I share my ark house with ten critters. It’s a bit much, I know, but there’s as much love as there is hair.
Haley Pita Lipizzaner Wigglebutt Bologna-Tongue Snakebite Stegosaurus Ause, my Ethiopian princess, came into my life in late July 2008. I had to take a routine photo of her for our magazine, but got so much more than I expected. A self-proclaimed cat person, I had no desire for a dog, but she put her spell on me, and I took her home a few days later. Not knowing where she came from, I dug up her story online during our first sleepover. Nestled in a comment on the Best Friends website was a link to this video of her rescue. I watched it, crying my eyes out, as Haley slept on my arms. I knew right then she was never going back.
Jemma Suki Yammy Yammy, aka Cowpie, followed a year later. Her story is more of a mystery, but she ended up at an Arizona shelter shortly before its closing. A friend sent me her photo, and she reminded me of Haley. The rest is history. In our time together, I have pieced together hints and clues, and have confidently concluded that she was a working cattle dog in her previous life. She is a naughty one, but oh how I love her.
Stella, my “first born,” was found at a Black Hills ranch in 2004, running amongst dozens of feral cats. Definitely not from that clan, beautiful Stella stood out like a mini skirt in a Mormon church. She loved people so much that she’d run into the road to get their attention. Fearing for her life, some family friends took her away from there and gave her to me. Appearing to be purebred and plagued with health problems, it seems she’s an overly-inbred Tonkinese who was dumped at the farm for not being profitable.
Sojack, better known as Baby, joined the family a few months later when she was found in the wheel-well of a truck. She was only a few weeks old (and seconds away from being smushed to death) when she meowed loudly enough to get the attention of the truck drivers before it was too late. She has grown into a hilarious black fuzzball who is part dog.
Foster kids Jack, Kizzy, and Sony (plus Thammy, Tab, Bobo, and Misty, RIP) lived with a woman for many years until she died. She left her house to my employer in her will, on the condition that the cats get to stay there. I moved in in July 2008, and have served as caretaker to these furry felines ever since.
In February 2010, another foster cat, Josie, joined the clan.
I’ve had my cockatiels, Sunny and Dusty, since I was three years old. They are way (WAY) past their expiration date, but I’m hoping they make it to my 30th birthday.
by Sarah
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