A Dog Lover's Tale

We are a family of 9 . . . my husband, myself, our 2 boys, my mother and our 4 dogs. Yes, that's right, FOUR DOGS. Most people think we're nuts. We may very well be! I mean, who in their right mind would own that many dogs at one time? It's not like we have a big house that sits on a large lot of land. Nope. We have a four bedroom split-level and about a 1/4 acre of land. But, what can I say? We love dogs, always have and always will!

Okay, now for the introductions . . . so, here they are. Our oldest boy, Max, is a 15 year-old Beagle-mix. Then, there's Daisy, a Border Collie-mix, who is also 15 years old. Third from the top is Maggie, an 11 year-old Cocker Spaniel purebred. Last, but not least, is Chewie (yes, he was named after Chewbacca from Star Wars), a 2 year-old Labrador-Collie mix, who weighs in at a massive 140 lbs! Whew. I'm telling you, that dog is an ox. (Maybe we love him a little too much!)

Needless to say, it's a bit crowded at our house, but each one of these dogs holds a special place in our hearts!

So, you may be wondering how in the world we came to live with so many dogs. Well, Max came to us first through a "friend of a friend," who sought homes for a litter of puppies. Daisy was a stray, whom I found wandering through our neighborhood. (I've always had a soft spot for strays.) We took Maggie in after learning that she was being neglected and in need of a good home. Chewie was the only remaining pup from a litter owned by relatives. They were having trouble placing him and couldn't keep him themselves. He was just too adorable to pass up!

So, that's our canine clan. For better and for worse, they are part of our family! They are our kids and, as silly as it may sound, our boys treat them like brothers and sisters.

As you might expect, life with four dogs is not always easy, in fact, rarely so. The only two who always get along are Max and Daisy, the two 15 year-old dogs. They've always reminded us of an old married couple with the way they sit together so peacefully. Maggie, our Cocker Spaniel, on the other hand, is cantankerous and always has been. If the dogs aren't getting along, you can bet she's involved somehow. As for our "puppy," well, he's a young dog living with three older ones. He wants to play and they don't. End of story. (Oh well, at least he has the kids to play with.)

All in all, I think it's amazing how well dogs adapt to new situations. Be it a new house, a new baby, or another pet. I can't tell you how many other stray dogs we've resued, and personally cared for, until either their owners or new homes have been found. And our pups have taken it all in stride. They are the one constant in an ever-changing sea of circumstance. Always there, waiting patiently by our side.

Honestly, though, it's not all sunshine and roses. Do the dogs get in the way at times and aggravate the heck out of us? Have they chewed up our furniture and ruined our carpet? Are they nearly as expensive as children? Sure, but that's kind of par for the course; things you need to expect as a dog owner; inconveniences that you forgive as a dog lover. After all, they love us no matter what, the least we can do is put up with their bad habits. They put up with ours!

Our dogs are an important part of all of our lives. The pups are there when we wake up each morning and when we go to bed at night. They follow us around all day and meet us, with their tails wagging, at the door when we come home. Regardless of our moods or whatever else is going on in our lives, our dogs are always there with a friendly face, ready to listen and lick you to death (if you're willing.) While living with dogs may not always be easy, that kind of loyalty is so hard to find! Why wouldn't you want that in your life?

On Thursday, March 4, 2010, I was very honored to learn that this lens was reviewed by Holley (24websurf) on Squidoo Lens Reviews.

Thank you so much, Holley!