Personal Goal - Think about food more.

 I love food. I love to eat. This is something I inherited from my mom's side of the family. It is actually rather impressive the amount of food I can consume in a day (thank you Poppa!). I also have a wicked sweet tooth (thanks to my dad's side of the family too!). However,  unlike most people who love eating, I hate cooking. Several times a week my husband is out and I am forced to feed myself.  I have some simple staples I will make. The reality is that without a cook, I would probably starve.

One thing I have learned is that I don't think a lot about what I am putting in my own body, so it is really no surprise that I don't really think about what my pets are eating. My basic strategy is to do what the vets says, watch their weight and limit treats. However, from reading other blogs, I have realized that I need to be thinking more about what they eat. This is the problem with following other people's blogs, sometimes it gives you dog owner guilt! 

So my new goal is to start researching food. I see that Liz from the Ottawa Dog Blog makes all her own dog food. I don't think this is a good option for me. I think one should be able to feed oneself before they feed their dog! I have seen lots of posts about raw diet vs prepackaged foods and posts on what prepackaged foods are better. So I need to go back and look and figure out what my cats and dog should be having.

Hailey says she is all for this as long as I don't take her Greenies away. When presented with a Kong filled with peanut butter and treats and a Greenie, the Greenie always wins! 

Loki and his pizza. Loki LOVED pizza. In the last month of his life, we got him his very own pizza. He had no idea what to do with it. We had to cut it up for him. I know this is NOT a good example of how to feed your pet, but perhaps when you know their death is coming and there is nothing you can do to stop it, you might as well let them have what they love. 

Personal Goal - Judge less

Mom - this will probably make you cry - don't say I didn't warn you:)

I realize as I have become a member of the larger dog community, that I can be very judgmental about other dog owners. It is now my goal to be less judgmental. It is not like I have the perfect dog:)  [See previous posts as well as follow the daily check in for time without destruction on twitter.]

Besides judging about dogs behaviour, one of the areas that I have the most trouble not being judgmental about is vet care. This is funny because I know many people have judged me on the amount of money I spent on Loki in his final year. (The post the cost goes over that).  I have been thinking a lot about why I am very judgemental about vet care and because I love lists, here are my reasons.

1) My vet is a very close personal friend. I trust him and his staff with my animals more than I think I would trust doctors with my own medical care. (I tell them this all the time). I know if he or one of the others recommends something, it is what I should do. (They often give me all options, but are always clear on what they think is the best).

2) I can afford vet care. Knock on wood, so far my pets have never required care I could not afford (the joys of being DINKS!) I am not saying I haven't had to give things up to pay for the care, but I never, ever had to decide between something like eating and medicine for a pet. I am blessed. (I think I judge people who can't afford extra-ordinary care the same as people who can afford it, but don't see the value in it).

3) I have very clear personal views on acceptable medical care for myself and loved ones. (My living will reads like War and Peace).

4) My pets are my family members. I have become "that" dog owner (I am not sure when I got that crazy, that is for another day). I would do almost anything to have more quality time with each former and current pack member. As much work as they can be, I wouldn't trade them for anything.

5) I don't believe in having a pet suffer because it is too sad or hard to say goodbye. I think that is shelfish. I considered trying to keep Gemi alive when she was dying so my husband would be home to say goodbye, but in the end decided this would extend her suffering and it wasn't likely she was going to make another week.

So when I read things about other people choosing to provide medical care that I think is crazy (there is not much, I considered letting my dog be the first dog to try blood doping at one point. For both Loki and Gemi I did everything medically reasonable. I am also the proud owner of a magnet that was removed from Bagheera's intestine - don't ask -) or when I hear about people who refuse any medical care, I will say "Just because it is not what I would do, it doesn't make it wrong." I will probably have to say that a million times but I am hopeful eventually I won't judge others. I know how hard it has been for me to make certain medical decisions (even some that turned out ok in the end). It is hard to stop the " should have/could have/would haves" during and after. I will give others the benefit of the doubt and assume their decisions were as heart wrenching. Or maybe it would jut be easier to pretend I didn't hear them:)

My angels, Gemini and Loki.
If money could have bought us more medical care that = quality time, I would have spent it.