SpottedCat,
Thanks! I wish I could take credit for that one being mine but it was just a cute avatar I came across. We have 7 cats and 1 dog. 1 was a shelter cat, 4 were kittens that were found outdoors at various points (stray moms had litters), 1 was abandoned in the neighborhood and one was a stray that ran in the front door of a motel my friend manages and wouldn't leave...so we went and got him and one was kitten that was going to the pound because the people couldn't find homes for the last one
. They now range from 7-10 years old with the exception of the motel cat, Charlie, he is about 3 now.
I've always been a dog person, but when I moved to the wicked winters of the midwest 10 years ago I was devastated to find strays outdoors in the winter (particularly kittens) so the first one came in and I just haven't stopped. Well, we have now...we haven't taken any in since the shelter cat about 2 years ago. Now we just spend time helping out at the local cat shelter and doing what we can to donate there. All our little ones are old enough now that change is too hard for them.
My pup is still my pride and joy. I got him when he was 5 weeks old and he will be 12 in May. (Thank God he likes cats LOL)