Feeding the Creatures

My husband loves dogs and well, animals. He enjoys feeding them. In fact, Jill is on a diet. We have had a running battle about feeding the two dogs from his plate at meal time. I mostly lost that war. The vet told him not to do it - several times. But this time we were going along pretty well after we saw an enlargement on her flank. Thinking it might be a growth or worse a tumor, we took her for a visit to Dr. A. Nope. Just a love handle. He said there was one on the other side.

So that worked on the table treats for a  while. It has been a month, but he can't stand to see them watch him eat so he has fallen back to "bites." We think she has lost seven or eight pounds. Our son held her but I was not skillful on setting the scale so it wasn't definite.

Next, he loves to feed the squirrels and the birds by filling the bird feeder with shelled peanuts and bird seed. When we go to the grocery store, the parking lot is full of grackles (?) looking for something to eat. Last week L. threw out some French fries and the birds were strutting around with fries in their beaks. I don't know if they ever ate them or not. Since L. stays in the car while I shop, he sees all the activity.

Today when I came out, the space next to the car was full of birds. I told the bag boy that the birds have found some seeds.  I got in the car and mentioned it to L.  He had bought a plastic cup filled with bird seed and had sprinkled it out the window.

And  last, we are now feeding at least three cats who do not appear to be strays. While they eat in front of the garage, the dogs are up on the couch, looking out the window and barking their irritating barks. I wonder if the cats' owners notice their pets aren't hungry - or are the kitties eating at home too and gaining weight?

What's left? Raccoons, coyotes, deer?  I may have to put my foot down.