We are pet people

We are pet people, to the core. My partner and I always grew up with dogs, I had cats as well(his family has a long line of cat allergies). I ran a pet store for a number of years, and had a habit of collecting other peoples' unwanted pets. When I was 22 I bought a house, partly because I was so independent and didn't want to rent anymore, but mostly because I wanted a dog all the way down to my bones. Now, in my late 30's all those initial pets are senior citizens, showing signs of leaving us soon, and in 2020 I said goodbye to the most amazing dog I have and will EVER know. We have had 3 dogs, Napoleon was myfirst, an English Springer spaniel, and soul mate. We said goodbye to him last year at 13 due to a mix of advanced arthritis and cancer. It might have been the hardest decision of my life, and another reason my second pregnancy was not the fantasy I had hoped for. Gabby was my first Doberman rescue, and she was our amazing rescue story. I first adopted her with a previous partner, and when we broke up, she went with him. A few years later, with my soon to be husband, we found her back at the same shelter. Within 24 hours we were on our way to bring her home. She lived out her final years in spoiled luxury, until her heart failed at 12, like many Dobermans experience.

That brings me to Leddi Lou, our current and only dog and Doberman. She was also a rescue from a Doberman shelter about an hour away. They knew if we could handle Gabby, we were ready for another tough cookie. She had been there for over a year when we brought her home, and was very unsure of people she didn't know. However, we found that once she decided we were her people, she settled in and is great with all our family (outside of a suspicious uncle or two...but who can blame her). However, Leddi is a Doberman which means three things really. One, she takes the duty of guarding her home seriously. Two, she has a healthy dose of OCD. Three, when she plays, she plays hard and fast which is why we are waiting on finding another fuzzy springer spaniel. All of this has added up to a very frustrating period of time working from home. Her constant alert state is exhausting for us all. Leddi is 10 now, we got her when we first moved to our new home. She has greeted all of our babies when we brought them home, and we fell awful for thinking about a day when we have a puppy again. But, 10 is around the age Doberman parents get nervous. You just never know when that heart will give out, but we hope we have more time.

The list goes on. I have two 14 year old cats, twins (Caesar and Cleo). Which is so ironic. I wanted a big orange boy cat, and the shelter brought me two small white kitten...perhaps they were preparing me for the future. Their thyroids and kidneys are showing signs of aging, as we treasure our home office snuggles with them these days. Perhaps what people find most interesting is our parrot....yup a parrot. Henry is my 11 year old, grumpy, African Gray parrot. That sounds old, but if you know birds...11 years is a warm up lap. Henry is funny, and grumpy and smart. But let me tell you, if I had the decision to make again I would never have a bird. He is also moody, messy, and a constant 2 year old. He has made working from home a challenge. He has also made napping for littles babies a challenge. Yet, we keep him and care for him because we feel its the right thing to do for us(this decision might look different for every family).

We have a snake. Benin is the oldest pet, going on 20 I think at this point. We won't have him much longer either. He is a nice guy, and the first pet store rescue. And then there are "the girls", our 5 chickens. They are fun to watch outside, and we love having fresh eggs.

Why do I say all this? Well, our house is never clean. There is always hair, there is cat throw up to clean, and dog poop in the yard to pick up(Lachlan's favorite chore hands down). There is a chicken coop to clean, someone always needs food, water, attention. Leddi needs constant direction. Sometimes I think about how much easier life would be without pets. I think about this more now that we have 3 kids, but I can't ever picture myself without any animals. So, we continue to clean. I continue to say "this is why I can't have nice things"...constantly. And I continue to cuddle them everyday, because a little hair and dirt are good for the soul...and the immune system. I hope you are all so lucky to meet your soul mate pet, because it will change your life.