The Family's Companions

We have always had a number of dogs and cats as companions. Many of them have been important parts of our lives, saving us when things were down and sharing the high adventures when things went well - Jessica the undominated, ancient labrador who could swim and bark until you gave out. Becky the thunderdog who could smile. And Mr. Kitty, whom his original owners thought was a female and named "her" Paris, which he never got over.

Currently, we have two dogs and one cat at the Austin house. We can't find a picture of the cat, a white snowball Melissa named "Precious" and whom we call "PC" (precious cat). She rules the outdoors and heaven protect the outsider dog that wanders into our yard. PC is exceptionally efficient. There is no cat on the planet who can purr louder than she.

This dog, Rita, is our oldest. She is nine. Rita.Her blood lines run directly to her father, Lone Star Rick, the winningest show Lab in AKC history.

She loves to walk, especially in Vermont. And her favorite game is to pick up something in her velvet-soft mouth (like a pine cone! or a stick) and parade it around waiting for someone to chase her and try to take it out of her mouth. As long as you don't actually take it from her, she is in dog heaven, playing this game. When playing "Gimme that stick!" her tail is just swishing back and forth as she parades just out of your reach.

She is probably the sweetest dog we have ever had, extremely patient and kind. She would never bite a soul, especially children, whom she adores. And she has an unbridled desire to be a "good dog," voluntarily accepting the blame for every sin of the animals in our house.


Which brings us to our puppy, the juvenile delinquent, Emma. EmmaShe has no particular pedigree lineage. She has a simple strength of character, though, an unbounded energy, and a primal desire to collect shoes. In this picture, she is asserting ownership of the family tug rope, certainly bigger then she is. Fortunately for Emma, Rita is a push-over.

Melissa named her for the character of the Jane Austen book, for exactly her spirit. We shall see what she becomes.



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