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Doggie Birthday Party

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Doggie Birthday Party - A Lesson Learned

Squidoo has lots and lots of lenses on just about any subject you can think of. Some are meant to educate, some are meant to entertain and some are just beautiful to look at. There are even lenses about interesting personal happenings. This is such a lens.

Unfortunately, every word of this story is true. In September of 1993 I got the bright idea to have a Birthday Party for our dogs, Bill Murray, the Boston Terrier and Kandi, the standard daschund that belonged to our grown children. We were all old enough to know better but we got wrapped up in the excitement of the moment and before long we had it all planned. We sent out invitations to 4 dogs who were pets of friends of ours:
Jackson the Jack Russell
Brandy the Shih-tzu
ChiChi the Peek-a-Pooh
Jamie the Pomeranian

Note: This story is told with permission from my good friend, Sue.



This lens was reviewed by MiMi aka GrowWear in her Squidoo Lens Reviews and I am so proud to wear this badge. Just click the badge to read the review. Thank you, MiMi

The Actual Invitation 

Important!

NEVER A DULL MOMENT AT THIS HOUSE!

Get Ready To Party

Lots to do!

I molded a cake out of dog food and we had goody bags for each guest filled with dog bones. Of course, we had party hats and balloons. We fixed everything up on the picnic table outside and waited for our guests to arrive. Since Bill and Kandi were oblivious as to what was about to happen in their honor, I guess you could say that it was a surprise party.

About the time our guests started arriving, so did the rain. We grabbed everything up and just moved to the porch. No problem at all. We were flexible. Nothing was going to spoil this day!

Bill and Kandi's Birthday Cake 

Happy Birthday, Bill Murray 

Happy Birthday, Kandi 

Important!

NOTICE THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF OUR SON OR DAUGHTER

They would be totally embarrassed that I had the nerve to tell this story!

Guests: Jamie and Brandy and their owner Sue 

Chi Chi and owner Jo Dot 

Jackson and owner Julie somewhere 

Important!

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Party Time!

Are we having fun yet?

Ok. Picture it: 6 dogs on a screened in porch with their owners and friends of their owners with everyone talking 50 miles an hour.
It was then that it happened:

Before we knew it, Kandi (standard Daschund) had little Jamie (Pomeranian) by the leg. Jamie was barking like crazy. Kandi was growling like crazy. Jackson, Chi Chi, and Brandy began to bark. Dogs were everywhere. People were everywhere and poor Jamie was hurt very badly. Sue grabbed him and I ran after them.

She got him to the vet who referred him to the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine Hospital for surgery. We felt awful. We were all so worried about poor little Jamie who was 5 years old at the time. It was major surgery to repair his leg that was broken in two places.

What can we do?

I had to do something!

Jamie recovered from surgery just fine but was going to have a long recovery and would have to come back to the hospital in Athens for follow up treatment. I offered to go with Sue on one of these trips but that wasn't enough. I knew we should offer to pay the hospital bill. My husband felt that it might be covered under our Homeowners Policy which it was.

This is the rest of the story:

Our Homeowners Paid For Jamie's Medical Treatment - One of the checks 

Our Insurance Company

One day I got a call from our insurance company and the gal asked me if I had pictures from the party where Jamie was attacked. I told her I did. She then asked me to write down everything I could remember about the incident and send to her along with the pictures. I did that, too.

It seems that this company was having a contest over the most unusual claim and our adjuster was bound and determined to win. I never did hear if she did or not.

Several months after the incident and after all bills had been paid, we received a letter from our insurance company stating that due to the hurricanes being so costly to their business, they would no longer offer this program.
Important!

OUR VET'S REMARKS

"Birthday Party for the dogs? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard"

My Sense of Humor

I took the Insurance Company letter and re-worded it to read

"As we all know from either personal experience, or television and newspaper reports, Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew were major natural catastrophes and very costly to the insurance industry. The Jamie Medlock incident was an additional burden on our industry."

I mailed it to my friend, Sue and we continue to laugh about it to this day.

The letter from our Insurance Company 

Books for Dog Lovers

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This lens dedicated to 6 wonderful pets.

We hated what happened to Jamie but he did live a long and healthy life. He passed away 7 years after the incident. All the dogs that were either honored or guests at the famous Doggie Birthday Party are gone and I would like to dedicate this lens to:

Bill Murray
Kandi
Jamie
Brandy
Chi Chi
Jackson

A Dog Named Beau

by Joan4 - my sister

Jimmy Stewart's poem
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Important!

Lesson Learned?

You bet! We have not and will not EVER host another Doggie Birthday Party at this house!

Critiques From Forum

I wanted this lens to be really good especially since I had entered it in the October Contest so I asked for critiques in the forum. It was suggested that I add a video of the party. My reply was that there is no video available and I had no intentions of re-creating the event - not even for Squidoo.

So please pretend you saw a video and enjoyed it very much!

Let Your Doggie Promote Pendleton

by Proudly wearing a "Think Pendleton" doggie shirt from Cafe Press. $19.99

Pendleton Photo Shop

Give me your honest opinion!

What do you think of Doggie Birthday Parties?

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I think it sounds like fun. I have parties for my pets, too

vikksimmons says:

Well, Charlie promises that he and his guest will be on their best virtual behavior. So sorry about little Jaimie.

Posted May 23, 2011

KokoTravel says:

But we don't invite other animals... only those who live in our house...

Posted December 30, 2010

heather says:

I am having mine next weekend

Posted September 01, 2010

Jaime says:

in no way do i think doggie birthday parties are stupid. i do them for my Macy every year and we have had her from a puppy. ROCK ON FOR THE DOG BIRTHDAYS! WOO HOO!!!

