We All Love Our Furry Friends

Already I'm running into problems.

Wanda and I watch two talent type shows, The Voice and The Sing-Off. Last night The Voice announced the season 7 winner. I don't want to know who he is. 

I say he because all four finalists were male.

We don't stay up until 11 p.m. so record and watch it the following day. I'm trying to avoid as much of the Internet as possible today. If you know the winner, please don't tell me. 

I can't enjoy something if I know the result which is why I don't record and watch sporting events or read the end of a book first.

On a very deep psychological level I may have just uncovered my real feelings about life in general.

While doing my research this morning I noticed dogs are often referred to (and indeed are in this article) as "he", so that got me thinking. It didn't seem fair to call cats "it", but on the other hand I didn't think they should be "she's" only in the name of gender equality. 

I didn't want to start an entire discussion about how dogs are masculine and cats feminine and how that may, or may not, reflect on their owners, roommates...us.

I've lived with a hell of a lot more cats in my life than dogs. I also had fish, parakeet and a turtle named Boris when I was a kid, so what does that make me?

Translations of the Bible should refer to animals as "he" or "she" rather than as "it," says PETA, an animal rights organization whose full name is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Now that "the public recognizes that animals are feeling, intelligent individuals, capable of joy and suffering," declared PETA’s vice president, Bruce Friedrich, they should not be de-animalized by means of a pronoun that is also used for sticks and stones.

Putting aside the Bible for a moment, the insistence that we call all animals "he" or "she" is rather absurd. After all, don’t we generally call an animal "it" because we don’t know if it’s a she or a he? It’s impossible to tell, without turning it over, the sex of a cat or a dog lying at your feet.

When we do know an animal’s sex, when it’s our own pet or a friend’s, for example, we almost always use "he" or "she." People do not ordinarily utter sentences like, "Putzy has no appetite — it must be sick."

So I'm going with "he" (him) for the dog and "it" for the cat.....sorry PETA.

If you have a dog or cat, you may spend a lot of time Googling questions about why they do the things they do. Today, Google released its annual list of the most searched pet questions of 2014.

Here they are.

Why do dogs bury bones?

Your dog buries bones just as his canine ancestors did thousands of years ago. The reason? He is following an instinctive urge to hide surplus food from scavengers so it will be there when he returns later to eat it.

Why do cats bury bones?

Cats don't bury bones. They only eat meat forked or spooned from a can and placed in a fancy dish.

How to introduce dogs.

Can you guarantee that your dog and your friend’s new puppy will become best buddies? Probably not, but there are some things you can do to help the introduction go smoothly. You may be surprised to learn that your dog can pick up on any tension you feel about the introduction, making him more anxious. According to Dr. Marty Becker, your best bet is to stay calm and pay attention to the body language of all dogs involved.

How to introduce cats.

It's usually best to put the cats in opposite ends of the house with a minimum of two closed doors between them. Keep separated for at least three days and introduce slowly. Give the relationship several years to solidify.

How to stop dogs from digging.

This is probably your least favorite of your dog’s most favorite hobbies. The good news is there are plenty of things you can do to help keep your backyard from looking like a minefield. Trainer Mikkel Becker recommends you redirect your dog’s digging to one specific (and small) section of your yard or even buy a kids’ sandbox that you can fill with dirt that you don’t mind your dog digging in.

How to stop cats from digging.

You can't, so why try. Unlike dogs, cats bury their poop.

Why are dogs’ noses wet?

Wet noses actually serve a purpose, they help a dog’s sense of smell. Their noses secrete a thin layer of mucous that helps to absorb scent chemicals.

Why are cats' noses wet?

So they can wipe them on your clothes.

How to clean dogs’ ears.

Do your dog’s ears need to be cleaned? You should use two senses to determine whether your dog’s ears are healthy: sight and smell. If you see or smell something off, first talk with your vet to see if this is something you can handle with regular home cleaning or if your vet needs to be involved in a medical solution. An important thing to remember: If your vet recommends that you clean your dog’s ears at home, never use a cotton-tipped applicator that can drive dirt and debris deeper into your dog’s ears.

How to clean cats' ears.

Remember what you read about how to introduce cats? Hope they become friends and let them do it.

Why do dogs chase their tails?

This has to be one of the more classic, endearing dog behaviors. For some, this is simply a way for them to have fun and expend playful energy. But for others who do it excessively, it can be a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder. Chase my tail, chase my tail, chase my tail.

Why do cats chase their tails?

They don't. They know it's attached to their behinds and can't be bothered with this type of silly behavior. If a cat wants to have fun and expend energy it will find something for you to do with it.

Why do dogs have whiskers?

Your dog’s whiskers can do amazing things. Did you know that they extend about three times deeper into the skin than dogs’ other hairs? There, they connect to nerves that make whiskers a very powerful tool for detecting air currents and knowing the position of prey.

Why do cats have whiskers?

For the same reason dogs do and more. Cats can tell the size of openings based on their whiskers, if they fit through so will the cat. They also like to shake them off on your food as a sign of affection.

Why do dogs howl?

Dr. Patty Khuly puts it this way: A bark is like placing a local call, while a howl is more of a long-distance dial. On one level, a howl can simply be rewarding for your dog, but if you look deeper, it has lots to do with canine bonding and even the enforcement of rank within a pack.

Why do cats meow?

Just like dogs cats communicate with their voice. Their meow is a request; get up and feed, pet, play with or brush me. The yowl is a strong complaint like you just stepped on my tail, jerk face.

Why do dogs eat grass?

So they can barf on the rug when they come in the house.

Why do cats eat grass?

Outdoor cats eat grass because it is green. Indoor cats don't eat grass. An indoor cat will find any number of things to eat so it can barf on the rug. Cats also love to hide after they do and watch you step in it when you're barefoot.

Do dogs dream?

Have you ever seen your dog whine, twitch or move his legs like he’s chasing a rabbit while he’s asleep? Is it OK to wake them if they seem like they’re having bad dreams? Who knows?

Do cats dream?

Only when they have been hitting the nip.