My Hutto home began in 2018 when I combined my 5 pups and a cat with my wife's family which consisted of her 8yr old daughter and her 2 turtles. The pups were Rudy, Hunter, Louie, Oliver and Blue. As much as they ran around barking tough, they would cower and move out of the way when Purrty would jump off her cat tree and strut her stuff like the queen she was. All 5 pups were rescues and were given to me throughout my travels. There was actually a 6th pup named Chuy who was a standard size Dachshund pup. When I lived in Phoenix, a co-worker came by to see me and the pup jumped out of the car window and into my arms. My friend said that he had have done that and he must've chosen me. So I kept him. He must've known I was hurting as my ex had just left me. About a month later she showed back up at my door with her own Dachshund/Chihuahua mix pup named Rudy. Both of these two quickly became brothers and traveled with us everywhere we went. But before we left Phoenix, I found two kittens at an apartmemt complex I was working as security at. One of the kittens jumped off the second floor balcony and landed in my hat. So I kept her. That was Purrty and she quickly fell in love with BadBoy Leroy Brown who I found on top of the apartment parking lot carport. It was during the middle of July and super hot on that aluminum roof. I don't know how he got up there but he got lucky that I found him. Actually, I go lucky that I found these 4. They got me back on track. I was lost and they helped me find my way. I began writing stories and doodling our adventures together which took us from Phoenix to San Francisco to Seattle, to Boston, and finally Austin. When Chuy passed away, my ex decided I needed a Beagle named Hunter and also found 2 neglected mutts that I named Blue and Oliver.
The cats, Purrty and Leroy were inseparable. They went through 3 litters before I finally got them fixed. The left kittens in Phoenix and Seattle. Both made beautiful kittens that attracted customers for adoptions at the pet store I worked at in Seattle. Leroy was the type of orange tabby that would leave and wonder around the neighborhood until Purrty would go outside and yell for him. It was beautiful seeing their relationship. He passed away shortly after Chuy did and Purrty was left to be the lone cat in the house full of pups. That beautiful and serene grey tabby with white socks finally passed away a few months ago at the age of 19.
The turtles had their sanctuary outside next to the house under a large tree. The pond I build for them was well shaded and had a lighted up fountain. During one of the pond cleanings by the wife and daughter, one of the turtles made a fast walk for the backyard gate and disappeared never to be see again. About a year later, the other turtle broke out while I let him hang out with the pups outside. I didn't know much about turtles until I met Hopper and Speedy. Both turtles were Red-Eared Slider turtles.
All the pets have left me great memories and have taken a little bit of my heart with them as they have departed. It doesn't matter how long its been, it still feels like yesterday and I just have to remind myself that they all passed naturally and at an old age. I like to think I gave them good experiences with our travels but it will always feel like it was never enough. They saved me. I am still here today.