Benjamin's Family
 

Since I've had several people asking me about the rest of my pack - Here they are one by one.

The eldest member of the pack, Willow, 15 year old Afghan Hound. Rescued from what was actually a great home this past October - A victim of the economy, her dad was loosing everything and could no longer afford proper care for her or her brother, Marley. Sadly Marley passed away just a couple months later from heart disease, but Willow is still here! She's got more then her fair share of health issues - But at 15, I'm amazed at how well she does for the most part!

My retired show Afghan, Lola - She came to me because she hated the show life and the breeder that had her just wanted her to be with someone that would love her. She was my first Afghan, and such a joy to live with! The breeder said she'd be the easiest Afghan I'd ever own - And she was right! She really is an easy dog to live with, and a joy to be around!

Queen of the castle, apple of my eye, princess Diva supreme, my ever beautiful Aiyana - She's never known anything but the good life, born in my bed, spoiled rotten from birth, while I love all my furkids - It's Aiyana who truly owns me, and everyone knows it!

Hannah Banana, my monster child LOL Oh the horror stories I could share about this terror! Hannah was my first Italian Greyhound, and has really taught me alot about how horrible - And wonderful this breed can be, she's competed and thrived in a variety of sports, from the basic like obedience, to the advanced such as agility, to the unusual such as weight pull and tracking. She just likes a challenge! She's the IG I use when I want to prove just what an IG can do! And don't you dare call her old - Her years may be adding up, but she's far from old LOL

Pharoah - The man of the house LOL This is the last of my showdogs - UKC, CAN, INT, MEX Ch - Just need a few singles and he'll add AKC to that list. He's Aiyana's Nephew, and has been so much fun to show! He's also a complete idiot HAHAHA He's your typical jock type - All beauty and bronze, no brain! I can't find where I saved my normal pics of him - But here's some show pics. And no - That's not me on the other end of the leash, that's a friend of mine that owned him for the first 3 years of his life, then sadly she got cancer and could no longer care for him, so he ended up coming to me.

And of course - My very special fosters. I'll save the best for last - Here's my tiny bits, the smallest IG I've personally ever met, little Sara Jane - 6 1/2 lbs of pure naughtiness. But so so sweet! She will likely remain with me for life due to bone density problems - She's already broken one leg even in my very controlled home, and will always be very prone to fractures. Sadly, not an uncommon problem when breeders breed these guys so small - Their bones are just to thin!

My elderly poodle foster, Gina. She was a stray found wondering the streets with a 2 1/2 lb tumor we had to remove from her rear end. She also has several mammary tumors, a grade 6 heart murmur, and kidney disease. She's another foster that'll be spending her last days here. Heaven only knows how long Gina has - But I'll make sure whatever time it is, it'll be loved and comfortable!

Last but far from least, a very very special little soul, Martini Miracle. This little angel is why I am so opposed to BYBs, pet stores, and mills. Martini is a very tragic example of what can happen when someone doesn't know what they're doing. She was born with severe congenital deformities to 3 of 4 legs. She came to me at only 6 weeks old - With SEVERE bilateral inguinal hernias - I'd never seen anything like it! Her PCV was only 12, she was so anemic she couldn't clot, she was in bad bad shape. Thousands of dollars in ICU care, blood transfusions, and intensive medical care later - Martini survived! And she's continuing to beat the odds! Needless to say, this is another lifelong foster. Martini's disabilities and medical problems are so extensive I'd never consider letting her go to anyone without extensive knowledge in medical care, and even then, I doubt they'd be anyone who could meet my requirements for her - She's got so many special needs, and is just plain special! She's got a special wheelchair made just for her now, this poor baby has been through alot! I've taken her to some of the top orthopedics and consulted with several vet schools now. There's nothing surgically that can be done for her - Her deformities are just to severe to correct, there's no muscle or tendon to support it, and the bones are so deformed there's just no way even with amputation and prosthetics they could do anything for her. Sadly, this also will likely mean that as she continues to grow, arthritis will quickly develop, and her life will probably be cut very short, because it'll quickly get to a point I won't be able to keep her comfortable. Right now the pain is only very occasional and mild - And she's a very happy spunky baby! Now 6 1/2 months old, she's come so far - She'll always be extremely special needs, and always need alot of extra care - But she is so very special! I pray she has a much longer and more comfortable life then I'm afraid may await her - But as long as she's happy and mostly pain free, I'll do whatever I can to keep her quality of life as great as I can!

