The menagerie actually consists of two dogs, Darwin and Sydney, and a cat, Kisa.
Once upon a time, there were two cats, Bronte and Kisa, and a little later on, we got Darwin. Unfortunately, about six or eight months after getting Darwin, Bronte got sick. Very sick. Aggressive feline anemia, actually. Through a blood transfusion and a lot of medication, we were able to prolong her life (and maintain her quality of life) for about 18 months. She passed away two years ago this past December, at four years old.
A month later, my husband and I had been told that the Humane Society had some really lovely hand-painted urns for people to keep their pet's cremains in, so we went to have a look-see. However, I got mixed up, and thought that the local county shelter WAS the Humane Society -- we went there, realized that we were at the wrong place, and decided to look around at the kitties before going. (It was too soon for another cat, and as it happened, none of the kitties there really grabbed me.) So, we were getting ready to go when my husband suggested we just walk through and see the dogs.
And through a completely random twist of fate, we met Sydney (named, then, "Sammy"). This was a Saturday. We both knew we were falling in love, so we left immediately.
I went back Monday and we adopted her. :)
Darwin and Sydney are both Australian Shepherds, and both about four years old. Darwin came to us at 8 weeks old from a breeder near Gainesville, FL, and is such a mama's boy, it isn't even funny. I run agility with him, and he is the dog in my default icon.
I sometimes refer to Darwin as my "heart dog." :) His unique facial marking is actually a flaw in coloring -- the breeder had only been expecting five puppies in the litter, but there turned out to be seven, and Darwin and his little half-white face popped out at the very last. Linda, my breeder, knew I wasn't looking for a show dog, and that we were working within a budget. She sent me a picture of him two hours after his birth, and I was in love. He was mine the moment he was born. ♥
Sydney was more of a challenge -- when we adopted her, she was 20 lbs overweight, had next to no training, and some exceptionally bad habits. Two and a half years later, she's starting a beginning agility class with my husband, and is the cuddliest, most affectionate dog I've ever known.
Kisa is mainly my husband's cat. Unfortunately, her littermate, Bronte, had taken to Darwin better than Kisa did, and Bronte's illness and passing have had a lasting effect on Kisa. She's a bit high strung and neurotic, but lately -- and maybe this is due to her age -- she starting to mellow out a bit. When the dogs aren't home, she wanders around, meowing. :)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-04-22 07:15 pm (UTC)The menagerie actually consists of two dogs, Darwin and Sydney, and a cat, Kisa.
Once upon a time, there were two cats, Bronte and Kisa, and a little later on, we got Darwin. Unfortunately, about six or eight months after getting Darwin, Bronte got sick. Very sick. Aggressive feline anemia, actually. Through a blood transfusion and a lot of medication, we were able to prolong her life (and maintain her quality of life) for about 18 months. She passed away two years ago this past December, at four years old.
A month later, my husband and I had been told that the Humane Society had some really lovely hand-painted urns for people to keep their pet's cremains in, so we went to have a look-see. However, I got mixed up, and thought that the local county shelter WAS the Humane Society -- we went there, realized that we were at the wrong place, and decided to look around at the kitties before going. (It was too soon for another cat, and as it happened, none of the kitties there really grabbed me.) So, we were getting ready to go when my husband suggested we just walk through and see the dogs.
And through a completely random twist of fate, we met Sydney (named, then, "Sammy"). This was a Saturday. We both knew we were falling in love, so we left immediately.
I went back Monday and we adopted her. :)
Darwin and Sydney are both Australian Shepherds, and both about four years old. Darwin came to us at 8 weeks old from a breeder near Gainesville, FL, and is such a mama's boy, it isn't even funny. I run agility with him, and he is the dog in my default icon.
I sometimes refer to Darwin as my "heart dog." :) His unique facial marking is actually a flaw in coloring -- the breeder had only been expecting five puppies in the litter, but there turned out to be seven, and Darwin and his little half-white face popped out at the very last. Linda, my breeder, knew I wasn't looking for a show dog, and that we were working within a budget. She sent me a picture of him two hours after his birth, and I was in love. He was mine the moment he was born. ♥
Sydney was more of a challenge -- when we adopted her, she was 20 lbs overweight, had next to no training, and some exceptionally bad habits. Two and a half years later, she's starting a beginning agility class with my husband, and is the cuddliest, most affectionate dog I've ever known.
Kisa is mainly my husband's cat. Unfortunately, her littermate, Bronte, had taken to Darwin better than Kisa did, and Bronte's illness and passing have had a lasting effect on Kisa. She's a bit high strung and neurotic, but lately -- and maybe this is due to her age -- she starting to mellow out a bit. When the dogs aren't home, she wanders around, meowing. :)