Why no pets ?

My first pet was a dog my Aunt Mee-Mee got for me.  Her name was Cindy.  Rumour had it she was part wolf.  So not so surprising that I have had a slight fear of dogs all my life.  I remember spending time one summer with my Great Aunt Eunie and her Doberman Pinscher - I believe his name was Prince. I was part of Prince's training.  I was to hold a rolled newspaper and Prince would take it from me. Hmmm ... have you seen a Doberman's teeth !

And then there was Oreo.  I didn't live at home when Oreo came on the scene.  I can't remember him as a cute puppy, but I'm sure he was.  I know he was very loved by the entire family!  And for the most part was relatively friendly with me....until one visit - upon greeting him, his teeth clamped around my thumb.

We had fish growing up too.  No teeth, less scary.  The trouble with our fish was that they tended to leave their bowls.  I distinctly remember one of them - Moses. Yes, he was a jumper, but my bigger memory is that my parents had a burial for Moses - we placed him in a little box and he was buried on the side of the house with a little makeshift cross.    RIP Moses

My sister Heather started out with gerbils.  Rodents as pets ?!?  And yes, if you are wondering, their tails can come off.  Definitely, not for me !  I guess poetic justice that I was cursed with squirrels on my balcony for awhile.

Luckily Heather moved on from rodents to a lovingly adopted puppy dog.  Jake joining the family and has allowed me to once again "give dogs a chance".  After all he's willing to be dressed up (St. Patrick's Day) and posed with babies (cutie Kate).  I enjoy a good visit with Jake when in Texas and with my friendly Canadian 4 legged friends - Buddy & Clancy.  Walking dogs in the snow ... not so much.

Cats - I'm allergic ... enough said.

So really, it's not that surprising that I'm turning 50 pet-free ;-)