Gotcha day!

Oct. 27th was what’s now called Gotcha Day for our two adopted dogs, Dudley and Trixie, who came home for the first time eight years ago. So, as cute pets are guaranteed to get clicks, here’s the story.

I’d never had a dog before 2014. I’ve shared space with roommates’ dogs, house-sat for my Mum’s assorted array of strays and adoptees but none of my own. Working as a writer meant money was tight most of my life and pets are not cheap to care for. I never wanted to be in a position where something was treatable and I couldn’t afford it.

After moving up to Durham NC and getting married, my freelancing began bringing in more money, plus we’re a two-income family. After 18 years, TYG had lost her beloved chihuahua Pepper a year before I met her; by 2014 we were married, we owned our own home, it had been several years since Pepper; we agreed we were ready to give it a shot. I was nervous — as I work from home this would be a big impact on my writing time — but that seemed a cramped reason not to go for it.

We went to the local animal shelter once a week for several months before we finally found two dogs we know were right. Trouble was, TYG had fallen for Dudley, a four-year-old lhasa apso/shih tsu as soon as he came over and mouthed her.(There’s Dudley at home so you know we adopted him).

I fell just as hard, though I didn’t realize it yet, for Trixie, an eight-month chihuaha/cairn terrier cross. Dudley’s owners had turned him in; Trixie was a stray so I assume whoever owned her just threw her out. When I saw her she was only five pounds— Dudley was a quiet dog who seemed like he wouldn’t want to do much beyond snuggle; Trixie was livelier and looked like she’d be more fun. I didn’t want to deny TYG the dog she’d set her heart on but I did want Trixie. Fortunately TYG pointed out we could afford two.

The first few months were indeed a strain. Dudley — nicknamed Plushie almost at once for his fur — threw his back out (it’s a hereditary lhasa problem) and Trixie liked to hump my arm when I was working (how dare I type when she wanted petting!). It turned out they were worth it, plus I broke Trixie of the humping. And while we didn’t adopt them for their looks, they became way prettier after a while.

Unsurprisingly, they were not the dogs we thought they were. Plushie isn’t much for playing but he loves barking at everything at every opportunity. He’s also the most food-motivated dog I’ve ever met.

Trixie loves to play, but she’s also a total snuggle bug. After TYG began working from home during the pandemic we began trading them off — I take them part of the day, so does she. This helps a lot, and makes up for the added time healthcare takes as they grow older (both of them get physical rehab including at-home exercises).

We never planned to adopt cats but one day my wife caught a momma cat giving birth to kittens in our compost bin. The cat moved the kittens before we could trap them but we kept seeing her in the yard after that and eventually managed to trap her for spaying. We named her Wisp because while she stuck around after the spaying, she vanished like a ghost if she saw us watching her through the windows. Eventually, though, she started coming close for petting. Then inside for food. Then she started sleeping on the back of the couch where I work, or up in the spare bedroom.

About a year and a half ago, another cat showed up. A fluffy white thing, he began meowing sadly for food so TYG, softie that she is, started setting some out. We trapped him, had him neutered and once again found we had a permanent resident. The gentleman’s name is Snowdrop. And here’s Wisp. Regrettably she no longer spends as much time with me indoors now that she has her cat friend (Snowdrop does not want to stay indoors with us yet). I am not the least bit jealous, nope, not me.

The cats have added to our pet costs and the demands on my time: when the cats want feeding or attention in the mornings it can throw my schedule way off. But they’re ours now, so they get the petting, scritching, food or whatever.

And yes, I was definitely right about the price of having pets. I’m glad I never went for it before. But I’m so happy we have them now.

But we are not bringing Pogo indoors!

#SFWApro.