TERRE HAUTE —
Ed and I were old enough to know better, but we got our laughs in a rather cruel way. We caused Lady, the family collie, a lot of chagrin by dressing her up in “people clothes.”
It was bad enough to put her in a pair of Dad’s shorts, but when we tied our tennis shoes onto her rear feet and laughed like maniacs as she clumped away from us, we had crossed the line. She didn’t nip us, but maybe she should have.
I revisited that event which so shamed Lady after reading the other day that American pet owners are predicted to spend more than $3 million to tog out their furry companions for Halloween. You can do it cut-rate and buy a ready-made costume, or you can be creative and do it yourself. I was impressed by the ingenuity of one pet owner who outfitted her Doberman with a sort of take-off on a sandwich board sign. It fit rather like a saddle across the dog’s back, and on both sides of the dog was a giant dog biscuit. Clearly the dog would rather have been somewhere else.
Owners of smaller dogs tend to go for cute, something like bunny ears maybe?
It doesn’t stop with dogs. Cats can be costumed, too. I don’t know about your cat, but our cat, “Sour Puss,” would have slashed us deep and often if we had come at her with bunny ears.
I can’t imagine doing up a hamster or a ferret and can’t guess what you’d do with a pet snake. Maybe a small bell tied to its tail would convince it that it was a rattlesnake?
Our dogs were strictly dogs. One cold winter we decided that Huckleberry needed a dog sweater for those long, cold, after-supper walks. We found one in a baby blue which we thought was perfect for our male dog. Huck didn’t think so. Maybe he was more macho than we thought. We always thought the neighbor’s dog made a cutting remark and Huck sailed into the only dog fight of his career with us. He came out of it with his sweater in tatters and a satisfied smirk.
We no longer have a dog, but we do have four granddogs. I checked with our sons and neither plans to tog them out for Halloween. Diedre has very short hair and loves her sweater, but that hardly counts.
As for Popeye, he is heavily insulated with blubber and looks funny even without a costume. Indy is too old to put up with any of that nonsense, and Rose, usually highly cooperative, won’t even be asked to provide laughs this Halloween.
All four of our granddogs will do any trick-or-treat capers as the dogs they are. I hope they collect a dog bone or two. I’ll send any money I might have been tempted to spend on a costume to the Humane Shelter.
Liz Ciancone is a retired Tribune-Star reporter. Her columns have appeared in this page for more than 20 years. Send e-mail to opinion@tribstar.com.
Liz Ciancone
LIZ CIANCONE: No pet costumes for this Halloween
- Liz Ciancone
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LIZ CIANCONE: We always want more than we need
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I once owned a gun. Actually, it was Dad’s gun and I was allowed to use it. He bought an air gun which shot BB’s to protect our home — in a way.
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I saw a robin the other morning. It was not the first robin of spring, of course. A few of the more daring robins had opted to spend the winter and, although they looked pretty sorry about it on a few occasions, it was a fairly mild winter.
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I read in the newspaper the other morning that Punxsatawney Phil is being hauled into court and charged with falsely predicting an early spring. I am volunteering my services as counsel for the defense.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Keeping eye out for signs of spring
The problem with expecting a groundhog to predict the arrival of spring is that there are groundhogs scattered all over the country. The Pennsylvania groundhog may not see the same kind of weather as the groundhog out here in Dobbs Park. In this way, false hopes are roused and the groundhog loses credibility as a meteorologist.
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It was either Romeo or Juliet who said, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
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I grew up rather stupid. I didn’t realize it at the time. Neither did my teachers who seemed to think I had “promise.”
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I’ve been following plans for celebrating “The Year of the River” with interest. Rivers have played such a role in my life that I’ve celebrated a good many rivers. The Wabash River is merely the most recent example.
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My Grandmother lived with us. Ed and I were eager audiences for her family stories about the Cooks. Mom also shared her memories of growing up with three brothers.
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I’m told that a pun is the lowest form of humor. I guess that typecasts me! I love them, but then, I like any type of word play.
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LIZ CIANCONE: For now, justice is served in Bball Hall
News this past week brought justice of a sort. The folks who decide these things have declined to pick anyone to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame this year.
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Let me ask you something.
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There has been lots of reporting lately about how long movies are becoming.
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I am a creature of habit. I like to know what I’m doing and I need to know how to do it. That’s why I am annoyed when corporate America seems determined to drag me, kicking and screaming into the age of Internet.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Everyone has a favorite holiday
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It’s a funny thing about time. It can speed along so that you cannot believe that your kids can possibly be old enough to have good sense, or it can drag its heels while you wait for that first grandchild or while you are saving up for something really special.
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Why is it called "Black Friday"?
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LIZ CIANCONE: Maybe the Cubs will win it all next year
I was relieved to have the World Series ending before the snow flies. Heck, it didn’t even last into November this year.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Holiday decorating better when personal, simple
I fear that I am becoming an old poop!
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