This is a two for one. After a bad wreck I was very depressed. At the time I did not have any pets, which was unusual for me. My family gave me this dog to try and help with the depression. She was about a year old at the time and refused to drink water out of anything except puddles in the back yard. She is now about 5 years old and is still particular about what she drinks out of. I have never found any kind of a dish that she would drink from. I was feeding her ice cubes for her water.
I was given this hand pump and made a water feature out of it, along with an old metal tub. I gutted the pump and ran the tubing through to the faucet. It makes a lovely sound and of course looks nice. Well, come to find out my temperamental dog will drink out of this and nothing else. I no longer have to feed her as many ice cubes. I would sure like to know why she is so picky about her water dishes. I have thought about submitting this to Unsolved Mysteries. :-)
By Verue
More information: The dog's name is Frosty. Very original I know. But she just looked like she had frosty hair. She is supposed to be a Shih-tzu, but I really don't think she is. She was about a year old when she came to live with me. She is very independent but very loving. I think she knew I needed her. I clip her hair twice a year and she acts happier after getting clipped. She must not like all that hair. She has the most unusual personality of any dog I've ever known.
The pump was given to me by my dad. I took everything out of the inside of it so the tubing would go through it. I bought a submersible water pump from a Home Depot and just ran the tubing through the hand pump until it stopped at the faucet. Very simple and easy to do. My dad thinks I should take the faucet off so it will look like a artesian spring pump.
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Great pictures! Cute dog too!
How charming -- the pump, the dog, and the story. You just HAVE to submit this story to the Chicken Soup book series. Expand on it, tell the details of all the dishes you tried, Go into the whole story of what your dog has done for your life, including the unsolved mystery.
How lovely,could you give us more details on how you made it?
Cute dog and nice water feature.
Ziggee
Beautiful 'Frosty' and sweet story. Dogs are attracted to movement, maybe thats why she likes the fountain so much. When we go off in our truck, we take a jug of water & a frisbee to pour the water in for our dog 'Leroy' (choc lab) to drink out of , but he much prefers drinking the water as it streams out of the jug.
Awwwww...what a sweet "Frosty"~~the fountain is so pretty too. I luv the sound of running water. I have a sound machine that I put on running water to make myself go to sleep!! Thanx for sharing
Thanks for sharing your photos! I love what you've done to the hand pump, looks great!! I like old timey things.
Frosty is a cutie! Looks like she might have some poodle mixed in.
I hope you're doing better now from your accident & depression.
I, also, meant to say that animals have a sense about them that know when we need them in our lives. They have wonderful healing powers over some things...loneliness, depression, giving motivation...etc.
Frosty is a Shih Tzu. I had two pure breds and her facial features are the spitting image of 'Bandit'. Shih Tzus have a lot of breed defects that pop up so there is some variation.
Ingenius use of pump & tub - looks great & I love the photos of Frosty - thank you for them
I agree about furry beasties knowing when we need them - like you I had been very down (long term depression) three years ago, then one wild rainy night I was walking home through my village & saw a big black dog & put my hand down to it saying "hello pup"...he bit me v hard & refused to let go so I dragged him (by MY hand) up the path, inside & fed him..he has been with me ever since - my pup (now about 4 yrs old) has helped my depression no end !!
Too heck with the fountain how much for the dog.
That's beautiful and a lovely dog too,
Marg from England.
P.S. Just noticed this is an old post. Hope things are going well for you. M
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