So meet Benny & Joon, a couple of parakeets that were rescued from a shelter and now enjoying the company of a caring family…and checking in on Daisy and Gretchen of course.

Benny & Joon: Antioch, CA

And then there’s Godzilla.  A territorial love bird that just can’t get enough of Daisy and Gretchen’s antics.  Just check out this great picture of Godzilla reading the latest on D&G’s website!!  Even though she is named after a monster, she does have one great personality and apparently loves the camera.

So what are you waiting for?  Send D&G a picture of your pet, whether furry, feathered, or scaled and we’ll add you to our list and give you a proper hello.

Send your pics, their names, location, and even a short bio to:  Dogs AT daisyandgretchen DOT com  (sorry, trying to avoid spam)

As the week moved from Monday to Wednesday, we found Daisy’s appetite had diminished, her diarrhea increased and we were up multiple times per night to let her out in an emergency.  But while Daisy ignored her food, Gretchen found it as the perfect opportunity to try and sneak a few mouthfuls from Daisy’s bowl.  Sneaky little dog!  I imagine she was simply trying to prevent food going to waste (yeah right!).

Thursday not only marked a call to the vet for an appointment on Friday, but a record number of times to let Daisy out.  Each of the six times from mid-night to 4am (Technically Friday morning) was met with the bedroom door opening and Daisy running down the stairs; impatiently waiting for the sliding door to permit her release into the backyard. Her stomach was gurgling and audible from 2 feet away.  

But by 10am, her activity began to return as well as her appetite. However, we continued with the vet appointment just as a precaution. 

After a thorough examination, including some X-rays to make sure she did not have a blockage, Daisy was given a prescription of bland food: low fat cottage cheese and white rice. And as Monday rolled around, so did Daisy in regards to her ‘normal’ routine.

The vet believes Daisy may have picked up a virus, perhaps  during a 3 day stay at a local kennel in the five days prior to her getting sick.  At least she did not swallow anything that required surgery…as determined by the following x-rays…Wheeew!

As they sat silently watching, their emotionless faces soon turned to shear excitement as I reached for the garage door.  Just one more action is required before their eyes indeed believe what they are seeing.  And in a moment I signaled them to the truck which sealed the deal.  But it wasn’t a long ride and it did not end at a park or the beach.  In fact, it was a mere parking lot, but to both Daisy and Gretchen this still seemed exhilarating.  They pulled with excitement and finally we entered the Vet’s office.

The smells of an assortment of felines, canines, and a red tailed boa were complemented with the bright yellows and blues of a few tangs in a saltwater aquarium.  In less than 30 seconds of taking our seat the house cat wandered over to take a gander at Daisy and Gretchen, using my wife and I as stepping stones.  All was well in the German Shorthaired Pointer world.

Until…we were called into the ROOM.  At that point all hell broke loose as Daisy realized exactly where she was and all her past experiences proved this place was no fun at all.  As we sat waiting for the vet to make an appearance, both Daisy (especially) and Gretchen pawed at the exit door as if we were at home and we would actually let her outside.  Daisy obviously forgot that she is not in charge, which does seem to be the case at home according to her.

Daisy and Gretchen trying to escape the vet

As the vet kneeled to begin a routine exam of her teeth, Daisy transformed into a bucking bronco and was ultimately escorted to the way back room where her parents could no longer be seen.  Yep, Daisy was quite pathetic that morning and we heard her crying as the needle delivered her rabies booster.  Which by the way was quite surprising considering she is typically thick skinned and has never made a peep when getting previous shots.  And all this time Gretchen sat tilting her head in response to the unseen commotion unaware that she was up next.

And when all was said and done, a clean bill of health, a loss of 4 pounds each (Yay!), the door was opened and they bolted from the confining space. Whew!!! Disaster averted.

Daisy recovering in mother's arms

Now that Daisy has learned to open the screen door, it is a complete free for all.  For instance, apparently both Daisy and Gretchen decided to bring in some busy work. However, I thought everything was a bit to quiet…caught in the act.

By the way, we have a multitude of new updates including pictures, stories, and videos that will be posted upon our return.  Stay tuned…

Heather-