Mr. Kitten Mittens and me.1
Late last Sunday night, I saw a link on Facebook asking if anyone in the area (SoCal) could save a dog that was scheduled to be sent to the Great Farm in the Sky on Monday. He looked like a cocker spaniel and since Nate Dogg is a cocker spaniel, I figured it would be downright un-Christmas-like un-Holiday Season-like of me not to snag him. I haven’t fostered a dog in ages, and my dog is an old man who is content to lie around, fart, and feast on treats all day. I’m not sure my tired old ass can handle the energy of a younger dog. Still, I figured I could at least hang on to him for a few weeks; fatten him up; get his cherry eye removed (a common condition for cocker spaniels); and shine him up like a new penny, so the odds of him finding a permanent home would be better.
So, on Monday afternoon, I popped down to the shelter, had a brief chat with the dog, decided he’d do, paid for him to be neutered, and stayed his imminent execution.
Five days and one junk-removal surgery later, Foster the Dog aka Mr. Kitten Mittens and I were posing with Santy Claus:
Happy December 25th to all and to all a good night!
Every Saturday in December, OC Animal Care is offering free pictures with Santa. Click here for more info, and for the love of humanity, if you’re planning on getting a dog for yourself or for a loved one, ADOPT! ADOPT! ADOPT! There are so many adorable dogs that need homes. There are so many adorable dogs — like Mr. Kitten Mittens who is currently fast asleep in his crate after having been completely ignored by Nate Dogg — that are being killed because shelters and rescue groups can’t find good homes for them. Seriously. Don’t buy a dog. Don’t make me come over there. I will cut you. And then I’ll sing that “In the Arms of the Angels” song until you lose your mind.
Foster the Dog couldn't handle the convertible. He almost jumped out of the window out of excitement.
He's chillin' in his crate. We're listening to "Regulators." MOUNT UP!
If you or anyone you know is in the LA area and is interested adopting this kick ass dog, shoot me an email at stopthemadness@angryblacklady.com.
1I think Mr. Kitten Mittens is a hilarious name, but it’s a mouthful. I thought about naming him Agent Jack Bauer the Cat — “Jack,” for short. Right now, I’m calling him Oliver or Ollie. I may tack an “Ali” on the end: “Oliver ‘Ollie’ Ali.” I know! I’m deranged. Do you have any suggestions for a name?
[cross-posted here at Balloon Juice]
Love your work and ran to follow you on twitter. DEVASTATED that you follow Gotta and not me. Sniff. I will be all right…. eventually.
there, there, paddy. i’m following you now. look behind you.
Awww, what a kickass dog! I’m on the wrong coast but I’m sure he’ll find an awesome home. Adopt adopt adpot, people!
Also, I realize this is not the point of the post and all, but you are gorgeous! I wanna high five you for having awesome skin.
thank you, josie and TaMara!
ABL, I not sure who is more beatiful, you or the dog. Thanks for doing something wonderful. And I’m really, really enjoying your writing. Nice break over at BJ to have your voice.
We adopted a shelter kitty this summer. She was found, at 4 months old, abandoned on Monroe Street in Rockville. (Yes, the same Rockville you should not go back to.)
Her name was “June” at the shelter. I didn’t like that very much, so I changed it to Juju… after my favourite Siouxsie and the Banshees album. I love my Juju!!!
Great post… (as usual) :)
awesome! nice REM shout out too. :)
That may be the cutest Christmakwanzakkah picture ever.
How is Mr.Doggerson adjusting to the family’s newest addition?
No matter how many times I see that pic, I’m still struck by how happy and calm Mittens look and by how beautiful you are. You did a good thing, ABL. So glad Mittens for his forever home with you.
I wish I could take him, but I’m too far away. He’s a very lucky dog to have you take care of him. Sweet, sweet picture — and you are gorgeous!
Merry/Happy Christmakwanzakkah!
I wanna snoogle him!!!
Good on you for advocating adoption. Not only is it the more humane option, it’s also the very best way to be sure you’re adopting a pet that is actually suitable for your lifestyle–pet stores want the money and don’t care if you’re bringing a black lab into a rowhome to be cared for primarily by someone who never gets off the sofa (I saw it happen and it was so, so sad).
How did I miss this blog post??!!! I love dogs. They’re so yummy! I find that chickens fed on a premium chicken feed are best for plumping puppy up for that special holiday dinner–ours, not his. Seriously, dogs respond best to short, one or two syllable names. Ollie works. Or maybe Turdly McGuirk.
i’m starting to think you might be more deranged than i.
Nevertheless, that being said and however heretofore albeit, I do know a thing or two about a thing or two about our little canine friends, and a simple name is best :-P I actually like “Ollie.” It’s simple and uncommon and that’s what you need to strive for in naming your furry, four legged friends ;-)
PS–I’m not deranged, I’m complex and complicated.
Keep Mr. Kitten Mittens. When I put a foster dog up on Petfinder, the ones with the silliest names seem to attract the most attention.
You want the kind of adopter that is going to be a little indulgent and not too stuffy in any case.
(Mr. Pickles and Wiggums got TONS of Petfinder responses for me. Both have kept those names in their adoptive homes.)
Last year I picked up a former street kitty from Animal Care & Control. He smelled like sewer, was completely unsocialized, and named Felicia. I renamed him Jasper, worked and worked and worked with him, and now he’s my beautiful boy.
Recently I picked up from ACC a well-socialized gray kitty named Meow-Meow. I renamed her The Trickster Lola; she is adamantly not “Trixie”.
They fight like, well, cats, stroll across my keyboard, knock over plants, and wake me if they’re bored.
They were abandoned, but now they’re mine. And I’m theirs.
Critter adoption: It’s a good thing.