There have been hundreds of pets that have darkened the door throughout my life, from big dogs to frail-looking cats to even a few tanks full of fish. Between these normal mixtures, even a couple of parrots! My neighbors’ horse comes trotting over, auspiciously for the treats of succulent green grass, but hangs close as I talk to them. I’ve often wondered why I chose certain pets. Or, could it be they chose me? I know my personality adapts to a pet’s needs, and I’ve had some that only have eyes for me! They may be tempted by someone else, but let me walk into their life, then a bond is established that cannot be broken.
I’ve shared these photo’s numerous times, but the pandemic brought two new pups into our home – until they were big enough to survive outdoors. With 5 acres to roam, the house is nothing more than a curiosity. The yard is their kingdom! If you’ve known me very long, then you know my philosophy of Big Dogs Have My Attention! From Left to Right – Chewbacca (Chewy), Gunther Claude (Gunny), Nukka (Eskimo for Little Sister).
When we moved from Alaska, we had McKenzie (135 lbs), Bear (145 lbs) and Tisha, a paltry 85 pounds. Later, we added Bailey, a Golden Retriever with a loving personality. 75 lbs. It would be wrong of me to not mention other dogs of my past. Daisey (Beagle), Bitsy (Terrier squirrel hunting dog!) Thor, who knew what he was! Cute Boy, again, an unknown breed. The list feels endless.
The one inside dog we enjoyed when we moved back to Alaska in 1994 was Sydney, a black cocker spaniel who loved to play in the snow and then come back indoors looking like a snowball himself.
Life Without Pets? No Way!
Another thing we’ve done with pets? Adopt walk-ins and strays. We’ve had many dogs and cats that eat their meal around our yard, enjoy some attention, and after a while, they are gone. Death. New home. Or the wanderlust calls them to move on down the road…
A few years ago, a stray Tom Cat, mostly black and bulky, wandered into our life. Feed him. But do not touch him! He drew blood! But pet him, did I, with the broom. He loved to be stroked and yearned for the corn straw broom. We called him Diablo. Here, gone a few days, and then back. Normally, he looked like he had been in a fight every day. Can you imagine what dangers stray animals face? Owls, coyotes, other pets, humans who can’t stand them! For three years, he kept coming by, looking more beat up each time. He left his mark on our life.
When a stray shows up, we give them names. It seems like one was Sam, a mongrel dog in Texas. We just fed him, and he loved us. He kept his wandering days busy but daily hung out at our place. It was nearing midnight, and we were just arriving home. Sam had been hit by a car and was hanging on. A neighbor from a few blocks away brought him to us. I reached out to him, called him by name, petted his head, and he died. He had come home for the last time.
These Past Few Weeks
Another thing we are famous for? Taking on other’s pets when needed. At the beginning of the pandemic, we had 3 inside pets. Very unusual for us as we mostly like animals to live outdoors where they thrive. But my daughter had several cats that needed homes, and we loved them as if they were our own. Lucy. Pixel. And then, for my brides 50th birthday, the kids and I bought her a Pionus White Capped Parrot. Her bird, but he loved me! Both cats could find chest space to lay with me, and lap space with my bride.
Lucy was nearing 19 years of age. She had lived in Washington and Oregon, in several different places. If she disliked you, you would find a prize in your gym bag – or so it is said. But she loved us. She did not need the competition of another cat, and for the past dozen months or so, we kept her in another room away from Pixel. At 10 years of age, Pixel had a personality that almost demanded a “hands-off” attitude. It took months for her to warm up to us!
Well, Lucy died yesterday from cancer. Pixel disappeared in the night last month while visiting with another stray we adopted, “Tater.” Coyote. Owl. Who knows. Then, our bird, Jaed, died in my bride’s hands in a fit of sudden respiratory distress.
Suddenly. No pets inside. We’re okay with that, and though we miss them, we still have our outside pups.
Pet Rescues
We’ve bought some dogs that cost some serious change. But we mostly enjoy visiting the “humane society” pens and finding new pets the old fashioned way. Rescue! We have been known to stop off at these places in any state we’re in, and enjoy thinking about another pet.
Our three Alaska dogs were all “rescued” – only they rescued us from life without pets!
McKenzie came from Seward, Alaska. Beautiful Gold and Yellow, McKenzie River Husky. A true mixture of multiple lineage possibilities, he was our dog with a mind of his own! He lived on Afognak Island, near Kodiak, with my sister for a few years, but he came home again when their world changed. He loved to ride in the truck, head sticking out into the wind.
Bear came from Anchorage, Alaska. He had been found out of Wasilla, and everyone thought he was full-grown Jack of All Breeds. But our vet said he was only 6 months old and still had room to grow! 145 lbs later! When he laid his head on my bride’s lap, it was love at first sight! We should have chosen a better name. He got out of the yard one day, and we wandered the neighborhood calling, “Bear! Bear!” Whoops! Someone may have seen his dark color and size and simply thought Bear!??!
Tisha (Named for the famous book), a mixed breed of big and hardy, though she never got as big as the other two. We got her in Anchorage from a family whose dog had too many pups, and they could no longer care for them. Barely 8 weeks old…
Other Rescues
Other Rescues included Thor. He learned to climb a chain-link fence and escape his huge yard! But he loved swimming in the pool! There was another dog we could not keep; his name escapes me. He escaped and spent hours terrorizing the neighbor’s sheep. That cost us a $145 vet bill!
We’ve brought home dogs and cats, mainly, but along the side of a freeway in Texas, a vendor was selling birds. We felt like we rescued Grady, A Maroon Belly Conure. His mate had died, and since they mate for life (according to the vendor), we knew his quality of life would be questionable to a breeder. So we bought him! He could scare my kids with his threatening stalk but loved to listen to my voice and Tom Bodett…
Pet Cemetery
There are good times and questionable times with all pets. Some you get to sit with and say goodbye as they enter their “forever sleep.” Others, you wander and wonder, where, oh, where, did you go? We said goodbye to Sandy, our pup we were concerned about before our first move to Alaska. She’s still in Galena Park to this day.
Since we’ve had hundreds of pets, I can’t tell you about their remains because they have been many, and we have been few. Normally, we bury them on the property and remember them as we stretch our legs through the yard. There’s a stump in the front yard, and next to it are most of our Washington Pets, and a few strays, even another cat from another world. No headstones. No groomed piece of earth. Just a general spot for their eternal rest.
There have been times the hurt was difficult enough to think, “No More Pets.” Then, a need shows up, and I’m a sucker for their success.
Today, it’s still a little raw feeling with Lucy being gone, and I could not be there to say goodbye. I petted her in her “Goodbye Bed,” lowered her to the ground and gently covered her up. I’ve done this many times. There are many more to come. It’s part of life. You have to get used to it.