As mentioned previously, we have three dogs. It was not our plan or intention to have three dogs. In fact, I never figured to have more than one, if that. But, things happen and now we are outnumbered and frequently outsmarted.
A year after Tiamo died we began to discuss getting a another dog. We agreed we wanted a short-haired female. So, be careful what you wish for. We ended up with a long, curly-haired, male–Dom (aka little D, aka Mr. Pisser.) M spotted him across the parking lot at a Petsmart adoption event. We went to the store for cat litter and came back with a new-to-us dog. Small, cute, friendly as hell. He seemed close to perfect. In the weeks that followed we discovered he has two major faults. He rarely barks and I had wanted a dog that would alert us to someone in the yard. And, he marks everything in the house, at times, even attempting to pee on the cats. Luckily his aim was abysmal and remains so to this day.

Dusty, aka Big D, was the next to arrive. She was only six months old and had already been adopted and returned. This should have been a clue. We had tentatively discussed getting Mr. D a companion. He loves other dogs and he was starting to display some signs of separation anxiety. M mentioned this to a friend who was running a rescue organization and the next thing you know we’re meeting someone in the parking lot of Petsmart at 8 o’clock at night. He practically tosses the puppy at us and leaves. This, also, should have been a clue.

For Dom, it was love at first sight. He was absolutely delighted with her. She was not so taken with him. She seemed a bit confused and sad which made our hearts ache and tamped down our doubts about how suddenly things had transpired. Sentimental anthropomorphizing will bite you in the ass every time. While we were discussing the poor, little, abandoned puppy, she was plotting to take over the household. (And, quite possibly the world, she’s very ambitious and, arguably, the smartest being in our household.) She is ball obsessed and barks incessantly. In two weeks, we went from ‘great, she’ll let us know when the UPS guy arrives’ to ‘oh my god, will she ever shut up.’ She is also a compulsive licker. If you have any exposed skin anywhere she will happily clean it for you. And clean it for you. And clean it for you. She is irritating to the nth degree and, for some unfathomable reason, I love her more than I knew I could ever love an animal.

Our most recent canine addition is Ripley–aka Ripples, aka Babygirl, aka single, white, female. She is amazingly sweet and the best example of the power of self-delusion that I know. We’ve supported several animal rescue organizations over the years but until last year we’d successfully resisted the temptation of fostering. Then, in a moment of weakness, we succumbed to a desperate plea and took the plunge and tried our hand at it. And now we have three dogs.