Episode 2 - Please Don't Feed the Animals

Grandma’s first week hasn’t been too bad… a few adjustments and schedule adaptations but for the most part, no complaints. Please note, I said for the “most” part… there has been “one” part – where we have had issues.

You may recall from Episode 1, Grandma’s dog accompanied her to our home. Sam is a 9 year old, morbidly obese Shih Tzu whose ‘frontage’ resembles a bulldog’s. Until moving here, he slept in his own twin bed, had his own chair, dog sitter and favorite television channel (12). He lived a life of royalty and his subjects were most of the tenants of the senior complex in which they lived. Many carried treats in their pockets so as to be prepared for any potential meeting with Prince Sammy (and this is on top of the three squares Grandma would feed him daily).

A couple years ago, Sam had a near death experience. He had surgery for an intestinal blockage and his recovery was in question for several days. (Grandma claims to have no memory of this ordeal which is probably true) After a week at the clinic and a thousand dollar vet bill, he was able to return home weighing only 24 lbs and with a new lease on life. The vet put him on diet food and all was well for a while. Within a few months though, Sam’s weight was creeping back up as his Highness was again showered with treats and people food from Grandma and others. She lived in fear of his being evicted from the complex for surpassing the 30 lb weight limit for small pets, so much so we even bought a Pet-O-Meter scale to assure he was within the boundaries.

We too have a dog. Ginger Grace is a 4 year old Lhasa Apso . She was given to us three years ago when her mistress (the mother of a dear friend of mine) succumbed to cancer. She weighs about 13 lbs and eats dog food, “baked” (wholesome) dog treats and any human morsels that happen to fall from a child occupied high chair. We give her a treat when she comes inside from “being a good girl” and another when it is time to go “night night”. She sleeps in a spacious kennel. We do give her small amounts of popcorn if we’re eating it and use it as a training tool when teaching her various tricks. She loves going on walks and getting to go ‘bye bye’ in the car.

When she arrived, Grandma had a small stash of treats in her purse, which lasted until Day 3 (at which time one of Sam’s admirers from the senior complex stopped by with three more bags of doggy treats). DH put them up out of sight. On Day 4 (Monday) DH and I both went to work. Our teenage daughter, CeCe stayed home from school (in her room) with a sore throat and Grandma was in charge of the dogs. She is fully aware of the house rules and that we do not want her to feed Ginger like she does Sam. This would be the test. At one point, CeCe came down from her room and caught Grandma giving the dogs potato chips(Salt & Vinegar chips no less). When I got home from work, I asked if her Meals on Wheels had been delivered and she said, “Yes and we all three enjoyed it”. I gently rebuked her for sharing her lunch with the dogs and didn’t mention the chips.

Sam is still adjusting to the new environment… housemates and fellow canine. Ginger is used to dogs of other family members visiting but keeps a continual eye on Grandma, especially when she’s near the kitchen. Tuesday morning Grandma was eating breakfast when I came down and noticed 2 empty bowls on the floor.

Me: “What are these doing here?” (pointing to the bowls)
G: “Breakfast.”
Me: “Whose breakfast?”
G: “The dogs. I put a little cereal and milk in their bowls and they ate it right down. I think they want more.”
Me: AAAUUUGHH!

We had an exchange of words …. She apologized and assured me she wouldn’t do it again.

Tuesday was a snow day and there was no school. CeCe was again home and made lunch for Grandma. She took it to her in the living room and as is our practice, she shut the dogs in the kitchen. Grandma objected. She wanted the dogs with her. CeCe called me at work and asked what to do. I said to leave the dogs in the kitchen and if Grandma didn’t like it, to have her to call me. CeCe texts me and says, “She got the dogs out and is feeding them chips. I tried to tell her but she won’t listen.”

So I call home and once again we argue about the fact that we don’t want Ginger being fed table food. We also want Sam to be healthy and live a few more years. To do that, he needs to lose weight. Grandma responds that when she dies, “Sam can go too.”
“What?” I ask… “I’m not worried about what I’ll do with Sam if something happens to you, we’ll take care of him…. but I don’t know what I’ll do with you, if something happens to Sam!” Maybe I struck a chord… or maybe I just forced her underground… but round 1 is over.

We brought the Pet-O-Meter over and have decided Saturdays will be doggy weigh day. As long as Sam’s weight goes down and Ginger’s doesn’t go up too much, we’ll try to strike a compromise. Who would have guessed the first “bone” of contention, would be about dogs? So ends Episode 2.