Who Else Has a Disney Pet?

 

 

If you listen to The Disney Exchange Podcast ( you DO, don't you?!) which Lisa co-hosts with me and David Hodges, then you've heard her talk about, or perhaps even heard, her dog Junior. This article from her Living a Disney Life Blog tells his story. - Nick

By Lisa 

Let’s talk about our pets!  Since I’ve become a member of a group I used to mock and ridicule (“Dog people”), I find I understand pet lovers in a previously unimaginable way – and I love to hear their pet stories.  Surely I’m not the only one here with a pet named after a Disney character (Well, Indiana Jones is Disney now, right?).  Silly me, I could never understand how people could become so attached to animals.  I mean – they’re not people, right?  You can’t possibly love them in the same way you love your other family members – seriously, that’s just ridiculous! Ha!

Living in the country, we’ve had lots of pets over the years – farm dogs, cats, a couple of rats, a guinea pig, a lizard and a few temporary visitors on top of that.  I like animals just fine, but never really had one that was just mine – unless you count a couple of goldfish named Zeus and Appolo I had in college (let’s not talk about them, hmmmmkay?).  I never felt the need to be…let’s say…an independent pet parent.  I was fine sharing family pets with The Fam.

In 2010, during the summer before Joseph started his Sophomore year in high school, I started thinking about how fast the time would fly by – he’d soon be graduating and leaving home and Raymond and I would be alone – with no children to tend to.  I guess on some deep level, this thought scared me.  I started thinking about getting a pet of my own – someone to fill the void.  Our house had been, more often than not, filled with rowdy, noisy teenagers – I liked it that way!  Once Joseph left for college, things were bound to be quiet.  Too quiet maybe.  Yup – I needed a plan. No, a dog wouldn’t be as good as a houseful of kids, but my first ever, all my own, inside-the-house dog would offer new challenges and opportunities to take care of someone.  Raymond’s pretty self-sufficient and has never wanted to be fussed over – there was a decent probability without a diversion, my attention might focus TOO much on Raymond since, by default, he’d be the only one available to dote on.

My opinion about how people should behave with pets was completely changed when I met Henry Jones, Junior for the first time.  Junior had spent the first 8 weeks of his life at a kennel in rural Illinois that specializes in raising excellent Aussiedoodles (Pecan Place Kennels).  Aussiedoodles are a hybrid between Australian Shepherd and Poodle (standard poodle in Junior’s case).  As we came face to face – he, surrounded by his brothers and sisters, and I, a bit nervous about how we’d get along – I took one look into those soft, sweet eyes and saw, not a dog – not an animal at all – but love.  Pure, unconditional love and trust – I did nothing to earn, nothing to deserve.  Junior and I just belonged together and we both knew it, beyond a shadow of a doubt, in that one, singular moment of connection.

So, that’s how I became a “dog person”.  It didn’t happen gradually and it wasn’t something I’d planned on.  I didn’t have to work on building a relationship with this member of another species – it happened instantaneously and took me completely by surprise.  I read a book the breeder recommended by the Monks of New Skete called “How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend” before Junior and I met.  I learned a lot about being a good family member to a dog and how to help that dog be a good family member in return.  We still follow most of the rules the Monks laid down in the book.  Do I wish that Junior jumped a little less?  Sure.  I absolutely wish he didn’t have to bark so loud whenever a car pulls in the driveway.  But our dog is funny with a great personality and a tremendous sense of humor.  He’s super smart and loves to do tricks and play games.  He’s my constant companion whenever I’m at home and is always happy to see me no matter what – whether I’ve been gone 10 minutes, 10 hours, or 10 days.

So, what about YOU?  What kind of pet to you have?  Do you have pictures?  Stories to share?  Does you pet have a Disney name?  Tell me all about it!

Disney: No Pets Allowed

By Beth Skarp

Have you had the pleasure of seeing a Service Animal or Guide Dog working while touring in the Parks? We have seen them a time or two. These animals are always well behaved, and so fun to see. My daughter even had the pleasure once of being allowed to pet a working Service Animal who was in training. Such a treat. 

