A Dinner Gong At A Bulimics' Convention

I haven't gone to work today.
Winnie needed the vets.
Work was understanding and I owe them a day
She' s ok, weak with enteritis and old age
She's very still today and very lethargic
These animals will be the death of me !

That phrase haunts me daily

I was drinking my bucket of coffee at the kitchen table when there came an unholy and very angry howling from the garden
The Ginger Bastard was back!
Now for months a large ginger Tomcat has been tormenting Albert
Most of their interactions have been confined to bitch staring each other out along the perimeter of each other's territories, but occasionally the ginger Bastard , forgets the rules and ventures across the building site behind the cottage with a noticeable swagger , and enters my garden with a narrowing of his eyes.
He is younger and bigger than Albert
And unlike him, has four fully functioning legs.
Today Albert caught him in the garden and a cat fight began
It started suddenly and loudly with both cats yowling at the top of their voices
And to one Welsh terrier and one inexperienced bulldog bitch
The noise was as galvanising as a dinner gong at a bulimics' convention
The  girls thundered out of the cottage like rats up a drainpipe.

The gate into the garden proper stopped Mary short but being a little bundle of pure bulldog muscle Dorothy sailed over it with a single bound. Within a second she had barrelled into the  Tom like an American footballer and the Ginger Bastard bounced over the kitchen wall as if he was made of rubber.
Albert ran for the safety of the kitchen, wide eyed and ruffled .

I had to go after Dorothy and eventually found her grinning wildly and proud in old Trevor's miniature orchard
All for one and one for all is the motto of all dogs,
they love a good chase and an underdog to watch out for
Mary checking on Albert after the incident 


50 comments:

  1. Never a dull moment when you've got pets! It's lovely that they all look out for each other. The Ginger Bastard won't be back in a hurry.

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  2. OMG this was fantastic.
    I love how the doggies went to rescue their friend!!!
    XOXO

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  3. the family sticks together!

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  4. glad you got winnie to the vet. and good on dorothy and mary for protecting albert!

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  5. I too love the protective nature of your little family. Never a dull moment that's for sure.

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  6. What drama! Any sign of a conflict outside and they want to investigate and show that they can fearlessly take care of it. But I'm sure that Ginger B. actually has a heart of gold and only needs the opportunity to reveal that he's a lovey-dovey softie. I'd tame him down.

    Much relived that Winnie's condition, though doubtlessly unpleasant, is not as bad as it might have been.

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  7. What a to do John- reading about the incident has jangled my nerves as animals can.Enteritis is very frightening isn't it but hopefully antibiotics can help Winnie.My lily had severe pancreatitis and it took ages for her to recover though x

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  8. And now Dorothy and Albert are best friends... until something else comes up. Good for Dorothy!

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  9. Cat + dog = adorable! 🤎🖤

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  10. This just makes me cry. Especially the photo! Bless their dear hearts for taking care of each other (only because they have YOU to take care of them!) If it's the death of you, it'll be a happy one! You surely never have a dull moment...♥

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  11. What excitement to start a Monday morning!

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  12. This made my morning! Animals do have their groups and territories.

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  13. I hope things are not too bad on the Winnie front and she lives to fight another day. I am sure she would have helped in today's fracas if she had been fit and able.

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  14. Hope Winnie's vet visit goes well. Your animals are amazing--especially Dottie going after Albert's tormentor.

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  15. What do people without pets DO all day, anyway? Just think how much excitement they miss out on!

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  16. Dorothy the Enforcer! Looks like she's found her place in your pack.

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  17. What a great story! Tho I can see you taking in Big Tom and making friends. Is Winnie home or she had to remain at the vet's? Hope she is well soon, poor lady.

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  18. I agree with Weaver of Grass's comment. When i had more than one animal in the house, they would band together if an outsider enemy threatened. But when Phoebe was around, she stirred drama and created many a squabble.

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  19. Barbara Anne3:40 pm

    I'm glad your bosses were understanding about your need to stay home as dear Winnie needed your attention.

    If you'd gone to work, would the dogs be in the cottage or would they have gone next door? Albert might well have faced the intruder without the aid of Mary and Dorothy and that would have been awful.

    Hugs!

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  20. Good for you, Dorothy! Give that girl a sausage!

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  21. Good girl, Dorothy! Protecting her pack.

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    1. also sending good thoughts to sweet Winnie. I know she and Albert are good friends, so I hope he is able to give her a snuggle.

