Meet Cricket!

Meet Cricket!

Well, the local shelter was calling her Layla.  Her name before that was Skye.  She doesn't respond to either name.  We were trying out names on her and she acknowledged Cricket.  I think her full name is going to be Cricket Chaka Khan Bliss.

Yup!  We are fostering her.  But I really think that that foster situation is going to turn into an adoption situation.  She's amazing!  And the other 2 dogs are getting a long with her well, too!

She's listed as a Chihuahua Mix.  I'm convinced she's mix with a tad of Rat Terrier...but...she has SO MANY Chi tendencies!  She looks way bigger than she actually IS in this photo.  She's only about 4 pounds.

I've taken her into work with me the last two mornings.  She LOVES riding in the car.  She also likes toys.  She's about a year and 7 months old.  She's been at the shelter for 7 months approximately.

Paco's old puppy vest fits her great!  She's very friendly, answers to just about anyone, and doesn't mind crate time for bedtime.

I'm hoping everything continues to go well because I'm already falling in love with her - she's AMAZING!

On Sunday I took her over to my parents house and they have a nicer neighborhood to go for walks in.  The drivers in the area are more cautious and slow.  Where I live they treat the street like a race track.  I felt safer there not knowing how she would react quite yet.

Check out this photo!  That's Lexi - my parents dog - on the left and Cricket on the right.  Lexi is a Border Collie/Rat Terrier Mix.  We were calling Cricket - Lexi's Mini-Me because of the marking.  They got along GREAT, too!

With Paco's health issues I can't really take him on walks.  Riley is VERY choosy when it comes to men...he only likes my husband and his brother.  So it will be great to have a walking buddy!

Isn't she the CUTEST?

Changed Cat Behavior

Since Gabby is no longer with us...Charlie is the sole cat in the Bliss Household.  When Dale and I first started dating we rescued him from extreme conditions and he's been with us ever since.  He's always been quite feral, tho.  When we adopted Gabby - he seemed to enjoy having her around.  They were polar opposites.  In the words of Paula Abdul "Opposites Attract".  In our house the cats followed suit as Dale and I are VERY different in MANY ways.  

I will say - Charlie has completely SURPRISED me in the last month.  He's been much more friendly, calmer, yet more active, social, and even sweet.  He's been greeting us when we go upstairs - which is where he pretty much 'lives'.  He has the run of the house - like the dogs - but the cats made their kingdom the 2nd floor long ago!  Our bathroom is on that floor as well as our Home Studio that Dale uses daily and my Craft Room.  He especially enjoys the Craft Room because of HIS Chair that's in there.

Earlier in his life I stopped giving him treats because he had "crystals" but it seems he's able to tolerate them YEARS after that battle...so...I started giving the cats treats again when we were trying to put weight on Gabby and have been giving him 1 a day since.  He LOVES them.  I think they make him feel 'special.'

I'm sad that he's the sole cat of the house.  But I'm happy that he seems to be coping ok.  I'm also happy that I am hearing more purring out of him lately.  He's become a bit more social and active - so that's good.  If he goes back to his feral-acting ways all I have to do is say "Treat" and he switches back to being sweet again!  I took this picture of him over the weekend.  He's looks so cute, doesn't he?

Puppies Galore!

Yesterday I posted a bit about my Sister and her Husband and My Mom and Dad BOTH adopting rescue dogs!  Well, since there has been so much Puppy Activity in our families lately I decided to dedicate an entire post to them.

This first photo is from the Rescue's Facebook Page.  My sister Megan with Atlas and My Dad with Lexi.  Atlas is a Beagle/Pointer Mix and Lexi is a Retriever/Collie Mix.  I think Lexi - if not both dogs - might have a bit of Jack Russell as well.  They are both adorable.  They were in the same foster home so they are buddies!  I'm so happy they were able to go to my parents and my sister so they can still see each other every once and a while.  We think Atlas is a few weeks older than Lexi.  So far...Atlas weighs 15 pounds and Lexi weighs 7 pounds.

Sunday night I was able to spend a little time with them.  My sister said they had been taking Atlas all over the place with them in the car over the weekend.  I guess he LOVES car rides!  He also gets along with other dogs - not just Lexi - which is good! 

My mom told me that Lexi is a good walker...which is great because my dad has been wanting a 'walking buddy'. 

I also found out that Atlas has an extra 'thumb' or a 'dewclaw' on each back foot.  The one is completely detached and the other does have partial bone.  They are going to remove them when they get him fixed because they will cause problems down the road, I guess.  My sister didn't want to do it but both the shelter and 2 vets told her to.

Lexi LOVES Bernie's Cat Bed.  So far...Bernie is tolerant.  Of course, Lexi has her own pillow bed and crate area which she enjoys, as well.

In other Doggy News...my Brother-In-Law is still doing good with his puppy Blue.  He's getting pretty big!  His coloring is amazing, too!  It's getting pretty defined.  I'm told he LOVES to be in the enclosed backyard and likes to run around.  He also likes being inside, tho, too!

His eyes look so sad in the photos but Mike says he's a VERY happy dog!  He says he loves to hold things in his mouth, tho.  He doesn't really eat them just likes to have them hang out of his mouth...as you can see in this one photo.  It's a Bark Chip.

 As far as our Dogs go - things have been going pretty good, I guess!  Paco has calmed down a little bit in the evenings which is nice...he was a little nuts for a while and sometimes I would have to play ball with him for HOURS which I enjoy but I also have things I have to get done around the house, too, so I'm glad he's been a bit lazier or at least had his 'fill' of playtime within an hour instead of HOURS lately.  I had to laugh over the weekend, I bought a new shirt and my husband said I looked like a 'prisoner'...it having stripes and all.  Then I put Paco's shirt on without noticing that it was much like mine.  My husband told us to pose for a pic and here you have it!  Apparently we are bop-see-twins!