stories

Mish Mish sat by the door, patiently staring back into the kitchen at me.

“Meow,” she finally insisted.

“You want to go into the backyard?” I asked. “But it’s still raining.”

Our fluffy orange tabby sat up, dog-like, on her little haunches, her raised front paws seemed to beg. Where she had learned this endearing gesture I will never know. Though she came to us eight years ago, she has never chosen to reveal her past life to us.

I had been working in the garden the day I first saw her peering at me from within a dense clump of daylilies. When my eyes met hers she mewed, crept out, and mewed again. She was tiny and emaciated.

Toronto, ON (May 16, 2011) – Loyalty, bravery, unconditional love, devotion and intuition – these are just a few of the ways to describe the 2011 Purina Animal Hall of Fame Inductees – K’os, Moose, Scooter and Missy, and Stinky.

One morning I got up and let the dogs out in the backyard about 5:30. I went back to bed for a bit. Then I got up, took a shower and started getting ready for the day. About an hour passed and I went to let them in... gate open... no dogs! Panic strikes! I jump in the car and go looking for them... stopping every garbage truck along the way to see if they have seen three beagles that looked like they were enjoying their new freedom. No such luck. After about an hour, I stopped in at home. Joey was sitting on the front step of the house (front yard) as if he had been there the whole time. Liar! Jorja and Jersey were still at large.

The day my life changed for the better was the day I met Killian, my Border Collie Angel. I have always loved animals, but I didn't know anything about Border Collies. A friend of mine was a breeder and she had her first litter. On impulse, I had to buy one.

This little puppy, known as King of the Pups, attached to me immediately. I would lie down on the floor and he would lie on my chest. If I left the room, he would cry until I returned. It didn’t matter if someone was in the room with him or not. I felt the pull on my heart strings. Little did I know that I was making such huge investment in myself.