Animal Genetics

There are some things in life that are difficult to explain to people. Like the mutant gene my children and my husband possess. It's a genetic defect that draws them to animals like bees to honey. They are unable to relax completely without an animal on their lap. Other kids have stuffed animals in their beds, my kids have real animals.

It's that same genetic component that allows my daughter to kiss her puppy.

(My friend Laurie is making the scrunchy "ughhh" face right now).

They come by it honestly enough. They inherited it from their father. And, I guess I admit to a similar gene, but I think mine must be recessive because I have the ability to control my instincts in this area.


My daughter can not.

What can I say? There weren't enough dogs to go around. Prince Charming and I have Muncie for a foot-warmer. The boys have Victoria, but poor Sophie had only cats to keep her company. She was deprived. She had to have her own doggy-warmer.

Meet Sophie's Sadie.

9 weeks old.

I'm sure she'll be very happy here at the zoo.

It Was NOT My Fault!

It's NOT my fault! I am NOT responsible!

It's HIS fault!

He even admits it! See what his t-shirt says?

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

We were out for a nice little family trip to run errands. I should have known better. I asked Prince Charming if he would drop me off at the Half Price Bookstore so that I could look for some of the books you all suggested. I wanted 15 minutes of peace and quiet so I could focus and make a quick trip of it.

Their errands were simple: Put gas in the car (they forgot), stop by Game Stop to pre-order a game(they did this), and get crickets for the geckos and meal worms for the turtle. This is where they got side-tracked.

I should have known. I was sending 4 people with mutant animal genes into a pet store, unsupervised.

My 15 minutes of undisturbed peace was interrupted by my children barging into the store, running up and down the aisles making a scene, yelling "MOOOMMMMM?"


I was thinking..."Please, let that be someone else's kids yelling, not mine, please not mine..."

But it was.


"Mom! Mom! Come quick! There are dogs just like Gracie next door!"
(Gracie is Beth's dog at Around the Funny Farm)

"Just like Gracie?"

I'm thinking...if they are truly Toy Australian Shepherds, they would not be in a pet store. I know..I've been calling a lot of breeders lately.

"Welllll.....sorta. They have something else mixed in too, but they're really cute!"

The something else turned out to be Blue Tick Hound.

And they were correct. They were cute. Too cute.

How could we not?

See the heart shape on the top of her little head?

Prince Charming said these decisions have to be made with the heart,

and it was the right thing to do.

But, don't worry Muncie.

We love you too, and you will forever be the Alpha Dog at our Zoo!