The Granpets

Six Dogs and a Cat

Photo by Tatiana Rodriguez on Unsplash

When I was a youngster, we had no pets - it wasn’t even a consideration. On the other hand, my husband grew up with dogs. He gave me my first pet as a Christmas present when I was 12 years old, a hamster named Andy. My parents were not pleased.

When he let that first dog in for a visit, I was unprepared, but that chance meeting really introduced me to animals. Over the years, we had hamsters, gerbils, birds, dogs, and cats. We settled on cats - and there has been a cat in my life for 95% of the past 60 years.

First, there was Sami, Cookie, Casey, Kaci, and Missy. Rescue cats, Bella and Bailey, came to live with us in March 2016. They are very special housemates and friends. Bella hides most of the day, yet she sleeps with me every night and snuggles close - her choice, not mine. Bailey is the love bug.

The grandpets are Fallon, Lily, Toby, Dante, Noko, Nakita, and Georgie.

Fallon and Lily are my daughter’s rescue dogs, and I have known them since they joined the family. Fallon is 16 years old and has recently gotten more zip in his step thanks to a new medication. This is him relaxing at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. He is quite the traveler and hiker - and my little buddy.

Lily, his sister, is about five years old. She was traumatized as a puppy and remains cautious of other dogs and people. One afternoon, my daughter and I were taking the dogs for a walk in the park across the street; I was in charge of Lily. An aggressive dog went after them. As I pulled her back out of harm’s way, she slipped out of her collar and took off. We searched for hours with the help of volunteers - in the park, the neighborhood, everywhere.

We were still in the park at dusk; my son-in-law had joined the search party. We were standing by the car; he was eating a chicken sandwich, and I heard him say, “Come here, Lily.” She trotted over. The car was more than a mile from the original place she ran from - but somehow, she found her way back and waited until she heard a safe voice and smelled food.

Toby is my grandson and granddaughter’s dog. He is about ten years old and makes me smile every time I see him. He’s curious and full of life but also very patient and gentle with his little sister.

He comes to visit for a visit with Fallon and Ivy once in a while. Believe it or not, the three dogs and two cats get along just fine.

Then there’s Dante, my son’s dog. This little pomeranian - the family’s newest member- is as friendly, full of life, and cute as can be. I got the chance to know him better when we went to visit recently.

Finally, there is Yoko, Nakita, and Georgie - the lone cat. They live in New York with their Mom and Dad - my younger grandson and his wife. I don’t see them as often as I would like. Yoko is a four-year-old rescue dog from Mississippi.

Nakita is 11 1/2 years old and came from a farm in Quebec. She is the oldest pet in her family. Georgie is about ten years old and was living in a shelter, ready to be euthanized when she was adopted. The two of them immigrated to the United States about five years ago, moved from Virginia to California, and now live in New York.

Now you’ve met my pet family. They add so much to my life.

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