Our Pets Bring Us Joy

Thank you for this new post, Judi! I cannot imagine where I’d be without my dogs. My husband and I have been married 52 years and each has always had our own dog. We like different qualities in the breeds, plus two dogs help exercise each other. (A point from our vet)

A few years ago, my younger sister passed away out west. We live in the east. I brought her two dogs home to become part of our family, and before I started the drive cross-country, I called my husband and told him my plan. He never hesitated, and loves all the dogs as much as I do. Three of the dogs are certified therapy dogs, and while my husband can still be alone, I visit our local hospital with a dog every week. It is something I do for others, for myself, and also for my sister. I know she must be glad.

Yes, indeed! THANKS for the topic.

I'm my pets rescue human. I took abandoned kitty and put in shed to be a "barn cat". A month later, he, Mr Dobbs, and my dog were napping together - inside my house. Dobbs followed dog through doggie door.

I've since got a new dog, picked for personality to visit my Mom. And the cat was all because of Mom - I'll spare the story. So BOTH are the result of Mom's dementia.... and I'm grateful.

Lilly & Dobbs are best buds and enhance my life.

(Tried to add a photo of the boys, but it said the file was too large.)

Yes, indeed! THANKS for the topic.

I'm my pets rescue human. I took abandoned kitty and put in shed to be a "barn cat". A month later, he, Mr Dobbs, and my dog were napping together - inside my house. Dobbs followed dog through doggie door.

I've since got a new dog, picked for personality to visit my Mom. And the cat was all because of Mom - I'll spare the story. So BOTH are the result of Mom's dementia.... and I'm grateful.

Lilly & Dobbs are best buds and enhance my life.

Yes!!! I am so blessed to finally have a cat again!! (I live way out in the country and have an acre fenced ..and a kennel for dogs.
.I lost my last house dog in 2018..Jack Russel ..only dog I ever "bought".. working as a sales rep for a grocery manufacturer..and saw a sign ..1/2 price today at this animal shelter..so I drove 30 miles back and "bought him" then about 200 miles home..husband was like ..what ?? Another!!..he never knew what I would bring home..
had up to 15 cats.. 4 inside then down to just 2 and 6 dogs in fenced in yard..and I'm allergic to cats and dogs.. but I take pills..lol!! )
So my husband was a 100% PTSD Vietnam veteran.. very "crusty" (I asked the VA finally. can you give him anything to make him ..nice.. zoloft!!And the whole family heaved a sigh of relief.. anyway...he said he hated cats.. but I jumped out of the car while he was driving ..on a gravel road and snatched up a 6 week old kitten.."Not coming in the house" he growled.. weeks later I came home from work and something was moving in his fatigue pocket.. the kitten!! Said it was "his baby" and coming in the house..oh he changed so much!! That cat out lived him for a long time..
I had to have her put down a 19.. them the 14 yr old dog passed and then I had to have the 18 year old dog we had picked up on a gravel road (again the car was still moving and he was saying .."I'm not stopping..lol!! You gotta go so slow on gravel!!) and I lost my last dog 2 years ago at 12..and the last cat...
so I have been really sick.. almost died several times.. scleroderma?/stomach issues for about 7 years..and this cat..(and American bobtail ..sweet...)came to the gate on the wooded side of my property ..where my husband and his buddy built a 12x12 old fashioned log cabin for me as a hayride prop..(no children .. grand nieces and nephews.. oh what fun!!) and then she came up on the back porch..I took the litter box out there and set her in it and told her ..when you can use this you can come in.. then we moved her to the front porch (getting colder ).. and one day my "boyfriend (I'm 72) said ..Do you want to let this cat in that's meowing at the kitchen door??..and I said yes!! Never been in the house before.. marched in all the way to the TV room.. and got in the litter box and said "Meow!!" Her name is Sweetie!! And she is my baby!! Love this God -sent kitty!! ..and as soon as I am well enough.. going to the shelter and adopt 3 dogs..they need homes..I have a Barn home for each in the kennel.. it's my dream I live for!! (BTW they all must be fixed, heartworm tested, cat tested .. we feed 2 very ferals..and vaccinated..I really take good care of my critters.. vet said he'd only seen one cat older than my husband's "Baby"..it was his..(I don''t know how to send a pic ..country gal..love your all's stories!! I hope you enjoy mine..God bless you all!! Oh PS..my husband had a picture of his "Baby in his wallet when he passed..