Put Your B.F.F.!

Happy Birthday to the Independence Day Pup!

This 4th of July, my boxer / rottweiler mix dog turns 2 years old.  He is still crazy active, loving to a fault, and becoming just a tad too protective.  He's a beautiful dog.  And did I mention spoiled?  No, that's not someone else's bed he's taken over...it's his own bed.  LOL  We were still remodeling when this picture was taken, that's why you see bare drywall and no electrical cover on the outlet. 

Happy Birthday, Rider!!!  We love you!

All the best~
Christine

Saying goodbye to a 13yr. old friend

Today I was awakened by my neighbor calling my cellphone and asking to speak to my husband.  I knew something was wrong.  Then, hubby got up and started dressing quickly...I said, "Jake?"  He nodded.  I beat him dressing and ran out the front door and across the street where I saw my kind neighbor standing over my poor black lab that had knocked on my door, quite literally, 13 years ago.  He was twitching and foaming at the mouth and had messed himself...the poor dog had had a stroke.  I think he was trying to go away so we wouldn't have to see him die, but that's as far as his poor body would take him. 

We lost his "brother", our 12 yr. old Rottweiler, about 3 yrs. ago, and since then, Jake has been allowed to roam free over our almost acre and across the street to visit his neighbor friends.  We have a fence for him and tried to keep him in, but he would literally rip himself to shreds trying to dig out of the fence after my Rott passed on.  It was like he just didn't want to be in there alone.  90% of the time he spent lying on our front porch or in our driveway, 5% he spent roaming our property and teasing our new young dog (2 yrs. old this July 4th) and checking on our barn cats, and the last 5% he spent visiting the neighbors and making friends...they all loved him and would come over to tell me so.

He was the best dog, his only fault was that he was scared of water...I'm sure someone abused him with it before he came and knocked at my door 13 years ago.  He was a great watch dog, but not agressive, could be totally trusted with all children...and he LOVED us.  Goodbye Jake...you will be sadly missed, but we're happy that you are now in a place where you are young and painfree and back with your "brother".  Take care of each other.  We love you.

(I have to scan in a picture, because I don't have any digitals...)

All the best~
Christine

Inventory of the fur babies...

First there was Jake... a 12 yr. old black lab stray that really did come and knock at my door to let him in when he was just a puppy.  I brought him in and put him on the bed with my hubby while he was taking a nap, couple of puppy kisses later and a very sad sounding, "Please, can we keep him?" later...and he was home to stay.

Then there was Twinkle... a black long haired barn cat.  He's about 2 1/2 yrs. old now.  He's my daughter's cat, she wanted a girl, but he was "prettier" so she chose him...and calls him a "she"!  LOL  Poor kitty!

Then came Rider...my baby.  He's a 4th of July baby, he'll be 2 this year.  He is half boxer and half rottweiler...he's a beauty!  Sweet and lovable to a fault...and he takes hubby's side of the bed when he's out of town. (sssshhh...that's our secret)

Finally...shortly after Rider...came Socks.  An older than dirt black and white cat that now lives in the barn with Twinkle.  This is my husband's grandmother's cat that first went to live with my inlaws, but then they moved and didn't want to take him, so now he's a barn-dweller here with us.  He is also known as my son's cat now.  My son has terrible luck with cats...more on that later.

All the best~
Christine