Posted June 06, 2010

VickiSims says:

We have private little family celebrations, but haven't tried invited guests. We do have a big picnic and campout every year where everyone's dogs are invited. We've had up to 10 dogs come and so far no major problems.

Posted April 14, 2010

HorseAndPony says:

We have birthday parties for our dog but just with our family.

Posted January 20, 2010

spunkyduckling says:

Sounds like so much fun but seems a little awkward too.

Posted January 08, 2010

theherbivorehippie says:

My male, Malachi had his 1 year old birthday party at doggy daycare. I used to take him there to interact with other dogs once a week before I got my female. He got a cake and a hat too and they had soooo much fun!

Posted October 25, 2009

DebiJones says:

A great idea!! I am thoroughly enjoying reading about life in Pendleton! I had to read about the Doggie Birthday Party cause the guest of honor is a Boston Terrier! We have raised many Bostons..what a smart and delightful breed!

Posted September 14, 2009

Slothlover says:

I think having a dog birthday party is an awesome idea! I have pet parties for all of my pets, from Indy my rabbit to Spud and Sugar, my basset hounds! :)

Posted June 25, 2009

The_Party_Animal says:

I think it is fine - just do not have other doggie guests

Posted June 12, 2009

hlkljgk says:

i think any reason to celebrate is a great idea!

Posted May 02, 2009

FreeSpiritSoars says:

I think the animals and humans had a heck of a good time. Darn it, I've been to human only parties where worse things than a broken leg have happened. Party animals have been know to get out of hand even at wedding receptions- especialy at wedding receptions. I like the touch with the burdened insurance company.

Posted April 01, 2009

Aquavel says:

A doggy birthday party sounds totally normal to me and lots of fun! We had a couple of parties for our oldest dog when he was younger. (Our younger wheaten loves people but doesn't get along with many other dogs so we've put dog parties on hold for now.) I was invited to a dog Bar Mitzvah once and that was lots of fun too! All that aside, the vet and the insurance company do not seem normal.

Posted March 22, 2009

Charlyjl says:

I guess you could say we have a birthday party every day for our dogs. We've recently combined two houses, including the dogs and there a are 'a few'.... lol

Posted January 13, 2009

You got to be kidding me. I would never be this stupid.

Senora_M says:

Not sure when our dog's birthday is, but we got her on Feb. 15. I wrote a lens about her (Viva My Dog). :) don't think she'll be having any parties though! She's crazy around other animals!!!

Posted December 14, 2010

annmackiemiller says:

soory mate - very amusing but ...

Posted September 09, 2010

pastella says:

We haven't had parties because our Jack Russell wouldn't even entertain the idea of another dog in his house. And as for sharing his food? Well, past experience has taught me that should any pup have the nerve to reach for his bonio, it's all-out war! Still, it would be fun!

Posted August 02, 2010

Amethyst_Angel says:

I think doggie parties are not for the faint of heart! I think I'd rather gather a group of friends and their doggies and go to a local dogpark if possible!

We could just invite our immediately family and have a GREAT doggie party.
We have 5 dogs; My mother in law has 4; my daughter has 1; my brother in law has 2 and my sister in law has 2. Doggie party for 13 anyone???

I'm checking the You got to be kidding me choice because there is NO WAY I'd do this for our 13 - but if someone else wanted to host it..... I'd go for it!

Loved this lense!!!

Posted October 09, 2009

says:

Rascal The Cat would probably NOT attend a brithday party for doggies. But, I would entertain the idea, so long as the doggies were nice to one another it would probably be pretty fun for the owners!

Posted September 21, 2009

poddys says:

I don't know about a doggy birthday party, bit at a local water park, the last day of the season before they close for the winter, they open it for dogs only. Last year there were about 100 dogs going crazy, leaping through the water like 5 year olds. Great fun to watch.

Posted May 19, 2009

tandemonimom says:

I know they are getting more popular but I can't see myself ever throwing one, and with your kind warning I have solidified that opinion! ;-)

Posted April 08, 2009

mbgphoto says:

I actually think it sounds like fun....but I have never had parties for my pets before. I'll have to tell my daughter-in-law about this one they have a chocolate lab and a westie. Could be a good mix for a party!

Posted January 08, 2009

 
view all 26 comments

I Heart My Dog on Cafe Press

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“I got this nice note from my friend, Sue!”

Important!

Note from Jamie's "Mom"

Hi Nancy,
I hope all of your readers enjoy the dog lens as much as I have, and are not "put off " by the accident involving Jamie. The concept of a doggie birthday party was brilliant, and the fun regarding the insurance remains memorable. It was great seeing the pictures of all the dogs in their party hats. Weren't they cute?
All's well that ends well!
Sue

A Directory of All My Pet Pages

Hope you will check out some of them

Our new dog, Bruno, will be celebrating his first birthday on July 14 but needless to say, we will not have a party!
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Evidently we aren't the only ones that celebrate our dog's birthday!

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Next Came The Bulldogs

And lots of them

We started with a beautiful and wonderful male Bulldog name Bruno. We bred him to Miss Emily and kept Penny from the litter. Bruno and Penny had Bruno II, Pitty Pat, and One Eyed Willy. Poor Willy died from a drug reaction. Pitty Pat was bred and have several beautiful litters. She is still alive and well but moving slow. Bruno II died just last year. We have really enjoyed our Bulldogs.

We now have 3 Granddogs

Molson, Gus, and Sawyer
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Pets are very special to us. We have a dog, a bird, a turtle, 3 cats and lots of fish. I have lived in Pendleton for over 50 years and love my town and... more »

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