Two Years Ago Today = Celebration

Our two little Shih-tzus, Mitzi and Max, joined our family 24 months ago today. We thought we were being given one Shih-tzu, but before we left the original owners, they had decided that separating the two would be impossible. I don't remember if they even asked us if we wanted two, I think they realized we'd take both.

At first they were just going to give us the black one, Max. The cutest of the two was little Mitzi. She wasn't being given. So when all of a sudden they gave us both, we were surprised and pleased.

I can't imagine how empty their little mobile home must have felt after we left with these two rascals. This family of three, a dad, a mom, and a grown daughter, had just moved to the heart of Orange County in southern California from a 20 acre farm in Fresno; the mobile home park in Orange County has the rule -- only one dog per mobile, and the neighbors kept to the rule and were threatening these new folks.

When we were notified that a pure bred Shih-tzu was available for free, we were very interested even though we had just adopted little Chloe about six weeks earlier on the day after Christmas. Dogs function better in pairs or groups than alone, or at least that's our thought.

When we got back home from Orange County with these two new ones, Chloe was excited. I think she has mixed feelings even today about these two who gang-up on her. She loves playing with them, but she also wants me all to herself. So we still have little jealousy moments. And both of the females are constantly trying to be the "lead" dog. If push comes to shove, Mitzi always wins. She's just tougher, or maybe I should call that "meaner. "

So today we've celebrated Mitzi and Max all day. They were two years old when they came to us, so they are now 4-years-old. We never planned to have three dogs, but they sure fill our lives and our home with love and laughter.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun, and Chloe, Mitzi, and Max), aka Carol