June 28, 2009 is Cubbie’s third birthday!

Three years ago on the day Cubs was born, I was actually working in Ottumwa at KTVO. I just hit my one year mark, and I was so looking forward to getting another year done so my contract would be up and I could be closer to home (I ended up breaking my contract early to take this job).

When Cubbie was born, I was thinking about getting a dog, but I really hadn’t made a big effort in finding the right dog.

Suddenly, seven weeks later I was bringing a new puppy home from a farmer in Osceola. Sometimes I still can’t believe it. I normally wouldn’t describe myself as an impulsive person, but I woke up that morning wanting a dog and by the end of the day, I had Cubbie. I guess it was meant to be.

A few people have asked me if I regret not adopting from a shelter. I can honestly say any future dogs I get will come from a shelter, BUT I do not regret adopting Cubbie the way I did. Since he came home with me as just a puppy, he will never know what it’s like to live at a shelter or spend his time waiting for a loving home. I will never regret getting Cubbie and preventing a dog from possibly ending up at a shelter.

On Cubbie’s birthday, I always make him look through his “puppy” book with me. Yes, I’m a dork. Cubbie has his own photo album. It’s blue and has a bone on it that reads “woof.” Cubbie isn’t usually interested and eventually does his own thing, but I flip through all the photos of him growing up. I feel as if he’s growing up so fast!

Each birthday I try to let Cubbie do whatever he wants (basically the same as every other day). But if he hints at a walk or playing in the backyard or taking a nap, I take my cues from him today.

2007

For his first birthday, I bought a small cake for dogs. I think he really enjoyed eating it. I also got him several new toys, which is what I did last year. I guess toys is my tradition because I got him a new collar and a few toys this year, too. Probably because he chews threw them so fast, I feel he can always use more. Grammy also buys him toys on his birthday.

2007

As a puppy, Cubbie loved to explore and play and climb on you. Physically, he was mostly black in color and had huge ears. They were way to big for his little head. He’s grown into them since, but I’ll always remember this little puppy with big “dumbo” ears.

Even from the start, Cubbie was a Momma’s boy. I really spoiled him. The first night I tried putting him in the kennel and he whined so much I couldn’t take it. So, right from the very first night he began sleeping in my bed. Cubbie had me wrapped around his paw in the first three seconds I met him!

Aug. 2006

Back then, I would put Cubs in the bathtub in my apartment when I had to run errands in case he had an accident while I was gone (boy, I do not miss potty training). It’s funny because now he could easily jump in and out of a tub. From less than two pounds three years ago, he’s now about 20 pounds. My little boy is now a big boy.

No matter how old Cubbie gets, he’ll always be my “baby.” While I have so many great memories of him as a puppy, we make new memories everyday. It’s been a fantastic three years, and I can only hope for many more years with Cubbie in my life.

Cubbie with his b-day presents

Posted under Cubbie stories

Cubbie and I went on a walk Friday evening (once the weather cooled a bit and before I had to go to bed to get up early).

We usually walk the same route, or at least close to it. I guess you could say I like routines.

I would guess about halfway into our walk, Cubbie noticed a ball on the side of the road, kind of by a sewer opening. It was a squeaky baseball. I think it was for a dog. Obviously, Cubs picked it up. At first I tried to take it from him because I didn’t want to “take” another dog’s toy, but I had no way of knowing which house it came from or how far it had rolled down the street.

So, I let Cubs keep the ball. He immediately put it in his mouth and began squeaking. I began to think, “Oh no. Neighbors aren’t going to want to hear us squeaking the entire walk.” Thankfully, he stopped the squeaks and simply proceeded to carry the ball in his mouth.

I’ve never seen Cubbie keep something in his mouth for so long. He acted as if he was on a mission. He usually walks slightly in front of me, but tends to lag back at some points. But as soon as he had the ball, he was full on, fast paced walking. I think he was ready to get home and chew on the “new” toy.

I could really tell Cubs wasn’t interested in walking anymore when he led me on a shortcut through our back alley. (I sometimes take it when I’m tired, but Cubbie usually prefers to go the long way around so he gets more walking time).

As we approached the yard, Cubbie’s paced picked up to a jog. I let him in the back fence, and he immediately began squeaking the baseball. I tried to throw it, but he wasn’t in the mood. He cared more about squeaking and ripping it up.

I’m standing in the backyard, just watching Cubs, when out of the corner of my eye I see something black and white. I look, and apparently all the squeaking attracted a cat to our yard!

As soon as Cubbie spotted the cat, he ran to the fence and the cat ran off. Then Cubbie went back to his ball. After awhile I got Cubs to come inside (with the ball still in his mouth). In about 15 minutes time, it was destroyed. He chewed, and I cleaned up the mess piece by piece. That was our excitement for a Friday nigh! So much for his new toy.

Posted under Cubbie stories

It’s about a month until the Second Annual Cubbie Tails Fundraiser. Just a reminder, you and your dog are invited to a Waterloo Bucks baseball game on Sunday, July 26 at 3:05 p.m. Tickets are $10. (After a cut for the Bucks, all the money goes to the Cedar Bend Humane Society). We’ll have a special section to sit in along the third base line, towards left field.

You can buy tickets day of, OR I will be at the CBHS Reunion on July 2 selling tickets and taking pre-orders for t-shirts.

This week, Cubbie and I taped the promotional commercial that will begin airing on KWWL soon. We taped it at Riverfront Stadium. We had a lot of fun, but it was also very hot!

