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Ben Southwood 🐿️

@bensouthwood.com

980 followers 940 following 4.6K posts

He/him. 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 ally. Former mental health nurse, now carer to my three autistic kids. Writes children’s stories as a hobby. Synth-pop. Sci-fi/fantasy. Dogs & cat. Forteana. Burnley F.C. Doctor Who. Vegetarian. English immigrant in Ireland.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · Nov 19

Remembering that time my dogs were possessed by the spirit of early 'Tears For Fears'.

A hairy lurcher and terrier look moodily to their right. They are seated in the back seat of a car and look like they have had a tiff.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 3m

I’m back from the pet shop with goodies. Laser, mouse, ball in tube and a stick with stringed whatnots.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 27m

Three of my four kids (adults) are autistic, so I don’t want her doing any of the kung-fu stuff and freak them out.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 27m

I was worried about them with her, I’m a bit more worried about her with them now - my dogs are absolute softies.
Agatha is bitey and scratchy at the moment, so I’m going to do my best to get her out of that before trying her in the house.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 35m

Gorgeous!
That would be lovely. I’d love them to get on.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1h

They haven’t fully been introduced yet, she’s so tiny. I’m going to start tomorrow with her in her carrier, even though she hates it.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1h

I’m actually alright with that. The purring is calming.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 2h

Back with a few goodies for her.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 4h

Just fed. Purring like an engine.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 4h

I read their mother would do it (a bop on the nose) if she was teaching them. My dogs were strays, but that bit older. Shane, in particular, was an anxious, complex, chap, but we gave him love. A runner when scared.
It’s just all new to me and I want to get it right.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 4h

I tried the nose tap as a last-resort yesterday and felt terrible. I’m fairly sure her personality is gentle and cuddly, but she’s fast and agile when in ‘that mood’ and I’m probably not handling it well.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 4h

My son works in a local pet-shop and I’m dropping him to work at two, so I’ll get a few bits.
Any advice on distracting kitty from biting and scratching? I want to nip that in the bud before she’s around my autistic kids, or it will scare them.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 4h

I can watch that over and over and laugh every time.
Like a police officer vending machine.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 5h

I think she’s bored senseless, I need to get her more bits. Can’t risk bringing her into the main house yet, think the dogs might be more at risk than the kitten tbh.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 9h

a woman with blonde hair wearing a red shirt and white collar looks at the camera

Alt: Jessica Fletcher shakes her head in disappointment.

media.tenor.com

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 9h

Sorry, missed this somehow. She’s voracious, I’m not sure if I’m not feeding her enough. I think she’s bored, I’ll have to get more bits. Because of my dogs, she’s still in the back room and I’m not quite confident enough to try her near them yet.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 23h

A Bowie-esque unraveling of the universe will happen when Dolly leaves us. Hopefully not for a long while.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 23h

Weirdest business in the world. Sheff Utd took it to another level, however.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 23h

I’ve banjaxed me back, too.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 23h

It must be such an odd feeling for any stray animal who suddenly ends up with this massive entity that provides food, warmth and shelter. And hugs.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1d

New favourite gif.

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1d

a man in a suit and tie is sitting at a table with a microphone in front of a city skyline .

Alt: a man in a suit and tie is sitting at a table with a microphone in front of a city skyline .

media.tenor.com

Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1d

a man with a beard says " now that 's a name i 've not heard in a long time .

Alt: a man with a beard says " now that 's a name i 've not heard in a long time .

media.tenor.com

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1d

They’re changing slightly, but absolutely beautiful. I can see why people like cats now, as much as I adore my dogs.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1d

Yesterday. He has her on worming stuff for a few days and gave her an initial shot. I got her microchipped as well.
I was told she’d master the litter box in a day or two and she has.

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Ben Southwood 🐿️ @bensouthwood.com · 1d

Tired now. And good god, she makes stinky farts.