Meet the newest members to join YourPlace Pack – Oz and Lexi, faithful companions to YPH tenant, Ray.
Oz is a 9 year old white miniature pedigree poodle given to Ray by his good friend. At the time, Ray’s friend was very concerned about his mental health and thought that a new companion would provide much needed entertainment, distraction, physical contact and company.
Lexi is an 18 year cat abandoned as a kitten. She was thrown over Ray’s fence and he nurtured her back to physical and mental health. Lexi is still wary of strangers but comes out of her shell when she gets to know you.
Oz and Lexi are like chalk and cheese. Oz is out there, protective, playful and thinks he is the leader of the pack until Ray tells him off and he sulks like a 10-year old boy.
Did You Know ?
Here’s a question for anyone forced to wipe canine saliva off their face today: why do dogs lick people?
“Experts are not sure what dogs are thinking as they try to mop your entire face with their tongue. However, they believe that dogs lick you to say hello and gain attention. “It’s a greeting and can be taken as a compliment.”
On the other hand, Lexi is shy and reclusive and will disappear from view when a visitor comes to the house only to emerge when the coast is clear.
During the photo shoot Oz was parading around like an elegant, spoilt aristocrat (as Poodles are wont to do), whereas Lexi was hiding under the bed flat out refusing to have her photo taken.
Ray affectionately calls them “Rascal” and the “Recluse”. Despite their differences they get along quite well until, inevitably, Lexi decides she’s had enough of Oz’s grandstanding and puts him back in his place. Ray, Oz and Lexi are a tight knit group and love nothing better than to eat, sleep and be together.
The hardship of COVID experienced by Ray was countered by the company and affection of Oz and Lexi. Oh, and did we mention the cuddles, lots and lots of cuddles!
Did You Know ?
Why do cats have rough tongues but dogs don’t?
Cats have hard, backwards-facing spines on their tongues, called filiform papillae. These work like a comb for grooming their fur, and are also used to rasp meat from animal bones. Cats are solitary hunters, but are also small enough to be prey for other animals, so grooming is important to minimise their own scent and make them harder to detect. Dogs evolved from pack-hunting wolves and grooming isn’t so important, so they have ordinary, smooth tongues.
Poodle Facts
- Despite their French reputation poodles hail from Germany.
- They are great at their jobs – they were bred to work and are excellent swimmers used by hunters to retrieve birds from the water.
- The fancy “do” has a purpose – since these dogs were jumping into freezing water they needed protection. Too much wet fur would weigh them down so hunters would strategically shear their hair. The pattern was meant to protect vital areas from the cold.
- Elvis loved them and had quite a collection at Graceland.
- They are super smart – second only to the border collie in rankings of canine intelligence.
Dogs are Paw-some!
“I feel sorry for people who don’t have dogs. I hear they have to pick up food they drop on the floor.”
What’s Happening at YourPlace:
March 2021 Edition
