Everybody's got a story.......
Two cats and one dog. Most people can't believe we have three pets in a condo.
'How do you deal with all the hair? The walks? The cat litter?'.
Truth is, I wouldn't have my life any other way. I love each one of my pets with everything I've got, and wouldn't trade them for the cleanest carpet in the world.
Here's the stories of how each of these crazy animals came to be known as 'ours'.
'How do you deal with all the hair? The walks? The cat litter?'.
Truth is, I wouldn't have my life any other way. I love each one of my pets with everything I've got, and wouldn't trade them for the cleanest carpet in the world.
Here's the stories of how each of these crazy animals came to be known as 'ours'.
Rascal
Rascal was named after my favorite country band, Rascal Flatts.
I knew that my first cat would be a male, orange kitten. When I was younger, my grandparents had this statue of an orange tabby sitting under their coffee table. I loved that thing, and would spend hours pretending it was alive and mine.
When it came time to adopt a cat, I was determined to find what I was looking for. When we bought him, Rascal was so tiny and cute. Eventually his limbs would reach lengths I didn't know what possible for a cat. The first 'Rascal' experience we had was 10 minutes after we brought him home. The bottom part of my mattress had an opening, and of course my new kitten climbed right into my mattress. We spent close to an hour trying to get him out, with me crying and panicking that I was already a bad pet owner. I should I known that this event would foreshadow the rest of his life with us.
He is the loviest, most affection animal I have ever met (something I believe is common with male cats). He loves nothing more than to be loved. He knows his name, and responds with a tone that makes you think he not only understands what you're saying, but is saying something just as important back. I've had Rascal since my second year of university, and simply cannot imagine life without him.
I knew that my first cat would be a male, orange kitten. When I was younger, my grandparents had this statue of an orange tabby sitting under their coffee table. I loved that thing, and would spend hours pretending it was alive and mine.
When it came time to adopt a cat, I was determined to find what I was looking for. When we bought him, Rascal was so tiny and cute. Eventually his limbs would reach lengths I didn't know what possible for a cat. The first 'Rascal' experience we had was 10 minutes after we brought him home. The bottom part of my mattress had an opening, and of course my new kitten climbed right into my mattress. We spent close to an hour trying to get him out, with me crying and panicking that I was already a bad pet owner. I should I known that this event would foreshadow the rest of his life with us.
He is the loviest, most affection animal I have ever met (something I believe is common with male cats). He loves nothing more than to be loved. He knows his name, and responds with a tone that makes you think he not only understands what you're saying, but is saying something just as important back. I've had Rascal since my second year of university, and simply cannot imagine life without him.
Zoe
Zoe is actually named after Zoe Laurier, Sir Wilfred Laurier's wife. Let me explain . . . .
The building we lived in during university was quite the crappy establishment. We had mice more times than I care to count, hot water tanks broken for days and an elevator that works 2% of the time. One of the only things we liked about the building was that it was right beside Laurier House.
Laurier House had belogned to Wilfred Laurier and Mackenzie King (who made the decision to have the house turned into a museum and bought the P.M. house on Sussex). Can you believe it? We were living right beside a piece of Canada's history! After countless walks home, we decided that we needed to take the tour of this old house before we moved. It was very interesting (King had a LOT of dogs). A few days later, we adopted Zoe from the Ottawa Humane Society (her picture online was too cute to resist. We knew she was ours). Once we brought her home, we decided on Zoe, after Laurier's wife seemed appropriate.
This cat is the CUTEST looking thing alive. But- she HATES to be touched. That's right, this cute fluffy little cat does not want to be loved. Except by Scott, that is. Although she'll entertain the idea of me cuddling and giving her some loving, she really only cares about Scott (and gets very depressed when he leaves for the weekend). She's an independent little lady, who is truly the most well behaved animal I have the pleasure of living with.
The building we lived in during university was quite the crappy establishment. We had mice more times than I care to count, hot water tanks broken for days and an elevator that works 2% of the time. One of the only things we liked about the building was that it was right beside Laurier House.
Laurier House had belogned to Wilfred Laurier and Mackenzie King (who made the decision to have the house turned into a museum and bought the P.M. house on Sussex). Can you believe it? We were living right beside a piece of Canada's history! After countless walks home, we decided that we needed to take the tour of this old house before we moved. It was very interesting (King had a LOT of dogs). A few days later, we adopted Zoe from the Ottawa Humane Society (her picture online was too cute to resist. We knew she was ours). Once we brought her home, we decided on Zoe, after Laurier's wife seemed appropriate.
This cat is the CUTEST looking thing alive. But- she HATES to be touched. That's right, this cute fluffy little cat does not want to be loved. Except by Scott, that is. Although she'll entertain the idea of me cuddling and giving her some loving, she really only cares about Scott (and gets very depressed when he leaves for the weekend). She's an independent little lady, who is truly the most well behaved animal I have the pleasure of living with.
Bailey
Bailey came very close to being Stella. Very close!
Scott was actually the one who picked the name Bailey, although we have different reasons for settling on it. He likes it because of Champ Bailey, #24 for the Denver Broncos (favorite team and favorite number). I liked it because my last name is also an alcoholic beverage, and another one in the family didn't seem so bad (I also enjoy me some Baileys).
As much as I don't like to admit it, I am fairly sure that Bailey came from a puppy mill. We bought her off of someone. Both cats are from the humane society, as well as all of my other pets throughout my life, so when it came time to adopt a dog I was keen on going back to them. I had wanted a dog more than anything, and Scott was very picky about which dog he would go see. Something about Bailey's picture online clicked with him, and I wasn't about to argue. It was obvious when we picked her up that she was not in a good place. She was incredibly overwhelmed, and the owners had a few other dogs on the grounds. We were able to get about 10 minutes away before we turned back to get her.
Puppy mills are HORRIBLE places, and I hate that my money was eventually routed back to them. We have spent months trying to get Bailey socialized and to be the happy puppy we know she is deep down. I like to think that Bailey has taught myself and my family the importance of shutting down puppy mills. If my four month old mix has a hard time with life as a puppy, I can only imagine was adult dogs must suffer. Bailey has shed light on the puppy mill market, something that I knew nothing about. She has made me more aware of the cruelty out there, and for that I am forever grateful.
Scott was actually the one who picked the name Bailey, although we have different reasons for settling on it. He likes it because of Champ Bailey, #24 for the Denver Broncos (favorite team and favorite number). I liked it because my last name is also an alcoholic beverage, and another one in the family didn't seem so bad (I also enjoy me some Baileys).
As much as I don't like to admit it, I am fairly sure that Bailey came from a puppy mill. We bought her off of someone. Both cats are from the humane society, as well as all of my other pets throughout my life, so when it came time to adopt a dog I was keen on going back to them. I had wanted a dog more than anything, and Scott was very picky about which dog he would go see. Something about Bailey's picture online clicked with him, and I wasn't about to argue. It was obvious when we picked her up that she was not in a good place. She was incredibly overwhelmed, and the owners had a few other dogs on the grounds. We were able to get about 10 minutes away before we turned back to get her.
Puppy mills are HORRIBLE places, and I hate that my money was eventually routed back to them. We have spent months trying to get Bailey socialized and to be the happy puppy we know she is deep down. I like to think that Bailey has taught myself and my family the importance of shutting down puppy mills. If my four month old mix has a hard time with life as a puppy, I can only imagine was adult dogs must suffer. Bailey has shed light on the puppy mill market, something that I knew nothing about. She has made me more aware of the cruelty out there, and for that I am forever grateful.