Banjo, Mandolin, Jewel
& my sweet little Cuss
"Mandolin" or "Mandi"
(Born approx. 12/2001)
Came to her new home with me in May of 2003 (she escaped the evil puppy mill people!). I adopted her from Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).
"Banjo" or "Demonseed"
Born February 8, 2002
Came to her new home with me on April 2, 2002
"Cuss" or "Cussie"
(Jan. 15, 1999 - Mar. 20, 2002)
My Best Little Guy will always be missed.
We were curled up on the couch with my friend Cheryl taking pictures, and Cuss was doing his best to pose for each one. This is one of the last photos I have with him before he died suddenly on March 20, 2002, just five days after my father passed away. I had a dream a few days after he passed in which I saw Daddy's silhouette walking away from me toward a soft light, carrying his banjo case under his right arm and Cuss under his left. The dream brought me a great deal of comfort, because it feels as if Daddy needed Cussie with him more than I did, so Cussie went to heaven keep Daddy company until I get there . . . my best guys waiting for me together.
7 weeks old -- just shortly after coming to her new home
Banjo is my little ray of sunshine. I was a little nervous about getting another dog, especially another pug, so shortly after losing both Daddy and Cuss, but I now know it was absolutely the right thing to do. She has brought so much joy to me in a time of profound sorrow, and we've bonded really, really well. She even seems to enjoy being named "Banjo" in honor of my Daddy, who was a fantastic bluegrass musician. The name certainly fits her.
I'm so proud of how much she's learned already as well. Banjo is less than two months old as I write this, and she's already learned to "sit," "sit up," "give me five" (down low), and "give me high five" (way up high). She's working on "wait," "down," "lie down," and is doing very well on "speak." If I can just get her to stop chewing on shoes and stealing my panties from the hamper, she'll be great! Shoe chewing or not, though, I love her dearly. She's an affectionate little sweetheart, and I'm thankful to have her in my home & my life. Notice the photo at the left -- she's even affectionate with Willie, the 25-year-old cockatiel. She loves to sniff of him when he's walking around. [NOTE: As of 9/03, Banjo is almost a year-and-a-half old now! Willie, bless his heart, passed on in 2002.]
