Are you one of the millions who ooh and ahh at the cute and wonderful and funny pictures of dogs or cats? Or any animal for that matter. Do you laugh or smile (or both) at the videos on 'You Tube' or 'Americas Funniest Home Videos' when they show an animal doing something hysterically bizarre?

Yes, I join in with the millions around the world, who coo and delight in the amazing things an animal does innocently or trained to do. It's euphoric. Yes, I have 'animalosis'.

Since very small, I have been drawn to the animal world. Animals of all kinds. From elephants and monkeys to my dog and everyone else's dog.

Even though I am much older now, I can still remember sites and sounds. Of times, witnessing what others rarely see.

I say rarely, there have probably been several thousand who have seen and done much of the same as I have. In comparison to the overall of us, we probably all recall our own rare moments of animalosis.

We did a lot of camping growing up. On a fishing trip, in the mountains, Dad an I were moving upstream in early morning. We had to move away from the stream. It was either that or get into the fast flowing, deep stream. It was too early to get wet and the water was ice cold plus. And it more than likely would have swept even my 6'1" Father also.

Coming around the tree, there was an open field of wild flowers and grass. In the middle of it all, was a herd of deer grazing in the middle of it. The bucks, does and fawns. Meandering, not even bothered by the appearance of Dad and me coming around a big ol' tree. They looked up at us, an just dropped their heads back to the ground.

Dad immediately stood still and I followed suit. I can still hear the early morning silence, the stream, and the sound of the herd slowly moving through the grass and their quiet chewing. I was even more amazed at their being still at our presence. Not the usual bolt and run action one usually encounters coming upon deer in the wild.

Even more amazed, when the herd finished and just meandered back into their neck of the woods. A few fawns had a race, to see who could get there first. They leaped and frolicked along the way. I looked up at my father and he was smiling and silently chuckling too.

We both had a great fishing day. Without realizing it, we had over-caught our limit. And were lucky that the others had not caught their limit. We all came out even. Dad caught the biggest fish. A native brown trout, 13" long and good ol' fat. A granddaddy. All day, I had the biggest one, of 12 1/2". Until Dad took one more throw at the last minute. It was a good fight on the line too.

I never really thought that was the highlight of our day though. In later years, I was probably 26. Around a campfire, Dad and I recalled the moment of fishing some 20 years earlier. The entire recollection was of coming upon the open field and the herd. Our eyes sparkled, smiles from ear to ear. As if the moment had happened that very morning.

Another moment, was at the San Diego Zoo when I was about 5 years old. Talk about an excited child. I wasn't out of hand. Even my parents would tell how wild eyed and full of wonderment I was there. I was so full of it I couldn't talk and my eyes were everywhere.

I remember the sites and sounds of them. This or that animal looking back at me like eye to eye. The enormous size of them. Of course at five, everything and everyone is enormous.

The animals look back, stare back at the multitudes. I swear, they stare back with as much curiousness as we do at them. That I was that day.

The biggest highlight of the day! The thrill still tingles in me today. I got to ride the tortoise!!!

Ever since then, when I hear or see anything written about tortoises...I read it, I listen, I watch. And still get a tingling sensation, the thrill of being able to ride the tortoise that day some forty years ago.

Aside from the many outings and animal experiences along the way, I have had my own dogs. And wonderful, funny, serious, mostly loving moments with them all. Considering that is a span that covers about forty years, there are a few thousand animal stories to share. Mostly I remember them with great joy in my heart and a smile on my face. I can even remember the sound of every ones bark.

Along with my memories, there are thousands of pictures of them all. Doing something wonderful, with that individual, wonderful dog expression of theirs. There are many pictures, with me sitting in the middle, holding onto one or two.

Rarely, have I just had one. Usually there was another. A cat, cats too. For the last nine years, there have been no less than three dogs. Four max. And all strays.

My husband and I are Poop Rich. He hates it when I say that. Probably because he doesn't like cleaning it up. Then again, he couldn't agree more. (At least, he doesn't clean it up alone.)

I am familiar with each of their barks. When it's serious or just another dog prowling around. When they are playing or want inside. I even know what time the garbage man is coming before he even turns down the alley.

They look at us with those big puppy dog eyes, with love. Because they know they get loved back. Each and every one of them, doesn't like to be scolded. You would think we beat them the way they cower around you. This really gets to me. They've never been beaten. They cower and I feel guilty and hurt.

But we love on each other soon thereafter, they get their butts rubbed and necks hugged. And they look up with that sweet, puppy dog grin, with smiles in their eyes. I've even fallen asleep next to them when I get down to pet them before bed. (My husband likes to tell this one.)

Last year, we rescued a lost pup. The vet and I decided she was a little over two months or so. And she has been sweet, loving, funny and the biggest Brat we have had so far. She has been the only chewer we have ever had. I have never had a dog that was a chewer before, ever. Can't wait until she grows out of that.

She is also, the first digger we have ever had. Our dogs have dug holes to stay cooler before. But NEVER just to dig a hole.

One has to be careful walking out into their side of the yard. There may be a hole for your foot to trip on! She dug one up right in front of the step into the yard. Talk about grateful that I saw that before I put my big foot in it. That was a nose plant waiting to happen!

As I was packing dirt back into the hole and scolding her, she just looked at me, "Mom, you don't understand, it's fun to play in the dirt. Can't wait 'til it's bug season. Just think of all the creepy things I can look for and chase in the grass. And the Worms! They will be so much fun to dig after."

She has been reprimanded, scolded while digging her paws into the ground. She's been spanked, (Spanked, not beaten) and even made to sit there and stare at her hole. The sitting and stare thing, I was almost a believer in this one. She did not dig a hole for four months. Until...

Yep, she dug one last week. Not only one but another one the next day. Back to square one.

She's lucky I have animalosis!

Even if I didn't she would have a place in my heart just like the others know too.

There are many people who take in strays and adopt them. Giving a good, loving home to an animal. There are thousands of organizations promoting saving a pet. Almost every region has an adopt a pet program. From dogs and cats to horses, goats...etc...

Any time some TV program has animals on to promote the animal adoption plan, my heart sings for how cute and adorable they are. I think, "what a great pet this would make, this breed is really good with children, this breed is great of the outdoors", or "bet that big ol' dog will be a great dog and grow up 'n think he's a lap dog and will try to be one too."

Every time Bonnie Hunt has stray dogs for adoption, all the dogs that have been on her show, I just cuddle right along with them and wish we lived on a farm. I'd have thousands of dog runs and dog houses and kennel protections. And a huge barn for feed, a tack room with collars and leashes of all kinds.

I'd be one happy ol' fart!!!!! And one happy shit shoveler!!! Boy, would I be Poop Rich then!