Dear Hardware Hank, my human turned on that blasted video of ferocious Dudley and I ran all over the house trying to find the barking intruder only to find it was coming from my human’s phone. Eye roll. How many times have I warned her to give me a heads up when she does things like that. My human helps organized the Sunday night cook-out before the Monday morning kick-off at OWR. I hear her talk about it all the time. She says the cook-out is the best place to meet people and make new friends. She has a crap ton of writing education and publishing credits, but she says no matter what she accomplishes in her writing life, OWR continues to be life changing for her. She especially likes to come across people at OWR who are still kinda green when it comes to the work of writing and publishing. Passing forward lessons, tips and support is what it is all about. At least that’s what she says. I hope you encourage your human to attend. I bet if you start fetching pencils and paper and novels out of drawers and off of shelves she would get the picture.
It's Hank from Storm Lake again. My human says my real, but unofficial name is Hardware Hank, but hardly anyone knows what Hardware Hank is anymore, so she just says my name is Hank. My human's dad used to run a Hardware Hank store so that's where that comes from. I'm a mini Golden Doodle, too, like you, but we look NOTHING alike. My human says I have the soft and wavy coat of my Golden Retriever mother but the personality of my maniac mini Poodle dad. People keep asking me how old I am cuz they think I'm still a puppy, but I'm 4, as in 4 years old, so I guess my human is right about the maniac part. You are a deep reddish brown; I am a honey golden color; isn't variety a wonderful thing?
Hey, are you gonna be at the Okoboji Writers Conference? My human has signed up, but she is waffling. She's good at that; she has a card taped to a shiny thing in the bathroom that pretty much says, "Just do it already" although I guess there are some bad words in it. I keep sending her mental vibes that she should go, but she worries about me. Humans are weird. Keep barking at that Nylabone, man! Here's hoping we sniff butts one day. I've never met a human or another medium-sized dog or cat I don't wanna be besties with. Isn't life great?
animals are all so different. Amusing how he has to bark and bark at it. I wonder if he thinks it will respond at some point? LOL. Hoping he stays seizure free. Those have to be extremely scary. I had my fur baby a female mackrel tabby. She came to me at about 4 months from the ARL and I kept her until she was starting her 20th year and had cancer. The vet said I would know when the time would come. We could do all the usual therapies and surgeries but said they probably would not get it all and the outcome would be the same. So we just kept her comfortable until the day I knew it was time. She was the only long term pet I was able to have in my lifetime. I cried and cried when I had to let her go. The vet I used in Ankeny was very compassionate and I considered the fees very very reasonable. They were kind, gentle and caring. I won't get another pet because of the very things mentioned in Richard's article. Some places don't want to take animals and they charge outrageous fees if they do allow them in most cases. And the costs when the animal begins to have medical issues and needs and special food can be out of sight. But I will never forget my Roxie. I love Dudley's articles and hope he continues to write from time to time.
Loved Richard's column! As always. And love watching adorable Dudley!
Long ago we inherited my daughter's dog. Alex, being a pathologist, was aghast at the cost of lab costs, comparing them to human lab costs. At one point in questioning the costs, we got a very snide remark from the vet: "Do you want me to put you on my 'needs list'?" And that's the last time we set foot in that office. Now I have two indoor cats. They've been neutered, had initial shots, and now they are on "emergency visits" only
Instinct... those come out in strange ways in different dogs. I had one dog that hid her treats in the house plants. I found out because of the dirt around the pots. (Pomeranian - so only low pots.)
This seems like a the same healthcare racket that we humans have to navigate. Poor Dudley.
I finished reading your column and looked up at the TV which was showing a promotion for a channel called DOGust. Apparently it is a channel you can park your dogs in front of to watch programming that keeps them calm when they have to be inside during the summer heat. Brilliant!
That’s what I did with our little guys, but the calming programming was Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Sesame Street!
Dear Hardware Hank, my human turned on that blasted video of ferocious Dudley and I ran all over the house trying to find the barking intruder only to find it was coming from my human’s phone. Eye roll. How many times have I warned her to give me a heads up when she does things like that. My human helps organized the Sunday night cook-out before the Monday morning kick-off at OWR. I hear her talk about it all the time. She says the cook-out is the best place to meet people and make new friends. She has a crap ton of writing education and publishing credits, but she says no matter what she accomplishes in her writing life, OWR continues to be life changing for her. She especially likes to come across people at OWR who are still kinda green when it comes to the work of writing and publishing. Passing forward lessons, tips and support is what it is all about. At least that’s what she says. I hope you encourage your human to attend. I bet if you start fetching pencils and paper and novels out of drawers and off of shelves she would get the picture.
