The Zoo

I have dear friends whose children refer to our home as the zoo! No, they're not being rude about my kids, or indeed Stephen and I, merely the fact that we have a lot of pets. Steve and I have always had a variety, when we finally left the Isle of Man we had three dogs, two Yorkshire terriers aged nine, (they ended up staying with my parents as one started having seizures before we moved) and a collie cross, ages three who we felt would fare better with a new family rather than risk her health bringing her 6000 miles on a plane. She was a bit skittish, to say the least! we had also had three tanks with tropical fish, one was a community tank, one a specialized tank for catfish and one a cold water tank for a large European catfish we named Sooty! We also had three cats, two came with us, (Emily and Paddington, both being Manx cats) Nookie, we found a new home for as she was, kind of wild ish.

Here in BC we started off slowly. Emily and Paddington made themselves comfortable in their new Canadian home and lived to good ages. We ended up picking up a third cat we called Willie from a pet store, he finished me off regarding cats! He was a weird animal! Very unforgiving, whinny, and being a coon cat, scruffy! However, we did what we could to make Willie happy and in the end, Amy was the one to finally break through and get him to purr. Willie was our last cat though, no more, I can no longer deal with the litter tray inside and all that comes with that!

Today we have, wait for it, six budgies, one lovebid, one bearded dragon, one Hampster, and two dogs, oh, and some wild frogs outside in a tank! We really have a zoo. I am the proud owner of Jake, my 11 year old golden retriever. He is amazing, and a great pal. Amy owns Henry, he's a cross miniature Schnauzer/Maltese, she also has two of the budgies in her room, Peanut and Aspen. Noah owns Tolkein, a male Hampster and Gondora a female budgie, Patrick owns Ozzy, our male  bearded dragon, (great pets by the way) the female lovebird is mine, her name is Jade and today she laid an egg, problem is, there is no Mr. Lovebird! Gotta figure this one out now! What to do, what to do? Finally we have three. budgies downstairs, two are a pair, Oscar and Apple, they mated and had four babies last year, the reminder, Felix, (his mate died this Summer, don't know why!) but he hangs out with the other two and all seems well. So, you see, we do have a zoo! Somedays it is overwhelming but most of the time we enjoy their company, the sounds in the home of chirping birds, not yappy little terriers though, Henry is learning his manners, but slowly!

I have been asked by my friends sometimes, "How do you cope with three kids and all these animals?" Personally, I wouldn't have it any other way, the animals add to our lives. Last year when the budgies bred we learned so much about them from watching how they took care of their clutch, and each other, it was a fabulous experience. The dogs are comforting, I truly love Ozzy and never thought that would happen! He is an amazing reptile with distinct personality. My poor love bird is such a treasure I am sad for her today, no babies after all this hard work. Life is full and good. Nature is beautiful and if you can accomodate some in your home your children will actually benefit, well, mine have......

Sue :0)

Jade

Ozzy

Oscar

Peanut

Budgie eggs, size of a scotch mint

My beautiful Jake

Peanut and Pecan (Now Georgie)

Felix,  Aspen and Peanut

Peanut being cheeky

Monty and Aspen, (our Albino Budgie)

Henry with his new haircut!