Animals create more readership

Tega on the couch with her buddy, Bert, who was our houseguest. 

When I first began blogging, I was gainfully employed by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and wrote a blog several times a week which was featured by them. I ran news articles about animals, featured local rescues and highlighted rescue people. I had a blast doing it and even remember when I approached Leigh, who was the editor in charge of such things many years ago, to get her approval. The paper was flush with money at that time and most papers featured an animal writer including the Orlando Sentinel and the Miami Herald. It is was a better time for animals in that they were featured more often with more attention to the rescue world.

That all changed the last year of my employment there and I continued to have a website and blog after I left as long as I could afford it. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and due to financial restraints, those who know me know about those, I had to give up my website. 

I began writing this blog on Aging several years ago and although I do have people read occasionally, I don't really promote it except for sharing it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. It is a great vehicle for me to vent about politics and other issues which just irritate me like a splinter in my ass. I have no one to vent to but occasionally someone will comment and tell me they agree with me. I feel better after venting, even when no one is listening.

Yesterday, after losing my last dog, I blogged about her in this column and did as I normally do with sharing and had 14 people read the column. I was stunned. I never have that many people read what I have written. 

So today I am posting a picture of Tega and Bert. Both have gone to the Rainbow Bridge but when this was taken last Christmas, they were still holding their own and would let you know about it. Both would play for about 20 seconds, then lay down and rest. Bert would talk to Tega and Tega would listen. I often wondered what he was saying to her as she continued to lay on the couch. Unless things change, this Christmas I will not have either. 

I keep waiting on a dog to come around the corner of the house and ask to go outside. Or have one come up behind me in the bathroom. The house seems very quiet with no dog but I am sure that can't be true because they don't really make noise. 

I won't have to worry about fireworks this year. Most of the pets I have had were terrified on the 4th of July. I remember one year when I had to call the Sheriff's Department on my new next door neighbors. They had cannons in the street which was terrifying for me. The smoke was so thick I could not see my neighbor's house across the street. The law has changed now and they are allowed, but now they won't because they think I am the crazy old lady next door and have no idea what would happen if they did. 

I even had a dream about dogs last night that I remember. 3 little dogs came under my backyard fence and I had to catch them and take them to Animal Services. None of them were chipped, had collars or any identifying features. One was white, one was brown, and one was black. They were puppies of different breeds. They all came to me and all found homes. I was glad in my dream. I guess this means I need to wait a little while still to adopt another friend. I am okay with that.