NOT GREAT

Posted on | by Ed

Apparently I have pneumonia. Buddy is still quite sick. I got a speeding ticket. It wasn't the best day.

The only topic I can offer for discussion today is whether I should adopt this dog. The local police took the adoption fee ($150) from me, but thank god they stopped me before I drove 38 in a 30 on a deserted country road between an animal shelter and a prison again.

41 thoughts on “NOT GREAT”

  • J. Dryden says:

    "Yes" to the dog. You can always solicit donations here. Play up the "hours of informative insight and entertainment for free" angle. Less so the "sick, solitary educator" angle. Because the former appeals to the free market, the latter to the culture of entitlement, and we're not a bunch of freakin' Fifth Columnists here, pal.

  • Alvin B. says:

    OHHH! It's a Chibeagle!!!! You absolutely must adopt it. It will bark like mad, I'm sure, but you must have it.

  • Earl says:

    Hi —

    Are you a first time dog owner? Friends with beagles suggest they are harder than other dogs to train. They also have a reputation as runners if they're off leash. Similarly, I think chihuahuas can make challenging pets — they tend to not get along well with children or other dogs, and also often bond very tightly to one and only one person. I have no insights on the mix, but I bet he or she will be very barky.

    If I were you, I'd get something like a smaller corgi: they're easier going, do well around other dogs and children, etc. Obviously every dog is different, etc, etc; not all dogs act like their breed stereotypes.

  • Earl says:

    ps — do ask for donations; I'm always happy to see a shelter dog go to a good home. I'd take more but one dog and one cat are enough.

  • Nunya says:

    My apologies on the shitty day. Godspeed to better health, greater prosperity and a may a scorching case of herpes befall the arresting officer.

  • ladiesbane says:

    The answer is YES. Look at that punim.

    As for the craptacular day, shitty times call for furious drumming. Work out the yayas. Then go back for Mortimer Q. Dog and call it a family. ♥

  • Prudence says:

    Cute dog, though from personal experience, I'm not sure I'd recommend a hound mix first time around. They bark and howl, plus they're very keen on finding disgusting things to roll in.

    Do you have one of those lease-based pet weight limits? If not, this girl looks the biznez: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24320549

  • Nate says:

    I'm sorry to hear about your shit day. That dog looks sweet, if you adopt her be prepared for lots of barking. Both beagles and chihuahuas are very vocal breeds. My chihuahua, Lola, barks at any unfamiliar noise she hears and person she meets. She's really sweet, but her barking can be exasperating at times.

  • c u n d gulag says:

    Pneumonia is nothing to fool around with.
    I had it in my early 20's, and it kicked my ass.
    Follow the doctor's orders.
    Feel better!

  • E* says:

    I would definitely pony up some dough so you can adopt that dog. People will tell you all about different breeds' challenges, and I'm sure that's something to consider, but if you felt enough of a connection with this dog that you felt like bringing it into your home is a good idea, I think you should go for it. It takes all kinds. With consideration for Buddy, of course.

  • Bernard says:

    cute dog. going to a shelter takes guts to not leave with a passel of critters. ah cops and the joys of being screwed.

    sleeping more hopefully will help you feel better. along with the right meds/drugs.

  • Jacquie says:

    Sorry you're not feeling well. Seems to be a lot of pneumonia going around, based on my anecdata. I would say yes on the dog, with the caution that if you've never had a beagle or beagle mix before, you may not quite know what you're in for. They are clever, destructive, and very, very barky. You will need to keep your shoes in a safe. But yeah, dogs improve one's life in almost every conceivable way.

  • Heidi B. says:

    Penny's adorable – you should adopt her if the shelter has already spayed her, which gets you your $150 back! (See what I did there?) Besides, she won't talk back, even if you call her a bitch.

  • Grover Norquist's Lackeys says:

    Expensive speeding tickets exist because I don't want to pay taxes. Let speeders fund the services I want!

    Whatever you do, you should definitely not join the National Motorists Association (http://www.motorists.org/), an organization that will help you fight speeding tickets.

  • komoriblue says:

    I grew up with a succession of very calm, non-barky beagles, and I own a barky, rolling-in-disgusting-shit all the time german shepard-corgi mix; I will also agree with E* in that you should meet the dog and then decide. The warning about being full of energy is a bit worrisome, though.

