The cold winter nights have me spending more time indoors playing with the Herd and its protector, Ellie Mae the cat-dog. They have not been using the catio as much lately, as the temperature has been dropping below zero degrees Fahrenheit. The winter season has been unusually mild, but it has finally picked up. The days are getting shorter, and I have been spending more time shoveling snow off my rig and the sidewalk. I have had to come inside a few times to warm up my fingers and toes.

Poor Ellie Mae, who loves to play in the snow, picked up her frisbee and went outside, but quickly changed her mind. She left a trail of poop on the yard as she limped back to me. She collapsed before she made it all the way back. She is too heavy for me to carry so I yelled out to her to get up and get inside the house. Once inside, she just held her front right paw and her rear left paw up at the same time and switched to the other paws. The cold was intense.

Ellie Mae is a sweet and gentle pit bull and black lab mix who is nearly 12 years old. She has some white hair surrounding her eyes, nose, and mouth, which gives her a wise and distinguished appearance. She was over a year old when she was adopted from the Humane Society. I was a little worried about the three cats that were already living with me. It turned out that she enjoys being with the cats, and she is especially fond of Harvey. 

When I first brought Harvey home when he was a young kitten, Ellie Mae was particularly excited. She had never seen a kitten before, and she jumped on my bed and started licking him. She had never done that before, and I think she was fascinated by his tiny size and delicate features. She couldn’t help but feel protective of him, and she immediately took on the role of surrogate mother.

Ellie Mae is always gentle and patient with Harvey, even though she gets a little rough but she always makes sure that he is safe. She is also very tolerant of his antics, and she never seems to mind when he climbs on her or tries to play with her tail.

She quickly adjusted to her new home and loves spending time with her feline companions. Ellie Mae is always on the lookout for danger, and she will often growl at other dogs when she sees them outside. This behavior serves as a warning to the cats, who will often scatter into their hiding places. Ellie Mae has also been known to join other dogs when we are away from home, but she will not do so when the cats are present. This suggests that she is protective of her family and wants to keep them safe.

Ellie Mae is really a cat-dog….

Ellie Mae is a gentle giant of a dog, with a heart of gold. She has welcomed many other cats into her home, but she was particularly excited to see a kitten. Unfortunately, not every kitten is thrilled to see a dog bigger than himself.

Tanna was found as a kitten injured inside a pickup truck’s engine compartment while big dogs were hovering around, trying to get to her. Wolfie the Wobbly was pretty scared of Ellie Mae when she came too close upon arrival. Tanna and Wolfie eventually warmed up to Ellie Mae, but would still swat at her if she got too excited. They were no longer afraid of her, though. Ellie Mae respects the space of older cats when they come home and does not greet them excitedly.

Ellie Mae is a true testament to the power of love and compassion. She has shown these two kittens that it is possible to overcome fear and learn to trust. She is a true friend, and they are lucky to have her in their lives.

The weather will be warming up in a day or two, Ellie Mae will look forward to getting out and playing in the snow without her paws freezing up. And so do I. We’ll be able to go for walks to the river and just each other’s company in the fresh air.

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Purrs and drools send cheers and snuggles your way.