A special thanks to the Bucks for letting us use the field, and another special thanks to Ross at the Shirt Shack in Waterloo for getting my shirt done in time to wear for the taping.

When taping commercials you have to do the same thing many times so the photographer can tape a variety of angles. I made Cubbie walk the bases lots of times! Thankfully, he was very well-behaved and didn’t seem to mind the repetition. Matt Krivanek with KWWL’s Promotions Department taped the promo for us. Matt, Cubbie and I were all sweating! Matt worked really hard to get a lot of good video.

Besides getting video (we call it b-roll), I also had to tape an audio track. For that, I held Cubbie and he’s not the small puppy he used to be! Luckily, Cubbie sat nicely in my arms and we only needed about two takes.

By the end, Cubbie just wanted to take a break in the shade. I sat him in one of the seats in the stadium, and Matt actually got some good video of Cubbie “watching a game.”

When we got home, Cubbie got some water and cooled off on the floor. I also enjoyed being back inside a cool, air conditioned house.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Here’s a story about an unusual pet who might get evicted.

Posted under In the News

Priscilla Blanchard with the Waverly Animal Shelter will be at Petsmart in Waterloo on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Posted under Pet Events

You know it’s hot when your pet doesn’t want to run around outside.

Cubbie is very much like me, he doesn’t like extremes when it comes to temperatures. We don’t like to be cold, and we don’t like to be hot.

On Saturday I absolutely needed to mow the lawn–the grass was too long. When I got done with work around 2 p.m. I forced myself to do it. It was hot and humid. I felt bad for Cubbie, too. He wanted to be outside because I was outside, but he was very hot. The way the sun was positioned, our trees weren’t giving any shade in the backyard, so he kept trying to get some shade from the garbage can. I ended up opening the side door to the garage and he went in there to cool off. He would periodically come out to check on me, and then he’d go back to the shade. As soon as I was done mowing, we were both ready to cool off in the air conditioning.

Today (Monday), I was sweating, sweating, sweating at work. I was outside for all but a couple hours out of the day. It was horrible. I was actually glad Cubbie was in his playpen in the basement because at least I knew he was cool. When I got home and let him out he didn’t want to stay out for long.

These really hot days it’s hard to do much of anything outside with Cubbie. Just a few throws of the ball and he’s panting and looking for shade. Unless we wait till really late in the evening I think it’s too hot for walks. It’s not fun or comfortable for either of us.

His hair is starting to get long so I thought about getting him a haircut to stay a little cooler, but then he has a greater risk of sunburn, too. I think it’s so interesting dogs’ noses can get sunburned as well as their skin!

I have the day off tomorrow. If it’s as hot as today, I think Cubbie and I will spend most of our day inside in the air conditioning! I’ve never had central air before, and I am REALLY appreciating it at our new house.

Posted under Cubbie stories

This is a cute story about a kitten finding a home in a very unique way.

Posted under In the News

I’m just going to say it. Cubbie snores. Loudly. I’m not really sure how to describe his snoring. Maybe similar to a boat motor? At least that’s what it reminds me of.

He doesn’t snore all the time, but when he does, you definitely hear it. When he’s napping during the day, I find it very cute. It’s a different story at night when I’m trying to fall asleep.

I’d classify myself as a light sleeper. I wake up for noises, and it often takes me awhile to fall back asleep if I’m woken up. If Cubbie is really worn out, only very loud noises wake him up at night. Also, I swear he falls asleep as soon as his head is on the bed. He’s like a light switch!

The other night, Cubbie fell asleep before me (just like normal). I know some people say you shouldn’t have a television in your bedroom, but I can’t help it. I love watching t.v. just before I’m ready to sleep. I think it’s relaxing. Anyway, I shut the television off, shut my eyes and attempted to get to sleep. Suddenly, I hear this loud noise right by my ear. Most of the time he starts the night at the foot of the bed and gradually works his way up near the pillow. Lots of times I’ll find him curled up in a ball right on top of my other pillow. So, initially I hear his snoring, but it’s not “in my face.”

This night, my eyes pop open as the noise continues, very loudly. I look over and Cubbie’s head is on my spare pillow, exactly like a person’s would be. Besides that, he’s on his back with his two front paws hanging just over the edge of the covers. He’s so spoiled.

The reason the snoring is loud is because as he snores his head slightly turns to the side, which in this case ends up being right next to my ear.

Some people might say move him, he’ll fall back asleep. Yes, you’re probably right, but I don’t do that. Instead, I just put my head back down on the pillow and wait until the snoring stops because it always does. He looked so comfy, I didn’t have the heart to disturb him. I guess if I look tired on the air, you know why.

Posted under Cubbie stories

I found this story and couldn’t believe it!

A four-year-old accidentally flushed his puppy down the toilet. He said he put the puppy in the toilet because he was muddy! He was just trying to clean him up.

Incredibly, the puppy survived.

Just a warning, part of the video is gross with the puppy inside the plumbing.

Posted under In the News

The Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo is having an Alumni Reunion.

The reunion is Thursday, July 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls. The special guest will be Joel Silverman. Silverman is host of the Animal Planet Show “Good Dog U.” He’s also the author of What Color is Your Dog?

A summer picnic style meal is available for a donation to the CBHS Build Us a Home fund for a new adoption center. There will also be a drawing for a training session with Joel Silverman.

Reunion t-shirts will be on sale for $15. If you RSVP by June 24, the cost for a t-shirt is only $10.

To RSVP call Autumn at the shelter at 319-232-6887.

Posted under Pet Events