But how does one get to having six animals? Let me tell you - we're suckers, that's why. We prefer animals to most people.
When Beardy and I started dating, I had Hopper (RIP), and he had three dogs - Dory, Lady and Parrow. So we started off with four dogs. No big deal right?
I was given Hopper as a gift, he'd bought Dory with an ex-girlfriend. He found Lady in the streets (scavenging and pregnant!), and then Lady and Dory went off to get pregnant together, and he ended up with Parrow.
You already know about Hopper. Let me tell you about Dory, Parrow and Lady.
Dory is 100% mutt. We're certain there's border collie in her from how she tries to herd the other animals. She's also mostly deaf, so we've had to teach her a little bit of sign language. Very loving little thing, and will bark at absolutely nothing.
We're not entirely sure how old Lady is. I'm guessing around 8 years since she's getting a little white around her muzzle. She hates getting out of bed (and will stay in bed all day when it's cold), and needs to be given loves and scratches before eating her food.
Parrow is Dory's son. He has one blue eye and one brown eye, and is a snuggler of note. That dog can spoon, let me tell you. And when he runs, he looks like a superhero comic book dog. Also, when he's hungry, he will sing you the song of his people in a key that cuts right through your skull.
Then, in December of 2015, Beardy's baby brother brought us a tiny little kitten that he'd found in the parking lot of his work. I estimate she was around 4 weeks old, and was probably dumped because of a very mild eye infection that was sorted out in a couple of weeks with a cheap over the counter ointment. And that's how we got April. Since she was raised by dogs, she sometimes acts like one, and will shout at me for cat tuna until I give it to her.
Then last year August, one of Beardy's coworkers begged us to adopt a puppy that she was given (note: Please do not give people animals as gifts, especially if you don't know whether or not they want one!). Bowie is now nearly 11 months old, and a very active and clever Labrador. He's the biggest one of the pack, but plays quite gently with the others.
Finally, a few months ago, we took on Scruffy. She's an elderly cat, whose owners were moving to a pet free place. Due to her age and the fact that she wasn't spayed, we took her. She was not impressed at having had major surgery the second day we got her, but hey. We live on a farm. All our animals are fixed otherwise we'd have 237 cats and 15 dogs. And I love animals, but that's just too much.
Scruffy is now adjusted to life here, to the point where she'll wander around the garden, chase Bowie around and play with stray socks.
Having six animals is hard work, and can get expensive. We're lucky in that our vet gives bulk discounts for vaccinations, however. But we love them dearly. They each have their own personality and quirks, and we wouldn't trade them for the world. We get a hero's welcome when we come home, and lots of love and licks and the occasional nose in the butt. Even the cats will come out to say "Hey! Welcome home! Now give us tuna!" Plus, snuggly dogs in winter = heaven.
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