My wife made it clear when we met that pets were definitely NOT a part of our future. Her Dad had died suddenly at 38 when she was only 8 years old and her Mum just didn't have the money or the bandwidth to keep the family (three little kids plus one more born about 6 months after he passed away) going. So, she had grown up in a cash-poor home with no pets of any kind.
Well, 12 years later in 1997, we moved from Ottawa (near family and friends) to Windsor - where we knew nobody for at least 300 km. As a sop to the children, Cathie agreed to adopt an orange male tabby kitten named "MacDuff", who ruled the roost for about 10 years. Along the way, she felt that he should have a companion and so we got a female tabby - "Fiona" - and then after MacDuff died, we got a replacement friend - "Adelaide" - for Fiona. Adelaide is still with us (anyone want her? - she comes with a free litter box) - but the real celebrity is our 13-year old Golden Doodle "Millie" who arrived in 2009 as a new puppy.
Millie is an American (she was born at Schneider's Creek MI) but she has adapted to life in Canada pretty well. She has a remarkably friendly, calm and even temperament and is extremely patient with little kids. They try to ride her, they yank on her ears, pull her tail and she just looks up at us as if to say, "OK this is fine, but when are these people leaving?" Millie and Adelaide seem to have an understanding: Adelaide hisses and growls at her and Millie just looks-on and wags her tail in return.
I have to say that Doodles are great dogs - smart like poodles, friendly like Labs and Retrievers and big enough to be taken seriously by interlopers who value their nuts or hands. Basically, if we like someone, Millie likes them too - and vice-versa. While she is invariably friendly, she has a loud "big-dog" bark and she sure knows how to growl, bare her teeth and she went aggressively at a man who approached our daughter while out walking. She weighs a solid 45 lbs and is very strong and muscular - and fast - and so he scarpered at a rate of knots with Millie in hot pursuit.
All that, and she doesn't shed at all and there is no problem with allergies. Millie is now quite an elderly dog, but she is the picture of health and still runs around chasing her tail anytime we go out into the yard with her. The photo below shows Millie with our youngest daughter's Doodle "Lux" who is still a silly puppy.
These wonderful creatures really do enrich our lives and form bonds that transcend biology.
....and again I ask, would any like to have Adelaide the cat? I will pay for shipping in Canada and CONUS.....
Well, 12 years later in 1997, we moved from Ottawa (near family and friends) to Windsor - where we knew nobody for at least 300 km. As a sop to the children, Cathie agreed to adopt an orange male tabby kitten named "MacDuff", who ruled the roost for about 10 years. Along the way, she felt that he should have a companion and so we got a female tabby - "Fiona" - and then after MacDuff died, we got a replacement friend - "Adelaide" - for Fiona. Adelaide is still with us (anyone want her? - she comes with a free litter box) - but the real celebrity is our 13-year old Golden Doodle "Millie" who arrived in 2009 as a new puppy.
Millie is an American (she was born at Schneider's Creek MI) but she has adapted to life in Canada pretty well. She has a remarkably friendly, calm and even temperament and is extremely patient with little kids. They try to ride her, they yank on her ears, pull her tail and she just looks up at us as if to say, "OK this is fine, but when are these people leaving?" Millie and Adelaide seem to have an understanding: Adelaide hisses and growls at her and Millie just looks-on and wags her tail in return.
I have to say that Doodles are great dogs - smart like poodles, friendly like Labs and Retrievers and big enough to be taken seriously by interlopers who value their nuts or hands. Basically, if we like someone, Millie likes them too - and vice-versa. While she is invariably friendly, she has a loud "big-dog" bark and she sure knows how to growl, bare her teeth and she went aggressively at a man who approached our daughter while out walking. She weighs a solid 45 lbs and is very strong and muscular - and fast - and so he scarpered at a rate of knots with Millie in hot pursuit.
All that, and she doesn't shed at all and there is no problem with allergies. Millie is now quite an elderly dog, but she is the picture of health and still runs around chasing her tail anytime we go out into the yard with her. The photo below shows Millie with our youngest daughter's Doodle "Lux" who is still a silly puppy.
These wonderful creatures really do enrich our lives and form bonds that transcend biology.
....and again I ask, would any like to have Adelaide the cat? I will pay for shipping in Canada and CONUS.....
