’ll be home soon and I have more blogging to do, so I’ll just put this up and wait to see her reaction. Generally, she loves taking care of plant and living things.
But I doubt she was expecting a fish. More later.
Dear Jon Katz,
I absolutely love your writing style. It is like listening to my own words that I wish I could express. I have dyslexia and I can read a little at a time on my kindle. I am now 77 years old and love dogs. I could not have children and dogs and some cats have been my fur babies. I went back to school around 39 and finally got my master’s degree in MFT at age 50. My clients and patients were also my children in ways. but my dogs mostly my surrogate babies. I really enjoyed the first book I read of yours “The dogs of Bedlam Farm.” Last chance dog really touched my heart. I recently adopted a senior rescue from other friends and neighbors of my cousin who live in Kirkland, WA. I found out “Franny” was from Yakima and came by way of “Wayward Home” and was walked by a neighbor of my cousin and then she adopted her. This woman eventually scummed to Perkinson’s and dementia and is now in a care facility. My cousin’s wife used to walk Franny. My cousin’s wife is a retired kindergarten teacher of 32 years. She visits and cares for many people in her circle. She and my cousin had 4 children and now two darling granddaughters. When my dog Becca ran off in the night, I could not find her and never saw her again I was devastated that she was “mad” at me for leaving her with a neighbor dog walker for 10 days while I went on a cruise. I had adopted her from the pound in Phoenix, AZ as a companion dog for me and for my lab/greyhound mix who I knew was ageing fast. Sadie taught Becca how to bark at the walkers that came by our fence in front of my house on the manmade lake in Sun City area. Sadie, the greyhound/lab mix would swim in my pool in the summer and run and chase the jackrabbits in the sandy river bottoms where I would take her for walks. She loved the chase and never caught any but seems so happy doing it. Had to watch for rattle snakes when the not weather started around first of May. When I lost Becca, I decided I would get another dog and wanted one that did not shed. I looked online at poodle mixes and searched rescues and or buying one from a breeder. The were very expensive I thought.
One day while visiting my cousin’s wife standing on her front porch the new owner of Franny was walking by, I said Hey, there is a dog that doesn’t shed right there. I knew about Franny and the story of her original owner. The man walking her was from Africa and a very sweet man who walked her several times a day rain or shine. We called him over and asked him if he planned on keeping Franny. He said as a matter of fact he wasn’t sure b/c his wife did not like the dog in the bedroom. My cousin’s wife told him that I would be the best person ever to care for and adopt Franny. He said he will talk to his adult sons about it and let me know. He gave me his phone number and then about two weeks later he called and said he would me to have her but that I would need to pay him for her b/c he had taken her to the vet and grooming and the leash and harness etc. He said it would be 200.00. At first, I was taken aback, that he would want money and not think she was going to get a great new owner and home. Then I thought of course these dogs are expensive if I was going to buy one. Franny is a Lhasa Apso/ poodle mix. She is blonde in color. He brought her to my house with her bed, bowls, toy, leash and harness and brush and hair dryer to use after walking in the rain. I found out more about this man that he was adopted, and his wife had serious health issues. I could tell he was emotional about letting her go but knew it was for the best. I send him pictures of her as he asks about her via my cousin’s wife. He told me she is very protective and will bark at any noise outside. I though great, b/c I live alone, and I wanted a dog that was protective. Then I found if a truck went by outside, she barked loudly and long. I knew she was anxious and afraid herself. I knew she had to adjust to her new home and me. We soon bonded with treats and walks. I washed her bed, toy and leash. Gave her treats and she already knew how to sit and down. She wagged her tail often. I read books on training and wanted to help her settle in. I told a butcher at a nearby health food store about her and he said he was a dog trainer but did not do it anymore. He charged $100/ per hour. I said I think she is picking up on my anxiety when we pass near another dog b/c I knew she would lunge and bark at the other dog. I did buy a vibrating collar and taught her to “leave it”. I worked on my anxiety and relaxed the leash and talked to her as we passed other dogs. She is now very good about this. It is still upsetting to hear the “loud ferocious barking” but I know she will never really bite. She loves people and treats and pets! People in my neighborhood lover her b/c she goes up to them waging her tail, sometimes her tail goes in a circle.
Your books have helped me understand dogs better, especially “talking to animals”. I do picture her doing what is best for her and me! I was finally convinced by my Russian neighbor that I could take her to the off-leash very large park near me and she would be fine. b/c he takes his little poodle there and “no problem”. Last summer I found that to be true and at first, she would not let another dog near me. She also stayed right by my left rear foot. I kept looking back to make sure she was there. I walk slow due to a pinched nerve, and she walks slow due to her age. She is my perfect senior dog for this senior me. I was told she could live until 15 yrs.; she is now 11. I feed the best food and give her hip and joint supplements as well doggie fish oil. I found anew vet that cleaned her teeth and that I needed to brush her teeth. I get her groomed at the local Petco every 6-8 weeks. I am pleased she does not shed but grooming is expensive. While she is at the groomer I can run and errand or wash her bed and vacuum. She always looks so good after her spa days. I take another picture and send to my cousin’s wife. Thank you for your books and writing! I don’t think I will ever meet you, but I don’t think I need too since you have shared your soul in your writings.
I have had a business of dog and animal sitting and walking. I enjoy this more than any other kind of part time work I could do now. I posted myself on Rover.com for referrals.
Bea Raymond