You rock!
Love this!
Hiya, Dudley,
It's Hank from Storm Lake again. My human says my real, but unofficial name is Hardware Hank, but hardly anyone knows what Hardware Hank is anymore, so she just says my name is Hank. My human's dad used to run a Hardware Hank store so that's where that comes from. I'm a mini Golden Doodle, too, like you, but we look NOTHING alike. My human says I have the soft and wavy coat of my Golden Retriever mother but the personality of my maniac mini Poodle dad. People keep asking me how old I am cuz they think I'm still a puppy, but I'm 4, as in 4 years old, so I guess my human is right about the maniac part. You are a deep reddish brown; I am a honey golden color; isn't variety a wonderful thing?
Hey, are you gonna be at the Okoboji Writers Conference? My human has signed up, but she is waffling. She's good at that; she has a card taped to a shiny thing in the bathroom that pretty much says, "Just do it already" although I guess there are some bad words in it. I keep sending her mental vibes that she should go, but she worries about me. Humans are weird. Keep barking at that Nylabone, man! Here's hoping we sniff butts one day. I've never met a human or another medium-sized dog or cat I don't wanna be besties with. Isn't life great?
Do it!!!
MARS is not just a candy company (M&Ms, Skittles and Snickers) -- Candy maker Mars is the biggest vet provider in the country.
Take a few minutes and read the article in Yahoo -- see link below!
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/candy-maker-mars-biggest-vet-100000723.html
animals are all so different. Amusing how he has to bark and bark at it. I wonder if he thinks it will respond at some point? LOL. Hoping he stays seizure free. Those have to be extremely scary. I had my fur baby a female mackrel tabby. She came to me at about 4 months from the ARL and I kept her until she was starting her 20th year and had cancer. The vet said I would know when the time would come. We could do all the usual therapies and surgeries but said they probably would not get it all and the outcome would be the same. So we just kept her comfortable until the day I knew it was time. She was the only long term pet I was able to have in my lifetime. I cried and cried when I had to let her go. The vet I used in Ankeny was very compassionate and I considered the fees very very reasonable. They were kind, gentle and caring. I won't get another pet because of the very things mentioned in Richard's article. Some places don't want to take animals and they charge outrageous fees if they do allow them in most cases. And the costs when the animal begins to have medical issues and needs and special food can be out of sight. But I will never forget my Roxie. I love Dudley's articles and hope he continues to write from time to time.
Aw, tears
Loved Richard's column! As always. And love watching adorable Dudley!
Long ago we inherited my daughter's dog. Alex, being a pathologist, was aghast at the cost of lab costs, comparing them to human lab costs. At one point in questioning the costs, we got a very snide remark from the vet: "Do you want me to put you on my 'needs list'?" And that's the last time we set foot in that office. Now I have two indoor cats. They've been neutered, had initial shots, and now they are on "emergency visits" only
Does Dudley chew on his Nylabone? From his reaction I wondered if he maybe chewed on it once and it hurt so he barks at it now.
He loves chewing on the Nylabone. Some times I cut it in two pieces. I don’t know why he stalks the Nylabone.
Instinct... those come out in strange ways in different dogs. I had one dog that hid her treats in the house plants. I found out because of the dirt around the pots. (Pomeranian - so only low pots.)
More American greed among big corporations. Americans love their pets, but these costs are making it very difficult. It’s also absolutely infuriating.
Dudley’s reaction to his nylabone - totally not what I expected. LOL
This seems like a the same healthcare racket that we humans have to navigate. Poor Dudley.
I finished reading your column and looked up at the TV which was showing a promotion for a channel called DOGust. Apparently it is a channel you can park your dogs in front of to watch programming that keeps them calm when they have to be inside during the summer heat. Brilliant!
That’s what I did with our little guys, but the calming programming was Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Sesame Street!
Indeed you can rent a cable channel for dogs to do that very thing. Do you believe it?
Ha!
That is a truly horrifying AI generated picture of a cat with one front leg and three misshapen hind legs. Or maybe alien tentacles.
I stared at that picture for quite awhile. Thanks for explaining it to me.
Isn’t it?