A few months ago, I reported on our three old dogs, Kody 17, Emmit 15, and Riley 15, and our cat JellyBean.
Things change.
We lost Emmit shortly after that post. In late August we decided it was time to let Kody cross the “Rainbow Bridge.”
Only Riley remains of the three old dogs. He carries on, stubbornly refusing to give in to the arthritic hind leg that makes it hard for him to get around. He still insists on taking his two daily walks around the block, and his frequent cruises around the back yard.
JellyBean spends most of her days snoozing on a stack of cushions in the back room.
Why?
Well… we have a new arrival: Magenta, a three-year-old terrier mix, who seems to think that JellyBean is just another squirrel to chase. I’m sure they’ll make peace eventually but for now “JB” has become nocturnal, prowling the downstairs nightly while Magenta and Riley sleep in our big king-sized bed. If by chance you wander downstairs in the middle of the night, you’ll hear JB jump down to the floor from wherever she perches, in search of a bit of attention and affection.
In the meantime, Magenta has reminded us what it’s like to be young and frisky. We’ve had to re-secure the back yard to keep her from escaping. The shed is now surrounded by all sorts of barriers to keep her from digging for whatever critter she’s decided is living under its foundation.
Riley used to be our “Houdini.” Even now he’ll try to sneak out if someone leaves the gate open. Fortunately he’s a lot easier to catch than he used to be. Miss Magenta is our “Houdini, Jr.” Just this morning she found a new breach in the fence. If Charlie hadn’t happened to see her making her escape she might once again have become a stray at the local pet rescue. Have we at last successfully covered all the gaps? Let’s hope so.
In the meantime, here’s to staying young–even if it’s only through our pets.
Susannah Willey Writes 
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