Thanks for the supportive thoughts about the Basset y'all.

Not sure what more I can do, but I'll keep trying.

Hooray for a good severance Steph.

Yay Tep! So happy! I know you've been juggling so many giant stressors for the last few months -- so very, very glad one big one just vanished and transmogrified itself into a giant Good Thing.

bonny, WTF? Can they even begin to explain what they mean by "fixed"? Did they somehow think that you'd apparate in, wave a wand and shout, "SUBMISSUS!" disapparate, and their dog would henceforth and forever be perfect?

Makes me specially sad because I know both your boys have had Basset in them and have been sweethearts, and I know that the handful of Basset mixes in our neighborhood have been unfailingly charming and delightful with Matilda even back when she was a grabby-hands toddler (as well as with other kids, grown-up humans, and a variety of other dogs). If this dog isn't "fixed," whatever the hell they mean by that, that's 100% on them, not the dog. Assholes.

It makes me feel a little ridiculous about how stressed I got.

You were stressed because you didn't know how much (And did they not know? How good is that management?) not because of the amount you were going to get.

What ita said. Also, glad it's a goodly sum!

bonny, WTF? Can they even begin to explain what they mean by "fixed"? Did they somehow think that you'd apparate in, wave a wand and shout, "SUBMISSUS!" disapparate, and their dog would henceforth and forever be perfect?

Makes me specially sad because I know both your boys have had Basset in them and have been sweethearts, and I know that the handful of Basset mixes in our neighborhood have been unfailingly charming and delightful with Matilda even back when she was a grabby-hands toddler (as well as with other kids, grown-up humans, and a variety of other dogs). If this dog isn't "fixed," whatever the hell they mean by that, that's 100% on them, not the dog. Assholes.

Yes, to both, JZ.

Basically, they just want him to stop being himself and never cause them another problem.

And, I _do_ feel for the pooch. He's the sweetest, calmest dude with, I might add,the BIGGEST feet I've ever seen on a dog.

He's massively overweight...they _DO_ feed him...gets zero exercise...doesn't get much attention and no leadership.

I wish I could help him.

I know from "My Cat From Hell" that sometimes pets end up being proxies for their owners' problems. Also, that guy is the opposite of sensitive. Yay, Teppy!

Oh, just saw your post - thanks, ita.

I just looked at my student evaluations from last semester. Overall, pretty good. I'm somewhat puzzled at the one student who says that I need to be more friendly, because it's intimidating to approach me. I don't think I've ever gotten that one before.

Have I mentioned how much I love seeing you around, Shir?

I know from "My Cat From Hell" that sometimes pets end up being proxies for their owners' problems. Also, that guy is the opposite of sensitive.

I love Jackson Galaxy. As happy as my cats generally are, I have learned from him, and I think, made them even happier. And a lot of times on many of the animal behavior shows, that is a theme, that the pets themselves are behaving quite naturally, but the owners are not applying logic to their own behavior to bring out better socialized behavior in their pets. I sometimes goggle at people who are dog people enough to go out and get a dog, but not enough to what I as a cat person (I say this as someone who likes dogs but feels she understands cats much better and therefore am best suited to have cats in my life) know about maintaining happy, well-behaved dogs. First rule is, aggression that is terrifying in a 70 lb dog is NOT cute in a 7 lb dog. Second rule is, dogs from working breeds or high energy breeds must be kept busy doing SOMEthing remotely resembling the work they were bred to do.