Mulligan

I can't believe I haven't posted about our newest member to our family: Mulligan!

Poor dog didn't know what he was getting himself into. 

We adopted him on October 13th, and he is a really sweet. They told us he is roughly 3 years old, but we're not so sure about that. Now, I know we're used to a pug ~ the most crazy breed ever ~ but he's so mellow! I've seen some bursts of energy here and there, but he mostly likes to chill out with us. Him being naughty is trying to kick a person off the couch, so he can sit there instead. Seriously. 

I think it's safe to say he has made himself at home. 

Now, there has been an adjustment period with him and Sadie. Sadie is an alpha, and I don't think he was socialized with any of his past owners (we're guessing he had at least two before us). They started out a little bit frosty. Most of the time, he ignored her which was sad because she wanted to play. Every now and then, they would get into a fight over something stupid like the water bowl. Dude has a thing about his water. Maybe he used to be an outside dog, and they didn't keep his bowl full?  The funny thing about the fights were that I could get him away from Sadie, no problem. However, when Sadie gets mad, she's fearless. She would keep lunging at him!

Don't let the cuteness fool you. She's a killer. 

Luckily, they haven't fought for over a month ~ knock on wood. Another crazy thing we're getting used to is that he doesn't like toys or bones, and Sadie loves all of the above. There was also the issue of crate training him. We may be on our second crate ~ he has some strong jaws ~ but he has adjusted and is now fully crate trained. Any new family member, furry or otherwise, is an adjustment, and I think he's been doing great. 

Next up on the agenda is getting him more socialized. He does not do well with other dogs. Especially big dogs...even when he's bigger than half the dogs he's growling at. I mean, I'm pretty sure he has a lot of German Shepherd in him, and I think he may also have some husky. Dude's big and muscular. 

Check him out taking up most of our entryway, asking for a belly rub. 

Luckily I have some awesome friends coming over tomorrow, and they're bringing at least one of their big dogs ~ one is a puppy ~ to help with his socialization. We'll also be spending Christmas with my husband's family, and his aunt has a small and a midsized dog. We'll get there sooner or later. 

I'm so glad we made the plunge and adopted this sweet boy. All he wants is affection and walks. If anyone's ever worried about adopting an older dog, as opposed to a puppy, do it! They need love, just like any other animal, and, yes, there may be a little bit of baggage. However, if you rescue them, they will be such loyal companions, they will never leave your side, and they will always enrich your lives with their love. You just need to give them a chance. They'll fit into your family perfectly. 

The day we took him home. 

Once Upon a Kitten

Last Tuesday, my husband found a cold, scared kitten in the wheel of a car in the middle of a storm. Being the kind natured man that he is, he brought the little one home, tentatively called "Ratchet."

Poor little Ratchet was in a terrible state. He had roughly 50 fleas I took off of him, really dirty ears that I cleaned, was terribly hungry ~but was only roughly four weeks old, so I bought milk replacer~ and he had swelling on his mouth and undercarriage. Once I had him cleaned up a little, I asked if any of my friends were willing to adopt him. 

How could you say "no" to that little one? 

In the beginning, all he wanted was to cuddle, something my sweet pug was more than willing to do. Not only that, but she also acted as his protector. She would put her body between Ratchet and either of our not-so-welcoming cats. She would also chase off our cats if they became particularly aggressive. 

That's my girl. 

After a few days, his swelling went down, and we realized that he was actually a she! We renamed her "Ella."

And then, she started feeling more energetic. She started drinking from a bowl, learned how to use the litter box, started exploring, and she finally started playing. 

That's her underneath the glass of my dining room table. Why is there a fall wreath there? We're moving...don't judge. 

Unfortunately, we couldn't keep the little girl. We already have 2 cats and a dog, and we're in the middle of a move. So, with heavy hearts, we had to find someone to take her in. Luckily, we found the Dallas Cat Lady who fosters cats until they find their forever home. I'm so glad we found a loving atmosphere to give her to. It was hard to let go of the little tyke. If you're in the Dallas area, and you want an adorable little black cat, she'll be up for adoption in a week or two. Look her up.