Day 343
Unknowingly, I have moved to the NW. Or better said, the NW weather has descended on the Chicago area. Fine by me.
It’s raining … again.
And I am loving every pitter-patter moment. The dogs, um – not so much.
I let them outside for their last rounds of the night and left them out a bit longer than I normally do. What’s a little winter rain? A little nighttime bath never hurt anyone. However, I now have three VERY wet dogs, a VERY muddy entryway and one pug who is, at the moment, rolling around on my comforter drying herself off. Lovely.
In any case … I opened the door and they flew past me as if shot out of cannons – running to the kitchen, ears back with the racing wind of motion. I was glad one of the cats wasn’t sitting on their cushion in the dining room – someone certainly would have been trampled. Yes, it was wet out and they wanted to come in … but more than that I’ve created monsters.
Monsters for Liver Pops!
They know I give snacks at bedtime and because I’m a sucker I give them their usual treat and then everyone gets one Liver Pop (cats included!).
Usually Mobes gets a big-dog MilkBone, Gertie gets a “stick” – one of those pressed rawhide chews that look like pencils and Dori gets a handful of mini bones. And then, due to all the excitement and activity and twirling of pug butts – the cats come into the kitchen and want treats, too. So, I throw a handful of cat niblets on the floor and whatever they don’t get Dori is happy to clean up for them.
That is how it usually goes. And then, more than not, the extra treats of the super yummy … LIVER POPS!
I started giving this treat a long time ago when I couldn’t get the dogs to come into the house. I’d call and call and they’d look at me from somewhere out in the yard and give me that look that said … Yeah, right … and then go back to their sniffing. It was frustrating. My backyard had 3 tiers and bushes galore … the dogs (and whatever wildlife) could get lost in those things for hours … days! So, to assure their safe return (or speedy return) to the house I’d call out “Liver Pops!”. I’m sure, to this day, that Gertie thinks that is her name because she responds better to those two words than when I call her by her given name! Whatever works! (I do wonder, though, if my neighbors ever thought I had renamed her Liver Pop!)
Liver pops are actually Hollywood Stars Liver Flavored Dog Snacks. They look like miniature Tootsie Rolls and come in what looks like a child’s school lunch milk carton – but with a dog’s face on it instead of a cow’s!
The treats look so much like Tootsie Rolls that my mom actually ate one once thinking I had left some candy out on the counter. Bet she won’t do that again! Ew!
Anyway, if you have a dog and you’re at Walmart buy a few boxes while there (they’re something like $1/box) … the best, cheapest dog treats you’ll ever get and your dogs (and cats) will love you forever.
And if you want your animal to come into the house all you have to do is yell, “Liver Pop!” out your backdoor and your dog will come flying and your neighbors will think you renamed him Liver Pop!
In any case … the Liver Pops have made my animals happy and the rain has made me happy (except for the mud and wet comforter) … a nice way to end our day!