  • mothra says:

    Adopt the little dog! Adopt the little dog! Adopt the little dog! She's ADORABLE.* Not sure about the name, though. Here's a suggestion for a name (which is also a restaurant in Philly): Loco Pez.

    Sorry about the pneumonia. I echo c u n d gulag–follow doctors' orders, finish your course of antibiotics and rest above all. Even if you think after a while, "hey, I'm feeling fine–let me go ahead with my bad self,"–don't. Rest some more. I had it when I was a freshman in college and it took two months to fully recover. I'd like to blame my 1.4 GPA that semester on the pneumonia, but it really was the non-stop partying that was responsible for both the GPA and the pneumonia…

    And of course sorry about Buddy. I hope both of you recover.

    A pox on the policeman. You know that's how those small communities make money, no? In Albuquerque, going 38 in a 30 mph zone is practically crawling and wouldn't even get a cop to turn his head.

    *if you have the time to devote to an energy-filled doggie.

  • Shane says:

    Don't listen to the haters, our beagle defies all the stereotypes. No yowling, has never run away, basically sleeps and snuggles on the couch all day long. If you're currently able to devote some time to this gal, I think it is a great idea. The real question is what Buddy thinks.

  • acer says:

    I'm a cat guy as well, but I'd be glad to pony up for the years of laughter and rage you've so generously provided.

    Adopting an adult animal is one of the best things a person can do karma-wise.

  • Sarah says:

    I hope you and your rat feel better soon. I have no advice to offer you regarding adopting the dog (I'm a cat person, and to the extent that I have any dog experience, it's with labs and golden retrievers), beyond telling you to read the "before you adopt" articles, consider carefully whether you are willing to commit to this animal (Chihuahuas can live for 15+ years) and please don't take it if you don't want to have it for the rest of its life.

  • Ruthie says:

    Personally, I prefer larger dogs like German Shepherds, labs, standard poodles or greyhounds. They tend to be less "barky," are generally less neurotic than small breeds, and are less likely to be killed or maimed if I trip over them when they get under foot in the kitchen. On the other hand, bigger dogs generally require more exercise. This is good if YOU also need more exercise; but not so good if you don't have much spare time.

  • Sarah says:

    At the shelter where I volunteer beagles and chihuahuas are two of the most common breeds we see as older dogs because their owners didn't know what they were getting into when they got them. Major breed concerns have already been mentioned so that being said, she's a total cutie (THAT NOSE) and adopting a dog last month has been one of the highlights of my life so far and WOULD RECOMMEND to everyone.
    Speedy recovery to you and Buddy.

  • SiubhanDuinne says:

    Sorry about your shitty day, Ed. Between you and Soonergrunt over at Balloon Juice, I'm kind of not wanting to hang out in the blogosphere for a few days. I'll check back when things get better.

  • Isaac says:

    We're up to four adopted dogs in our house now, any more and we'll have to register with the county as a kennel. Shelter dogs usually come with issues, but they are ever so grateful to be loved.

  • Ellie says:

    I hope both of you feel better…be sure to follow the doctors' (MD or DVM) advice.

    As to the dog, I've never had a dog, so I don't know what to say about dogs, except for one thing: You should not get a terrier. Terriers were bred to hunt…rats.

  • Bill B. says:

    I volunteer at a shelter. Every dog has its charms, but spend enough time with a few dogs to get to one that you connect with and that suits your temperament. The chigle is cute and cartoon-appealing, but do you want more quiet companionship or more assertive presence? Take several dogs out on leash and walk them around out of sight/hearing of the barking hell in the kennel.

    I could show you a 2-year-old brindle pit that is housetrained and a perfect lady who happens to love to play fetch and go for walks. Or a border collie /terrier x who is smaller, slightly more active, and not yet spayed or housetrained. We have sweet hounds and beagles, part Boxers, and everything else. We get purebreds even with papers every week. Look for a dog that does not react much to other dogs as you walk by.

    If you really have room in your life for a dog, there will be one for you. Look at the older ones, the ones that aren't instantly "ooh look how cute" and find one that needs you, too.

    An older, housetrained dog will be a pleasure. Leave the puppies to the newbies.

  • Paul says:

    I have two rescue dogs, one of which I found on PetFinder, so I'm a huge advocate of adopting – although I'd probably plan on a meeting to see how you connect, or to assess her temperment.

    Cheers!

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