Disney has a very strict policy about allowing your personal family pet into the parks or hotel rooms on Property. With that being the case, why is it that I almost always seem to run into another guests personal pet? What pet you ask? 

Well, surely you have all met him or her while touring in the parks. The pet almost always has the exact same name. It is called......PEEVE.

OK, so it was a bad lead in and a horrid pun. Having said that much, I do have several things that not only annoy me, I manage to experience them just about every time we visit the parks. In no particular order, here are seven “pets” I've personally encountered who go by the name of PEEVE. 

1. Thinking that because something is offered at the condiment bar, it is “free” for the taking. I get that you might want some creamer for your coffee, syrup for your Mickey waffles or Tobasco sauce or A-1 Sauce for your meal, or toppings for the burger you had made just to your liking. Taking enough for your meal is fine, but taking and literally dumping the entire contents into your tote bag, swiping a bottle or two of these condiments from the shelf and “forgetting” to return them but dropping them into your tote bag instead, bringing a container to make a FREE to-go salad is just plain wrong no matter how you look at it. Don't get me wrong....I have been known to take a few extra packets of creamer back to our resort room for our early morning coffee. Taking more “just because it is after all FREE and I paid for it” is just not right.

2. Sneezing or coughing while standing in line without covering your face. Deciding to odorize your spot in line “ranks” right up there as well. I can't tell you the number of times I have been subjected to these, um, showers of blessings. So nasty.

3. I know that we all want to take home those wonderful Mickey head shampoos and soaps. I have a good-sized stash as well. Taking the ones you don't use or even asking Mouskeeping for more is well and good (yes, we do this). Might I suggest that you use one or two of them to actually clean up with before you leave the resort room for the day. Splashing on some cologne or using extra deodorant really doesn't help matters, especially when we need to “cozy up” in line or on Disney transportation. 

4. There are trash cans located all over Disney property. Is it really that difficult to walk say 30 feet to put your trash in the appropriate receptacles. The same goes for busing your table at a quick service venue. Yes, there are probably a CM or two in the area who are “assigned” to do this task. However, when the place is busy, even they have a hard time keeping up with the demands. Would you leave this mess sitting on your own kitchen or dining room table? I highly doubt it. Disney is after all our “Home” away from our normal home. Treat it with the same respect you would your own personal home.

5. Tuning out in such a manner that you are “blissfully unaware” of your surroundings. Being so tuned out as you're listening to your various electronic devices or busily working your thumbs to pretend that you don't see a parent who is juggling small children while attempting to stand in a crowded bus. We are all tired and our feet hurt. If you are physically capable of standing, please offer up your seat to someone who is obviously older, has difficulty walking or standing, is pregnant, or has small children. Additionally, small children belong on an adult's lap during peak traveling times, freeing up a seat for an adult to sit.

6. Placing your various shopping bags, the diaper bag or your tote bags on the seat next to you on Disney transportation in hopes that you have more personal space. Disney transportation gets crowded, especially during peak travel times. Placing your shopping bags or tote bags at your feet allows for more guests to board. 

7. "No flash photography" is there for a reason. Not only do you blind those who are seated around you, most times the flash literally washes out the picture you were attempting to take. Ghosts are frightfully sensitive to bright lights after all. In this same venue, continuing to snap flash pictures in the dark on the rivers boats that run from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney not only blind your fellow guests, they can also blind the boat pilots as well. 

These are my “pets” called PEEVE. They don't belong in the parks. Let's leave these so called “pets” home next time.

For many of us, our four legged animals want to travel with us as well. If you wish to bring your fur baby with you on vacation, Disney guests can use a wonderful service called Best Friends Pet Care. Check them out at www.bestfriendspetcare.com. Seriously, the only pets I want to see at the Disney Parks are the ones that belong to true Disney Characters. I always enjoy seeing Pluto or Marie in the Parks, don't you?