It Was The Best Of Times

Vancouver Island View

Today is a happy day and a sad day. As house sitters and pet sitters, we are glad to be with two dogs, two parrots and one cat in a luxurious home on a forty-acre parcel on Vancouver Island.

We started this gig mid-November 2015 and are now leaving April 14, 2016. It was a pleasure to sit the homeowner's pets and very nice of them to provide a private bedroom with an ensuite bath.

We agreed from the onset with the owners that we would feed the dogs at 5:00 a.m. as is their habit, along with the cat who knows when feeding time is also, and of course, the two parrots who chatter as Frank prepares their food and water. We often joked with each other about our living at a veterinary clinic.

Tipper the Ragdoll

Walking the Jack Russells

African Grey parrot

 When we first arrived, Misty, one of the Jack Russell dogs, struggled to get up from her bed and wobbled tentatively to the door. Ah, she didn’t make it and pooped on the rug. We worried a bit about her hip and asked the owners, by email, if we should contact the local pet doctor. They calmed us famously with comforting words that the little dog did suffer from hip issues and to only watch her condition. We will miss Misty and her companion Shorty.

Dogs housed in pens at night

Just yesterday, one of the parrots, Rose, fell from her perch and broke her beak. She bled a bit and very soon it coagulated. For the rest of the day, and again this morning, she tucks her head under her wing and sleeps. We took the owner’s advice to offer her small pieces of banana and fruit juice. She accepted both, cautiously, but went back to resting.

Beautiful Rose

That leaves me to say that I will miss Tipper, the beautiful Ragdoll breed cat, the most. He is so loveable and cuddly. What a pleasure it was to have his bump his head on my arm to encourage me to pet him. We brushed him regularly, but, alas, his long hair tends to live a life of its own.

Tipper in the sun

Life is a journey (thanks Marc). Life is good.