Menagerie

Every time we start talking about a move, "What about the dog?" is inevitably the girls' first question.
Actually, that's been the question for several non-homo-sapien type members of our family through the years.

Somewhere along the line - totally by accident I assure you - we've become a sort of foster home for anything homeless and half-way cute.

We've taken in rabbits, turtles, cats, and even a few fish. But mostly, our little zoo runs high to dogs!

When Joey married me, he also married Chloe. I got her when she was just a pup. She had always had my undivided attention, and was definitely queen of the castle. Sooo,

naturally they jockeyed constantly for dominant status got along famously!
When we lost Chloe, the girls were heartbroken. We were coming up on Valentine's Day, so Joey decided a new dog might perk them up.

Hello Atticus!

Joe dropped by our local shelter and found a beautiful silky terrier.
Alas, Atticus lasted only 48 hours with us. In that time, Joe and I were both bitten and the girls were terrified. Apparently the dog had been abused in his previous home and would just as soon rip your throat out as look at you was a little too aggressive for a family with children.
Back to the shelter, Cujo!

Atticus, we were told, was taken out of general population and sent to a behavioral therapist. We were allowed to choose another dog.

Sadie, a chocolate lab, was the sweetest thing ever! We loved her dearly. She was with us for one year before the army moved us. We weren't able to take her, so we found her a home with a retired judge who spoiled her rotten. She now passes her days lounging on her bed in front of the fireplace, and 'herding' cattle from the comfort of a cozy truck cab.

Then there were the Great Pyrenees, Duke and Duchess. Gorgeous dogs with thick white coats, and absolutely no concept of where to do the 'doo'! We gave this brother and sister team a home until they could be moved to Arkansas - where they both went to work on goat farms.

And now for the newest member of our family.

You may remember him from previous blogs.
 (Wrong Crowd)
Breeders call him a "Teagle". His mom was a Beagle and his dad was a wire-haired Fox Terrier.
We call him Buddy. (Or T-R-O-U-B-L-E, in keeping with the situation.)

We've had the Budster for almost three years.
And, yes, it looks like he'll be making the Colorado trip with us!

Now between and betwixt all these dogs, a few other short timers have come and gone;

Cotten-An abandoned kitten found on the roadside.

Peter-who kept the girls company,

While their daddy was in Iraq.

Stripe just happened into our yard,
which in the girls' eyes
made him 'theirs'.

Koi - who needed a new home after the
'Rickshaw Rally' VBS

A couple of Beta fish,

Just because they were pretty.

For the most part, we've enjoyed our little visitors. But Now the girls are talking about Cheetahs and horses! Needless to say, this ups the anti a bit.

I guess I'll just remember the cardinal rule of strays;

"If you feed it, it will stay!"