Once again surprise...

I really do enjoy pets. I grew up in a semi-zoo like household. As an adult I dreamed of the days of owning a place where I was allowed to have more than just my turtles. Well prior to me actually buying a place I ended up with a very geriatric cat that had been through a tough life. Figuring he would barely make a couple years I said I would keep him. I hated the thought of any more sadness to fall upon him.

Well ownership came in 1998, yes eight full years ago from now. And Toby one of the best cats I had known lasted 12 years once we adopted him. So we had turtles (they had been with me since I was 12) and Toby and all moved into a very small bungalow inside the city with no yard to speak of. Toby was told old to even realize he no longer had the ability to go out. He was fine. Well once again putting off getting a puppy seemed like a good idea.

My daughter was born in November of 2000 and poof house was instantly too small for our growing family. Moving once again now to a place slightly suberbish but much larger. July of 2001 we were in. Toby amazingly enough made it until January 2003, sadness but knowing he had some great years with us was good enough.

Sadly the oldest turtle died 3 months later followed by the other about 2 months later. After having them for over 25 years it seemed very strange to not have them anymore.

Well time for a dog...finally.

We hunted and searched for the right one. Off to the humane society for us. We searched high and low until we found Sam a big old black lab retriever mix, he was already 7 and we felt his chances of get adopted over the puppies was slim. We visited him numerous times took him for some overnights with us so we could see how he would be with our daughter...all good. He knew it too.

We got Sam home and he attached to all of us within days. Perfect, not quite. He got very aggressive very quickly with others that came into to our house. Incidents piled up. Then he no longer would allow small children near our smallest owner. Protective beyond, to a dangerous point. We took him to schools and a place to get this worked out, we were told send him back to the Humane Society...sadly we had to, biting children is inexcusable in our world. Shell shocked. The whole family saddened by the experience. Only good news our daughter was young enough to not remember much.

Next step...daughter turns 3 asks for a cat like Toby. We think okay what the hey, try again with the feline world and then slowly bring in a puppy. We find not one but two (not related) orange tabby's both kittens and were both feral. Give 'em a bit and we'll will be good for a puppy.

2004 a year of complete madness and change. I end up in a rental daughter and cats are both freaked and me missing them all. I ask for the cats and am denied. I get little E half time. Buy a new place for E and myself Dec 2005 and once again grand thoughts of a puppy are in my mind.

During this time, at the other house a puppy is gotten with stupidity on the brain. Cats are left to there own and sadly mistreated badly by the dog and traumatized. Hence the camel breaks, one runs away. The other is given to me. She adjusted nicely over that last couple months. Surprise her stepbrother shows up and is shipped over this morning, freaked out completely.

I am the owner of two very traumatized cats. Neither of which will be able to deal with a dog, both of which need to stay indoors due to my relative location to the highway.

Hence, surprise no dog for me for another decade I am sure.

Life continues to be changing. Never say never.

Peace.