Adopted from a hoarding situation in Santa Monica when she was a year old, Gertie is an eleven year old alien. You cannot pick her up without your arm being disemboweled. Though, Gertie might perch on your leg and petting is a must. Gertie is company favorite because she knows people will pet her. She purrs so loudly and has that Wilford Brimley face.
Oliver Twist AKA Ollie - Our black lab mix COVID baby, rescued from a house burned down by its abusive-husband owner, forced to live in a shelter while they tried to locate said owner and charge him for arson; was such a basket-case that he had to be carried into the house and despite now being the sweetest doofus and no happier than when he escapes from the yard and goes for a walkabout, he's still very skittish of men at first; also very much a creature of habit who loses his mind and talks back whenever it's time to eat or go for a walk and you're not moving as fast as he thinks you should; we thought he was nine months old when we got him but he was two years old and underweight, and his original name was Earl. About 5 years old.
Tug - Boston Terrier mix we inherited from my sister-in-law, who got him from a rescue because he has a curlicue tail and, despite his regal pointed ears, can't hear a thing—naturally, since he's deaf, he's also a very loud snorer; literally barks at the moon (and stars, and smoke) and walks while he poops; a hey-girl-hey snuggler who would nudge as closely as he could to my sister-in-law's heart to keep her comforted as she lay dying of breast cancer; would let me carry him like a baby all day long if I could. About 10 years old.
Louie - Also a Boston Terrier but from a breeder, so he cost us more to get and has easily been the most expensive to maintain, including a nose job so he can breath properly; he's allergic to everything so I make him food from scratch (Costco canned chicken with olive oil, brown rice, peas and vitamin powder) every other week. He's by far the smartest of the three and, among other things, will excuse himself from the bed if he has gas and knows it's gonna stink; he's still furious we added Ollie to the family and shows his anger and small-dog complex by power-humping Ollie's leg whenever he feels the big dog is getting too much of my attention; his look of bug-eyed disdain when we tell him to stop reminds me of a face Steve Buscemi might have made back in his '90s indie heyday; he loves nothing more than finding a sunny spot on a puffy sofa cushion and spreading out; he's the only dog who gets to sleep in the bed with us, and he burrows under the covers and curls up next to us like a pill bug without moving all night long, except when he stretches and his toothpick legs stab me in the back and wake me up. About 9 years old.
How can we support if we are already paying subscribers? I am happy to buy dinner for the fam if you tell me where to get the gift certificate, or where/how to send an Amazon gift card, or, I dunno, Sephora, whatever feels like you're being cheated out of by the strike, let's have a Strike Shower for ya.
BAH Gertie and Gus made me fall in love with smooshface cats. The pic of one of them sleeping in what I think was a box of bar accessories (shaker, spoons etc) (or was it an old cigar box?)was amazing. I think of it from time to time. And Lou! Guh he was so teeny and cute and funny. Archie went from 20 lbs to 100 lbs in what seemed like days. He seems like a very good doggo <3
You are the only other person I've heard describe their dog as a four year-old (although I use toddler to describe mine). I love hearing about pets, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, apparently I love talking about mine....
I love the concept of having one's arm disemboweled. I do fundamentally believed a cat - and only a cat - would manage to rapid-fire yoink organs from an entirely different part of your body out of your forearm. And then insist you pet them with your remaining moments on earth.
I love your pets. They are gorgeous and full of personality and each so much their very own. The cats are gorgeous and amazing, and Archie makes me want to be a dog person. I still miss seeing Gertie with Gus.
I have a tipped-ear black cat that was feral and lived at the Lethbridge fairgrounds. When the outfit went around to spay and neuter, they tipped his ear (nipped off the top of one, to show he'd been fixed) before releasing him back into the wild. But they realized he was very much a people cat and the rescue kept him to adopt out. Because he was full grown, black, and had the tipped ear, people didn't adopt him. Because of his chill personality, they used him as an "emotional support cat" for other adoptees and orphaned kittens. He was the last cat I saw on a day of looking for a cat to adopt. I named him Vincent (ear thing and also that my kids' great grandpa's best friend was Vincent Price).
My other cat I got as a kitten right before the pandemic hit. She provided much amusement, and was the only part-siamese-looking cat in a litter of 10 kittens that were almost all full black or black with a little white. She's brilliant and chatty and a pain the ass. I let my daughter name her after her favourite artist she was studying at the time at ACAD (AUA now). Artemisia Gentileschi. I call her Arti.
An Introduction to my Pets
“He immediately wants to be cuddled and then more immediately wants to go outside to fight animals.” This is one of my favorite PR posts.
