I've been adopting dogs for almost 20 years. And shortly, as in a few weeks after we got the first one, a pug, we realized we needed a second dog, another pug. After that it just snowballed. We quickly got up to five dogs, then down to four, then up to five, and so on and so on . . .
So it's been a long time since I've had only one dog. And sadly, it happened this spring when our beloved Mya passed just days shy of her thirteenth birthday. She was an incredibly athletic, intelligent, loving and funny Boston Terrier.
Mya, April 1998 - March 2011
Mya, April 1998 - March 2011
That left almost four year old Rocky, also a Boston Terrier, behind as an only child. Although it quickly became obvious that he wanted a playmate, I wanted to take some time to grieve before I got another dog. And I knew we were moving from New Jersey to Nevada just a couple of months later.
Oh - yes he is the a Avi on my twitter account and also the muddy puppy pictured at the top of this page!
Shortly after we settled in I started tweeting, contacting rescues and visiting shelters to make it well known I was looking to adopt a Boston Terrier in need. And I was willing to take one that might be hard to adopt due to age, medical or even behavior problems (although Bostons never misbehave)!
Oh - yes he is the a Avi on my twitter account and also the muddy puppy pictured at the top of this page!
Shortly after we settled in I started tweeting, contacting rescues and visiting shelters to make it well known I was looking to adopt a Boston Terrier in need. And I was willing to take one that might be hard to adopt due to age, medical or even behavior problems (although Bostons never misbehave)!
Finally, after several weeks, I got the call. This is Curtis. He was at a shelter in Santa Barbara, CA. He was believed to be between 6 - 8 years old, his owner had died, and no one in the family could take him. So I took a six hour drive to go meet Curtis. Since I knew I was going to bring him home with me no matter what, I didn't bring Rocky with me for that first meeting. If there was going to be an issue between them I didn't want to have to deal with on the six hour return trip!
Curtis turned out to be a real love. He's clearly not a full Boston Terrier but that's OK! He basically looks like one, although he's about 30 pounds as compared to Rocky's 15 pounds. His ears are a bit floppy and he has a tail that's about 4 inches long. But, most importantly, he thinks and acts like a Boston Terrier.
From left to right the pictures below depict the first evening together.
Curtis turned out to be a real love. He's clearly not a full Boston Terrier but that's OK! He basically looks like one, although he's about 30 pounds as compared to Rocky's 15 pounds. His ears are a bit floppy and he has a tail that's about 4 inches long. But, most importantly, he thinks and acts like a Boston Terrier.
From left to right the pictures below depict the first evening together.
- The Introductory Sniff
- The rest period on opposite sofas
- Cautiously or unknowingly getting closer
- OOPS - they noticed each other
Ahhh - but then it was bedtime! So I went to my room to crawl into bed and they both followed me. And they both hopped in! But for that first night I was the barrier between them.
But the next morning they seemed perfectly comfortable playing together. I was so happy, and so, it seemed, were they!
First, there was the chase. Then the inevitable tug-o-war.
But the next morning they seemed perfectly comfortable playing together. I was so happy, and so, it seemed, were they!
First, there was the chase. Then the inevitable tug-o-war.
And ever since then every nap time looks something like this. Whether it's in the living room (yes - there are 2 dogs on that sofa), on the patio, or lounging in the sun.
I've always kept several dog beds under and near my desk so all my dogs could hang out there when I'm busy. But it seems these 2 guys are going to make me change that. I only need one bed now - but it needs to be a bigger one!
