h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

After Shel died last January, I wanted to get cats. I've missed having cats, but after Bingers died I didn't think Shel would adjust to another cat. He was pretty aggressive toward them. So after he died I'd always planned on getting cats. Preferably two of them who knew each other adopted together. Then once they were settled, I'd think about getting another dog.

My dad OTOH, had other ideas. He liked cats but he was pretty broken up about losing Shel. His relationship with Shel was complicated as Shel didn't actually like my dad that much. He barked at my dad when he'd come home, not like he was happy to see him, but like he was a burglar. My dad always resented this, but nevertheless, he liked Shel and always tried to befriend him. I think he was hurt that Shel never completely accepted him. Shel was a one person dog and that person was me.

In spite of all that, my dad was grief-stricken when Shel died and the only way he saw fit to deal with it was by getting another dog ASAP. I live in my dad's house so my desire to have cats was sort of overruled. But I was also put in charge of procuring the dog so I did.

About a week after Shel died, I went to the local animal shelter to look for a dog. I visited with several dogs, but none of them seemed to have the least bit of interest in me. One of them tried to get out of the visiting enclosure the entire visit and the other spent the whole time peeing on everything in sight. The third dog I visited with didn't have too much interest in me, but he was attached to one of the volunteers there, which told me that he was able to attach to humans.

He was smaller than Shel - about 15 lbs. His breed was said to be Llasa Apso/terrier mix. There weren't many other choices there at the shelter that day. There are always hundreds of Chihuahuas and Chi mixes at the shelter, but my dad didn't want a Chi. There are also many Pit Bulls and Pit mixes, but my dad didn't want one of those either. I hate that there are so many unwanted pets there of any breed, but irresponsible breeding and owners that result in so many unwanted Chis and Pits just enrages me.

Anyway I decided on this particular dog. He didn't come with a name. I wanted to name hims something unusual or literary, but none of the names I came up with were popular with my father who had left the naming to me, so I named him Scooter. Scooter fits him well. He is a very high energy little dog.

I like the name Scooter

Deb

[Amy P]