Puppies can even solve the feral cat problem (sort of)

I'm trying to write a brilliant analysis of the feral cat situation in Los Angeles since the city got sued and forced to pull its funding for trap-neuter-release programs, and apparently even forced to stop referring rescuers to private sources of funding.



There are a lot of issues involved here, although most of them, in my view, are just a big smokescreen for a very ugly anti-cat agenda, but hey, if I didn't have an opinion, would you read what I write? I think not.



So, while I'm trying to wrap my brain around this issue and figure out just what I want to say, my future puppy's breeder, as if she could read my mind all the way from Michigan, sends magical sleepy puppy picture email to me!



I can't pretend it made me smarter, or this issue less cantankerous, but it definitely made me smile and coo and use words like "puppers" and you know, in general make a complete fool of myself.



Which is, I believe, the official function of puppies, is it not?



Those little 3-week-old mergatroyds (don't ask; it's just what my mom and I always called male deerhound puppies, I have no idea why) look like they just woke up. Barely. I think they're leaning on each other so they don't fall down in a heap.



Can I survive until the end of March?



Okay, back to reading lawsuits and scientific studies and making my head hurt.



But first, just one more look at the pictures...

Comments

[Travis]

The puppies are ADORABLE!!! Can't wait to meet the new mergatroyd! :)



Travis

[Dorene]

Did your Mom like Gilbert & Sullivan? According to Wikipedia, under a different spelling:



a Murgatroyd family is central to the plot of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera Ruddigore



Supposedly, Sir Murgatroyd is cursed by a witch to commit 1 crime/day, so he tries to make up for it by doing 1 good deed/day.



Sounds like a male deerhound puppy to me! ;-)

[David S. Greene]

I was going to suggest the G&S angle too. My considered, professional opinion on the picture: Puppy puppy puppy!



Ok, now back to writing tomorrow morning's post (while humming "puppy puppy puppy" to myself)

[Rori]

Those pups are precious, but they're making me want to take a nap!



My mother used to say "Heavens to mergatroyd!" when something was surprising or baffling. Somewhat akin to today's palm slap to the forehead, or OMG! I have no idea why!

[H. Houlahan]

Snagglepuss used to say it.



One has to be Of A Certain Age. Since Snagglepuss cartoons are not "classic" material, ala Bugs Bunny, younger and older members of the culture have been spared.



But it brings it back to cats.



I call puppies Schnickelfritz. The youngest pup in the household is always the Schnickelfritz. I have no memory of this, but apparently it's something my German grandfather called us children. I thought it was a made-up word. Nope.

[C.L.H.]

My German grandma called me Schnickelfritz. I use it on my children and cute baby animals.

[Carol V]

Snagglepuss from Huckleberry Hound right?

[retrieverman]

It is amazing how much deerhound puppies don't look anything like the adult dogs.

[Nadine L]

They are so cute!! Will these little guys stay dark or become light gray? When do they grow in their shag?

[Barb]

What wonderful therapy puppies are!!



They look like they're about at that wonderful age where they sit and look at one another, then one tries to play and lifts a paw to whack his brother on the head and - plop! - he falls over.



I LOVE that!!!

[Gina Spadafori]

Whatever you call them ... Oh! Adorable!

[cathy reynolds]

I read this to hear about the fate of the cats,and how do the puppies help the cats. The cats are a serious subject. Yes, I love puppies, but feral cats need help !

[Christie Keith]

Cathy, my very next post was the serious one about ferals:



http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2010/01/20/feral-cats-and-wildlife-ur-doin-it-wrong/



Right in this post, I say that I was just writing this while working on the other. Sometimes even intrepid pet writers need a little break in the middle of a deadline. :)