We’ve Had to Completely Restock

'Several months ago we suffered an unfortunate loss, something got our cat.  I’m not sure what, but I have noticed several juvenile bobcats around and there’s always the danger of a lucky coyote or a hungry cougar (the feline type, not the middle-age-crazy female type).   This was particularly discouraging because Chester had managed three years of service and any cat that makes it past the first year out here will usually make it to a death from old age.

We suffered another loss, our dog broke-up with us.  She still wants to be friends, just not in an ‘owner-pet’ sort of way.  My parents live about a half mile across pasture and canyon and Rosie enjoyed visiting them from time to time.  Then Dad retired and she noticed he was around all day. He’s also fast and loose with the treats.  Apparently, it takes just a little affection and some food to buy her allegiance.  I can’t judge, that’s the basis of many of my closest relationships.

Cats are great, no other animal can control rodents in such a complete and efficient manner, but I don’t find their personalities appealing.  Dogs, on the other hand, don’t offer the general service of a cat but there’s nothing as endearing as a good dog.  Sure, they’ll let you know if a stranger pulls down the driveway and they’ll run an armadillo out of the yard but their main function is just to be a dog.

This unusual, dual loss situation left us with the need to find several pets.  The cat was a fairly easy fix.  My sister had been targeted as a new food source for a stray mother cat with a litter of kittens.  I claimed a pair of females (Chester was a hunting beast, it’ll take at least two cats to fill her paws) and when we were in the neighborhood we picked up the girls.  

The dog, on the other hand, was a bit more challenging.  I’m a fan of bulldogs.  They’re quiet, they’re stumpy and they like to do what I like to do when I get home from work…nothing.  Unfortunately, they’re ridiculously expensive and I’m ridiculously cheap.

I spent several weeks searching classifieds, following leads and barely missing dogs.  Then I stepped into a mess of Bull Shih Tzus.  I found a litter of ¾ English Bulldog, ¼ Shih Tzu puppies.  They look just like a bulldog but smaller…except Chubs who is nearly 20 lbs at ten weeks.  And who was a lot cheaper since he was a lot bigger.

The kittens (I think the kids named them Grey and Chiggers…or maybe Turner and Hooch, I should pay closer attention) eat what they are supposed to, relieve themselves where they’re supposed to and generally leave stuff alone.  Chubs chews on everything, let’s go wherever he feels the urge and grocery shops in the litter-box.  But all three serve a purpose, the cats for pest control and entertaining my daughter and Chubs being the family dog (every family needs a good dog).  

We have some training to do, a few messes to clean up and a neutering or three ahead of us but hopefully, also at least a decade without a new pet since recently we’ve had to completely restock.