About 2 years ago, my husband Danny and I bought a home on 1.15 acres in the Johnson Lane of the Carson Valley. We were a happy family of two adults, two boys, and two Airedale Terriers.
We were considering rescuing an older boy Airedale - maybe one around 11 or 12, and give him a great 'last few years'. After all, we certainly had the land. Then, one day, we got a call from the Douglas County Animal Shelter. They wanted to know if we had our two dogs. After my husband's heart skipped a beat and he frantically looked for our dogs, Glennie and Reno, he found them snoozing in the yard. Well, the person on the other line said, a beautiful young female Airedale was abandoned in front of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office 4 days prior and she was going up for adoption the next day.
Well, we visited her that Sunday, put down a deposit, had her fixed the next day, and welcomed her into our home. This was the picture from the day we brought her home to be with her brother, Reno, and her sister, Glennie.
She has been a complete joy to add to our family! Of course, she is a puppy, and was maybe 1 year old at the time we adopted her. She had the standard chewing puppy behavior, and she needed remedial housetraining, too, but she was worth it. We speculated that she was the victim of a foreclosure. I never knew how special a bond you could have with an animal until we rescued one.
Well, this week we have two more fantastic members of the family joining us!
We are getting two Pygmy Goats! We are waiting upon their arrival any day now. Earlier this week I was wondering about getting a goat for weed control on our acreage. It just so happens that another agent had heard of three goats abandoned at a foreclosure property without food or water. A lender found them on the property and has been caring for them but can't keep them. The other agent in my office contacted me and said she had two if I promised to give them a good home.
I'm learning a lot about goats preparing for their arrival. They are pygmy goats, both girls, aged 5 and are sisters. There was a larger boy, but he is going with the other agent's family - they have lots of goats and he will fit in great there!
You can probably tell by now that I am an animal lover. My parents think I'm nuts, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I just couldn't say no because the animals are the innocent victims of our current economy, and deserve to live a happy, healthy life regardless of the circumstances surrounding them...
Besides, I have LOTS of weeds! (Seriously, I am in the process of getting them a house they will share with the 'future' chickens I hope to have, a teeter totter, and a few other toys, too! Did you know goats like basketballs? Me neither!)
Posted By: Christianne Gordon - Northern Nevada Real Estate Agent - Realtor
with RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, specializing in Carson Valley Real Estate and Northern Nevada Real Estate.