That's the pack! Also part of the family are my 6 cats, I'll post pictures of them if someone wants me to.
- 19 year old Sophie, a purebred Ragdoll I rescued when I was in vet tech school, sadly she was going to be taken into a field and shot because she was "to evil" to live. Ok, so she's a grouch old coot, but she'd been so horribly abused! It took me over a year to gain her trust, and at least 2 more before she really started showing me her true colors - Now affectionately known as the monster under the bed/desk/recliner or wherever else she chooses to "guard", she really can be one of the sweetest cats ever!
- 5 year old Haley, one of my 5 Sphynx, rescued from a BYB here in Vegas with her sister, Cali. Sadly, I lost Cali only a week after I rescued them to HCM, a tragic yet all to common heart disease in Sphynx cats. She's queen of Catdome, and such a lady!
- 5 year old Osiris, my miracle cat. He was an "outdoor cat", also rescued from someone here in Vegas. A year ago we nearly lost him to a mystery illness we never could figure out - Thankfully he beat the odds and after 3 weeks of ICU care he came home and slowly recovered. Even the vets didn't think he had a chance - But he never gave up, and neither did I! Sadly, he's also HCM positive, but with a good cardiologist I hope to have many more happy years with this very special boy!
- 3 1/2 year old Athena, my 1 eyed wonder cat. She lost one of her eyes and has limited vision in the other due to years of untreated herpes infections and neglect. Sassy as can be - She doesn't let her limited vision get in her way!
- 2 year old Isis, the smallest of the Nekkids (my affectionate name for my Sphynx), barely 5 1/2 lbs, and such a monster HAHAHA She's Casper's best buddy, and there's no trouble the 2 of them can't think up! Also HCM positive, I managed to get my hands on her through word of mouth - She was to be sold as a breeder cat :( It made me cringe - And knowing she has HCM as well, her size alone would make her a very poor canidate for breeding - So glad I managed to get my hands on her instead of her passing on bad genes to countless other sphynx that would have suffered!
- 2 year old Casper, NAUGHTY NAUGHTY NAUGHTY! He came to me about a year ago shortly after the death of my beloved first sphynx, Oogie. He's a bad boy - But only because of neglect. He went from home to home because he was bad about using the box - When he got to me a vet visit quickly showed a horrible UTI - NO WONDER! Even with UTI gone, he can be naughty about using his box, and after months of looking when I couldn't find the right home that'd put up with his bathroom habits, I decided that he'd stay. He's a darling boy despite his naughtiness, he's always into some sort of mischief!

Oh wow, what a wonderful person you are. They are all stunning.

Wow, you are an amazing person! I cannot believe how many you have taken in that others have given up on. How do you do it? You're an angel...

I get asked that all the time. Honestly - being a vet tech really helps, because it's less expensive for me to some degree to get medical care for them, and there's alot I can do at home most can't - I even have a fluid pump at home if we need to have one of my babies on IV fluids so unless very critical they don't have the added stress of being hospitalized and I have less expense. Having a good relationship with my own vet as well as several specialists and a good holistic vet also really helps. The vet I work for only does cats - but my dogs' vet allows me to do alot he wouldn't allow other clients to do because he knows I have the knowledge and training to do it properly. I'm glad I have the skills I do - it allows me to help and care for the number of animals I do!

Wow, now that's a houseful! :) . Thank you for sharing your fur babies stories and pics with us. What a beautiful blessing you are.

What a great group. You are amazing for giving such a loving home to all these precious babies. When I was 17 I wanted an Afghan but my parents said no so I got my first yorkie. I think Afghan are so regal looking. Watching them in the show ring is amazing. I'd love to see pictures of your kitty's.

I'll post pictures of the kitties tomorrow!

Afghans are wonderful dogs, I've had a few fosters, and a few of my own. Once you've enjoyed these regal dogs you'll never be the same! But very different from most other breeds. Very aloof, even with their owners they're almost cat like, and not one to be overly affectionate. They're happy to see me when I get home, but to dignified to get all in my face like Benjamin and the IGs do LOL