We have four cats and one dog. The cats range in age from 11 years old to 8 years old, and our dog is six years old.
Our cat Freddie is the only male cat, and he is large (19 pounds) and skittish. His sister, Ginger, is a bit smaller (15 pounds?) and was my sweetheart until I had kids and she was reduced to “pet” instead of “child.” We adopted Fred and Ginger at the same time when they were abandoned in Manhattan by an owner who moved to California and didn’t want to take the cats.
Stinky is our oldest cat (original name: Alfalfa), and was living in the basement of a bakery in Kew Gardens, Queens. She is also the most ornery of the pets – she really only likes Denis and merely tolerates everyone else in her life. She is the Alpha Female in every which way possible.
Mini’s full name is Mini-Stinky, because she’s a carbon copy of Stinks. Our neighbors in Queens found her in a hole in the side of our apartment building and she fit in the palm of my hand. She was the runt of the litter and almost didn’t survive because she had all kinds of illnesses when we found her and decided to keep her.
Cooper The Dog is a pure breed – Basset Fauve de Bretagne. I saw his on the Westminster Dog Show in 2001 and immediately went about finding a breeder to get one. I found only ONE breeder in the entire country and in October 2001 he was welcomed into our family.
We had a few fish for a while – a total of three, Mr. Fish, Sr. (deceased), Mr. Fish, Jr. (deceased) and Mr. Fish III (whom I believe is still alive in kicking in NoNJ when I gave him to a church friend when we moved).
I love my pets, but I admit some days I think it would be nice to NOT have pets. When Freddie poops in the walk-in closet, or when I find Ginger’s white hair all over my black sweater, or when Cooper throws up under the dining room table – I can’t help but think, “Man, maybe fish are the way to go.”
But then I went over to the house of a church friend and saw this dog:
Isn’t that the cutest dog EVER? I told her that if her dog ever went missing she’d know where to find it – my house! I WANT THAT DOG!!!
When I first saw the photo I thought it was of Cooper as a puppie… too cute. I also learned one thing in reading this post: I never knew that Mini’s name was actually Mini Stinky. I thought it was just “Minnie” like the mouse. Who knew.
Every day I have to stifle my desire for a dog. Spanky the cat is adorable and I love her but, since Harry died, I have not been the same person. I want a dog, but I cannot have another dog. Maybe someday when we actually do retire. Until then, I just repeat to myself, “I cannot have another dog.” Repeat after me, “I cannot have another dog.” It’ll work…for now. 🙂
Awwww! I adore my dogs, but once in awhile…like when both Daisy and Cookie throw up all over the carpet in the same day…I wonder if it would be easier living life sans dogs.
It might be easier, but it would be a heck of a lot less fun.
He is absolutely adorable. Our dog died last summer and we’re talking about another one, but it is a big commitment, understand how Marmie feels! Our cat is not people-friendly, he’s just kind of “there”.