Sunday, April 22, 2012

Introduction

Hey there!  Since we know all of you so well I thought it would be a great idea to start this blog off with a little introductory of sorts.  It seems only fair. You know a little about me from the website itself, but what is the rest of the story?  Who is behind the scenes?  And you know what?  The people have a right to know!

I, Joy Higgins, will be the keeper of this here blog so I will begin with me and my canine companions and work my way down the list.  Enjoy.

Joy
I spent most of my childhood on the south shore (Plymouth area) until I moved to the Boston area in my  mid teens.  As much as I enjoy the solitude and the offering of frequent wooded walks of the suburbs, my true love is city life.  It's good to be back.

I am a dog enthusiast so I feel like I have finally answered my true calling by assuming the ownership of Happy Dog.  Ever since getting my first Hamster (Spike) at the age of 6, I have adored animals of all kinds.  I have had many different kinds of pets from rats, snakes, an iguana, ferrets to the more typical dogs, cats, fish and birds.  I have worked in stables, veterinary offices, shelters, rescues, grooming salons, boarding facilities and dog daycares.  I will continue my personal search for knowledge in regards to dog behavior and hope to take classes on behavior in the near future.


Jimmy aka Jim aka The James aka Jimminy aka Brother
aka Seamus O'Mally aka Oldie One (Kanobie) aka Bro
Jimmy came into my life at the age of 3 months.  I was running a pit bull rescue from my home at the time.  Some college kids, who took him in when they found him tied in the woods, realized they couldn't keep up with him.  He was a high strung menace.  After seeing what a horrible puppy he was and interviewing countless possible owners, I was convinced he'd probably just be found tied up in the woods again.  I decided to keep him and work with him and though the first few years were tough, we got through it.  I do not regret that decision.  We have been together 12 years now and he is just the greatest dog anyone could ask for.  We have moved all over, driven across the country numerous times and through it all he has been a steadfast and incredible companion.



Tabitha aka Tabbie aka Tab aka TabTab aka TB aka Pretty Face
aka Twinkle Toes aka Sparkle Toes aka Crazy Face aka Ladyfriend

Tabitha was adopted from a Adopt-A-Bull in Tucson AZ at the age of 9 weeks.  I was living in Scottsdale at the time and was looking for a friend for the James when I came across her puppy picture on Pet Finder and instantly fell in love.  She may look like a toughie but we recommend you don't go believing the hype and getting all Judgie McJudgster on us.  She is one of the most sensitive and polite dogs I have ever met. I really don't think she has a mean bone in her body.  Tabitha is now 5 years old and has a couple of accomplishments under her belt.  She has accompanied me to elderly homes and has even done some agility.  She has always joined James and I on all of our adventures and is a fantastic friend to us both.



Herbert aka Herber Berber aka The Herbs aka Herbie
Herbert was quite literally rescued from the clutches of death as a dog I was walking almost ate him and then I almost went to give him a little kick off the sidewalk as I assumed he was something that should not be eaten.  As he was roaming about on a hot sidewalk without any access to water and the temperature was going to drop a lot that evening, I picked him up and brought him home.  He started out in a tupperware container set up but we will soon be moving up in the world to a 55 gallon tank where he will further learn how to hunt. Once he is large enough that everything in the world can't eat him, we will release him into the wild where he belongs. He has a voracious appetite for flies and worms and, as you can see, lies under his basking light like he is playing superman. 

See you next time folks!