Can't post photos but here are my three:
Oliver Twist AKA Ollie - Our black lab mix COVID baby, rescued from a house burned down by its abusive-husband owner, forced to live in a shelter while they tried to locate said owner and charge him for arson; was such a basket-case that he had to be carried into the house and despite now being the sweetest doofus and no happier than when he escapes from the yard and goes for a walkabout, he's still very skittish of men at first; also very much a creature of habit who loses his mind and talks back whenever it's time to eat or go for a walk and you're not moving as fast as he thinks you should; we thought he was nine months old when we got him but he was two years old and underweight, and his original name was Earl. About 5 years old.
Tug - Boston Terrier mix we inherited from my sister-in-law, who got him from a rescue because he has a curlicue tail and, despite his regal pointed ears, can't hear a thing—naturally, since he's deaf, he's also a very loud snorer; literally barks at the moon (and stars, and smoke) and walks while he poops; a hey-girl-hey snuggler who would nudge as closely as he could to my sister-in-law's heart to keep her comforted as she lay dying of breast cancer; would let me carry him like a baby all day long if I could. About 10 years old.
Louie - Also a Boston Terrier but from a breeder, so he cost us more to get and has easily been the most expensive to maintain, including a nose job so he can breath properly; he's allergic to everything so I make him food from scratch (Costco canned chicken with olive oil, brown rice, peas and vitamin powder) every other week. He's by far the smartest of the three and, among other things, will excuse himself from the bed if he has gas and knows it's gonna stink; he's still furious we added Ollie to the family and shows his anger and small-dog complex by power-humping Ollie's leg whenever he feels the big dog is getting too much of my attention; his look of bug-eyed disdain when we tell him to stop reminds me of a face Steve Buscemi might have made back in his '90s indie heyday; he loves nothing more than finding a sunny spot on a puffy sofa cushion and spreading out; he's the only dog who gets to sleep in the bed with us, and he burrows under the covers and curls up next to us like a pill bug without moving all night long, except when he stretches and his toothpick legs stab me in the back and wake me up. About 9 years old.
I remember when you got both Archie and the cats (RIP Gus (that was his name, right?)) can’t believe they’re 10!
"During the writers strike"
How can we support if we are already paying subscribers? I am happy to buy dinner for the fam if you tell me where to get the gift certificate, or where/how to send an Amazon gift card, or, I dunno, Sephora, whatever feels like you're being cheated out of by the strike, let's have a Strike Shower for ya.
Always interested to know more about people’s animals/ pets!!! They all look so lovable & very cool 😎. Thanks for sharing xx
I always look forward your writing, Kelly!
Today's prose gave me Life Aquatic vibes - when Steve is introducing his boat and crew. I'd totally watch a film of you introducing your pets :-)
BAH Gertie and Gus made me fall in love with smooshface cats. The pic of one of them sleeping in what I think was a box of bar accessories (shaker, spoons etc) (or was it an old cigar box?)was amazing. I think of it from time to time. And Lou! Guh he was so teeny and cute and funny. Archie went from 20 lbs to 100 lbs in what seemed like days. He seems like a very good doggo <3
You are the only other person I've heard describe their dog as a four year-old (although I use toddler to describe mine). I love hearing about pets, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, apparently I love talking about mine....
I love the concept of having one's arm disemboweled. I do fundamentally believed a cat - and only a cat - would manage to rapid-fire yoink organs from an entirely different part of your body out of your forearm. And then insist you pet them with your remaining moments on earth.
(I love cats 🤷♀️)
when I first saw a black and white photo of Gertie next to Babycat, I thought Gertie was a puppet ❤️
More animal content always!
That means I have followed you for 10
Years! I remember when you got Archie! There were other people in the n’hood that had dogs too.
I love your pets. They are gorgeous and full of personality and each so much their very own. The cats are gorgeous and amazing, and Archie makes me want to be a dog person. I still miss seeing Gertie with Gus.
I have a tipped-ear black cat that was feral and lived at the Lethbridge fairgrounds. When the outfit went around to spay and neuter, they tipped his ear (nipped off the top of one, to show he'd been fixed) before releasing him back into the wild. But they realized he was very much a people cat and the rescue kept him to adopt out. Because he was full grown, black, and had the tipped ear, people didn't adopt him. Because of his chill personality, they used him as an "emotional support cat" for other adoptees and orphaned kittens. He was the last cat I saw on a day of looking for a cat to adopt. I named him Vincent (ear thing and also that my kids' great grandpa's best friend was Vincent Price).
My other cat I got as a kitten right before the pandemic hit. She provided much amusement, and was the only part-siamese-looking cat in a litter of 10 kittens that were almost all full black or black with a little white. She's brilliant and chatty and a pain the ass. I let my daughter name her after her favourite artist she was studying at the time at ACAD (AUA now). Artemisia Gentileschi. I call her Arti.
I genuinely love hearing about people's pets! It brings me so much joy. Also, Gertie is the reason I want a cat now. That face!
Gertie & Gus
Lou & Archie
All my favorite pals
Does Gertie miss Gus??? I miss Guss.