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  22. Water pistols are very effective in dealing with unwanted cats, failing that an empty plastic squirty bottle, and failing that ... (well, maybe when I was 10).

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  23. Anonymous4:42 pm

    Old Ginge obviously didn't know Albert had a possee waiting to run him out of town (your garden that is). Enter the cavalry, and it all kicks off, wonder if ginge has been nipped?, if not, as you know,he will always be ready for a fight. Kisses to Winnie, well all of them actually, from me.
    Tess xx

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  24. Dorothy to the rescue! Maybe Ginger Cat will think twice before coming back, which would solve the problem for Albert nicely and also keep Ginger safer. I hope Winnie feels better soon.

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  25. Dorothy just earned her place in the pack! Good girl! Mary must be slightly disappointed that she didn't make it all the way to the fight. Next time. How great for Albert to have his girl gang backing him up!
    Sending healing thoughts to Winnie...

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  26. The big surprise for me is that Dorothy was the one to sail over the gate - unimaginable!
    I hope Winnie feels much better tomorrow and that Albert soon gets over his nasty shock.

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  27. I didn't know that Dorothy could jump higher than Mary. What a Gud Dug and friend all of the Powerpuff Girls are.
    Hugs and Kisses to sweet Winnie.
    parsnip x

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  28. When you have cats and dogs they do get to develop their own pack. Three dogs and two cats, the only rules are don't eat the house mates dinner or chase them, too much

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  29. That last photograph is perfection.

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  30. Us humans could learn a lot from animal behaviour !! Except sniffing bottoms xx

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  31. I love it when animals come to the rescue iof each other. Well done Dorothy.

    My feral and much loved cat Toby hated our new kitten Archie many years ago and would swipe at him every time he passed by and hiss if the kitten came near him. But one day little Archie was bravely exploring the wall of our yard and a great big bruiser of a Tom cat came rushing at him. Toby appeared like a flash of black lightening leaping on the bully and scaring him off. He had obviously been keeping an eye on his new little brother from the bushes, as had I but through the kitchen window.

    They were sort of friends after that 🙂

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  32. Ginger Bastard is an odd name to give a cat. Marmalade or Tibby are preferable names. Standing on one's doorstep at night shouting, "Ginger Bastard! Ginger Bastard!" - it wouldn't be surprising if Prince Harry clattered through the cat flap.

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    2. Sucking up to your new friend in an attempt to bad mouth me about a cat fight
      A new low Ursula

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  33. Bless Dorothy! What a good girl to stand up for Albert! I certainly hope the Ginger learned his lesson about crossing into Albert's territory. Sending love and healing thoughts to Winnie.

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  34. awwwww, what a crew! What a lucky kitty to have such faithful siblings

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  35. A strong pack of faithful friends. Wishing you quality time with Winnie,

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  36. Hurrrrrah for Dorothy! Good Girl!!! She gets an extra treat tonight. Ruth in Oxnard CA. USA

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  37. Good for Dorothy protecting her pack. Perhaps she and Albert will see each other in a more favorable light! (Unless cat pride gets in the way)

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  38. Poor Winnie I have a feeling that the rest of the gang know that she isen't feeling well, wow Dorothy I would not have expected her to take a flying leap she is a trooper coming to the aid of Albert. Lovely how they are all bonded like that.

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  39. Laughed out loud, there is a book in you John with your turn of phrase!! Hope old Winnie picks up though.

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  40. Poor Winnie in the wars; I hope she feels better soon. Mighty surprised it was Dorothy that took a flying leap, I would have thought Mary would be the lithe one. Let's hope Albert is not too shaken; losing one's confidence couldn't be great for a cat. Glad they all stick together in times of peril. Hopefully Ginger will remember this and stay away.

    Jo in Auckland

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  41. How is Winnie today? X

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  42. Go Dorothy! I hope Winnie is feeling better today.

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  43. Go Dorothy ! Big hugs for Winnie xx

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  44. Sounds like an exciting morning at chez John's.

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  45. Late to reading this, but it recalls an incident far back, around the time I found your blog. Someone (another cat, perhaps) followed Albert through the cat door, thinking to do some damage, and ran smack dab into your canine crowd at the time, all lying in front of the fire. As one, they leapt up and taught the intruder how to go backward at full speed. I laughed at loud and thought how wonderful that they stood up for their gimpy little friend. Good animals, all. And isn't Dorothy just one of the gang now? Holding good thoughts for Winnie ...

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  46. What a great recounting, I can just see it. Albert is lucky to have such backup.

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