Pets...

All of our pets have been rescued from the pound. Our black-lab-crossed-with-something-else dog is the best dog we'll probably ever have. Our two cats, Anakin & Nina, were similarly adopted because they were on death's door at the local pound. Anakin (the one inside the box) is a bit of a thug -- he shoves Nina aside to eat all their food, and even challenges Zorro (the dog) for her food. If there's a "dumb thing that cats do" event happening, 99% of the time, it's Anakin. We often joke about him becoming "Darth Vader" as he grows up.

Nina (on top of the box) came to us with open wounds on her neck where the pound had cut her collar off -- it had grown into her neck as a neglected kitten -- and therefore nobody would adopt her. Of course, that is the kind of kitten that Wendy will adopt. Nina isn't right in the head. Our theory is that the ingrown collar may have cut off the oxygen to her brain. She's lovable but wee bit mentally looped (and has never forgiven us for bringing Zorro into the family).

Anakin is in a local animal hospital tonight. No idea what's wrong, but he was stiff and appeared to be on death's door this morning, so Wendy took him in. The vet thinks he may have been poisoned. The kids are really upset.

How/why do we get so attached to animals? I only know that we do.