The Dogs of Campbell Town Part Deux
Dexter with Molly in the background
Our dogs at Our Little House are an important part of our lives. No decision is made that doesn't also affect or take them into account.
Since our pack has changed somewhat since I introduced you to them, I thought it time for a reintroduction.
Our once Fearsome Four has evolved into a Stunning Six. If we thought it was crowded in Our Little House before, now it’s positively cramped. It’s a nice, comfortable sort of cramped, though, with just the right amount of space for everybody and everydog.
Sade usually lays on the deck. She's pictured here with Chloe and in the background, Emma, who disappeared nearly 2 years ago
Sade, our pittie we saw dumped and picked up on the day we moved from our house in the city to Our Little House is now the top big dog of the house. She no longer roams the woods as she once did, but sits sentry when she is outside, warning us of the occasional car.
Molly, our red Doxie, is still hanging in since being diagnosed with an enlarged heart last summer. Although the smallest of our pack, she makes it known she is still the boss of everyone.
Molly
Dakota, our Beagle/Doxie mix spends most of her days burrowed under the covers, but she can also be a fearsome guard dog, particularly when she hears or sees birds.
Dakota watching birds at the window
Since we lost Emma, our German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix, we've taken in Chloe and Abbi, both were scheduled to die at the shelter. They brought us to five.
Abbi
The most recent addition to our pack is Dexter, a beagle Dale found wandering along the blacktop. It’s very common here for people to drive far out in the country, drop off their pets on the side of the road, and never look back.
Dexter is the only male in the pack, and yes, the ladies love him. It didn’t take him long at all to be accepted as a brother. They sleep and play with him like he’s always been here.
Dexter is quite the emotional type. He’s a very loving dog, but he’s also very clingy. He needs a lot of attention, though less so now than at first.
Like most of our dogs, Dexter has had his share of “adventures.” Not so long ago, he returned from his outdoor escapades limping and lethargic. His fur was matted with blood. We cleaned him up and found a couple small holes in his skin. It looked like he might have gotten tangled in some barbed wire.
Later that night he got sick. We took him to the vet as soon as possible, where they shaved his fur and we found out it wasn’t just a couple small holes. There were many. It’s likely he got into a scuffle with another animal. The vet also discovered Dexter had mange. Luckily none of our other dogs were affected, but that’s a risk you take when you take in a stray.
Dexter’s completely healed and mange-free now. We don’t let him wander outside alone anymore. The bigger dogs, Sade, Abbi, and Chloe are free to do so, but Dexter is smaller. There are a lot of large animals in these mountains that he wouldn’t frighten a bit and wouldn’t be able to hold his own against.
For a dog with such short legs, he’s a powerful jumper. It shocked me the first time he jumped from the couch to the chair and landed in my lap. Now I’ve grown to expect it from time to time. It warms my heart to see what a happy and confident dog he’s become. Dexter has truly taken his place as part of the family.
Walking through Our Little House is more like playing a game of Twister now than ever before and people always looked shocked when I tell them we have 6 dogs in 480-square feet. "Inside?" they sometimes ask. "Most of the time, just like any member of the family," I will reply.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Tell us about your furry family.
I'm in Ohio in a rural area, actually a busy road, but people dump off cts all the time. I try to help all I can and over the years have helped many. I spay/neuter those I can catch. Neighbors don't do anything but shoot at theirs. They eat here and go back. Guess because they were raised there they go back. here I'm never mean and it takes a long times sometimes to be able to even touch them. Have many indoor and outdoor cats as well. I feel people should be treated as they treat their companion animals and maybe some of the abuse/dumping/neglect would go away. Kudos to you for helping the animals.
Thanks, Deb, and kudos to you for helping those cats. Feral cats are an issue almost everywhere.
Awww, your dogs are so cute! And they're lucky to have you.
Thank you, Jane, we love them. We feel just as lucky to have them!
I didn't realize your pack was so enormous! Nice going giving so many needy dogs a home.
