But then this horrible white stuff fell out of the sky into my yard. It hurts my feet because it’s so cold, and it hurts my eyes because it’s so bright. I can’t smell the things I need to smell and I can’t get to the places I’m used to checking every day. This has been very difficult. Without my routines I wasn’t sure where to do my business, but then my mother brought a tree into the house for me, so that made things much easier! I don’t know why she decorated my pee tree, but she’s nice that way. The tree wasn’t in the house very long, it’s gone now.
It’s a good thing that it’s gone because after I used the indoor tree to pee I felt really strange, like I had done something wrong. I didn’t know how to fix it, so I tried to cover up what I had done. I must have done a good job because I didn’t get punished, but boy, did I ever hurt my nose trying to cover things up!
My mother tells me that later this month we’re going to have a visit from someone who works with the TV station down where I used to live. She is the reporter who did the story about the day we were all set free last July and she wants to visit and see me in my new home. I want to let her know that I’m happy, but I’m secretly hoping that when she leaves she takes one of the cats with her.
My report on the cats will be brief. The big white one has SID (Species Identity Disorder). He was born a cat but feels like deep inside he is really a dog. I don’t think there’s a reassignment surgery for that yet. He’s becoming a friend and seems like a nice enough cat/dog, as far as cats go. He eats from my dish and most of the time I’m OK sharing with him. The small brown one rides around on The Boy most of the time. I don’t like that. I love The Boy and don’t want to share him, especially with that cat. I have to keep my eye on her. She is sneaky. One day I might have to protect The Boy from her.
That is all. My reports will continue.
--Riley the Valiant and Courageous