With Miko the Grey now assumed to be either “adopted by a nice family” or fox food, we decided to jump right back into the pet frey and adopt another pet. I’ve wanted a dog for as long as I can remember, but I’ve always had cats. I’ve dog-sat when and where ever possible and I like dogs. I’ve been blessed with friends who have let me borrow their dogs when life sucked. There’s nothing like the trust and love that a dog can give you

Mom’s experience with the Lesser Weevil and Spike gave me the confidence to think that we could do a dog with our less than friendly old female tabby. Three hours in and so far so good. Max (Maximum Dawg) seems to want to make friends but Gypsy is having none of it and has given Max a couple of full claw swipes at Max’s nose. Max seems disappointed, but is giving Gypsy a wide berth. He’s nothing if not smart. Two swipes across the nose and he’s had quite enough.

Max is a Blue Heeler that we rescued from our local animal shelter. That’s how we get our animals. Either folks are moving and have to get rid of a pet, or we get down below our two animal quota and get one from the animal shelter. I don’t buy purebreeds from puppy or kitten factories. I doubt anyone in my family has ever bought an animal from a store. Both my parents grew up on farms so the idea of a purebred cat or dog is kind of ridiculous where we come from.

Max was our second choice but I’m okay with that. Our first choise was Lady, a 3 year old pure pit bull with the sweetest personality of any dog I’ve every met. But…we live on base. Base regs are pretty specific in their prejudice against dogs “of a certain kind.” Because of assholes who have trained their pitbulls and rottweillers to be vicious brutes instead of loyal companions, there are even some towns that don’t allow dogs “of a certain kind.”

When Max (then named PupDog) came into the “get acquainted room” he basically jumped in my lap, then Beautiful Wife’s lap, and then he practically knocked Boyo off his chair cleaning his face. This is a dog that knows how to suck up. What caught our eye about him was that in a kennel full of barking dogs that were losing their minds jumping around begging and barking “oooh-ooh–ooooh, pick me, pick meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,” Max was very calmly following us and waiting for pets and scratches.

For now we’re going to have to do at least two good long walks a day. Heelers are high energy dogs and if you don’t, they’ll bounce off the ceiling. When we can afford it better, we’ll get a fence for the yard so he can run around. We’ve been watching Dog Whisperer though and from what I can tell, walks are magic on dogs. That’s how they know they’re dogs and they don’t get confused about becoming human.

Now you know I’m a cat person as well. Don’t worry, Gypsy will still be first cat in our house, but right now it’s her choice to go pout in our room instead of coming to get some lap time. That and the bed will be off limits to the dog. Max will sleep in his kennel. Not because we’re mean, not because we love our stuff more than him, but because that’s what dog people I’ve known forever says is good for them. It gives them their place to chill.

I’ll keep you posted on our adventures. Now I can cat and dog blog. I think we need a new category.

Almost forgot. He’s neutered. We had him chipped immediately for an additional $15 and he’s wearing a collar with our phone numbers and address on it. Our cost from the shelter for him? $35.00. That’s thirty five. Pure breeds from pet stores? Haven’t seen one for less that $150 since we started looking last year.