Thanks, Alisa, I feel like they do as much for us as we have for them.
Such beautiful–and handsome!–creatures. Dogs are the best!
Thank you, Merr. And yes, they are the best, I prefer them over humans the vast majority of the time.
How sad that people dump their dogs…But how lucky they are to be rescued by you. I had a Chloe — with an enlarged heart — who recently passed. I miss her so much everyday, and enjoyed seeing pics of your pack.
Yes, it is very sad, Sheryl. So many people around here have a disposable pet attitude. I'm currently trying to find a home for another stray, as we just cannot have anymore here. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Chloe. That is always difficult.
So glad to meet your new dogs and be reminded of the ones you've had the longest. I feel like I know them better now that I've seen current photos of them.
I really wish my beagle was a lap dog. She's so far from it and the collie just won't fit on a lap.
LOL, Heather. Chloe and Sade both sometimes think they are lap dogs, too!
How nice to meet your dog family! They're all beautiful!
Thank you, Brette. Like any parent, we think they're all beautiful!
My pack consists of 2 boxers and a siberian husky. They travel with me, love our cabin where they can run off leash. I show my boxers and they have stayed everywhere from Motel Six to the Sherridan. When I take my trailer to shows, it's not unusual for us to have 6–10 dogs in my 25' travel trailer.
When we move full time to our little house, I plan to continue working with Boxer Rescue of Los Angeles to train deaf boxers so they can be placed in forever homes. I already have the plans ready for training facilities.
I'm also going to adopt a terrier. I used to have Scotties who were the best ratters ever. Can't have cats, coyote bait I'm afraid, but a terrier spirit can sure get those little buggers!
Your ambitions with the training facility sounds wonderful, Carol! I've always wanted to have a rescue and maybe someday I will. We practically have a small one now.
All of your dogs are adorable! I have a beagle as well whose names is Pepper. She used to have a sister, Ginger, who died of cancer.
Just stumbled upon your blog and I love it! I just recently started a blog as well about simple living so it's great to find a similar one to it out here. It's still a work in progress but I would totally appreciate it if you checked it out!
I'm so sorry about Ginger, the worst part of having pets is losing them.
Nice blog! If you have a page for your blog on FB, please connect with me and I will do the same!
My tribe consists of disabled cats, and one BBD found by my partner on I-40 in New Mexico. She tolerates the cats but she isn't too sure about them.
I have several cats that I have gotten through ICU care from our local humane society. I was their ICU nurse and ended up adopting them as I fell in love with them and their survival spirit. I have several cats who do not have limbs and one very special kitty with only one leg and I will tell you she CAN jump from the floor to the back of a chair, couch or the bed. She is a totally amazing cat.
It gets a little interesting here when we get energy spurts and starting running through the house at mach 5 with their hair on fire, sometimes a little dangerous when they get under your feet…and you may have a rodeo in here.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Vicki, You are a true angel for rehabilitating those cats. I call what we have going on here a game of Twister, but like you, I wouldn't have it any other way. When even one of mine is at the vet, the house feels a bit emptier, I cannot imagine not having them.
I love beagles. I think I have mentioned before that we had a beagle — Oliver — who died at the age of 15 1/2. He was a character and so beloved. Smartest dog I ever met. Spoke two languages — understood, I should say. When we tried switching to French so he wouldn't understand what we were saying he picked that language up in a hurry!
He was also a jumper. When he was 6 years old he had to have back surgery and the vet told us that he was not to jump anymore. Ha! Oliver had his own ideas about that. He could, and often did, jump from the floor up onto the dining room table to look out the window. He was like a cat in that way.
I shall always miss that little dog.
Beagles are the best, aren't they, Olivia? The thing about rescue is that I've had the opportunity to see how different and precious each breed is and so far, I've loved every one I've had! My friend has owned nothing but one breed her whole life. I think, in a way, she is missing out in seeing the differences and the great qualities of other breeds. Beagles are indeed smart.
Amen!