(You'll notice that I speak for myself, as I did in "About Us".)
I came into the world on 25 January 2005. These are my doggie parents - my beautiful cocker spaniel mother Hanna, and my frisky cockapoo father Ripley. That makes me ¾ cocker spaniel & ¼ poodle - and lots of fun. A nice lady named Karla & her family helped Hanna look after me until I was 7 weeks old, and my own Mommy & Daddy (Sandra & Rod) took me home.
I had just met Mommy & Daddy. I was just 10 days old and couldn't see or hear yet, but I could smell and touch.
This is me at 3 weeks, and at 2 months. I was growing up fast.
And this is how I looked on my first birthday, 25 January 2006. Aren't I a handsome dog!
(Now it's Sandra writing again.)
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Maggie was a sweet-natured dog -- a border collie cross. Her story is very special.
Maggie was rescued by Sandra's cousin Evelyn from what sounded like an abusive situation in her neighbourhood in Ontario. She had a happy life with Evelyn & her husband Glen. When Evelyn died, Glen was heart-broken, and he said that taking care of Maggie & being comforted by her sweet presence, really kept him going. Eventually Glen married Sandra, and Maggie came to the west coast with them to have a new life. Unfortunately their time together only lasted 3-1/2 years, and Glen died. Once again, Maggie was a great comfort and solace to a human, Sandra, in her sadness. Then Sandra met Rod who was a dog-lover without a dog, and once again Maggie had a couple to share her life. But she was getting on in years, and her days of being needed as a comfort were over. And so about 6 months after Rod & Sandra married, Maggie died. Hopefully she has joined Evelyn & Glen in heaven, for if ever a dog deserved to go there, it was Maggie.
This is a photo of Maggie about a week before she died, in one of our rare West Coast snowfalls. I wonder if she remembered the snow in Ontario.
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Maxine is a cute little beagle who came as a wee pup into the life of Sandra's daughter Sheila. Most dogs are very scent-oriented, but Maxine truly lives by her nose, which is apparent when you're out walking with her. I understand that's why beagles were bred.
Max is a handsome German shepherd. He can look & sound fierce if need be, but he's really a gentle sweetheart underneath. He has the good fortune to have two homes, one in Vancouver with Sandra's sister & brother-in-law, Joan & Bev, and one in Comox with their son & daughter-in-law, Scott & Sarah.
Maxine shares in Sheila's joy when she is happy, and is a comfort to her when she is sad. Maxine and Sheila are very bonded and miss each other a lot when they're apart.
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He loves to chase sticks and balls, and entertains us all by chasing light reflections around floors, walls & ceilings.
This is Buddy & Max cleaning up the plates after Thanksgiving dinner at Joan & Bev's. Max is being the gracious host & letting Buddy go first.
This is Maxine & Maggie playing at the beach.
