Family dogs and the misfits...

When I was growing up we always had a dog in the house, usually more than one much to my mother’s dismay.  Some of us would bring them home and soon after forget to look after them.  Somehow they got fed and cared for (I'm sure by my mom) who already had a multitude of things to do.

The first dog I remember was a beige standard poodle named Snuffy.  He was there one day when I got home from Kindergarten.  I remember being afraid of him.  I'm sure that didn't last long, he was a good guy.  He ate the peas I used to fork onto the floor along with other vegetables I didn't like and refused to eat.  What's not to like about that when you're six?

We had plenty of other dogs after Snuffy too.  There was Oscar and Batts and I even had Wilbur - although he was mine during college and not really a family dog.

When I got married we found a breeder and got Clarice, a Samoyed (looks like a pure white Husky).  We chose her name from Rudolph... remember her? she was his girlfriend.  I always loved the scene about his nose, it never ceased to crack me up each year even though I knew what she was going to say. 

I even have the CVS misfits.  You might too if you were in that craze...  If you don't I'll tell you about them. They were popular years ago and I ran all over town to every CVS store buying them so I could gather the whole crew.  They're stuffed animals.  A new one came out each week so it wasn't possible to get them all at once. I even went so far as buying some on eBay because I was obsessed with having the complete collection!  I'd be disappointed if the store was sold out.  My sister and I would call each other to see what store had which ones.  We'd try and buy them for each other too. Good memories - and a staple in my Christmas decorating each year (except this one since I didn't decorate)... I totally digressed from my "dog" topic...

Along with Clarice we got Chelsie, a shepherd mutt, protective and laid back.  Unlike Clarice who was, in my opinion - a very selfish dog.  She had an attitude and often seemed to be in a bad mood.  Chelsie was always happy for a pat on the head or a snack, Clarice, not so much, very stingy with affection.

Most recently I adopted "Happy" a toy poodle. He was a rescue from Kentucky who was not long for this world if someone didn't take him in.  Lucky me!  The adoption group insisted on seeing my home and meeting everyone who lived in it so they would feel satisfied the dog would be properly cared for.   When the woman arrived and brought in this scrawny underweight pup I called Chris downstairs to meet him.  The little guy bounded around the room, Chris looked over at me and said "Seriously??? That's our new dog???"  Of course I gave him dagger eyes with the adoption lady in the house listening. 

He grew on Chris though, Chris loved him - as does Bailey and her sister Nikki.  I think they may come to visit him more than me!  Chris called him "Dragon Breath" and "Pooper Head". He's a very cute little guy and I'm glad he keeps me company when I'm blue.  We sit in Chris's room together sometimes and he stretches out on that soft tempurpedic bed.

I've always been a dog person, not much on cats.  I like to hear them coming when they wander down the hall.  They bring comfort and cause laughs with their antics and personality.  I hope you too have a pet to snuggle and love.

I'll leave you with this text exchange between Chris and me the night before he passed... Kind of appropriate for this blog...

Thank you for reading.