Thankful Day 4

Today I'm thankful for my animals.  They drive me crazy sometimes, but there is nothing like unconditional love.  It's nice to come home and have puppies lavish their affection on you because they love you and missed you (even if you've only been gone a short time).  The cat even craves affection at times (although mostly it's for food or to steal your body heat).  They keep me warm when it's chilly.  They love to cuddle and are such a comfort.  When I'm really upset I can count on cuddles and licks.  They're all different in the ways they crave and give affection, but they have all crowded around and on me when I'm upset.  They are also incredibly entertaining.  They make me laugh almost daily.  Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming (we do have 3 dogs and a cat), but we all work together.

Martin the cat come into my life the summer before my senior year of college.  I was working at a vet's office and living above it (I was the emergency/live in/responsible for the boarders tech).  We had started an adoption program and a client brought in a tiny 4 month old kitten they had found in a parking lot.  He was terrified of everything so I took him up to my apartment to get him used to being around people so we could adopt him out.  He never left.  He was my first pet (besides a fish) that I got on my own and will always be special. Plus he's more like a dog anyway.  He comes when you call him, usually prefers to be where people are and plays with the dogs.  It's hard to believe I've had him for 9 years.

Martin and I having some cuddle time

Maggie came into my life in October of 2005.  I was working at PetSmart and saw her during an adoption day.  I fell in love and once I held her it was over.  I was nervous at first because I was living with one of my best friends and she had a dog and I had Martin, but they all got along.  Maggie was pretty shy at first, but she quickly latched onto me.  She's definitely my dog.  She likes other people and cuddles, but always comes back to me.  She's been with me through everything I've been through since college (and becoming an adult in my mind . . . I know 18 is adulthood . . . but let's be honest, lots of us aren't really and truly adults yet at that point).  She's been my constant companion through living and working in Lexington, marriage, moving to Ft. Campbell, Adam's deployment, Adam coming home, moving back to Lexington, student teaching, moving into our house, the miscarriage, pregnancy, losing Madeline . . . everything.  Always by my side (even if she's turning into a bit of a grumpy old lady . . . she is 9 so I'll give her a bit of leeway, but she's still got lots of years ahead of her).

Maggie enjoying some time outside on the swing with me

Nigel is Adam's dog through and through.  He loves me, but Adam rescued him and Nigel always waits for him to get home from work.  After we moved back to Lexington in 2009 we talked about getting another dog . . . Adam's dog.  He'd never had one growing up and Maggie loves him but is my dog when you get down to it.  One day in October we decided to go to the Humane Society and look around.  We both were smitten with this medium sized black (but in the sun you can see the brown tint) beagle lab mix with a white star on his chest.  We brought Maggie in and they got along and they showed him a cat and he didn't try to eat it so things looked good.  We thought about it over the holiday (Columbus Day) and the day after Adam went to get him.  He came with the name Nigel and it stuck.  He's a ball of energy but is so full of sweetness and love.  He learns commands quickly but is lacking in the common sense (sometimes there is vacancy in those eyes, but his heart is huge).  He thinks he's a lap dog and will curl up on top of you in a heartbeat.  While he may drives us a little bonkers with his energy, his big heart is worth it.  He's 5, maybe he'll calm down one of these days.

Nigel the day we first saw him.  It's one of my favorites because it captures his personality so well.

Our final furry one came to us in 2012 when she was about a year old.  I was at PetSmart to get dog food (how all stories with me and animals start right?).  I saw her an could not get over how sweet she was.  I held her and she curled into me (much like Maggie had . . . who can resist that?!).  After a lot of talking with my family, friends and Adam we decided to adopt her.  There was a notion at first that my Mom might actually adopt her, but one night in our house cemented her place here.  We got her right before Valentine's Day so Adam called her my gift for that year.  She holds the spot for best Valentine's gift by far.  I thought it was a bit crazy . . . 3 dogs and a cat .  We were on a slippery slope but it worked out.  Astrid completes our furry family.  In reality adding a third dog really didn't change much except provide a lot more laughs.  Astrid is definitely the smartest (broke into their food container and gorged herself to the point she had to go to the emergency vet) but also the most entertaining.  She has no fear and springs in her legs.  She is also very affectionate and has to curl up with you and whatever other animal might be with you at the time.  Plus she looks like a muppet/Ewok/teddy bear and occasionally sports a mohawk.  It may have been a bit crazy to add another dog to our family, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Astrid and her muppety paws that always point out when she sits.