DOOLEY- Final Segment (Scroll down for earlier segments)
Dooley took eating very seriously. One evening, my friend, Dave, came
by the house with some freshly caught crab. Although Dave is
questionable, crabs are always welcome in our home. So I
invited them in. I placed the four crabs in the utility sink.
Dooley had been resting, in preparation for his next feeding, when the smell of
fresh seafood caught his attention. He jumped up onto the utility sink
for a better look. I could see he was impressed. Here was a
four-course seafood delight, inviting him to dinner. He should have
declined the invitation. But since he had never tried crab, he
figured it was the perfect time for a sample.
Eyeing an easy catch, Dooley jumped into the sink. The sample was brief. It was quickly followed by a loud commotion. At the same time, Dooley began ricocheting around the sink like a pinball in a pinball machine. One crab had a firm grip on his right hind leg. It looked like rodeo time as Dooley twisted, gnawed, and bucked, trying to shake off the crab. I knew he didn’t want this guy staying on for the full count. So, amidst the screeches and flailing claws, I laid my life on the line to set Dooley free. He cleared the sink by a wide margin and quickly disappeared. Several days later, certain that the crabs were gone, he reappeared. I don't think he ever regained his appetite for seafood.
The episode also strained our relationship. He thought I was using him as crab bait. He had completely forgotten that it was his idea to sample the crab, and that I had rescued him from being a three-legged cat. Still, he gave me the cold shoulder.
I would have to live with rejection if I was going to be a cat owner. In fact, most cat lovers thrive on rejection. These people aren’t happy unless they get a pink slip, lose their job, or have a door slammed in their face. They will only accept no for an answer.
Having Dooley did teach our kids a lot about responsibility. They learned commands like, “Dad, you need to let the cat out”, “Dad, you need to let the cat in”, “Dad, you need to feed the cat”, “Dad, the cat ate something he didn’t like. Mom wants you to clean it up”, “Dad, can you turn on the TV? Dooley wants to watch ‘Animals are Real People’.”
Oh well, what better way to teach your children about responsibility, than caring for a pet.
New chapter coming...check back soon
Eyeing an easy catch, Dooley jumped into the sink. The sample was brief. It was quickly followed by a loud commotion. At the same time, Dooley began ricocheting around the sink like a pinball in a pinball machine. One crab had a firm grip on his right hind leg. It looked like rodeo time as Dooley twisted, gnawed, and bucked, trying to shake off the crab. I knew he didn’t want this guy staying on for the full count. So, amidst the screeches and flailing claws, I laid my life on the line to set Dooley free. He cleared the sink by a wide margin and quickly disappeared. Several days later, certain that the crabs were gone, he reappeared. I don't think he ever regained his appetite for seafood.
The episode also strained our relationship. He thought I was using him as crab bait. He had completely forgotten that it was his idea to sample the crab, and that I had rescued him from being a three-legged cat. Still, he gave me the cold shoulder.
I would have to live with rejection if I was going to be a cat owner. In fact, most cat lovers thrive on rejection. These people aren’t happy unless they get a pink slip, lose their job, or have a door slammed in their face. They will only accept no for an answer.
Having Dooley did teach our kids a lot about responsibility. They learned commands like, “Dad, you need to let the cat out”, “Dad, you need to let the cat in”, “Dad, you need to feed the cat”, “Dad, the cat ate something he didn’t like. Mom wants you to clean it up”, “Dad, can you turn on the TV? Dooley wants to watch ‘Animals are Real People’.”
Oh well, what better way to teach your children about responsibility, than caring for a pet.
New chapter coming...check back soon
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