Family

Smoky probably is not the oldest, but he
has been with me the longest. Smoky was
born at a relative's house. When she
decided that she could not keep him he
came to live with me.

Fred is the Alpha male
among the pack of dogs
that live at Willow Oak.
Fred keeps everybody
else in line, including
dogs, cats, and -- if
need be -- humans.

Boots has lived with me for quite
some length of time. He is
positively one of the smartest
animals I have ever encountered.

Bonnie previously resided with a relative. Bonnie
eventually learned that living at Willow Oak had its perks --
better than where she had been living.

Cleopatra (Cleo) passed through several
hands before she finally settled in at
Willow Oak. I simply cannot understand
why anyone would not keep her.

Clyde is Bonnie's brother.
Bonnie and Clyde were
found abandoned in the
middle of the road when they
were only pups.

Bonnie moved to Willow Oak
first. One day Clyde came
for a visit. He decided that
Willow Oak was a better
place to stay.

So he did.

Darkly ("Prince") is one
of Cleopatra's brood.
Never a more laid-back
kitty will you ever see.

I rescued Lu Lu from the clutches of a much bigger dog. Of
course, she always thinks that she is the much bigger dog.

Lightly ("Princess") loves her daddy.
Besides that, she dares anyone else to
get near her daddy when she is around.

Tiger was found abandoned in the
middle of the road as a tiny kitten.
All of his siblings had met with an
untimely demise. He was one lucky
kitty, and he is now one grateful cat.

BKI (Black Kat I) and his
brother BKII (Black Kat II)
found their way to Willow
Oak from somewhere in the
distance. Their mother had
met an untimely demise,
and they were looking for
someone who would take
them in and care for them.

They found that someone at
Willow Oak.

BKII (Black Kat II) does
come inside sometimes,
but he prefers the barn
where he finds that the
mice are bigger and
juicier.

Yuck!

Buddy once
lived wild and
woolly in the
woods that
surround
Willow Oak.

Cougar's previous owner
considered him to just
be a pest. I figured that
Cougar would prefer to
just be a pet.

Oscar is one of several pups that I
have found wandering the woods that
surround Willow Oak. Most found
their way to the local animal shelter.
Oscar never got past Willow Oak.

Sam is the biggest, blubbery,
blubbering baby there is. Always
was and always will be.

Thumper is the most precocious
and gregarious animal at Willow
Oak. His original owner informed
me that he was a nuisance. That
may be, but he sure does keep my
dogs in line, as can be seen in the
insert below.

Thumper attacks Oscar as he sticks his
nose in the pet door.

Cathy is one of three beagles that
have lived at Willow Oak. I have
had to learn the hard way that
beagles can and will get lost.

I found her in the Tuscumbia
swamp nearby.

Someone told me recently that she
uses way too much mascara.

Pete was
found
abandoned
outside the
building in
which I work.
No one else
was willing to
resume the
responsibility
to look after
his welfare. I
did.

I found Grace, warn and haggard, in
the middle of the road with six
puppies. The puppies arrived safely
to the animal shelter, and Grace found
refuge at Willow oak.

She has since regained her
composure and her figure.

Willie somehow ended up
abandoned in the Tuscumbia
swamp.

Then he somehow found
himself adopted at Willow Oak
farm.

Pinky is one of Cleo's brood. She
is the most possessive occupant
at Willow Oak. She possesses the
entire 16 acres, and if anybody
tries to defy her, be it dog, cat, or
human -- watch out!

I figure that Scamp must be the progeny of a wild dog and a coyote. You can see some scarring on his ear
that he suffered as a pup. When I found him he was all over covered with mange and ticks and fleas.

Now he is just all over covered with dirt.

Taz' original owner didn't
want to be bothered ...

... I didn't mind.

Grainger got dumped at the Tuscumbia swamp. Then
he got dumped at Willow Oak. I think he prefers
Willow Oak.

The rest have gone on to
Rainbow Bridge
where someday we shall all be reunited.

Please take a moment to read or leave a comment in my Guestbook, or read more about daily life at Willow
Oak in my journal, or email me one of your own stories.