We live in a zoo:

The newest members of the family are Lilly and Coco.  They are Savanna's and are cousins (same Grandfather).  Lilly was born June 2005 and Coco was born March 2005.  They are a bit touched but very sweet

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Lilly looking crazed

Coco stalking Tahoe

Coco smooching Wilbur goodnight

Lilly attempting her innocent look

Three in a bed (Lilly, Wilbur, and Coco - front to back)

Our calico is named Maya.  She is the most affectionate cat I have ever seen.  We adopted her in May of 2004 from the Town Lake Animal Shelter.  At that time she was estimated to be two years old.  Yes, she loves to hang out in sinks (kitchen, bathroom, it's all good).

Maya's photos are from May 2004

Tahoe was a wee bit jealous...

The craziest member of the family is Wilbur, a Bengal kitten born November 27, 2003.  We got him on March 13, 2004.

March 13, 2004

May 2004 (Daddy's Boy)

Hanging out in the study on the couch and with Maya September 2005

Our super model is a Catahoula (a.k.a. Louisiana Leopard Dog) born September 2001 (est.)  She is the sweet-heart of the group, always wanting to put her head on your chest and she will smile (which is a bit strange looking but sweet none-the-less).

December 2002 (Paul is always so happy to share)

December 2003

And finally, there is Tahoe our deaf Red Healer.  He was born sometime around March 2002 (both Lindy and Tahoe are rescue dogs so their birthdates are approximate).  He is our ham, always making a face for the camera.

(Both pictures of Tahoe were taken September 2003)

The dogs are absolutely never allowed on the bed.

Both Lindy and Tahoe came from a wonderful rescue group named Blue Dog Rescue.  If you are looking for a pet, they are a great resource.  Please consider making a donation to this worthy group.

Gone but not forgotten, pets we have loved and lost...

Rosie

DOB unknown - November 1, 2007

I know that many will find it odd to include a fish on this page but Rosie was not your typical fish.  Puffer fish, once large enough can recognize people by their face.  When we had a people over to the house she would follow either Paul or I around closely, not sure what to make of others in the house.  When I would go behind the tank, if I did not pay enough attention to her she would spit water over the top and onto me.  She also would let me pet her and I always hand fed her.  Yes, I knew that she could have literally taken a finger off, but I had hand fed her since she was small and she was very careful in the way she took the food from me.

Rosie died of old age, she was a Porcupine Puffer and, by the time she died, was just slightly smaller than a football.

Fitz

November 1989 - August 23, 2007.

Fitz was a cross between a Lhasa Apso and a Schnauzer.  He was a little love bug who was never far behind Gunther (below).  After Gunther died Fitz became the alpha dog and bossed (the much larger) Lindy and Tahoe around right up until the day he died. 

January 1991

August 2003  

My sister observed that if Jim Henson had ever made a sewer rat Muppet it would have looked just like Fitz (many people thought he looked like a living ewok.

Sabrina

August 1983 - February 10, 2004.

Sabrina enjoyed sleeping in the newspaper recycle bin, she would let herself into the closet under the stairs and crawl into the blue bin for a nice nap (picture taken December 2002).  When Paul and I first moved in together, she expressed her disappointment in having to share the bed by jumping up on him, squatting on his chest and peeing on him!  This was the only time she had ever missed the litter box, much less peed in the bed.

Acuna

1986 - December 15, 2003.

In the Spring of 1986 my ex-wife and I found Acuna as a tiny kitten in Acuna Mexico.  He had been shot in the hind-quarter and gotten up into a car's fan belt.  His left paw was sliced up.  We "snuck" him back across the border (with the border guard's knowledge) and took him to a local vet where he was fitted with a cast.  Acuna never wanted to go outside after we got him home.  He was happy on the back of a chair, curled up to Gunther, or on the couch.

Gunther

November 1989 to July 28, 2001

I cannot say enough good things about Gunther. He was the sweetest dog that I have ever known.  

I will always miss him a great deal.  He and Acuna can once again sleep together.