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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Nan, I’m so glad you decided to share this hilarious story with us. So love the penis demolition, woof!

We’re not pet owners they own us. I love how you brought out all the different personalities.

Your love, shines delightful playfulness.

We got a kitty about four months ago. That’s an essay itself. I was injured so I’ve been off Substack. I think catching up is an impossibility. My essay this month was for disability pride but I can’t wait to write about the kitty and how woody is/maybe/is not adjusting.

😘😂😿

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Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

I just showed up for the penis demolition 😆😆 And dogs 🐕

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I knew you were smart! xo

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

I never grow tired of stories about the dogs, cats, horses, and birds that grace our lives and teach us so much about ourselves. I never grow tired of the essays about play and playfulness -- surely a trait I would have lost years ago if it were not for dogs in my life. And I never grow tired of meeting those humans who know that living with and among the creatures helps to make us better people. My current dog is Mickey and he is a light of love, goofiness and giving in my life. Thanks for the big grin, Nan. ~stephanie

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I learned to love in special ways because of the four-leggeds in my life. They are the best teachers. They live in the moment so much more effectively than humans. And oh, we laugh! xo

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Christina Lapastora's avatar

I love your essay. It put a massive smile on my face, followed by many chuckles as I continued reading. I was once owned by three cats and two dogs in an apartment, and I loved every crazy minute of it. I have an adorable and cuddly Maltipoo but want to get Teddy a playmate. My daughter is totally on board with this idea; my husband is not so much. It's two against one, and I want another Shitzu. Wish me luck!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

You get that Shih-Tzu! I have to tell you, I went from being a one dog mama to now always having two at one time. It's really good for them. My two now sleep in the same crate in two little beds (and sometimes they squeeze into just one of them together). My doctor strongly recommended that I stop sleeping with my buddies, as I have trouble with insomnia and damn him, he was right. But every night before we go to sleep, I go through the same little mental battle of wanting them to come to bed with me...But my sleep is SO much better. It's tough one. I can't wait to see your new Shih-Tzu. xo

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Beth L. Gainer's avatar

Nan, what a great and often funny piece! Your dogs are so darn adorable! I'm so sorry to hear of Hazel's passing. It is tough to lose a fur baby. I have always loved animals, but the nuclear family I grew up in did not. I was an anomaly. Anyway, thankfully, I have a cat named Oliver, who definitely owns me and is spoiled to the max!

In fact, tomorrow I have a post dedicated to Oliver, who is a Himalayan and a rescue. So animal week, it is! You are an awesome fur baby momma. I also work from home, which makes Oliver very happy. Everything for the boy.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Beth! I love "often funny"! That's wonderful. I do have cuties, for sure. Hugo, her little brother is going to be 11 on Sunday, I can't believe how the years have sped by. I also have Maisy now, she's a little mutt I adopted as a puppy 3 weeks after Hazel died. I've written an essay about her, A Daily Dose of Radical Acceptance and Joy: https://nantepper.com/p/a-daily-dose-of-radical-acceptance-dd8 You might like it. I'll check out your post tomorrow! xo

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Beth L. Gainer's avatar

Thanks for the link! I will read your post. I got Oliver shortly after a beloved cat passed away. Enjoy the read!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I will! xo

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Meredith Smith's avatar

Nan, you speak doggie-ese for sure. Your love for these creatures I so appreciate and I’m positive the ones that are fortunate enough to have made their way to your door, totally agree. Folks who love animals are a special breed.

I did not know that about bully sticks. You have forever changed my thoughts about them. Yikes!

Thanks for your article. I enjoy your writing.

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Meredith Smith's avatar

My herd is not a fan, so I don’t have a supply. My pooches are into lamb chew sticks. I have no idea what body parts these come from. And then I frequently carry them in my mouth to have a ready reward when the peeps and poops appear. I don’t want to think about it.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Hilarious! Yes, put it out of your head. Your brain has more important things to tend to. xo

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Meredith. Yeah. Bull penis. Have your thoughts changed in a positive way now that you know? Gosh knows, they're expensive! xo

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Nancy Stordahl's avatar

Hi Nan,

I hope it's okay to let you in on a little secret. Of course, I love all your writings, but one of the main reasons I subscribed is because I know how much your beloved pets mean to you and that sometimes you write about them, too.

