Pets

One of the most difficult decisions we have made concerning our trip away is that we have rehomed our pets. For almost all of our marriage we have had pets of one kind or another. Our first ever pet was a Bassett Hound (stupid dog... it would pick up a smell and be gone in a sec and would never stop no matter how hard you called). We have also had a couple of beagles, who like the bassett were driven by their nose not their brain. Great dog for energetic kids. Last of all have been our two Great Danes. Nero and Toby, Great breed of Dog and truly man's best friend.

In Adelaide one of the ladies in the church was a serious frog lover, breeder and carer and so Leanne was given some frogs to keep. As a result we needed insects to feed the frogs so we had a supply of live insects to breed to feed the frogs. Thankfully that pet faze passed when we left Adelaide.

At times we have had birds of various varieties, budgies, canaries, love birds, quails, pink and grey galahs.

Various fish over the years

And of course there are the kittens and cats that have made up part of our home. There has been Cuddles, Dividends (at age 14 Justin 's career path was always going to lead him into the stock market) Bluepuss, Lacy, Amos, Sophie and Angelo.

I guess I should also include the horses (our own and others that we adjisted) though I was never fully comfortable around the horses. Unlike Ken who loved them. And of course our cows and the 8 calves they produced, who I have come to the conclusion are one of my alltime favorite animals.

I'm sure there have been others but you get the picture We have been an animal loving family and thus it has been a tough decision to make. So for the first time we have no animals at all and we are a little lost and missing them terribly.

I have to admit we've thought seriously of going and getting them back but we know we can't. It's not fare on the animals or us so with that we are more than happy with those who have taken our animals into their family.

Friends from church, John and Mouse have taken Sophie and Angelo, which has doubled their cat population. Angelo had a thing going with John and would be up on his lap before he even sat down. With John and Mouse they get to go in and out of the house as they please. Angelo and Sophie have given the thumbs up with their new home. They ignore us but go to everyone else. it's all about who feeds them.

Craig, Michelle, Brea and Caitlin, also friends from Church have taken Toby. Toby thinks he's in heaven because for the first three weeks he only slept outside twice. I was pleased to see he got excited when we went out to see him. (He's living on two acres out at Nicholson) so he gets to go for walks, and play games and generally have lots of doggy fun. We could see he has bonded with each one in his new home which gave both Ken and I peace of mind.

So as hard as it isto let our pets go we can go away knowing they are all looked after well and have lovely new homes where they will be loved and cared for.

see you soon lyn