[nagdu] OH RATS!!!! and DOGS!!!

[Margo and Elmo]

bunny, how fun!

My first guide dog, Deedee, and I were acquainted with a pet rat named 
Mister Chips.  Mister Chips was so cool.  he loved to sit on your lap 
watching television and eating doritos.  Was he a couch potato or what?  he 
also loved to ride on your shoulder while you walked around and did things. 
We were also acquainted with a very kind and smart oder ferret named 
Chomsky.  He and Deedee used to play a bit and she was always so glad to see 
Mister chips and Comsky.

margo and Elmo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bunny Davidson" <bunnydavidson at live.com>
To: "National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 2:03 PM
Subject: [nagdu] OH RATS!!!! and DOGS!!!



congrats on your new pet rat!!!
years ago, prior to becoming disabled
i worked with a vet & also did dog grooming in my home
for select customers from his practice...

(the dogs that went nuts and needed tranquilizers and no other  groomer 
would groom them)

well , I had my trimming table/groom stand set up next to my cabnet with all 
my tools et..
and there was a small microwave hutch i put my pet rat's aquarium on.

my rats had a large wheel (ratsize) and toys and wood chip bedding...  it 
was a 20 gal tank with mesh top clamped on it.

well these behavior challenged dogs were so entertained by the rats going on 
wheel and eating et.. that they ceased to need any
tranq's to get groomed, even the biggest nutjob "ajax" a gas station's long 
haired rotty who had bit several prior groomers.
He used to stand on the grooming table leaning in towards the rat's cage, 
and all i could do anything to him without issue, scrape teeth,
trim nails whatever... then i had to mop up the drool on the floor after he 
was done! LOL...

NOW - More uses for rats... I made my rats HATS!  yes i did, i went to the 
craft shoppe, bought some little hats made for folks to decorate to
adorn their barbie dolls et... I added silk ribbons, flowers and all kinds 
of adornments to them , and of course a little bit of seamstress elastic for 
the chin strap!
(oh, and i made bigger hats for the 2 ferrits i was fostering at the time, 
did i mention im a chronic animal rescuer?)

I had them all in hats and had a fashon show! of course i videotaped it and 
sent it to fla. to my 97 year old grandmother in assisted living... she 
showed it to all the folks there and they all
loved it!

my mom , at the time, was battling brain cancer, and in /out of commas due 
to chemo, radiation and being very ill post surgery... I loaded up my fave 
rat (stevie nicks -a white rat) with her hats
into my handbag.. we closed the blinds on my mom's hallway window, and i put 
stevie down on my mom's bed, put a hat on her, and she moved up alongside my 
mom with this minnie pearl type hat on...
mom came out of a stone cold coma and smiled, saying "bunny you and those 
pets!"  it was amazing.  after that i got permission from the social worker 
on her floor to bring in my std poodle pups (i used to show them/raise them) 
and my other animals... the social worker hooked up with therapy dogs int 
and i was first in that hosp to have therapy dogs certified and allowed to 
visit.

I am always amazed at the amount of help and healing and love that pours out 
of the little furry four legged creatures who never speak a word, yet say 
volumes with their presence.


So, as for wether you should get a coat made for your new hairless rat, you 
decide, but definatley go for the hats! LOL...

btw, I got my power restored this am after 7 days of no power, water et... 
PTL!  we got hit to the tune of a certified disaster with ice storm, my 
property has at least 40% of its trees horizontal from the storm...
thousands of homes in s vt, ma & me were/are without power from this event, 
and yesterday as it warmed to melt all the ice coated branches and blades of 
grass the SNOW came down !!! 6" last night, tomorow 6-8" more predicted.

AH, and for the update on the Boxer boy "sugar Ray" whom i rescued from a NJ 
shelter on nov 19, he is doing wonderful... he shows symtoms and visable 
signs of serious voilent abuse and then neglect of physical injury (they 
broke his jaw badly with a bat or hammer and left him to heal without 
resetting)  - when i had to pick up a hammer to tap down a nail on the deck 
he cowered and shook terribly.. i was able to love and hug him talking to 
him about it.. then as i went from nail to nail with hammer he ended up 
following me wagging his big, uncropped boxer tail.  He also was cowardace 
at the prospect of going into the barn or garden shed, i can only imagine 
why (not good)  so i put him on leash with lots of assurance and close 
contact... now he will enter both. (this happened over days)

I will try again (had no luck before sending attatched photos here, i think 
the list is not set up to grab them) to put pix..

well hope all of you are warm and dry, enjoying your power and running 
water!!! (i sure am)
hugs,
Bunny & the pack


--Forwarded Message Attachment--From: wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.comTo: 
nagdu at nfbnet.orgDate: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:00:20 -0700Subject: [nagdu] winter 
coats for dogsHi every one, I was on the community pets Craig's list and 
came across thisperson that makes winter coats for dogs, any size. If any 
one is interested,her name is Stacie and her phone number is 
(520) -450-0381. She is inArizona, but I am sure she could send them any 
where they are needed. I haveacquired a new family member that the dogs are 
fascinated with. His name isRemington Rat and he is completely hairless. I 
guess maybe I should get hima coat for winter? I have to keep him away from 
the cats but thedogs,especially Nala, seem to enjoy watching him. She even 
gave him a bigwet kiss. Nala seems much happier now that she is working 
again. We took thedogs to the street fair and there were lots of people and 
several unrullydogs. Wanagi ignored all of the dogs and worked perfactly. 
Now that she isin harness, she is really taking her work very seriously. 
Have a greatday. Mardi, and Nala,semi-retired,Wanagi,gdit,and Tokala, part 
timeguide and part time pet.
_________________________________________________________________
Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass.
http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_122008


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