Well, this is the first time I've done anything of the kind.  Not sure why we do it (blogging) but here goes.  I'm a 40's + female with seven dogs.  Yes, 7, 7 dogs, yessiree.  I hadn't realized how many I had until I had to count them.  Actually 8 because my 24 yr. old son lives here with his beautifully sweet pittie girl Honey Bear so that makes 8 dogs, 1 purrson of the feline persuasion, lots of cockatiels, 2 canaries, 2 bunnies, 1 show-pet chicken (she doesn't show but she is gorgeous and intelligent!) and, until yesterday, 2 Koi who died suddenly.  Oh, and my son's Python.  As far as I'm concerned, wild animals belong in the wild but there you have it, my boy loves his reptiles for some bizarre reason.  You can't talk, cuddle or pet them but he loves the thing.  At least it doesn't smell and Junior (for Dale Earnhart Jr.) is fed when I'm sleeping. 

Why, you ask, do I have so many?  Simple really, I had a horrific childhood/adolescence where my only stability, my only confidante, the only one(s) that never criticized me or let me down were my dogs.  I have always loved animals since I was born but their strength and loyalty and compassion have proven themselves beyond any human.  Only people are cruel.

Anyway, my life with them is a lot of work but I love it.  Doing things for the animals is always a rewarding task which takes my mind off other things and makes me realize what is important and what is not.  Family, friends a good job, a decent home not fancy, are all good things to have.