Saturday 12 April 2014

Is This Love?

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

Since I reluctantly had to re-home my rabbits back in September, visitors are now able to bring their dogs round if they wish to.
My son inherited two Cavapoos when he got together with and later married Sandy and the dogs come round at fairly regular intervals. They are a cross between Cavalier Spaniels and Poodles. One looks very like a Cavalier and the other other one has curly, fluffy hair that doesn't moult, more like a Poodle.

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

The Jack Russell belongs to Harry's twin and his wife and she comes regularly to visit here. So far, the three dogs have never met but they are all aware and a bit disturbed when they sniff the scent that has been left in the house and they search around nervously at first before settling down.

Early one morning, Sam brought round his two dogs when he had to drop the girls round before school and as it was a fine, dry day, I made the mistake of letting them out in the garden and I had noticed them rolling about on the path at the far end.
When they came back in, there was the most terrible smell. Farmyards and muck spreading is the only way I can describe it. 
We live in a small city house with a tiny garden but we do get foxes passing through. I can only assume that they had rolled in fox mess and before we could stop them, they proceeded to  roll all over the carpets in the back room and the kitchen floor leaving the foulest of smells everywhere.
Sam immediately took the dogs home to bathe them, not pleased as it had upset all his plans for the day.
One of the girls started to cry as the smell was really bad. I filled a bucket with soapy hot water and disinfectant, got down on my hands and knees and washed the whole place down and that took a lot of washing. All through the day, the smell persisted and in all, I had to repeat the carpet washing twice more until neither Harry nor I could detect any odour.
I then took a bucket of water with disinfectant to clean off the path outside.
I had certainly had my early morning work out that day!

After a week or so, I'd forgotten all about the incident until the Jack Russell next visited and she seemed very disturbed and rolled all over the carpets and then went into the kitchen which is fortunately tiled, and did a huge pee.
Is it a sign of my love for them that I just clear up their messes or is it that they do these things because they feel at home and love us?
Little rascals.

18 comments:

Secret Agent Woman said...

That kind of thing drives me nuts - which is why I don't really want anyone bringing their dog to my house!

Eddie Bluelights said...

Tried to comment before but it must have gone to Venus!

Very unfortunate but one of the reasons I agree with Secret Agent W.
I would not like any in the house.
Love xx

Rose said...

I often think my housecleaning would be cut in half if I didn't have any pets, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I can relate to this story, Maggie, and think it's kind of funny, though I'm sure it wasn't at the time. Our Golden Retriever likes to explore the fields surrounding our yard, and one time she came back smelling absolutely horrid. I think it must have been raccoon scat she got into; it took a couple of baths to get rid of that odor!

Celia said...

You are a remarkably generous woman. Me, not a fan of dogs in the house so no dogs allowed in my house.

Sally Wessely said...

You are a gracious woman, but then again, what is one to do when accidents happen but clean them up? I know dogs love to roll in poo. I had one dog who would do this when I took him for walks where horses had been. What a mess!

I don't mind if others bring their dogs in my house. They are welcome. But when the dog leaves a calling card, that is another story.

Ayak said...

Well Maggie I guess you know that these are the kind of things I am well used to! Fortunately only 2 of my 9 dogs live inside the house and we have no accidents. The 4 big dogs do a run over the hills and around the village very early in the morning and often come back smelling very ripe! (to put it politely) and have to be hosed down. The 3 pups...well I guess I have all that to come. You clearly love dogs or you wouldn't put up with it and yes I think they feel very much at home with you. They will pee when they smell the scent of another dog anyway...that's normal..marking their territory.

Hilary said...

Oh I can commiserate. Benny did the same thing last week. He came back darker and smellier.

I do think your son should have bathed them at your place AND cleaned up the mess from the rolling around. You're a generous woman. But I know you love the little beasties, too.

It might be a good idea to introduce the JRT to the other two. That way there won't be a great mystery as to who is getting the place all doggie without him!

Wisewebwoman said...

I am always in the throes of canine love, so would do exactly as you did but I would be loud and long in my bitching about it!!

My dog rolled in a dead deer carcass one time. I can't even tell you what havoc and terrible odour was created. 10 baths later and the house nearly fumigated !

what is with rolling in dead stuff and scat anyway?

XO
WWW

Akelamalu said...

My son said his dogs (4) love rolling in Fox poo and it does stink terribly!

cheshire wife said...

I will not have dogs in our house and certainly would not have forgotten such an incident. I think that it is your love of a clean and fragrant house.

Jinksy said...

Eek! Now I know why I've never been a doggy person - or a catty one, that's for sure! lol

Formerly known as Frau said...

Hard to be mad at such beautiful creatures. Our dog is more if an inside dog she only goes out to do her business and right back in she is out very little and we bathe her once a week....life the Cavapoo our dog doesn't shed either. Sorry you had to clean up such a horrible mess.

Suburbia said...

Oh Maggie, what a lot of hard work, you poor thing. My cat, 18 last month, often doesn't get to his litter box on time and he's sick a lot too and I seem to spend a lot of time on my hands and knees scrubbing, so I do sympathise!

Fox poo is about the stinkiest thing ever! I think the word I'd use for the doggies would be slightly worse than 'rascles'!!

S x

Anonymous said...

I will admit I'm not a 'doggy' person so can't comment on your 'love' query - I am always wary of others who bring their dogs when they visit and want them to come into the house. If it's really good weather I suggest we sit on the deck where we can enjoy each other's company and keep an eye on the dogs at the same time - that way I'm not being annoyed at seeing them inside the house.

None of my business I know but I'm a little disappointed your son (knowing how unwell you had been) didn't put the dogs back outside and help you with some of the cleaning then take them home to bathe.

Love to you and your husband and here's hoping the weather has been pleasant enough to have the windows open so the rooms are fresh smelling.
Take care
Cathy

Rosaria Williams said...

You're a warm person, toward people and animals. Yes, it's love.

Suldog said...

I'm more a cat person, but I'll not use this as a platform for my prejudices! Hope you got the smell out finally - and it has stayed away until now.

Jackie said...

It's a sign of love on your part, sweet Maggie. And you have a lot of love!!
May your Easter be filled with blessings. Hugs and love to you and Harry.
Always,
Jackie

MARY G said...

My daughter's dog rolls in turkey poo. She gets hosed down, scrubbed and rehosed. Unfortunately she loves rolling in the stuff enough to put up with the hose. Dogs!
Knees aching in sympathy with yours.