My First Love

I have always been a parent's worst nightmare. No, not like you're thinking - I have been told I was actually a pretty good kid (even though I have a few cousins who might disagree). I was their worst nightmare in the way that if I saw a dog or cat on the road, I would want it. With it being impossible to say no to a cute only child, we ended up with quite a few animals over the years, even if only for a day.

This is how we ended up with Little Bit and Figaro (sibling kitties). They were my first 'rescues'. I don't remember where they came from, but I do remember that I was in preschool and my Mom had told me that I was getting to pick out one kitty. Then I told my Daddy that I wanted two, and the rest is history. They both lived until a ripe old age.

We adopted my first pup, Meggie, through the SPCA. She was such a sweet heart! My Dad says I picked out the ugliest dog there, but boy did she turn out to be wonderful!

Then came Oreo, who was a stray. I pet her and loved on her for a long time and she started following me to school. My Dad said he wouldn't be able to stand it if she were hit by a car trying to find me, so in the house she came!

Next was Pollyanna! The same kind of dog as Oreo, but she wasn't a stray! She was a birthday present! She was by my side all throughout high school, and even met Asia! She was so sweet!

Along the way, we also adopted other animals thanks to me! There were Holmes and Dodger (dogs), Jasmine, Prince Ali, Juliet and Coco (cats) and a bird (Ophelia). Yes, a cockatiel! I hate to say it, but she is one we probably should have left alone! Haha!

I'm missing the few that I kept home until their owners found them! I remember being very sad they were claimed a few times, but it was all for the best! I mean, it's not like my Mom was a dog breeder and we didn't have a house full of animals already! Ha! My Mom bred and showed Russian Wolf Hounds, or Borzois, when I was growing up!

I say that my habit of bringing home animals made me a parents worst nightmare, but I do know that isn't true. I know this because I inherited that big space in my heart for animals through my parents (my Mom, in particular)!

Now, Mark and I have our sweet Asia baby! She thinks she is human - 'arguing' when we tell her no, nagging us when she isn't getting enough attention, pushing us out of the bed, and the list goes on. She is our entertainment for the moment! I volunteered for Legacy Boxer Rescue a few times, but haven't been active in quite a while now for reasons I'm not exactly sure of.

I still have the drive to pick up animals that I see on the road. The first time I really tried to save one, it ended terribly and I have nighmares about it to this day. At the moment, saving a dog in a field across the Loop from our house is fresh on my mind. I don't know how to go about doing it, but I do believe that it's possible.

I get a lot of flack from people about being such an animal lover - I always hear "there are soldiers dying, babies that are sick, humans with horrible diseases, etc and you are worried about dogs". Unlike most humans, dogs possess the incredible ability to love unconditionally, even when they have a bad day. Yes, even pit bulls! And I happen to find that amazing!