Every morning when our pup plays with his toys, he manages to get his rubber doughnut or one of his other toys stuck under the sofa, the TV stand, or some other place he cannot retrieve them by himself. Guess who gets down on her hands and knees to get it for him every single time? Haha

Great story abour your dear Hazel. I'm sorry she had such a short life, but how loved she was. I know how it feels to miss a beloved pet every single day. Big hugs and thank you for sharing about Hazel.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thank you, Nancy! Gosh I loved her so much. I love knowing that you get about the animals who grace our lives. We're the lucky ones to have them in our midst. I have a story or two (at least) more about my critters. Hugs right back to you! xo

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Nancy Stordahl's avatar

I often marvel at the deep love we can have for our beloved pets. Each one is such a gift. x

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Completely agree. I'd be lost without them, truly. xo

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Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Dog love. Like no other kind of love. I don't do the bully sticks.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

True that, sister. We know that about each other, that we love the pups! I don't do bully sticks either, my dogs do. No dick for me (couldn't resist)! xo

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Nancy Jainchill's avatar

HaHaHa!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Yuppers. xo

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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

What a great story! Lucky Hazel; lucky Nan.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Lucky Nan, for sure. Hazel was lucky for 5 years. And then I lost her. Not so lucky for her or me. Miss that girl so much. It was really good for me to write this one and tell it! xo

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Chris Stanton's avatar

Bully sticks are a favorite treat of Brady's too. I try not to think about their origins. Loved this post, Nan!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Yes, I can understand that. It's so easy to project one's own fears! I would probably feel the same way. Maybe we can form a Bully Stick coop to bring costs down. Maisy, my little mutt devours a 12-incher in about an hour. I always try to find ones that have GIRTH...talk about projecting! Glad you liked the post. I'm trying to exercise my humor muscles more. xo

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Chris Stanton's avatar

I'm in on the coop. And I love when you exercise your humor muscles!

GIRTH 😂

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Nan Tepper's avatar

The girthy ones last longer....

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Chris Stanton's avatar

🤐

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Nan Tepper's avatar

😏

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Eileen Vorbach Collins's avatar

Oh, you gave Hazel such a fabulous life. Short, but filled with enough love to last an eternity. I get the part about spending your haircut budget on her grooming. My little Sophie's haircuts cost 4X what I paid for my own. So I started doing it myself. For both of us. We shared the good scissors that came with her clippers.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Eileen. She was SO excellent. I hated losing her. My first Shih-Tzu's name was Sophie, and that was so many years ago. I worked at a grooming salon for a while when she was young, and got a big break on grooming. My friend and employer, Dede of Dede's Dog-A-Rama used to give her a fabulous mohawk. She looked like a Gremlin. But then I stopped working there, and taught myself to do it. It was long, arduous, and not much fun for either of us. So I started making more money! Right, https://substack.com/@deschade?

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

Love this, Nan!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Amanda! I loved her, that super pup. xo

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Pamela Erens's avatar

Bully sticks??!! I guess there’s always something new to learn in this world!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Yup. Yes, indeedy! xo

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Jodi Sh. Doff's avatar

deightful!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Jodi! xo

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According to Mimi's avatar

My heart just broke. What a hilarious picture you paint of this little love.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Mimi! Just reporting what I experienced. That girl was hilarious. I simply adored her. My heart broke when she died, but 3 weeks later I adopted a non-Shih-Tzu rescue (a mutt, through and through) and I'm madly in love with that cutie too. You may have already seen the post I wrote about Maisy, but just in case you haven't, here it is: https://nantepper.com/p/a-daily-dose-of-radical-acceptance-dd8

xo

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According to Mimi's avatar

I did read Maisy's story when it came out and again just now. Love animal stories! I have no idea why I didn't comment the first time I read it. You have a gift in bringing out the love between owner and pet. So sweet!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks for reading it again, Mimi. I love that. And feel free to comment on the older post any time! xo

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Amrita Skye Blaine's avatar

awwww...

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Nan Tepper's avatar

You got that right! She was all "awwww" almost all the time! xo

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